Finding Health and Wellness in the Hat City

Dashing Danbury Comes Alive in Spring

When spring is (finally) in the air, our minds, our bodies and our spirits yearn to get healthy and come alive again.

Spring, like the days leading up to a New Year, re-sets our thinking towards health and wellness. We find ourselves less in the mood for one more deliciously warm hot-chocolate from JK's; we start to meditate on becoming healthier, leaner and more serene.

Health also means becoming more connected to friends and neighbors. We long to take time out for nature walks, to carve out "wellness" spaces, we thumb through magazines to get inspired about creating spa like serenity in our homes. The good news is: Danbury has much to offer when it comes to a vibrant health and wellness culture, even beyond our fabulous Whole Foods, frequently voted "Best Whole Foods in Fairfield County." Danbury has an amazing health and wellness scene, among so many wellness advocates, Danbury is home to: Chamomille Natural Foods Store, Sesame Seed Restaurant, Cloud 9 Therapeutics, Yoga Culture, Tinkergarten at Tarrywile Park, Zumba Fit at Vitti's Dance Studio. The Hat City doesn't leave its pets out when it comes to holistic health, we are home to many, wonderful "green" veterinarians.

Yes, springtime in Danbury means yearning for Pour Me's Edame and Soba noodles along with a tall glass of Cross Cultural Kombucha. It means meeting up with friends for Friday Yoga at Tarrywile Park and taking out those rain boots from L.L. Bean for frequent hikes at Bear Mountain Reserve. Or, meeting up at L.L. Bean for one of their outdoor fitness hikes. Hey, we can't help it if we have the coolest mall in Fairfield County!

Spring cleaning, "clean eating," spring fitness classes, working in our garden, participation in a Still River clean up day, lunching at Kibberia, walking to City Center's Farmers' Market, participation in the downtown library's Monday Meditation Group or Saturday 8 Point Mindfulness Program, signing up for Fit4Mom's stroller strides at the Danbury Fair Mall and the Portuguese Cultural Center, taking one of Tom Devine's glorious spring cooking classes at Two Steps Downtown Grille. There is a reason why Danbury was recently named a top "Foodie Paradise Town" by CT Magazine. And, that our local chefs open up their kitchens and hearts to the community, with a view that culture, good health and connection makes a town a great, well, you can't get more renaissance in your thinking than this!

Ah, I am dreaming of Mr. Devine's spring cooking classes now: fresh sea bass with oven roasted tomatoes, smoked salmon in lemon dill sauce with fresh asparagus and roasted shallots and blue cheese. I wonder if it will be Arethusa's blue cheese?

Ah, springtime in Danbury is divine. So, when you find yourself coming out of winter's thaw, Danbury awaits to embrace you--with all your dreams to become your fullest self.