THE MODERN MAN
Wellness is a buzzword in our modern age—it captures the idea of mind, body, and soul working in tandem to achieve the most toned version of one’s self. It is a universally sound concept, yet the term seems to be primarily associated with women’s well-being. Men have recently boarded the wellness train, albeit in their own way.
What does wellness mean to men? “In today’s world, ‘wellness’ to a man implies more than it did 10 years ago,” answers Kasey Kahl, owner of The Body Building in Clovis, California. “Simply, wellness for men entails the overall encompassing feeling of being most optimal in your physique, endurance, sexual performance, and overall health.”
With the gender gap closing, it makes sense for men’s and women’s overall values, from health to head, to align. How we take care of our bodies, emotions, and relationships goes hand-in-hand with this principle—good health and soundness of mind is just as much about your loved ones as it is about you. How we conduct our personal lives greatly affects our external actions as well, such as professional and community work.
Men’s health, fitness, and wellness needs don’t differ much from those of women. “We both want relatively the same outcome—to feel and look our best,” says Kahl. We all know that a balanced diet, plenty of water, and exercise form the foundation for good health at any age, but wellness is about the bigger picture. Feeling and looking your best is rooted in confidence, regardless of gender. When our best is achieved, performance is enhanced.
Everyone’s needs and priorities are different in this regard, and facilities like The Body Building help people tailor treatment plans to individual objectives. Having a knowledgeable team to turn to is a valuable resource, but, living in the age of social influencers, it is also easy to find trusted resources from the comfort of anywhere with internet access—being your own advocate can help boost confidence in knowing what to ask, trust, and research further, making wellness accessible on any budget.
The biggest barrier to men’s wellness, physically and psychologically, tends to be perceived financial loss. “Most assume health, wellness, and fitness will break the bank,” Kahl explains, “or that their only option to reach their end point is to go under the knife, which is inaccurate.” There are various affordable services that allow men to reach their wellness goals with minimal costs.
Therapies and treatments such as pill-form and intravenous vitamins, cryotherapy, chiropractic services, and testosterone injections are affordable and have become increasingly popular amongst male clientele, according to Kahl. In recent years, the evolution of men’s health has been transcendent as the caliber of technology and products available continues to skyrocket.
Vitamin treatments continue to advance in leaps and bounds. A slew of men’s multivitamins have been on the market for years, but they are now cleaner and purer than ever before. Numerous vitamins and supplements specifically geared toward men are now available, eliminating any and all excuses that come with hectic, on-the-go lifestyles. Men who wish to up their vitamin intake can even have them administered intravenously by a professional, which has increased the popularity of IV therapy infusion bars.
Several clinically administered therapies and treatments have gained especial popularity in recent years. Vasper training systems generate the illusion of a 5-hour workout in just 21 minutes through the use of multi-modality technology. Cryotherapy, sometimes referred to as cold therapy, is the localized or general use of freezing or near-freezing temperatures to treat a variety of tissue lesions. Joseph Pilates, who invented the exercise bearing his name, once said, “A man is as young as his spinal column,” and without proper alignment, a host of health problems can ensue—chiropractic services can help reduce the risk of common male health issues, including erectile dysfunction.
Testosterone helps maintain men’s bone density, fat distribution, muscle strength and mass, facial and body hair, red blood cell production, sex drive, and sperm production. Levels generally peak during adolescence and early adulthood, with testosterone production gradually declining at a rate of about one percent a year after the age of 30 or 40. Routine doctor visits are important to determine if low testosterone levels are due to normal aging or hypogonadism—a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce normal amounts of the hormone. The Mayo Clinic reports that hypogonadism due to aging can be treated naturally with weight loss and by increasing muscle mass through resistance exercises. If that isn’t enough, testosterone injections can help reverse its effects, improving sexual function and affecting physical and emotional changes.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that men are increasingly using one of the most well-known injectables on the market. “Recently, we’ve been seeing an influx in the coined term ‘Brotox,’ which is Botox administered on males,” explains Kahl, “reinforcing the idea that men are caring more about their appearance and aging backwards!” Along with combating the fine lines and wrinkles that come with aging, botulinum toxin injections also effectively treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and migraines. According to data collected in 2017 by the American Society for Plastic Surgeons, Botox for men makes up almost ten percent of all “cosmetic surgeries,” despite the fact that there is no knife involved. Botox is a cost-effective option for men who want to manage the aging process without downtime or risk of surgery.
As with women, men’s health, fitness, and wellness routines must evolve with age, which requires launching new practices and/or treatments, and pioneering new ones. “Very similar to aging, we have no choice but to age; we then have to figure out how to be our best selves at that stage of life,” imparts Kahl. This involves listening to your body and providing whatever it may need, physically and emotionally. With every birthday, re-evaluate how in-shape, healthy, and overall confident you are in your current state of wellness. There are countless sources to help you look and feel your best—take advantage of them!
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Managing Editor Lauren Barisic
