In 1891, Dr. Luther Gulick proposed a red triangle as the YMCA symbol. “YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) was established in 1844 in London as a Christian community to promote spiritual and healthy lifestyle.” In his words, the equal sides of the triangle stood for “man’s essential unity–body, mind, and spirit–each being a necessary and eternal part of man, being neither one alone but all three.”
Health, wellness, or wellbeing? In our society, we often view health through the lens of physical health rather than physical, mental, and emotional health. And we often define good health as the absence of illness or disability.
However, in this frame, let’s see the difference between health, wellness, and well-being.
Health is a state of being
Wellness is the state of living a healthy lifestyle
Wellbeing is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.
For so long we have been focusing on physical health, but over the years, we started giving equal importance to mental and emotional health as well. Overall, we started focusing on wellness and wellbeing.
Let’s talk about the wellness trends that will shape up this year!
Experiential Wellness: Wellness is not just an appointment anymore! It is an experience that is bringing individuals out of their comfort zone. More and more people want to experience wellness, no matter where they are. “In fact, 47% of Americans surveyed attended a wellness event or experience last year—and 55% want to attend at least one this year.”
There are several categories in experiential wellness, that are designed to take users out of their element and engage them with their peers and therapist through authentic interactions that are not always possible in traditional group therapy.
- Yoga
- Music healing
- Guided meditation
- Group activities
- Outdoor activities
- Wellness spas and retreats
Emotional Wellness: It is one of the most challenging wellness experiences that is there. Over the years, we failed to acknowledge the need for emotional wellness in our life. A big part of this wellness dimension is all about being able to express and acknowledge one’s feelings. Talking to a professional therapist or confiding in a close friend in times of need are a couple of ways to boost emotional wellness.
It inspires self-care, self-love, relaxation, stress reduction, and the development of inner strength. It briefly involves channeling both positive and negative thoughts or energy and overcoming them with a positive attitude.
Now, there are more and more fitness classes and wellness treatments that are incorporating mindfulness and emotional healing.
Corporate Wellness: Corporate wellness is nothing new. It is a process of incorporating meditation and mindfulness into employer-sponsored wellness programs. According to an article from the National Center for Biotechnology Information: “Uptake of mindfulness programs in the workplace has grown as organizations look to support employee health, wellbeing, and performance.”
Mindfulness in the workplace can improve:
- Teamwork
- Listening skills
- Coordination of team members
- Empathy and compassion
- Increased productivity
- Engagement
It’s not just employees who benefit from a happy, healthy workplace, but the employers, too, can enjoy plenty of benefits including greater productivity and employee satisfaction that creates a safe and positive working environment.
RnR Wellness: Rapha and Restoration (Rapha is a Hebrew word that means to heal). It is quite simple, that sleep is one of the most common things to living a healthy and productive life. Lack of sleep or poor sleep can lead to stress, poor habits, increased work pressures.
Let’s check the stats:
“60% of Americans say they’re frequently exhausted at work. Nearly 22% say they regularly nap in their cars during the week.”
Though the majority say they’re more productive after a midday nap, very few employers or organizations encourage this practice. “Almost 71% of people want to try nap pods at the office. So far, though, only 16% of workers say their companies offer a place for shut-eye.” However, over time, more workplaces are focusing on wellness.
For a person to be productive and active, a quality midday zzzs is quite necessary.
Summing Up
This year, we’ll see more healing of the body the mind, and the soul, through integrative health. Here’s to a year focused on fun and unique wellness opportunities.