British Columbia
Establishment
neighborhood
Halfmoon
Beth McTavish founded Halfmoon after a trip to India in 1983, inspired by the yogis she saw practicing at the edge of the Ganges River. Her goal: to integrate yoga and meditation into our everyday routines through products and props like eye pillows filled with Brazilian gemstones and intricately designed, hand-crafted yoga bolsters. If you love what you see, but don’t feel like lugging an extra piece of luggage with you, Halfmoon will ship anything they offer to the U.S.
Glory Juice Co.
2186 W. 4th Ave., Kitsilano
Thankfully, you’ll find a few Glory Juice Co. outposts scattered around Vancouver. Their robust, healthy menu of smoothies, juices, bowls, and salads makes eating on-the-go so much easier. The “nutty green” is packed with non-dairy seed milk, cold-pressed juice, nut butter, dates, hemp and spirulina (and is super filling), while their house-made avocado chia flatbread (it’s gluten-free) is topped with pickled onions and a scattering of sprouts for a kick and makes for the perfect breakfast. Glory Juice also offers cleanses on how to make your own healthy concoctions.
Fig
2050 W. 4th Ave., Kitsilano
This on-the-go vitamin shot bar brings their menu of B12 injections to your office/home/party. In addition to the Bs, Fig’s vitamin cocktails include hero ingredients like glutathione, biotin, and magnesium. Just book ten-plus shots (your friends will thank you), and Fig will show up at your door and take care of the rest. Stay tuned: We hear the company is planning to open a skincare venture in Vancouver soon.
Kokomo
611 Gore Ave., Downtown Eastside
Katie Ruddell was in charge of brand strategy and marketing at Lululemon before opening Kokomo in the heart of Chinatown—essentially to cater to her own health food cravings. The vegan fare is gluten-, dairy-, and nut-free, accommodating all dietary restrictions but without compromising on taste. The modern décor creates a pleasant lunch setting, but be sure to come early, as Kokomo fills up fast. Order the Coastal Macro Bowl (the vegan spot’s most popular dish, and for good reason), which includes brown rice, roasted squash, and edamame hummus.
Tonica Kombucha
Zoey Shamai discovered kombucha tea while teaching yoga abroad. She founded Tonica to introduce the powers of fermented kombucha to Canadians, and thankfully, they (and we) love it. Try the green tea tonica if you’re feeling a mid-afternoon slump coming on, or the spicy ginger if you’re looking for a sub for your post-lunch espresso.
Blue Monkey
Husband and wife duo Simon and Mary-Jane Ginsburg were the original founders of Ice Age Glacier water, going on to create coconut-centered Blue Monkey.
Michele Kambolis
1727 Fir St., Kitsilano
Family therapist Michele Kambolis focuses on mind-body medicine, utilizing meditation and biofeedback as a way to treat struggles that primarily affect mothers and children. Her sessions are conducted via video chat, allowing for ultimate ease as you build a foundation of strong mind-body health—all from the comfort of your home.
Theda Phoenix
Theda’s soft voice can soothe you to sleep. And that should come as a surprise to no one: as a singer-songwriter, Theda focuses on sound healing to promote relaxation and meditation. She utilizes crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, ocean drums, and Shamanic vocal toning (a heavenly combination) to create an ethereal soundscape that pacifies both body and soul.
Shama Zeynep
[email protected]
Shama has been a body work therapist for more than a decade. Her private practice is located in Empower Health Clinic, where she helps patients navigate various stress-related conditions through breathwork and meditative therapies. Her specialties include diamond breath therapies and counseling sessions centered around somatic touch, biodynamics, and mindfulness.
Edgewood Health Network
2121 Boxwood Rd., Nanaimo
Edgewood Health Network incorporates evidence-based cognitive behavioral and dialectal behavioral therapies into its approach to treat people suffering from eating disorders and addiction. A team of physicians, nutritionists, and psychiatrists works with each person to create an individualized plan that treats the whole self, supplementing a clinical approach with yoga and other mindfulness-based wellness treatments. There are three inpatient campuses—in Toronto, Montreal, and Nanaimo—and various outpatient clinics across Canada.