What began as a community meet-up for Black and brown folks during the height of the pandemic will soon expand into a brick-and-mortar space in Sunset Park.
AsafespaceStudio is an extension of the AsafespaceMentor, a nonprofit organization founded by wellness practitioner and mental health advocate Teya Knapp. Located at 14 53rd St., the wellness studio, set to open before the end of the year, will provide mental health seminars and wellness classes targeted toward the BIPOC community.
Classes will include strength training, dance, yoga, sound healing, reiki and breathwork, among other things. Visitors will also be able to partake in massages, facials and one-on-one talk therapy sessions with Moradeyo Adeyi, AsafespaceMentor practitioner and founder of LoveWell Psychotherapy.
The space is curated to help Black and brown folks become comfortable in their wellness journey, said Knapp.
“I feel like it's very important to meet [the] community that you're serving where they are,” she said.
Folks need to see people that look like them to feel safe in their vulnerability, especially in the wellness space, Knapp added.
"I also believe that a lot of holistic healing practices have come from indigenous communities, and while it's okay for other cultures to practice this, I think that it's important that we bring it back to our people," she said.
Growing up in a middle-class household, Knapp said she didn’t really have the resources to improve her mental or physical health. Instead, she sought out new ways, like hanging out with her friends, getting outside or simply having a good meal to achieve the same results.
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Aside from the large offering of classes, what makes AsafespaceStudio unique is its membership scholarships, which are offered to individuals who need additional financial support. The scholarship includes unlimited in-studio classes for one month and a guest pass for a family member or friend. The wellness scholarships are offered by month and those needing additional help can reapply.
“Mental health is not just answered by one thing,” said Knapp, who said her new business will have diverse offerings "so people could build a toolkit to really feel empowered in their mental health journey.”
Early birds can join with a monthly membership of $80, which will provide unlimited access to all classes, community events, access to the workspace and community space, a special welcome gift, non-alcoholic wellness parties and 15% off all treatments and select special events and workshops.
As wellness trends continue to evolve, Knapp and Adeyi believe AsafespaceStudio’s approach in creating a community sanctuary will be what draws people to the space.
"It's hard in a country like America, where we are very individualistic and we shield away from being more of a collective,” said Adeyi. “But to me, that is the thing that is going to continue to have us thrive is coming back to our roots, which has always been based on community.”
You can apply for a monthly membership or view AsafespaceStudio’s class schedule here.
