Profile: The Laya Center
The Laya Center, a holistic Afrivedic center in the Crossroads, is making a name for itself as a destination for wellness-seekers, sports stars and spa-goers alike.
Photo by Samantha Levi
We sat down with the owner and founder of The Laya Center, LaToyia Mays, to hear all about the impact this Crossroads wellness center is making on the community.
The Laya Center is truly a full-picture holistic wellness center. Can you walk us through your philosophy?
We approach wellness from an Elemental stand-point, believing that in order to reach the complete picture of health one must balance the internal elements. This concept is rooted in African based healing and what we have come to know as Ayurveda... Afrivedic Wellness.
Your offerings are aimed at aiding folks in their wellness journeys- can you tell us a bit about the decision making that went into deciding what services you would offer?
To expand on Afrivedic Wellness and the elemental approach, our services balance internal Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The balancing act of Afrivedic treatment involves the body’s own internal elements as a point of measure when choosing which therapeutic actions to take.
Ether (HbOT) brings oxygen to the body where blood flow is constricted, scar tissue has altered the tissues, air flow is blocked, and inflammation in any part of the body has interfered in nerve function.
Air (Cryotherapy) forces blood to circulate, breath to move, nerve impulses to glide, thoughts to flow, and joints to propel our movement through the world.
Fire (Infrared and Therapeutic Light Therapy) represents light, heat, luster, energy, understanding, metabolism, and the power of transformation.
Water (Hydrotherapy) is the protector of the body. It provides the body with its most basic nourishment. Water protects against the dissolution of the ether element, the roughness and motion of the air element and the heat of the fire element. The water element soothes all pain and inflammation in the body.
Earth (Body Work & Nourishment) builds strength and endurance.
In addition to being a full service spa, you have an on-site tea bar and herbal pantry- can customers visit anytime you're open?
In an effort to move into more phases of the wellness journey, we've expanded to produce our own supplement, tea, and skincare line. Everything is based on nourishment. We encourage everyone to stop by and try any drink from the Tea Bar menu, vegan pastries, and now some vegan food items. The Bar/Café and Mercantile is open to the public.
You first opened your doors in 2017– what has been your favorite part about serving your clients over the years?
Over the years, we have had the pleasure of helping so many of our clients regain their health on their terms. My favorite part of serving our clients has been seeing the dramatic and sometimes unbelievable results of reversing a chronic condition and giving them their life back.
We know you're part of the KC Black Owned directory and Chelsea's movement to empower local Black-owned businesses– as a center founded in Afrivedic wellness, how has your community been central to your business?
Everyday we work to support our communities in obtaining sustainable wellness through lifestyle changes. The work that we do through our wellness brands serve as a lifeline to the healing practices of our ancestors, and a bridge from mainstream healthcare in an effort to hold space for equitable alternative care. We recently partnered with a local nonprofit organization dedicated to decreasing maternal and infant health inequity among Black and Brown communities on a mental health expansion. We are also working on a few partnerships with local school districts to bring wellness to the forefront of their curriculum.
Do you have any words of advice for someone just getting started on a wellness journey?
Listen to your body, allow yourself grace and go at your own pace. No two journeys will look alike.
And what about for business owners dreaming of operating in the wellness space? What have you learned?
Be authentic, love what you do, and allow your ideas to evolve beyond what you thought they should be.
What are your biggest goals in the coming year?
Our biggest goal is to expand our product line and vegan food options.
