For most of us, the word “wellness” evokes a pleasant response and a general positive feeling—for good reason.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “the quality or state of being in good health, especially as an actively sought goal.”
But what, exactly, does wellness entail?
The National Wellness Institute, Inc., founded in 1977 by a group of health and wellness professionals in Stevens Point, WI, identifies six distinct dimensions: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, occupational, and spiritual. Other groups, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), suggest two more: environmental and financial.
Over the past decade, wellness programs, services, and products have proliferated in health clubs, which now offer their members a wide variety of options that touch upon these areas.
For participants, the payoffs are clear, numerous, and far-reaching, and include, among others, a healthier lifestyle; a stronger feeling of well-being; adherence to a customized workout regimen; and attainment of personal goals, such as weight loss and smoking cessation.
For providers, the business benefits, though less obvious, are equally impressive.