“Millennials are a generation fascinated by self-actualization, self-improvement, and community—and in finding spaces that enable them to experience all those things together,” says Christina Disler, founder of Werklab, a coworking space in Vancouver that offers a meditation zone, beauty bar, access to energy-healing practitioners, and other wellness amenities in addition to a place to plug in your laptop. Why does this matter? Because, according to Forbes, millennials—now the largest generation by population—are the driving force behind the rapid growth of the wellness market, with 78 percent of millennials choosing to spend money on experiences rather than “stuff.”
“Millennials are a generation fascinated by self-actualization, self-improvement, and community—and in finding spaces that enable them to experience all those things together,” —Christina Disler, founder of Werklab
“We see more and more people looking for wellness options that fit seamlessly into the flow of their day-to-day work and personal lives,” echoes Avi Yehiel, WeWork’s head of wellness. That’s why the coworking company has decided to expand its offerings beyond desk space to include co-living opportunities (WeLive) and fitness programs. “Rise is WeWork's idea of the ultimate wellness experience, where we use social fitness to elevate the mind, body, and spirit through the daily practice of movement, kindness, and rejuvenation,” says Yehiel of the gym-meets-spa-meets-café that WeWork opened in lower Manhattan in October 2017. And in 2019, Rise by We is partnering with Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global to further expand its wellness offerings.
Other big things coming in 2019: New wellness clubs and communities, such as The Well (which already has a 1,000-person waitlist in Manhattan) and Lina (a coworking space for doctors, therapists, and wellness practitioners opening in NYC in 2019). “We are starting to see more knowledge and a greater awareness surrounding holistic wellness, which takes into account the mind, body, and spirit,” says Yehiel. “People are also getting better at integrating wellness into their work and personal lives, so that these areas of our lives complement each other, rather than compete with each other.“
The Well founder Rebecca Parekh adds, “More brands are popping up and consumers have the chance to interact with wellness in a much more approachable way.” At The Well, this means gathering yoga classes, health coaches, trainers, functional medicine practitioners, and more in a single space. “Your sports medicine doctor and acupuncturist and yoga teacher communicating leads to less pain and more ease of movement in the studio and at home. Your MD discussing your gut health with the nutritionist who recommends dishes from our kitchen…that’s the model we’re offering.” Plant-based cook and health coach Lily Kunin’s Clean Market, which opened in Manhattan in July 2018, adds products to the mix, encouraging you to shop for supplements and health food while you wait for your IV drip or infrared sauna session.
As Parekh says, “it takes a village” to stay well—but that doesn’t mean you need to spend your precious time and energy zig-zagging all over town to go to the gym, eat a healthy meal, meet with a coach, or get a holistic treatment. Just call it the Costco effect.
This is just one of the healthy-living trends we're predicting for 2019—check out the full list here!
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