Together with a “circle” of like-minded women and business owners, Jeanie Scarzafava saw a dream years in the making come to fruition Sunday with the grand opening of the Scarzafava Sweetness of Life Center on Dietz Street in Oneonta. According to SOL Center literature, center practitioners — experts in medicine, holistic therapies and fitness practices — aim to facilitate client “journeys” on the way to wellness, while also providing community outreach.
Inspiration for the center began, Scarzafava said, after the death of her husband, John, in 2014, at which time the once-vacant building became hers.
She said, “It was at that point that the vision started.”
Though she recalled struggling with how best to use the space, Scarzafava said, the main room’s yellow-framed windows guided her toward "thoughts of lightness, seeing and healing."
“All I could see at first were the yellow windows, and I thought, ‘Yoga and meditation … that’s this room, that’s what it wants to be,’” she said.
Working with architect Elizabeth Davidson, Scarzafava said, she developed the idea along with the space, renovating it to include a custom kitchen, where the former dietician plans to host food and nutrition workshops, and several tailored office spaces. Today, SOL houses 12 practitioners.
She said, “As it evolved … it started to show itself as a place where women could run their own businesses … and act as an incubator.”
Center services include grief counseling, pain relief, acupuncture, massage therapy, restorative and hot yoga, hypnotherapy, Vedic healing and more. Scarzafava said, “We have traditional therapies and a lot of different modalities.”
Davidson said Sunday, “It’s evolved beautifully into this incredible healing center. I think it’s going to keep growing and this (event) is going to make more things happen.”
Dr. Mary Ellen Hoffman, who launched Hoffman Family Medicine in January 2016, was the center’s first practitioner. Hoffman, who credited Scarzafava with enabling her “amazing journey,” said her success and that of other center practitioners’ is testament to changing attitudes toward health care.
“How successful we’re all being speaks to a craving from people in the community for healing, attention and being able to engage in their own health,” she said.
The center has also hosted art workshops, disaster relief fundraisers and free community wellness sessions.
Citing past events such as Tibetan gong healing, Latin dance classes, hypnobliss yoga and a sleep quality workshop, Scarzafava said, “We have a lot of different community-oriented things and I encourage the space to be used for free events … (to include) people who otherwise maybe wouldn’t explore these things.”
While SOL Center is meant to support and buoy women in business, Scarzafava said, its services are open to all members of the community.
“We do not serve just women. It’s a place everybody’s welcome,” she said “There are so many upheavals in life, so this is a place to come to get help. Somebody here can guide you.”
Though many of the center’s offices were operational before Sunday’s event, Scarzafava said, she intentionally kept SOL quiet in an effort to give each tenant and business a chance to take root.
“Oneonta was already pregnant with it … and (the center) knew what it wanted to be,” Scarzafava said. “I think it’s always been a continually emerging space for people to find the sweetness of life. It’s nice to know it’s time for these sorts of services to be provided here.”
Deposit resident Joyce Rice said she especially appreciated what the center is bringing to the area.
“I just think it’s so great to have this many choices,” Rice said. “I could make an appointment with each of these practitioners (because) each one is so unique and individualized.” Rice said she is particularly looking forward to attending future community events in the center.
Calling SOL Center “exactly what Oneonta needs,” Oneonta resident Janis Labroo echoed the notion that holistic healing is increasingly being embraced. “People are beginning to tap into natural healing and (the center) has a huge range (of services) that people can try out,” she said. “I think it’s going to be great.”
Wesley Harter, also of Oneonta, said she hopes Sunday’s event will encourage people to explore alternative healing.
“Now that we have a center and it’s actually out there, maybe people will start to educate themselves more about holistic (practices),” Harter said. “It’s incredible.”
To learn more about the center and services offered, visit sweetnessoflife.org. For specific event announcements, find Scarzafava SOL Center on Facebook.
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November 19, 2017 at 09:36PM
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