‘Amazing’ first year for Northampton wellness hub, praised for leaving customers feeling ‘uplifted’
It has been an “amazing” first year for a Northampton wellness hub, which is continually praised by visitors for leaving them feeling “happy and uplifted”.
Love Your Presence, a holistic gift shop and wellness studio founded by Mita Unalkat, opened in June last year with the aim of helping people become the best versions of themselves.
Mita has lived in the town since she was 13 and first set up a beauty treatment business when she finished her studies 25 years ago.
After undergoing a complete 360, Mita became a meditation facilitator and reiki practitioner – which is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing.
Mita started this venture four years ago as a mother of three, after going through a divorce and remarrying before having her third child.
Having moved out of the pharmaceutical industry to be a full-time mother and realising the industry was not for her, Mita was inspired to help others by her experiences with perimenopausal symptoms.
She practised reiki, meditation and worked on herself to come out the other side of what she was experiencing, and wanted to use that knowledge to help others.
Mita held stalls at fetes for two years, which were a success and encouraged her to find a premises and set up the holistic gift shop and wellness studio.
“The first year has been absolutely amazing,” Mita told the Chronicle & Echo. “A wellness hub, and a place people can work on their wellness journey, was really needed in Northampton.
“It’s more than a shop, it’s a wellness zone. People say when they walk in they are taken to another realm and you forget you’re on St Leonard’s Road. I had a vision of what I wanted to create and for people to enjoy the space.”
The one-year milestone was marked with an open day back in June. Everyone in attendance drank herbal tea and was given a hand massage, in an attempt to give them a taste of what the shop is all about.
An important part of Love Your Presence is collaborating with a number of independent businesses to stock their products, such as art, jewellery and candles.
Not only have these continued to prove popular, but Mita has had to open her treatment room on more days to meet the demand from customers.
When asked her proudest achievement since opening the store, the owner said: “The feeling that I’m actually helping and supporting people on their wellness journeys.
“They come back time after time and book in for more treatments to support my small business. I’m proud to say what I offer is unique and brings people joy. They walk away feeling happy and uplifted.”
Mita plans to continue collaborating with others for the rest of the year, with more retreats, wellness days and workshops on the cards.
From candle creation to jewellery making, the business owner’s main aim is to host events that encourage the community to be creative.
“We allow people to pause, connect and realign,” said Mita. “It’s about finding that time for themselves.”