Columbia Association’s (CA) planned mind-body wellness retreat in Downtown Columbia was formally approved this September by the CA Board of Directors.
The retreat will be located on the lower level of the former Rouse Company headquarters building (soon to be a Whole Foods grocery store). Its focus will be on classes, activities and services that strengthen the body and contribute to overall wellness, according to Rob Goldman, chief operating officer and vice president for CA.
Classes will include yoga, hot yoga, tai chi, qigong and pilates. Wellness services will include holistic skin care, massage, acupuncture, life coaching and nutrition counseling. There will be a “wet wellness area” that will include areas for aquatic exercise classes and relaxation, a steam room, sauna, salt room and tropical shower. A 10,000-square-foot outdoor patio area overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi will provide relaxation areas as well as spaces for group exercise.
“We’re providing the community with what community members told us they wanted,” Goldman said. He cited a survey that asked people about different concepts for the facility, with the mind-body wellness retreat concept emerging as the overwhelming favorite.
There will be a KidSpace facility for the convenience of adults using the wellness retreat. In addition, there will be a café with indoor and outdoor seating areas and offering fresh, prepackaged food and drinks from Whole Foods.
The fee structure for the retreat is being finalized. There will be a small additional cost for CA members. Non-members also will be welcome to join.
CA plans to open the facility on Sept. 1, 2014.
-Article by David Greisman
CA Today 