It’s such a buzzword now—Wellness. The likes of Oprah Winfrey and Gweneth Paltrow are two of the most well known promoters who have popularized it and capitalized upon this emerging market.
To this end, a wellness coach or an industry that might be termed “Wellness” has all the markings of a fad or trend, something for the wealthy or people without real problems to attach to for a short time before it vanishes.
In the twilight of my mind the word seems to be immersed in sap. Speaking it you will hear the echo of self-satisfaction. You could imagine a self-styled cosmopolitan walking with it as a new luxury item along with their Starbucks, grande, blonde, 2 pump skinny vanilla latte, light foam, talking through a bluetooth headset about their new start-up on instagram, dressed in lulu lemon, while e-signing up for evening yoga class.
If you see yourself in what I stated above—I can see a bit of myself in it—take it with a grain of salt. I think it’s healthy and important to acknowledge the element of luxury and materialism that can be associated with contemporary lifestyle.
And there is ample association between wellness, and luxury and materialism, which makes sense, since a major market driving the industry would be beauty and fitness, which in turn informs the sense that wellness is a fad as most beauty and fitness trends are.
Beyond that this industry would seem to be largely non-essential largely driven by an excess of societal wealth and free time (At least until a few weeks ago).
It may be obvious to the reader that the author is taking a rather cynical point-of-view about a subject he purports to be making a blog about, and an industry he will be attempting to enter in some way soon. It is true. I have never been pleased with the term “wellness coach”. It sounds a bit too pretentious, or at least presumptuous to claim, first that you know the way to wellbeing—and not only do I live it every day, but second that I can guide you to this state, and, by-the-way, you’ve been doing it wrong.
Yet, I understand the evolution of the term, and I realize the significance of why it happened (really, a topic for another day), simply put, most medical language, especially the term “health” fits into the legal lexicon, and the regulated world of the medical establishment. People approaching health from alternative avenues needed words that would distinguish themselves.
In considering my vocation, I have attempted reframing the terms. I will expand on this in a different post, but two words in particular stand out because they describe how I see what I do, the words agent and advocate. I intend to be an agent for your wellbeing: a catalyst, spark or motivator, and someone who works on behalf of the health and vitality of someone. I intend to be an advocate, as in an advocate for patients rights, and an advocate an individuals life purpose or goals.
There is an emerging market, and it is not made up of the frills and fads we see marketed to us. There is a health system over burdened and reaching its limit on being able to provide positive return on investment; moreover, there is on a deeper level a dramatic paradigm shift aching to take place in the field of medicine writ large new paths are being forged, trod on by those who have gone on or are currently undertaking serious, foundational healing journeys themselves, I know from experience. These paths have their guides, their drivers, their coaches (I guess I can’t escape that word). It is my goal with this blog and with my practice to help…escort…individuals on their own unique journeys.
More later
Principle Vitality 