A New Standard for Wellness in Miami

Everyone is beautiful in Miami, right? Outside the 305, this is a popular perception that, while exaggerated somewhat, does contain a morsel of truth. It's also nothing new. Television and film have fed into a glamorous narrative of Miami for years that may be fictional, yet it set a subtle standard for what is expected among several people who live here.

Of course, it's not simply a matter of a physical aesthetic standard often artificially maintained by cosmetic products or a plastic surgeon's knife. Today's Miami is arguably a hub for wellness and a more balanced appeal to natural healthy living for the body, mind, spirit, and soul.

"Wellness is seeing an increased market share across Miami," according to Laura McCann, Founder and CEO of Auratherapy, a full service wellness company based in Wynwood. "Everything from food to technology, yoga and pilates practitioners, even real estate developers are incorporating spas and fitness centers in new constructions."

She cites a shifting culture in Miami where there is a continuing migration of people moving here from places like New York and California. "This is contributing to a more educated approach to wellness and moving the city gradually away from its long-held reputation as a party destination or a playground for societal elites."

What's more, she says that wellness isn't necessarily a one-stop-shop. Some businesses that would fall under a wellness umbrella produce food products, while others focus on technology like red light masks. Yoga and pilates classes and providers of products like essential oils and natural supplements round out the industry. Additionally, she says that a focus on wellness is less limited to the wealthy elites than in the past and is becoming increasingly affordable across the income spectrum. That, of course, bodes well for where wellness is going, not just in Miami, but across the country.