Neighbours … everybody needs good neighbours, right?. Luckily, at Belvoir, we have them! – just across the road at The Engine Yard. Whether by good fortune or design, The Engine Yard today is a fabulous mix of independent, specialist retailers, each of them arriving with a ton of passion for what they do and a fascinating entrepreneur’s story.
This is the first in a series of articles in which we uncover some of those stories and introduce some of these businesses – and the people behind them.
To begin our journey, we were intrigued to hear that a wellness centre has opened, in one of the beautiful restored buildings in the Engine Yard.
The centre is named after founder, Sunita Passi. Sunita made some time available to chat and also invited Claire to a yoga class to experience the centre first-hand.
So: what (and who) is Sunita Passi?
Sunita explained that the wellness centre is founded on the Ayurvedic principles, applying traditional Indian approaches to our 21st Century stresses and challenges. There are many treatments and therapies available to boost natural wellbeing, including yoga and massage.
Sunita herself is a hugely experienced practitioner, (for much of her career she’s been training other practitioners in the art), but also a formidable and award-winning businesswoman, having developed two ranges of skincare products: the Tri-Dosha range, which can be found in many leading spas, and the NEEM Sunita Passi bodycare range which is aimed more at high street consumers.
What brought Sunita Passi to the Vale of Belvoir?
The Duchess of Rutland, the creative force behind The Engine Yard, is herself a great advocate of traditional Indian approaches and knows the importance of taking care of oneself in a holistic sense. So initially, Sunita led a wellness day at Belvoir, facilitated by the Duchess. Through this, she got to hear about the Engine Yard and the opportunity to launch a wellness centre there – right in the heart of the Vale.
Sunita has seen the benefits of our location already: Vale residents will attest that there’s something inherently relaxing and energising about the area. Contrast this with the hassle of parking and the stresses of navigating the city centre to get to a class or treatment…
What Does Sunita Passi Offer You?
The centre is, as you might expect, a soothing and relaxing space, with colours, flooring and music all carefully chosen to set one at ease.
Sunita is proud to partner with other experts to deliver a wide range of services. They include: Victoria, a medical herbalist; and teachers Julie, Pam and Elaine. There’s a studio, for meditation and yoga classes. There’s a small shop, where Tri-Dosha and Neem products are on sale, alongside Denichi Activewear, Lotus craft Yoga Mats, Silatha Mindfulness Jewellery and Positiviti tea. There are also two treatment rooms and a clinic too, to address health issues with a more natural approach.
Is There A Typical Sunita Passi Customer?
Sunita says that most customers are locals, all of whom feel the benefit of coming along and being a part of something and enjoying a shared experience. A yoga DVD is a pretty poor substitute! Sunita stresses that one doesn’t need tons of experience, incredible flexibility or the fitness levels of an athlete: most of the members are beginners in fact and it’s definitely not a competitive sport! When Claire went along to the Wednesday evening yoga class she was pretty apprehensive as a first-timer but was quickly made to feel at ease. She found that the teacher was able to explain the moves really clearly but also to tailor them to suit Claire and each of her classmates individually. She left feeling a good deal calmer and happier after a stressful day seeking to balance the Cafe Allez! books…
What Does Sunita Hope To Have Achieved A Year From Now?
The ideal for Sunita in a year’s time would be to have a complete membership list and to have built a reputation for being a real centre of excellence –and for having developed a real, supportive community in the Vale. She also plans to continue to partner with other experts to bring those at the top of their games to the region.
What’s Sunita’s Best Day At Work?
When I asked her, Sunita absolutely lit up … it’s the buzz she gets from having led a good session, either one to one or with a class, and knowing that all concerned are walking out just feeling better about themselves, the world and their place in it.
And If You Want To Find Out More …
You can check out sunitapassi.com (and tri-dosha.co.uk). Not sure which class or treatment is right for you? – then feel free to call Sunita for a chat, or ideally, to book a 90 minute consultation. The Ayurvedic system will help Sunita diagnose and then treat any issues you’re experiencing, whether it’s anxiety, a physical health issue, or just the desire to step out feeling better than when you went in.
We’d also recommend following Sunita on social media and signing up for her newsletter via sunitapassi.com, which will get you advance notice of events at Sunita Passi and some worthwhile exclusive content.
Meeting Sunita was a real pleasure for us and we at Cafe Allez! wish her and the team tremendous success right here in the Vale of Belvoir!