We were lucky to catch up with Jena Catalano recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jena, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

AIRE Wellness was born from a desire to create a space dedicated to self-care and wellness. I realized the need for a destination where people could prioritize their well-being and gain wellness modalities amidst the hustle culture. Combining my passion for public relations, community, and wellness, I created AIRE.

After experiencing gut health complications and stress-induced drawbacks, I knew I needed to prioritize my well-being. After visiting numerous doctors and experimenting with various diets, I began to heal through multiple wellness modalities and tools. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work on healing, which made me realize the need for a space outside the daily hustle where others could prioritize themselves. This transformative journey inspired me to create AIRE and become a Reiki Practitioner, providing others with the knowledge and resources to embark on their own healing paths.

I merged my passion for PR and wellness by curating events with brand partnerships and sponsorships to create hand-crafted gift bags filled with various wellness products, from supplements and skincare to activewear and beauty items. This allows my community to enjoy a workout or wellness experience and then take home thoughtful products to continue their stress-free self-care routine at home.

Plus, we have now launched Club AIRE, offering members an exclusive experience, including access to live virtual wellness masterclasses featuring top wellness and beauty professionals, curated in-person events, and a like-minded community group chat to connect no matter where you are! Members also have the chance to receive monthly wellness PR boxes and members-only events, all designed to support and enhance their wellness journeys!

Jena, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

While I’ve been practicing yoga for the past eight years, I entered the wellness industry after several years in fashion PR, content marketing, and event coordination. My journey began with working for a Project Runway alumna, where I learned about the business of fashion, hosting and coordinating runway and pop-up events, and customer engagement. Then, my collegiate role at Bumble focused on connecting and cultivating community through fun and creative events. From there, I took on a senior role at a fashion PR firm in DTLA, managing influencer relations and building brand partnerships and events.

AIRE Wellness began with a vision to host events accessible to everyone, especially those with traditional 9-5 jobs. What makes AIRE unique is our community-focused approach—with thoughtful brand partnerships in a way that’s accessible for all. Our signature events and Club AIRE Membership, complete with our custom-made signature gift bags, offer a mix of education, experience, and self-care that lasts beyond the event!

I’m incredibly proud of the inclusive, supportive community we’ve built at AIRE. I want everyone to know that AIRE Wellness is more than just a brand; it’s a space where wellness meets community, and everyone is welcome on their journey to well-being.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I started AIRE in November 2022, and by May 2023, I was hosting events around Los Angeles and collaborating with others in the wellness space. It was a really exciting time. After a successful summer of events—where I was running AIRE mostly on my own with the help of my boyfriend, friends, and family—I hosted a sunset yoga event in October 2023. That’s when I met Lauren Mulne.

She was one of the guests at the event, and after the yoga class, she came up to me, and we just clicked. She told me how much she loved what I was doing and how she’d been looking for a wellness event like AIRE with our curated gift bags and the warm, welcoming community. Then she said, “If you ever need any help, let me know!”

We ended up having a couple of phone calls, and after a brief trial period, it became clear how aligned we were! I’m so grateful to have Lauren as my business partner now—she’s such a kind and sweet soul!

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Yes, my side hustle definitely turned into my full-time business! AIRE started as an online platform focused on educational content about wellness, workouts, recipes, and self-care as a “daily dose of fresh aire.” I always intended to host events from the beginning, but when I launched AIRE in 2022, it was cold in LA—not ideal for outdoor gatherings! So, I focused on building an online presence for the first seven months and grew our community to 30,000 followers.

By summer 2023, I started hosting events, and that’s when AIRE began to scale in the community. We introduced our signature gift bags and partnered with brands, and the response was amazing! Some key milestones were those first successful events, building those brand partnerships, and seeing the community grow and really engage with what we were doing. Watching AIRE evolve from an idea into the thriving wellness business it is today has been an incredible journey, and I’m so grateful to everyone who has been with us along the way!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://airewellness.life
• Instagram: @airewellness
• Other: https://www.handstamp.com/airewellness