Revealed: Houston's Top Wellness Experts

FROM MINDFULNESS APPS TO DIET HACKS, HOUSTON’S GROUNDED GURUS HAVE A WEALTH OF WELLNESS KNOWLEDGE TO SHARE.

KATY KULHANEK

Founder of Volare Fitness

Katy Kulhanek, here with Volare’s Feels Like Home yoga mat

“Our mission at Volare is to simply (and aesthetically) spread the joy of fitness with products that will make you happy,” shares founder of Volare Fitness Katy Kulhanek. “I want to inspire women to create a healthy lifestyle that centers around total mind and body wellness.” As founder of the newly debuted fitness hub for all things exercise equipment, yoga mats and—this just in—a subscription service of classes launching this month, Kulhanek wants to share what keeps her creatively charged with all those around her. “When I hear back from followers stating how my workouts have helped them either start or continue their fitness journey or how they are loving my new fitness products, it all motivates me!” she says. “I am constantly thinking about how I can help others. Any day I can make someone feel good or put a smile on their face is a win for me!”

WAKE-UP TIME: 6am

BREAKFAST: Sweet potato hash with an egg on top and hot sauce

WORKOUTWEAR: It’s ever changing with my growing belly.

LAST MEAL: Steak, lobster and a michelada

PHILANTHROPY: Breast cancer hits close to home for me.

BEST ADVICE: Always find a reason to be grateful.

MANTRA: If other people can do it, I can do it.

COCKTAIL: Espresso martini

BEDTIME: 10pm

ZODIAC: Pisces

ESCAPE: Anywhere on the water

STREAMING NOW: Blink 182 Radio

MENTOR: My morning podcasts

ERAN D. MALONE

Personal trainer, fitness instructor and wellness expert, RN-BSN The Covery at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa

Eran Malone, along with several skilled nurses, helps clients of TheCovery achieve their ultimate goals. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HOUSTONIAN HOTEL, CLUB & SPA

It’s 5:15am and Eran Malone is up and at ’em. As one of the most sought-after instructors of The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Malone has a mission to share his best practices with those around him—one class and one practice at a time. As one of the highly trained nurses at the newly unveiled The Covery (which is led by manager Susy Crosser), Malone helps educate and inspire the art of living your best life. With the recently launched Houstonian Recover in Luxury package, guests can enjoy specially priced accommodations in a newly renovated guest room, access to the exclusive Houstonian Club and three resort pools with poolside dining, and 20% off Covery packages such as Mental Clarity with a Hyperfocus IV drip, pulse electromagnetic frequency session, and Brain Tap or Stunning Skin with a Stunner IV drip, red light session and cryo-facial session.

BREAKFAST: Cup of coffee because I get up so early.

DOPPELGANGER: Depends on who’s looking

WEAKNESS: Sugar!

LAST MEAL: Creole pasta

MENTOR: My maternal grandmother

PHILANTHROPY: Boys & Girls Club, Alzheimer’s Association

BEST ADVICE: Be a part of the solution.

MANTRA: Practice empathy, adaptability and resilience.

COCKTAIL: Frozen margaritas

DINNER: Tex-Mex

BEDTIME: 10:30pm

BOOK AT BEDSIDE: Life Force by Tony Robbins

YESTERDAY I...: Enjoyed cooking and spending time with my family.

ZODIAC: On the cusp of T aurus and Gemini

WORKOUT SHOES: Bondis by Hoka

WORKOUT PLAYLIST: Whatever’s popping at the moment

STREAMING NOW: Shrinking and The Last of Us

THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:‘Bird Set Free’ by Sia

MEL TELLO

Co-owner and curator of The Studio Be @thestudio.be

Mel Tello is currently streaming “Anti Hero” by Taylor Swift . “[Swift] is really coming into her own, and I love seeing women who believe in themselves wholeheartedly.”

“A goal is nothing without discipline,” shares Mel Tello. “Just show up every day and it’s the days that you don’t feel up for ‘it’ that will have the biggest impact.” As the co-owner and curator for buzzy fitness spot The Studio Be—with locations in the Montrose Collective and Heights Mercantile—Tello strives to share best practices and empower those around her through fitness and education. As a wife and mother of three kids, she firmly believes in the importance of sleep habits—making sure she’s in bed by 9:30pm as she puts time and energy for life as a top priority. When asked about the theme song to her life: “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera, of course!

WAKE-UP TIME: 5am—brew coffee, take one sip and meditate.

BREAKFAST: If I have time, eggs and toast.

WORKOUTWEAR: Usually Lululemon as a legacy ambassador

LAST MEAL: Vegan power bowl at Local Foods Heights—it’s delicious!

MENTOR: For business, my old boss Chris Miller; for inspiration, my husband (he’s very innovative and challenges my ideas in the best way); and for yoga, Tiffany Cruikshank—she is a boss, TCM doctor and a leader in truly merging science and yoga, and this gives me life!

PHILANTHROPY: I like to support through donation classes or self-care for employees of HAWC. Women taking space to be brave and live their lives on their terms is something I think is so powerful.

MANTRA: Don’t take anything personally; we are all on our own journey looking through the lens of our experiences.

COCKTAIL: Ranch water with a salted rim and Topo Chico

BEDTIME: Always by 9:30pm—sleep habits are something I am pretty strict on with three kids at home and needing to make time and energy for life.

YESTERDAY I...: Was at the beach on a short getaway with my family, I got to practice yoga, read, laugh and have a big dinner with friends and family... no phones, and these are the best times.

ESCAPE: My yoga mat and my favorite place on earth, Banyan Tree in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico (a yearly must)

WORKOUT PLAYLIST: Anything Beyoncé, Rihanna or Marc Anthony (love me some salsa!)

ROBERT JONES

Founder and CEO, Roots Food Group

Roots Food Group founder and CEO Robert Jones

Eternal optimism—this is the mantra that Robert Jones carries throughout his life. The founder and CEO of Roots Food Group, Jones constantly strives to support healthcare companies and affiliated systems, communities and beyond to bring healthy food products and medically tailored meals to those in need. With the mission to advocate and provide change through investment, education, policy and research, Roots Food Foundation is at the forefront for change within the Texas market and beyond.

WAKE-UP TIME: 3 to 5am

DIET: Whole, unprocessed foods

WEAKNESS: Vine-ripened kiwi fruit

LAST MEAL: Lentil, mushroom, kale and pork bowl

MENTOR: My father

PHILANTHROPY: Better to give than receive, Roots Food Foundation and Feeding the Blind - Vision Nutrition

BEST ADVICE: The harder you work, the luckier you get.

COCKTAIL: Water is my favorite libation.

BOOK AT BEDSIDE: White Noise

BEDTIME: 9:30 to 10pm

YESTERDAY I... Can confirm it was a beautiful day in America.

ESCAPE: Fly fishing

STREAMING NOW:‘Believe’ by Brooks and Dunn

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