Hi Warriors, hope you are well! If you have been a visitor to my little corner of the web, you probably are aware that I like to run a year long series most years. These are usually topics that require more time and space than a singular blog post will easily allow for. I also typically cover topics that clients and students ask about often. This year, I’ve got a bit of a departure, though.
When I started this blog almost five years ago (!!!), “wellness” was still on the upswing. I chose the name Mental Muscle Wellness because I am a trained exercise physiologist who has struggled with my own mental health. I have been privileged to work with many different types of clients across different seasons of life to address exercise, movement, and ALL its benefits. I also strongly believe in the interconnected Dimensions of Wellness (see last year’s series).
In the ensuing years, though, “wellness” has taken on a more notorious connotation. As companies have preyed on women through tagging products part of self care and influencers have peddled gimmicks, unsubstantiated products, and straight up snake oil, the term “wellness” has become associated with disingenuous practices.
Wellness, as I state over and over again, is an active pursuit of good health in many different dimensions. Wellness practices can include everything from a fitness routine, meal prep, budgeting, engaging in hobbies, and connecting with loved ones. There is no one singular path to wellness as it is different for each of us. The pursuit of wellness means cultivating those consistent habits that help us feel physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially strong and centered.
“Wellness” as a culture is just another insidious iteration of Diet Culture. Many of the products hocked are aimed towards relaxation and stress relief. These focus on the external though: face masks, jade rollers, bath salts and the like. Disguised as self care or mental health practices, you buy something to take care of your outward appearance. The ones that aren’t “focused on mental health” remind you even louder that your physical body is not enough.
The current Wellness Culture focus is on purchasing things to solve issues. This gym membership will help you get in better shape. This eye mask will help improve sleep quality. And this is filtering down to younger and younger individuals. See “That Girl” Morning Routines.
Wellness, as it has been corrupted, is a response to the real need that many of us have for more balance in our lives. I’ll let that statement sink in for a moment.
In the modern world, most of us are working longer hours, expected to handle more job responsibilities than previous generations, and to do so for the same pay. We also juggle more family obligations with fewer or more expensive resources. Hence why we seem more stressed.
But wellness should not be only for those who are already well off. Wellness Culture is gatekeeping true wellness from the majority of us who don’t have the excess money or time. True wellness doesn’t come because you purchased something, be it something physical or someone else’s time.
Wellness Culture is also working hand in hand with Diet Culture to keep the idea of what is good/bad to do at the forefront. High intensity workouts are still deemed “better.” Organic foods are “better” than conventional. The clothing we wear to the gym should look a certain way. The way we speak to clients and students betrays age, gender, and identity biases.
So this year, I want to take some time to examine the way practitioners, from personal trainers to dieticians to coaches, are gatekeepers. I want to call out some of the things we do, consciously and unconsciously, that we need to, at the very least, be aware of. And in many cases actively work to change.
I am hoping that by examining the ways we can do better by our clients, those of you reading will note some red flags to be aware of should you be in the market to hire one of us. Everyone, regardless of age, gender, identity, race, ethnicity, religion, creed, or color has the right to pursue wellness. And to do so with thoughtful and generous guidance.
Stay tuned for Part 1, Exercise Intensity and Duration in February!
