Wellness

The Comeback Kid

Carina Reid’s journey from addiction and recovery to award-winning fitness instructor shows how movement, resilience and community can help people rebuild their lives.

Stresseddddddddd

Stress doesn’t always feel like stress. From headaches to hair loss, your body may be signaling more than you realize.

SHHH…Sex Talk Ahead

Sexual wellness often goes unspoken—even in Santa Cruz. Therapist Melissa Fritchle is helping people reconnect with their bodies, their pleasure and their sense of intimacy.

Happy Spring Foods

Spring’s fresh foods aren’t just delicious—they may help boost mood, with research linking Mediterranean-style eating to better mental health.

Shake, Breathe, or Rewire?

Santa Cruz wellness practitioners are embracing nervous system–based therapies—from neurofeedback to breathwork and somatic healing—to help people move beyond stress, anxiety and chronic patterns.

The biggest obstacles to better health aren’t always physical—they’re the quiet stories we tell ourselves. From “I don’t have time” to “I’ll start later,” these seven common mindsets can keep you stuck. Here’s how to move past them and begin where you are.

Herbal Quackery?

Billions are spent on supplements each year—but many may offer more promise than proof. Here’s what to question before you buy.

Make Your Skin Glow

Our skin is our largest organ. Our exoderm is an echo of our lifestyle choices, as all sun worshipers and sleep skippers eventually come...

The Art of Eating Alone

Dining alone may feel awkward at first, but it can also be a powerful act of independence—an opportunity to slow down, savor a meal and enjoy your own company.

Mindful Psychedelics

Mental health professionals in Santa Cruz are exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy using substances like psilocybin and ketamine to address depression, trauma and anxiety.