Weird and Wonderful Wellness Experiences To Try in NYC

Deborah Hanekamp, AKA Mama Medicine, is a self-described seeress, meaning “one who sees auras” and other entities of the non-physical realm. Her Medicine Reading Ceremony – a group experience that braids all Hanekamp’s gifts (she’s a trained yoga teacher, reiki practitioner and shaman, among other things) – has cultivated a reputation as a powerful, transformational healing experience. Recline on a heated, amethyst-filled mat surrounded by plump pillows while Hanekamp uses singing bowls, sage sticks, soft chants and healing hands to shift your energy and leave you feeling floaty.

At Modrn Sanctuary, a holistic space in NoMad, wellness has pretty much peaked. The facility’s salt room – a small space filled with Himalayan pink salt, said to have numerous healing qualities of its own – plays host to various classes, including vinyasa yoga with chromotherapy lighting. This is a multi-pronged approach to wellbeing intended to leave you feeling better physically, emotionally and spiritually.

The modality known as vibroacoustic sound therapy has some very promising scientific studies supporting its validity. When programmed to a specific frequency that’s designed to tackle a particular ailment, it helps restore the healthy vibration of the individual’s cells, improving their symptoms. Even if you don’t have a specific condition that needs addressing – such as fibromyalgia, joint inflammation or arthritis – lying on a vibrating waterbed while listening to music is one of the most relaxing ways to pass an hour in NYC.

In a city with such a go-go-go! ethos, slowing down can feel luxurious. In SoHo, one of New York’s busiest shopping districts, Casper has created a nap lounge concept dubbed The Dreamery. Stop by for 45 minutes in a private sleep nook, complete with skincare, toothbrush and paste, eye mask, ear plugs and freshly laundered, constellation-print PJs on loan. After your session grab a free coffee and snack before emerging refreshed.

Unlike a traditional facial, which tends to involve painful extractions and innumerable products, the Face Gym addresses what’s beneath the skin. It comprises facial massage, flicking and lymphatic drainage – stages designed to resemble the arc of a well-rounded fitness class. At the end you’ll emerge looking de-puffed, relaxed and glowy.

This treatment, which projects colored light onto the body through quartz crystals, is on the more woo-woo end of the wellness spectrum. Each crystal is positioned right above the chakras (known in ancient Indian healing traditions as the energy centers of the body), and the projected lights are thought to balance and clear each one. At her practice in SoHo, Dr Julie Von pairs crystal bed therapy with acupuncture and aromatherapy to give clients a deeply relaxing experience.

The Japanese head spa at Tomoko Shima is like a facial for your scalp. The therapist uses shampoos and cooling gel conditioners to soothe your head, then massages your neck and shoulders to release tension throughout the whole upper body. The treatment ends with a very gentle blow-dry so your locks look great and your scalp feels brand new.

By manipulating the breath, these gatherings enable you to access altered states of consciousness. In the resulting open and receptive state people report profound realizations, the emergence of lost memories and experiences of deep healing. There are physical effects too – tingling, lightheadedness and numbness can occur temporarily, but the facilitator will always swoop in to reassure you when needed. Maha Rose hosts regular breathwork circles at its cozy Greenpoint location.