The health and wellness scene in Los Angeles isn’t all juice cleanses. There’s so much more to discover that goes far beyond pressed juice. 

Los Angeles is known as a health and wellness destination. And while the first thing to come to mind might be a juice cleanse, wellness is so much more than that. In fact, the lifestyle in LA is one of the main reasons I love living here. It’s at the forefront of health and wellness. I mean, have you seen what Gwyneth Paltrow has been up to lately? 

Plus, LA is always the first to get the latest innovations of health and wellness, and I’m all about being the guinea pig to try out the newest things going on in the industry. 

So, if you’re visiting Los Angeles and looking for some things to try, look no further! I’m giving you a guide to some of the best, most relaxing, and rejuvenating things to do while visiting the city. 

The Mindry

Head to Malibu, and stop at The Mindry for meditation, sound bath, or yoga class. The Mindry was founded by two female entrepreneurs in 2019 who wanted to tap into the profound powers of meditation, mindfulness, and yoga as tools to manage the pressure of their everyday lifestyles. The Mindry now offers virtual classes as well as in studio classes, so the sense of calm and balance can be accessible to everyone!

I take yoga classes and meditate fairly often, so I wanted to check out something I’ve never tried before. I decided to take the Sound Bath with Reiki Energy healing class. Sound Baths balance your energy centers or seven chakras. Basically, you’re “bathed” in sound waves of gongs, singing bowls, chimes, rattles and rain sticks. Some of the benefits of a sound bath include relaxation, stress reduction, and improved sleep. I felt light as a feather when I left. 

The NOW Massage 

Another place to check out is The NOW Massage. It’s quickly becoming one of LA’s hottest wellness destinations with studios all over the city. For my Texas crew, they have locations in Austin, Dallas, Frisco, Houston and Southlake. As well as locations all over the country.

The NOW isn’t your average massage. Each massage is crafted with the individual in mind with fully customizable enhancements like deep-tissue add-ons to herbal heat therapy. I chose The NOW, their signature Swedish-inspired massage, and added Hemp Calm Balm, which reduces tension and stress while restoring tired muscles. I also added Gua Sha, a traditional Chinese medicine technique that promotes circulation, soothes stiff muscles, and reduces inflammation. Since then, I’ve tried The Stretch massage and many other add-ons. All of them have been just as good as the last. Something super unique about The NOW is that they offer a membership, where you save on massages and get free goodies each month. 

Shapehouse

Don’t think sweating is just something you do while partaking in an intense workout or hanging around outside in extreme heat. Sweating actually has incredible benefits, and Shapehouse is helping you do just that without lifting a single weight let alone a finger. I know some aren’t a huge fan of breaking a sweat, but I love it. At Shapehouse, they use holistic wellness with modern convenience and technology. Some of the benefits of sweating at Shapehouse include burning calories, deeper sleep, improved skin and mood, and decreased stress.

The technology used here actually enhances your body’s own ability to free itself of toxic chemicals, pathogens and heavy metals. I will be honest, they weren’t kidding when they told me it would be extremely intense, especially towards the end but I left feeling energized and my skin was glowing for days afterward.

VTree Hollywood

It seems like there is a smoothie shop or health food restaurant on every block of the city. Yet, there is a unique vegan soul food restaurant located in Silver Lake called VTree. This gem is a one-of-a-kind experience with plant-based options derived from your favorite Southern classic dishes. You’ll find things like Jambalaya, Mac n Cheese, and Bourbon Baked Ribs on their main menu. They recently started serving brunch, which means you’ll see classics like biscuits and gravy, chicken, and red velvet waffles all with a vegan twist. I’m not vegan or plant-based, but I would have never known these dishes were meat and dairy free. This is a must-try spot. 

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Cover photo courtesy  Sterling Davis on Unsplash

Sarah Memmer is a contributor to Texas Lifestyle Magazine and a freelance Digital Marketing Strategist. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.