“Soft Wellness” Is The Movement We All Need Right Now & Ryde: Is Leading the Way (Win!)

If your vision of wellness feels more overwhelming than inspiring lately, you’re not alone. The era of intense routines and all-or-nothing approaches is giving way to something gentler—and much more sustainable. Enter Ryde: a just-launched functional wellness shot brand that’s riding the wave of softer self-care with its Wellbeing Made Easier campaign. We caught up with Kervy Diaz, Head of Wellbeing & Stimulation, to chat about the shift from burnout culture to mindful simplicity, and why wellness shouldn’t feel like a second job. —Noa Nichol

Let’s start with a vibe check—what does “wellbeing made easier” mean to you personally, and how is Ryde: putting that into practice?

To me, wellbeing made easier means finally letting go of the pressure to ‘do it all’ in order to feel good. It’s about creating space for small, meaningful moments that support your body and mind, without the overwhelm, the rules, or the guilt.

And it’s not just me feeling overwhelmed! The wellness space has reached a saturation point. Canadians are more health-conscious than ever, rising from 56% in 2021 to 71% in 2024, based on studies, but they’re also increasingly overwhelmed. Between conflicting advice, extreme routines, and pressure to achieve peak wellness, many are feeling burned out by the very culture that’s supposed to support them.

And, that tension point was our insight.

We saw an opportunity to step in with a brand that takes the pressure off. Ryde: was built to simplify wellbeing, offering functional support in a way that’s approachable and doesn’t overpromise. We designed each shot to be exactly what we were missing: simple, effective, science-backed support that fits into the real rhythm of a day. Energize when your coffee isn’t cutting it. Focus when you need to lock in. Relax when your brain’s still going and you just want to chill.

Wellness routines have gone from green juices and HIIT to cozy cardio and 75 Soft. What do you think this shift says about how Canadians are redefining “health”?

As a brand rooted in real-world wellbeing, we see this shift as a powerful reflection of where Canadians are headed when it comes to health. It’s no longer about extremes or performative wellness. Instead, Canadians are embracing routines that are sustainable, intuitive, and actually feel good.

At Ryde:, we’ve always believed that wellness should be easy, effective, and judgment-free. The rise of cozy cardio and the current 75 Soft trend proves that people are prioritizing how they feel, both mentally and physically, over what looks impressive on social media. Which is why we are poking a bit of fun at those wellness trends (like goat yoga). Canadians want solutions that meet them where they’re at, whether that’s a walk in slippers, a mindful moment, or a 2 oz shot that supports energy, focus, or calm without the crash.

This is exactly why we created Ryde:. No rituals, no pressure. Just functional, science-backed shots designed to support your day, your way. Canadians are showing us that wellbeing  doesn’t have to be hard. It just has to work for real life. And that’s the future of wellbeing  we’re proud to be part of.

Ryde: has three functional shots—Energize, Focus, and Relax. What inspired these specific formulations, and how do they fit into a no-fuss wellness lifestyle?

We built each Ryde: shot around one simple idea: what do people actually need to feel better during the day and how can we deliver it in the cleanest, most effective way possible? This is where Ryplenish™ comes in!

Ryplenish™ is the science engine behind Ryde:. As we wanted to create a product for the consumers, we asked them what they actually wanted (and didn’t want) from a functional product, then challenged our scientists to develop a solution that delivered on those needs.

The result is Ryplenish™ – a proprietary blend developed by a team of over 40 experts in molecular biology, neuroscience, and behavioural psychology. Each formula contains key active ingredients, like caffeine and B vitamins, backed by scientific research, including randomized controlled trials, widely considered the gold standard of evidence.

All three shots are fast, portable, and pre-dosed—no powders, no prep, no guesswork. That’s what makes them a perfect fit for a no-fuss wellness lifestyle. Just pick your moment, take your shot, and go. We’re here to make wellbeing easy and  science-backed

Don’t just take my word for it! We have partnered with creators for this campaign to help spread the message about how Ryde: makes wellbeing easier. .

What’s one wellness trend you’ve happily ditched in favour of something simpler? (We won’t judge if it involves celery juice.)

Definitely the 5 a.m. wake-ups! My mornings are simple: I wake up, take a breath and maybe stretch. It’s fast, it works, and it leaves me feeling like I’ve done something good for myself, without needing to earn a gold medal in routine perfection. I’ve let go of the complicated wellness routines—. These days, my go-to is a simple walk with my dog after work, no phone, just fresh air. It’s my reset before jumping into dad mode, and it works better than anything I’ve tried.

Do you have a go-to Ryde: moment? When during your day do you reach for one of the shots—and which one?

My go-to Ryde: moment is that post-lunch, pre-meeting afternoon slump, when my energy dips but I still need to be sharp and switched on. That’s when I reach for Focus. It gives me that clean mental lift I need, and helps me get through the rest of the day feeling clear and dialled in.

That’s the beauty of Ryde:, each shot fits seamlessly into your day. No prep, no pressure, just pick the one that matches your mood or moment and go. It’s also important to make sure you are not using more than one shot a day, so choose exactly what your body needs for the day.

The campaign embraces a more flexible, feel-good approach. Why do you think this resonates so deeply with people right now?

Wellness marketing can often feel intense or overwhelming, with the industry pushing extreme routines and unrealistic standards, from rigid diets to 10-step morning rituals. That’s exactly the kind of noise Ryde: sets out to disrupt with our “Wellbeing Made Easier” campaign.

We saw an opportunity to flip the script. People are increasingly fatigued by the endless and often absurd wellness trends fighting for their attention. Laughter became our strategic way in. It’s universal, disarming, and creates an immediate sense of connection. Humour allowed us to cut through the clutter while making a bold point: wellbeing shouldn’t feel like a full-time job.

That’s where our parody came in. We wanted to poke fun at some of the wellness industry’s more over-the-top moments (think: goat yoga). The result was content that’s entertaining, relatable, and grounded in a truth we’ve all felt – wellbeing has gotten out of hand.

But while the campaign leans into fun, Ryde: remains rooted in science. Scientifically backed and developed by experts, the extensive research and testing behind Ryde: is what ultimately makes the product stand out. That’s why the humour focuses on the wellness industry overall, not on Ryde: itself.

We’re seeing a rise in “low-lift, high-impact” habits. What are some of your favourite small daily rituals that make a big difference in your well-being?

We love this shift, people are realizing that wellness doesn’t have to be intense or time-consuming to be meaningful. For me, it’s the small, consistent habits that really add up. Things like stepping outside first thing in the morning for a few deep breaths, taking a quick midday walk without my phone, or even just setting a 10-minute timer to unplug between meetings.

Ryde: feels very modern and approachable—how important was that in branding and connecting with consumers who are burned out by traditional wellness marketing?

Our core audience is people looking to simplify their lives. Those who are ambitious, on-the-go individuals who are proactive about their wellbeing. They’re balancing demanding careers, social lives, and wellness routines, but they don’t have time for complexity. What resonates with them is simplicity: products that are effective, science-backed, and easy to work into their day without disrupting it.

They also gravitate toward brands with personality – ones that feel modern, self-aware, and don’t take themselves too seriously. That’s where this campaign concept connects. By leaning into humour and cultural commentary, we’re cutting through the noise in a way that feels relatable and refreshing, without sacrificing credibility.

We’re also intentional about where and how we show up. From influencer partnerships and earned media to city-based activations and a strong presence across Meta, TikTok and YouTube, our goal is to meet our audience in the channels they already trust – creating connection through relevance, not interruption.

If Ryde: were a playlist, what songs would be on it? Give us a taste of what the brand sounds like!

If Ryde: were a playlist, it would be a clean, confident, feel-good energy playlist with zero pressure. Think of it as your soundtrack for getting things done and winding down, depending on your mood or your shot.

For Energize, we’d kick it off with tracks that are upbeat, and give you that ready-to-go feeling you get.

For Focus, we’d include music you can zone in with, cool, clear, and quietly powerful.

And for Relax, the vibe completely shifts as we want to wind down, not wind up. Think slow and soft songs with a chill vibe.

The Ryde: playlist would be the perfect mix of functional and feel-good, just like the brand itself. A little energy, a little focus, a little calm, press play on whatever you need.

Looking ahead, what does the future of wellness look like—and how does Ryde: plan to stay ahead of the curve (without making it complicated)?

We believe the future of wellness is personal, flexible, and radically uncomplicated. People are moving away from one-size-fits-all routines and starting to define health on their own terms, whether that’s a quiet walk instead of a workout class, or a 60ml shot instead of a complicated wellness routine.

We’re not here to chase trends, we’re here to simplify what actually works. That means continuing to develop science-backed, functional products that fit into real life, not just ideal scenarios. Whether you’re at your desk, on the go, or winding down, Ryde: is about giving you what you need in that moment, without the overwhelm, the rituals, or the wellness pressure.

As wellness evolves, we’re focused on staying intuitive, efficient, and real. Because we know people don’t need more complexity, they need smarter, simpler ways to feel good. And that’s exactly where Ryde: thrives.

Win! A $160 Ryde: Soft Wellness Prize Pack!

Congrats Mandy M. of Vancouver, BC, who will receive a Ryde: Prize Pack including 3 x Ryde: discovery packs, a Ryde: branded heat pad, a notebook, a t-shirt, and a roll-on from Saje! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadailymedia. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.