Walking through the door at Wild+Well Studio, one is greeted by a trickling water feature, warm gray walls and soft lighting.
It's peaceful and welcoming, and that's exactly what co-owners Danielle Medlock and Aimee Dalton intend. But the two also hope visitors can tap into their wild side through the studio's yoga and pole-dancing classes.
"We're all about getting in touch with the primal need we have inside, to be physical, loud and heard, not suppressed by society," Medlock said Thursday. "We're not just wives and mothers."
Wild+Well, located at 309 Manor Drive in Fulton, will have its grand opening 6-8 p.m. Saturday. The open house will feature teas, desserts and a sneak peak at products and class offerings. In addition to yoga and pole-dancing classes, the studio will offer massages, themed parties, monthly special events (ideas include twerking and blacklight body-painting sessions) and wellness-related products from female entrepreneurs. They also plan to open a tea bar to serve hot drinks and all-natural baked goods.
The two are still lining up vendors, but the list so far includes natural beauty and wellness products from Eckas Essentials, Knot Sweet macrame from Samantha Tennison, Rebecca Wilson's Cultured Cantina elderberry syrups and natural, unique loose-leaf teas by Faith Browner.
Medlock said the studio is dedicated to supporting women.
"Aimee and I saw a need in the community for a place for women to gather and lift each other up," she said.
In fact, group classes are open only to people who identify as female. Men are still welcome to come for a massage or to peruse wares between classes, though. They're also welcome at the "pay-what-you-can" gentle yoga classes Medlock teaches at 10 a.m. each Saturday at United Methodist Church.
Medlock and Dalton said they decided to restrict classes to ensure women in the class feel comfortable and safe.
The focus on women also shows through in the duo's planned class offerings.
"My yoga is not your typical practice," Medlock said. "It's more about embracing your feminine energy and connecting with your womb and your chakras."
She plans on offering a more energetic class each Friday and a maternity yoga class on Wednesdays. Medlock worked as an assistant yoga instructor for six years and has been certified for two.
Dalton has worked as a massage therapist for local chiropractors for about six years and is excited to launch her own practice.
"But for pole dancing, I started dabbling in it about 10 years ago," she said. "It's basically my only form of meditation."
Pole dancing helps keep her mentally centered and physically in-shape - it helped her bounce back from birthing her two children.
"It's more about being physically fit and confident - it's about sensuality," she said. "You're more in touch with your body. The difference between pole dancing and stripping is that stripping is a job. They're both art, but when you're pole dancing, you're doing it for yourself, because that's what you want to do."
She said that while pole dancing helps build core strength and coordination, "getting skinny" isn't the point. People of all body shapes and sizes are welcome.
"We're going to put positive affirmations all over the mirror," Dalton added.
Each yoga or pole class costs $12 if you sign up online in advance, or $15 for drop-ins. Wild+Well will also offer five-class passes for $50 during the grand opening. For further pricing information, a class schedule and more details on Wild+Well's other offerings, visit wildandwellstudio.com or call 573-226-6616.