NEW YEAR, BETTER YOU

Embracing Self Care in 2023.

words ELEANOR MERRELL / photos JAMEY PRICE

IIn its purest form, self care guides its practitioners toward becoming healthier, more evolved versions of themselves who are better able to lead more personally fulfilling lives, as well as shine more brightly upon others in their orbit. The logic checks out: happier, healthier, self-actualized people are more satisfied, productive, present, and, put simply, delightful to be around. Plus, proper self care not only does good, but also often feels good. That’s why we recommend taking a moment at the start of the new year to evaluate how you might fold more self care into your life.

Mental health professionals maintain that there are five pillars of self care: physical, social, mental, spiritual, and emotional. Often, we favor just a few pillars to the neglect of the remaining pillars. But with a little tweaking, it’s possible to keep all five in balance while challenging, treating, and re-centering ourselves. Here are a few Charlotte-specific suggestions for self care in and around the Queen City.

GET AWAY FOR THE WEEKEND.

A change of scenery can do wonders for the spirits. Behold new horizons, switch up your routine, and open yourself to fresh trains of thought by visiting any of these drivable destinations.

Asheville, NC

The mountains are one of the best places to recharge. Stay at the Omni Grove Park Inn a few miles outside of town for historic grounds with unmatched ambiance, or opt for the modern Hyatt Place Hotel in the heart of downtown. Build in some time to brewery hop and stop at some of Asheville’s flavor-forward restaurants while you’re out and about; we recommend Jargon, Chai Pani, Curaté, and The Market Place. Round out your weekend with a stroll around the grounds at the Biltmore Estate or a concert at the Orange Peel.

Charleston, SC

Drive down to the Holy City and get lost on cobblestone streets lined with antebellum houses. Shop at the Charleston City Market, stroll down Rainbow Row, and tour the oldest public gardens at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Revive with libations from Rooftop Bar at the Vendue or a world class meal from Maison, Hannibal’s Kitchen, or FIG then head back to a comfortable room at The Loutrel, Post House Inn, or The Saint. Although steeped in history, Charleston still manages to adapt and grow with each passing year, so don’t assume you’ve seen it all if you’ve visited previously.

Greenville, SC

Over the past few decades, Greenville has quietly emerged as one of South Carolina’s top cultural hubs, perhaps with only Charleston as a rival. An array of prestigious and funky galleries dapple Greenville’s downtown, and the city also hosts some of the Carolinas’ best restaurants like Willy Taco Seed and Feed, Tandem Creperie, and SBH BBQ. Save time for a stroll around the riverside gardens and suspension bridge of Falls Park on the Reedy, located in the historic West End District adjacent to downtown.

Savannah, GA

Savannah is Georgia’s coastal gem, as historic as it is funky, straddling its identity as the host of Savannah College of Art and Design and its preservation of antebellum architecture and cobblestone streets, much like Charleston. Hop on an Old Town Trolley Tour, drink in the elegance of Forsyth Park’s Spanish moss, feed off the energy of the Plant Riverside District, or join Architectural Tours of Savannah.

Kiawah Island, SC

Located off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, Kiawah Island abounds with natural life. Its marshes are home to turtles, whitetail deer, and seabirds, and its coasts shield carefully protected sand dunes and maritime forests. Kiawah is a true world of its own; a place, as they say, to get away from it all. The island’s tranquility draws many of its visitors, but its top notch golf courses are a draw for many Charlotteans, as well.

RESTORE YOUR BODY.

It’s amazing what a little physical pampering can do to boost a mood or give a jolt of self-confidence. Book a facial, massage, or consultation at one of these great spas, or simply stop in to find your next favorite skincare product.

Toccare Day Spa

Toccare Day Spa has two locations, one in Myers Park and one in Dilworth. Both offer non-invasive treatments, and clean beauty products. Owned and operated by Caci Di Russo since 2013, Toccare has built a strong following of loyal clients who rely on Russo and her team for their always wellintentioned expertise.

Selenite

Selenite Beauty has been providing Charlotte residents with safe, effective alternatives to the harsh skincare and beauty products on most stores’ shelves since 2020. Last year, owner Tiffany Mielnik Parrish expanded Selenite Beauty, adding Selenite Spa to the boutique’s second floor and expanding her services to include guided meditation, facial, sound healing, one-onone yoga, or a lash lift, all of which Parrish offers clients to aid in the pursuit of holistic wellness.

The physiological benefits of spending time in nature seem innumerable, but include lower stress levels, improved focus, better mood, and increased willingness to cooperate with others. These benefits can be achieved by simply walking through a green neighborhood or a city park, but why not go ahead and treat yourself to a full day in the woods?

Lake James

Take the 3.6 mile Mills Creek Trail, which traverses the easternmost peninsula of the Paddy’s Creek Area in Lake James

State Park, for a moderate hike with views of the lake. If you have time, stop at Fonta Flora’s Whippoorwill Farm in Nebo to wet your whistle afterward.

Morrow Mountain

Morrow Mountain is one of Carolina’s best-kept secrets. Start at the Mountain Loop Trailhead for jaw-dropping, expansive views of the Piedmont. From there, take the Morrow Mountain Trail to the Short Loop for a five-ish mile moderate hike that feels like it belongs in western NC.

Stone Mountain

The Stone Mountain Loop Trail has everything a Carolina day hiker could ask for: a 2,305 foot overlook, cascading falls, and one of the most intensive natural quad/glute workouts found on the east coast. Travel clockwise for an intense uphill on trails and intense downhill on wooden stairs, or move counterclockwise for an intense downhill on trails and uphill on wooden stairs.

Great Smoky Mountains

If you’ve never been to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, make this your year. In 2021, the Smokies were the second most visited national park in the country (behind the Blue Ridge Parkway). The park is a bit of a hike (excuse the pun) from Charlotte, so you’ll want to make this an overnight trip, via a backpacking site, car camping site, or rented room in neighboring Bryson City.

PRACTICE YOGA.

Along with the physical benefits of yoga (improved strength, balance, and flexibility), yoga also can improve the mental clarity of those who practice, especially when sessions include meditative elements, which can be as simple as focusing on breathing patterns while passing through the poses during a session.

Khali Yoga

Lindsey Crisp opened Khali Yoga to provide full-time employment to yoga instructors, as opposed to the gig model that defines most other studios’ approach to staffing. The result is a studio where every instructor is dedicated to their craft, and the knowledge and passion that comes from that dedication passes easily from instructor to student.

Okra Charlotte

Located in Plaza Midwood, Okra is part coffee/tea lounge and part wellness studio. It welcomes all levels of ability and meets its yoga students precisely where they are, from their chillax to deep stretch to primal classes.

EAT RIGHT.

Food provides nourishment well beyond what’s nutritional; it feeds the soul just as much as it feeds the body, comforting as it strengthens. So, never underestimate its potential in a self-care regimen!

Supperland

Treat yourself to one of the best restaurants in Charlotte and, according to Bon Appetit, one of the top ten new restaurants in the country. Owned by Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown, the same husband-wife duo that created Haberdish, Ever Andalo, and Reigning Donuts, this restaurant lives within a restored Plaza Midwood church and dishes out elevated comfort foods.

Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen

There’s certainly pick-me-up value in splurging on a yummy meal in a restaurant setting, but there’s just as much to be said for being able to whip up something delicious and/or nutritious at home. Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen is a South End based enterprise that offers cooking classes for all levels of home cooks, so you can treat yourself to a stimulating evening of tapping into your inner chef, and keep the good times rolling by bringing the skills or recipes you develop in Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen into your own kitchen.

GET A GYM MEMBERSHIP.

Exercise not only does wonders for physical health, but also elevating a heart rate can elevate a mood and sharpen a mind. Stay active by enrolling in regular fitness classes, picking up a new active hobby, or just working regular gym visits into your weekly routine.

New Rumble Boxing

New Rumble Boxing offers full body, boxing-inspired group fitness classes that will get your heart pumping and muscles toned.

Inner Peaks

Inner Peaks is Charlotte’s only indoor rock climbing gym. An array of auto-belays and bouldering walls cater to solo or inexperienced climbers, while 40-foot top rope and lead walls beckon to the experienced climber.

Hustle House

Hustle House infuses their workout classes with a combination of personal training and group fitness to give hustlers the individual attention they need to excel and the drive they need to push harder. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is the bedrock of Hustle House workouts, whether it’s strength day or conditioning day.

JOIN A CLUB OR TEAM.

Sometimes, during these chilly months and shorter days, what you really need is connection. Boost your brain power and make a new friend or two by joining a local group.

Blue Blaze Hiking Club

West End’s original brewery, Blue Blaze, hosts the Blue Blaze Hiking Club, which organizes monthly excursions to different hiking destinations around the Carolinas. Hikes vary not only in location, but also in difficulty, length, and terrain. Participants can always expect to meet good people who share an appreciation for the great outdoors.

The Spoke Easy Biking Club

The Spoke Easy is a relaxed, welcoming bike shop/bar/ gathering space in the Elizabeth neighborhood. It hosts weekly BMX rides, as well as weekly easy urban rides that start and end at the shop and are open to anyone with access to a bicycle.

Book Club

Take a peek at your local public library’s event calendar, and you’re sure to find at least one active book club. Meet your neighbors, read something new, and exercise your brain over monthly book discussions while supporting your local public library.

At the end of the day, the best self-care activities are often those that are internally-driven. What do you need? What areas of your life need a touch up or reboot? Is this the time for gratification or for growth? Start with these questions, and then let your creativity and self-knowledge take it from there, giving yourself full permission to lean into self-care, whatever that looks like to you.