Modern self-service culture is already 50 years old. We return to the mainstream advances and frontiers that have shaped a movement of constant reinvention.
The body. The psychic. Emotions. Energy. The world of wellness has an answer for (almost) everything. Launched in the 1970s by American physician Donald Ardell, wellness was initially an active practice of ensuring a better lifestyle. Doctors, gurus, self-proclaimed experts and other celebrities will then advocate thousands of subjects, each as promising as the next. Eastern Approaches, New Age Utopias, Plate Reform, Reign of All Technologies or Energy Practices… Trends feel good follow each other but are not alike. Each finds its audience in its own time before being pushed into the background by the vagaries of time. By steadily infiltrating society, they stimulate the growth of the industry itself. The health saga has only just begun.
In the video: Cindy Crawford’s vintage sports routine
1980s. Cult of aerobics
Credo: this exercise was invented by Dr: Kenneth Cooper, former Oklahoma Air Force colonel and author, 1968.aerobics, a manual of exercises for strengthening the cardiovascular system. Its principle is regular and intensive physical training with weights. And for ordinary mortals, it will be in music. Among the muses: Jane Fonda and her French versions, Veronique and Davina, Jamie Lee Curtis, Grace Jones, Olivia Newton Jones, Elle Macpherson (aka The Body), Cindy Crawford. The cult of the athletic body paves the way for a suffering sport. Who still wants to do that to themselves?
Investments. At a time when exercise is still a man’s job, millions of women around the world are taking care of their bodies. We also owe the ubiquity of gyms and exercise equipment to the fitness wave.
What we leave behind. mechanical movements and syncopated, soulless stretches that can cause long-term damage to the body. Neon lycra bodysuit and hair band.
What we keep. discipline and communicative good humor; new versions that come every year (zumba, Body Pump, RPM…) to try and have fun.
1990s. VIPs are in overdrive
Britney Spears with a flat stomach. salvation is in diets. Marc Baptiste/Getty Images
The confession. you need to change fuel to lose weight. Diets promoted in the media by medical nutritionists are all the rage (Atkins, Montignac, Dukan, etc.), as are diets praised by celebrities. They are called Beverly Hills or Weight Watchers, separated, liquid, mono-diet… Everything is good to lose five kilos a week, like Kate Moss, Britney Spears, Christy Turlington. The women are… starving. Hello, chronic deficiencies, obsessions, eating disorders.
Investments. mistrust of fast sugars and bad fats, questioning family gastronomy.
What we leave behind Calorie counting, aspartame, protein shakes, diet pills and their serious side effects, the anorexic silhouette of red carpets.
What we keep. not much. Perhaps some ability to periodically review our eating patterns without falling into anorexia, this obsession with ultra-healthy food. And Weight Watchers, which has always relied on support groups and evolved with the times.
2000s. yoga in pole position
The confession. the physical practice of postures asanas – reduces stress, develops balance, flexibility, strengthens the immune system. Followers: Indra Devi, Western Yoga Papa, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow…
Investments. Openness to Eastern philosophies moderates the excesses of materialism. We learn to detach from the mind to allow the body to regain its balance and regulate the emotions.
What we leave behind. the influence of an army of certain gurus and self-styled teachers. The “mystical hovering” folklore (cheap incense, Shiva posters), the craze for flexibility, asanas acrobatics
What we keep. its benefits for body and mind; inner awareness through meditation. The idea that there is yoga available to everyone.
2010s. technology geeks
Credo The time has come for self-monitoring of our bodies thanks to bracelets, watches and other connected activity trackers. Khloe Kardashian, Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé (and her 18K gold version of the Apple Watch) go for it.
Investments it is impossible to say, every “sweaty” minute is recorded. We gain efficiency in our training and ambition in our goals.
What we leave behind. the device dictates when and how to move, rest, wake up and creates new obsessions. Is survival with one’s eye on the number still a life? Not the spirit of the “game” that rewards us when we achieve a goal. Spreading our fake exploits on social networks.
What we keep. 10,000 steps a day, especially if you spend the day sitting in an office.
2020s – strong soul
Ashley Graham, who advocates self-acceptance. Thomas Concordia/Getty Images
The confession.Feeling good starts with the breath, the mind, the beliefs. To change our lives we need to act on our thoughts, our auras, our vibrational field like Madonna, (energetic, kabbalah), Gwyneth Paltrow, Adele, Gisele Bundchen, Kim Kardashian (crystals), Ashley Graham (body positive).
Investments.Talking about our moods is no longer just about being upset, it’s about feeling good about yourself. Mental health is demystified.
What we leave behindBeware of sectarian deviations, perverted theories. The illusion that crystals or positive affirmations will solve all our problems.
What we keep.openness to new forms of therapy, awareness of the subtlety of inner dimensions of being. The power of thoughts, emotions, feelings and decisions.
In the video: the resumption of sports. after how long can we see the results?
Source: Le Figaro
