In Los Angeles, wellness has always been more than health it’s an identity. But over the past year, that identity has grown into a full-blown performance. Welcome to the new era of social wellness clubs, members-only spaces where status, healing, and spectacle intertwine.
Take Love.Life, the wellness concept launched in El Segundo by Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey. For $300 a month, members don’t just get access to spa treatments and strength training; they enter a curated ecosystem: biohacking labs, IV drips, meditation domes, nutrition counseling, and a restaurant serving “plant-forward” cuisine. The message is clear here, health isn’t reactive, it’s preventive, predictive, and aspirational.
It’s easy to see the appeal. In a city where careers and reputations hinge on appearance, wellness is currency. A morning sound bath or cryotherapy plunge isn’t just about feeling better; it’s a declaration of values. Yet the exclusivity of these clubs is sparking debate. Critics argue that when access costs hundreds each month, wellness risks becoming another luxury commodity rather than a public good.
Still, Angelenos flock in. For them, wellness in 2025 is a performance staged daily on Instagram, at brunch, in the way they inhabit their bodies. And in Los Angeles, performance is everything.
