Stay in the know with our new in town best wellness business list featuring the latest gyms, spas, and health focused shops in Marin.
Club Pilates
Club Pilates is expanding into its second Marin County location. Now open in Greenbrae’s Bon Air Center, the new location can accommodate up to 12 participants per class, and the variety of classes and levels will impress even seasoned Pilates practitioners. Club Pilates stays true to the original Contrology Method created by Joseph Pilates — using the Reformer machine and offering a signature Reformer flow class — but it also keeps its practice fresh with a contemporary twist while prioritizing accessibility for people of all levels and abilities. For fusion classes, check out offerings like Cardio Sculpt, Center & Balance, CP FIT and Suspend. Show up for a complimentary 30-minute introduction class to get a taste.
184 Bon Air Center, Greenbrae; 415.488.8018
Marlowe
“We’re overturning industry norms with our commitment to clean beauty and fair labor practices,” says Rebecca Sawhney, former NYC attorney and founder of Marlowe. The innovative Berkeley nail salon launched its second location at Larkspur’s Marin Country Mart in February 2024. Service offerings include clean and safe mani/pedis, gels, nail art and kids nail services, complemented by thorough ventilation, disposable tools and medical-grade sterilization. Beyond its clean protocols, Marlowe has been a champion of fair labor practices: employees receive living wages, health insurance, and 401(k)s — rare in the industry.
2245 Larkspur Landing Cir, Larkspur; 415.888.8211
PostPartum Support Center
San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin was the mistress of ceremonies at the grand opening of the PostPartum Support Center, on November 7, designed to offer maternal mental health peer support services including a support line, peer counseling, support groups and education—plus free diapers and other basic necessities for families in need. The nonprofit (of the same name) which operates the center was founded in 2019 by Ivana Jagodic, a Marin mother who suffered from maternal mental health complications of her own. Jagodic points out “one in five women experience postpartum depression, and we need to bridge the gap to give women the support they need.”
4162 Redwood Hwy, San Rafael; 415.320.6707
Cooper Alley
After 22 years in Larkspur, Rick Cooper moved his eponymously named salon to Corte Madera Town Center, reopening in October. Cooper, who taught for L’Oreal all around the U.S., runs his salon around personalized service, customizing haircuts and color to fit the person. “We design the haircut for someone’s physical traits,” Cooper says. “There are 15 physical factors, such as face shape and facial spacing, that you have to design for.” The salon also offers head and neck massage, an interactive color department and French balayage.
Corte Madera Town Center, 415.461.1146
Metta Mama
After neighbor XCorp moved to San Anselmo, the downtown San Rafael yoga studio fulfilled a dream, relaunching the space last summer as a place where new and expecting moms can be in community with other moms. Metta Mama Director Ashley Stachon, teaches prenatal yoga, mom and baby post-natal yoga, a Pilates core class and runs a co-op for yoga and candid discussions about motherhood. “Our vision is to be a one-stop shop for pre- and post-natal parents to build community, learn, and grow,” says Stachon.
835 Fourth St., San Rafael; 415.868.3569
Cue the Core
San Rafael residents and co-owners Karen Lovelace and Wendy Tarantino opened a fitness studio and sanctuary for self-care in downtown San Rafael in November. Their studio specializes in contemporary Pilates, utilizing the reformer, chair and tower to make self-care accessible and effective for all, including those with unique needs. Lovelace, a certified health coach, provides integrative wellness workshops and health coaching to support clients in achieving holistic well-being. “Our studio is a haven for those seeking a comprehensive approach to self-care,” she says.
1327 4th St., San Rafael; 415.889.0854
San Rafael Health & Wellness Center
Addressing unmet community needs for a range of women’s services, not-for-profit Marin City Health and Wellness Center (MCHWC) opened Women’s Health Center in San Rafael in August. In an effort to address health equity, MCHWC serves all women 18 years and older, including under- and uninsured, Medi-Cal/Partnership Health, private insurance and self-pay patients, the Centers offer a range of services, including routine well woman care, pap screenings, contraception, fertility awareness and much more.
880 Las Gallinas Ave, Suites 1 & 2, San Rafael; 415.339-8813
Marin City Health & Wellness Center
The Marin City Health and Wellness Center, which opened in September, focuses on comprehensive, coordinated care across services at one location. Services include adult primary care, pediatric primary care, including well-baby care, dental care (adults and children), behavioral health services (adults and children), podiatry and more. MCHWC’s mission is to provide innovative health and wellness services to all, with the goal of African American health equity.
100 Phillips Dr, Marin City; 415.339.8813
Vivalon Healthy Aging Campus
With the mission to meet the unique needs of the entire senior community, Vivalon will open its first blended center for older adults, combining healthy aging programs and affordable housing in a downtown San Rafael building in December. The non-profit, formerly known as Whistlestop, built wrap-around healthcare services, vibrant educational classes, accessible transportation, and a myriad of wellness programs designed to improve wellbeing and connection into the project. The campus, an agreement with the nonprofit Eden Housing, includes 66 units of affordable housing on the upper four floors and a Healthy Aging Center operated by Vivalon on the lower two floors. Vivalon will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2024.
999 Third St, San Rafael; 415.456.9062
Jet Physio Sports Physical Therapy Inc.
After a number of years a few blocks away on Bridgeway, Dr. Ray Layug, PT, DPT is moving his sports rehab and performance services business into the Marin Gateway Center, opening in late October. In addition to ACL surgery programming, injury prevention screenings, soft tissue manual therapy, and sport-recovery sessions, Dr. Layug is launching a series of classes and workshops geared towards agility training for field athletes, jumping and injury prevention for volleyball players, and balance training for older populations, among other efforts. “I enjoy working with individuals who value their health and are proactive with learning the tools to keep themselves healthy for the long run,” Layug says.
170 Donahue St, Sausalito; 415.237.3017
Persimmon
With executive offices in Larkspur, co-founder, CEO and Marin resident Mark Hadfield launched a medical aesthetics business dedicated to personalized treatments like Botox, SkinPen microneedling, chemical peels and PRP hair restoration treatments, that are performed at your home. Service in Marin, from expertly trained nurses, began in July. A subscription plan is also available.
100 Larkspur Landing Circle, Suite 104 Larkspur
Marin Spine and Wellness Center
After 20 years in the chiropractic and sports injury therapy business in Corte Madera, owner and Marin native Chappy Wood, D.C., opened a Red Light Therapy Room this summer. “Red Light Therapy has many uses to help people recover from physical, mental and chemical stressors,” says Wood. “It does this by helping you reduce cellular oxidative stress and it stimulates mitochondria.” Wood envisions room time as a sort of self-service — come by and do some therapy exercises and stretches to support recovery from mental and physical stressors, then use the Red Light Room to support healing.
150 Nellen Ave #200, Corte Madera, 415.924.8398
Carma Bella Beauty
After years in the beauty industry in Novato and San Anselmo, Carmy Lopez finally found the right spot in San Anselmo to open her own salon. The Novato native offers everything from lash extensions and lash lifts to brow laminations and sugaring hair removal. A line of all-natural products, like NCLA Beauty, Dose of Colors, and Kelly Baker Brows, is also available.
532 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo; 415.448.6688
Verre Skin
After over a decade of working in San Francisco, Nancy Valerio RN, NC launched a holistic medspa in December. “Our ethos is healthy skin from within,” says Valerio, who specializes in treatments such as Botox, microneedling and Aquagold stamping with PRP in-office. She also works with each client to develop at-home skincare routines, including supplements and nutrition to support healthy skin results.
21 Tamal Vista Blvd, Suite 230, Corte Madera; 415.599.6171
The Yard
As a former college football player, owner Joe Cicero noticed that he was often waiting for the barbells and rack, then rushing through his workouts. His new business in Mill Valley’s Tam Junction solves that problem. Inspired by the traditional barbershop model, where independent barbers rent out chairs from the store owner, his gym is reservation-based gym where independent trainers and members can reserve exclusive access to high-end fitness equipment. “I recall daydreaming about running a gym there,” Cicero says. “Crazy to see that dream come to fruition five years later.”
215 Shoreline Highway Mill Valley; 585.771.0732
Eye Institute of Marin
Creating a safe office space was front of mind for owner and cataract surgeon Dr. Kathryn Najafi Tagol, M.D. when she moved her practice to San Rafael’s Mitchell Boulevard business park in the Terra Linda neighborhood earlier this year. Her patent-pending barrier shield includes a HEPA filter and fans that “create a breath of fresh air in front of a doctor’s face,” for safer closeup exams. Now in its own building, the practice offers more privacy to patients and, with more than double the office space, improved ventilation, larger exam rooms, and better access for patients. Dr. Michael Hemond, M.D. PhD also joined the practice.
10 Paul Dr, San Rafael; 415.444.0300
Now Power Yoga
Now Power Yoga’s founder & owner Susan Hauser has moved a few doors down and updated (and upgraded) her fitness and wellness studio in Corte Madera’s Tamal Plaza. Same award-winning (Best of the County many years in a row) classes, new larger and brighter space.
59 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera; 415.891.3764
The Anchor Method
Realizing that physical and mental health are necessities for everyone, especially teenage girls, personal trainer Emily Switzer opened a fitness studio in August that combines a specific strength program with yoga and cool down/stretch time to discuss the reflections of the day. “The reflections consist of different topics centered around mental health, physical health and well-being,” Switzer says. “The environment in the studio is empowering. The girls are not only learning how to trust each other, but learning how to trust themselves.” Plans are in the works to expand to teen boys, seniors and others.
870 College Ave Suite A, Kentfield; 415.590.1085.
BodyRok
Active in the Marin Rowing Association and running or biking on Mt. Tam inspired Petaluma-based owner Will Wahlen and Erika Kehr to seek a Marin location for their second North Bay workout studio, which opened in May. Look for their signature 40-minute, Pilates-inspired, full-body strength training classes on customized reformers.
47 Tamal Vista Blvd E, Corte Madera; 415.758.2384
