The Smokestack Center is one of those places that if you didn’t know it was there, odds are you’d probably never stumble across it.
But there are some pretty happening things going on in that North State Street plaza – including at The River Guild.
The holistic health collective offers a wide range of classes and workshops that try to appeal to just about anyone who is looking to maintain (or start) a healthy lifestyle.
“We really try to hit every aspect of wellness,” said Director Sarah Robinson.
The River Guild has been open since last April, but it has taken some time for people to realize they’re open and offering what we can equate to a wellness buffet.
It was the brainchild of Kate Hartwell, who also owns the Concord Birth Center next door. She was looking for a place where her patients could continue to get services past her postpartum check-ups.
And The River Guild does just that. There is prenatal and new mom yoga, baby-wearing dance classes and a free pregnancy circle.
“She had the desire to have a wellness space next door,” Robinson said.
But while family is a big focus of The River Guild, the goal is to have something for everybody.
You can take part in blacklight yoga, yoga for athletes, mindful eating and creative dance.
“We offer things that people say, ‘I’ve never heard of that,’ ” said office manager Brooklyn Logan.
On the second Friday of each month, they host a potluck dinner in the large open room that makes up most of the space. It’s where they hold a lot of their classes. Some also take place in the spacious area where you walk in, like the weekly milk and cookies playgroup and creative concerts, which are basically hour-long sessions of educational songs where your children can sing, dance and bounce around.
“It’s a place for families to find a support network,” Robinson said. “We have offerings for families of any age.”
There’s also this class called Crystal Bowl Chakra Meditations taught by Carlos Perez. It’s held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month and, basically, Perez plays a series of crystal singing bowls in a certain sequence that will put you in a meditative state. We can’t wait to take the class and tell you all about it.
Perez also has his office in The River Guild, where he practices holistic chiropractic, sound healing and energy medicine.
Concord Handmade owner Alison Murphy has set up an area to sell the work of local artisans – and her own.
At any given time, there will be children of all ages playing in the lobby while their parent takes a class.
“We try to focus on having fun things because we want to be accessible,” Robinson said. “We have a little bit of everything.”
The River Guild is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as whenever a class is going on.
In June, the Concord Young Professionals Network will host its monthly networking get-together there.
For more info or to check out the class schedule, visit theriverguild.com.
