Handshake with nature - where wellness meets design blog by Mache
the wellness design journal

design your way to healthy + sustainable living

Affordable Mental Health Support Starts at Home: A Wellness Designer's Guide

Affordable Mental Health Support Starts at Home: A Wellness Designer's Guide

Brienne Derosier

I have spent my career at the intersection of design and wellness — and if there is one thing decades of designing homes, yoga studios, health clinics, and workplaces has taught me: your environment is not a backdrop to your mental health. It is an active participant in it. The spaces we inhabit are either quietly supporting our nervous systems or quietly depleting them. 

Why Bees Are the OG Wellness Practitioners — And What They Can Do for Your Health

Why Bees Are the OG Wellness Practitioners — And What They Can Do for Your Health

Brienne Derosier

The bee is not just a pollinator. It is a symbol, a healer, a builder, and one of the most intelligent collaborative systems on the planet. In this article, I nod to the millennia-long partnership between humans and bees and I share what I know — and what the science says — about why bees matter for our personal and planetary health.

How to Claim Your Own Wellness Corner in a Family Home

How to Claim Your Own Wellness Corner in a Family Home

Brienne Derosier

In a home shared with children, partners, pets, and everyone else's stuff — your wellness practice is usually the first thing to get crowded out. Discover how to carve out a dedicated wellness space in your family home — even without a spare room. Tips on exercise snacks, sunshine breaks, screen-free evenings, and yoga storage that protects your investment.

Solo on Valentine’s Day? 5 Self Care Ideas to Make It a Day of True Self Love

Solo on Valentine’s Day? 5 Self Care Ideas to Make It a Day of True Self Love

Brienne Derosier

Every February, the world throws its full marketing budget at couples’ Valentine’s Day and even Galentine’s Day. Cute for them—but where’s the love letter to the single human who also has a heart, a nervous system, and a calendar? Review this powerful invitation to practice self love in a way that actually supports your health, wellness, and future self.

Lights, Camera, Declutter! Hollywood Teaches Us the Power of Organization

Lights, Camera, Declutter! Hollywood Teaches Us the Power of Organization

Brienne Derosier

Whether it’s a yoga studio, a classroom, or your personal home office, we all know that clutter is the enemy of calm. But don’t worry—Hollywood has been quietly showing us the way. From reality TV gurus to comedic elves in department stores, on-screen transformations teach us that storage and organization aren’t just functional—they’re transformational.

Yoga Storage Solutions: How to Organize Your Practice at Home

Yoga Storage Solutions: How to Organize Your Practice at Home

Brienne Derosier

When you regularly organize your yoga gear, you do more than tidy up—you create an intentional sanctuary. Your practice space becomes an invitation to pause, breathe, and return to yourself. In this article, we’ll explore how yoga storage can transform your yoga practice, why it matters for your wellness, and the best ways to set up a space that nurtures both calm and consistency.

Wood, Cork, Foam, Oh My! Select the Best Yoga Block for Your Practice

Wood, Cork, Foam, Oh My! Select the Best Yoga Block for Your Practice

Brienne Derosier

Today, we’re diving into one of those yoga accessories that often gets overlooked or misunderstood — the humble yoga block. If you’ve ever wandered into a yoga studio, seen those little rectangular blocks on the shelves, and thought, “Hmm, what on earth do I do with those?” — you’re not alone. Yoga blocks often get pigeonholed as “beginner props”... but that could not be further from the truth. 

8 Ways Chronic Clutter is Sabotaging your Self Care Goals

8 Ways Chronic Clutter is Sabotaging your Self Care Goals

Brienne Derosier

A well-designed, clutter-free space is in itself an act of self-care. It sets the tone for your practice, keeps distractions at bay, and—most importantly—allows your mind to breathe. So, grab your metaphorical broom (and a real one, if you’re feeling ambitious), and let’s explore the eight ways in which exposure to chronic clutter may be undermining your health and wellness goals. 

Storage Strategies to Grow Your Gym, Yoga Studio, or Wellness Business

Storage Strategies to Grow Your Gym, Yoga Studio, or Wellness Business

Brienne Derosier

If you’re running a yoga studio, gym, or wellness business, you already know that first impressions matter. But beyond aesthetics, a well-designed interior with effective storage solutions helps your operations run smoothly, reduces stress for your members, and grows your business by making your space a place people love to be. Let’s dive into some practical storage strategies to help you grow your wellness business.

Yoga Studio Design Tips to Reflect Your Values + Attract Students

Yoga Studio Design Tips to Reflect Your Values + Attract Students

Brienne Derosier

When designing a yoga studio or wellness space, it’s essential to align your interiors with the principles you’re promoting: health, balance, and sustainability. Let’s dive into some specific tips to create a yoga studio that resonates with your values and draws in new members like bees to lavender.

Healthy Gift Ideas for Busy People: Wellness Gifts That Keep on Giving

Healthy Gift Ideas for Busy People: Wellness Gifts That Keep on Giving

Brienne Derosier
Enter the idea of wellness gifts—thoughtful presents that inspire healthy habits and promote self-care throughout the year. But what exactly are wellness gifts? To help you pick the perfect healthy gift, here’s a list of ideas guaranteed to bring calm, balance, and joy to even the busiest bees.
Make Space for Me Time: How to Design a Self-Care Space at Home

Make Space for Me Time: How to Design a Self-Care Space at Home

Brienne Derosier

A self-care space is your personal haven, a designated area designed to help you unwind, relax, and practice any activities that support your well-being. Let’s walk through the steps and design elements that will help you create a self-care space that works for you.

Design Yourself a Dedicated Self Care Space