WellcommDC [10.5.26]

WellcommDC is the email newsletter bringing you the best of the DMV’s wellness community. Get On The List and get Wellcomm sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who would love Wellcomm? Then please forward our email or tag them on our IG.

[High Five] We gave a High Five to Çağla Giray, a Movement and Mindset Coach and Founder of the award-winning wellness collective Su + Soul in Washington, DC.

Wellcomm: Where do you work out?

Çağla Giray: I combine functional movement and strength training with my yoga practice. Isabelle Anonas at One Life Fitness keeps me accountable: we coaches need coaches, too! Beyond coaching, events, and my live platform, I still teach at ALO, Equinox, MIYU, and KALM Studio. These studios are my home for my own yoga and Pilates practice.

WC: What does wellness mean to you?

CG: Wellness spans three domains: physical, social, and mental. It's intentional movement paired with connection to yourself and to others. Right now, the wellness industry is overflowing with knowledge and innovation. The real question is: how do we find the tools and guidance to cut through the noise and build a rhythm that actually fills and fuels our lives? That's exactly what I do through Su + Soul's private coaching for women navigating competing priorities and busy schedules.

WC: What are your wellness goals over the next twelve months?

CG: Over the next twelve months, my goals are as much about strengthening as they are about building. I'm crossing the finish line at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Mexico City, a physical goal that's pushing me to train with more consistency and intention than ever. Alongside that, I'm doubling down on strength training as its own pillar, complementing my yoga and Pilates practice to keep up with the life I'm building. And beyond the physical, I'm investing in the relationships and the headspace that fuel everything else to be able to show up as my fullest self across every domain.

WC: Who inspires, motivates, or keeps you accountable?

CG: Where do I even start! First and foremost, my husband, Adam Durham, always reminds me to fill my own cup while I build Su + Soul. He's currently coaching me for my half marathon, keeping me honest about my training runs. Chase McKesey, Co-Owner of SWEAT DC, is a great friend and mentor who guides me with real poise. Deniz Artemel, Editor of The Scout Guide DC, has been instrumental in shaping my identity as a wellness entrepreneur from the moment we met. She still reminds me daily what matters most. Katie Lane, Founder of Katie Lane Creative, Pao Duncan, Founder of Dot Creative Agency, and Lauren, Founder of Studio Querencia, helped build the foundation of Su + Soul's energy. From branding and our website launch to events and photo shoots, they've been fueling me since day one.

WC: What advice would you share with someone looking to change their wellness routine?

CG: Rather than advice, I'd ask a simple question: are you willing to get honest about your wellness rhythm and brave enough to change what isn't working? That's the starting point of my FLOW framework. F is for finding your baseline: assessing where you truly are, without judgment. It's step one for anyone ready to build a rhythm that fills and fuels their life, not just fills their calendar. And the rest of FLOW, the part that turns insight into an actual rhythm, is something I'm building into a new community launching in 2027: Su + Soul Circle. Stay tuned to Su + Soul for more!

[WellcommDC Hit Event] Saturday, October 10th: Heart & Sole 5K

So how do we pick our Hit Events? They’re curated exclusively for our WellcommDC Community from former High Fives. Each week, we’ll highlight one standout fitness event in the WellcommDC email. This could be:

• a group workout

• a pop-up fitness event

• a race or charity run

• a pickleball tournament

• a cycling ride

• a recovery event or

• anything else fitness-related

These events will be shared with all Wellcomm email subscribers, but submissions from former High Fives who are subscribers are prioritized, ideally for events they’re organizing, leading, or personally involved with.

We’ll feature one event per week, so spots are limited. We’re grateful for our High Fives and are excited to share these exclusive ongoing updates from the best of the DMV!

That’s this week’s edition of WellcommDC. Like what you read? Get On The List and get future editions sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who needs to read Wellcomm? Forward our email to them or tag them on our IG. Until next time, take care of yourself, and take care of each other.

Go For It,

Your WellcommDC Team

Transform Your Self. Transform Your Community. Transform Your World.