THE BEST HEALTH & WELLNESS SPOTS IN BYRON
Life's about balance and people have been coming to Byron Bay for decades in search of it. There's something about this place that inspires both the freedom to indulge all your hedonistic desires and strive to be the healthiest version of yourself at the same time. And it's this mix of energies that makes for such a vibrant place, because if people aren't getting together to have a good time, they're usually out doing something nourishing for their body and soul, which seems like a pretty good formula for happiness. Of course, Habitat is your one-stop shop for all-things indulgent and restorative, but we're only focusing on the best health and wellness spots in Byron today. From dentists to dispensaries, we've rounded up the best health and wellness practitioners for whatever’s troubling you.
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It wasn't long ago that accessing cannabis in Byron was still something you'd have to do incognito. But not anymore, thanks to the progressive team of health professionals at Ananda Clinics. Today, if you're a chronic sufferer of one of 50 approved medical conditions, you can visit Habitat and chat with Ananda’s expert team about potentially using cannabinoids as plant medicine. It's a completely new world, and one that's expanding quickly, with Ananda Clinics doubling in size recently. "So much has happened since we opened," says the clinic. "We've been super busy as interest grows exponentially in using cannabinoids as a therapeutic agent.”
Cleverly located right next door to Ananda is Astrid dispensary, another business that's leading the country in alternative plant-based medicine. Founded by clinical pharmacist Lisa Nguyen, this female-led project was set up as the missing link between practitioner, pharmacist and patient. After opening their original dispensary in Melbourne, they chose Byron for their second location, and are now offering cannabinoid medicines, plant-based therapies and nutraceuticals to all suitable patients. Working out of their brand-new space at Habitat, that looks and feels more like a beautiful day spa than a pharmacy, Astrid stocks all plant medicine brands that are currently legal in Australia via prescription.
While her Ayurveda clinic started in a small shed on a hinterland property, it wasn't long before founder and practitioner, Shay, realised Ayupōtheca needed an accessible space to welcome the local community in Byron and help people heal. Now open in a lush and tranquil corner of Habitat, Shay's busy helping nurture people in all their entirety. A bespoke Ayurveda clinic and herbal apothecary, Ayupōtheca believe healing can only occur when people create space for it. They offer a range of bespoke luxurious Ayurvedic treatments including massage, traditional anointing, and detox and cleansing programs to help people uncover the root cause of their problems and remove it naturally.
For over 10 years, Dr Choppy has been dedicated to learning about the body as an athlete, student, teacher and practitioner. Having grown up in Kenya, and spent time living in Canada, before moving to Australia, Choppy's got an incredibly broad perspective on the body's capacity to perform and heal. He opened BOMI, a health hub at Habitat, after struggling to find a truly holistic clinic that could support his own healing after an injury. Combining osteopathy, remedial massage, acupuncture, exercise rehabilitation, and mind-body therapies, BOMI is more than just a health clinic. It’s a passionate community of expert practitioners who believe our whole lives matter.
Being a mum with two kids and an experienced GP, Dr Emma Bourke was inspired to start her own specialised practice focusing on women’s health through pregnancy, and post-partum care for mums and babies. With a passion for looking after young children and their families in the early years, Byron Baby is the best place for anyone looking for general health care for little grommets up to 10 years old. Their cute space is ideal for anyone planning a pregnancy, currently pregnant, or those who already have young ones. Check it out for specialised advice during this beautiful and sometimes challenging stage of life.
If you want healthy teeth and a healthy planet, then you might want to give O’Meara Dental a visit. A carbon positive business, O'Meara do a lot more than just great dental work. Some of the planet-saving measures they've taken to reduce their emissions include taking their office paperless, diverting all food waste into Habitat’s Subpods, using mouth scanners instead of making physical moulds, buying carbon credits in local reforesting companies and – our fave – working with TerraCycle Australia, collecting all the rubber surgical gloves that would typically end up in landfill and turning them into new playground equipment.
And there’s more to come! Keep your eyes peeled for exciting new additions to Habitat’s wellness spots.
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