Because men need wellness too
The wellness industry has been experiencing significant growth and transformation in recent years incorporating a wide variety of health topics such as health, fitness, nutrition, and mental wellbeing. Due to stigma and traditional factors however, the industry has been commercialized for women, leaving men feeling left out of the wellness conversation.
Wellness: A history
When we talk about wellness, we are talking about our overall well-being beyond the state of being without illness or disease. Similar to previous health movements, including the alternative medicine movement of the 19th century, the wellness movement allows us to focus on the whole-person as opposed to specific regions/aspects of one's being as it relates to health.
The Wellness Industry
Wellness typically incorporates our intellectual, emotional, physical, social, occupational, and spiritual health. Despite these broad, all-inclusive domains, the wellness industry has been heavily marketed towards women. As the demand for natural and 'clean' products grows, digital and social media are becoming more and more influential. When incorporating men into the picture however, we see images of the guys with muscles with advertisements of protein powder (as if women don't want to go to the gym either). But let's face it, there's more to men and their health than big muscles.
Men's Health: It's Different
While we focus mainly on women's health, largely due to a tradition of women being left out of healthcare, wellness provides us the opportunity to get it right. We can address things holistically while discussing the unique health issues that plague men and women.
For example, men are far more likely to take their own lives than women; marriage breakdown is more likely to lead to suicide for men, men have a more negative view on therapy than women and when they do engage in services, they are more likely than women to do so at the point of crisis. Men are less likely to see a doctor than women, and a greater percentage of men view their health needs as secondary to their partners.
Men also face unique health challenges such as erectile health issues and their own unique hormonal imbalances. They also deal with issues that general media tends to market as 'women issues' such as body confidence, eating disorder issues, and struggles of balancing work and home life.
Largely stigma and marketing have contributed to the feminization of wellness. This further contributes to men not seeking the services they may need but also encourages providers to focus less on men's health specifically.
Prioritize Wellness
Wellness helps move beyond the effects of capitalism and marketing power by addressing the holistic needs of the community. As opposed to a focus on physical health, men too can prioritize self-care, mental health, and strong relationships as a part of an ongoing wellness journey without the need to sacrifice one's manhood.
See some of our men's health recommendations below and shop online for all of your wellness needs.
For Balancing Hormones
For Healthy Skin
For Improving Stamina
For Getting Your Mind Right
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