The Power of Your Mind: Buddha Board Founder on How Mindful and Meditative Practices Are Gaining Mainstream Momentum

With today’s fast-paced world, consumers have become more intentional about their health than ever before, prioritizing not only physical fitness but also emotional and mental well-being. According to McKinsey, 60% of U.S. consumers now say wellness is a top priority, reflecting a dramatic cultural shift. What was once a fringe conversation is now mainstream: mindfulness, meditation, and mental health are part of everyday dialogue. 

The rising demand has fueled the global wellness market, expanding across fitness, nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, and preventative care. But with growth comes complexity. While more people are getting access to life-changing practices, the industry has also attracted opportunistic players, with brands more focused on trends and profit than genuine impact. 

“It’s amazing to see how passionate people have become about their own wellness,” says Eric Thrall, founder of Buddha Board, a Vancouver-based mindfulness brand. “But with that passion comes responsibility. This is an industry that should be about support and healing.”  

But when companies turn wellness into a status symbol or trend without real benefits, it hurts both the individual and the credibility of the space. 

Thrall is well-positioned to comment on the industry’s evolution. In 2000, long before mindfulness apps, wearable trackers, and meditation subscriptions took off, he founded Buddha Board, a physical mindfulness tool inspired by the Zen calligraphy practices he encountered in Japan. 

The concept was simple yet profound: paint on the board with water, watch your creation come to life, and then let it fade as the water evaporates. The practice embodies impermanence, being fully present in the moment, and learning to let go. 

“Back then, mindfulness wasn’t a word you heard every day,” Thrall recalls. “But I saw firsthand how powerful these practices could be. The Buddha Board was my way of giving people a simple, accessible tool they could use anytime, anywhere, without needing an app, a subscription, or a teacher.”  

Fast forward 25 years, and mindfulness is the new buzzword. Schools integrate it into classrooms, employers bring it into the workplace, and apps have turned meditations into multi-million-dollar businesses. But this is far from a US conversation; it's global. In Canada alone, one in five people experiences a mental illness or addiction problem every year, according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, making the need for practical support undeniable. 

However, the mainstreaming of mindfulness isn’t always positive. There’s this challenge the industry faces of turning something deeply meaningful into a trend. One can see it with yoga. What began as a spiritual and mental discipline has, in some cases, become more about what outfit you wear to class than the practice itself. 

Exclusivity is creeping into the wellness sector. Expensive memberships, premium products, and flashy branding can create barriers for those who might benefit most. When mindfulness becomes about status, it defeats the purpose.  

Thrall says, “The whole point is accessibility, helping people find calm, creativity, and balance in their daily lives.” 

Another issue is that much of the mindfulness industry is service based: apps, coaching, or guided programs. While these are valuable, there are fewer physical tools that allow individuals to practice mindfulness independently. That’s where Buddha Board stands apart. 

“There aren’t many tangible mindfulness tools,” Thrall says. “You’ve got adult coloring books, but very little designed specifically for mindfulness.” He believes the wellness boom reflects a broader societal shift in how people view mental health. “There’s finally recognition that certain mental conditions are legitimate illnesses,” he says. “They’re treatable, and they deserve to be taken seriously. The fact that we’re talking about mental health as openly as we talk about physical health, that’s progress.” 

For Thrall, the future lies in keeping things simple. “Technology has helped spread mindfulness, but we also need tools that pull us away from screens. The Buddha Board is about presence, about a quiet moment with just you, water, and a brush. That’s never going to go out of style,” he states. “In the end, it’s all about impact. If what you’re doing truly helps people, then you’re on the right path. That’s what mindfulness is supposed to be, and that’s what we’ll keep standing for.” 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider.