8 L.A. wellness spots to hit up when you need some self-care

Nestled in Pacific Palisades, the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine is literally a hidden gem. The serene space features a lush meditation garden, a beautiful temple and, yes, an actual lake. It’s an ideal place for reconnecting with yourself or your higher spiritual self (if that’s your thing). The site offers group meditation classes, lectures on the teachings of yogi and spiritual guru Paramahansa Yogananda, prayer circles, docent-led tours and even weekend retreats. Oh, and did we mention, it’s totally free to visit?

Boutique spa chain The Now has quickly become a cult-favorite relaxation destination in L.A.—and with good reason. Not only is the space utterly chic (think boho vibes with a Tulum flair) they offer all the perks of a luxury spa for a small fraction of the price. A heavenly 25-minute massage will only set you back $40, which means you can treat yourself to some pampering on the regular. And with locations all over the city (West Hollywood, Silver Lake, Studio City and Santa Monica), there are no excuses for skipping out on your self-care.

If your self-care routine involves breaking a sweat, Shape House has you covered but with a twist. There are no intense workouts involved. All you do is lay down wrapped in an infrared heated blanket and sweat it out for 55 minutes while you catch up on your favorite Netflix shows. The potential results: increased energy, improved sleep, better skin, weight loss and less stress.

If you’re not a big fan of the heat, then maybe some cryotherapy at Next Health will be more your speed. You’ll strip down and step into a freezing cold chamber (we’re talking -150 degrees) for a few minutes. Stated benefits include more collagen production, chronic pain relief, better sleep, less anxiety, reduced inflammation and a good old endorphin release. The wellness hub’s menu is filled with many other self-care treatments including IV therapy, food sensitivity testing and, custom supplements.

Incorporating a mindful meditation practice is a great way to step up your self-care and enjoy benefits such as less stress and anxiety, improved sleep, increased productivity, more happiness and overall better health and wellbeing. Unplug Meditation makes it super easy to just drop by for a quick session whenever you need it. And with so many different styles of meditation classes (think sound, aromatherapy, astrological, and chakra balancing meditations) it’s almost impossible to get bored.

Self-care isn’t just about fancy treatments; it can also mean learning how to cook healthy and delicious food you can eat daily. The Wellness Kitchen, situated inside the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, offers hands-on cooking classes led by certified registered dieticians. Pop in for a class, roll up your sleeves and get cooking.

If your idea of self-care includes downward facing dogs and kombucha, then consider Wanderlust Hollywood your go-to spot. They offer their signature flow classes set to music as well as kundalini yoga sessions for all different levels. And once you’re all done with your workout, you can swing by the in-house organic cafe to refuel with some nourishing organic soup, salads or bowls.

Use your self-care time to stimulate your mind with a trip to Downtown L.A.’s hottest museum: The Broad. There’s something therapeutic about wandering around and immersing yourself in the artwork—instead of worrying about taking the perfect selfie. Yayoi Kusama’s two dazzling installations, Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away and Longing for Eternity are ones you should definitely experience without your cell phone at least once. You only get 45 seconds to view each installation so really make it count.