Alexandria is home to an inclusive sanctuary of well-being and tranquility, Balian Springs. Founder Stephanie Chon crafted the first-of-its-kind wellness membership club, offering daily admission to ensure everyone can access unique self-care modalities and a supportive social community. This month, Balian Springs celebrates its first anniversary with a Wellness Summit embracing the Aloha spirit. Voted DC Magazine’s 2023 Best Wellness Experience, the event is worth exploring.
Chon emphasizes this innovative business idea came from her own desire for a sanctuary of solace. When the pandemic hit, she was then a chief operating officer for a hospitality development and management group and found herself struggling with anxiety and depression in silence. “I realized that support from those around us can be instrumental in our mental health journey and that there was a market need for accessibility to wellness therapies,” she shares. With that, Balian Springs was born.
Balian Springs is a one-stop retreat for wellness, no matter where you are in your personal health journey. Its amenities are thoughtfully curated to heal the body, spirit and mind. Members are transported to a tropically-inspired oasis centered on holistic relaxation, from hydrotherapy pools and saunas to various therapeutic lounges. Daily admission includes access to all of these communal areas.
Its Lilikoi Day Spa is designed for those ready to indulge in the utmost pampering. Opt for the Gua Sha facial rooted in East Asian techniques or a Fijian Herbal Press Massage to detoxify the body. Lilkoi’s range of rejuvenating treatments are available to anyone seeking to enhance their Balian Springs experience.
The wellness club also regularly partners with local businesses to provide members complimentary classes such as meditation, sound bath healing, reiki, painting, hypnotherapy and more.
Commemorating the first anniversary of Balian Springs, Chon and her team are set to host a Hawaii-themed Wellness Summit on Sunday, Oct. 22. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to aid Maui’s disaster relief. The island’s influence is already visible in the wellness club: the spa’s name, Lilikoi, is Hawaiian for ‘passion fruit’, and its lounge, titled the Immersion Room, was commissioned by Hawaii’s native videographer Zak Noyle alongside his production company and fellow videographer Matty Leong.
This summit features numerous local providers, practitioners and wellness brands with which the club has built strong relationships over the past year. The Oct. 22 itinerary includes over 40 wellness classes, a vendor bazaar and a luau dinner. Hawaii-Based Videographer Jack Martin was brought on for this event to commission a mini video of the Ocean’s summit’s proceeds will raise money for.
The Balian Springs Wellness Summit on Sunday, October 22 will take place from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the luau dinner and live entertainment set for 7 p.m.
Photography by:
