By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer
As part of my ongoing effort to let people know about the Wellness Club team at Whole Foods Market in Lincoln Park, I spoke with Heather Sulic, Wellness Club Team Leader and massage aficionado! I’ve been working with Heather closely these past few months and I must say, she really knows not only how to implement a good nutrition program, but also how to run a fun and active Wellness Club! Meet Heather and read more about her take on the Wellness Club and what is offered there.
Heather Sulic, Wellness Club Team Leader
1. Why did Whole Foods decide to open the Wellness Club at the Lincoln Park store?
We are piloting a Wellness Club in 5 stores throughout the U.S. Lincoln Park was chosen because it’s a cutting edge store with a great space and loyal customer base.
2. Aside from nutrition classes, what other programs does the WC offer?
Our program offers everything you need for optimal wellness. In addition to nutrition, we educate members on lifestyle change and the psychology of eating habits. Chef Katie will also teach you how to cook great-tasting healthy dishes. We also offer services to get you active and help you to slow down, whichever you need! Each day we offer multiple fitness and yoga classes. We also have massage on site–great for stress relief and pain management. All of the classes are included in the membership and massage is offered at a discount for members, only $65 for one hour! And, members receive a 10% discount on about 4000 items throughout the store.
3. Can I take classes and get massages at the WC if I am not a WC member?
Yes, most of our services are available a la carte. Yoga classes are$15 a class for non-members, for example, and massages for non-Wellness Club members are $80/hour.
5. Does the Wellness Club have a changing room?
Students can change their clothing to fitness gear in the men’s and women’s restrooms. For massages, clients can change in the massage room when the massage therapist steps out of the room before and after the massage.
6. I sweat a lot when I exercise. Does the Wellness Club have showers?
We don’t have showers or a locker room. Our fitness classes are designed for increasing functional fitness-moving through a complete range of motion, building strength, working on core and stability. We don’t offer cardio classes. We do have a wide variety of fitness clubs in our local network though. These businesses are offering discounts and free services for our members who’d like to get some sweating in too!
7. Where do I put my shoes, winter coat and stuff during yoga class at the WC?
Yes, we have cubbies for your shoes and a coat rack.
8. Do you have childcare at the Wellness Club? Some moms like to take fitness classes and get massages but have a toddler/baby etc.
We don’t have childcare services. However, we will be featuring many classes that you can participate in with your child. Cooking with Kids classes and Kids Movement classes will be starting soon. And Kids Science Labs and Fantasy Kingdom, two kid friendly businesses nearby, would love to see your kids while you make use of our Wellness Club services.
9. Is the WC program vegan?
The Wellness Club program is Plant Strong meaning we advocate eating predominantly whole or minimally processed plant foods. However, we do have some meat and seafood items that are included in the discount program.
10. How do I get the 10% discount card? Is it free?
Membership includes unlimited classes (yes, yoga too!), discounts on massage onsite and discounts from local businesses in addition to the discount at Whole Foods Market. For a limited time only memberships are available for a $1 start-up fee and only $49/month!
11. What could I expect from you as a coach to help me incorporate healthier eating into my current diet? How about fitness?
I’m really focused on finding out where you’re at now and what your goals are. My job is to give you manageable steps to help you move from point A to point B with lots of stops along the way to celebrate successes. When it comes to fitness, I’m passionate about explaining the “why” behind what you’re doing. If you’re going to put the effort in, it makes sense to be getting the most bang for your buck. Too often people spend a lot of time and energy at the gym and end up injured or discouraged because they don’t know how to work out properly. I want to help with that!
Who is Heather Sulic, Wellness Club Team Leader?
Heather has a degree in Secondary Education and has been teaching in various capacities throughout the 12 years that she has worked with Whole Foods Market. She spent many years in Store Leadership and as a Human Resources Coordinator. Heather is a Certified Personal Trainer and also holds a certification in Plant Based Nutrition from eCornell University. Whether it’s one-on-one or in a classroom setting, Heather’s coaching focuses on thorough education and her goal is to help individuals excel in their healthy lifestyles.
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