The Outer Banks is the perfect place to unwind and relax. The natural beauty of the Outer Banks is restorative in and of itself, and just being here, surrounded by nature and wildlife, salt water and clean air, is sometimes all you need to feel refreshed and restored from the stresses of life.
But other times you need more self-care techniques and a few extra modalities to find peace and bring yourself back to mental, physical, spiritual and emotional wellness. For those times, the Outer Banks is also the perfect place.
A variety of guided wellness activities, nutritious meals, therapeutic treatments and healing modalities, combined with the serene, natural environment, can transform an Outer Banks vacation into something that feels more like a wellness retreat. Among your Outer Banks activities, be sure to take time for rest, reflection and integration.
Photo courtesy of Corolla Wild Horse Fund
Nature-Based Activities
Ocean swimming, kayaking through a salt marsh, hiking through maritime forests or over sand dunes: there are so many ways to quietly connect with nature on the Outer Banks. And connecting with nature is a sure way to connect with yourself. See our list of Nature and Outdoor Oriented Activities for ideas.
Photo courtesy of Ascension Studio OBX
Yoga Studios
Outer Banks yoga studios offer a variety of styles of yoga and other offerings that help you find overall well-being. From hot yoga and vinyasa flows to restorative and yin yoga to sound healing and Reiki to meditation and mindfulness, the local studios offer classes for everyone.
Ascension Studio OBX
1209 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills
A studio/crystal shop/healing space, Ascension’s yoga classes focus on deep healing and rest, with class styles like hatha, pranayama, slow flow/deep stretch, gentle, restorative and yoga nidra. The studio also offers sound healing and Reiki offerings. Ascension also has a Reiki training program.
Community Yoga
53561 N.C. Highway 12, Frisco
Community Yoga offers a cozy studio space on the lower level of Red Drum Pottery and Paintings. Classes are offered on a donation basis, and walk-ins are always welcome. Offerings for all levels include gentle, vinyasa, pranayama, Reiki and sound healing.
Kind Yoga
3105 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5.5, Unit 30, Seagate North Shopping Center, Kill Devil Hills
Kind Yoga offers daily hot and cool yoga classes, including vinyasa, power flow, yin, sweat and sculpt, restorative, gentle classes, hooping dancing and meditation classes and more. Kind also has a teacher training program.
OBX Hot Yoga
2420 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10.5, Nags Head
OBX Hot Yoga offers all classes in a space with a state-of-the-art infrared heating system. Classes include all levels flow and gentle classes. The studio also offers cold plunge tubs, saunas and massage therapy.
Ocracoke Island Yoga
37 Back Road, Ocracoke
Ocracoke Island Yoga offers a variety of classes including flow, all levels vinyasa, restorative, yin, sound healing and aerial yoga. They also offer annual retreats.
Outer Banks Yoga & Pilates
5230 N. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 1, Kitty Hawk
Outer Banks Yoga offers a wide variety of classes, including several types of flow and gentle flow, yin, somatic release, gentle, qigong, restorative and more. The studio offers teacher training programs and leads a variety of retreats.
Village Yoga
1240 Duck Road, The Waterfront Shops, Duck
Village Yoga's studios offers virtual and in person all-levels flow classes and barre. They also offer Reiki and craniosacral therapy.
Look for more yoga offerings, including beach yoga and private yoga, on our Yoga Listings.
Photo courtesy Island Acupuncture & Massage
Spas
Aqua Spa
1174 Duck Road, Duck
Aqua Spa is a waterfront spa offering healing massage, Ayurvedic treatments, massage cupping, aromatherapy, organic facials and a variety of other services.
Lotus Day Spa & Boutique
3810 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 4.5, Kitty Hawk
Pamper yourself with a soothing menu of facials, therapeutic massage, reflexology and other healing treatments.
Spa at Sanderling Resort
1461 Duck Road, Sanderling Resort, Duck
Sanderling Resort has a world-class spa offering an extensive menu of treatments, including massage therapy, facials, body care and more. Yoga is offered on site as well.
Windswept Spa
2603 N. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills
Windswept Spa offers a variety of massage modalities along with facials, body scrubs and reflexology. You can go to their location or they can bring the services to you.
Look for more spa options in our Spa Listings.
Photo courtesy of Outer Banks Salt Cave
Healing Modalities
Ascension Studio OBX
1209 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills
Ascension Studio, mentioned above in yoga, also offers Reiki sessions and Reiki trainings and guidance in human design, energy clearing, soul coaching, oracle card reading and special events.
Bianca's Readings
Island Acupuncture and Massage
3105 N. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills
Island Acupuncture specializes in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Therapeutic Massage.
Hi Vibe Outer Banks
1209 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills
Hi Vibe is a global market, zero proof bottle shop and herbal apothecary with a highly skilled herbalist on site to help with physical and mental healing. It's also a listening room with occasional music and sound offerings.
Little Rituals Holistic Island Boutique
583 Irvin Garrish Highway, Ocracoke
Little Rituals offers Reiki and sound healing plus the guidance and tools for using ritual to create a sacred life.
Outer Banks Salt Cave
3723 N. Croatan Highway, Kitty Hawk
The Salt Cave offers halotherapy, which utilizes salt's antibacterial, antimicrobial and sanitizing properties to solve respiratory and skin issues. OBX Renew to You IV Drip Therapy often offers hydration and vitamin therapy or B12 shots at the Salt Cave. Occasionally the Salt Cave will also offer Reiki in the cave.
Outer Banks Healing Arts
12 Juniper Trail, Kitty Hawk
Outer Banks Healing Arts offers massage therapy, reflexology, reiki, lymphatic drainage, cupping and Medicupping and more.
Traveler’s Moon
210 E. Gallery Row, Nags Head
Traveler’s Moon is metaphysical shop and apothecary that also offers healing sessions, sound healing, immersive classes, artistic workshops, and guidance in human design, tarot and more.
Photo courtesy of Traveler's Moon
Creative Endeavors
Artistic opportunities, workshops and classes, such as journaling, painting, music and more, encourage self-expression and emotional processing. The Outer Banks offers a variety of creative classes and workshops.
Artsy Octopus
7128 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16.5, Nags Head
Artsy Octopus is a collective gallery showcasing the work of more than 60 artists from North Carolina and Virginia. They also offer art classes and art parties, including resin art and resin-pouring, jewelry making and paint and sip.
Cloud Nine
3022 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11.5, Pirate's Quay Shoppes, Nags Head
Cloud Nine is a place to create your own jewelry with all the supplies you need and guidance from a most welcoming owner.
Dare Arts
300 Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Manteo
Dare County Arts Council offers a variety of classes and workshops in visual arts, music and literature as well as sponsoring a variety of other cultural arts events throughout the year.
Hang 12 Art
3105 N. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 5.5, Seagate North Shopping Center, Kill Devil Hills
Hang 12 Art owner Brad Price offers painting parties and art classes.
Studio 12
41008 N.C. Highway 12, Avon
Studio 12 is an inspiring place to dream and create. Walk in any time to paint pottery, create mosaics or fuse glass. Sign up for their pottery wheels, watercolor, macrame and wire wrapping classes. They also have a Candle Bar, where you can build your own all-natural soy wax candles, and a Studio Essentials table for designing aromatherapy jewelry.
Traveler’s Moon
210 E. Gallery Row, Nags Head
Traveler’s Moon is a metaphysical shop and apothecary that also offers artistic workshops in a variety of mediums.
Find many more offerings in our Art and Arts & Crafts listings.
Photo courtesy of FreshFit Cafe
Nutrition
There are many places to find healthy meals and nutritious food on the Outer Banks. You can browse our Restaurants listings or visit the Outer Banks fresh-food markets to find them, but I'll mention two of my favorites here.
7531 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head-Manteo Causeway, Nags Head
FreshFit serves healthy, clean and fresh foods and drinks that make it easy to stick to your health and fitness goals. They serve balanced breakfasts and lunches and offer organic coffee, a juice bar, smoothies, detox drinks, clean proteins, seasonal produce, and allergy-friendly offerings.
ShineOn Juicery
1209 S. Croatan Highway, Kill Devil Hills
ShineOn offers plant-based food and cold-pressed juices, along with a variety of other vegan products like vegan cheese. You can eat in or take out. You can also order 1, 2 or 3 Day Juice Flood packages for a healthy alternative to fasting.
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
