Each year, we compile a list of all the things that make Fairfield County special, as part of our “The Good Life” feature. We include food, services, and shopping, but we couldn’t skip out on options for keeping your mind and body in tip-top shape.
Here, we’ve rounded up 13 businesses that should be on your radar, whether you’re looking for new workout, an astrologer, or a healthier home.
To see more of our Fairfield County Favorites, see our other Living the Good Life guides.
LET’S GET PHYSICAL
All the research points in the same direction: If you want a good, long life, get off the couch! Fortunately, in Fairfield County the options for creative and fun workouts are endless. Here are some gyms, studios and local gurus that your body needs—and may even crave once you’re hooked.
BODY FIT TRAINING (BFT)
403 Post Road East, Westport
bodyfittraining.com/location/westport
Body Fit Training just opened in Westport, and it’s attracting everyone from high school jocks to seasoned athletes with its progressive group strength training workouts that use science, excellent trainers and variety to keep you and your muscles engaged. fun fact: Former Westporter Mark Wilkerson (Melissa Joan Hart’s husband) opened a BFT in Nashville recently.
BODY SHOCK
1362 Post Road East, Westport
bodyshockstudio.com
Gerardo at Body Shock has a cult following for his half-cardio/half- weights workouts. He is a former dancer—with a heart transplant—so his healthy, holistic approach is not that of your standard muscle man.
HOT PHIIT
138 East Putnam Road, Cos Cob
25 Old Kings Highway North, Darien
hotphiit.com
Remember when hot yoga became all the rage? Well, the heat is now hitting interval training. Hot Phiit is an innovative studio that combines beat-based workouts with the healing benefits of FAR infrared heat. Expect a studio temp of 100 degrees and long, lean, flexible muscles as a result, plus a strong core and improved circulation.
REVOLUTION TRAINING & RF YOUTH BOXING
18 Elmcroft Road, Stamford
revolutiontrainingct.com
rfyouthboxing.org
Black-owned Revolution Training/RF Youth Boxing is the place to be for boxing enthusiasts and those who want to jab and hook their way to a toned, fit bod. Revolution Training even offers Byoga, combining vinyasa yoga and boxing fundamentals, and “white-collar boxing” matches. RF Youth Boxing hosts after-school, weekend and summer camp programs with an emphasis on providing a space where young people “can find connection, encouragement and empowerment through the art of boxing.”
ROCK PILE GOLF CLUB
600 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich
rockpilegolfclub.com
Yearn to golf year-round, through blizzards, hail and rain? At Rock Pile Golf Club, an indoor golf club with state-of-the-art simulators and top-notch instructors, mud and frost bite are not concerns. Golfers won’t get in the steps of four hours walking a course, but a round of golf has never been so efficient. Plus, strength and speed training classes are available for the over-achievers.
SARAH SADIE NEWETT
292 North Avenue, Westport
sarahsadienewett.com
Group and private aerial classes … need we say more? Sarah will turn your fitness regime upside down, literally. For those with fear of heights, no worries. The SSN Method also draws from yoga and pilates, for mat workouts unlike anything you have tried.
THE PILATES ADVANTAGE
414 Olmstead Hill Road, Wilton
mindbodyonline.com/explore
The Pilates Advantage is “fantastic for overall health and for injury prevention and recovery,” raves a client. Enjoy private, semi-private and group training.
HOLISTIC HEALTH
Wellness is at the very foundation of the good life and there are many paths to maximizing your physical and mental health.
CHRISTA MARTINO
astrologercoachchrista.com
Chances are you have not considered astrology as part of your wellness journey, but astrologer and life coach Christa Martino is sure to make you feel serene. (And our greenwich mag editor gives her an enthusiastic thumbs-up!) Christa’s astrology consultations help to “unpack blocks, dismantle barriers, discern life lessons and tap into inner and cosmic resources to manifest vision, goals and dreams.”
HAUS OF HUSH
6 Glenville Street, Greenwich
hausofhush.com
Haus of Hush is the place to go for balance and harmony. With astrology, compression therapy, Himalayan salt rooms, sound baths, reiki and more, the only hard part is leaving. Most services last 20 minutes, enabling clients to combine multiple therapies. (Christa Martino also books sessions at Hush.)
INDIGO WELLNESS GROUP
66 Glenbrook Road, Stamford
25 Sylvan Road South, Westport
indigowellnessgroup.com
Indigo Wellness melds traditional healing with modern wellness to nurture the mind, body and spirit with acupuncture and Chinese medicine, energy healing, grief therapy, holistic skincare, integrative nutrition, massage and psychotherapy.
REMEDY BY RAVEN MASSAGE & BODYWORK
remedybyraven.as.me
203-278-3385
($120/hour, plus travel if more than 30 miles from Norwalk) Raven Redd brings her blissful massage therapy to the comfort of your own home, where you may lock her in and never let her leave. Whether to relieve muscle soreness or assist in injury recovery, Raven is a master.
THREE TREASURES/SARA BETH
213 East Putnam Avenue (2nd floor) Cos Cob
3treasures-healing.com
Sarah Beth at Three Treasures offers cranial-sacral therapy, medical qigong and integrated energy therapy that clients swear by.
SPRING CLEANING—YEAR ROUND
JESSE GESTAL/ORGANIZING BY JAG
revelinginit.com
Nothing says wellness like a nice purge of neglected items cluttering up our closets and basements. Leave it to pro Jesse Gestal of Organizing by JAG to take a load off, and you are gonna feel extra light this spring. Only have a small task for her? No problem. She’s game for any project. She is also an artist, so you can add a playroom mural while you are subtracting junk.
And Jesse knows your junk may be someone else’s treasure. She always donates usable items and recommends these organizations, if you are looking to do the same directly: Sharing Shelf, Neighbor to Neighbor, Pick Up Please (picks up donations), United Breast Cancer Foundation (also picks up) and Catholic Charities (picks up furniture); contact Ford at fsmith@ccfc-ct.org or 475-319-1469).