A Holistic place

Imagine your town had a heart no one knew about. Springville has just that.

The Center of Springville, a little known business located in the Elster building, offers classes in dance fitness, yogilates, a combination of yoga and pilates exercise, and more. But, it’s potential is much greater.

“It’s a center for the community,” said founder and owner Regina Aquino. The problem, however, is very few seem to know the Center exists. “I’m just one person. It’s nothing if nobody shows up.”

A multipurpose space, the Center features hardwood floors with floor-to-ceiling mirrors that could be used for dance classes, but they’re not. The back wall is lined with shelves covered with exercise balls, yoga mats and blankets. Mostly they just sit there.

“I feel like the people in this town and area deserve to have these options, and it’s a lot easier to do it when we all come together,” said Aquino. A massage therapist and a dancer,

Aquino has owned the business for the last four years, moving to the present location a year and a half ago.

Her greatest desire to see the Center expand.

“I would love to see more people come here and learn about us,” Aquino said. “We’re still open.”

Her mission statement makes that desire concrete. It reads in part:

“The Center is for you, me and everybody. It is for our community to gather, to socialize, to exercise, to stretch our bodies ... to benefit all who enter through these doors.”

In the learning area, community events — like the Grow, Cook, Eat event led by Peyton Ellas of Auntie’s Home Grown Farm that took place last September — are featured. At the event, Ellas presented her homegrown greens and tomatoes and provided cooking tips.

It also serves as a massage room for therapist Heather Lambarena and as a place for naturopath Lawrence L. Hoppis to practice.

“He travels here one time a month and sees clients on Friday and Saturday,” said Aquino. Hoppis offers services such as sclerology and living-blood microscopy.

Sclerology is the practice of looking at the whites of the eyes and seeing if there’s an issue in the body. With the living-blood microscopy he takes a small sample of the person’s blood, places it on a slide and looks at it under a high powered microscope.

“It’s a quick way of seeing what’s going on in the body,” Aquino said.  

Future events include a talk from Donna Struble, a life-coach from Porterville, and in April a Chakra Dance.

For more information on the Center, which is located at 35621 Highway 190, Springville visit http://thecenterofspringville.com or on Facebook at the center of springville.

Yoga-Gentle/Healing Style by Leslie Holt. First class is free. Walk in is $12 for an hour and a half. Payment in Advance for six sessions is $60. For more information call 782-6360 or 359-4795.

Certified Massage Therapist Heather Lambarena, by appointment. For more information call 300-8363.

Yogilates-Michele Stewart $15 Walk-In. Advance payment is $10 per class.  For more information call 310-1155.

Maggie’s Angel Readings. $60. For more information call 539-2417.

To contact Lawrence Hoppis call Regina at the Center at 539-2341.

Contact Emily Shapiro at 784-5000, ext. 1050, or on Twitter @EmilyShapirogar.