Awaken For Wellness + SweatWorks Studio — Attraction in Saint Paul

Awaken for Wellness is a rare patch of light and warmth on my otherwise icy St Paul itinerary. It's one of my only saving graces since I moved (reluctantly, rightly) to the Midwest from ever-temperate California (the SF Bay Area by way of Los Angeles) for professional reasons and promptly got sick (or more accurately, the job plus the cold promptly made me sick). I've spent the past year and a half plus searching for any sort of (Western) medical relief the Twin Cities and surrounding area have to offer, paying ludicrous amounts on taxi rides through the tundra, which is untraversable by bus, all to no avail. In fact, I just got sicker from these costly visits. Though they reckoned I might be the incipient stages of an autoimmune disease, I'd exhausted myself in months of appointments and referrals and had no course of treatment and no hope for recovery in sight. Finally, I met Barb at Merriam Park Acupuncture--my other saving grace--who listened to me compassionately, reviewed my symptoms thoroughly, and had enough of a sense of what I was up against (in terms not fully legible in a Western-medical idiom) to put me on a long-term detox plan, including continuous cleanses, radical dietary changes, and a hearty suggestion to head to the sauna on a regular basis so I could sweat out the many environmental toxins making me sick. A quick Google search sent me but a few blocks away from the campus on which I teach to Awaken for Wellness, where I spent my first half hour under infrared lights, in August 2014. I've been going back on a regular basis since then, and seven months later have an unlimited membership so I can go as close to every day as possible. I've had wonderful experiences in all of the infrared rooms, far and full spectra, and have learned a lot in my interactions before and after with the delightful, energetic, knowledgable staff. And they're as passionate as they are compassionate, always there to listen to your health concerns, answer your questions, and recommend a course of treatment in house. The owner Chris is especially excellent on this end. Talk to him if you have a chance. And the sauna itself has been a lifesaver for me, physically and psychologically. It definitely has cosmetic benefits (my skin, which was hugely impacted by my chronic systemic illness, has greatly improved with each successive visit from the first trip on!); but it also has deep and holistic healing effects, from the skin on in, from head to feet. I've taken many a friend here with me, and even gotten some introductory deals for new customers, and they all love it as much as I do...which brings me to the only point of hesitation I have in writing a glowing review for Awaken for Wellness: I'm worried too many people will find out what a fantastic place this is and then they'll snatch up all my appointment slots! Until that terrifying time comes, I plan on heading back every day because it's the only thing (beside Barb) that makes me feel better and gives me hope this illness might be livable if not overcome. It's hands-down my favorite thing about...

Awaken for Life! If you want healthy, natural healing, this is the place for you. Pod float is beyond words. Felt like an out of body experience. this same treatment is used by the most elite athletes and positive they pay a lot more than what you will here. Going to try the open pool float next as I I think my allergies made it harder to breathe in the Pod. Feels like zero gravity. The next day my wife and I enjoyed the Infrared Sauna. Top notch equipment and we both felt rejuvenated after. Sarah and Lydia are both very kind,sweet and make the experience very pleasant. Hudson is lucky to have such a forward thinking place to decompress and heal your mind, body and soul. Not to mention their prices are affordable and have some terrific options for all as for all parts of natural healing, you can’t just go once and expect your body to stay healthy. We are doing the membership plan. Try it out and you will not be disappointed. I felt like I was at a high end private spa retreat. My masseuse from WOODBURY mentioned this place to me a year or so ago and I kept forgetting. Then my coworker told me about his next door neighbor owned AFW and opened a location in Hudson which is just over a mile away from us. How ironic! The Wellness Gods are watching over us for sure. For those who may have worry or anxiety, trust me this place is well thought out and if you have any issue, the staff will help and resolve while you are there. For those who cannot speak up there and rate 3 stars over not prepping you for flip...

EDIT: Within an hour of posting this review one of the owners reached out to me and we had a wonderful conversation. Chris went above and beyond to make me feel heard and appreciated as a client. While my experience may not be the norm there, it felt important to communicate it to them. I will try some of the other services suggested, and I look forward to it!

I don't give poor reviews without first contacting the business directly with my feedback. I think that's only fair. Having received ZERO response from them, I dropped this review to TWO stars because my experience apparently meant nothing to them. I had a 90-min massage, which was adequate. My biggest issue was several very loud conversations going on outside the door of my room, by staff members with other clients or staff. If this wasn't disruptive enough, about an hour in there was loud and consistent pounding going on. When I asked my masseuse what in the WORLD was going on outside my door, she said it sounded like someone was refilling lotion bottles or something. She was apologetic. It was NOT a relaxing experience for me. On top of this, it felt a little like being in a cheap Motel. Stained carpet, weird lighting, and a front desk area with a drink cooler and a convenience store vibe... it didn't read "spa" experience whatsoever. I won't be returning. I think the most disappointing aspect is that I had to put this review here when all they needed to do was respond to my email with ANY kind of acknowledgement, and I would not have felt so...