Alice Porter is a London-based freelance writer and journalist who writes for publications including 

From decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs)  run on Discord to city-wide mutual aid groups, people are finding safety and optimism in numbers. For growing numbers of people, collective action is emerging as the only viable solution to compounding crises and deepening alienation.

World Builders

We’re witnessing the ‘wellnessification’ of absolutely everything. Beyond boosting their physical health with fitness and nutrition, people are looking for a path to being well in all aspects of their lives, including their finances, careers, activism, spirituality, home design, tech usage, and so much more. The global health and wellness market is expected to reach over $8,945.3 billion by 2032, while self-improvement and the quest for reprieve and relaxation have become integral to all areas of our lifestyles.

Wellness was once for the elite, expressed through a Goop-like look and lifestyle. But now a more fragmented definition of wellness is on the rise, encompassing people’s diverse backgrounds and distinct needs. In a society ruled by high stress and burnout, what was once considered a baseline are now status symbols: sleep is a luxury, glucose monitors signal exclusive healthcare, and sob parlours offer curated spaces for catharsis. People are embracing more radical forms of wellness, employing minor plastic surgery and weight-loss drugs as a means of control over their lives.

Wellness is rapidly reaching new demographics across generations. Exhausted by the permacrisis, Gen Z is rejecting more traditional, buttoned-up wellness movements in favour of little treats, girl dinner, ‘bedrotting’, or ‘rat snacking’ as forms of self-care with a sense of release. At the same time, longevity is becoming a priority as Gen X and Boomers rethink wellness to suit their needs. Some are taking up clubbing as a way of keeping an active lifestyle, while others are looking for nuanced approaches like menopause diets to support the changes that come with age. A desire for more bespoke wellbeing is driving an increase in health hacking – whether through technology or prioritising socialising with peers.

Being+

Christian Toetzke is the founder and CEO of HYROX, one of the world's leading experts in mass participation endurance events. Toetzke conceived of HYROX, seeing a gap in the competitive market for regular gym-goers that could be served through the development of fitness racing based on the model of traditional endurance mass participation events. His previous company, Upsolut Sports AG, pioneered several races, including the Hamburg Marathon and Professional Cycling races in Germany and Europe. He successfully exited from his business, which was acquired by Ironman, where he acted as chief development officer before its subsequent sale.

Global

Germany

Health and Fitness

Physical health

FIBO Global Fitness

Interview with Christian Toetzke conducted by the author

The Week

Health Club Management

Deutschland

Youth Wiki

BarBend

Spotting a gap in the market for competitions for the average gym-goer, HYROX has created a new discipline within the world of exercise. Creating a clear goal for amateur gym-goers and more experienced athletes, HYROX offers accessibility and community for a wide range of exercise enthusiasts.