Surrounded by beaches, mountains, fitness studios and health-conscious grocery stores, the environment in Malibu encourages a lifestyle where those in it are constantly encouraged to prioritize health.
Junior Fadé Akinfe said Malibu’s vibrant, health-focused lifestyle sets it apart from other cities. This beach community creates an atmosphere where residents are deeply invested in their well-being.
“Living in Malibu has definitely helped me adopt a healthier lifestyle,” Akinfe said. “I find it easier to prioritize wellness here especially with the community around me. It motivates me to enhance my lifestyle.”
Students said that living in the wellness-driven community of Malibu has transformed their own approach to their health, inspiring lasting changes in their daily routines.
A Scenic Sanctuary
The environment itself, with its calming ocean views, creates a welcoming space for outdoor activities that blend the peaceful surroundings with wellness, students said.
“Malibu’s scenic view has pushed me to go outside more and explore the city by taking more walks,” Akinfe said. “I’ve started taking more walks along the beach, which helps calm my anxiety, especially while listening to the waves. I am also grateful for being able to have the option to be active in such a beautiful place; it definitely pushes me to be more active.”
Junior Vianita Correa said Malibu’s outdoor spaces become more than a scenic landscape for physical activity, but also serve as a sanctuary for tranquility.
“Living in Malibu is like living in paradise for me because of its surrounding nature, and it has definitely impacted my fitness routine,” Correa said. “I like to hike or go for a walk or swim at the beach. I am increasing not only my body health but also my mind and spiritual health.”
By embracing Malibu’s natural beauty, Akinfe and Correa said they have found not only a place to stay active, but also an environment that enhances their overall well-being.
Beyond the endless outdoor activities the landscape offers, Malibu is home to a variety of wellness and fitness studios.
Students said some of their favorites include Be Kind Studios for pilates, Power Yoga East for yoga and The Mindry for various forms of meditation.
These spaces offer locals and students diverse opportunities to stay active and nurture their well-being.
Fueling Wellness
Malibu’s commitment to wellness and health is also evident in the selection of dining options and stores throughout the area. A lot of establishments feature selectively nutritious options that residents have come to embrace.
Akinfe said that having access to nutritious options makes it easier to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
“The food options are significantly healthier, and I find it easier to prioritize wellness here especially with the community around me,” Akinfe said. “It motivates me to enhance my lifestyle.”
Erewhon and Whole Foods are popular grocery strores students said they like to shop at. They said they appreciate the emphasis on organic and health-conscious products these stores provide.
“I have been incorporating shopping at Erewhon and Whole Foods into my life and it has been very beneficial,” Akinfe said. “It is refreshing in Malibu, compared to places where healthy options are limited.”
Students said the abundance of health-conscious stores in Malibu has made it easier for residents to prioritize wellness in their daily lives.
“There are more healthy options than unhealthy ones,” Correa said. “This environment definitely changes everyone who comes to live around here.”
A Community Staple
Malibu has become home to a wealth of health-focused stores that reflect the community’s dedication to wellness. One standout is Vitamin Barn, less than two miles from Pepperdine University.
Founded in Malibu, Vitamin Barn is a health food store and juice bar that is an essential piece of the community, serving as a one-stop-shop for holistic health needs since its opening in 1987, according to their website.
Buyer and consultant for Vitamin Barn, Lucia Yafi, said locals stop at the store to purchase supplements and vitamins that support their healthy lifestyles and help nourish their bodies.
“They [Malibu residents] go hiking, swimming, riding, they bike, surf and then they come here to replenish, replenish with food and drinks, with healthy shakes and smoothies and juices, and they buy their supplements,” Yafi said. “It is really important for them to keep them healthy while they’re doing all these activities at the beach, we have everything here.”
Vitamin Barn supports the community’s commitment to staying fit and nourished in a place where wellness is woven into daily life.
“We get a lot of business being in Malibu because we live in such a health-conscious community,” Yafi said. “Most people here in beach communities are more healthy, and they want to maintain that.”
Vitamin Barn, like many other stores in Malibu, serves as more than just a stop for supplements — it’s also a reflection of the active, wellness-driven lifestyle that defines Malibu.
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Contact Bohuen Tong via email: bohuen.tong@pepperdine.edu
