Wellness is no longer an optional indulgence, but a powerful act of self-preservation and empowerment. In Malaysia, a new generation of women-led initiatives is quietly reshaping the landscape of holistic living. Through retreats, festivals, and lifestyle platforms, leaders like Diane Chia, Sarah Lian, and Raja Jesrina Arshad are crafting spaces where women can pause, reflect, and reclaim agency over their health and wellbeing. Their work transcends individual growth, fostering community, connection, and a collective shift toward mindful living.
Group Photo (Left to Right) – Sarah Lian (Founder of Supparetreat), Diane Chia (Co-Founder and Executive Director of Millennia Village) and Raja Jesrina Arshad (Founder & CEO of PurelyB)
In this endeavour towards breaking significant barriers and stressing the reclaiming control of health, and balance, The Peak Malaysia dives into how these pioneering women ignited a broader cultural movement toward holistic living in the region.
Building Ecosystems of Connection, Empowerment, and Wellbeing
All too often, the care of the mind takes a backseat. In today’s fast-paced world, it can feel nearly impossible to pause from the ceaseless demands of work, household duties, errands, parenting, and social obligations, even as they weigh heavily on our mental bandwidth.
Even for trailblazer Diane Chia, a prominent figure in the wellness field—becoming receptive toward the idea of holistic living was rarely as straightforward a concept. “As an entrepreneur in the wellness industry, one of my biggest challenges was overcoming the perception that wellness is a “nice-to-have,” rather than a powerful enabler of better living and better performance,” she says. “I had to constantly advocate for a more integrated, science-informed view of wellbeing and navigate a landscape that didn’t always take wellness-led initiatives seriously. What helped me push through was staying rooted in purpose, building the right partnerships, and surrounding myself with a supportive community that understood the deeper value of this work.”
Diane Chia, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Millennia Village delivered the opening speech at Women Wellness Festival 2.0
At present, Diane leads and collaborates with several large wellness projects—movements integrating ideal philosophies and values that deeply resonate with her mission to create ecosystems where people feel stronger, more connected, and resilient, nurturing both individual wellness and communal renewal. Safe to say, ‘trailblazer’ barely scratches the surface of her monumental achievements across Malaysia and Singapore.
Among the reputable initiatives within her undertaking is the Women Wellness Festival, which very recently held its second annual edition, bringing together women from all walks of life to explore holistic wellbeing, connection, and personal growth. “Women Wellness Festival 2.0 represents a meaningful cultural shift in Malaysia. It shows that people are embracing holistic living not as an escape, but as a sustainable lifestyle.”
Creating Safe Spaces for Women to Reconnect and Grow
Similarly, when we envision tearing ourselves away from the jurisdiction of constantly having to be ardently productive, and since the rise of the gig economy, initially spurred by the early years of the pandemic—the surmounting imposition of to become grossly successful has taken its toll on the evolving, hyper-digital landscape today. And for Supparetreat founder, Sarah Lian—her profound dedication towards protecting one’s inner wealth, perhaps inspiring to say the least—guides women on their journey of reconnection. “Retreats and festivals create safe spaces where women can step away from daily pressures and reconnect with themselves and with one another. When women gather in community, something powerful happens and they see reflected in others the courage, vulnerability, and empathy they often overlook in themselves.”
Through Supparetreat, Sarah has reached 1,000+ individuals globally via 100+ workshops and 30 retreats, championing connection, and holistic personal growth. Scaling her repertoire as a leader in women empowerment, the legacy in her stead is one built through sheer determination that aims to strengthen the pillars of human growth.
She further reflects on the journey that has brought her to the platform she has worked tirelessly to build, and now more women are habitually tuning in—a quest of self-discovery and emotional elevation. “When I started Supparetreat, one of the biggest challenges I faced as a woman entrepreneur in the wellness space was being taken seriously in an industry often dismissed as emotional work rather than essential human development. There was also the added emotional weight of carrying a mission that is deeply personal.”
“Wellness to me is an inward journey that is hard to explain, hard to capture, and hard to assess. It’s almost invisible to most people but this is the heart work that can only be expressed in safe spaces,” Sarah explains. “Most importantly, I practiced what we teach. I slowed down, listened to my body, embraced vulnerability, and allowed myself to receive support. This alignment became the foundation that helped Supparetreat grow sustainably while staying authentic to its roots.”
As co-founder of the Women Wellness Festival, Sarah envisages the broader mission of cultivated mindful living. “When women see themselves reflected in the facilitators, speakers, and participants, the representation empowers them to explore personal growth, seek support, and challenge old limitations around what it means to be well and whole. The festival becomes a catalyst for women reclaiming agency and wellbeing,” she observes forthrightly. In doing so, this collective synergy between the co-founders turns into a national movement, safeguarding women’s prerogative in their healing journey, while fostering transformation that is both supported and self-directed.
Transforming Personal Health Into Collective Empowerment
By mutual accord, the ethos of these initiatives—particularly in advocating for women’s health—carries a deeply personal significance.“ For me, everything began with my own health journey,” Raja Jesrina Arshad, Founder and CEO of PurelyB, shares. “In my early 30s, I was relatively ‘successful’ on paper, but constantly exhausted, inflamed, and dealing with weekly headaches, rashes, and breakouts.” Her personal experience became the catalyst for creating spaces that nurture holistic wellbeing.
“That’s why, through PurelyB and now Women Wellness Festival 2.0, we’re creating exactly that safe space: a community where women can learn from each other, reconnect with themselves, and discover practical tools they can actually use in real life. It’s not about perfection — it’s about empowerment, clarity, and giving women access to natural solutions they’ve been seeking but never knew how to find,” Jesrina explains.
PurelyB, an award-winning health and wellness lifestyle brand in Southeast Asia, elevates the power of traditional Malaysian herbs and rainforest remedies. Jesrina leads the brand in transforming individual wellbeing while fostering sustainable, health-conscious living. Her mission draws from her personal healing journey, reflecting her belief that true wellness encompasses mind, body, community, and environment.
For more information about wellness and mindful living, discover expert insights, events, and stories at The Peak Malaysia.
