Leave Better Than When You Arrived: Spots for TLC

More than just a simple yoga studio, Magic Held Here is a space of intentional community, a sanctuary for holistic wellness, self-discovery, and spiritual exploration.

Here, you’ll find unique and original spaces, including the Coop Studio, a transformed chicken coop for yoga and workshops, and the Avalon bell tent, a year-round haven for sacred circles and small gatherings.

Magic Held Here opens its doors to visitors for scheduled classes and events, so be sure to check out the venue’s calendar if you want to attend a drop-in class (if you’re planning a group getaway, get in touch to book your own experience). Yoga offerings include accessible chair yoga, foundational yoga, special kids yoga classes, restorative yoga, and power vinyasa classes.

Travel plans don’t include a stop in Caledonia? You can find Magic Held Here elsewhere at seasonal partnerships. Starting in October, Magic Held Here will be working with Lakeville’s Native Wellness + Aesthetics to offer First Friday restorative yoga salt cave experiences. A second annual Brooms & Brews broom-making workshop is scheduled for Oct. 25 at Strange Design Public House in Geneseo. And keep an eye out for Magic Held Here’s Autumn Equinox Day Retreat, Winter Solstice, and Yule Celebration.

Salted Grove Healing Center specializes in halotherapy — aka salt therapy — education and services, as well as other alternative healing options like Reiki. The center features a state-of-the-art salt room with a vibroacoustic lounge bed and lounging chairs, a massage and Reiki room, an ion cleanse detox room, and a PEMF Far Infrared Heating Mat that combines five therapies to enhance the body's natural ability to recover and restore. Customers attest to the therapies’ near-immediate effects and life-changing possibilities.

“As soon as you walk through our doors, you feel tranquility, rejuvenation, relaxation, positive energy, and a welcoming, friendly community,” said owner Dawn Johnston. “We all need reduction of stress, toxins, and anxiety from today’s environment.”

Single or group therapy sessions are available, with pricing starting as little as $25 per person per session. While you visit Salted Grove Healing Center, be sure also to check out Simply Positive, which is housed in the same building and acts as a community hub for artisans selling locally sourced goods, including holistic and natural products.

Native Wellness + Aesthetics offers halotherapy services in its Himalayan salt cave. Director of Client Relations and Master Energy Healer Kailee Faulkner says that what makes Native Wellness unique is its blend of high-quality, finely curated wellness and aesthetic services.

The business’s founder is a nurse practitioner who offers an array of medical wellness and regenerative aesthetic services. Visitors can also take advantage of infrared sauna services, Reiki, and integrated energy therapies. There’s an esthetician on staff who provides facials, as well as RNs who can bring IV services right to your doorstep.

With all this on offer, what should you book during a trip to LivCo? Faulkner said, “Our Himalayan salt cave truly is an immersive art experience combined with true health and healing benefits. Halotherapy is very beneficial for the respiratory system. The salt on the walls and floor has metaphysical benefits such as grounding and absorbing negative energy.”

She continued, “We suggest combining services for maximum health benefits. If visitors aren’t up for the heat of a sauna, do the Drip in the Cave with a vitamin infusion while sitting in the cave.”

“I wanted to help expand the wellness landscape by offering a calm, supportive environment where people can pause, reconnect with their health, and find balance without pressure or distractions,” said owner Mandy Oakes on her decision to open Cedar House Wellness.

“Cedar House Wellness is a place to pause, reconnect with your health, and find balance without any pressure or distractions.”

Cedar House Wellness offers a variety of wellness experiences, whether you spend some time in the infrared saunas or try out cold plunge therapy for the first time. Oakes recommends combining the two, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of both during a contrast therapy session.

Keep an eye out for special promotions and seasonal wellness events throughout the fall and winter, from opportunities to experience signature therapies to learning about recovery techniques and connecting with others in the community.

Located in a historic one-room schoolhouse in Caledonia, Ascend Fitness Studio & Wellness Collective was where Stephanie Hann’s grandfather attended school in the early 1940s, and then purchased the property in 1979, turning it into his home. After his passing, Hann purchased the property and she honors its educational roots by creating a space of learning and empowerment.

“At its core, Ascend is about physical wellness: strength training, mobility, flexibility — movement that supports daily life and helps women age with strength and confidence, but we also offer workshops and experiences that support all aspects of life, from financial literacy and nutrition to mindset, boundaries, and pelvic floor health,” said Hann.

Stop in for a group fitness class or workshop, or catch one of Ascend’s family-friendly 5K walk/runs.

“They’re so much fun — always free, with a suggested donation of a canned good or non-perishable item for the local food pantry. Some families and friends time themselves and race, but it’s just about getting out and getting your steps in,” Hann said. “I want people of all abilities to feel comfortable giving a 5K a shot, knowing there’s someone there to help.”

Main Street Health & Wellness opened in 2023 with Michelle Wright at the helm. A long-time acupuncturist and herbalist, she wanted a space where like-minded practitioners could provide alternative health and wellness services. Now, Main Street Health & Wellness offers not only acupuncture and herbal medicine, but also infrared sauna therapy, red light therapy, functional nutritional counseling, holistic women’s health and wellness services, and mental health therapy. The space is also home to local artisans and wellness-focused small businesses, carrying organic herbs, pottery, and more. While most of the services offered are appointment-based, visitors can sometimes find walk-in acupuncture appointments, especially on Wednesdays.

“Acupuncture,” she added, “is honestly a great thing just to explore for the fun of it. I have a little something for everyone; no matter what your ailment is, I have something that can help you feel a little bit better. That’s how acupuncture works. It treats the whole body. We’re not limited to pain or any one particular disorder. It can relieve stress, help you sleep better, and help with digestion; it’s pretty versatile.”

Tap into a different manner of wellness at Haven Gray Philosophy & Arts Center. A religious nonprofit, the center’s mission is “to be a haven for thinkers, creators, and seekers in their search for truth.”

“We accomplish our mission by helping people learn to communicate, think deeply about life issues, and discover truth. The need for this type of center cannot be overstated. With political, religious, and social discord rising, our communities need a safe place to seek truth, challenge our own beliefs, and learn from other perspectives. Whether we realize it or not, our answers to questions like, ‘Does absolute truth exist? Is truth objective or subjective? What is truth?’ greatly impacts the way we live our lives,” described founder and president Bridgette Heap.

Check the center’s calendar to see what’s available during your visit. Trip dates not aligning just right? You can still stop into the on-site ReNewed Coffee Co., open every day.

If you need a break and want to spend some time in the peace of nature, Lagom Landing is the experience for you! You can try something new—use your hands on a carpentry or gardening project, or cook a good meal from scratch. Every person's stay will be different, and Lagom works with you to craft the type of time you desire, offering optional activities that range from physical and hands-on to reflective and quiet.

Springwater Center offers silent meditation retreats and year-round guest visits in a beautiful and spacious facility situated on 212 acres of land, featuring streams, meadows, forests, a pond, and walking trails. The essence of retreat at Springwater is being together in the simplicity and openness of silent awareness. Attending moment-to-moment to what is happening within and without, in a spirit of wonder, curiosity, and discovery.

Located on the northwest shore of pristine Hemlock Lake in the renowned Finger Lakes Wine Region, the Sans Souci guest house at FLX Glamping is tucked into the trees with lots of privacy. This charming guest house on the grounds of the historic O-Neh-Da Vineyard can be your escape from the daily grind. Enjoy the private hiking trail down to Hemlock Lake and sightseeing close by.

The Abbey of the Genesee provides three houses where silent, monastic-style retreats can be made by individuals or groups. Retreatants are welcome all year round to enjoy some private time in peace and solitude. Although the Abbey is home to Catholic monks, people of all denominations who want to escape and rest awhile are welcome.