HEALTH & WELLNESS: IS THIS ANOTHER TREND OR ARE WE MATURING?

HEALTH & WELLNESS: IS THIS ANOTHER TREND OR ARE WE MATURING?

Words by Taylor Brown

Is it just me or is there a noticeable change occurring to transform lifestyles into healthy-focused eras? I initially prioritized my health and wellbeing, to an extent, a few years ago. At first, I thought I was beginning to miss out on things because I restricted my drinking, started working out, ate healthy(ish) and stayed in more. My Tik Tok algorithm influenced this, and while I thought I was the only one, it seems there has been an impact on everyone. Well, Gen Z and Millennials at least.

There is a global trend towards prioritizing health and wellness, a transformation geared to improving an individual’s state of wellbeing mentally, physically, and socially. A state of wellbeing is a combination of factors said to be linked to happiness, it can be described as someone’s self-perception and life satisfaction.

A happy life has always been a human desire but the ways in achieving it have faded in and out for decades. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, health and wellness has increased in awareness, interests, and even market share. Gen Z is the majority to thank for this as they are making their physical and mental health a priority by using physical activity as an outlet to feel better, while focusing on products and services that will positively impact their lives.

The lifestyle trends correlate with factors that influence our wellbeing, becoming intertwined with one another. Regular exercise, enough sleep, a network of close friends, a nutritional diet, enjoyable hobbies, and a sense of belonging are said to positively impact our wellbeing. These lifestyle factors translate into the global trends which include the running phenomenon, a pickleball craze, an increase in regular supplement intakes, the “sober curious” movement, and now people are beginning to steer away from individual gym memberships to look for group based classes.

As beneficial as these trends are, is that all they are? Is this a fad that will fade out to reincarnate the constant hangovers and unwell mental states? Or is this genuine and here to stay... Wait, are we maturing?

While I deliberated on these posed questions, I realized that this sensation has moved its way into Jacksonville, and has expanded the city’s opportunities and community. I would be a hypocrite to only write about what the city has to offer and not experience a few of these outlets myself. I have taken my health and wellness full rouge to provide you with ample recommendations for leisure pursuits in Jacksonville that can benefit your wellbeing.

Let me begin with saying, I am not a runner, but running is a form of exercise that is gaining traction at a fast pace, no pun intended. It has always been seen as a chore to most, if you did sports or any physical activity, you may remember running to be a consequence for wrong doings. It is now becoming a trend to run and it seems to be working for most, run clubs are popping up globally and expanding quickly.

A notable one in Jacksonville is Neptune Run Crew (NRC) founded in December of 2022. NRC emphasizes on building a community for the community, it uses running as its foundation but focuses on fostering friendships.

They have crafted an impressive online presence with their efforts, executing running events with photographers that portrays running as an enjoyable hobby. They believe in people over paces and welcome all levels of runners.

Various run events are hosted throughout the month to provide an opportunity for everyone to become a part of this community. Once a month there is a Happy Hour Run, offering a one to two mile course that ends at Pete’s, a local bar in Neptune Beach. They host a Friday Crew & Coffee 6:45 AM Run every week that stretches to be a little more than a 5K. For more experienced runners there is a Saturday Long Run twice a month with an 8 mile group run option or a 2 mile loop available.

I attended the Friday morning run and was surprised at my motivation once I entered myself into this community. It never felt exclusive with the large number of participants and welcoming personalities. Running with people made my mindset to the activity less of a chore and more enjoyable, I was never intimidated to stop my pace but also had this feeling to keep pushing myself past my limits.

As much as I enjoyed NRC, not everyone likes to run. If you want an outlet with various forms of exercise to choose from, let me introduce you to Class Pass. Different from a typical gym membership, this fitness & wellness membership provides access to attend spas, salons, and numerous gyms and studios including, pilates, yoga, weight lifting, boxing, ect. By partnering with local businesses this globally accessible membership is contributing support to communities.

ClassPass gives you a chance to try everything, discover new styles of working out, recovery sessions, meet new people, take classes with your friends, and ultimately find what you like and what you don’t like.

I have not been one to attend work out classes specifically because I am scared of failure and embarrassment. So, I can truthfully say I was surprised through my ClassPass experience when I survived my first Tabata class at Drive Fitness and found myself wanting to book again. It was rewarding to accomplish something out of my comfort zone and to be surrounded by supportive individuals. I was motivated to not give up, even when the movements were foreign to me.

A sport that has received a massive surge in popularity is Pickleball, a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and pingpong. It’s fun, easy to learn, and appropriate for all ages and skill levels. The game encourages social interaction and due to its new found popularity, it is easily accessible in Jacksonville with multiple indoor and outdoor courts around the city.

This sport is a great way to interact amongst players, move your body and it doesn’t come off as too intimidating. I enjoyed playing amongst my friends and with my family. It is a great way to exercise while providing a social aspect.

I have offered various outlets to physically move your body but you must take proper care of it to begin or continue these efforts towards a better well being. Enough sleep and proper nutrition are essential to your health physically and mentally. It can boost your energy pre workout and it is key to recovering post workout. Wellness businesses are becoming popular especially in the beverage industry, people are looking for drinks for their nutritional intakes and meal replacements.

A local healthy and nutritional beverage shop that many people have integrated into their weekly routine is The Wave in Jax Beach. Owners, Sean and Kamrin Williams, recently moved to the area from Daytona Beach and are overwhelmed by the community support they have received.

Kamrin expressed, “We have lived in a lot of different cities and have always had a passion for the health and fitness lifestyle. But we’ve never been in a community like Jacksonville. Everyone is so welcoming and uplifting. We could feel it as soon as we opened our shop. There are no clicks, everyone encourages each other to do and be better. It gives us goosebumps just thinking about it, we are so grateful for this community”.

Their drinks offer a variety of additional supplement options to craft the perfect drink based on any wellness preference. My favorite is the Pink Drink which is an energy tea with collagen, 17G of protein, and it is only 100 Calories with 0G of sugar. My body feels balanced and energized after having one of these, ready to take on the day. They also have protein shakes, coffees, workout fuel blends for pre workouts, hydrational focus, and post workouts, as well as boosted teas available. They use nutritional ingredients to make their drinks taste like a treat without the added sugars and calories.

My health and wellness journey thus far has allowed me to dive into these opportunities within the community but I believe my experience is only on the surface of this trend’s potential. I have been inspired by the people in this community who have embodied a health & wellness lifestyle long-term.

I wanted to know how people allowed these trends to become their lifestyles instead of fade out, how has this health prioritization changed their wellbeing and social aspects, and what is the secret to this admirable community? Jacksonville local, Marc Ataiza, has abided by these trends for a year now and is an active member of the health & wellness community.

Marc described his experience and the community to me, “I have always been into physical activity but didn’t give my full effort into it, I had self-doubt and low self-esteem that held me back from my full potential. I chose to really focus on showing up for myself, try things outside of my comfort zone, and incorporate variety into my routines to not become complacent. Finding this community of others who appreciate and prioritize personal growth helped me want to elevate my physical and mental well being as well as my health. There’s this idea that these groups are, for lack of a better word, a cult. But this is not the case, there is no requirement, you don’t have to be the healthiest person there, everyone is supporting each other and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

That is something Jacksonville has and from my experience, other cities are unmatched to.

I honestly can say I have never felt happier, the overall transformation of my health has a rippling effect, and has made a difference in my life for a lifetime. I think these trends are here to stay, once people invest in the aspect of their health it becomes addictive. I believe bettering myself with physical outlets has bettered my mental state, with my busy life, it gives me a moment to be grounded and physically present in where I am.

No matter what community outlet you chose to jump into, don’t let your current physical state limit you from coming, you will find a place. Go out there and figure out what you like to do. I will say from a group aspect, something bonds you when you struggle with other people, we all are here growing and getting better together, it is an accountability aspect to show up for yourself as well as your neighbors”.

I have offered you various health & wellness opportunities in Jacksonville but these are just the start. Finding your niche may take time, luckily there are no rules to this trend, tailor a routine that aligns with your preferences and is easy to begin. It only takes one habit to lead yourself into this newfound lifestyle; finding exercise that brings you joy can motivate you to prioritize your nutritions, get enough sleep, and engage in social scenes amongst the wellness community, allowing you to feel that sense of belonging, and attempt to create that happier mindset you may desire.

This experience has made me realize bettering yourself does not need to be a lonely journey, it can be an opportunity to flourish friendships and become a part of a community. Surrounding yourself with people that provide support, inspiration, and like-minded goals can be a key to breaking the health fade and it becoming a lifestyle. Increasing my efforts to prioritize my health and wellness indeed resulted in a happier self, it has positively impacted my lifestyle balancing my mind, body, and socialization for the better.

So are we maturing? Possibly, which is an obvious answer due to our continuous aging but is this health and wellness sensation something that will fade soon? With the monumental growth in opportunities, wellness organizations, community, and long-term benefits to one’s wellbeing, I think it is just gaining momentum and is here to stay long after this article.