IN pursuit of happiness, people prioritise. For many, prosperity may be at the top of the list. For others, prosperity is desirable but somewhat optional, and they’re satisfied with just being able to meet all their daily expenses. For these people, their priority lies in areas that are somewhat less tangible, such as health and wellness. But, what exactly is wellness?

It is a much broader concept than just health. Many people hear ‘wellness’ and what immediately comes to mind is eating healthy, being fit and stress-free. However, wellness encompasses so much more and has several dimensions to it. We could say living well is about developing our full potential in all dimensions of life and practising behaviours that prevent illnesses and other debilitating conditions. It covers the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of our daily lives. Be mindful though that wellness is not so much a state that can be achieved once and for all, but is more of a process.

HOLISM

There are two popular schools of thought as to how to achieve wellness. One is referred to as holism. With the holistic approach, the overall wellness of a person is viewed as a combination of dimensions. These are physical wellness, which speaks to the health of the person; emotional wellness, which is the necessary state of mind to approach the tasks at hand in the most efficient way; spiritual wellness, which allows the person to stay centred and connected to the higher being from which he draws his strength; occupational wellness, because having a successful job or career is a big part of personal satisfaction; intellectual wellness, because knowledge and qualifications empower the individual and gives them options in life; and social wellness because how we relate to others can either be a source of great comfort and strength or a source of stress.

PREVENTION

The second popularly recognised approach to the concept of wellness is prevention. Prevention basically speaks to reducing the risk of debilitating injuries or lifestyle diseases befalling us through safe, wholesome behaviours and practices. This approach seems to give us the best chance of avoiding things such as cancer, AIDS, osteoporosis, cirrhosis, stroke, and diabetes. The preventative approach would see us doing things such as maintaining a healthy diet, practising safe sex, avoiding smoking and excessive drinking, exercising regularly, and trying to effectively manage our stress.

WELLNESS INDUSTRY

The wellness industry is now one of the fastest-growing industries in the world with billions of dollars being pumped into ground-breaking research and also into developing products that are supposed to assist us with living well.

Whichever of these approaches one may choose to practice, there is almost surely a product or few which you may find useful in your pursuit of wellness. You name it, they’re making it: Smoking substitutes to help you kick the habit; products to encourage proper body mechanics; more sophisticated exercise machines; herbal and other medicinal formulations designed to control weight and relieve stress; even condoms designed to provide a sexual experience as close

to the heightened sensation of unprotected sex in the hope that people will not sacrifice their health in the name of maximum sexual pleasure.

When all is said and done, there is no shortage of information and resources to help you achieve optimal living so seek them, use them and be the best you that you can be.

Marlon Ebanks is a personal fitness instructor who has been certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America since 2009.