You may have heard about the “Metaverse,” but have you heard about the Wellness Metaverse? As you can imagine, it’s not a far leap to think of how we can bring wellbeing into the Metaverse, but let’s talk about it. Is it all it’s cracked up to be? What are the pros and cons, and who is it really for? For starters, if you’re imagining yourself wearing a clunky headset while trying to meditate, you’re not wrong, but fortunately, there’s a bit more to offer than that. It’s also a rapidly growing space, so come with me to explore the Wellness Metaverse.
What exactly is the Wellness Metaverse?
You can think of the Wellness Metaverse as your personal wellness space existing in virtual reality. It’s capitalizing on several major health and wellness trends for 2025, including health at home, biomonitoring and wearables, and personalized health leveraging Gen AI, as predicted by McKinsey. According to research from PWC’s healthcare division, it’s becoming a new frontier where you can take fitness classes, meditate, or even attend therapy sessions. The portability is key here since you can do all these things from your home office or living room, IF you wanted to. That’s a big IF, but we will come back to that. Unlike watching YouTube videos or joining Zoom calls, you’re actually “in” the experience, moving around and interacting in 3D spaces. This is what sets apart other remote options and may make online wellbeing much more attractive.
What can you actually do “in there?”
Research from the Global Wellness Institute shows people are currently using the Wellness Metaverse for several things, including:
– Virtual fitness classes where you can see and feel like you’re moving with others
– Meditation sessions in beautiful digital environments, making meditation more interesting to “fidgety skeptics.”
– One-on-one therapy sessions where you and your therapist meet in virtual spaces
– Group wellness activities like yoga classes with people from around the world
– Personal health coaching and nutrition consultations
Currently, early independent research, particularly in mental health applications, shows promise for virtual wellness environments. A 2024 study in the Journal of Human-Computer Interaction found that virtual therapy sessions can help reduce common barriers to access, such as travel time and scheduling conflicts. However, researchers note that more long-term studies are needed to fully understand how virtual wellness programs compare to traditional in-person options. What we do know is that these virtual spaces offer clear benefits for privacy and scheduling flexibility. In other words, you can access professional guidance without leaving your home.
What we like about the Wellness Metaverse
The good news is that the Wellness Metaverse is nascent, so there is lots of room for growth and improvement. In fact, recent research published in healthcare journals points to several clear benefits, including:
– Time Constraints – This removes the transportation obstacle that has you racing across town after work or picking up the kiddos, to hit a Barre class
– Access – You can access top instructors and health professionals who might not be in your city
– Privacy – For those that are shy about seeing a therapist, this removes the stigma some folks feel when walking into a therapy clinic
– Flexibility – Join sessions that fit your schedule
– Community – You can connect with other people who share your wellness goals, even if in a virtual space
In the same study mentioned earlier, research found that virtual wellness environments can significantly increase participation in health activities, especially for busy women like you. It allows us to remove a number of barriers, often preventing us from prioritizing our wellbeing, like time, distance, body dysmorphia, and so forth.
What does it cost to get started in the Wellness Metaverse?
Like any emergent technology, this is going to cost you. Right now, even the entry level equipment is pretty expensive and can be cost prohibitive for the majority of users. However, if you are curious to know more, here are a few options that go from entry level to the luxe models. There are lots of options out there, but this gives you a flavor of what to expect in the market place. You also need to factor in subscription costs, in addition to equipment, so the price can escalate quickly. Additionally, there is still a limited amount of software and environment options out there, so this will take time to expand the market and offer more variability.
Entry level ($300-400)
– Meta Quest 3 headset ($499.99)
– Basic wellness apps like Supernatural ($19.99/month)
Mid-range ($1,000-1,500)
– HP Reverb G2 VR headset ($599)
– Premium wellness subscriptions
– Higher-end wellness apps and programs
High-end ($2,000+)
– Varjo Aero ($1,990)
– Full suite of wellness subscriptions
– Professional one-on-one services in VR
Ready to sign up? Read this first!
You might already have that VR headset in your cart but before you click buy, read this. The reality is that this technology is still new, largely untested, and we have no long term data on the impacts. That won’t stop many and that’s OK, but I like you to be informed. Here’s what you need to know so you can avoid any buyer’s remorse. According to research from Frontiers in Digital Health, here are some important challenges to be aware of:
– Cost Prohibitive – As you have already seen, the technology isn’t cheap
– Beware Motion Sickness – This happens to many people and if you are susceptible to car or sea sickness, this may also affect you. Our brains have not evolved for this
– Iffy Graphics – The graphics aren’t always perfect so don’t expect to immediately find yourself on the set of Avatar
– Network Demands – Your internet connection needs to be strong and stable, so if you are in a rural area or experience lots of outages, your experience will degrade quickly
– It’s Still Fake – Some experiences feel artificial compared to real-world alternatives, which is to be expected because after all, it is a fake environment
What improvements does the Wellness Metaverse need?
In order for the Wellness Metaverse to really take off, we need to consider the following improvements:
– More affordable VR headsets
– Better internet infrastructure in general – this is especially true for rural areas outside of large city centers
– More wellness and wellbeing professionals creating content
– Improved graphics and more natural movements
– Better integration with real-world health data
– We need more research on the impacts of VR spaces, similar to the ongoing research around social media
Is this working anywhere, yet?
The good news is that some places and platforms are already making this work. For example, a company called Supernatural is probably the most popular right now. It offers workouts in beautiful virtual locations. Many content reviewers say it’s the first fitness program they’ve actually stuck with, because it feels more like playing than exercising. Think Peloton, but for the Wellness Metaverse. XRHealth, according to recent studies, is also bringing therapy into virtual spaces. They’re making mental health care more accessible for people who can’t easily get to in-person sessions, however this is company led research, so take it with a grain of salt. Finally, Headspace, which you might know from the meditation app, is exploring VR meditation experiences that put you in calming environments while you practice mindfulness.
Is it worth trying the Wellness Metaverse?
So the question remains, is it worth trying the Wellness Metaverse? That really depends, but here are a few questions to help you determine if it’s right for you right now, or not yet.
Are you someone who…
– Doesn’t do wellness activities because of commuting or time limitations
– Is a early or first adopter
– Doesn’t like working out in front of others or doesn’t want people to know you’re in therapy
– Likes playing with the latest technology
– Wants more flexibility in your wellness routine
– Has disposable income for the equipment and content subscriptions
If you answered yes to 3 or more of these, then it’s worth considering. Start with a basic setup and see how you like it before investing in higher-end equipment or you can even split the cost with a friend to share the experience.
What does the future hold for the Wellness Metaverse?
So what can we expect to see in the wellness metaverse in the near future? According to PWC’s research, the technology is getting better every year, so we’re likely to see:
– More personalized experiences based on your health data
– Better graphics and more realistic environments
– Lower prices as the technology becomes more common
– More integration with traditional healthcare and wellness services
– Increased content availability as adoption increases
For now, the Wellness Metaverse isn’t going to completely replace your gym membership or in-person therapy sessions, but it’s becoming a solid option for fitting wellness into your busy life. The key is starting small. Consider a basic VR headset and one wellness app, to see how it fits into your routine. Resale on these is high because many people want to try the tech, but get sticker shock investing in a new unit, so you have options.
Have you tried any virtual wellness experiences? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.
Subscribe to Wellspiration on Substack or follow on my website for more health related information. If you’re ready to start making real changes to your health and wellbeing for 2025, let’s talk. I can help! Until then, wishing you abundant health and limitless joy!
Resources
- PWC Healthcare – The Future of Healthcare in the Metaverse: https://www.pwc.com/m1/en/industries/healthcare/the-future-of-healthcare-in-the-metaverse.html
- Global Wellness Institute – Mental Health and Wellness in the Metaverse: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/global-wellness-institute-blog/2022/10/10/mental-health-and-wellness-in-the-metaverse/
- Stellarix – Revolutionizing Wellness: Metaverse in Healthcare: https://stellarix.com/insights/articles/revolutionizing-wellness-metaverse-in-healthcare/
- The Metaverse as a Therapeutic Space: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10447318.2024.2357902
- XRHealth – Virtual Reality Therapy for Professionals and Patients: https://www.xr.health
- Frontiers – AR/VR Metaverse to Improve Mental Health: https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2023/06/26/ar-vr-metaverse-to-improve-mental-health-world-economic-forum-emerging-technologies-report/
- McKinsey – What is the Future of Wellness: https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-the-future-of-wellness