join now

The Wellness Efficacy Problem: What the Industry Won’t Say (But You Need to Hear)

two aesthetically dressed women doing yoga Jackie Murphy Yoga Business coach Pilates Business Coach

 

 

 

About The Wellness Efficacy Problem.

By Jackie Murphy, host

 

"Wellness is booming. So is obesity.”

That headline from Fitt Insider stopped me mid-scroll, and for good reason.

The stats are sobering:

  • U.S. obesity rates have jumped from 30% to 42% in two decades.
  • Chronic conditions now make up 90% of healthcare costs.
  • And despite billions spent on wellness... we’re not getting healthier.

 

Here’s the truth no one wants to say out loud: we don’t have a content problem. We have an efficacy problem.

Wellness is marketed with aesthetics, curation, and surface-level appeal. But when it comes to real change? People are paying... and not progressing.

So what’s really going on? And what does this mean for you as a coach, teacher, or studio owner? Let’s break it down.

 

Part One: The Data Doesn’t Lie

 

Obesity. Chronic illness. Mental health crises.

They’re all rising, despite $4.4 trillion in global wellness spending.


This isn’t an awareness issue. This is an action gap.

People know what to do. They just aren’t doing it.


And that means surface-level offers won’t cut it anymore. If your wellness business is going to thrive in the next era, it needs to deliver more than good vibes.


It needs to deliver results.

 

Part Two: Where the Industry Went Wrong

 

Let’s name the patterns:

  • We sold aesthetics instead of outcomes.
  • We made wellness feel optional instead of essential.
  • We offered access, but never solved for action.


The result? An industry full of beautifully branded experiences... that don’t stick.

 

Part Three: What My Clients Are Building Instead

 

This is where it gets exciting.

Because the leaders I work with are DONE playing the surface game.

 

They’re:

  • Pairing movement with mindset, so students walk away changed.
  • Creating community-based third spaces that make people want to show up.
  • Designing long-term programs that prioritize transformation—not convenience.


They’re building offers that hold people accountable. And it’s working.

 

Part Four: Wellness 2.0 — What the Future Actually Needs

 

If you want to stand out in the wellness space now, you can’t just sell packages.

You need to:

  • Teach both movement and mindset
  • Normalize that transformation takes time
  • Create containers where people are supported long enough to see results


That’s how we close the efficacy gap.

And that’s how we reclaim the impact wellness was meant to have.

 

Your Work Isn’t a Vibe. It’s a Result.

 

This moment is a wake-up call—but it’s also a leadership opportunity.

If you’re ready to build a wellness brand that actually delivers what people are paying for? DM me “WELLNESS 2.0” and I’ll send you the next step.

Or come join my free workshop where I’ll break down exactly how to build a transformation-first wellness business.

 

more from the studio ceo

Live Free 2-hour Masterclass

Instagram strategies to grow your yoga or pilates business

Learning to market your yoga or pilates business on social media will help you increase your income, avoid burnout, and help thousands of people. Let me save you countless hours of trial and error!