What If Wellness Needs More Joy? | Lori Ann King

I’m writing this from my porch today. It’s 79 degrees, there’s a slight breeze, and I’ve moved my office outdoors. Not a bad way to spend a workday. And it has me thinking about wellness.

In 2021, I published Transform: Building the Mindset to Change Your Body and Your Life, drawing on nearly a decade of experience in health and wellness.

Five years later, I’m wondering if I left something out.

Joy.

And maybe safety, connection, and pleasure, too.

At the end of yoga class, my instructor places a cool towel over us and gently massages our feet.

Oh. My. Goodness.

It’s such a simple gesture, but those few minutes of being cared for, with absolutely nothing expected of me, are heavenly. So is a hug from a friend. A good massage. Laughing until your cheeks hurt. Sitting with people who make you feel safe enough to be completely yourself. No filters. No performance. No need to be anything other than who you are.

In , I wrote about serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin, the chemicals associated with feeling good. I knew that movement, laughter, touch, and connection could support our well-being. But I think I was so focused on helping people achieve their health and fitness goals…