**Cardiff’s Early-Morning Rave Brings Wellness and Dance to the City Centre Health Food Shop**
In the heart of Cardiff city centre, an unusual event has been capturing the imagination of early risers seeking a unique start to their day. The Holland and Barrett experience store on Queen Street recently played host to the “Sunrise Sessions,” a morning wellness rave that promised to energise participants with music, movement, and nourishing food before most people have finished their first cup of tea.
The event stands apart from the traditional nightclub scene, not least due to its 7am start time, which saw determined attendees setting alarm clocks well before dawn. This fresh take on morning fitness, weaving live DJ sets and glow sticks into the fabric of a health food shop, exemplifies the increasingly creative ways people are prioritising wellness and community.
Upon arrival, participants were met with the sound of upbeat dance and pop anthems, spun by a resident DJ who transformed the store floor into a vibrant dance party. A sparkling sequin wall, along with an array of funky glasses and luminous glow sticks, set the tone for a morning of unbridled fun—without a single drop of alcohol in sight.
To further power up the crowd, supplement brand Myprotein provided complimentary clear whey shakes in exotic combinations, including lemon and lime, as well as orange and mango. Attendees welcomed the refreshing options, noting the absence of the usual earthy aftertaste that often accompanies protein drinks. Alongside the shakes, bowls of protein bars awaited guests needing a quick energy boost before movement commenced.
Once participants had fuelled up, it was time for a standing Pilates class led by instructor Sadie, familiar to many from her popular wellness sessions regularly held at the store. While some expected a gentle start, the half-hour session proved to be a surprisingly demanding workout, incorporating a challenging blend of quad-focused lunges and arm circles, with a few wobble-inducing balance exercises thrown in for good measure. The compact wellness studio accommodated a group of 15, proving that community spirit can thrive even in the cosiest of spaces.
The Sunrise Sessions are part of a wider initiative taking place across the UK and Ireland, aiming to “support mind, body, and rest, so people are energised and feel ready to seize the day.” The Cardiff edition embodied this ethos, offering locals an innovative way to greet the morning with movement, music and social connection—a far cry from the solitary routine of hitting ‘snooze’ on the alarm.
Though some attendees noted that the session started after the sun had already risen, somewhat diminishing the literal nature of the event’s branding, the overall atmosphere of positivity and wellbeing made up for this minor oversight. After the Pilates class, the tempo shifted once more as participants returned to the main store area for a buffet breakfast, featuring a wide selection of healthy options. Greek yoghurt, vegan coconut alternatives, granola, fresh fruit, seeds, spreads and honey adorned the table, along with soothing teas and juices.
Tickets for the Sunrise Sessions were priced at £10, and guests each received a generous goodie bag stocked with health-focused treats worth £200, courtesy of Holland and Barrett. For many, this added bonus was the icing on the cake, rounding off an already uplifting start to the day.
Feedback from personalities present at the event was overwhelmingly positive. Fitness and wellness enthusiasts in particular lauded the rare sense of togetherness and shared motivation found in the early morning gathering. Many left the store with a spring in their step and a promise to themselves to carry the buzz of the morning into the day ahead.
At present, it is not yet confirmed when the Sunrise Sessions will next return to Cardiff. However, if the enthusiastic response from attendees is anything to go by, these morning wellness raves could soon become a firm favourite on the city’s wellness calendar, blending music, movement and health for an experience quite unlike any other.