The History of Wellness

It seems that wellness is a relatively new focus that has arisen in response to our increasingly chaotic lifestyles and stressful careers. We practice wellness in order to better balance our life and be happier, but the origins of wellness go back far longer than many of us realize. In fact, wellness is a very ancient practice.

In Ancient Practice

In ancient practice, wellness can be found in every religion that focuses on the harmony of the spirits and the body. It can be traced as far back as 3000 B.C.E. in Ayurveda as an oral tradition, later being transcribed into the four sacred Hindu texts, the Vedas. Wellness practice can also be found in ancient Chinese history, as they developed the world’s first system of medicine based on the practices of Buddhism and Taoism. Examples of these wellness practices include acupuncture and herbal medicines.

In the west, there are instances of wellness found in ancient Greek and ancient Roman societies. Hippocrates argued that illness came about from poor lifestyle choices and the Romans, in turn, adopted the Greek beliefs and as a result developed a public health system including one of the first instances of aqueducts and sewers to help minimize the spread of disease.

The Conception of Wellness

Modern wellness began in the 20th century, the term itself being coined by Halbert L. Dunn in his book High-Level Wellness which was published back in 1961. His work would later go on to inspire the so-called fathers of wellness that made the movement popular in the 1980s.

As We Know It Today

The thinkers that helped popularize the notion of wellness have helped shape how we think of wellness today, and it, in turn, has become a multi-trillion-dollar industry that far outranks the pharmaceutical industry. From wellness retreats to courses, wellness is a huge part of our lives and it is here to stay. Preventative measures and healthy living are important for you, for the healthcare system, and for the social systems of every single country. The more every single person puts more effort into staying healthy, happy, and stress-free, the better everyone will be as a result.

It is for this reason that you must start your lifestyle overhaul if you haven’t already. Stop buying objects that bring you no value in instead use that money on experiences that make you laugh and feel good about yourself. Go out with your friends and have fun figuring out the puzzles at a place like this Virginia Beach Escape Room. The more you can break away from your stress and have fun, be active, and stay social, the better.

Wellness is the preventative and lifestyle choices that work with our bodies and our mental health. By practicing wellness, you lead a better life. You are less stressed, you enjoy life more, and you have more energy to do the things you want to do. If everyone practiced wellness, the entire society would be better off, and as time goes on, more people will focus on welfare as a way of life.