Del Ray Celebrates Wellness Month

Press release from Del Ray Business Association:

Sept. 2, 2020

While working together to figure out innovative ways to care for the community during a pandemic, the wellness providers in the Del Ray community of Alexandria joined to form a new group -- The Wellness District -- formalizing a network that has organically grown over the past 20 years as Del Ray has become a center of holistic health and wellness in the region.

The group is celebrating its launch with a month-long celebration of Wellness Month in Del Ray, replacing Wellness Week, traditionally celebrated the third week in September. Throughout September, wellness practices will offer free workshops, Zoom health forums, discounts, promotions, and more. Among the events are free outdoor yoga classes, free outdoor gong meditation classes, mindfulness meditations, a blood donation opportunity, and more. A complete schedule of events is available at visitdelray.com.

Rather than viewing neighboring wellness businesses as competitors, the sub-group of the Del Ray Business Association formed a collective of top-rated and dedicated professionals focused on collaboration. The group -- such an integral part of the Del Ray community that the neighborhood is often called “Well Ray” -- is now formally called The Wellness District. “When we opened Chrysalis Chiropractic in 2003, we knew this community offered something special. We have since seen the wellness businesses explode here, and it seemed apparent that the next natural growth opportunity for the DRBA wellness businesses was to collectively deem ourselves The Wellness District,” said Dr. Lola Capps.

The diversity of The Wellness District makes Mount Vernon Avenue a one-stop shop for health and wellness, as it includes top-rated fitness studios, a wide range of holistic health professionals, therapists, mental health professionals, dentists, chiropractors, a medical doctor who makes house calls, an independent pharmacy, and more. The collaborative nature is intrinsic to the philosophy of holistic medicine, which focuses on the complete person -- physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually -- in the management and prevention of disease. The vast majority of businesses are owned by and led by women.

“Since joining the team at VITAL Body & Mind back in 2007, I have been very grateful to work alongside so many outstanding healers here. Even in the start-up of my own practice, I noticed not only did the Del Ray community and the Del Ray Business Association support wellness businesses, but often unique and specialized ones making it a perfect fit for me,” said Melissa McGlone, Colon Hydrotherapist at VITAL.

In addition to day-to-day collaborations for best patient care, the group works tirelessly to educate the public on health issues and promote wellness. In addition to Wellness Month, the Wellness District hosts a self-care focused Twelve Days of Wellness over the holidays; Fit Crawls; plus their signature event, the Well Ray summer festival, that draws thousands of participants each year. “The Wellness District was called into existence out of the dedication, creativity and sheer will of its practitioners,” said McGlone.

“Del Ray has become the center of health and wellness in the region, with a wide range of award-winning wellness providers and fitness studios,” said Del Ray Business Association President Sue Kovalsky. “We are proud of the incredible work that The Wellness District does to connect the community to resources that help them live their best lives.”

The Wellness District represents the health and wellness members of the Del Ray Business Association, an organization of business owners and professionals that strive for growth, visibility and success of its members and serves as an advocate, representative, and educator for businesses within the Del Ray community in Alexandria, Virginia. For more information, visit www.visitdelray.com.

This press release was produced by Del Ray Business Association. The views expressed here are the author's own.