Once rooted in self-awareness and balance. The wellness industry has now morphed into a money-minting empire that feeds on human insecurities faster than your morning detox smoothie disappears. In countries like Pakistan, where every third Instagram story is a “self-care” reel and every second influencer is a “certified” coach, the wellness craze is less about healing and more about hustling. So the real question is, are we actually getting healthier, or just getting hustled glamorously?
Wellness, in its original form, was never meant to be a business model. Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises have deep roots in Buddhism and Hinduism, built on the principles of peace, discipline, and mindfulness. Fast-forward to today and we’ve turned that spiritual heritage into a social media trend. It’s hard not to laugh when someone starts their day with “Sun salutation, gratitude, and a sponsored post.” Everythinggg feels like a trend now because it sadly is. And honestly, it’s lowkey annoying watching people fall for every new fad like it’s a divine revelation. Meditation used to be about finding your center now it’s about finding the perfect filter for your yoga pose, number of likes and views with respect to the algorithm. And don’t even get me started on the herbal gold rush. Goshhh! Every herb once admired for its unique healing qualities and properties is now marketed like an overhyped celebrity. Moringa powder, beetroot capsules, frozen collagen, basically, a salad disguised as skincare. “Have this magic powder and increase your collagen!” they say. “Glow like never before!” they promise. You’d think wellness companies are doing God’s work, but in reality, they’re doing market segmentation and picking up on your insecurities, brick by brick. It’s ironic how wellness ads always end up targeting women and their appearance. Suddenly, everything comes back to how a woman looks, or worse, how she should look. “Here are 5 top benefits of frozen collagen and number one is your fair, ageless skin!” Ageless skin? Are you kidding me?! The hell is an ageless skin?! Because, obviously, no woman in the wellness industry can simply age, thanks to botox. She must age gracefully, preferably while sipping something green and expensive. At this point, the cosmetic, aesthetic, and wellness industries aren’t selling health anymore, they’re selling insecurity in fancy packaging. Its crazy!
And then there’s the fitness fad fiesta. Yoga, Zumba, gym training, dance – you name it, and it’s trending. But somewhere between “find your inner peace” and “sign up now for 30% off,” professionalism got lost in translation. We’ve got self-proclaimed “gurus” popping up like Wi-Fi signals everywhere, uninvited, and mostly unreliable. Some of them took three classes and now teach ten, well, most of them actually. They don’t know teaching theory, anatomy, or how to modify a pose safely, but they sure know how to go live on Instagram. To be fair, knowing a few stretches doesn’t make you a yoga teacher, just like owning a stethoscope doesn’t make you a doctor. Or as my gym buddy once said, “I did one push-up and now I’m a fitness influencer.” That’s the level of delusion we’re working with. It’s funny, but also painfully true. This unprofessional takeover is turning wellness into a parody of itself. What was meant to heal minds and bodies is now just another rat race for fame, money, or both. But here’s the twist: in the race to join the “wellness revolution,” everyone with a mat or a microphone has suddenly become a teacher. We don’t deny that many of these enthusiasts know the basics. But teaching is an art in itself. It requires training, certification, and understanding of anatomy and psychology. Taking a few workshops doesn’t make someone a professional instructor; it just makes them another rat in the race for fame or money. This is where the industry’s ethical dilemma deepens. When unqualified individuals start leading wellness programs, it stops being about health and starts being about hustle. And that’s where the problem lies. This “fake it till you make it” culture is not only misleading but dangerous. It capitalizes on trust. It exploits ignorance. And it leaves people paying for promises that were never meant to be delivered.
Before you register for that new “transformational” class you saw in a sponsored reel, take a second. Ask yourself: Is this person even qualified to teach?
Is my money actually buying wellness, or just feeding the industry’s capitalist treadmill?
Am I healing my soul, or just paying for someone’s Bali retreat fund? Because here’s the truth bomb wellness isn’t a product. It’s not a capsule, a powder, or a smoothie bowl with edible flowers. It’s a lifelong practice that can’t be boxed, branded, or filtered. The next time someone sells you “glow from within,” just remember: maybe the only thing glowing is their bank account.
