As we head into the new year, many of us are hoping to make wellness a bigger priority in our lives. Recently, Mindbody conducted one of the industry’s most extensive studies on wellness industry trends, the Mindbody 2022 Wellness Index. 

For the wellness study, the Mindbody surveyed over 16,000 adults in the 50 largest cities around the US. They discovered that the definition of wellness is evolving to be more inclusive of areas including intellectual wellness, immune health, sexual wellness, and more.

Here are MindBody’s list of top wellness trends:

1. From the inside out: Increased interest in immune health

In 2022, we expect the increased focus on immune health to continue, with one in five Americans having tried new services or treatments that support immune health and another 46% are interested in trying those services moving forward.  There’s little doubt that interest has surged due to the Covid-19 pandemic when people are looking for ways to prevent the virus or recover from an infection. NY monoclonal therapy is one such therapy that people are turning to in order to recover from symptoms faster.

2. Intellectual wellness: Your biggest asset

More than a quarter of Americans ranked intellectual wellness, which encourages one to explore new concepts, enhance skills, and challenge the mind, in the top three most important dimensions of wellness. However, only 50% of Americans say they spend time on creativity and stimulating activities - allowing for much growth in this market.

3. Mental wellness is a top priority

Over a third of Americans ranked mental health as the most important dimension of wellness. About half of America agreed that the pandemic has negatively affected their mental wellbeing. In the past year, 37% of Americans have incorporated physical fitness into their routine to help support their mental wellbeing while 14% have added yoga and 9% have added wellness treatments like acupuncture to their routines. 

4. Sexual wellness is taboo no more

Sexual wellness is a facet of well-being that’s been historically kept behind closed doors – but it’s time to break those doors wide open. From sex therapy to vaginal steaming to erectile dysfunction treatments, the once-taboo topic is becoming mainstream and 32% of Americans are actively seeking information or resources to help them improve their sexual wellness or skills.   

5. Facial exercises are the new burpees: Millennials are leading the way on this trend, with 36% reporting interest in or already participating in facial exercises. Nearly three in ten respondents already do or are interested in doing facial exercises to tone their face muscles, like face yoga.   

6. Pets and Wellness: Wellness isn’t just for humans anymore: With 20% of U.S. households adopting a dog or cat since the beginning of COVID-19, consumers are on the lookout for pet-friendly wellness experiences. 41% of consumers are interested in going to pet-friendly salons or spas, with Gen Z and millennials expressing the most interest (over 50%) in pet-friendly establishments.  

In addition to the up-and-coming trends on MindBody’s list, one of our favorite wellness trends is the wellness travel trend (which we hope to enjoy in the future as responsibly as possible). From all-inclusive wellness retreats to curated classes and activities, more destinations than ever are offering opportunities to focus on wellness during your travel experience. Many of these destinations are offering experiences that focus on the top wellness trends in MindBody’s study. Check out our list of unique wellness travel destinations around the world for 2022.

For more information about Mindbody’s 2022 Wellness Index, visit the Mindbody website.

Interested in more industry trends? Check out the Top Beauty Trends for 2022.

Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy