A Wellness Guide to Sydney

With five locations around Sydney, this yoga and pilates studio lets visitors tap into their ‘om’ from a variety of different locales, from Potts Point to Kirrawee. The studios offer heated yoga classes for both beginners and the more advanced, and the same goes for reformer pilates. BodyMindLife has also recently introduced infrared saunas at its Surry Hills and Bondi locations where visitors can sweat to a meditation podcast of their choosing. Come to BodyMindLife for a lunchtime moment on the mat or a pre-swim sweat by Bondi Beach.

“Energise your body, calm your mind” is the slogan at Elixr Health Clubs. While this health club feels a little like a gym with a swimming pool and cardio and weights machines dotted around the place, its origins sit in spirituality, with its founder Richard Chew believing strongly in the power of meditation and placing emphasis on healing through fitness. There are personal trainers, yoga wall classes and barre floor classes available.

Clients come to Love All Beings Reiki for emotional clearing and healing. A session with Hawkes includes emotional and spiritual guidance where clients will be encouraged to be curious about their fears, struggles and emotional setbacks using matrix therapy techniques. Hawkes offers various holistic modalities to enable clients to tap into the clarity they need to transform their lives, reduce stress and empower themselves as they move forward. Book online to make an appointment.

A restaurant, a cinema and an ashram all sit under the Govindas masthead, but what it really offers is a place for those who want to be more mindful. Talks from all sorts of interesting people on all kinds of fascinating topics are hosted here, as well as kirtan, meditation and a medley of the latest blockbuster films shown in the cinema that boasts super-comfy loungers. Any visit to Govindas should be paired with its delicious vegetarian buffet.

Born out of a desire to create a mental health clinic where truly modern folk could feel at home, The Indigo Project is a beautifully contemporary psychology practice where expert therapists weave contemporary techniques into their therapy. The project also offers events such as Listen Up, which is a monthly mindful listening journey where attendees are gently guided through meditation between musical tracks.

Health Nuts is where people come to find absolutely any kind of supplement in Sydney. Not only is the store all about protein smoothies, açaí berries and charcoal powders but it is also filled to the ceiling with organic produce, essential oils and salt lamps. If that wasn’t enough, there’s an all-vegan café where shoppers can fill their boots on varied salads or order a delicious golden mylk latte.

An oasis in Newtown, The Buddha Bar Healing Clinic and Emporium offers all sorts of massages, including ancient stone ritual, swedish and kahuna massages. The Buddha Bar also provides alternative therapies such as acupuncture, ayurveda, energy healing, reflexology and myofascial cupping. The clinic is calming and relaxing with water features and Buddhas dotted around to guide visitors through their healing.

Eating locally has many wellness benefits. When you choose produce grown on local farms, you are eating seasonally and supporting the area’s farmers while also reducing your environmental footprint. Simply place an order and collect on Saturday morning. The reusable hessian bags are full of produce grown within hours of Sydney by independent farmers, and they often feature vegetables you’ve never heard of. It’s food for the soul and an excellent way to make a positive impact in the community.

Tabitha McIntosh’s Woollahra-based clinic offers complementary medicine and natural health in the form of naturopathy, clinical nutrition and herbal medicine. The clinic can assist with a range of disorders, anything from thyroid issues, food intolerances and food allergies to fertility. Her wellness practice places great importance on nutrition, and she uses her qualifications in medical science, medicine, naturopathy and nutrition to help clients achieve optimal health goals.

Lentil As Anything is a restaurant and community centre for those who care not just about their wellness but the wellness of others. Pay what you can for a meal here, creating an environment of inclusivity. As Shanaka Fernando, the founder of Lentil As Anything, wrote on the centre’s website: “We call ourselves a human race, but it’s not a race. It’s not a competition. I prefer the term humankind. It implies kindness. We share an affinity. There is a richness that awaits us, and it relies on our ability to embrace and be open to each other.” Everyone is welcome, so nourish the soul knowing you’ve given back to the community here.