August 14th 2023.
Located in Southeast Atlanta, iwi fresh Resting Spa is a full-service spa that offers a range of treatments to promote relaxation and wellbeing. With its $50 day pass, visitors have access to the spa’s amenities, such as the steam room, mediation room and the popular Himalayan salt room. This room is believed to be beneficial for those with respiratory problems.
The plant therapy room is a peaceful oasis in the heart of Atlanta. Soft yellow walls and lush greenery give the feeling of being in an island paradise. On a wooden shelf in the back of the room, there are mini Polaroid photos of the spa’s founder, Yolanda Owens. This business has been the site of birthday parties and honorific celebrations for the likes of Dionne Warwick and Sheila E.
The iwi fresh brand consists of the spa and a line of plant-based skincare products. Owens was inspired by her grandmother who created medicinal concoctions from homegrown herbs and vegetables. When Owens’ son developed eczema, she decided to go back to her roots. Owens took classes in both herbology and nutrition and iwi fresh was born. The brand’s name, “it is what it is” is a nod to the plant-derived ingredients used in its products. One of the most popular is the Lettuce-Face-It face toner.
Owens had a successful career as an engineer before she took a leap of faith and left her job to pursue her passion. With the help of funds from her 401, she opened the spa in 2010. Initially, she struggled to pay her mortgage but, through word-of-mouth marketing and innovative customer engagement efforts like the annual Green Party, her business grew in popularity.
In February 2020, the spa moved to a larger building in the nearby Lakewood Heights neighborhood. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the business to temporarily close its doors the following month. Owens responded by selling take-home spa kits, hosting spa parties on Instagram and convincing Whole Foods to carry her products in three of its Metro Atlanta locations.
Owens was intentional about choosing the locations for her business. She wanted to create a space that was accessible to the inner city community where she grew up. She hoped that, by doing this, she could inspire young Black girls to pursue their passions.
Despite being diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020, Owens continued to serve her customers while undergoing treatment. Sadly, Yolanda Owens passed away in January 2023. Her legacy lives on through the iwi fresh spa, which is now operated by members of her family. To learn more about iwi fresh skincare products and the iwi fresh Resting Spa, click here.
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