Why the ‘Woo-Woo’ Is Going Mainstream — And Why It’s Happening Now

By Kathryn Brown

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed something shifting — quietly at first, and then unmistakably. A cultural softening. A curiosity. An opening. Practices that once lived on the edges of society — meditation, manifesting, energy work, intuitive living, even the deeper layers of yoga — are suddenly being spoken about openly, confidently, and without hesitancy.

And I’ve caught myself wondering why now? Why this moment? Why this widespread awakening?

As someone who has practiced yoga for most of my life but only stepped into teaching six years ago — right before COVID — I’ve watched this shift unfold from the inside. When I began, yoga was understood, yes, but the more spiritual aspects were still seen as a bit “woo,” something you explored quietly.

Now, people are hungry for it. Open to it. Actively seeking it.

The woo-woo hasn’t changed — we have.

Here’s what I’ve noticed.

1. Humanity Is Burnt Out — And Looking for Real Relief

We are living through one of the most overstimulated periods in human history. The pace. The pressure. The screens. AI. The noise. The mental load. The constant expectations.

People aren’t just tired — they’re overloaded.

And when traditional ways of coping stop working, we start looking inward.

This is why meditation, journaling, breathwork, rituals, manifesting, and nervous system practices have exploded. These aren’t trends. They’re lifelines. People want to feel grounded again. Present again. Connected again.

Spirituality is becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity.

2. Science Is Finally Catching Up to Spirituality

Perhaps the biggest catalyst for this shift is that science is starting to prove what ancient traditions have taught for thousands of years.

Meditation changes the brain.

Breathwork regulates emotional states.

Mindset creates real neural shifts.

Intentionality shapes behaviour.

Energy affects how we show up.

Suddenly, these practices aren’t “woo.” They’re research-backed.

This gives people permission to explore spirituality without feeling naive or judged. It creates a bridge between the mystical and the modern — and that bridge is drawing people in.

3. Women Are Leading the Change

What’s been most striking to me is how women are at the forefront of this awakening.

Women are craving:

• deeper self-awareness

• emotional safety

• calm in their nervous system

• spaciousness

• clarity

• purpose

• inner strength

• a softer, more aligned way of living

They’re tired of holding everything together while ignoring themselves. Tired of the pressure to be everything. Tired of living in survival mode.

And they’re beginning to realise that they want more — and they deserve more.

For mothers specifically, this awakening often comes with the awareness that our children absorb our energy, not just our words. We want to model emotional intelligence, calm, abundance, and self-worth — even though we don’t always get it right. But we’re trying. We’re aware. And that awareness alone changes everything.

When women evolve, households evolve. When households evolve, communities evolve.

Women are steering this shift in consciousness more than anyone else.

4.People Are Rejecting Old Models of Success

There is a very clear cultural move away from the traditional productivity-driven, hustle-obsessed, burnout-glorifying lifestyle.

People no longer want:

• grind culture

• constant pressure

• achievement at the cost of wellbeing

• worthiness tied to productivity

They want:

• alignment

• intuition

• balance

• inner peace

• meaningful success

• energy-first living

Spirituality offers a different way of moving through the world — one that prioritises inner alignment over external pressure. And that feels like relief. It feels like coming home.

5. Spiritual Teachers Are Becoming the New Guides

More than ever, people are seeking help from yoga teachers, meditation teachers, intuitive mentors, holistic practitioners, embodiment coaches, and spiritual guides.

Not because they need someone to “fix” them —but because they’re learning to trust themselves again.

We’re shifting from outsourcing wisdom to remembering our own.

The role of the spiritual teacher today is not to tell people what to believe, but to help them reconnect to what they already know.

This is why this work feels so aligned for me. It feels like everything I’ve been quietly cultivating — the yoga, the nervous system work, the abundance teachings, the spiritual frameworks, the generational healing — is finally landing in the exact moment people are ready for it.

So What Does This Mean for You?

If you’ve been feeling the pull toward spirituality, or craving deeper meaning, or wanting next year to feel different — clearer, calmer, more intentional — you’re tuning into the same collective shift happening across the world.

You’re being called forward. You’re being asked to choose a new way of living. You’re being invited to reconnect with your inner compass.

This isn’t random. It’s evolution.

And there has never been a more powerful moment to pause and create your life with intention.

A Gentle Invitation

If you want to begin 2026 feeling grounded, aligned, and deeply connected to your vision, I’d love to hold space for you at:

Sacred Vision 2026: Unlock the Year of Your Dreams

Stretch Yoga, Holland Park or Online

Friday 3 January1.30pm–3.30pm

This immersive two-hour workshop is designed to help you step into the new year with clarity, purpose, and aligned energy.

Explore the details or book your place here: Sacred Vision 2026

About the Author

Kathryn Brown is a Brisbane-based yoga teacher, mother of three, and founder of Beautifully Abundant, a movement devoted to helping mothers heal limiting beliefs, reconnect with their dreams, and raise children with an abundance mindset. Through retreats, workshops, and digital resources, she helps women find peace, purpose, and possibility in every season of motherhood.