For those with young children, summer is unofficially over. Fall may not quite be here yet but school is back in session. For others, August still seems like mid-summer. Wherever you fall on that list, August is the perfect time to take a breath and de-stress. Here, five ways to relax.
Get Creative
Good news—art is scientifically proven to relieve stress and enhance cognitive abilities. So, head to Brightside Studios on Camelback Road and get ready to create.
Brightside offers a full studio, with easels and art supplies, where artists can get messy; a café where you can sit and recharge; and classes like the Paint & Sip courses where you can grab a cocktail from the cafe, sit, and paint. A music lounge offers weekly live concerts, and the art supply store includes everything that a creative could ever need. BrightsideStudios.com
Find Zen
Did you know that in the heart of Downtown Phoenix there is a destination called The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix? Named RoHoEn, it is a joint project of the City of Phoenix and its sister city, Himeji, Japan. Completed in 1996, the 3.5-acre locale is an authentic Japanese Stroll Garden and features a tea garden, tea house, stone garden, and a courtyard garden.
Spend time exploring the curved paths, hidden views, and water features, and let the peacefulness melt away any stress.
Once a month, October through September, the tea house also offers a public tea (reservations are required). JapaneseFriendshipGarden.org
Float Your Cares Away
Let your mind and body completely go for the ultimate in relaxation at True REST, a zero-gravity environment. Here you’ll climb into a special pod filled with a water/salt solution for flotation therapy, also known as sensory deprivation. Using 1,000 lbs. of Epsom salts, the buoyancy of the water will make you feel like you’re floating on air.
The experience can help prevent inflammation in your joints and muscles, treat sore muscles, decrease cortisol (a stress hormone), and much more.
You can choose to float in the dark and in silence, or use the multi-colored lights and relaxing music. TrueREST.com
Raise a Glass
At the new The Wine Collective of Scottsdale—the tasting room, wine bar, and retail store opened in April in Downtown Scottsdale—enjoy a taste of Arizona. The locale is the destination in the area to showcase almost exclusively a variety of premium Arizona producers under one roof (the only selections not from Arizona are the acclaimed sparkling wines from Gruet in New Mexico).
Owner Zoya Vora-Shah hand-selects each of the each of the roughly 40 bottles on the shelves and prides herself on offering an experience that’s educational, as well as relaxing and fun.
Plus, through August, you can purchase a bottle to drink on-site for the normal retail price, without the corkage fee. Cheers to that. The-Wine-Collective.com
Enjoy a Good Meal and a Movie
Lose yourself in a good movie and great food. During the summer, Marcellino Ristorante in Downtown Scottsdale offers its popular Dinner and a Movie series, which runs through Sept. 7. The event is held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Marcellino’s private dining room.
Dine on authentic Italian cuisine while watching an award-winning film that was selected for its beautiful Italian setting. Movies include Only You; When in Rome; The Big Night; Eat, Pray, Love; The Talented Mr. Ripley; and Roman Holiday. Check the website for the specific schedule.
The use of the room is complimentary, but dinner service is required and reservations are required. MarcellinoRistorante.com