The new year is a time for self-nurturing and reflection, which often includes reassessing, starting or changing, your health and well-being objectives. To help, we’ve compiled a list of exceptional options suited to help you meet your wellness goals, no matter where you find yourself on this journey. Here, we focus on businesses and their owners who help create and nurture positive well-being in our community and create non-judgmental, safe spaces for every individual. Here’s to health!
Monday — Lumia Med Spa
Starting off your week begins in a space full of empowerment, self-confidence and care. Lumia Med Spa offers aesthetic and wellness treatments, such as wrinkle relaxers, facials, dermal fillers, microneedling, laser treatments and more, and looks to create a community that lets inner beauty shine through.
“Lumia is a safe space for any and all to communicate their goals and vulnerabilities, improve their knowledge and understanding of aesthetic treatments, and allow our team to lend their talents toward what we do best,” says Dr. Austyn P. Belle Isle, DNAP, CRNA, APRN, owner and aesthetics provider at Lumia Med Spa. “We are a solution-focused practice dedicated to delivering confidence and self assuredness to our beautiful clients.”
As January is a time when many individuals look for self-change, Dr. Belle Isle strives to assist all individuals who come into the spa through education and understanding their goals and hopes for their custom treatments.
“I think the biggest needs in this industry are honesty and transparency,” Dr. Belle Isle says. “The unfortunate reality is that many marketing tactics in this industry are designed to prey upon fear and insecurity to sway the consumer toward or away from a particular option. I believe in a spirit of hope over fear, I believe in facts, and I believe in taking care of people first and foremost.”
Whether you are looking to feel pampered with a facial or looking to smooth wrinkles, Lumia will honor you as an individual. Plus with three children, Dr. Belle Isle knows the importance of taking me-time and fills her wellness cup by going to businesses such as DryBar, Women’s Wellness Center and Gloss CoMo.
“I’ve learned many times through the years that pushing myself over the limit doesn’t serve the people I love and I want to be my best,” she says. “Most importantly, I surround myself with genuine, honest, loving people who understand me and see my heart—we have an amazing community in Columbia, and I am proud to call it home!”
With precision and care, Lumia Med Spa is a great place to begin your week and fill your own cup.
Tuesday — HOTWORX
Exercise is a great way to continue a health and wellness journey. If you want to try something new or haven’t found your favorite workout, HOTWORX is the perfect place to give a new workout a go!
Combining exercise with infrared light and heat, the studio focuses on efficient and effective fitness. The workouts center on 30-minute isometric and 15-minute high-intensity interval training sessions, along with the functional exercise zone. Classes for isometric sessions range from hot barre, yoga and band workouts, and HIIT classes include cycling, rowing and strengthening of the entire body. Another perk of the studios is the semi-private studios. With a maximum of three individuals per room, you are able to enjoy a small-group workout without the fear of judgement.
“Our members love having 24/7 access to a semi-private workout environment, along with a variety of options to achieve their fitness goals at HOTWORX,” says Vickie Leslie, who is the co-owner of HOTWORX along with her husband, Chad Leslie. What they value most, however, is the supportive community we’ve cultivated—where members of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels inspire and uplift one another to reach and exceed their goals.”
The Leslie’s own the Columbia studio in addition to another HOTWORX location in Overland Park, Kansas. Vickie first experienced and became passionate about the infrared benefits when she found and attended a studio in Olathe, Kansas. She found immediate asthma relief, improved cognitive function and enhanced skin complexion. Chad takes full advantage of everything a HOTWORX studio has to offer, including isometric sessions, high-intensity interval training, and the FX Zone. This well-rounded approach not only builds a strong fitness foundation but also keeps workouts engaging and motivating.
Along with the benefits of the studio, they also enjoy the numerous benefits of Columbia’s trail system and community. When it comes to total and holistic health, they keep in mind a quote from the Dalai Lama, “The goal is not about being better than the other man, but your previous self."
“When navigating change, it's important to set realistic expectations and understand that progress takes time,” Vickie says. “Break down your larger goals into attainable milestones, stay consistent, and embrace the process. Remember, fitness is a lifelong commitment, not a destination—enjoy the journey.”
Wednesday — Prime IV Hydration & Wellness
After a workout, it’s important to rehydrate and replenish with vital vitamins and nutrients crucial for your body. Prime IV Hydration & Wellness allows you to assist your body through pre- and post-workout sessions through numerous therapy offerings. Along with helping your body with active recovery, the business also provides services for those struggling with illness, fatigue, memory and focus issues, sleep changes, and appetite.
“We provide acute care services in a spa setting, and that is the goal that we have,” says Michelle Nolph, co-owner of Prime IV Hydration & Wellness and a nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience. “We want the best customer service. We want people to feel like, ‘I cannot wait to get back there,’ because they want to get in that chair. They feel so good.”
Nolph and her co-owner and friend, Michelle Bruemmer, who is a nurse with over 30 years of experience, work to make their business a place where individuals can come and “vacation for an hour.” The day the two met, Bruemmer suggested starting an IV business. Initially, Nolph said it would be too difficult, but ultimately everything fell into place. Plus, both were tired of working within a broken system where they felt as though they were merely putting band-aids on more serious issues.
Individuals begin with a nurse consultation to discuss desired outcomes from treatment and their options, while receiving necessary treatment education. IVs and injections range from treatments for altitude sickness, immunity, migraines, and hormone replacement, to increased taurine, biotin, vitamins C and D, along with a multitude of others. For Members, treatment also comes with their time spent in a VIP, low-lit room and laying in a comfortable, zero-gravity massage chair.
“I tell so many people, ‘Why do you want to wait to get sick? Don't wait to get sick,’” Bruemmer says. “As we age, our cells are dying, so this is really wellness at a cellular level.”
Prevention of illnesses and infections is what they were taught from their first day of nursing school, and this is what they want others to start or continue to practice as well.
“That’s really the goal, we want to have a location where people can have access to the wellness services that they're looking for and had to find states away or maybe in other countries, for that matter, before now,” Nolph says. “And so just continuing to do what we do, and continuing to add service lines so that we can broaden what people might come here to achieve.”
Thursday — Element Wellness & Cryotherapy
If you’re looking to go a bit colder than the winter weather outside provides, give Element Wellness & Cryotherapy a try. The business offers services such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, an infrared sauna, cryotherapy, cryofacials and more. Cryotherapy that is full body or localized decreases inflammation and pain relief, improves mobility and mood, along with numerous other benefits. Owners Matt and Claire Taylor know the benefits of cryotherapy intimately due to a health diagnosis that sent them searching for symptom management.
“After my wife Claire was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I sought ways to support her well-being and discovered research reflecting the benefits of cryotherapy for managing MS symptoms,” says Matt. “I was intrigued by its reported ability to reduce inflammation and improve brain cognition, so I continued to research it further. The journey inspired us to establish a wellness business, driven by the passion for offering others access to innovative solutions that promote health and longevity in Columbia.”
The cold therapies use dry, sub-zero air onto the body in a safe and effective way. More and more, Element and their wellness treatments are being recommended by local physicians. The business has also seen numerous high school and Mizzou athletes.
“The wellness industry in Columbia is poised for transformative growth as more people seek holistic approaches to health and well-being,” Matt says. “Our business is leading the way as the first of its kind in the area, offering innovative treatments that blend cutting-edge holistic therapies with medical oversight from our experienced medical director. The rapid growth and expansion of our services reflect the community’s enthusiasm for alternatives to traditional healthcare, positioning us as a cornerstone in Columbia’s evolving wellness landscape. We are committed to continuing this momentum by introducing even more advanced treatments to meet the growing demand for comprehensive, integrative care.”
Friday — Lotus Hot Yoga
A small and relaxing environment for an end-of-week workout is exactly the key to feeling rejuvenated for the weekend. Lotus Hot Yoga provides exactly that, according to Brandy Turner, owner and instructor of Lotus, who opened the boutique-style studio with her husband three years ago. As yoga was the catalyst for how the two met, it made sense for the two to spread their passion. “From there, sharing a love for this practice, and a desire to offer something different to our yoga community, Lotus Hot Yoga was born.”
The studio offers hot yoga classes, including 45- and 60-minute sequences, as well as, non-heated classes, such as their 60-minute Gentle Flow and Reset and Restore classes and 75-minute Yin and Slow Flow classes. With multiple instructors to choose from, options exist for every individual who is curious or looking to join a yoga community.
And as the wellness industry continues to grow in Columbia, many more options and opportunities are being provided for those looking for change and its benefits.
“Each year, we see more and more attention being focused on wellness as a whole. Yoga is an industry that has for sure seen the benefits of that attention,” Turner says. “Columbia has a number of yoga studios now, and a lot of other new businesses focusing on, and working together, for our community wellness.”
Fortunately, Lotus is a studio where individuals are able to work on themselves physically, as well as, mentally and emotionally. Turner knows that oftentimes making change for yourself, no matter the time of year, is simply showing up, even if it’s scary or intimidating.
“It’s scary to walk into a new place, to try something new. We always encourage those interested in trying yoga, or trying a heated class for the first time, to simply find a class time that works for you and show up.”
By simply taking an hour to yourself at Lotus, you can encounter a wellness opportunity you didn’t know could change your entire day.
“Yoga is SO much more than stretching. Yoga is for any and all.”
"Remember, fitness is a lifelong commitment, not a destination—enjoy the journey.” — Vickie Leslie, co-owner of HOTWORX
"As we age, our cells are dying, so this is really wellness at a cellular level.” — Michelle Bruemmer, co-owner of Prime IV Hydration & Wellness
"The rapid growth and expansion of our services reflect the community’s enthusiasm for alternatives to traditional healthcare." — Matt Taylor, co-owner of Element Wellness & Cryotherapy