NYC WELLNESS GUIDE PART 1

All things NYC wellness- Part 1 dives into holistic facials, lymphatic massages, my favorite workouts, and the best places for acupuncture/ Chinese medicine.

Getting straight to the point- i’ll dive into each category with a list of my absolute favorites, as well as a list of places I didn’t get to go to in time, but will be the first places I try when i’m back!

Facials:

• Pacific Touch NYC: if you deal with acne prone skin, rosacea, any type of skin issue really- this is your place! Nichola, the owner, is so well educated on not only holistic skincare, but holistic health as a whole. She walks through your entire lifestyle to get to the root of your skin issues, rather than mask it with a prescription or toxic products. As someone who has dealt with acne for my entire Lyme journey, it was the first time I left a facial where my skin looked and felt 10x better, calmer, less inflamed (even post extractions). I left with a few Roccoco products and my skin loves them- my skin barrier has improved so much in the last month, and truly have not broken out since I went 4 weeks ago.

• Onda Beauty: I got the Onda signature facial and it did not disappoint. While I can sometimes be skeptical of non toxic skincare because of the essential oils, I found the luxury non toxic skincare brands they carry to be 100x better. Overall, it was a luxurious hour of- cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, a customized mask, led light, an arm and neck massage while the red light therapy does its magic, oxygen infusion, and to finish, a facial lymphatic/sculpting massage. I will 100% be back to try the buccal massage next.

• To go to next: Stalle Studios (have heard only amazing things about this place, and the founder, Elizabeth.)

Lymphatic Massage:

• Remedy by Rhed: I have seen Judie ever since I lived in NYC 5 years ago. She has such an intuitive touch that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else. Her lymphatic massage is more of a soft pressure (but not too soft, because i’ve had those too), rather than a harder pressure focused more on sculpting. I find this technique to work best with my body (more so with my MCAS)- as it helps to stimulate the lymph nodes aiding my body in removing toxins, decreasing water retention and bloat, without stimulating my histamine too much. If you find you get really itchy or feel worse post lymphatic massages, it could be that it’s overstimulating your histamine!

• Clean Market: If you’re in the market for more of a sculpting lymphatic massage, this is your place! Go to the the Clean Market in NOHO and ask for Veronica. It is definitely more of a medium to hard pressure massage which I like to mix in every few months. She uses a mix of tools like a body gua sha, and vacuum/ cupping devices which really get the lymph going. I also really enjoyed the emphasis Veronica places on the abdomen as thats where I hold a lot of tension! Definitely a noticeable difference in how I look and feel when I walk out. They gave me code: claireelis20 for 20% off your first service (not an ad or kick back in any way- just to help you guys out!)

Workouts:

• Fuze House: This is my favorite mat pilates class I have ever done. It truly has everything I look for in a workout- aesthetics/cleanliness of the studio are 10/10, the instructors are amazing (go to Makena’s class- her energy is perfection), the workout level is still low impact, but hard enough where I am being worked and can feel myself toning muscle, and the infrared heat is ideal (not too stuffy/ gross, but making me sweat out the toxins.)

• Nofar Method: I have found the lower impact the workout, the more my body loves it, and the less inflammation I have. Just because it’s low impact, doesn’t mean you aren’t actively gaining muscle and changing your body! I have done this workout for years now and truly have not found a workout class that’s similar anywhere else. You switch between a reformer machine and a Cadillac which really gets you using muscles you never have before. Again, from location to studio aesthetics to instructors- all 10/10.

• SLT: If you’re looking for a megaformer workout this has been a staple for me for years. If you live in LA, it’s similar to studio MDR but I like it a touch more in my opinion. Jill Demarco is one of my favorite instructors- she is HARD but does a really good job at teaching you how to master the moves. Also available on Classpass.

• Honorable mentions: Bodyrok (I don’t love the aesthetics of the studio, but overall it’s a good workout, similar to SLT, and available on classpass so gets extra points), Goodday Pilates (only attended one class but loved).

• On my list to go to next: Tera Studio- private community where you need a referral to attend, but love how this fosters an intimate space!

Accupuncture:

• ORA: an elevated Accupuncture experience, definitely on the luxury side of wellness. They blend the art of Accupuncture, red light therapy, and guided meditation to foster healing and regulate your nervous system. I only went once so I cant claim it helped my hormones, and alleviated pain, but can tell you it was a really great experience. My acupuncturist was so kind and knowledgable, and the mix of acupuncture, whole body red light, a guided meditation throughout the room, and calming tea post session, worked wonders on my anxiety.

• Zhang Clinic: no frills Accupuncture and Chinese medicine doctor. I used to quite literally fly to NYC to be under their care. The Accupuncture was amazing- to the point where I would walk in and leave feeling a difference in my pain, gut health, inflammation, etc. I used their herbs to help address SIBO, parasites, Lyme, and improved a ton under their care. If you are in need of a Chinese medicine practitioner to address any chronic conditions, I highly highly recommend.