Anaya Barmecha is a visionary entrepreneur at the forefront of experiential wellness gifting. Her journey into the wellness space began a few years ago, following a breath-work session that profoundly impacted her life. Motivated by her own experience, she embarked on a mission to facilitate personal transformation for others through wellness experiences. As the co-founder and CEO of theTokenSpace, she offers a unique and impactful gifting solution, allowing users to gift online wellness coaching sessions – personalized to the recipient. Her mission: to inspire positive change and enhance well-being, one gift at a time.
Anaya Barmecha, CEO
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
Hello! My name is Anaya Barmecha and I’m the Co-Founder & CEO of theTokenSpace. Although I'm currently based in New York City, my story spans several continents. I was born in Israel, grew up in upstate New York, and have roots in India, with my family now residing in Geneva, Switzerland. My educational journey took me to Boston for my undergraduate studies, enriching my life with a diverse set of perspectives. This unique blend of cultures has fostered my deep appreciation for travel, cultural exploration, and languages.
I'm an extremely active person, a trait heavily influenced by my family. Growing up, I loved partaking in martial arts, dance, and soccer. My parents, who are remarkably fit—my mom can still bench double my weight!—also introduced us to the world of adventure sports.
One of my most vivid memories involves standing at the edge of a cliff during a family hiking trip, clad in a wetsuit, as the instructor encouraged us to jump into the water below. Despite the intimidating drop, we took the instructor's advice, crossed our arms, and one by one, plunged into the unknown.
That moment, feeling the rush of air and the exhilarating plunge into the cold water, was when I truly grasped the meaning of taking a "leap of faith." Ever since, the philosophy of embracing challenges head-on has been a constant in my life, shaping my approach to personal and professional endeavors.
Why were you inspired to start on your entrepreneurial journey?
My journey into entrepreneurship is deeply inspired by my family's courage. My grandfather moved to Israel from India with little more than a vision and determination, and my father boldly continued to expand our family's horizons. Their ability to embrace risk and build something meaningful from scratch has instilled in me a profound belief in the power of entrepreneurship.
Equally inspiring has been my mother's insatiable appetite for learning. From acquiring new languages to pursuing diverse educational paths, she has taught me the value of continuous self-improvement.
My family has been my guiding light, illuminating the path I've chosen to follow. Their examples have convinced me that with persistence, the pursuit of knowledge, and the bravery to venture into uncharted territories, one can indeed build something
long-lasting and impactful.
Your journey into the wellness space began with a transformative breath-work session. Can you share more about that experience and how it inspired you to venture into experiential wellness gifting?
Growing up, I faced the challenges of hyperhidrosis. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine: “The body uses sweat as a form of temperature control, in order to cool itself. Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating, which means sweating more than normal. People with hyperhidrosis report feelings of social isolation and withdrawal from others in order to avoid touching others.”
As you can imagine, this condition often led to extremely uncomfortable situations. If I ever felt an emotion strongly, I couldn’t escape excessively sweating from my palms and feet alongside it. Exams and shaking hands were the worst!
Despite exploring various treatments and consulting numerous doctors, nothing offered a lasting solution. That is until my aunt introduced me to Pranayama, an ancient breathwork technique – which originates from yogic practices in India.
She had found it remarkably effective for regulating her blood pressure and suggested it might be helpful. Reluctantly, I accepted her gift of a Pranayama session with her coach, and it was nothing short of life-changing.
For the first time, I experienced a sense of control over my body's reactions and a newfound peace within myself. It was a gift that opened my eyes to the power of wellness practices, and more importantly, the value of experiential gifts that can truly transform lives.
This experience was the catalyst for theTokenSpace, as I saw an opportunity to create a platform that facilitates this kind of meaningful impact.
TheTokenSpace offers a unique gifting solution for online wellness coaching sessions. How do you tailor these experiences to ensure they are personalized for each recipient? What sets your approach apart from traditional wellness offerings?
Global & holistic expertise: Our coaches can be found all over the world, with diverse backgrounds and specialities in various holistic wellness practices. From sleep and nutrition to fitness and women's health, we cater to a wide array of interests. This ensures that every individual can find a practice and a coach that truly resonates with them.
Selective expert community: We implement a rigorous vetting and interview process. This ensures that only the most qualified, passionate, and compatible experts join our community. Moreover, we prioritize the growth and connection of our experts just as much as we do for our users.
Intentional matching: Through an initial questionnaire, we eliminate guesswork. Other platforms may require users to sift through options themselves, but we streamline the process by matching users with the ideal session type and coach based on their specific preferences, including interests and coaching styles.
Experience-Driven Approach: Our platform offers a dynamic and interactive way to navigate wellness, with professionals who provide real-time support, advice, and encouragement – fostering a more relatable and effective journey towards well-being.
By focusing on the unique journey of each individual, we ensure that every gift of wellness is not just a session, but a step towards lasting personal growth and transformation.
Can you share a success story or a notable impact that theTokenSpace has had on someone's life? How do you measure the success of your mission to facilitate personal transformation through wellness experiences?
A particularly compelling success story comes from a client facing a pivotal moment in her professional life. She was at a crossroads, grappling with a significant career decision that felt overwhelming and fraught with uncertainty. Through a gifted session from our platform, she found the clarity and guidance she needed:
"I was struggling with a difficult decision in my career, and the session helped me navigate through this challenging time. It was the perfect gift, offering me a chance to understand the pros and cons of my decision in-depth and ultimately helping me figure out my next steps."
The impact of this session went beyond simple decision-making. It provided a space for introspection and alignment, allowing the client to explore her options not just through a logical lens, but in a way that honored her values and aspirations. This wasn't merely about choosing a path; it was about discovering a direction that truly resonated with her, ensuring her decision was made with both mind and heart.
Another heartwarming conversation I had was with a mother of three, who was also balancing the demands of full-time work. She shared how she received a wellness session as a gift from theTokenSpace, marking a rare moment of self-care amidst her hectic schedule. She expressed how she seldom treats herself and that this gift, something she wouldn't have chosen for herself, turned into a deeply cherished experience.
Her story is a poignant reminder of the incredible women in our lives who give so selflessly and often forget to take a moment for themselves. It underscores the power of gifting as a means to show appreciation and empower those we care about, offering them a chance to pause, reflect, and rejuvenate.
These narratives exemplify the essence of what we strive to achieve at theTokenSpace: facilitating moments of clarity and growth that can pivotally influence an individual's life.
What are your future plans for theTokenSpace? Are there new initiatives, partnerships, or developments in the pipeline that you are excited to share with your audience and customers?
Absolutely! We are looking forward to reimagining corporate gifting, rewards, and employee recognition. Our goal is to move beyond the conventional incentives, introducing more meaningful and environmentally sustainable experiences into the corporate world.
The reality is stark: billions are spent annually on corporate gifts that miss the mark, contributing to significant waste. Employee burnout rates are soaring at 77% and a staggering 90.5% of employees dissatisfied with traditional corporate gifts. It's clear a new approach is essential.
We are ready to pioneer this shift, and are keen to forge partnerships with organizations that prioritize their employees' well-being.
Lastly, we are thrilled to share that users now have the option to utilize their FSA/HSA funds with theTokenSpace, and we are exploring partnerships with health insurance companies. Our priority is to make our wellness offerings easily accessible, maximizing impact, and aligning with our commitment to personal transformation.
