Before you look ahead to wellness in the new year, it's worth reflecting on how many have learned that well-being and resourcefulness go hand-in-hand.
In the shift to remote work and virtual, well, everything people made dumbbells out of water bottles, transformed living rooms into meditation studios and reimagined backyards as bootcamp training grounds. And, with increased WOFH (working out from home), you'd think the future of wellness would look pretty, well, solitary.
But that's not the case. Community — whether that means seeking culturally diverse resources or understanding where our food comes from — remains a top priority, according to those in the fitness and wellness world.
Three experts — an owner of a Pilates brand; a plant-based public health specialist and wellness writer; a founder of a whole-hemp product line — offer tips on the mind-body tools to help keep you healthy and connected in the year ahead.
"Ultimately, people want to be connected with other people, and I've seen so much creativity, growth, innovation and collaboration to make it happen at home, outdoors, or safely in person. I think this hybrid will continue to be a permanent change in the fitness world and culture," she shares.
Subscription fitness platform services are evolving to give people more options wherever they work out. ClassPass recently added live-stream workouts, fully embracing the hybrid lifestyle that Rashed describes. That means you can live in London and stream a yoga class taught in Los Angeles.
For Chelsea Williams, a wellness expert who specializes in plant-based eating, ClassPass is a preferred subscription service because of its variety in offerings. "I never have to select the same class twice, which challenges my mind, body and spirit," says Williams.
Obé, another platform for live and on-demand classes, has found a way to fuse fitness with socializing with recently launched Workout Parties. Invite up to seven workout buddies to join you on screen as you break a sweat together.
More time at home this year means more cooking, and, as Miller points out, understanding where your food comes from is a major component of overall wellness. "It's absolutely crucial you know the name of the person that grows your vegetables and harvests your meat," he notes.
Thankfully, it's more convenient than ever to get your greens from a nearby grower, even if you can't make it to a farmer's market. WhatsGood is an app that connects shoppers across the country with local farmers, chefs and artisans in their communities. Once you've shopped, you can have your order delivered or arrange a pickup.
Eating well doesn't mean you will be overspending on groceries every month, either. Thrive Market is a membership-based online grocery store that specializes in organic foods at discount prices, priding itself on sustainable sourcing and carbon-neutral shipping.
Williams, who is a member, says, "I can shop for my favorite organic, plant-based, gluten-free, and soy-free pantry staples at wholesale price, and get a contactless delivery straight to my door. Shop by values, such as raw, glyphosate residue-free, non-GMO, BIPOC-owned and more." Plus, for each annual membership purchased, Thrive Market gives one to a family in need.
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