You may have come across her Instagram profile—a slim, blonde influencer deeply entrenched in the wellness scene. Her feed is a carefully curated blend of visually appealing yoga poses, vibrant organic smoothies, and vaguely spiritual quotes overlaid on stunning oceanic backdrops. She champions all things holistic, plant-based, and natural, yet fails to clarify what those terms actually entail. She shares images of serene Buddhas but doesn’t identify as Buddhist; she features joyful Ganeshas without any connection to Hinduism. While she raves about Eastern medicine, asking her about the belief system behind Qi might just make her head spin.
Amidst those picturesque sunsets and flawless handstands, she sneaks in talk about “choice” and “the great awakening,” all while promoting the idea of “keeping our bodies pure.” But keep scrolling, because she has hosted anti-vaccine advocates on her platform and encourages her followers to “question everything,” including the Covid vaccine. When confronted, she insists she’s not anti-anything; it’s all about freedom and inquiry.
Then, she starts throwing around phrases like “Big Pharma.”
She’s been influenced, and subtly, she’s leading her wellness followers down that same path.
The Wellness Movement’s Flaws
The wellness movement advocates for organic, plant-based diets, sufficient sleep, yoga, and nature immersion, but it carries significant problems, notably class and racial privilege. Who can afford to eat only organic produce or pay for specialty grains? You’re likely in a higher income bracket if you’re shopping for amaranth and quinoa.
Let’s be honest: identifying amaranth is a privilege in itself. Wellness influencers generally overlook food deserts, areas where low-income communities struggle to access fresh and healthy food options. These food deserts often have a predominance of BIPOC populations.
Few Americans can realistically achieve eight hours of sleep. If you think you can, you might be overlooking the reality of privilege. Yoga classes cost money and require access to gear. While it’s true that yoga can be practiced anywhere, that sentiment often doesn’t translate to the images portrayed by influencers.
Access to green spaces and the time to enjoy them is another privilege often enjoyed by wealthier, predominantly white individuals. The wellness movement’s enthusiasm for nature tends to ignore the access issues faced by others.
Some within the wellness community recognize the problems with promoting an idyllic lifestyle that isn’t accessible to everyone. However, many overlook these disparities, perpetuating a cycle that favors those with means.
Ownership of Health
The wellness movement’s financial backing fosters a dangerous leap from “Your choices impact your health” to “You are solely responsible for your health.” This creates the illusion that everyone has equal options, as if everyone would not choose organic if they had the means. It shifts the burden of health onto individuals, leading to a cycle of blame: if you’re unhealthy, it’s because of poor choices.
This narrative isn’t new; society has long blamed individuals for their weight. However, wellness advocates take it further into the realm of alternative medicine and conspiracy theories, promoting ideas like “natural is pure” and vilifying anything man-made. This slippery slope can easily lead to skepticism around vaccines.
It’s important to note that not everyone in the wellness community subscribes to anti-vaccine sentiments. Still, as highlighted by various sources, there is a pervasive connection between wellness spaces and anti-vaccine rhetoric, particularly during the pandemic.
In the wellness community, there’s a tendency to intertwine food purity with yoga, which some argue has historically pushed against conventional medicine. Yoga emphasizes self-care, resonating with those who feel neglected by healthcare systems, and it often incorporates core beliefs that underpin conspiracy theories.
Many wellness practices have been stripped of their cultural contexts and commodified for Western audiences, leading to a problematic blend of spirituality and health that aligns with anti-vax narratives.
The emphasis on choice and questioning authority can sometimes mask deeper issues, allowing misinformation to flourish under the guise of personal freedom and wellness.
The wellness movement’s anti-vaccine tendencies are troubling. One might think they’re simply enjoying a health smoothie, but beneath the surface, discussions can veer into conspiracy territory.
While it’s wise to be cautious about certain food sources, don’t forget the importance of vaccination.
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Summary
The wellness community is often misleading. Though it promotes healthy living, it tends to ignore class and racial disparities in access to wellness practices. The narrative around personal responsibility for health can lead to a troubling cycle of blame, particularly regarding vaccine skepticism. This misalignment between wellness ideals and reality raises important questions about privilege and access in health discussions.