The B&NC Health & Wellness Edit
There’s a moment that arrives quietly every January - somewhere between the last holiday feast and the first cold hard morning - when reality rolls back around, and we begin to take stock. Not in a self-punishing way. Not with grand resolutions. But with some honest self-reflection.
It’s important to ask yourself: How do I feel? What do I want more of? What do I want to protect? What makes me feel good?
Kicking off 2026, there is one simple truth: health is wealth!
…Not the kind of health that’s measured in steps logged or miles walked, but the kind that allows us to show up fully for our lives. To move without pain. To feel strong and clear-headed. To be present - with our families, our work, and our communities. Because, in the end, we’re only as good as what we’re able to do with our bodies - and it’s crucial how we care for them along the way.
Wellness isn’t just a fad, but it isn’t necessarily everyone’s lifestyle either. It is about balance and consistency. Wellness means building habits that support real life and that feel sustainable.
This year’s B&NC wellness guide isn’t about chasing trends or overhauling your life overnight. It’s about thoughtful routines and trusted experts. About movement that builds strength, care that supports skin and body health, and mindfulness that creates clarity rather than pressure. Our B&NC health, beauty, and wellness experts spent time visiting the top local fitness boutiques, trainers, spas, medspas, life coaches, alternative medicine practitioners, and more… to create our curated list of noteworthy favorites.
From mindset to muscle, from self-care to skin health, these are the local people and places that are best suited to help all the people in our community step into the New Year feeling healthier, steadier, stronger, more capable, and more aligned.
Call it ‘New Year, New You’…
Beauty, at its best, is not about masking… it’s about supporting the health of the body’s largest organ - the skin - and honoring the rituals that make us feel confident, cared for, and well. The practitioners featured here combine science, artistry, and integrity, offering results-driven care rooted in education and trust.
Founded by clean beauty expert Rachel Cook Northway, The Northway Edit is a bespoke consulting service designed to cut through the overwhelm of modern skincare. With more than a decade of experience at leading clean beauty brands (and a deeply personal health journey of her own) Rachel offers one-on-one guidance rooted in education, empathy, and practicality.
Through personalized consultations, curated product Edits, and ongoing support, she helps clients transition to safer, better-for-you routines that actually fit their lives. No judgment. No guesswork. Just clarity, confidence, and connection. Her Edit is a true game-changer.
Ciel Eau, 5 East Avenue, New Canaan
Founded in 2015 by renowned esthetician Alicia Brandfellner, Ciel Eau is an elevated destination for refined skin care and restoration in New Canaan. Now located in an expanded space, the spa specializes in European skincare, advanced non-invasive treatments, and restorative massage therapies.
From needle-less facial sculpting and cold plasma rejuvenation to bespoke prenatal massage, Ciel Eau blends innovation with intention - delivering visible results within a serene, luxurious experience.
Veronika’s Aesthetics , 60 Westchester Avenue in Pound Ridge
Grounded in medical training and elevated by artistry, Veronika’s Aesthetics is a true sanctuary. Founded by master esthetician Veronika Hartz, the practice blends advanced facial anatomy knowledge from Veronika’s background in dental medicine, with a holistic skincare philosophy - resulting in transformative, highly personalized treatments.
Now expanded into a beautiful new location, the spa offers European facials, advanced skincare treatments, body treatments, and Veronika’s own botanically based ViVey Skincare line. One of her clients shared with us, “After years of trying everything, Veronika completely changed my skin. It’s clearer, healthier, and more balanced, and I finally feel confident without makeup.”
Esthetics Embassy, 72 Westchester Ave in Pound Ridge
Founded by Lydia Bubanja, Esthetics Embassy, is one of the area’s few studios offering Biologique Recherche treatments and products - globally celebrated for their results-driven, science-based approach to skincare. A graduate of the Christine Valmy International School for Esthetics, Lydia completed advanced training in New York and Europe, including the prestigious Biologique Academy.
Before opening her studio, Lydia built an international career that included graduate degrees from Belgrade University and Columbia University and work as a diplomat at the United Nations. That rare background informs her diagnosis-driven, highly personalized philosophy, with an emphasis on long-term skin health, precision, and sustainability. While her approach is methodical and thoughtful, the results are often immediate - and unmistakable… evident in the smooth, luminous complexions of her many local VIP clients.
The Gift MedSpa, 162 Danbury Road, Ridgefield
HBO2T by The Gift MedSpa is a hospital-grade hyperbaric facility redefining what proactive, longevity-focused medicine can look like. Open for five years, the practice centers on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy paired with complementary treatments designed to enhance both healthspan and lifespan.
Working outside the confines of conventional, symptom-based care, HBO2T employs the Hyperoxia/Hypoxia Paradigm to stimulate cellular repair and increase telomere length, which is the biological markers tied to aging and longevity. The result is a deeply restorative, science-forward approach that focuses on treating underlying processes rather than masking symptoms. The work is powerful, transformative, and rooted in the future of medicine… inviting patients to take a more informed, intentional role in how they heal, age, and thrive.
Elite Dermatology, 38 East Avenue in New Canaan
Facials and age-defying treatments are all well and good…but at the end of the day, the most important thing is to get an annual skin check. This is your reminder that it could very well save your life! Elite Dermatology is a physician-owned practice started by Dr. Elle de Moll, who is a board-certified dermatologist and trained at the Icahn School of Medicine. The practice is dedicated exclusively to medical dermatology, and Dr. de Moll focuses on complex skin conditions, skin cancer, and providing cutting edge evidence-based medical care.
Committed to community health, Elite Dermatology regularly hosts free skin cancer screenings and works closely with local health departments - proving that exceptional medicine can still be deeply personal.
Movement is medicine - but it’s all about finding the practices that make you feel excited to get up for that early morning workout, where the movements align with your needs… and then finding the right instructor - who’s actually good and knowledgeable, and who meets your desired level of motivating - that’s going to make it last.
Reform Room, 792 NY-35, Cross River - Yellow Monkey Wellness
Pilates may be having a moment, but finding a great reformer class in Northern Westchester can be a challenge…
Opened on January 1, 2025, this boutique Pilates studio offers an intentionally intimate experience, with just five reformers per class, allowing for individualized attention typically associated with private sessions, without the private-session price point. The modern method is effective, welcoming, and designed to meet clients where they are, from beginners to seasoned practitioners. And the owner, Lisa, has assembled a really stand-out group of instructors.
Located within Yellow Monkey Village, Reform Room is part of a broader wellness community that includes yoga, movement, and healthy living. The space is adorable and cozy - located upstairs in a charming historic building… and there’s always fantastic camaraderie in the classes.
Power Yoga Collective, 55 Westchester Ave, Pound Ridge
Power Yoga Collective has quickly established itself as a destination for serious transformation. Heated with 22 infrared panels and staffed by a deeply trained team of instructors, the studio offers dynamic, accessible classes that are a balance of challenge and zen.
From Power Yoga and Deep Flow to Hot Power Strength and Foundations of Flow, the offerings meet you where you are and encourage growth.
Located in Pound Ridge Square, the studio is spacious and bright, and can accommodate large and small classes, making it a great personal ritual, or a fun way to get together with friends.
Greenwich Barre Studio, 145 Cherry St, New Canaan
*note, it’s upstairs - don’t get confused on your first visit!
At Greenwich Barre Studio’s New Canaan location, barre isn’t just a workout - it’s a ritual and a movement. Founded by Cindy Sites, the ‘Grandmother of Barre’ and a passionate fitness expert, the gorgeous studio blends ballet-inspired movement, Pilates, and strength training into classes that kick ass while remaining incredibly low impact.
The cult following of bright eyed women - young and old - are the proof that the method works. With little equipment and mostly body and floor work, the results are astounding. Think strength, toning, and elongation. Instructors emphasize precision, support all levels, and create a welcoming atmosphere that feels both elite and inviting.
Curcio Training, 21 Forest St, New Canaan + in-home training
Bill Curcio isn’t interested in trends…he’s interested in results. For nearly four decades, his mantra of ‘simplicity and consistency’ has been the backbone of a remarkable fitness career that includes six Ironman triathlons and a lifetime of Olympic-distance racing. In 2010, Curcio brought that disciplined clarity home to New Canaan, founding Curcio Training on the belief that meaningful progress comes from thoughtful, individualized coaching - not off-the-rack programs.
Bill is incredibly motivating, well trained, and a clearly seasoned pro. His sessions are intuitive and structured. He reads energy as well as form, ready to adjust mid-workout if a client needs a push, a pause, or a new challenge entirely. His presence is unwavering: never late, never distracted, fully engaged from warm-up to cool-down. Bill prides himself on deep and lasting relationships, with clients ranging from 11 to 85, and many training with him for decades - a testament to his expertise…and the result he generates!
We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention that we love:
Bedford Pilates - 460 Old Post Rd #1B, Bedford
Martha Stewart’s favorite studio in Bedford, with private
and semi-private reformer sessions and mat group classes.
Yoga Six - 41 S. Moger Avenue (behind Starbucks) in Mt. Kisco
Specializing in Hot & Warm Vinyasa Yoga Flows
True wellness begins long before a workout, or a facial, or healthy eating. It starts in the mind. In how we speak to ourselves. In the narratives we carry. In whether we feel aligned with the lives we’re building.
We’ve found two coaches that are particularly compelling in the area… and whether you’re looking to find some extra motivation, assess your career or your personal life, or need some help with a more major overhaul… we can say we would trust these two completely…
Melissa Liebersohn, Bedford & Virtual
Melissa Liebersohn’s coaching practice is based out of her Bedford farmhouse, and her sessions are intentionally grounded - sometimes quite literally…with alpacas grazing nearby, goats wandering the property, and her three beloved dogs often close at hand and incorporated into the therapy.
But beneath the serene setting and Melissa’s always-polished presence lies a deeply empathetic coach who understands transformation from the inside out. Having navigated her own journey through self-doubt and reinvention, Melissa brings authenticity and warmth to every session. Her philosophy, A.W.A.R.E. (Authenticity, Warmth, Appreciation, Respect, and Empowerment with Empathy), guides her work with clients of all ages, from young teens to women at pivotal life crossroads. Her gift is helping people separate fact from fiction - and replacing negative cycles with gratitude, clarity, and confidence. Melissa is confidential, compassionate, and quietly powerful.
Jeanne Collins, New Canaan
Jeanne Collins knows what it means to look successful on the outside - but feel disconnected on the inside. After decades as a high-performing executive and single mother, a sudden career upheaval in her early 50s forced Jeanne to ask a life-altering question: Who am I beyond my roles?
That moment sparked a complete reinvention and, ultimately, a calling. Today, Jeanne is a TEDx speaker, author, podcast host, and founder of House of JerMar, a lifestyle brand and coaching practice dedicated to helping ambitious women navigate crossroads with clarity and confidence. Her one-on-one coaching blends mindset work, lived experience, and a unique ‘house-building’ framework that helps clients rebuild their lives from the inside out. Her focus is entrepreneurs and executives who seek clarity and courage.
We didn’t have the chance to work directly with Chris Parrot, a certified Life Coach in Bedford, who specializes in working with emerging adults and their parents… but we’ve heard really fantastic things about the impact she’s had on many local families. If you have teens or tweenagers - pay attention, because Chris’ goal is to help individuals face life’s challenges with more confidence, calm and curiosity.
SILVER SPRING WELLNESS - 72 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge
Sabbath McLean brings 20 years of mastery in Chinese medicine to a serene, highly individualized practice focused on the whole body and person…where acupuncture, herbs, and holistic diagnostics are used thoughtfully, precisely, and in partnership with Western care.
STEPHANIE COOGAN - 21 Forest Street (House of Telos), New Canaan
Stephanie Coogan has advanced training from Norwalk Hospital and Silver Hill Hospital’s Integrative Medicine Department, and brings a deeply integrative approach to Chinese medicine. She treats mental and emotional health,
My Full-body Scan at PRENUVO
This year, as part of my own health and wellness journey, I decided to do something I’d been thinking about for a long time: I booked an out-of-pocket full-body MRI body and brain scan…
I didn’t feel I was getting the level of proactive screening I wanted, and I kept coming back to the same thought: If I want a clearer picture of my health, I need to take matters into my own hands!
So I started researching full-body screening options, looking for something comprehensive, streamlined, and easy to navigate. After comparing what was available locally and regionally, Prenuvo stood out as the most thorough and efficient option. While I would have loved to find something hyper-local at this level and price point, I couldn’t…so I headed into Manhattan.
From the moment I arrived, the experience was refreshingly calm. The space was clean, bright, and thoughtfully designed. Everything ran like a well-oiled machine. I was ushered into a private suite outfitted with clean scrubs (yes, even a no-wire sports bra), along with a plush chair, books, snacks, and a mini-fridge…to help pass the time. Before I could take my first bite of a healthy treat, there was a gentle knock at the door, and a friendly staff member brought me in for a quick weigh-in.
From there, I was guided into the MRI area. A central control room looked out over four or five individual MRI suites, buzzing quietly with experienced technicians - each attentive, focused, and clearly in sync. I was brought into my room and asked what I’d like to watch on Netflix… and naturally chose the newest season of Bridgerton and promptly disappeared into Shonda Rhimes’ fabulous abyss while the machine hummed in the background.
The technician checked in a few times with brief instructions and reassurances, letting me know I could press the button in my hand if I needed anything…but mostly, they let me relax. I’d been warned in advance that some people feel claustrophobic and was even offered a prescription to help ease anxiety - which I declined. And I’m glad I did. The modern equipment, spacious room, and well-placed screen made the experience surprisingly easy and comfortable.
…Less than two weeks later, I received an email letting me know all my results were ready, along with the option to schedule a call with one of Prenuvo’s physicians to review everything.
The doctor began with the words everyone hopes to hear: ‘Overall, everything looks good’. There were no major findings of concern…but there were a few minor things - exactly the kind of things I’m grateful to know about early. We talked through specific markers to monitor over time, questions to raise with my General Practitioner and specialists, and both natural and medical ways to address them. One example: two years ago I tore my ACL skiing - and after having completed extensive physical therapy, and doing lots of other strength work, I thought I was back to normal. But the Prenuvo doctor was able to see on my scans that my muscle mass on that leg and hip were still lagging behind the other side - and warned me about the risk of injury, and shared some other things I can be doing to avoid damage.
Of course, not every call like that is easy or reassuring. As a leukemia survivor, I know that firsthand; but what I found most valuable was the peace of mind - and the knowledge to advocate for myself more confidently in the years ahead.
For me, this wasn’t about fear or overtesting. It was about clarity. And that, in itself, felt like a powerful step forward. …I cannot recommend considering a Prenuvo scan for yourself or a loved one more highly this year!