Community Spotlight: The ELM Wellness Studio

The ELM Wellness Studio Owner, Nick Lietaert

In this edition of our Community Spotlight, we’re proud to highlight a space that’s redefining self-care in our local community: The ELM Wellness Studio. Built on the belief that wellness should be accessible, welcoming, and transformative, The ELM has created a sanctuary where everyone can find their path to feeling better—body, mind, and spirit.

At The ELM, wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. From soothing massage therapy sessions designed to melt away stress to re-energizing contrast therapy with sauna and cold plunge. Every offering is thoughtfully crafted to support your personal journey. Their expert-led classes provide not just relaxation and rejuvenation, but empowerment—helping you leave stronger, lighter, and more connected to yourself.

With a mission to create a space where you can come exactly as you are and leave transformed, The ELM Wellness Studio is more than a place to work out or unwind—it’s a community built around well-being. Step inside, take a breath, and discover what it feels like to truly prioritize you.

Let’s learn more about owner, Nick Lietaert and the oasis he’s created for you in mind…

1. What inspired you to open your wellness studio? When COVID hit and everyone was in lockdown amid many uncertainties and unknowns, especially regarding health and well being. Keeping my mind and body healthy and strong became my top priority. So I delved deeper into my studies, practice and physical activity in search of how to get the most out of every day. Living in a small apartment at the time, I knew I'd need more space to create an ecosystem of wellness. I was lucky to find a good space, that needed a ton of work but was affordable. A few years of steadfast work, blood, sweat, tears and overcoming doubt. The ELM Wellness Studio was born.

2. How would you describe your studio’s philosophy in one sentence? Find your Ethos, make it a lifestyle, and commit to the movement.

3.What is Optimal Human Training and how do you help clients get started? Optimal Human training examines an individual across the whole spectrum of health from the inside out. We ask where they want to be and determine what has stopped them from getting there. It's more than just figuring out a workout routine and a nutrition plan. We're looking at emotional blocks, trauma, hereditary conditions, blood work, metabolic inefficiencies, core motivation, injuries, etc... We have tools like a body scan scale to measure over 40 health metrics, including muscle mass, types of fat your body is storing and bone density. This includes at-home blood tests that measure over 30 performance-based biomarkers, such as sex hormone testing, thyroid function, metabolic health and heart health. So simply put, we are examining deficiencies and struggles from every angle to create a lifestyle plan that promotes healing and excellence through mindful practices, healthy choices and movement.

4. What makes your approach to massage different from a typical spa experience? My approach is movement-centric; I don't just focus on releasing knots or providing a relaxing massage (though I do both). Instead, I focus on figuring out the root cause, providing table education, and prescribing movements/stretches to test the end feel. I usually give people homework in the form of stretches, exercises, and nutritional advice.

5. What initially drew you to the Wim Hof Method? I've been a fan of Wim Hof since I saw his Vice documentary around 10 years ago. Beyond the incredible physical feats he accomplished, his tragic backstory leading up to finding his method truly connected with me. One I could relate to on a personal level. When I learned that the Wim Hof Method focused as much on interoception, finding your true nature, and regulating your nervous system as it did on helping reach peak physical performance, I knew I had to try it and I've been hooked since.

6. What are the biggest mental benefits you’ve seen from clients who do contrast therapy? Contrast therapy offers a plethora of physical benefits, and the mental benefits directly correlate with the physiological changes that occur when transitioning from a hot sauna to cold water. Users of contrast therapy consistently show significant mental benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety due to lowered cortisol levels. A general feeling of happiness and contentment results from dopamine levels rising and staying elevated for hours. And a feeling of calm from the invigoration of activating white blood cells in our body.

7. Why did you choose to incorporate red light therapy? After extensively researching red light therapy and seeing hard data about its benefits, I wanted to verify its legitimacy and felt its effects the first time I used it. My personal reason for incorporating red light into my routine is mainly to reduce inflammation and speed up recovery time after my workouts. Other benefits include a feeling of rejuvenation, activated collagen production, stimulated hair follicles, aid in post-op scarring and healing, and restored testosterone and estrogen to name a few.

8. How do you see physical recovery connecting to emotional healing? Physical recovery in the sense of utilizing physical activity as a tool to aid emotional healing is absolutely essential. Deciding to get stronger through movement, regardless of the exercise is one of the best forms of self love we can implement. We significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety by activating the release of mood-boosting chemicals—like dopamine, endorphins and serotonin—through mid- to high-intensity movements. Physical recovery, which involves healing from injury or chronic pain gives us time for interoception and understanding the healing process. This is a process we can't ignore, offering an opportunity to see and feel it in real time and not take for granted the gift of being able to move freely.

9. What is one small wellness habit you believe everyone could implement today? Breathwork. The power of deep, conscious diaphragmatic breathing and retention is absolutely incredible, and it's free!

10. What would you say to someone who is interested in joining the ELM movement but hesitant to start? Come over and try a day pass to see what it's about. I'd love to discuss your goals and show you how our tools and services can help you achieve them.

Thank you Nick for your time, collaboration and eagerness to create a wellness space in our local community and congratulations on your grand opening in the near future!

Get Inspired,

Lauren