You ever just scroll on social media completely oblivious to the fact that all the health + wellness experts you’ve been following are all of the same “type”?

Idk if this makes sense, but just recently, I realized all the health/wellness influencers and entrepreneurs I’ve been following looked, talked, and maybe even thought a certain way. I can only distinguish a couple from the rest bc in my head, everyone just mirrors one another that they’re all grouped into the same one “blob” of wellness leaders.

No shade to the industry at all, it’s just my personal observation.

I recently subscribed to Dive In Well, a soul-centered wellness dinner series centered around diversity and inclusivity. I made a small donation and received one of their wellness workbooks, which really prompted a few thoughts of mine and influenced me to dive a bit deeper.

When COVID all started, we heard it all —

• “Incorporate self-care into your routine.”
• “Work on yourself. Feed your mindset.”
• “Monetize your passion.”
• “Make a schedule, color-code it, and be productive”

The list goes on and on… then it hit me. No, just no.

I have to admit, I sometimes practice what I’ve been preached.

After all, self-care IS super important and I’m a huge advocate for it, but at what point should we scream and say no to the suggested bubble baths, candles, $80 yoga mats, coaching programs, self-help e-books etc?

I’m all for working on yourself, but when there is a definite “this is self-care” perspective, that’s when I’m a bit reluctant.

A lot of the mainstream wellness experts are continuously advocating wellness practices that only a certain demographic can afford.

I came across a health expert yesterday promoting her program who continuously said “invest in yourself.” This expert went on to say that if we keep pushing off these expenses for the future, we are only discounting our potential for optimal health.

Or what about health experts promoting food + supplements that aren’t exactly easily attainable by some?

And trust me, I get it. “Health is wealth, you shouldn’t put a price on it,” but at what point do we stop making ourselves feel bad bc we either can’t afford or choose not to partake in certain marketed habits?

When you’re somebody who CAN make that choice to invest in a health coach or the like, that’s a whole different story. It’s called being privileged.

To not have to decide between paying your rent or buying that ebook. To not have to decide between buying groceries or using that money to jump start your business. To not have to decide between hiring a personal trainer or paying for your daily expenses.

As I reflect deeper, I recognize a lot of these wellness experts do not take health inequities into account.

On top of the health inequities, there is also a lack of diversity in the wellness industry. Although we may be unwilling to admit, we have a cookie cutter image of what a health expert should look like. In my mind, what I see is the typical SoulCycle instructor with killer abs drinking green juice in the mornings.

And oh, usually white.

And this isn’t to dismiss any white health experts at all. I am just here trying to start my own personal practice of decolonizing wellness.

For instance, mainstream fitness studios charge an arm and a leg per class. I get it, we all need to cover overhead costs, salaries, etc.

However, studios/gyms (where POC tend to frequent) charge way less than their white competitors. That alone is a problem and reinforces a subtle divide between different fitness studios. This divide also usually attracts one group to one, which in turn promotes homogeneity.

Can a studio/gym truly promote diversity and inclusion when the cost of their amenities say otherwise?

I also recognize that not everyone has the ability to truly address these inequities in wellness, but I think I’m just seeking some advocacy or compassion. Wellness isn’t truly cookie cutter, and it does not fit into the mold falsely depicted by those you see on social media who benefit from this sort of privilege.

Whether it’s going to more diverse fitness studios, finding my own definition of wellness as written by me for me, or following health/wellness experts from ALL backgrounds (black, white, trans, immigration status, body shapes, etc), I recognize the role I play in my journey to begin implementing that change.

Here’s a list of just a few wellness leaders I’ve been following and loving, pertaining to health/wellness as a whole. I’ll be sure to share more along the way.

Have a wonderful week, and I hope you’ll embark on your own journey with me <3