Photography provided by Goop
Mention the word Goop and you’ll get a reaction. There is no middle ground. People either embrace Gwyneth Paltrow’s sometimes controversial, always forward-thinking lifestyle brand or absolutely loathe any and all of its ideas. I’m in the former camp, so when registration opened for the annual daylong In Goop Health summit in Los Angeles, I immediately signed up. (The ticket price? A not-so-insignificant $1,000.)
From the moment you arrive, you know you’re in Goopland. You’re greeted by beautiful servers handing out Goop’s signature Goopglow drinks and delicious plant-based foods that were almost too beautiful to eat. Instagrammable moments are everywhere. The 10-hour day was packed with back-to-back sessions, and although it’s difficult to narrow down everything I learned and experienced, here are my top 3 takeaways from the In Goop Health summit.
You can’t judge it until you try it.
It’s not often that you walk into a conference and see people lining up to get a vitamin B12 shot, have 24-karat-gold ear seeds placed strategically to help with mind, heart and eye health, or sign up for a — wait for it — plant music session, but Goop is all about bringing unconventional wellness options to the masses. And even though some activities may seem out there, remember that it wasn’t so long ago that meditation seemed like a far-out idea.
You feel like part of a community.
Whatever your preconceived notions may be about Goop and the people who indulge in the lifestyle, the brand’s primary focus is building a supportive community. I met so many talented and diverse people throughout the day. More than 600 attendees flew in from around the world, and it was interesting to hear why they decided to pay $1,000 to attend. The reason I heard most often? People wanted to be the best version of themselves and felt the summit could help guide them there.
You’ll leave feeling inspired.
Yes, the event was gorgeous. Yes, the food was delicious. And yes, there were unique experiences. But what I loved most about In Goop Health was the diverse group of health, wellness, lifestyle and financial experts flown in to share their expertise in small group sessions. Each attendee was able to create a choose-your-own Goop adventure with more than 25 class options that ranged from meditating with Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough to developing your own energy blueprint to learning about the soul of money to cultivating happiness. And the day ended with a powerhouse panel moderated by Gwyneth herself that featured Jessica Alba, Busy Philipps, Olivia Wilde and Taraji P. Henson, who all talked about life and career pivots.
Other observations: Gwyneth is TALL. Julianne Hough has piercing blue eyes. Everyone looks dewy. And Goop swag is top-notch. (Let’s just say I have enough clean beauty skincare for the next year.)
After attending the Goop summit, will I eat primarily plants? Or dive headfirst into every wellness trend? Likely not, but I will incorporate what I learned to help lead a more mindful life. This was my second In Goop Health summit, and you can bet that when registration opens up in 2020, I’ll be the first in line.
Reading this and bummed you missed out? Don’t fret; Goop is hosting its first-ever London In Goop Health conference on June 29.
Christine Scherping is the founder of Friend of a Friend, a boutique PR agency that works with brands to tell meaningful stories. Learn more at friendofafriendpr.com and follow her adventures on Instagram @friendofafriendpr.
