Brentwood Health & Beauty

There’s no doubt that the familiar forms of yoga, like Ashtanga and Jivamukti, can be incredibly rigorous, but typically we associate yoga with feelings of calm. CorePower combines the stretchy, lengthening magic of yoga with the strength-building power of weights. The studios are kept warm to help loosen up stiff joints, and the upbeat teachers make keeping up easy (or at least easier). Wear fitted, sweat-wicking workout gear if you have it—the combination of free weights and downward dog will have you breaking a sweat.

This spot is famous for its custom-made infrared saunas. In the personal pods, which look super futuristic, you lie on a bed of jade stones while your body is bathed in red infrared light. Your head is outside of the pod during the entire the forty-minute session, and the surrounding air is diffused with a custom blend of aromatherapeutic oils. The lymphatic compression massage and unique Magnesphere machine, which aims to improve your balance and sleep by way of deep relaxation, are so very worth exploring.

Erika Bloom Pilates has finally ventured west (until now, it was just New York and Connecticut that got to sculpt and tone with the best in the business), taking up residency in Brentwood. The open space is flooded with natural light, making it a relaxing and—oh yes, we’re going to go there—fun workout. The studio’s knowledgeable staff curates personalized routines that borrow from Pilates, yoga, Alexander technique, Feldenkrais, and weight training. There are also programs for pre- and postnatal women, osteoporosis, injury prevention, acupuncture, bodywork, and holistic health consulting.

The first California outpost of this boutique chain of nail salons has finally opened in Brentwood, and it sort of has it all: soothing, minimalist yet pretty interiors, a selection of five-free polish, excellent service, and waxing specialists cheekily called “editors.” Trust us and spring for the slightly more expensive performance polish manicure, a 45-minute treatment that uses the brand’s in-house polish line that dries in 5 minutes and wears like a gel (read: it will last you close to two weeks). Plus, Alfred is right across the street.

Taryn Toomey and her definition-evading "class" have finally made it to Los Angeles. The experience is a self-titled cathartic experience, where you spend 75 minutes engaging in intense movement to “break open and activate ‘stagnant’ layers in the body.” In short you move, and scream, and shake, and yell as you release emotional energy–and get a pretty incredible workout in the process, care of burpees, planks, leg lifts, and squats. There's a fair bit of yoga worked in for good measure. It requires an open mind and a willing spirit. Taryn is back-and-forth from New York City, but has a small team in L.A. to lead classes in her absence—there isn't a permanent space yet, so you can find them at various locations on the Westside. Photo Credit: Jaimie Baird

Dr. Silkman makes a trip to the dentist as pleasant as it could possibly be. Personal, gentle and effective, you can't really go wrong here.

While Los Angeles is a veritable sea of nail salons for on-the-fly manicures, there aren't many non-spa spots that feel particularly luxurious. Enter Côte, a serene, grey-washed space that looks like it belongs in Harbour Island—not on one of L.A.'s busiest drags. The best part though is that Côte—and its collection of 109 polish shades—is completely five-free (no formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), toluene, camphor, or formaldehyde resin). It's a winning, and well-executed combination; in the front, there's a sweet little shop full of finds from the French countryside)—we'd be surprised if the city isn't blanketed with Côte outposts soon. There's an outpost in New York now, too.

There's a pretty cheeky design aesthetic here, that takes a deep bow to the Queen: Union Jack covered chairs, portraits of Her Majesty, and floral, chintz wallpaper that looks like it was lifted from the walls of a country estate set the vibe. The concept is in line with the idea that everyone should be treated like royalty, which explains the extras (like long and late opening hours). Go for “The Full Monty” as they use wax from Italy, which is applied warm (not hot) to protect the skin. Jodi Shays is the owner, and the person to see if possible. Locations in Brentwood and Culver City.

We're longtime fans of the Tracy Anderson Method for a million reasons: It's a lifestyle approach to fitness, meaning that you never peak; it's fun (and hard); and it works. The studios in Studio City and now in Brentwood make following the method easy, as everyone's in it together. Membership is more expensive than your average gym but includes unlimited classes, and depending on the tier, semiprivate training sessions. The trainers are kind but tough—you will sweat (and melt inches).