Our Big A-to-Z Guide to the Hottest Wellness Trends to Try Right Now
From aura photography to zero-proof drinks, here are 26 popular self-care practices — and the Philly folks leading the charge.
Here are 26 wellness trends to get on board with ASAP. / Photographs by Gab Bonghi, Ian Shiver, and Gene Smirnov
The wellness world is always evolving, with new activities and techniques popping up left and right. But how do you know what’s worthwhile and what’s just another TikTok fad? Here, our A-to-Z guide to trending (not simply trendy!) wellness practices — and the Philly-area leaders specializing in them.
A
is for aura photography
Photographs courtesy of Inner Light Aura
A psychedelic Polaroid that captures your inner vibe? Yes, please. Inner Light Aura will break down your aura — the unique energy you give off — and the colors it manifests so you can better understand who you are and have the potential to become. How it works: You’ll sit in front of a boxy-looking camera — it’s a machine designed in the 1970s by Californian Guy Coggins, founder of Progen Aura Imaging — and place both hands on silver sensors. These, Inner Light Aura founder Sara Silverstein says, gather biomagnetic feedback from your skin — like temperature and electrical properties influenced by emotional state — and transmit it to the main camera. Once your kaleidoscopic portrait pops out, you’ll learn what all the vibrant orbs around you mean when it comes to your strengths and aspirations, plus how you make others feel (and vice versa). A party of red? Unshakable confidence! True blue? Communication pro! Plus, your aura can shift over time — a testament to your ongoing evolution. —Laura Brzyski
B
is for bathe in sound
Sound-bath meditation can help you re-center and de-stress thanks to calming vibrations from singing bowls, gongs, chimes and drums. Look to Philly’s unofficial queen of sound healing, Luna Maye, who has a permanent residency at W Philadelphia, and catch recurring workshops at studios like Lumos Yoga & Barre in Fairmount or Evolve Yoga and Beyond in Paoli.
C
is for cold plunge
Photograph courtesy of Ignite Sadhana
Channel your inner Wim Hof — and enjoy added benefits like decreased inflammation and improved sleep and mood — with pop-up group Ignite Sadhana (above), to learn breathing techniques before submerging yourself in a mobile ice bath. Or head to Formation Sauna + Wellness — the Northern Liberties space features a single-person cold-plunge pool for use with your sauna sesh.
D
is for dance
Adult dance classes have officially made a comeback. Find high-energy choreography-based workouts at Chestnut Hill’s DanceFit Exertainment, Rittenhouse’s Evolve Dance, Cherry Hill’s Powerhouse Dance, or Philly Dance Fitness, which has two brick-and-mortars plus livestreamed offerings.
E
is for enhanced drinks
Photograph courtesy of Art in the Age
Adaptogens, CBD, mushroom blends, and even moderate amounts of kava can have soothing effects on your nervous system without the next-day hangover. Visit Queen Village’s Lightbox Vegan Café & Kava Bar or MagiKava in New Hope for a selection of tranquil, better-for-you bevs. To sip on something at home, try Art in the Age’s Pathfinder — an N/A spirit fermented and distilled from hemp, sans cannabinoids.
F
is for follow your flow
Cycle syncing is about tailoring your workouts, diet and general lifestyle to the phases of your menstrual cycle, “to break cycles of dysregulation and painful periods,” says local trainer and Ayurvedic counselor Isabelle Martinez. She recommends structuring more intense workouts during follicular and ovulation phases and embracing slower movement and rest during the luteal phase and menstruation.
G
is for gua sha
Gua sha / Photograph via Getty Images
This centuries-old Chinese technique involves gliding the flat edge of a gua sha tool across your cheeks, forehead and jawline to reduce inflammation, promote lymphatic drainage, and enhance collagen production, according to holistic aesthetician Lynn Gallagher, who utilizes the practice at Note to Self Wellness in Kensington. To try it at home, Sabbatical Beauty founder Adeline Koh says you only need a few simple tools: facial or cleansing oil to avoid damaging or tearing your skin, a gua sha tool of your choice, and clean skin and hands to prevent breakouts. Koh has a bunch of TikTok tutorials (@sabbaticalbeauty) for performing the technique, especially for issues like forehead lines, puffy eyes and TMJ.
H
is for herbalism
Dope Botanicals / Photograph by Gene Smirnov
Many folks are turning to the earth for ailment relief and improved long-term health. Let sisters Nakia and Taahirah Stith (above) whip up plant-based bevs at their Rittenhouse-based “a‘plant’ecary,” Dope Botanicals; stock up with Terra Luna Herbals’ tea blends and skin-care products made with ingredients from their West Kensington farm; or support Philly Herb Hub, which provides free herbs and workshops to Black Philadelphians.
I
is for IV therapy
Getting IV therapy in a boutique wellness space has become a thing. (Consult your doctor, though, and know exactly what is going into your body beforehand.) Local drip bars include Fishtown-based (and mobile!) Philly IV; City Hydration in Center City, Wayne and Avalon; and Haverford’s Brooke Alexandria Spa, which also has facials, fillers and waxing.
J
is for jumpin’ jumpin’
Trampolines aren’t just for kids anymore. Engage your core and improve your balance during low-impact rebounding classes at Amrita Yoga & Wellness, Tuck Barre & Yoga, or Vibe Fitness Studio. For something more advanced, the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts “Intro to Trampoline” course provides fundamental skills to take jumps to the next level.
K
is for kettlebells
Kettlebells at KG Strong / Photograph by Gab Bonghi
Training with kettlebells is like having an entire gym in your hands, says fit-pro Jon Lyons. That’s because ’bells ramp up your full-body strength, mobility, stability, and cardio endurance. Find strength and conditioning classes that utilize kettlebells (and other equipment) at Lyons’s South Philly gym Strength Haüs or at KG Strong, a well-equipped space inside Bok designed for hard work, Turkish get-ups and community.
L
is for LED & red-light therapy
LED therapy can support your skin health and target fine lines, inflammation and acne. Try it at skin-care destinations like Nirvana Wellness Med Spa, Anej Skin Studio, Victoria Roggio Beauty, and Viviane Aires Skin Wellness. For head-to-toe glow and recovery, head to Center City’s Modrn Sanctuary or dtXfy in Manayunk and Wayne; they boast a red-light panel and booth, respectively.
M
is for metaphysical world
Photograph by Ian Shiver
Tarot cards, oracle decks, crystals, smudge sticks, birth charts … oh my! Immerse yourself in all things New Age at Garland of Letters in Queen Village, Bella Vista’s Harry’s World, Conshohocken’s Thirteen Circles, and Meraki Market in downtown Haddonfield.
N
is for not your average sauna
/ Photograph via Getty Images
Infrared saunas work on a cellular level — meaning they create heat that warms your body and not just the air around you — to help increase circulation, ease inflammation, and boost metabolism. Get your sweat on in the infrared saunas at The Wellness Refinery, Halcyon Floats, Hygge Facial Spa, or Sanctuary Wellness Studio.
O
is for optimized fitness
Combining multiple modalities in one session can optimize their effects — and your results — so you work out smarter, not harder. Unite Fitness bundles cardio, strength training and recovery in just 55 minutes; BPM Fitness has three different styles of hybrid classes; Arena Fitness & Performance runs explosive circuit-style sessions; and RIDE in Southampton offers cycling, barre and TRX fusions.
P
is for pickleball
Photograph via Getty Images
Pickleball is said to be the nation’s fastest-growing sport, and because it’s an activity that’s fun and requires little finesse, it’s clear why. There are plenty of places to learn or play pickleball in and around the city, including a host of just-opened facilities.
Q
is for quality sleep
/ Photograph courtesy of Rittenhouse Hotel
The pandemic wreaked havoc on REM cycles, and we’re all still tired! Find rest with the Logan hotel’s Dream Like Relaxation package — it combines reflexology, aromatherapy, and guided meditation to lull you right to sleep. Or book the 90-minute sleep-focused massage at the Rittenhouse Hotel (above) — it utilizes CBD and is designed to relieve anxiety, insomnia and jet lag.
R
is for Reformer Pilates
Reformer Pilates has been around for 100 years, and while folks have always loved the sliding spring-loaded machine, it continues to increase in popularity. Add resistance and glide through movements at Fishtown-based Retro Pilates, The Balance Room in Queen Village, or LSF Pilates in Wayne. Want total one-on-one attention? Book a private session at Backbone in Kensington or at Narberth’s Ellie Herman Pilates.
S
is for stretch & recovery
Exercise is important for overall health, but you can’t ignore your warm-up and cooldown. Catch an assisted-stretch session at Remedy Spa & Wellness in Brewerytown or at Rittenhouse’s new StretchLab for one-on-one and group stretches.
T
is for therapy with psychedelics
While their use is still relatively new, psychedelics can be helpful in treating a number of mental health issues. SoundMind — Philly’s first psychedelic-assisted therapy center — safely integrates ketamine into treatment sessions and provides psilocybin-assisted services in Oregon and Jamaica. Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry in Devon also offers ketamine therapy to help with mood disorders, anxiety and depression.
U
is for unplugging
Photograph courtesy of Tiny House of Happiness
To take a break from social media and combat “doomscrolling,” visit the Tiny House of Happiness, a mindfulness-focused property on the Farm at Awbury Arboretum. Relax sans devices, and become more present by embracing minimalist nature-centric living.
V
is for very nutritious food, delivered
Photograph courtesy of Be Wellfed
The hardest part of cooking dinner? Deciding what to make. Take a break from the kitchen and turn to nutrient-dense meals from Be Wellfed (above), plant-forward delights from Reap Wellness, and rotating dishes from Prepped by Carly that are delivered right to your door.
W
is for walks!
Lace up your sneaks for a slower, equally effective form of cardio. For women and women-identifying folks looking to make new friends while fitting in a “hot-girl walk,” Philly Girls Who Walk is a chill community that goes on weekly strolls around the city. Or join We Walk PHL, the free group that leads ventures through Philly’s public parks a few times per week.
X
is for x-act brows
Photograph by Carina Danielle
Whether you’re into razor-sharp edges or fluffy textured strands, it’s time to indulge in brow care. Tara Giorgio is available in Fishtown and West Chester for brow mapping, trimming, waxing and detailed tweezing. And Idle Hands Esthetics in Washington Square West offers it all: waxes, lamination and tints, plus facials for those days when you need some extra TLC.
Y
is for your gut
A healthy gut — full of prebiotic- and probiotic-rich foods — is a happy gut. To begin your gut-healing journey, turn to integrative clinical nutritionist Cristina Hoyt — she offers one-on-one sessions and has an informative weekly podcast — or Melissa Green Henkin, a certified holistic health coach who runs virtual counseling.
Z
is for zero-proof lifestyle
Sober curiosity, or mindfully cutting down on your alcohol consumption, skyrocketed in 2021, as many people reevaluated pandemic-fueled drinking habits. Visit Manayunk’s Volstead by Unity for N/A spirits, wines and beers. Or peruse Gem Life + Bar’s booze-free bottle shop in Pitman for “conscious cocktails for mindful moments.”
Published as “A-to-Z Wellness Trends” in the 2024 issue of Be Well Philly.
