Meow Wolf’s Encyclopedia of Weird Wellness From cupping to karaoke to goat yoga, here are some strange ways to achieve mind, body and soul satisfaction. by Erin Barnes | art by Chris Gipple Wellness can come in many forms: a cathartic late night karaoke session, a lifelong spiritual practice, or a simple moment of feeling the summer night air on your face while driving with the windows rolled down. The Global Wellness Institute says that wellness is the individual pursuit of holistic health: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental health. Wellness is not a passive activity — it’s a proactive pursuit, and an individual act of intentionality. Detractors say that the concept of wellness places too much responsibility on each individual to single-handedly balance these tenets while simultaneously earning a living, caring for family members, and contributing to a society that doesn’t provide that much in the way of help in these areas. Some think it’s empowering the individual rather than relying on organized systems like healthcare and the government. The word can evoke toxic fads, diet culture, celebrity trends and downright appropriative movements that whitewash traditions from other cultures. Wherever you stand on the concept of wellness, the truth is that we all need help. The pandemic was a collective mental health crisis, and it created a butterfly effect of stressful situations (job loss, grief, sick loved ones) that made returning to “normal” more difficult. The good news is that there are so many compelling new ways to heal the world that are as idiosyncratic as the people in it. And if we share that information, collective healing can take on a butterfly effect. We present to you the Meow Wolf Encyclopedia of Weird Wellness. We asked community members and Meow Wolf employees, “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve done for wellness?” We wanted to look outside of the box. We strongly urge you to do your own research before embarking on your wellness journey, as some of these practices haven’t been studied at length, and we recommend working with a certified expert in each realm. Most importantly, we urge you to ask your friends, family and colleagues, “What’s floating your isolation tank these days?” Let’s look at what’s working for some:
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