Wellness History

The History of Wellness: From Ancient Times to Today

“Wellness” has arguably become a multibillion-dollar industry in the past decade. However, this

trendy term is anything but new. The idea of living “well,” as in living in harmony with the body and

mind, has ancient roots. This article to covers the history of wellness, from its origins to its future.

However, this text does not claim to be complete. Is a rough overview only which is also

influenced by your own opinion.

The Creation of the Word “Wellness”

When you think of wellness, a few things might pop up in your mind. You might think of relaxing at a

spa, meditating, or taking a yoga class. Perhaps you imagine getting a soothing massage. While they

might sound like modern luxuries, practices you might associate with wellness today actually have

roots dating back to ancient times.

Yoga and meditation, for example, have been practiced in Ayurvedic since 3,000 BC. Ayurveda is

based on the idea of living in harmony with the body and mind. It holds a strong belief that the body

is all interconnected, and each person is treated uniquely to accommodate their individual needs.

TCM, short for Traditional Chinese Medicine, is another ancient medical system dating back to 3,000

BC. In addition, TCM, like Ayurveda, holds a strong focus on maintaining harmony and balance in the

body. Traditional Chinese Medicine actually developed some wellness practices that are still popular

today.

However, the word “wellness” did not appear in English dictionaries until the 1650s (Oxford

dictionary). “Wellness,” in this context, was defined as the absence of physical illness or the state of

being physically healthy. As the concept of wellness made its way into the western world, Europe

and America became interested in and built upon these ideas. For example, a German physician

named Christian Hahneman created homeopathy in the 1790s. 100 years later, Canadian-born

Daniel David Palmer completed the world’s first chiropractic adjustment. All of these new holistic

practices were gaining public attention and paving the way for alternative medicine in the western

world.

Wellness Goes Mainstream

The wellness movement entered mainstream consciousness in the 1980s. For example, highly

acclaimed scholars from Berkeley and Harvard began to present research on the benefits of

wellness. In 1977, Wellness expert Dr. Bill Hettler co-founded the National Wellness Institute, which

attracted public attention for its innovative information.

Dr. Bill Hettler and the concept of wellness gained popularity with his creation of The Six Dimensions

of Wellness Model. Many wellness organizations still rely on this model today when planning

services and acquiring resources. In the Six Dimensions of Wellness Model, Hettler breaks down

wellness into six different compartments. He believes that by addressing all of these compartments

or “dimensions,” we can achieve holistic wellness. The six parts are:

1.

Physical Wellness

2.

Emotional Wellness

3.

Spiritual Wellness

4.

Social Wellness

5.

Intellectual Wellness

6.

Occupational Wellness

External Link: www.nationalwellness.org / The Six Dimensions of Wellness

In response to Hettler’s creation of the National Wellness Institute and prestigious universities

publishing research on wellness, the United States began creating government-led programs

promoting wellness to mainstream America. In Europe, similar programs began to emerge.

Wellness did not just catch the interest of the medical and academic worlds. Corporations saw the

potential for achieving “wellness” as a selling point for products. In response to this potential, spas

and fitness gyms began popping up. In addition, celebrities and other influential people began

presenting ideas of wellness to a mainstream audience, which contributed to its popularity. The

emergence of wellness in the public eye was the blossoming of what we now know as the

multibillion-dollar wellness industry today.

The Future of Wellness

The definition of wellness has changed drastically from its original meaning. It is a practice and

lifestyle that advocates for continual growth and self-improvement by living our healthiest lives. This

is not always the easiest goal in our modern society, where so much of our lives are spent sitting

behind a screen. Luckily, there are many ways to achieve wellness today. Taking a yoga class,

meditating, exercising, stretching, and getting a massage are just a few ways to practice wellness.

Above all, wellness is a choice. Simply choosing to add one or two wellness activities to your daily

routine can positively impact your life. So you can may refer Wellness to Health, Well-being, Wellness

in the sense of a word creation out of well-bing and fitness, Wellness tourism, Workplace Wellness,

Medical Wellness, Wellness Hotel, Wellness Resort, Wellness-Spa and so much more. The German

“Duden” even interprets the word Wellness as “well-being achieved through (light) physical activity”.

Conclusion