Helping You Find Balance: Soma Vida

It’s so interesting that whenever we talk about ‘balance’ the word ‘men’ hardly ever is mentioned. Do men struggle with it like we do?  I don't think they do and what do you think that is all about anyway?  I guess we women are born multi-taskers, not to mention rigged to take care of those around us.  All that adds up to that little problem most of us have with keeping our lives on an even keel. 

Well, Sonya Davis, Laurel Darlington, and Laura Shook are out to make it a lot easier for us.

On Friday I met Sonya, who is one of the founders of a unique and innovative new business that opened this past spring called Soma Vida.  Soma Vida is a work/life balance and wellness center and Sonya is one of 3 single moms who conceived the idea and have made it a reality.  They have designed it for those who are juggling many life balls (who isn’t??) and their hope is to help women especially integrate it all into a more holistic approach to living.

They have a very cool, serene space in a spacious bungalow on Rosewood Ave., less than a mile off I35 and 11th Street.  The idea is to provide many different services, classes and space that help people ‘co-create serenity, balance, and community”, and do it all under one roof.  They have practitioners of acupuncture, massage, naturopathic medicine, birth well services, somatic psychotherapy, wellness classes, and yoga/pilates. They have childcare and children’s activities available and they offer event space, co-working space, a conference room and of course the wonderful networking that happens naturally through all those activities.  They also provide business and life coaching.

Sonya calls her approach to business coaching Business The Feminine Way.  Her method teaches women how to build a business that is aligned with their authentic self in a way that allows them to create a sustainable work/life balance.  Sonya, Laurel and Laura are all living what they preach.

When I visited, there were a number of people there taking some naturopathic classes.  Sonya showed me the well-outfitted children’s activity room.  The co-working space has several nicely appointed work spaces that rent by the hour and they provide wifi as well as a few other business services.  As someone who works from home a good bit, I can easily see the value in working occasionally somewhere with other women.  It’s a great way to share ideas and resources not to mention the networking opportunities.  The yoga/pilates room is a lovely space with big widows all down two sides.  There is a well-appointed commercial kitchen and they have an informal partnership with Blue Dahlia Bistro to cater lunches for events.

I’m just skimming the surface here.  They have a wonderful concept and while like anything it is a work in progress, it offers much needed support and resources for women to take care of that little balance problem we have. 
 

Alison Allen is Founder of WomenBloom, a website and online community inspiring and supporting women to make the most of midlife.