Why Movement Should Feel Joyful: Colette Dong on Building the ness and Bringing Wellness to Luxury Hotels

The co-founder and CEO of the ness shares how she turned a dancer's cross-training routine into a thriving wellness brand, why luxury hotels are becoming partners in healthy living, and why movement should feel joyful, not like another item on your to-do list.

Luxury hotels have spent years expanding their wellness offerings, from destination spas to biohacking treatments and fitness studios. Increasingly, though, the focus is shifting from adding more amenities to helping guests maintain the routines that make them feel their best, wherever they are.

Few people understand that shift better than Colette Dong. A former dancer and movement educator, Dong is the co-founder and CEO of the ness, the New York wellness brand known for its signature trampoline-based workouts that blend cardio, strength and joy. What began as a new way to cross-train has grown into a lifestyle brand spanning a Tribeca studio, a digital platform with more than 1,000 on-demand classes and, most recently, an in-room wellness partnership with The Wall Street Hotel.

In this herstory, Colette shares how she turned an unconventional idea into a thriving business, why community sits at the heart of wellness, what luxury hotels can learn about creating meaningful guest experiences, and why the healthiest routines are often the simplest.

You describe the ness as a lifestyle brand rather than simply a fitness studio. What was the vision from the beginning?

The ness has always been about much more than a workout. From day one, I wanted it to feel like a lifestyle brand that genuinely improves people's quality of life and how they feel every day.

Community has always been a huge part of that. We care deeply about the experience we're creating, from the environment and energy to the design of the space. We wanted to build something thoughtful and beautiful rather than just another fitness product people consume.

Ultimately, it's about creating a place people genuinely want to come back to because of how it makes them feel.

Luxury hotels are investing heavily in wellness. Why do you think the hospitality industry has become such a natural fit for the ness?

The best hotels are already thinking about many of the same things we are. They're focused on hospitality, experience and how people feel during their stay.

We've hosted retreats and pop-ups with hotels before as a way of bringing our community together in different places, but partnering with The Wall Street Hotel is the first time we've brought the ness directly into the guest room experience.

Because we already have more than 1,000 on-demand classes on our digital platform alongside our Tribeca studio, extending that into a hotel felt like a very natural next step.

Tell us about the experience guests can expect at The Wall Street Hotel.

We created a collection of classes specifically for hotel guests because travel changes your routine.

Maybe you've just stepped off a long-haul flight. Maybe you've been sitting in meetings all day. Or maybe you just want to move for ten minutes before dinner. We wanted to make movement feel approachable and genuinely helpful rather than another item on your to-do list.

The classes range from 10 to 30 minutes, so guests can choose what suits them that day. There's a lymphatic drainage session that's wonderful after flying, more energetic cardio workouts if you want a mood boost, and some classes even incorporate furniture already in the room, like the hotel bench.

My favourite part is that guests can even have one of our trampolines delivered to their room. Suddenly your suite becomes your own private studio, which feels really fun and unexpected. And if guests want the full experience, the concierge can arrange a class at our Tribeca studio.

More people are trying to maintain healthy routines while they travel. How has that changed the way you think about wellness?

Wellness and travel are becoming much more connected because people don't want to abandon the routines that help them feel good simply because they're away from home.

The biggest obstacle is usually friction. Travel is unpredictable, schedules change, and suddenly finding time for a workout feels complicated.

What I love about this partnership is that it removes those barriers. You don't need to travel across the city or block out an hour in your calendar. You can simply press play and move for ten minutes if that's what you have.

A lot of hotels talk about wellness, but it's often limited to putting a Pilates class on the schedule and hoping guests attend. The Wall Street Hotel really thought about how people actually move through their day and built something that feels intentional.

The ness is built around rebounding. What makes trampoline training so effective?

Rebounding is incredibly effective because it's low impact but highly challenging. The trampoline absorbs the force of movement, making it much kinder on your joints, while the unstable surface forces your body to work harder for balance and coordination.

It's excellent cardiovascular exercise, and that's particularly important because heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women. It also supports lymphatic drainage, helps strengthen the pelvic floor, promotes bone density and improves balance and stability.

But beyond all of the science, it's simply joyful. I think people sometimes forget that movement is allowed to be fun.

As a founder, what has entrepreneurship taught you?

Probably to trust my instincts.

The most interesting things I've built came from following an idea that didn't necessarily fit the conventional wisdom. If I'd always listened to the loudest opinions in the room, the ness probably wouldn't exist.

Building a company also teaches you that experience matters just as much as the product itself. People remember how you make them feel.

Quickfire with Colette

What is your morning routine? I wake up and immediately use my TheraFace hot and cold eye tool because my eyes get really dry overnight. The heat feels incredibly luxurious.

Then I do my skincare routine, brush my teeth, work my way through all my various potions and serums, and head into some kind of movement.

Ideally that's either a workout or a walk outside with sunlight in my eyes first thing to help reset my circadian rhythm.

And then... coffee.

What's one wellness myth you wish people would stop believing? That there's a shortcut. There's so much conversation around longevity stacks, supplements and peptides, but honestly, you can't out-hack the fundamentals.

Community, good nutrition, quality sleep and regular movement are still the most powerful things you can do for your health.

What are you reading or listening to right now? One of my favourite novels is Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I heard it's being adapted into a film, so I'm tempted to read it again.

Podcast-wise, I've been listening to Savior Complex, hosted by my friend Kiko. It blends spirituality, healing and humour, and feels much more like spending time with funny friends than sitting through a lecture.

Finally, what's the best career advice you've followed—and what advice have you learned to ignore? I don't actually take much unsolicited advice. People are often very quick to tell you what they think you should do without really listening to what you're trying to build. The best advice usually comes when you've actively sought out someone whose perspective you genuinely respect.

The advice I've learned to ignore is anything that encourages playing it safe. The most rewarding things I've created have come from trusting my instincts rather than following consensus.