Tag archives: wellness
Yoga studios abound all through town and the Santa Barbara environs. But not all of them offer events and classes that aren’t about asanas. Yoga Soup’s been one of the big players ever since Founder Eddie Ellner opened the space as a hybrid yoga studio, bookstore, and community gathering space 25 years ago. Indeed, the […]
Each time my husband and I watch an episode of The Great British Bake Off I am immediately inclined to whip something up. Watching these talented chefs mix, stir and whisk their masterpieces into creation never ceases to inspire me. When I bake, I feel free but challenged and I often play around with recipes […]
The holidays have a funny way of sneaking up on us. One minute we are sipping chai tea and admiring fall leaves, and the next we are juggling party planning, gift lists, airport pickups, and those surprising drop-ins from houseguests who somehow forgot to mention they planned to stay for three days. During this season […]
There’s that old saying, “Have your cake and eat it too.” Well, this fall I discovered how to have your wine and wellness too, at the legendary Golden Door, a Japanese-inspired luxury spa retreat tucked into the tranquil hills of San Marcos, California. Just north of San Diego, this world-renowned wellness sanctuary has long been […]
On Thursday, October 9, Karen Neary RN and her team held a celebratory party for Montecito Med Spa’s 3rd year in business at Coast Village Circle. I attended the event, which was packed with their clients, friends, newbies, local businesses and of course Beth Sullivan, executive director of the Coast Village Road Improvement Association. Neary […]
The other night I was at a meeting and two different people at the table were doing the clickety click clack of their pens. You know what I am talking about. It is an unconscious habit, like whistling and passing gas, that only brings relief to those doing it, and annoyance to those around them. […]
Third-generation Montecito resident Taran Collis, a certified Yoga Therapist and Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, spent almost two decades teaching yoga and wellness to adults at La Casa de Maria and the Montecito YMCA before the debris flows from the Thomas Fire and later the pandemic interfered. What also changed things was having a son. Within a […]
A few years ago, I started noticing that people, specifically those under the age of 35, were frequently and erroneously using the word “perfect.” I shared this with friends who later cursed me because they, too, started noticing the same phenomenon. And trust me, once you notice, there is no going back. The genie will […]
A few months ago, I attended a Talkcast at Jane Restaurant downtown. According to Jane Chapman, founder and co-host, “Talkcast is a podcast club” that meets at Jane on the third Wednesday each month. I had heard about these women-only events before, but whenever I went to buy a ticket, they were always sold out. […]
Recently I attended a party for a dear friend. It was a well-attended gathering and a wonderful chance to reconnect with old friends from my two decades in Montecito. However, I was gravely concerned at how many women were alarmingly thin. This wasn’t “Oh, I have started to do Pilates” thin. This was, “Is this […]
Tune in to the news and there’s plenty to be worried about. With the underpinnings of civil society crumbling, political and economic unrest, and climate change rocking the planet, of course we feel unsettled. It’s hard to feel at ease when the ground underfoot is unsteady – metaphorically and literally. It’s also hard to be […]
My daughter and I have an ongoing joke that isn’t a joke, that we are always nice to Siri or our Google clocks – just in case some form of Artificial Intelligence takes over the world, and they might favorably remember we were the ones who always said please and asked them how their day […]
When experiencing skin concerns, it is common to seek out a dermatologist. They are, after all, skin doctors. They will ask what is ailing you and prescribe a treatment that usually involves one or all the following: creams, laser treatments, chemical peels, Dermabrasion, medications, surgery, and more. When I recently brought my son to see […]
The splashing of the fountains and the stunning backdrop of Santa Barbara created the perfect setting for PALMA Colectiva’s Wellness Faire on January 18, held on the rooftop of the Kimpton Canary Hotel. I had the good fortune of being there not only as a writer covering the event, but also as an exhibitor offering […]
I can always tell when my husband is texting with his main group of friends (aka, The Core), his smirk and the mischief in his eyes give him away every time. They shamelessly partake in a level of silliness normally reserved for the enviable obliviousness of 10-year-olds. Their level of creativity, wit, and friendship toward one […]
As we continue with our January Wellness features, this week it’s all about detoxing your home environment, the products we use, and other external influences. No point in working on our healthy bodies with great food and exercise if there are external factors interfering with it. With that, I interviewed Karen Bloom, who created her […]
I have always taken an odd amount of pride in the fact that I am not a competitive person, often even a bit smug about how primitive and foreign I find the very concept. I am just not that interested. Nope, not bothered at all. Until I compete, that is. Some years ago, a dear […]
When my sister’s fifth and youngest child was about to leave for university, she and my brother-in-law made a plan. They knew that after he left, they couldn’t face their once full, noisy and vibrant home. So, they packed the car and when he took off, they took off. It turns out that this wasn’t […]
Last week, my daughter and I both had tests to study for, so I suggested we go downtown to the library, a place that holds many fond memories for us both. Years ago, they had an incredible program where young children could sit with therapy dogs and their companions and read together. It was transformative […]
Both sides of the political divide cast this past election as an existential moment for our democratic way of life. Each side pitching its own version of freedom and well-being. Each side casting the other as the enemy. Yet, when the sound bites fade away and the dust settles, we’re all in this together. But, […]
