What is Wellness
We are well-versed in our culture with the concept of health being something most people aspire for, but what is meant by the term ‘wellness’? Whilst there is no one definition, theory or philosophy of wellness, at a basic level, wellness can be equated with ‘health’ which the World Health Organization (WHO) define as:‘ a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’If health and disease are considered to be at opposite ends of a spectrum, then it is possible to classify health into three broad areas: ill health, average health and enhanced health. Western medicine operates in the space between ill health and average health - it defines, investigates, treats, prevents & controls disease states using interventions such as drugs, surgery, nutrition and advice.
The other half of the spectrum - the space between average health and enhanced health is less defined. Enhanced health is about going beyond a disease free state. It aims at high levels of physical strength, stamina, mental clarity, enjoyment and fulfillment from life.
Wellness could be defined as the existence of positive health in an individual as exemplified by quality of life and a sense of well-being. It integrates many dimensions- the harmony of body, mind and spirit with self-responsibility, physical fitness, healthy nutrition, relaxation, mental activity/education and environmental awareness & sensitivity and connectedness as fundamental elements. More elements could be added to this picture - the sexual, emotional, cultural, spiritual, educational, occupational, financial, environmental, ethical and existential dimensions.
There are many paths to wellness, yet no one integrated approach is as of yet broadly applied. The aim of Eastern healing and spiritual practices is to enhance wellbeing through meditation and other practices. Western approaches start with ones physical health & emotional state. Ultimately wellness is the best preventive medicine that money can buy as a state of wellness gives one resilience in response to stress and disease & creates an internal state that improves the quality of our relationships with the world, with others and with ourselves.
Perhaps the most ubiquitous wellness principle in traditional medicine is the idea that life is dependent on a subtle form of energy. This energy, which has been described by many different healing traditions as life energy, vital force, prana, chi or ‘Qi is said to flow along defined pathways and support the functioning of living systems.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has developed a sophisticated framework for conceptualising this energy which is seen encompass the concept of ‘ flow’ and to move according to the dynamic interplay of the opposite yet complementary forces of ‘yin’ and ‘yang’ which guide the process of transformation whereby nonliving things become animate. In this view, pain and disease are said to result when the energetic flow is disrupted and healing is aimed at restoring the natural balance and flow
Thus, pain, disease and the adverse effects of ageing, which include progressive degeneration of tissues along with loss of function, can be related to an increase in entropy as a consequence of blockages or isolation of different systems. If isolation and disconnection underpin disease processes, then it seems natural that key concepts in many healing traditions are ‘ connection’ and ‘ wholeness’ While treating illness has traditionally been the domain of the medical system, there is a realisation that a wellness model requires action from all levels of society including individuals, government and non-government agencies and the corporate sector. The financial community and the investment sector see the huge opportunities in addressing wellness and there are now many ‘ spa communities ’ under construction, with developers realising they can receive a premium for ‘ wellness residences’ that include spa-like facilities.
As the late anthropologist Joseph Campbell states:‘ I think that most people are looking for an experience that connects them to the ecstasy of what it could feel like to be
totally alive. To know the unburdened state of total aliveness is the pinnacle of the human potential ’ ( Campbell,1998 ). This state of ‘ total aliveness’ referred to by the Campbell is what many people may consider to be ‘wellness’.