Virtual REC

Wellness is a term that holds many meanings between the medical and psychological fields. The term and definition of wellness has evolved over the past 3 decades, once denoting an absence of illness, and now a state of well-being

Traditionally wellness has been considered only the absence of illness and disease. Now, we see wellness as a holistic perspective that strives to define the presence of positive conditions and outcomes. Some of the most common definitions of wellness break the term of wellness into 5-8 different dimensions that include social, emotional, intellectual, financial, physical, spiritual, environmental, and occupation wellness.

Holistic human wellness includes, among others things, mind and body, spirit, and community interactions. The dimensions of holistic wellness are all interconnected, whereas the medical system traditionally has a tendency to approach them separately.

Today, many terms overlap to define wellness in both medical and holistic communities such as health, wellness and well-being; these terms tend to mean the same thing or are closely related. However, there is a true connection between health and wellness. Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and improve their own health; health promotion enhances one’s own wellness. Wellness is a process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Health promotion can help initiate lifestyle changes from unhealthy and healthy habits in order to improve one’s well-being.

Wellness is unique to each individual, it is a subjective experience of what ‘wellness’ feels like for each person. It is hard to define perfect wellness, since we are all unique; our wellness path is also going to be unique. Wellness has been conceptualized as a pie, a cairn, a cake, a pyramid, and a continuum; neither one is right or wrong. An individual’s conceptualization of wellness will also be unique.

UB Recreation in the past has promoted wellness programming highlighting the areas of physical and social wellness. As we progress into a new century and time, UB Recreation will be facilitating and highlighting campus resources and unique UB REC activities and programs to enhance all areas of wellness for each individual on and off UB’s campus.