Five women-owned business at the wellness hub offer fitness classes, sauna and cold plunge, skincare products, hair styling and a juice cafe
By Kayla Heffner for Ashland.news
A new wellness hub has opened in Ashland.
The Ashland Wellness Collective held its grand opening to the public Oct. 12.
The collective offers a variety of services, including fitness classes, sauna, cold plunge, massage, fresh-pressed juices and events.
Nellie Abel is the owner and yoga instructor at FIIT & Flow fitness studio. Abel outgrew her old studio, she said, and wanted to create a space geared toward health and wellness. Women own each of the five independent businesses, and the businesses focus on mindfulness, relaxation and fitness.
The collective features a hair salon, bath and body boutique, soaking and sauna room, fitness studio and wine bar. It features an on-site food cart on the outside patio. Abel wants this to be a place where people can come hang out and spend time with friends, sip a glass of wine or enjoy a quick bite to eat.
“We outgrew our little space, and if that isn’t a testament to how important connection and community is, I don’t know what is,” Abel said. She said she could see the potential of the new space. Watching her business thrive, she said, she saw the need for a community center focused on wellness.
The new fitness studio offers yoga. And Abel is excited about the studio’s five microformer machines. Clients use them for low-impact strength-based workouts similar to pilates. In addition, there are classes for barre, pilates and spin cycling. After a workout people can enjoy a hot soak or cool off. For more information about FIIT + Flow, go to fiitandflow.com.
Soma, located downstairs, has a sauna, cold plunge, halotherapy and hosts breathwork events. The spa-like environment is designed to help soothe the body, support a fitness regimen, detox and reconnect with one’s self. For more information, go to somawellnessashland.com.
Upstairs, Hive + Honey carries holistic skincare products, offer massage treatments, elevating beauty care to the ultimate version of self-care with organic and eco-friendly products. Store owner Hollie Swart specializes in oncology skincare and says it’s important that everything going onto a person’s body is organic and clean. For more information, go to hivehoneyholisticskincare.com.
Outside is a courtyard with patio seating and on-site food cart, Fikka Juice Cafe. The little kitchen makes coffee, smoothies, avocado toast and healthy snacks. A grab-and-go section offers whole, organic foods available to go.
Next to Fikka is the hair salon, Lovely Hair Lounge. More than just a hair salon, it’s “a mindful and modern-day beauty parlor infused with the heart and soul of a bygone era,” Heather Vidrine, the owner of Lovely, said. The salon’s unique addition of a wine bar will offer a complimentary glass to anyone coming in for a haircut. Lovely’s clients can arrive early, meet up with friends and hang out while enjoying some self-care. For information, go to lovelyhairlounge.com.
The five women brought their businesses together in a collective vision through a series of serendipitous events, Abel said.
“Our goal,” Abel said, “is to be a community cornerstone for health, wellness, social connection, good vibes, great wine, a beautiful patio and a place where people can come together and experience something special.”
The Ashland Wellness Collective is located at 599 E. Main St. on the corner of 5th and Main. For information about all the services at the collective, go to ashlandwellness.org.
Journalist Kayla Heffner lives in Ashland. Email her at [email protected].
