Rising health-care costs and declining quality of life (the next generation is the first in recorded history forecast to have a shorter lifespan than their parents) have forced a shift in thinking about being healthy, or at least avoiding sickness. So where do you go to prevent, rather than recover from, disease? And what exactly is wellness, anyway? Most practitioners say the body will heal itself if provided the conditions to do so—which is what chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture purport to do. But recently, treatments have also included everything from relaxation and meditation classes to anti-aging treatments. Everyone’s plan varies based on personal values and health goals, and these Twin Cities wellness centers can help you determine just what yours may be.
Lauderdale Wellness Center
The family-owned log-cabin–style Lauderdale Wellness Center unfortunately often meets patients for the first time when they aren’t feeling well—complaining of, say, neck or back pain, headaches, hormonal imbalances. But as Brian Malzer, owner (with his wife, Dana, a nurse) and chiropractor, says, “We start by getting them healthy and then optimize it so they can enjoy life to its fullest potential.” Since the inception of the traditional center, their practice has grown from chiropractic care to include massage therapy, acupuncture, relaxation classes, and life coaching, all of which Malzer says was driven by client demand. 2443 Larpenteur Ave. W., Lauderdale, 651-917-9800, lauderdalewellnesscenter.com
Family Wellness Institute
Matt Hanson, owner and chiropractor at the Family Wellness Institute in Minneapolis’s Linden Hills neighborhood, says he senses a shift in how open people are to the idea of wellness and alternative or non-Western therapies, likely as a result of either frustration with Western medical treatment or lack of health insurance. “I’m looking for patients to feel ‘optimally well,’” he says, “which essentially means being able to take on the tasks of life with lust and vigor.” The institute specializes in chiropractic care, but also offers weight-loss and lifestyle counseling, including the “6 for 60” diet, which is not unlike the trending paleo or Dukan diets. 4318 Upton Ave. S., Mpls., 612-767-4680, thefamilywellnessinstitute.com
The Metropolitan
The owners of The Metropolitan, esthetician Suzanne St. James and chiropractor James Ackelson, created a space to address the multiple concerns they were hearing from their clients, who said they wanted a one-stop shop for everything from chiropractic care to wardrobe consulting to nutrition plans and bariatric counseling to Botox. While many might categorize their business as a medispa, St. James says that the multidisciplinary, licensed staff focuses on “a happy balance in all areas of your life. Our motto is: look better, feel better, be better.” 7300 France Ave. S., Edina, 952-288-2230, themonfrance.com
