WellcommATX [09.29.25]

WellcommATX is the email newsletter bringing you the best of Austin’s wellness community. Get On The List and get WellcommATX sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who would love WellcommATX? Then please forward our email or tag them on one of our IG posts. Email [email protected] or slide into our DMs with your tips.

[HIGH FIVE] We gave a High Five to Sam Hendel, Founder of GOOD GRiEF and based in Austin, TX.

WellcommATX: Where do you work…out?

Sam Hendel: I'm a big runner, so I typically run outside four to five days a week! Outside of that, I love taking group classes at Barry’s, Homebody Studios, and LOVE Cycling Studio!

WATX: What does wellness mean to you?

SH: Wellness to me is balance: caring for both mind and body while also building meaningful connections. Movement is my anchor, but true wellness is about creating spaces where people feel supported, seen, and able to grow through both joy and challenge. That's why GOOD GRiEF has been such an important space for me.

WATX: What are your wellness goals over the next twelve months?

SH: The past two years were huge training years for me: I ran three marathons plus a handful of other races, really pushing myself to get faster and stronger. Over the next twelve months, I want to step back from racing and reconnect with the joy of running: moving without a watch and running to feel good. I’m also shifting my focus toward strength training and building muscle to create a stronger foundation.

WATX: Who are some people who inspire you, motivate you, or keep you accountable when it comes to your wellness?

SH: There are so many incredible people who inspire and motivate me, especially everyone at GOOD GRiEF. My GOOD GRiEF co-lead, Krista Chester, always pushes me, my coaches, Hope Hill and Jesse Ruiz, and so many more in the Austin wellness community.

WATX: What advice would you share with someone looking to change their wellness routine?

SH: Find the type of movement you genuinely enjoy and lean into it. If running excites you, connect with others who will run alongside you and keep you accountable. If Pilates lights you up, join the studio that makes you feel your best. When you look forward to moving, it stops feeling like a chore and starts becoming something you can’t wait to do. I also think community plays a huge role in wellness. Instead of defaulting to happy hour, invite a friend to go for a walk, take a class together, or grab a coffee after a workout. Small choices like that, repeated consistently, compound over time and make the biggest impact.

Know a fitness instructor in Austin who deserves a High Five? Click here to submit your nomination so we can consider them for a future WellcommATX High Five profile!

That’s this week’s edition of WellcommATX. Like what you read? Get On The List and get future editions sent directly to your inbox. Have a friend who needs to read WellcommATX? Forward our email to them. Drop us a line at [email protected] or slide in with tips. Until next time, take care of yourself, and take care of each other.

Go For It,

Your WellcommATX Team (@wellcommatx)

Transform Your Self. Transform Your Community. Transform Your World.