What Gravity Health and Wellness on North Bent Street is selling has been around for about 5,000 years — Ayurveda is an ancient health practice that focuses on the whole body.

“Nothing against Western medicine, but [Ayurveda is] a way to kind of look at the person as a whole instead of units like, maybe your heart or your liver,” owner Stacey McInally said. “We're looking at the whole person, so the body, mind and spirit.”

The practice has been heavily researched said McInally a 17-year registered nurse.

“My goal with this whole thing is to give people the tools to take home, to live their best life. That’s my goal,” she said. “I don’t want them to rely on me, I want them all to be able to have that self empowerment where they can take care of themselves.”

She added that she is not advocating for people to avoid things like surgery, but Ayurveda is a way for people to get more control over their life.

“It’s a good marriage of integrating our awesome Western medicine that we have here that saves tons of lives with an Eastern way, ‘Of OK, now how can we kind of balance this out … how can we help you get the best quality of life that you can with what you have going on?’”

Gravity Health and Wellness is holding its grand opening from 4:30-6 p.m. on Thursday, but the shop has been open since November in order to familiarize people with the practice. At the open house, visitors can partake in some popcorn and granola, tea and $2 raffle tickets for items including an Ayurveda cook kit and an oral hygiene kit.

Ayurveda is individualized and not one size fits all, McInally said. At Gravity Health and Wellness her Ayurveda practice starts with a 90 minute consultation followed by 60 minute and then 30 minute follow-ups.

McInally also leads beginner yoga classes inside the store and Park Yoga will begin May 30 and run every Thursday from 6-7 p.m. at Southside Park.

Aside from Ayurveda and yoga, a variety of products are sold in the store including, herb, lotions, oils, essential oils, homemade chapstick, cookbooks and foods like ghee (clarified butter), kichiri (rice and split bean) and teas.

To learn more visit gravityhealth307.my.canva.site/.