I spent the day in Santa Monica, bouncing between two wellness-inspired cafés, each offering its own kind of inspiration for Journey Through Meditation.
Morning at the Proper
I started my day at the Proper Hotel in Santa Monica, sitting in the sunlit restaurant with my laptop open and a latte in hand while Katy wrapped up her morning massage treatment at Surya Spa next door.
The spa is Ayurvedic and deeply intentional, and its influence spills right into the hotel’s café menu. They offer Ayurvedic lattes crafted with traditional herbs and spices. These blends are designed not just for flavor, but for energy, balance, and healing.
I ordered the Whole Body Energy latte, made with adaptogenic mushrooms like cordyceps, Ayurvedic herbs like kapikachu (known for supporting mental agility and male libido), and grounding spices.
It was rich, earthy, and surprisingly energizing. I got a lot done on Journey Through Meditation while sipping it. Something about the combination of ambiance and herbal support made me feel both clear and calm.
Mushroom Magic at Mudwater
Later in the day, Katy and I walked over to the new Mudwater Café, which takes an entirely different but equally interesting approach to wellness.
Instead of coffee, they serve mushroom-based drinks—functional blends that support focus, mood, and energy without the crash. Their space is more than a café: it’s a mindfulness studio, coworking hub, and community gathering spot.
I tried their :cacao blend, which includes masala chai, cacao, lion’s mane, chaga, reishi, cordyceps, turmeric, and salt—with just 35mg of caffeine.
The taste was rich and grounding, and the space had this effortless rhythm: calm music, people focused on creative work, and a general air of presence.
A Glimpse into Future Possibilities
Sitting in Mudwater’s open coworking studio brought me back to my days managing the coliving space in Venice—where meditation, work, and community all flowed together. That kind of integrated living environment shaped so much of how I think about Journey Through Meditation today.
Being in the studio made me start to imagine what it would be like to teach meditation again locally. Maybe even—someday—open a space of my own. A place where people could come to recharge, reflect, and reconnect with what matters.
Closing Thoughts
The day reminded me how powerful intentional spaces can be. Whether it’s an Ayurvedic latte or a mushroom-infused cacao, the environments we choose to work and create in can shape the quality of our thoughts, our energy, and even our vision for the future.
And as far as work days go? This one—with lattes, sunlight, and a little dose of inspiration—was just about perfect.