Treat yourself to a mind-decluttering sound bath, soak in a hydrotherapy pool, or do yoga with cuddly goats in commemoration of National Wellness Month this August.
Color Your World
Add arts and crafts to your wellness routine at Hotel Zena’s sip and paint evening. Learn how to paint a vase with the hotel’s artist-in-residence Dunnie O, and practice mindfulness at a sound-healing session. To wrap the experience there’s a movie screening of ’00s rom-com Brown Sugar ($33).
Summer Abundance Forest Bathing
Bathe in the essence of nature at the National Arboretum. Guests can embark on a two-hour walk and meditation through gardens, towering trees, and sculpture work with a forest therapy guide. The experience leaves space for reflection, group conversation, and a closing tea ceremony ($39).
Book & Brew
Take a break from your at-home reading nook, and head to Balian Springs for a spa day designed for bookworms. Bring your favorite summer novel or mystery and discuss all the details with a group of fellow book-lovers over tea. Before or after the casual book club meetup, you can soak in one of Balian Springs’ refreshing pools, or rejuvenate your senses in an ice igloo or heated sauna (daily admission $130+).
Full Moon Floating Sound Bath
Float beneath the twilight shortly after sunset in an outdoor pool. As you drift along the water, stress-relieving sounds from crystal bowls, chimes, and a variety of other instruments will lead the guided listening session ($120).
Yoga on the Goat Farm
At Faith Lutheran Church in Arlington, yogis can stretch, strike a pose, and cuddle with a herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats from Walnut Creek Farm. The adorable farm animals will keep you company with cheer and snuggles indoors, while a yoga instructor guides you through movements and exercises ($44).
Cry n’ Vibe
Here’s the ultimate decompressing event: Cry n’ Vibe. The restorative gathering invites participants to celebrate emotional release by practicing gentle somatic movement, joining a guided meditation, and listening to music. There’s wellness gifts to take home, too ($55+).
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
