How to Stay Healthy in Santa Monica Without Breaking the Bank

With the price of wellness services soaring—from $20 smoothies to $400 massages—a Santa Monica massage therapist details how to maintain health on a shoestring budget. Her morning starts with dry brushing, oil pulling and a clove chew before brushing teeth, followed by a lemon-water and baking-soda drink topped with a spiced honey mixture. She incorporates free outdoor exercise, including beach walks, park trails, Iyengar yoga at low-cost studios, and using the Santa Monica stairs or Muscle Beach equipment.

Community amenities such as free table-tennis, pickleball, volleyball at the Annenberg Beach House and senior classes at Emeritus College are also highlighted. She saves on food by making smoothies from Costco-sourced frozen fruit and cooking vegan meals from farmers-market produce, while avoiding coffee-shop purchases. Additional frugal habits include drinking bottled water, using a DIY oil blend for skin care, and limiting streaming costs to the price of a single movie outing.