Reimagining Rest: How Royal Therapy Is Reshaping the Sleep Wellness Industry

An expert conversation with Sergiy Nagornyy, Founder of Royal Therapy  

In recent years, the sleep wellness industry has undergone a transformation that is both scientific and deeply personal. Once driven primarily by aesthetics and thread count, today’s bedding market is defined by innovation, data, and an understanding of how sleep quality directly impacts physical and mental health. From ergonomic pillow design to temperature-regulating mattresses and smart bedding systems, the category has evolved from a commodity into a critical element of preventive wellness.

The global bedding industry alone is projected to surpass $74 billion by 2027, with orthopedic sleep solutions representing one of the fastest-growing segments. Key players such as Tempur-Pedic, Sleep Number, and Casper have shaped consumer expectations through advanced materials, brand equity, and sleep science. Yet, a wave of agile, research-driven startups has entered the field – offering more personalized, adaptable solutions for today’s demanding consumers.

One of the most compelling challengers in this space is Royal Therapy, a U.S.-based brand founded by wellness entrepreneur Sergiy Nagornyy. While legacy giants like Tempur-Pedic dominate with proprietary materials and brand loyalty, Royal Therapy has carved out a fast-growing niche by doing what many larger players cannot: delivering fully adjustable, multi-layer orthopedic pillows that evolve with the sleeper.

Tempur-Pedic offers high-end memory foam products with a single-firmness design – leaving users to adapt to the pillow, rather than the other way around. Royal Therapy reverses that equation. Its 3- and 4-layer pillow systems allow users to tailor height, firmness, and contour in real time – addressing changing needs due to age, injury, or sleep position. This modularity transforms the pillow from a static object into a customizable sleep tool backed by ergonomic science.

Made with CertiPUR-US® certified foams and OEKO-TEX® certified bamboo-blend covers, Royal Therapy pillows have gained strong traction in competitive online marketplaces, including thousands of five-star Amazon reviews and frequent ranking among the platform’s top-rated cervical support products. Endorsed by physical therapists and wellness practitioners, the brand delivers clinical-grade performance in a consumer-accessible format.

Rather than compete on brand legacy, Royal Therapy competes on functionality, flexibility, and user empowerment – offering a practical and personal alternative to the “one-size-fits-all” luxury model. For modern consumers who expect personalization in every aspect of health, Royal Therapy’s approach offers more than comfort – it offers control.

In the interview that follows, Sergiy Nagornyy shares his insights on the future of wellness, the role of technology in sleep optimization, and how entrepreneurs can build credible, sustainable brands in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

How do you see the development of the wellness industry in the next 5–10 years? What key trends do you believe will define the market?  

Sergiy Nagornyy: The wellness industry is no longer a trend – it’s a structural transformation of how people live, work, and age. Over the next 5 to 10 years, we will see wellness evolve into an integrated system across healthcare, technology, design, and policy. The Global Wellness Institute projects that the global wellness economy will reach $8.5 trillion by 2027, driven by preventative health, mental wellness, and sleep optimization.

Beyond the numbers, what’s more striking is the shift in mindset: wellness is becoming proactive, data-informed, and hyper-personalized. One of the most compelling developments will be the integration of biometric data – blood glucose, HRV, cortisol levels – into everyday decision-making. Just as smartphones disrupted communication, biometric awareness is reshaping our behavior around stress, sleep, and nutrition.

We’ll also see a redefinition of aging. The longevity economy is booming, with consumers over 50 spending over $15 trillion globally, yet many brands still design for youth. That will change. Another underappreciated trend is the rise of architectural wellness. Concepts like circadian lighting, biophilic design, and “well buildings” are moving from luxury to mainstream, influencing schools, offices, and homes.

At its core, the future of wellness will be about measurable, functional improvements in daily life – not aspirational lifestyles.

How are technologies like mobile apps and wearable devices changing people’s approach to wellness? What innovations do you consider most significant?  

Sergiy Nagornyy: Technology is giving wellness a feedback loop. What used to be intuitive—like feeling tired or anxious – can now be quantified in real time, and that’s transformational. Wearables and apps are not just recording health data – they’re shaping habits, nudging behavior, and creating accountability. The number of wearable users globally surpassed 1.1 billion in 2023, and it’s not slowing down.

But beyond step counts and calorie tracking, we’re entering a more nuanced phase. I believe the most powerful innovations are those that combine sensors with AI-driven interpretation. Devices like the Oura Ring, Garmin, and WHOOP now analyze heart rate variability, sleep stages, and temperature changes to provide insight into readiness and recovery.

Sleep tech, in particular, is experiencing a significant evolution. Not only can wearables detect sleep disruptions with clinical accuracy, but they can also suggest environmental changes – such as room temperature, pillow height, or light exposure – for improved rest.

One fascinating, lesser-known frontier is digital scent delivery, which may soon allow users to experience calming aromas or cognitive-enhancing scents through connected devices – opening a new sensory dimension to wellness tech. Another promising breakthrough is non-invasive glucose monitoring, poised to revolutionize personalized nutrition.

In essence, the real innovation lies not in the devices themselves, but in how they enhance biological self-awareness and drive behavioral change.

How has consumer perception of wellness evolved in recent years? What factors have contributed to this shift?  

Sergiy Nagornyy: The consumer perception of wellness has undergone a profound transformation – from something aesthetic and optional to something essential and multi-dimensional. Ten years ago, wellness was often equated with spa treatments, diets, or fitness memberships. Today, it’s about resilience, recovery, and cognitive function. This shift is deeply rooted in post-pandemic behavior. COVID-19 exposed the fragility of our healthcare systems and mental health infrastructure, and it forced individuals to re-evaluate their baseline of well-being.

As a result, consumers are looking at wellness through a more scientific lens. There is a growing demand for evidence-based solutions, backed by data and transparent testing. According to McKinsey’s 2024 Health & Wellness Survey, 70% of consumers now actively research ingredients and material safety before purchasing wellness products. Sleep, which was once undervalued, has moved to the center of this shift.

People now understand that poor sleep isn’t just a nuisance – it’s linked to metabolic syndrome, depression, and cognitive decline. Wellness is now seen not as a one-time intervention but as a continuous process requiring daily reinforcement. A fascinating trend is the rise of “emotional ergonomics” – designing physical spaces and routines not just for efficiency, but for emotional regulation.

Essentially, today’s wellness consumer demands outcomes, transparency, and personalization in every interaction. At Royal Therapy, we’ve seen how this plays out in the demand for our modular pillow systems – customers want adaptability that aligns with their changing physiology, not just a product that looks good on a shelf.

How do you see the wellness industry interacting with sectors like sports, nutrition, and medicine? What opportunities do you see for cross-sector collaboration?  

Sergiy Nagornyy: The lines between wellness, sports, nutrition, and medicine are rapidly dissolving. What we’re witnessing is a functional integration – a merging of ecosystems that were previously siloed. Athletes are partnering with sleep scientists, doctors are prescribing meditation apps, and dietitians are analyzing gut microbiome data with AI platforms. This cross-pollination is not only inevitable – it’s necessary.

From my perspective, sleep is where many of these sectors converge. For example, elite athletes now treat sleep like a training variable, using sleep trackers to optimize HRV and reduce inflammation. Meanwhile, in clinical settings, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is being integrated with nutrition plans and mindfulness routines to address root causes of sleep disorders holistically.

One exciting opportunity lies in functional nutrition personalized by chronotype – the idea that our meal timing and composition should be based on individual circadian rhythms. Another is precision rest, where ergonomics experts and medical researchers collaborate on customized rest solutions for specific health conditions.

At Royal Therapy, we’ve worked with sleep-focused physiotherapists to develop 3- and 4-layer pillows that adapt to the cervical spine over time – supporting better musculoskeletal alignment for various body types. At its core, this kind of interdisciplinary design holds the potential to improve long-term health outcomes, not just comfort.

What opportunities exist for startups in the wellness sector? What are your key recommendations for entrepreneurs entering this space?  

Sergiy Nagornyy: Wellness is one of the few sectors where growth remains resilient despite economic downturns – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The opportunities are immense, particularly in underserved niches such as women’s hormonal health, mental recovery, workplace well-being, and sleep-related innovation.

What excites me most is the rising demand for “quiet wellness” – solutions that are passive, invisible, and embedded in daily life, like smart bedding, circadian lighting, or adaptive furniture. My advice to wellness entrepreneurs is simple: solve real problems, not trends. The market doesn’t need another scented candle. It needs intelligent design, interdisciplinary thinking, and solutions that create measurable change.

Many startups make the mistake of being either too technical or too lifestyle-focused. The real opportunity lies in bridging the two. Material innovation, for instance, is still a relatively untapped frontier. Responsive fabrics, antiviral textiles, and biodegradable foams will redefine how wellness products are perceived.

When it comes down to it, wellness is not a viral market – it’s a trust market. Entrepreneurs who prioritize scientific validation, authentic communication, and long-term relationships will succeed in building lasting value.

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As wellness continues to evolve into one of the defining industries of our era, entrepreneurs and innovators face both extraordinary opportunity and responsibility. It’s no longer enough to offer comfort; brands must deliver measurable health benefits, evidence-based design, and long-term value. For Sergiy Nagornyy and Royal Therapy, the journey from concept to market leadership has been shaped by a deep respect for science, user needs, and the fundamental human pursuit of restorative sleep. In an industry built on trust, those values may well be the most essential ingredient of all.