Health & Wellness

Wellness

Health-conscious living

In a rapidly changing world, Santa Monica’s continued emphasis on wellness and health, both physical and mental, is more relevant now than ever. With dozens of green spaces, fitness classes and spas for self-care, the city enables locals and visitors alike to prioritize wellness unlike any other place. Find your fit in the birthplace of beach volleyball with toes-in-the-sand fitness classes, unwind with organic treatments at nationally recognized spas and recharge with a variety of fresh, locally sourced fare. Experience for yourself why Santa Monica is the new wellness destination and discover how you can refresh body, mind and soul on your next visit to Santa Monica.

Spas

Attracting visitors from across the country and around the world, Santa Monica’s hotels boast some of the best spas in Los Angeles. A longtime fixture at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, the Exhale Mind Body Spa has proved its staying power with an extensive selection of fitness classes and spa therapies, including massages, facials and even acu-healing such as reiki and cupping. A few blocks east, the newly arrived Santa Monica Proper Hotel is home to 30,000-square foot Surya Spa, which leans toward Ayurvedic therapies.

Book the Abhyanga + Shirodara, which combines a four-handed full-body massage with an oil infusion streamed over the forehead to relax the nervous system and melt away stress. Other day spas include Alchemie Organic Spa Retreat Apothecary, offering several superfood, oxygen-infused and resurfacing facials and Organic to Green Beauty Spa & Infrared Sauna Bungalow, known for its infrared sauna, steam room, LED chromotherapy and salt walls, not to mention its best-selling line of coconut oils.

By The Waves

From traditional massages to unique experiences, there’s a spa experience for everyone. Rest and unwind knowing relaxation is never far away.

Woman laying on spa table ready for massage; ocean in the background

Unique Experiences

Receive a Mango Body Polish from Willow Spa or get a good stretch with a reflexology experience from Cha Spa. There’s always something unique and exciting around the corner!

Hotel Spas

Relieve stress and tension during a signature treatment at Shutters on the Beach’s ONE Spa or hop next door to experience Sea Wellness Spa at Hotel Casa del Mar.

Up & Coming

Take a beat at Surya Spa located in one of Santa Monica’s newest hotel, Santa Monica Proper Hotel, and indulge in fountain patios, an oil making station and plenty of organic ayurvedic treatments.

Woman sitting on beach facing the ocean with hands in meditation

Classes & Experiences

With numerous green spaces and wide sandy stretches, it’s no surprise many of Santa Monica’s fitness classes and wellness experiences are held outdoors. There’s nothing quite like listening to crashing waves, spotting dolphins in the distance and watching the sunset as you flow through yoga positions during one of Beach Yoga SoCal’s classes. You can even spin on the sand thanks to The Sun Cycle. Alternatively, the Calming Spot hosts evening meditation sound bath sessions right on Santa Monica Beach as well. Or simply get in the water with a wetsuit. For surf and paddleboard rentals and lessons, visit Poseidon Paddle & Surf.

For yoga, pilates, spinning, boxing, barre, Santa Monica has 30-plus fitness studios and exercise gyms, including True Pilates Santa Monica, Churchill Boxing Club and female-owned Burn Fitness. And as our frenetic daily lives leaving our minds racing and our bodies depleted, guided meditation and sound bath (often done using metal bowls, chimes or gongs) therapies are proving incredibly restorative. Kundalini Yoga By the Sea, in downtown Santa Monica, incorporates meditation into its yoga classes.

Enjoy the famous Santa Monica Beach while working up a sweat or breathing out the negative energy. Sign up for one of many beachy classes—they fill up fast!

Family standing on surfboards in the sand; surf lesson

Yoga Class held on grass across from the beach

On The Beach

Find your fit along Santa Monica Beach with a variety of classes and experiences to get the blood flowing. Test your fitness levels in the ocean with surf lessons from Aqua Surf School or paddle boarding with Poseidon Paddle and Surf, or stay on land and take a cycling or beach volleyball class in the birthplace of the two sports. If you’re feeling bold or need some inspiration, head to the Original Muscle Beach where ropes, parallel bars and more entertain visitors and locals daily.

Woman standing on surfboard in ocean; teacher cheering behind her

People climbing ropes on beach with Santa Monica Pier in background

Fitness Gyms

Visitors looking to escape the sun’s rays can find many fitness facilities and classes offered throughout the city. Lifting weights, finding your favorite treadmill and joining a fun class are all easy when staying in Santa Monica.

Food & Drink

After a work out, it’s time to nourish the body. Drink green juices and smoothies to your health at Nekter, right in the heart of downtown Santa Monica, or at female-owned Main Squeeze, which sources produce for its green and fruity smoothies from local farmers. Pressed Juicery, which began selling its cold-pressed juice combos in L.A. back in 2010 before expanding across the country, also has a location along Main Street. Home to one of the largest farmers markets in the nation, there’s no shortage for healthy dining.

Young woman holding juice and smiling at camera

For a healthy bite, stop into Kreation Kafe & Juicery, a longtime standby on Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue, that serves easy, clean fare such as omelettes, wraps and salads, along with juices and coffee. Closer to downtown Santa Monica, try one of The Hive‘s healthy bowls, wraps, and smoothies or one of Backyard Bowls‘ açaí and porridge bowls.

Kreation Kafe

Flower Child

Healthy Dining

Explore Santa Monica’s renowned dining scene and easily find health-conscious meals. From local dives to Michelin-star restaurants, visitors can savor mouth-watering dishes made with fresh seafood and organic, farm-to-table ingredients.