As one of (what seems like) very few men talking wellness online, I often find myself thinking, why are there so few men in the wellness game?!

Let’s start by making something very clear, I don’t see myself as a paragon of men’s wellness. I am by no means perfect.  Practicing wellness is both a personal and professional journey. I’m trying.

I’ve noticed that there are generally very few men in the wellness game, especially as “influencers”. If you look around on sites like Instagram you find a ton of women embracing wellness. These women runners, yoga teachers, meditation specialists, dietitians, etc. Many of which I admire! But, why aren’t there more men in the wellness game…and why do so few talk mental wellness?!

There are certainly men in the wellness genre online. I look to those men for continued education and inspiration, no doubt. But when I look up #wellness or #holistichealth on Instagram there is a very specific type of person I see over and over again. What’s up with that?

Is this gap just reflective of men caring about our health in general?

It’s well documented in healthcare that women utilize services significantly more than men. Women incur more healthcare costs in comparison to men. It is unclear if all of those billed charges are necessary given the mistreatment of women in healthcare generally.

It would be easy to cite things like reproductive health needs as the factor responsible for the difference but I also think there’s something larger at play here…the socialization of gender and our (men’s) need to be perceived as strong & capable.

If we go to the doctor does that make us weak?
If we seek out a therapist, does that make us less of a man?

I’ve heard these reasons more times than I can count in my life and I can’t divorce my own self from the pressures of toxic masculinity in taking care of my health. The man box is real folks.

We need more men showing up for one another in the wellness game. And while crafting a ‘hot’ body is damn near ubiquitous on social media (just search body building and you’ll see where many of the men are) we don’t often talk about HEALTH and functionality. It’s one thing to look great, but it’s another to feel great and to be taking good care of your mental health as well.

Hopefully, we’ll start to see more and more men taking up the reigns of wellness. I’m certainly looking forward to it.

Do you have any favorite men wellness folks you follow online? Shout them out in the comments section below!

Author: Jor-El

Jor-El is Co-founder of Viva Wellness and a foodie and film buff. He most often writes about mental health, relationships, food and mindfulness. When he’s not busy working, he typically can be found lounging or walking around NYC with his pup Nomi.