Two Wellniverse Asia classes on anxiety management and art therapy conclude successfully, drawing interest from major Korean companies
After overcoming panic disorder and depression following the loss of family members, wellness educator expands her program through neuroscience, psychology, and breathwork
Body scan meditation helps participants reinterpret emotions and memories: “Learned interpretations can be relearned.”
“Once the pain is gone, they want to lose weight again” — A body image healing program inspired by observations in rehabilitation practice
Wellness programs integrating neuroscience, psychology, breathing techniques, and art therapy are gaining traction as companies place greater emphasis on employee well-being.
At Wellniverse Asia, wellness educator Yu Minjeong, founder of MediWellness Seoul and You Are a Soul (Youasol), recently presented two evidence-based classes that drew participants ranging in age from seven to seventy. Following the event, several major Korean companies approached her about developing wellness programs for employees.
The sessions—Managing Anxiety Through Breathing and Movement and Why Do We Learn to Hate Our Bodies?—Art Therapy for Body and Mind—combined scientific research with practical exercises designed to improve emotional regulation and body awareness.
Learning to Regulate Anxiety
The first class introduced anxiety as a physiological response rather than something to suppress. Drawing on neuroscience, Yu explained how emotional reactions are shaped by the brain's interpretation of bodily signals and argued that these learned responses can be retrained.
Participants practiced breathing assessments, body-scan meditation, guided reflection, and movement exercises linking breathing with spinal mobility. The session concluded with a second breathing assessment, allowing participants to observe changes in their own physical state.
Yu noted that extending exhalation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping calm the brain's threat response.
Rebuilding a Healthy Relationship with the Body
The second session focused on body image through art therapy.
Yu said the program emerged from years of rehabilitation work, where she observed that many people resumed judging their bodies by appearance even after recovering from chronic pain. She also found that negative body perception often accompanied persistent pain.
Participants reflected on their experiences before creating life-sized drawings of their own bodies. The emphasis was not artistic ability but learning to observe and accept the body without judgment.
"Our bodies are not objects to be evaluated," Yu said. "They allow us to experience life."
The program reflects findings from research on visual analgesia, including studies by University College London (UCL) showing that simply viewing one's own body can reduce perceived pain. Recent research has also linked chronic pain with distorted body image, supporting approaches that integrate body awareness with psychological recovery.
Wellness Beyond Physical Fitness
The diversity of participants—from young children to older adults—highlighted that concerns about body image and emotional well-being transcend age.
The sessions concluded with guided reflection on what the body has enabled throughout life, encouraging participants to shift from self-criticism toward appreciation.
Growing workplace concerns over stress, burnout, and chronic pain are also driving corporate demand for integrated wellness programs that combine movement, breathing, mindfulness, and psychological education.
Yu Minjeong is an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer (ACSM-CPT) and a certified counselor. She plans to expand the program through a dedicated wellness center and instructor training curriculum.
Video | Youasol
