A Soulful Sanctuary
Interviewed and Written by: George Hall
Studio space and founders Darian Hall and Elisa Shankle (provided courtesy of HealHaus)
Communities of color in the United States experience a disproportionately high bur-den of health disparities compared to other populations. These disparities are the result of complex interactions between social, economic, and environmental factors.
There is a growing need for wellness practitioners in communities of color to help address its mental and physical health issues and promote holistic health and well-being. Darian Hall recognized this void in the community and set out on a journey to fill it. This journey led him to the creation and opening of HealHaus.
Studio space and founders Darian Hall and Elisa Shankle (provided courtesy of HealHaus)
HealHaus is a wellness center located in the heart of Brooklyn, NY founded by Darian Hall and Elisa Shankle. The studio is committed to helping people achieve optimal health and well-being, both physically and mentally. HealHaus offers a variety of services including yoga, meditation, sound healing, massage therapy, and acupuncture, as well as workshops and events focused on personal growth and development.
Darian and Elisa have created a special locale that has diverse healing modalities and practitioners that provide people with an inclusive space focused on holistic health and wellness. They are committed to building a community that is dedicated to changing the stigma attached to healing.
The commitment to providing holistic healing is an aspect of HealHaus that sets it apart from many other wellness centers. The studio recognizes that physical health is connected to mental and emotional health, and therefore offers a range of services that address the whole person. HealHaus understands that healing is a process and that it requires an individualized approach. Each person who walks through their doors or uses their online services is treated as a unique individual, with their own unique needs and circumstances.
Studio space and founders Darian Hall and Elisa Shankle (provided courtesy of HealHaus)
HealHaus also places a strong emphasis on education and empowerment. Through workshops and events, they aim to provide the community with the tools and resources they need to take control of their own health and wellness. They believe that everyone has the power to heal themselves and that their role is to support that journey.
“Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being”
When Darian thought of the many people, particularly people of color, who were likely facing mental, emotional and physical challenges, along with the inherent stresses of everyday life, he thought of how amazing it would be to create a wellness space that gave folks that looked like him a place to heal and decompress. He and Elisa wanted to create a house where everyone felt welcomed, a safe haven that could easily become part of a person’s daily journey toward wellness. In fact, at HealHaus they believe “healing of the mind, body, and soul is more than just a trend — but a lifestyle.”
We had the opportunity to visit and speak with Darian Hall and learn more about this wonderful wellness space. We hope you enjoy our chat.
VISTAS: What was the inspirations behind HealHaus?
Darian: HealHaus was created with the intention to make wellness services more accessible for people of color and men.
VISTAS: As an African American man, what did it mean for you to go into business with an African American woman?
Darian: Black Women are the leading group when it comes to starting new businesses. Their knowledge, expertise, and insight are invaluable. It was a no-brainer to start a business with a Black Woman, who also happened to be my friend.
VISTAS: What kind of impact do you feel HealHaus has had on the community?
Darian: HealHaus has had a very significant impact on the community by making therapy and the other services we provide more normalized.
VISTAS: What do you want people to feel or take away after taking a class or using the variety of wellness services offered by HealHaus?
Darian: That they see themselves reflected and they are able to come without judgment.
VISTAS: Do men take classes at HealHaus?
Darian: Yes, we have a lot of men who are part of the HealHaus community and their introduction to wellness was through HealHaus.
VISTAS: What are some of your more non-typical classes offered at HealHaus?
Darian: We offer various workshops each week which tackle a range of different topics.
VISTAS: Music seems to be an important element of the atmosphere at HealHaus. Is that so? And if so, why is it?
Darian: Music has healing properties and helps create the welcoming atmosphere we want to foster at HealHaus.
VISTAS: What are some examples of music one might hear at HealHaus?
Darian: You’ll hear everything from Afrobeats, Hip Hop, and R&B, to Soul Classics.
VISTAS: Tell us a little about your digital platform and who uses it.
Darian: Our digital platform allows our community to access our programming through live and on-demand content. We have users all over the world.
VISTAS: Is the corporate world ready for a HealHaus?
Darian: Yes. Our corporate division of HealHaus has garnered the attention of major companies like Nike, Google, Spotify, and so on.
VISTAS: Do you enjoy wine? If so, what do you prefer, red or white?
Darian: Yes, given that we’re approaching summer you can’t go wrong with a nice Rosé.
VISTAS: What does the future hold for HealHaus?
Darian: We’ll continue facilitating this important work. We are gearing up for the launch of our app later this year and hoping to make some other major announcements.
Learn more at www.healhaus.com