Burdock, Sonic Discoveries and Warming The Soul Through Winter
Esthetician and Reiki Master, Lindsay Powell Shares Her Top Ten Wellness Practices
It is that time of year again when it feels like some sort of race to the finish line of that first spring day, the one where we can smell the earth and hear the cheerier, gentler birds again. This race, to me, every year, feels like I’m doing it through cold and thick mud, my teeth chattering, my days short and dark and a wonder of when and how I might find a calmness and warmth of the moths we find ourselves closer to the sun from within.
I have my rituals and I have my favorite meals, practices, products, activities and, well, non-activities. The only way out is through, and why don’t we make our time in the January/February vortex as enjoyable as possible by nourishing from the inside out?
xx Lindsay
1. Coffee First.
Every morning I start my day with a beautiful cup of light roast, single origin coffee. I measure the beans, I grind them accordingly, I take refuge in the build towards my first sip. I like it black, but some mornings, like this one in particular, I pair it with Laird Superfood Creamer with Adaptogens. A sweet kick with a little brain power. I sit with my dog and I enjoy the quiet dark of my bedroom.
2. I Meditate.
There is no one size fits all for meditation, and though I was certified in Transcendental Meditation many years ago, my mantra is reserved for the most stressful moments. I have many guided, but my favorites are those I was made by my favorite hypnotist Shauna Cummins, who can be found in Brooklyn if you’re interested in changing your life from your subconscious out. Sometimes, when I want to feel like I’m lying on a beach, I meditate while wearing my LED mask.
3. I Drink Two Bottles of Mountain Valley Sparkling Water Every Day.
This is my favorite ritual. It simply makes me so happy. If you’re a client, you’ve certainly seen me hugging the green bottle like it’s my baby. There’s something so divine about the crispness and the nourishment of this particular sparkling; I don’t imbibe much outside of tea, water and coffee so my tea, water and coffee are very sacred to me.
4. I Gua Sha
Most mornings, I lift and I sculpt and I dig and I drain and I think about all of the toxins, unwanted experiences and energies leaving my body. I love the Gua shas from Lanshin, but I was gifted a handmade sodalite Gua sha during my Reiki Masters training in Mazunte last year that I delight in.
5. I Sip Burdock Root Tea.
It’s slightly sweet and woody – It’s detoxifying and my favorite tea for the skin. It is an evening ritual when I sit and work on music at the end of my day. You can get my favorite from Starwest.
6. I Sing. I Dance. I Sweat. I Walk.
I always start an album at the beginning of the Fall so I have it to work on through March, a little trick of mine to distract myself from the cold. I dance at Incredipole; my goal for 2026 is to do an inversion on a spinning pole. I lift heavy weights or sweat in hot yoga (I love SUI in SoHo) and forget who I am so that when it comes back to me I remember how much I love my life. I walk and I think, and I appreciate my cold cheeks and the body’s ability to keep living through extremes.
7. I Dine.
I just had an incredibly beautiful meal at Olmo in Ocean Hill, Brooklyn as well as Rolo’s in Rodgewood, Queens. I sometimes wake extra early so I can go to my favorite diner Revelle in SoHo where they sometimes slide a complimentary house-made cherry ice cream down the bar to me like out of an old movie about what New York City used to be.
8. I Read.
I’m reading ‘Self Compassion’ by Kristin Neff brought to my attention by an incredible mindfulness and life coach Sabrina Vogler. Every page is to be savored and digested.
9. I Reiki.
I reiki you all and I reiki myself, I reiki my dog (though animals can’t take too much at a time! But they’ll tell you when they’ve had enough). The reiki that I give to you, well, that life force energy flows through me to you and I feel all of the goodness, relaxation and wellness that it’s providing for you. The more reiki I do in a day the more calm and open I am.
10. I Practice Kindness.
I offer seats on the subway, I buy someone a cup of coffee. I say “Good morning!” to my neighbors, I compliment people whenever I love their vibe, their look, their shoes (oh, the shoes in this city!). I open my Akashic Records and sit in the vastness of my Universal Existence to remind myself why and how this is all just so funny, a blip, and I can tell myself to find joy in the little things.