Brooklyn Health & Beauty

Hillery Sklar is a licensed aesthetician with a small studio by the Williamsburg Bridge. Her treatments, while simple, are extremely effective. And Hillery's own warmth and friendliness add another therapeutic dimension to each facial. She offers services for women and men, including "the bearded gentleman"; all cash only.

Beloved yoga teacher Eddie Stern officially opened his new studio space, Brooklyn Yoga Club, in a cozy Clinton Hill townhouse on Vanderbilt Avenue. A studio and meditation space occupy the ground floor of the townhouse, where Stern leads a practice based on the teachings of Ashtanga master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. The primarily self-paced classes encourage independence and self-reliance; students work through each series at their own speed, closely observed by Stern. There’s also a heavy emphasis on meditation, breath, and detoxification. After class, students can hang out in the first-floor library, café, and the wide outdoor deck, where the studio builds community: The café serves coffee, tea, juice, and vegetarian food, the deck is home to a compost and garden, and the library shelves are stocked with books about yoga and self-discovery. The second floor of the townhouse is home to a co-working space with a few designated desks and a community table. That floor also has a kitchen, for vegetarian and Ayurvedic cooking classes and one-off workshops, like “How to Make Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar,” or “How To Make Your Own Kimchi.” Out-of-town visitors can stay…

Catering to serious climbers and novices alike, this massive, technicolored climbing space in Gowanus hosts casual climb sessions, lessons for kids, and serious team training. With several walls, it’s roomy enough to accommodate larger groups and families. It’s a great resource in the winter, when it’s far too cold to exercise outdoors. Also, they're open until midnight.