Introducing Alexandria’s Wellness District in Del Ray!

By Maureen Schweers

Alexandria, VA – While working together to find innovative ways to care for the community during a pandemic, the Del Ray community’s wellness providers united to form a new group, The Wellness District, thus formalizing a network that has grown organically over the past 20 years as Del Ray became a holistic health and wellness center in this region.

Rather than viewing neighboring wellness businesses as competitors, the sub-group of the Del Ray Business Association formed a collective of top-rated, dedicated professionals focused on collaboration. The group, already such an integral part of the Del Ray community that the neighborhood is often called “Well Ray,” is now formally The Wellness District.

“When we opened Chrysalis Chiropractic in 2003,” said Dr. Lola Capps, “we knew this community offered something special. We have since seen the wellness businesses explode here, and it was apparent that the next natural growth opportunity for the DRBA wellness businesses was to deem ourselves The Wellness District.”

The diversity of The Wellness District makes Mount Vernon Avenue a one-stop shop for health and wellness. It includes top-rated fitness studios, a wide range of holistic health professionals, therapists, mental health professionals, dentists, chiropractors, a medical doctor who makes house calls, an independent pharmacy, and more. The collaborative nature is intrinsic to holistic medicine philosophy, which focuses on the complete person, physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually, in managing and preventing disease. The majority of businesses are owned and led by women.

“Since joining the team at VITAL Body & Mind back in 2007, I have been very grateful to work alongside so many outstanding healers here,” said Melissa McGlone, Colon Hydrotherapist at VITAL. “Even in the start-up of my own practice, I noticed not only did the Del Ray community and the Del Ray Business Association support wellness businesses, but they were often unique and specialized ones, making it a perfect fit for me,”

In addition to day-to-day collaborations for best patient care, the group works tirelessly to educate the public on health issues and to promote wellness. The Wellness District hosts wellness workshops throughout the year, plus National Wellness Week events; a self-care focused Twelve Days of Wellness over the holidays; plus their signature event, the Well Ray summer festival, that draws thousands of participants each year. “The Wellness District was called into existence out of the dedication, creativity and sheer will of its practitioners,” said McGlone.

“Del Ray has become the center of health and wellness in the region, with a wide range of award-winning wellness providers and fitness studios,” said Del Ray Business Association President Sue Kovalsky. “We are proud of the incredible work that The Wellness District does to connect the community to resources that help them live their best lives.”

The Wellness District represents the health and wellness members of the Del Ray Business Association, an organization of business owners and professionals that strive for the growth, visibility, and success of its members and serves as an advocate, representative, and educator for businesses within the Del Ray community in Alexandria. For more information, visit www.visitdelray.com.

ICYMI: Shop the Del Ray Vintage & Flea Market Saturday, Sept. 12