Author: Ximena N. Larkin

When I was in college I visited a homeopathic doctor and got hooked on natural remedies. I removed dairy from my diet and saw a decrease in my respiratory issues. I ate according to my blood type and when I went to China, I spent a lot of money on herbal medicine to alleviate my lady pains (it helped!).

That experience made me more open to non-traditional forms and excited to try non-invasive treatments for a healthy mind, body and soul. Here are the ones worth giving a shot:

1). Float Sixty: While hanging out at Soho House, I overheard someone talk about a ‘sensory deprivation floating tank.’ She went on to say that Steph Curry is a fan, which was enough for me to get up and ask her exactly what she’s talking about.

She explained the treatment is exactly how it sounds. You are in dark tank, filled with water and 1,000 lbs of salt. This allows your body to float effortlessly for the next 60 minutes. Its purpose is to help ease body aches, muscle soreness and (the reason I found myself there) take a break from the world. Two days later I found myself at Float Sixty. I went all in and used the traditional Samdhai tank, where you find yourself floating in a pitch black box (there’s two other, less enclosed options if you’re claustrophobic). The experience was calming. It wasn’t scary and I fell asleep for sometime. If you’re hooked to your phone like I am, it’s the perfect solution to find time for yourself and helping physical recovery (Curry isn’t the only athlete hooked on the treatment. The Chicago Cubs just had a tank installed in their clubhouse and Float Sixty’s Instagram show Blackhawks superstar Jonathan Toews on-site). New customers pay $60, it’s $90 after that and packages are available. 

2). IVme: Most people think of iv clinics as a place to hydrate after a wild night on the town. A friend however shared he liked visiting the iv clinic to help with his allergies. So when I found myself with a sore throat, congested chest and stuff nose the week before my wedding, I was willing to give anything a try to not look (and feel) miserable on the big day. 

I found myself at IVme, paid my $179 and got hooked up with the Myers’ Cocktail consisting of: vitamin B-complex, vitamins B5, B6, vitamin C, magnesium, selenium, and calcium. The treatment did make me feel better but alas, IVMe couldn’t work miracles and I spent my wedding day blowing my nose, coughing and drinking tea to soothe my sore throat.

The tech explained you’re more likely to beat an illness at the first sign of symptoms (itchy throat, sneezing, runny nose) rather than waiting until you get worse (like I did). 

This is the perfect type of place for people who are proactive about their health and prefer alternative medicine. I didn’t realize the clinic offered B12 shots when I visited the week of my wedding. In my quest to get healthy, quick, I visited Walgreen’s minute clinic (before IVme) and asked the physician if she could administer the vitamin shot. She did not look kindly on my request and chastised me for believing in vitamin therapy instead of pharmaceuticals. I get that she’s doing her job but I’m into holistic health before allopathic treatments.

The clinic offers other types of treatments including oxygen therapy, B12 shots and Botox. It’s another place that’s a fan favorite among celebrities and athletes in Chicago.

3). SoulCycle: This might fall under the category of obvious (exercise equals healthy, duh) but I’m including SoulCycle for its mental health component. My first class was with Kiki Fether at the Southport location and I was hooked. Not just because of her dance moves (see below) but because of the positive self-talk she kept quipping.

The class felt like a Joel Osteen sermon on crack. There was a lot of ‘believe in yourself’ happening and I walked out of the class feeling ready to take on the world. Come for the hot body, stay for the self-help. 

4). Tarot Yoga: My friend Angie is a tarot reader. I’ve never done a full reading with her or anyone because I’m Mexican and my mom once told me that if you get your fortune read, you lose all of your good luck.

I skirt around the issue by avoiding a full spread read and instead, pick one ‘card of the day.’ Angie’s taken her entry level tarot to yoga.

Each person pulls a card from the deck prior to the session starting. Angie then provides a mini reading for mediate throughout the class. It’s a low commitment way to try-out tarot and practice mediation. I’ve seen people get readings before and all anyone wants to do after is talk about what they were told. Pairing that with yoga gives you time to mull things over, reflect on what you’ve been told and decide what you’re going to do next. Angie’s always traveling and does her classes in whatever city she’s in. Checking her website or Instagram is probably the best way to join a class.

5). Real Good Juice: If your insides are feeling tight, greasy or unsettled, have a Real Good Juice. My husband ordered one of these juices long before I tried them. I remember because when he drank it, he made a beeline for the bathroom and couldn’t stop talking about how ‘that stuff cleans you right out.’ 

I’ll let you use your imagination. 

Keep your insides happy and healthy with one of these guys. It’s a local business and all the juices have punny names like Juice-Tin Bieber, Juice Lee and Juice Bigalow (my favorite is the Juicille Ball, but proceed with caution, it packs a kick that you can feel in your throat). If you’re into juicing, they have a schedule that you can pick up in store, with juice recommendations. One is usually enough for me though. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/5-ways-to-take-care-of-your-whole-self_us_57620ebfe4b02081542fbeae