Wellness center Root3d bridges gap between underserved communities and healing arts  

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) and the City of Albany celebrated wellness center Root3d’s new, dedicated location at 165 S Pearl Street on July 19. Albany City Treasurer Darius Shahinfar, Co-founders Rachelle Pean and Jamel Mosely, and Downtown Albany BID Executive Director Georgette Steffens delivered remarks followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
 

Born from Pean’s background as a licensed clinical social worker, yoga instructor, and reiki practitioner, Root3d has created a space for all people to be emotionally vulnerable and practice self-healing, with a focus on attracting students who haven’t had much exposure to healing spaces. The “3” in the name reflects their mission to help people heal all three dimensions of themselves: the mind, body, and spirit.
 

“Our entire City becomes stronger each time a small business opens their doors, especially when the business’ mission is to embrace and help the community,” said Mayor Sheehan. “Root3d has created a wonderful space, offering people the ability to focus on their own health and wellbeing. Congratulations to Rachelle and Jamel – I wish them all the best and warmly welcome them to Downtown Albany.”
 

Prior to opening their own space, Pean taught Root3d classes at the African American Cultural Center, located just a few blocks away, and previously taught yoga in Schenectady and saw private practice therapy clients in Albany and Schenectady. After seeing the 815 SF space for lease, Pean and Mosely knew it was the location to open Root3d, noting the nearby bus stops, public housing units, and small neighborhood businesses as among the reasons.  
 

Since opening in May, Root3d has already grown classes in both number and variety from 10 in May to 13 in June and 16 in July. Drawing students from within walking distance to significantly farther than the Capital Region, including Brooklyn and Rochester, the goal is to have a mix of donation-based and full-free classes that give people access to different types of community healing practices.
 

“That we’ve prioritized this as a safe space for people who have been marginalized means we are attracting people from all over, because we need this space and even more spaces like this,” said Pean. “In having embraced this community, we are seeing that return tenfold, with our teachers and students having quickly developed a bond.”
 

Currently, options include several yoga classes with Little Feathers Yoga + Meditation, designed specifically for children, among them; West African Drum + Dance; Stand Up + Act Out, connecting students to their bodies through movement, breathing exercises, and vocal techniques and; Get Free, a class open to Black and Indigenous People of Color to meditate and connect. The diversity in availability is the result of outreach by Pean and Mosely to attract teachers who offer trauma-informed and culturally-competent classes, and from that they’ve had teachers approach them as well.
 

The positive impact of Root3d extends far beyond their students and walls, as whole neighborhoods benefit from the addition of such amenities. A May 2019 Community and Society study by the American Enterprise Institute showed that those who live in amenity-packed communities are more likely to exhibit higher place-esteem and social connections, have a greater interest in neighborhood events, and express a greater desire to stay, no matter the individual’s social class, education, gender, or race.
 

“Root3d is indicative of a larger trend of community-focused entrepreneurs whose measurements of success include their positive impact,” said Steffens. “Rachelle and Jamel’s vision to more than just reside in a neighborhood, but also truly be a part of it, is already reaping benefits as a result of having created, within a bustling city, a retreat where people of all ages can experience the benefits of selfcare. We are thrilled to have Root3d in our District and wish them continued success.”
 

The full Root3d class schedule, one-on-one sessions, online offerings, and event space rental information can be found at root3dhealing.com.