Wellness isn’t a static concept; it is constantly in flux. As experts release new research, as events change the way people relate to their health, and as western audiences discover new superfoods from around the globe, the wellness community takes note. In other words, the wellness industry does what it should – it evolves with the times.
Admittedly, this continuous state of flux sometimes makes it difficult for the average person to stay current. Wasn’t it just a couple of years ago that a thousand articles touted the benefits of quinoa? And what happened to the great “CBD boom” of 2020?
Luckily, this article makes it easy to stay up to date. Below, you’ll find three of the most dominant wellness trends of the past six months, broken into categories: food, lifestyle and fitness. From new ways of getting fit, to old forms of herbalism recently embraced in the West, these are the buzzed-about topics in wellness today. Expect to see more of these trends in the years to come.
Food: Functional Adaptogen Mushrooms
Here in the West, mushrooms used to belong on the dinner plate – period. However, elsewhere in the world, cultures have turned to fungi for millennia to treat a wide variety of ailments and boost overall health and wellbeing.
Recently, the influential vegan magazine VegNews declared mushrooms the hottest wellness trend in 2021, citing the ballooning popularity of functional adaptogen mushrooms (sales increased 20-40% between 2019 and 2020). For the unaware, functional adaptogen mushrooms are types of fungi that aid in health and wellbeing.
Some of the most popular functional mushrooms include chaga, lion’s mane and reishi. Each has distinct benefits ranging from mood-boosting to immune-boosting potential. You can find these mushrooms in easy-to-dose packets on the Rritual website. Or order them in bulk so you can dial in on your self-dose for maximum personal wellness.
Lifestyle: Rest As A Radical Concept
Not all trends are specific, nor are they commercial in nature. As Vogue correctly predicted in early 2021, the idea of rest as a potent form of self-care has gained ground this year.
Perhaps it’s a reaction to the “rise and grind” mentality of the wellness community in the past. It might be a response to new research on the benefits of rest in an increasingly busy world. Or maybe it’s a direct reaction to events of the past year-and-a-half – the pandemic, increased social unrest and the tireless fight by some for racial equality. Whatever the reason, it’s an easy trend to follow.
Fitness: Contactless Fitness Classes
Virtual fitness isn’t a new concept, but it certainly skyrocketed in popularity over the last year-and-a-half (for very obvious reasons). Still, as restrictions lift, some people are stating their preference for the contactless model.
For starters, virtual fitness can be more democratic, more accessible, allowing all people – regardless of their ability or social comfort – to exercise. Secondly, it centralizes instructors over gym companies, meaning your money goes directly to the fitness creators themselves. Finally, there’s a practical, universal reason contactless fitness is here to stay: It’s convenient.
How many of these hot wellness trends have you tried? Have you explored the benefits of chaga mushrooms, rested as an act of resistance, or sweated along with a digital fitness class? If not, there’s still plenty of time to try!