Whether you call it self-care, spa life, time-out or me-time, bath soaks are real medicine for the soul. If you consider yourself more of a shower person, we urge you to re-consider and come over to the bath side once or twice a week. Here are all the benefits you could be getting from a bath soak.

These Are Not Your Grandmother’s Catskills. Before airplane travel became the norm, New York families sought-out easy and accessible refuge in the Catskill mountains. Then the grandkids stopped going. Today’s upstate continues to reel in a new kind of visitor. It is safe to say that the Catskills are in their heyday again. New and restored hotels sprouting all over Upstate New York have a lot to offer to newcomers and loyal visitors alike. Among the many new retreats, Kenoza Hall is in a class of its own.

As summer neared the end, I longed to squeeze in a getaway that would shake off the persistent stress of the city and provide me with a wilderness escape. On the agenda was adventure, forest bathing, grounding, sauna time, and swimming in lakes. Staying at the newly opened Eastwind Hotel & Bar in Lake Placid was just the cherry on top.

I believe in the great power of nature, creativity, taking time out to work on yourself, being a good and kind person, but mostly I believe in healing with spas and spirituality—which is why I was drawn to Deborah Hanekamp. A self-described “seeress” and owner of Space by Mama Medicine, a wellness center in New York City, Deborah was recently recognized by VOGUE as one of the fashion set’s favorite healers.

Whether you are seasoned spa-goer in need of a refresher or a spa virgin, there are certain universal rules to getting the most out of your spa experience. Visiting a spa for the first time can be intimidating. Here is everything you ever wanted to know. Avoid any shyness or mishaps with our must-know spa commandments.

The first time I met Divya Alter was by pure coincidence. An important lunch meeting prompted me to search for a vegan cuisine spot in New York’s East Village. We ended up at Divya’s Kitchen. Once you get out of the street, past other diners and settle in, you realize this is unlike any other place in New York City. It would be a mistake to call Divya’s Kitchen just a restaurant. Upon further investigation, you see a space of healing, learning and community.