Add The California Post on Google The cost of health and beauty is skyrocketing: $20 smoothies, $30 yoga classes, $50 pilates classes, $150 manicures, $200 facials and $400 massage treatments. Yikes!
As a massage therapist, I don’t have any advantages in the wellness industry; I have to pay the same prices you do. But I do know some strategies to stay healthy — for free.
As a massage therapist, I don’t have any advantages in the wellness industry; I have to pay the same prices you do. But I do know some strategies to stay healthy — for free. sawitreelyaon – stock.adobe.com My day in Santa Monica starts with brushing my hair and dry brushing my skin (detoxing our largest organ) while multitasking with oil pulling (either coconut or castor oil). For optimal oral health, I chew on a clove for a few minutes before brushing my teeth. Trust me, it works.
The first thing I put in my mouth is lemon water with baking soda (with a little ginger juice). I follow that with fire honey (1 teaspoon, which cleans out everything and knocks out any imminent cold coming on). Just mix one cup of honey with 1 tsp each of cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, cayenne and black peppers.
I take my morning walk either down to the beach, or along the bluffs at Palisades Park. The grass and trees are so lush — outdone only by the view of the Santa Monica Bay. Always magnificent, it boasts incredible sunsets for epic “golden hour” photos.
At the idyllic rose garden, folks gather on weekends to play free live concerts, while neighbors bring their picnic lunches, four-legged friends and toddlers. Others take to the bike path with scooters and e-bikes; plenty of people enjoy jogging or just old-school walking.
Most days, I’m making my own smoothies. I order organic frozen fruit from Costco by way of Instacart. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post I mix up my walks with Iyengar yoga, because it does the most for strengthening and lengthening my spine. There are some incredible local studios that offer unlimited classes for a low monthly fee — you really don’t have to break the bank to stretch your back.
And if you’re on a really tight budget, you can climb the Santa Monica stairs for free, at the northern end of 4th Street. The Los Liones Canyon Trail above Pacific Palisades is open again, and the rings and swings on the original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica will allow you to re-live your youth.
Several local parks in Santa Monica also offer free table tennis and pickleball classes. The Annenberg Beach House provides free volleyball and programs for kids. Seniors can access free classes at Emeritus College in Santa Monica.
I get my vitamin D by soaking up the sun on the beach. Some early mornings, I even jump in the water — when it’s warm enough, which it is for another several weeks. Ocean walks are also good for the body. A massage therapy tip: Try to go barefoot for a minimum of 15 minutes, whether on grass or sand.
Most days, I’m making my own smoothies. I order organic frozen fruit from Costco by way of Instacart. You might wonder whether that costs more, but in fact I save time and money by avoiding the trip, and I avoid getting sucked into impulse purchases. I also make my own vegan dishes from farmers market produce.
I avoid coffee shops (those costs really add up) and make my own healing teas or Americanos. My big splurge is drinking water — I go for the bottled stuff, not the tap.
After yoga or a beach walk, I shower. I end it with an oil concoction with castor and jojoba, oils with frankincense and myrrh, added to olive, avocado, aloe vera, squalene and Bakuchi oils. I save on botox and skin care by using that nightly with scotch tape between my eyes so I don’t squint or furrow my brows in my dream state.
If I watch anything to decompress and zone out, I make sure it’s uplifting. The total monthly costs of my streaming subscriptions is the same as, or less than, if I took my kid to one movie at the theater. Our recent trip to see “The Odyssey” in IMAX cost $63, plus $20 for parking (and I made my own popcorn before leaving home).
Before bed I meditate, manifest and read something inspiring so my subconscious thinks of good things while I’m dreaming away.
Yes, you can have the California dream without spending a fortune. You just have to be a little creative — and be aware of opportunities to indulge California’s wealth, for free.
Liz Angeles is a massage therapist who runs Just What You Knead in Santa Monica.
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