Bringing health and wellness downtown

Lloydminster’s downtown will soon see elevated wellness thanks to a new business.

Human Habits will be moving into the downtown offering a variety of wellness services. Co-owners Crystal Gunderson and Sherry Boyer always wanted to have a healing centre.

“We were looking, we are in a group of women it’s called Wellness Pro Academy, we had gone down to Wyoming for an annual retreat where we get together and kind of brainstorm and talk about what we want to do and where we’re going and what kind of impact we want to make,” explained Gunderson “We’ve talked about doing some sort of healing centre in the future, we’re talking about what it could look like and what we thought it would be.”

The place they had their sights set on in Lloydminster’s downtown was off the market until they saw an Instagram story.

“We’re home for a couple days and lo and behold, Jill’s (Kelly) Instagram story pops up saying that they’re looking for someone to lease it,” said Gunderson.

The deal to lease the building came together quite quickly. 

“It came together in three weeks, from the time we started looking at it” started Boyer. 

“Until the time we signed the papers, so it was very fast,” finished Gunderson.

The reason behind the quick course of action in leasing the building was due to an upcoming fair.

“We had signed up for the health and wellness fair for our company Human Habits for our online tribe,” explained Gunderson. “We were doing it (the fair) for that then this came together and we told Jill if you’re going to pick us we need to know by Friday.”

They needed the time to pivot what they’d be doing at the fair with the new physical location in mind.

The papers were in, and Red Bicycle Communications finally had its new neighbour.

“So, the last eight weeks we’ve been renovating and painting and growing more ideas,” said Gunderson.

Human Habits takes things back to a simpler time.

“Human Habits is basically what we can do to go back to the ancient way of living, connecting with the land, connecting with our bodies, connecting with our community,” said Gunderson.

Their philosophy is about bringing it all together to establish wellness in ourselves.

“Back to basics, reset,” says Boyer.

“Exactly, 100 per cent back to basics, just eating food that our location eco region gives us,” Gunderson says.

She says it’s important to not overdo anything including with our senses.

“So, Ayurveda teaches us that everything we take in matters. If we’re even taking in loud noises all day or bad smells, how do we counteract that,” said Gunderson. 

She says it’s important to keep it all balanced ensuring we get enough fresh air and time in nature. 

“What do I need to feel a little bit more balanced or a little better,” says Gunderson.

She says Human Habits is a good place to get products or whatever someone may need.

“We aren’t trying to overwhelm anyone. We just want people to have a place to come, feel comfortable, get some good information and just incorporate it in their lives,” said Gunderson.

Human Habits approach is all about incremental steps.

“One thing, one step at a time,” said Boyer.

“It’s all about the kaizen approach. That’s our big motto that we use is just like baby steps,” continues Gunderson. “Take one habit that you can incorporate, tongue scraping to get those toxins off your tongue in the morning, do that for a few weeks then add something else.”

Gunderson says it’s about the natural approach without using external medical. 

“We’re just trying to show people there’s more natural options,” she said.

The new business will feature coffee, healthy grab and go snacks, a cold plunge and a sauna. People can get healthy, non-toxic products, consultations for ayurveda and yoga therapy, organic produce, a variety of classics and hydrotherapy.

Human Habits is set to open to the public in early December.

Read more: Red Bicycle needs a new neighbour