More and more people across the globe are discovering that they have the power to get, and stay, healthy. Unfortunately, many people are also busy, overworked, and do not have the knowledge or resources needed to incorporate healthy changes into their lifestyle. This has led to the emergence of the “wellness” industry: products, services, and professionals who specialize in many different aspects of staying healthy. Professionals in nutrition, physical training, holistic and homeopathic practitioners, counselors, and others are all working to change the way people live.
Whole body wellness can be broken down into three categories: body, mind, and spirit. New careers have emerged in each of these areas and have created thousands of wellness jobs in the process. Improving an individual's health in each of these categories, wellness practitioners believe, can lead to improved overall life balance and happiness.
Nutritionists specialize in helping people achieve wellness through foods that nourish the body. They often have to attend school to learn this, and their overall job is to review a client’s current eating habits and show him or her how to make healthier choices. This often includes adding more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and non-fat dairy into the client's diet, and leaving out processed food and food that is high in fat or calories. It is also the nutritionist's job to teach ways to fit the client's new healthy diet into a busy schedule.
Physical trainers help people get into shape through increased physical activity. They teach the proper methods and how often to exercise. Physical trainers can also help clients learn how to avoid injury.
Many wellness jobs focus more on the whole body. These include holistic practitioners who help people reach their health goals through nutrition, exercise, spiritual healing, counseling, and getting enough sleep. They may also incorporate alternative treatments like acupuncture or aromatherapy. These wellness jobs are often less costly than hiring a trainer, but many people are skeptical of their effectiveness.
Vitamin supplement companies have also seen an increase in demand as people try to get healthier, and this has led to the development of wellness jobs in this industry as well. Certain herbs, minerals, and vitamins have long been used as treatments in some cultures, and this power is now available in pill form. This makes things easier for those who do not have time to prepare and eat five or more servings of healthy food per day. Jobs in this industry include the scientists who extract the herbs, sales teams who sell the product to stores, and researchers who validate the supplements' effectiveness.