BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — Pamper yourself and nurture your body at a new wellness center set to open on Tompkins Avenue.
The Life Wellness Center from the Khadijah Hands Project will take over the former space of Common Grounds coffee shop at 376 Tompkins Ave. near Putnam Avenue, according to owner Khadija Tudor.
The Bedford-Stuyvesant resident and massage therapist created her own practice around 2013, she said, and also became a doula, assisting women during childbirth and providing support afterwards.
“I kept seeing a repeat offense in people’s lives as far as women, I kept seeing them not taking care of themselves,” Tudor, 45.
“They’re taking care of their children, taking care of their business, their families, everyone was coming first before them and it was taking a toll on their health and their bodies.”
Before finding a brick-and-mortar, Tudor worked at different pop-up events throughout the borough, including the Stuyvesant Indi Bazaar and the International African Arts Festival.
Working with partner and co-owner Ade Collman, Tudor will offer massages, acupuncture and doula services out of the Tompkins Avenue space.
“Being able to bring the work of wellness to the people, it’s a passion,” she said. “We care about our community, we see how not taking care of yourself affects not just the person, but the entire family.”
At the business’ backyard, the owners plan on hosting outdoor yoga and meditation classes during the warmer months, and indoors, there will be space for a small apothecary.
The Life Wellness Center will also have a wellness market, Tudor said, where local start-ups can rent space to sell soaps, clothing lines, or other products.
“We want this to be a go-to space to find practitioners and be a network for wellness,” she added.
“The only way to be able to survive in this whole community and how its changing is to band together and support each other as a community members and businesses.”
The Life Wellness Center is set to open in September and will host a soft opening on July 30 at the TAMA Summerfest.
