Meet the Curators
We've been exploring what it means to live well since long before anyone called it the wellness industry.
We're Barbara Choy and Michael Parker. We've been together since 1997, and health, fitness, personal development and spirituality have been part of our lives almost from the beginning.
Michael studied exercise science and became an Exercise Physiologist. His interest has always been in understanding the human body, how it works and what helps it perform and recover.
Barbara's journey took a different direction. Working in marketing and events, she was involved in promoting some of the leading voices in personal development and spirituality, including Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer. She also worked with event companies behind the Mind Body Spirit Festival.
We didn't just work around these ideas. We embraced them in our own lives, even taking part in Tony Robbins' famous firewalk experience.
These were the days when yoga, meditation and alternative approaches to wellbeing were still finding their way into mainstream Australian life. We were fascinated by it all.
Eventually, our personal interests became our professional lives.
We originally planned to open a wellness clinic. Then, in 2008, an unexpected opportunity led us into the gym business as well. Between MO+ our wellness clinic and Bondi Gym, we've spent years working with people, learning from practitioners and seeing firsthand how differently we all experience health and wellbeing.
And we've changed along the way.
Our Philosophy
What began with an interest in physical health and the mind–body connection has grown into a much broader understanding of wellbeing, including consciousness, human potential, how we are all connected and the many things that influence how we experience life.
But throughout those years, one thing has remained constant. We've always cared about people and wanted to share what we've learnt to help others live better lives.
It's more than a professional interest. It's something that has given our lives meaning and purpose.
We value science, experience and practical knowledge. We also believe there's much more to discover about ourselves and what it means to live well.
That's where The Renewal Edit comes in.
It's our way of sharing what we've discovered over the years, along with the things we're still learning about. Sometimes that's a product we genuinely love. Sometimes it's a practitioner, a place, a practice or an idea that changes how we think.
Our shop is one part of that story. Through The Edit, we also want to share the conversations, experiences and perspectives that have shaped our lives — and continue to shape them.
After almost 30 years together, we still believe there's so much more to learn, experience and share.
And if there's one thing those years have taught us, it's that living well is about much more than looking after our physical health.
It's about living a fuller life, in whatever way that means to you.
Barbara Choy + Michael Parker
Founders of The Renewal Edit
Barbara Choy, MO+ Wellness Curator - featured in Harper's Bazaar Australia, February 2025