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You’ve likely encountered her social media account. She’s a trendy, slender influencer promoting the wellness lifestyle, with a feed filled with perfectly staged yoga poses, vibrant smoothies, and somewhat spiritual quotes set against breathtaking ocean backdrops. She advocates for all things holistic, plant-based, and natural, yet fails to clarify what those terms truly mean. She shares images of serene Buddhas without identifying as Buddhist and posts joyful Ganeshas while not practicing Hinduism. Her enthusiasm for Eastern medicine is evident, but ask her about the belief system tied to Qi, and she might just short-circuit.
Amidst those picturesque sunsets and gravity-defying poses, she shares quotes about “choice” and “the great awakening.” She emphasizes “keeping our bodies pure.” Keep scrolling. She has featured anti-vaccine advocates on her page and encourages followers to “question everything,” including the Covid vaccine. When confronted, she’ll assert she’s not against anything; it’s about freedom and inquiry.
Then she starts throwing around terms like “Big Pharma.”
She’s been influenced, and subtly, she’s leading her wellness followers down the same path.
Inherent Issues in the Wellness Movement
The wellness movement—promoting organic diets, ample sleep, yoga, and time in nature—often carries problematic undertones of class and racial privilege. Who can afford to consume only organic produce and choose ancient grains over conventional options? You’d need to be in a higher tax bracket to regularly purchase items like quinoa and amaranth.
Moreover, wellness advocates frequently overlook food deserts, areas with limited access to fresh produce and grocery stores, predominantly affecting BIPOC communities. Most Americans struggle to achieve eight hours of sleep; if you manage that, consider yourself fortunate. Yoga classes typically come with a price tag, raising access concerns for many. Yes, you can practice yoga anywhere, but that’s not readily apparent from the feed of the Organic Lifestyle Influencer.
And let’s not even discuss access to green spaces and the leisure time to enjoy them. It’s clear who benefits from these experiences (affluent white individuals) and who does not (underprivileged BIPOC). While the wellness movement often celebrates nature, it largely ignores the barriers faced by others.
Some experts within the wellness community recognize the problems with suggesting that everyone can simply skip to a local organic market after a sunrise yoga session. Many, however, do not. The wellness industry is often about money and privilege, leading to significant issues.
Health Responsibility and Its Implications
Because the wellness movement is often financially privileged, it jumps to the conclusion that “Your choices affect your health” translates to “You are responsible for your health.” This implies that everyone has the same choices available, as if all would opt for organic diets if they could. Such a mindset shifts the burden of health onto individuals: if you’re not healthy, it’s due to your poor choices.
This is not a new concept; we’ve long blamed those struggling with weight for their situations. But wellness influencers extend this idea into realms of Eastern medicine and natural remedies. They encourage people to “eliminate pharmaceuticals and embrace nature,” promoting a narrative that vilifies GMOs and glorifies herbal alternatives. The dichotomy between “natural” and “artificial” is often manipulated to fit various agendas.
This slippery slope makes it easy to veer into conspiracy theories about Big Pharma and vaccine skepticism. While not everyone in the wellness movement opposes vaccinations, the community has longstanding connections to anti-vaccine sentiments. Research shows that anti-vaccine content frequently circulates within parenting and wellness groups, especially during the pandemic, when influencers were poised to disseminate such agendas.
The Cultural Context of Wellness and Anti-Vaccination Sentiments
Many advocates blend their dietary purism with yoga, a practice historically positioned against traditional Western medicine, often led by charismatic figures. Social media influencers have become the modern successors of this tradition.
Yoga promotes “self-care and self-discovery,” appealing to those who feel let down by governmental and healthcare systems. It also aligns with fundamental beliefs that underpin conspiracy theories: “everything is interconnected, every event has a purpose, and appearances can be misleading.”
These ideals are often co-opted from New Age spiritual practices rooted in Asian traditions, which have been commodified for white Western audiences. As cultural historian Dr. Emily Turner notes, the appropriation of these practices often serves specific political agendas.
The narrative often suggests, “Your body is sacred, but it’s under threat.” This concept dovetails neatly with anti-vax rhetoric—“It’s about maintaining purity.” The wellness community promotes this idea of questioning and choice, masking their anti-vaccine sentiments beneath a facade of peace, love, and wellness.
You might think you’re enjoying an organic smoothie, only to find discussions of the Great Awakening and #savethechildren sprinkled throughout, raising red flags of conspiracy theories. The wellness movement undeniably has an anti-vaccine issue.
While it’s wise to be cautious about certain agricultural practices, don’t forget to get your vaccination.
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Summary
The “wellness community” often perpetuates myths of personal responsibility for health while ignoring the systemic issues of privilege and access. Many influencers promote a blend of alternative health practices and anti-vaccine sentiments, disguised as empowerment. Understanding the cultural appropriation and class implications behind these movements is vital for discerning the underlying messages and ensuring a more equitable approach to health.
Keyphrase: wellness movement critique
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