Regulars and Shorts

A Good Move

By Greta Belanger deJong

Vitalize Community and Healing Arts Studio.

Over the past six years, the Vitalize space in Sugar House, across from Whole Foods, hosted an intriguing range of events: a Sunday morning “come as you are” meditation group. A feminist film series. Yoga, of course. Founded in 2010 by Karen Salas Wheeler, Angela Rhinehart and Monica Faux-Kota with a mission to “connect, move and transform,” what began as a gathering place became a center, a place that acquired an energy of its own that was evident to those who participated in its offerings.

In April of this year, with the pending demolition of their Highland Drive building, that center moved south.

The move was motivated by circumstance but the result was beneficial for all.

The new studio is inside the Historic Baldwin Radio Factory (see CATALYST Magazine, August 2016). The space remains dedicated to the principles of fair exchange, community involvement, mutual respect and integrity, but is bigger—and yes, better—than before.

Tucked away from the street among trees and birds and surrounded by artist studios, it’s clear that Vitalize made a good move. The 1,500 sq. ft. open studio space has an extremely high vaulted ceiling, original windows offering an abundance of light on the north and south sides and a receiving hall and check-in counter. The private practitioner and office areas offer two restrooms, a well-equipped break room, lounge area, massage rooms and storage space for artist supplies. And yes, there’s WIFI.

Many organizations call the space home. Some are newcomers. Others have been affiliated for years:

Shambhala Meditation

Salt Lake Buddhist Fellowship

Birth Circle / Utah Prenatal Massage Assn.

Jnana Yoga SLC

Sacred Mountain Healing Center

SLC Goddess Gatherings

Women’s Full Moon Dance

BodyHappy Center for Embodied Living

Shannon Simonelli’s Luminous Life

Peter Francyk and other yoga teachers

Vitalize Community and Healing Arts Studio  continues today under the joint ownership of Angela Rhinehart and Alicia Moonbeam.

“Vitalize is an experiment in conscious, creative community,” says Rhinehart. “It is a space that holds people in a higher state of being than perhaps they usually are able to be in, day to day, so that they can go back out into the world feeling more able to handle whatever they need to deal with and have more compassionate interaction with others.”

— by Greta deJong and Elizabeth Barbana

3474 S 2300 East, Studio #12 (behind Roots Cafe).

VitalizeStudio.com

This article was originally published on November 1, 2016.