Wellness is a growing industry in Canada, with more and more people recognizing the importance of taking care of their physical, mental, and emotional health. However, there are still many unfortunate stereotypes that still exist about what wellness looks like and who participates in it.
Unfortunately, these stereotypes often lead to a lack of diversity in the wellness space, particularly amongst the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, low-income and disabled communities.
The lack of diversity in wellness is not only harmful to individuals from diverse backgrounds, but it also limits the industry's growth potential. According to a report by the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness industry is worth $4.5 trillion and is growing at twice the rate of the global economy.
However, if the industry does not address its diversity and inclusion issues, it risks losing a significant portion of its potential customer base.
So, what can be done to break down stereotypes and increase diversity in wellness?
One solution is to make wellness more accessible to individuals from diverse backgrounds. This can be done by offering more affordable wellness activities and creating more diverse and inclusive wellness spaces.
Another solution is to increase representation in the wellness industry. This can be done by highlighting individuals from diverse backgrounds in wellness advertising and marketing campaigns.
Additionally, wellness companies can actively seek out individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate in their programs and events.
In this blog post, we will explore more Canadian statistics that highlight the importance of breaking down these stereotypes and creating a more inclusive wellness industry.
As a certified life coach, author and speaker who specializes in mindset and life’s purpose coaching, one of the biggest stereotypes that I (Tara Omorogbe – Owner of Articulate Tee Inc.) find that exists in the wellness space is the idea that it is a luxury reserved only for the wealthy and white.
However, this couldn't be further from the truth.
In fact, according to a study by the Canadian Council for Social Development, low-income Canadians are more likely to experience poor health than their higher-income counterparts.
This means that wellness activities like yoga, meditation, and healthy eating are that much more important for those who may not be able to afford traditional healthcare.
So, who exactly is participating in these wellness activities?
Well…according to a survey by the Canadian government, women are more likely than men to engage in physical activity, with 82% of women reporting that they participate in some form of physical activity compared to 77% of men.
However, when it comes to yoga specifically, men are more likely to participate than women, with 23% of men reporting that they practice yoga compared to 20% of women.
When it comes to race and ethnicity, there is unfortunately a lack of data available on who participates in wellness activities in Canada.
However, we do know that there is a significant lack of diversity in the wellness industry in North America, specifically. According to a report by the Global Wellness Institute, only 13% of wellness industry leaders are BIPOC individuals even though people of color make up a significant portion of the population.
So, why is there such a lack of diversity in the wellness industry?
One reason may be that many wellness activities, like yoga and meditation, have been appropriated from other cultures and stripped of their cultural significance. This can make it difficult for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, low-income and disabled individuals to feel like they have a place in the wellness space.
Additionally, many wellness activities can be expensive, which can be a barrier for those who may not have the financial resources to participate.
To address the lack of diversity and inclusion in the wellness industry, it's important to understand the root causes. One contributing factor is the historical exclusion of marginalized communities from wellness spaces.
For example, yoga was originally practiced in India, but it was appropriated by the West and marketed as a trendy exercise trend. This led to a whitewashing of the practice, making it inaccessible to many individuals from Indian and South Asian backgrounds.
To make wellness more inclusive, it's important to actively work towards creating a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds. This can involve taking steps such as:
Hiring diverse wellness professionals who can serve as role models and create more representation in the industry
Offering sliding scale or donation-based classes to make wellness more accessible to individuals from lower-income communities
Providing education and resources on the cultural origins of various wellness practices to promote understanding and appreciation.
Creating safe spaces for marginalized communities, such as BIPOC-only yoga classes or 2SLGBTQ+-friendly meditation groups.
By taking these actions, changes would force a more inclusive shift in the wellness industry that benefits everyone, regardless of their background.
The lack of diversity in the wellness industry is not just a problem because it's unfair - it's also a problem because it can be harmful to BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, low-income and disabled individuals.
When wellness is presented as something that only wealthy, white people participate in, it can further perpetuate the idea that BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+,low-income and disabled individuals are somehow inferior or less deserving of good health.
This can have real-world consequences, as BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+,low-income and disabled individuals may be less likely to seek out healthcare or engage in wellness activities if they feel like these things are not meant for them.
So, what can we do to break down these stereotypes and create a more inclusive wellness industry?
One important step is to make wellness activities more accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial resources. This could mean offering free or low-cost yoga classes, creating community gardens to promote healthy eating, or partnering with local organizations to offer wellness activities in underserved communities.
Another important step is to recognize and celebrate the cultural roots of many wellness
activities. This could mean offering classes that specifically focus on the cultural significance of practices like yoga and meditation, or partnering with local BIPOC organizations to create wellness programs that are rooted in cultural traditions.
Research is continuously pointing to the conclusion that it's important for the wellness industry in its entirety to recognize the harm that has been caused by the lack of diversity in the space and to actively work to create a more inclusive environment.
This means actively seeking out and listening to the voices of BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, and disabled individuals, creating opportunities for the abovementioned groups/ individuals to lead and participate in wellness activities, and working to dismantle the systemic barriers that have prevented BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+,low-income and disabled individuals from participating in the wellness industry in the past.
The wellness industry in Canada has the potential to be an incredibly powerful force for good, but to truly achieve this potential, we need to break down the stereotypes that have prevented BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+,low-income and disabled individuals from participating in the space.
There also needs to be a Canada wide universal system of collecting pertinent wellness data relating specifically to race, sexual identity and disability so that Canadians can be proactive when diversifying and developing the wellness space for all.
By making wellness activities more accessible, celebrating the cultural roots of these practices, and actively working to create a more inclusive environment, we can create a wellness industry that truly serves everyone.
In conclusion, it’s time for the wellness industry to address its diversity and inclusion issues and make wellness accessible to everyone, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status. By doing so, the industry not only benefits individuals from diverse backgrounds, but it also breathes renewed life to the new growth potential for the industry.
- Tara “Articulate Tee” Omorogbe
(Author, Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, Blogger, Certified Mindset + Goal Success Coach)
- Owner/ Business Development of Articulate Tee Inc.
- www.articulatetee.com est. 2020
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