“In my daily life, the Well is my go-to spot for practicing mindfulness and wellness. What looks like a pretty, medium-sized storefront is actually a sprawling labyrinth of wellness services: yoga, meditation, fitness classes, vitamin IVs, sauna, steam room, spa treatments, a delicious and healthy restaurant, and a lovely shop that sells a well-edited assortment of clean skincare and health supplies.”

“For all things spiritual wellness, Aum Shanti has you covered. In addition to offering tarot and astrology readings, they sell an array of books on all sectors of religion and spirituality, as well as almanacs, incense, and tools for yoga and meditation. I suspect that many are initially drawn in by the gorgeous selection of crystals for sale, but it’s the friendly staff who keep customers coming back. Aum Shanti offers an accessible entry point for the esoteric-curious.”

“An icon of Greenwich Village, LifeThyme is a full-fledged health food grocery store selling produce and an impressive selection of vegan products, in addition to pantry staples. What they do best, though, is stock an unusually thorough range of vitamins, supplements, and health aids by a wide variety of trusted brands. I visit LifeThyme to stock up on very specific things, like my favorite brand of liquid chlorophyll or extra-strength papaya enzyme tablets.”

“Do you have at-home fitness goals for the new year? Paragon Sports is the place to go for small home gym things like resistance bands, free weights, jump ropes, and all of the bits and bobs that might make your living room workouts more effective. As New York City’s most robust independent sporting goods store, you’ll also find everything you need for just about any sport and a whole seasonal snow sports department.”

“Look no further than Brooklyn Herborium for locally made, clean, functional skincare. Their house brand covers all the bases for a nourishing full-body skincare routine, but you’ll also find an assortment of other body and home products for mindful living in either of their Brooklyn locations. Additionally, they offer regular workshops on a variety of holistic practices.”

“For those fluent in or interested in dabbling in herbalism, beloved Flatbush herb shop Sacred Vibes Apothecary sells every plant medicine imaginable and also offers consultations with an herbalist. With an emphasis on spiritual healing in addition to physical healing, this Black-owned business is a paradise of plant magic. Visit for a little inspiration for a more holistic lifestyle.”

“Self-described as ‘an educated pleasure shop,’ Please is on a mission to reinvent the way we approach and shop for sexual wellness products. Their Park Slope shop has a friendly and welcoming vibe and sells all of the most popular brands of toys and protection products plus a selection of books, including sex education books for adolescents. For those who are interested in sexual exploration but are intimidated by traditional sex shops, Please is the answer!”

“Since 2013, Brooklyn Running Company has been outfitting local runners of all levels of experience. They don’t just sell running shoes and apparel, though—expect to find nutrition supplies, tech gear, and every possible accessory you can imagine for a well-kitted run. New to running and don’t know where to start? This is just the spot to help you get going.”

“New last year, Outlandish is making a splash as the city’s only independent hiking specialist. While they primarily sell cool, well-designed hiking clothes, gear, and accessories, they’ve become known for their guided hiking day trips. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced outdoors person, Outlandish is a must-visit for small brand goods with a community-focused point of view.”

“One of the newest additions to the growing refillery scene, Seed + Oil in Woodside sells all sorts of bulk products, from dry goods and spices to skincare and household cleaning products. But what sets them apart from the city’s other refilleries is their alkaline and reverse osmosis–filtered water refill station.”