Wellness Week’s Signature Kick Off Event
Wellness Week 2025
Wellness Week Traverse City is designed to make it easy and inspiring for you to explore, connect, and establish new routines for a vibrant fall and winter.
This week is comprised of two parts:
The Signature Kick Off Event:
September 19, 2025 at City Opera House
4:30-8:30pm
An evening expo with food, speakers, movement, and community
Beyond the Kick Off:
September 20-26, 2025
An open invitation to all participating businesses to explore their introductory offers and establish your new wellness routines.
Kick Off Event Ticket Details
Early bird rate until September 6: $95
Regular rate: $135
Your Kick Off Ticket Includes:
Access to the Wellness Expo featuring local businesses
An uplifting movement + mindset class
An expert panel discussion on holistic well-being
Exclusive access to a recording of the panel discussion
A healthy, locally-sourced dinner from 9 Bean Rows
One complimentary drink ticket
A curated swag bag
The opportunity to meet and connect with like-hearted individuals
A "Wellness Passport" to unlock exclusive offers at participating businesses throughout the week (September 20-26)
Wellness Week at a Glance
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Signature Kick Off Event
Friday, September 19, 2025
4:30-8:30pm
City Opera House4:30pm: Open expo + networking time
5:30pm: Movement + mindset class
6:30pm: Health conscious dinner from 9 Bean Rows
7:00pm: Wellness panel discussion
8:00-8:30pm: Open expo + networking time
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Beyond the Kick Off
September 20-26, 2025
The Kick-Off Event is just the beginning! From Saturday, September 20th to Friday, September 26th, Wellness Week invites you to take advantage of the exclusive offers and unique experiences provided by participating local businesses. Use your Wellness Week directory to guide you to special classes, introductory sessions, consultations, and more. This is your chance to step into new routines and discover your favorite new wellness spot right here in town!
Meet the Wellness Discussion Panelists
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Jenna Morris
FOUNDER OF WELLNESS WEEK AND PANEL FACILITATOR
As the founder of Wellness Week Traverse City, Jenna Morris brings her unique expertise and 20 years of working in wellness to facilitate a dynamic and insightful discussion on holistic well-being.
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Gina Render
ADVENTURE MORE PERFORMANCE NUTRITION
Gina Render is a certified performance nutrition coach through Precision Nutrition. She has worked with hundreds of athletes and active individuals to help them achieve athletic performance, body composition goals, and improvement in general lifestyle. As an ultra endurance mountain biker and strength athlete, Gina understands the demands that come with balancing a healthy lifestyle and performance goals and helps her clients optimize both.
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Dr. Jeffrey Valice
AEVITAS MEDICAL
Dr. Valice is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician and certified Clinical Lipidologist with a strong background in Exercise Science. In 2024, he co-founded Aevitas Medical, a practice focused on Precision Medicine and data-driven care to optimize cellular health. As your concierge physician, he offers a personalized, proactive approach to longevity, bridging traditional and innovative medicine to extend your healthspan—the years you spend in optimal health.
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Caroline Thomas
LMSW, FOUNDER OF HEAD & HEART
Caroline is the founder and clinical director of Head & Heart, a mental health practice she opened in 2018. She believes in creating a supportive community for both clients and clinicians, seeing therapy as a process of growth and self-discovery. Using parts work and EMDR, Caroline helps clients process trauma, deepen self-awareness, and rebuild trust in their own inner wisdom. Her practice is dedicated to challenging harmful structures and is deeply invested in Body Liberation and restorative healing.
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Dr. Amelia Bueche
D.O., THIS OSTEOPATHIC LIFE
Dr. Amelia Bueche is an osteopathic physician, coach, and yoga teacher who blends hands-on treatment, practical coaching, and movement planning to help people resolve pain and restore ease. She guides clients toward lasting, whole-person wellness so they can get back to what they love.
Dr. Amelia Bueche helps people move out of pain and into possibility through a unique blend of osteopathic care, coaching, and movement planning.
Meet the Movement + Mindset Instructors
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Ivan Ankwatsa
OWNER OF PRYDE ATHLETICS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY
Ivan is the founder of Pryde Athletics & Physical Therapy, an institution dedicated to bridging the gap between physical therapy, sports performance, and preventive health. His unique career path began in injury recovery at the University of Michigan, followed by an advancement into elite collegiate strength and conditioning at both Michigan Football and as Director of Basketball Strength & Conditioning at Eastern Kentucky University. With a master's degree in Exercise Science and a passion for proactive healthcare, Ivan brings a holistic approach to movement and mindset. He focuses on empowering individuals to shift their focus from treatment to true, long-term wellness.
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Ivan will be leading 15 minutes of functional mobility as part of the Movement + Mindset class.
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Whitney Goulas
OWNER OF LUXBODY
Whitney Goulas is a nationally certified fitness professional, nutrition coach, and founder of LUXBODY, a luxury boutique fitness studio and recovery lounge in Traverse City, MI. With over 15 years of experience, she has been featured as a health and wellness expert on NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX affiliates.
Whitney’s background spans competitive athletics, elite coaching, and high-level training. She channels her vast background into LUXBODY’s mission: blending world-class training with cutting-edge recovery to help clients achieve transformative results and long-term wellness.
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Whitney will be leading 15 minutes of strength and conditioning as part of the Movement + Mindset class.
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Jenna Morris
OWNER OF BE WELL WITH JENNA
Jenna is an experienced 500-ERYT yoga instructor with a passion for helping others find balance and presence. As a teacher at Dharamsala TC, she believes that a mindful practice can be a powerful tool for finding peace in a busy world. Join her on the mat for a mellow movement session designed to help you release tension, connect with your breath, and set a powerful intention for the week to come.
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Jenna will be leading 15 minutes of yoga and breathwork as part of the Movement + Mindset class.
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Sam Gutowski
OWNER OF BE HERE NOW BABY
Sam is an executive and mindfulness coach who has guided hundreds of individuals in becoming their most authentic, self-aware, and confident selves through transformative 1:1 coaching. Rooted in the power of mindfulness, her work helps clients build clarity, emotional resilience, and self-leadership that lasts. Sam also supports teams and organizations through engaging workshops and practical tools that boost focus, communication, and overall well-being. Whether she’s working with an individual or a team, Sam’s approach is grounded, empowering, and supportive.
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Sam will be leading 15 minutes of mindset visualization as part of the Movement + Mindset class.
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The Kick-Off Event is your gateway to Wellness Week! It features a dynamic Wellness Expo with local businesses showcasing their offerings, inspiring short talks from wellness experts, and a vibrant atmosphere for community connection. There's also an exclusive ticketed dinner included in the ticket price.
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The Expo runs all evening from 4:30-9pm. Throughout the evening there will be specific events:
4:30-5:30pm Expo + networking
5:30-6:30pm Movement + Mindset class
6:30pm Buffet-style dinner, to be enjoyed while the panel discussion begins
7pm Wellness panel discussion
8-9pm Expo + networking
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While you're welcome to explore at your own pace, we highly encourage attending the entire ticketed experience, including the movement class, inspiring panel discussions, and dinner. Each component is thoughtfully designed to build upon the next, offering a cohesive and deeply enriching experience that will launch your Wellness Week journey and foster valuable connections.
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The Kick-Off Event takes place at the beautiful City Opera House in downtown Traverse City.: 106 E Front St, Traverse City, MI 49684
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We recommend comfortable athletic wear that you can easily move in for the movement + mindset class and transition into dinner and discussion. Prioritize comfort! Layers are always a good idea for varying indoor temperatures.
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We will do some gentle mobility + yoga to begin, progress into breathwork, and complete the experience with a visualization and mindset activity. This will be led on yoga mats.
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Yes, a general admission ticket is required for entry to the Wellness Expo. This ticket includes class, dinner, and the panel discussion, which will be recorded and sent to attendees.
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After the Kick Off, the week is all about experiencing wellness in action! Use your official Wellness Week directory (digital and/or print) to explore special offers, introductory classes, and unique experiences at participating local businesses. Simply visit the businesses, mention Wellness Week, and enjoy their exclusive offer!
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To truly unlock the full value of Wellness Week and receive your official Wellness Week Pass, attending the Kick Off Event is highly recommended. It's where you'll get your pass and directory, meet the businesses, and discover all the exciting opportunities. While some businesses may promote offers publicly, the exclusive, comprehensive list of offers and your official pass are primarily distributed at the Kick-Off Event, ensuring you're fully equipped to explore the week.