RUMFORD — 1.4.3. Wellness Hub, a new nonprofit wellness space created for healing, connection and community, officially opened its doors Sept. 24 at 119 Congress St.

Prior to a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, business owner Courtney McPherson told people attending, “143 means I love you and the lotus is a flower that grows from the mud and rises to the surface to the light. So the meaning behind all of this is love and growth.”

Located on the first floor at the former KeyBank building, DeCourcy related how this wellness space came to light.

“From 2019 into 2020, I went through a really dark time, and I could not find community modalities and I had to drive a long ways, and I don’t like driving,” she said. “So I found all these things that helped me feel better and kind of came home to myself and found true love for me. And after I got out of my hole, I said, ‘We need this in Rumford. We need something people can come to that’s local. We need community. We need a safe space to take our masks off and be OK to be in the dark or in the light.'”

They offer classes, including a child and me yoga class, from ages 12 months to 18. And they have a woman who does chair yoga up to age 100 or so. There are also group dance classes.

“There’s a lot of different things in here like the salt vault and some saunas,” McPherson said. “And we have massage therapists and energy workers, and there’s a movement space.”

McPherson stressed that their services are for all genders and all ages, all walks. It’s a “mind, body and soul connection.”

“There’s a place to sit and lounge, and I’ll have tea and coffee every day. You don’t have to come and buy anything. Just come and chill,” she said.

McPherson said, “I have my dream team, a lot of girls behind me, and my family. We’re all a team. We work off each other.”

Among those she thanked were her investors, including her grandparents, who left her money when they passed. “I decided a good way to use their money was to build something for the community.”

Refreshments were provided by the Region 9 School of Applied Technology in Mexico, and prepared and served by the school’s Culinary Arts students Peyton Richard, Adriana Navarro and Brooklynn Webster.

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