Building Authentic Workplace Wellbeing: A Conversation with Sally Lovett, Founder of Stretching the City

Sally Lovett's transition from the high-pressure world of marketing and advertising to wellness entrepreneurship represents more than just a career change—it's a blueprint for how authentic purpose can transform both personal fulfillment and business success. When she founded Stretching the City in 2010, Sally was responding to a deep-seated need she witnessed firsthand: stressed professionals desperately seeking balance in their demanding work lives.

What began as after-hours yoga sessions for burnt-out colleagues has evolved into one of the UK's most respected workplace wellbeing consultancies. Sally's unique combination of corporate insight and wellness expertise—she's a certified yoga teacher, nutritional health coach, and author of 'The Wellbeing Guide to London' (featured in Vogue and the Guardian)—has enabled Stretching the City to bridge the gap between boardroom expectations and genuine human needs.

Today, Sally leads a team of over 100 wellbeing experts, delivering workshops and programs to organizations ranging from government departments to global brands. Her work has been featured in The Times and Conde Nast Traveller, and she regularly speaks at high-profile events for companies like Soho House, Capital FM, and Deloitte. Based in Teddington with her husband and two young sons, Sally continues to champion the belief that workplace wellbeing should be grounded in real-life experience rather than corporate buzzwords.

In this conversation, Sally shares the insights gained from 14 years of transforming workplace culture, one authentic conversation at a time.

What inspired you to start Stretching the City, and how has the vision evolved since its launch in 2010?

Stretching the City began as a side hustle - me teaching yoga to stressed-out office workers after hours. I’d left a marketing job in media and was craving something that felt more purposeful and human. I never set out to build a business,  I just knew people needed a pause button in their workday.

Since those early yoga classes in boardrooms and broom cupboards, our vision has evolved massively. Today, Stretching the City is a full-service wellbeing provider, delivering expert-led workplace wellbeing workshops, webinars and 1:1s to organisations of all shapes and sizes - from government departments to global brands. But the heart of the business remains the same: real people, sharing real-life tools to feel and function better at work.

How do you tailor your corporate wellbeing programs to meet the diverse needs of modern workplaces?

We never offer a one-size-fits-all solution. Every session is shaped by the organisation’s culture, goals and people – whether that’s equipping managers with mental health tools, supporting working parents with boundaries, or running a yoga energiser for a company offsite.

Our team of 100+ experts brings lived experience as well as professional credibility – so we can offer menopause workshops led by women who’ve been through it, or masculinity sessions guided by male mental health advocates. We work across all levels of seniority, and always ensure our content is inclusive, evidence-based, and grounded in the realities of working life today.

What trends are you seeing in the corporate wellness space, and how is Stretching the City adapting to stay ahead?

We’re seeing a shift from surface-level perks to deeper, culture-driven change. Companies aren’t just asking for yoga and smoothie-making anymore – they’re asking how to build psychologically safe teams, reduce burnout, and support people through real-life challenges like grief, parenting and mental illness.

To meet that demand, we’ve developed a whole suite of culture-focused workshops – from psychological safety and active bystander training, to masculinity and digital wellbeing. And we’re not afraid to talk about the tough stuff. Our sessions are honest, human and led by experts with real lived experience – because wellbeing isn’t a tick box, it’s a conversation.

Stretching the City is still a small business, but our size is our strength – we’re agile, personal and passionate. And after 14 years, we’re proud to still be trusted by hundreds of clients who want to make wellbeing more than a buzzword.

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