Redefining Wellness

Wellness, as we've come to understand it, seems out of reach for most people at a time when we need it the most

The word wellness conjures up images that have been shoved in our faces online or in magazines. What often comes to mind is beautiful people with glowing skin drinking green juices in white, minimalist luxury homes. This exclusive understanding of wellness is offputting for many and a fantasy-land for others.

How “Wellness” Changed Over Time (thanks chatgpt!)

The idea of wellness hasn’t always looked like this. The word has shifted alongside our culture — shaped by medicine, marketing, and the human desire to feel better.

1650s–1800s: Simply “Being Well”The earliest use of wellness was straightforward: the opposite of illness. It described a basic state of health — no ideology, no industry attached.

Early 1900s: The Public Health EraAs modern cities emerged, so did efforts to prevent disease through sanitation, nutrition, and movement. Wellness became more than an individual state; it was tied to environment and community.

1950s–1970s: The Holistic TurnThe modern wellness movement began with physician Halbert Dunn, who described “high-level wellness” in 1959 as a dynamic balance of body, mind, and spirit. Later advocates like John Travis opened wellness centers that emphasized mindfulness, connection, and self-awareness — not consumer products.

1980s–1990s: Corporate WellnessBy the late 20th century, the term was adopted by workplaces eager to improve productivity and reduce healthcare costs. Wellness programs became standard HR perks, reframing well-being as a measure of performance.

2000s–2010s: The Wellness Industry BoomIn the digital age, wellness exploded into a trillion-dollar global market. It was rebranded as a lifestyle — yoga studios, organic diets, luxury retreats, and minimalist aesthetics. The focus shifted from being well to appearing well.

2020s–Present: Reclaiming the MeaningThen came the pandemic, and with it, a reckoning. Suddenly, wellness wasn’t about luxury; it was about survival, rest, and community. The conversation began to shift back toward accessibility and care. People started asking: Who is wellness really for?

The Problem of Purity

Clean living is not what everyone needs to be well. This pursuit of purity asks us to optimize our bodies, schedules, and emotions when many of us are feeling depleted of time, energy and resources. But the truth is, wellness was never supposed to be pure. It was supposed to be whole — messy, adaptive, and deeply human.

Redefining Wellness for Real Life

Wellness needs a more inclusive definition that is free of perfection and wealth and grounded in connection with real people, real physical spaces, and nature. It might be nice to escape the chaos of the world by flying off to a yoga retreat in Bali, but isn't it even better to feel a sense of belonging at home?

Here are some down-to-earth wellness practices that can make a big difference:

• Learning breathing techniques for particular situations

• Learning body sensations and self-regulation skills

• Managing sleep issues with herbs, self-compassion and lifestyle adjustments

• Increasing anti-inflammatory foods while reducing white foods (white sugar/white flour) and red meat

• Intermittent fasting (for some people)

• Having coffee meetups and dinner plans on your calendar

• Getting out in the morning light

• Moving the body in a way that brings you joy - even if the joy only comes when you're done;-)

In my practice, I motivate my clients to view wellness through a humanistic lens. Each of us possesses a natural capacity to enhance our mental and physical health, and with the right guidance, we can discover our personal path to wellbeing.