How L.A. MindBody Wellness defines "Wellness"

Wellness, we hear the word thrown around more and more, but what does it really mean? Is Wellness as simple as writing in a gratitude journal, having a green juice, thinking positive thoughts, yoga, a workout, and being sure to get in 10k steps a day? Or is there more to it? Is Wellness just the new trendy word for health? And if so, what is health?

Health, as defined by the WHO* is “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."

Wellness is defined by the The Global Wellness Institute as “the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.”

I agree with the above, however feel there is always room to dive deeper.

Wellness is more than simply the lack of a diagnosed state. It is an evolving, multidimensional process and implies that a choice is made to pursue a lifestyle that encompasses physical, mental, and social activities that lead to affirming a positive, holistic life.

There are 5 essential pillars that make up the realm of wellness.

Physical

Emotional

Social

Intellectual/Career

Spiritual

In order to obtain a state of well-being, one’s wellness journey must consider these 5 pillars.

Wellness encompasses finding balance among these 5 pillars. It is a process that entails more than just checking things off a list. Achieving wellness involves creating, and incorporating habits that affect every aspect of our life. Simply put Wellness is a healthy lifestyle.

Physical:

When working on the physical aspect of Wellness, one will take into consideration nutrition, exercise and sleep habits. Eating well, moving one’s body daily, and getting enough good quality sleep are all incredibly important in achieving physical wellbeing.

Emotional:

Managing emotions, stress, and a success mindset, are at the core of obtaining emotional balance. Here one works to identify and manage triggers that set off a negative response in mind and body, while also removing limiting beliefs. The goal is ultimately to adopt a can-do attitude, and a belief that anything is possible.

Social:

Focus on healthy social connections is the basis of this pillar. One will work on maintaining healthy relationships with friends and family, recognize and replace toxic relationships. This is where the notion of a work/life balance comes into play, as well as being part of a community and being of service to others. One learns to balance social life with other responsibilities.

Career/Intellect:

Another important aspect of Wellness is how one manages career and intellectual stimulating activities. Being a life-long learner and opening oneself to opportunities of growth has been proven to increase self-esteem and confidence. It can also boost cognition and memory, and it can present opportunities to create new social connections, that also aide in providing a sense of positivity and accomplishment.

Spiritual:

Lastly, the pillar that I found is often the most overlooked, but arguably, can be regarded as the most important, is that of Spirituality. Having a spiritual practice can be the most effective tool when working on all the other dimensions mentioned above. When one goes about something with a greater purpose than oneself, often the process doesn’t seem as daunting, or can be considered more worthwhile. Under this pillar of wellness, there is a focus on spiritual modalities: prayer, meditation, taking time for one’s religious practice, expressing gratitude.

It should be clear that what one may choose in his/her active pursuit of wellness is not necessarily a choice that will automatically benefit all people. Wellness is a very personal journey, and at the same time a journey that can benefit from being shared with a supportive community.

I like to think of these pillars as branches of a tree. Each branch must be balanced in order for the whole tree to keep thriving. A Wellness journey is indeed so much more than just exercise and eating whole foods. It is a beautiful process of growth that leads to all aspects of health, and inner peace as we lay roots for a solid foundation from which to grow and serve the world around us.

*I don’t put much clout into this organization however for the sake of providing a definition I do reference the World Health Organization here.

In health and happiness,

Laura of L.A. Mindbody Wellness

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