When the Wellness Faire Came to Town

The splashing of the fountains and the stunning backdrop of Santa Barbara created the perfect setting for PALMA Colectiva’s Wellness Faire on January 18, held on the rooftop of the Kimpton Canary Hotel. I had the good fortune of being there not only as a writer covering the event, but also as an exhibitor offering microsessions; which felt kind of like speed dating for health coaching.

PALMA was founded in 2022 by Meredith Markworth-Pollack. After 20 years as a costume designer in the entertainment industry, Meredith “wanted to create a space to offer and integrate the modalities [she] had sought out to keep me grounded and mentally well while working long hours and in a high stress environment. I had always felt a deep spiritual connection to Santa Barbara and had lived here on and off over the years.” Now in its third year, “PALMA Colectiva is a Spiritual Wellness platform based in the principles of community, education, and healing arts. We create meaningful and integrative events, workshops and treatments to deepen our connection of plant, body and spirit. PALMA is a collective for seekers, mystics, curious souls, and anyone looking for connection in a space of beauty, integrity and expansiveness. We currently are focused on pop-up style events at a variety of locations in Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez including Lotusland, El Encanto, Canary Kimpton Hotel, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Coral Casino, Mattei’s Tavern, and Zaca Lake. We will continue to expand our programming to retreats and long-term residencies in 2025.”

Since their inception, PALMA has put on yoga retreats, inner child healing, full moon rituals, tea ceremonies, sound baths, massage, facials and even past-life regression. Some may be skeptical, but those that have experienced what PALMA has to offer find it transformational. One guest I spoke to said that before she attended a past-life regression, she was caught in a loop of destructive relationship patterns. “I kept going after the same kind of man, who I knew in my heart was going to hurt me. After I experienced the past life regression, something I never would have considered doing as it sounded so farfetched, I understood why I had been doing it and began to be more aware of what I was attracting and what I was seeking.”

The Wellness Faire was the epitome of what PALMA brings to Santa Barbara. For $33, guests could get mini sessions such as tea ceremonies, astrology readings, sauna, Tarot cards, health coaching (that would be me), and sample the wares of the various vendors which included Earth Tonics Botanicals, Julie Anderson Astrology Readings, Biocharger energy healing, Natural Haven home detoxification, Dryshtea tea ceremony, Self-Love Tea, Swoon Clothing and much much more.

While the blustering wind proved to be a bit of a challenge, the blue skies welcomed PALMA and the 100 guests to the hotel rooftop. An organic lunch was on offer, with guests squeezing in bites between the sessions they signed up for. In just four hours they could get their futures forecast, their energy healed, their houses detoxed (ok, maybe not detoxed, but certainly astrologically put in order), their inflammation lowered, and look great in some new organic clothing. The vendors and the guests alike seemed primed for a January kickoff to a new, healthier version of themselves. There was a lot of laughter and camaraderie in the group of mostly women. 

We even had a few dogs stop by, but something tells me they were more interested in the tacos on offer than having their astrological chart done. 

For me, the most interesting part was hearing everyone’s stories. How the vendors got into their field, how the guests came to be there, and how the event came to be. As my little booth was busy, I only got to speak to the other exhibitors at the beginning of the event but was moved at how many entered their fields to help others. As is often the case in wellness, many began their ventures after their own struggles with their health. I spoke with one woman who had battled mold exposure, another who suffered from a binge eating disorder, and another who got into energy healing after her own bout with depression. This was a powerful reminder of how so many turn their own challenges into the betterment of those around them.

Open your minds to the new Wellness Faire, as it plans to return every quarter. But as you had your Tarot cards read, you already knew that didn’t you?