Spring Lake opens first-of-its-kind stress recovery center

When people asked about her plans to open a stress recovery center, she said it was hard to explain.

“Actually, it was really hard to explain to people what I was trying to do because we don’t have spaces like this,” Kerr said.

The inspiration to open a stress recovery center came after the birth of her twins.

Her micro-preemie twins, Asher and Aqsa, were born 14 weeks early with an 8% chance for survival. So, when they turned eight years old, she opened the Enclave Stress Recovery Center.

“They were about a pound a half each, which made them about the size of your palm,” Kerr said.

The twins had several surgeries during their time in the NICU and spent two years in quarantine because of their compromised immune systems. Throughout that time, Kerr often wished she had a place to go and relax.

“Going through all of that, it was a highly stressful time for my family,” she said. “During that period, I oftentimes wanted a space where I could relax.”

However, there weren’t any places that offered what she was looking for.

“I didn’t want to go to a spa because I didn’t really want a mani-pedi,” she said. “I didn’t want to be talking to anybody. I didn’t want anybody touching me. I just wanted to stop and just breathe for a minute.”

Her only options seemed to be a day spa or going away for a weekend retreat – things she couldn’t do.

She made a promise to one day create a space for others who were going through a difficult time.

“So, I created a stress recovery center,” Kerr said. “I guess it may be my rebellious nature. Because I couldn’t find it, so I built it.”

Kerr said her goal is to teach people how to recover from stress, and she wanted to create a space that facilitates their recovery.

“I always say that stress is actually good for your body; stress is an impetus for growth," Kerr said. "Stress won’t kill you, but your inability to recover from stress absolutely will.”

And that’s exactly the goal of the Enclave Stress Recovery Center: to teach people how to stop and relax.

“We talk a lot about the impact of stress on the body and the importance of taking care of ourselves, but we treat ourselves as if relaxation and recovery are a privilege,” she said. “We don’t actively make time for that. We’re not accustomed to stopping.”

Kerr said she wants everyone to know it's okay to take time for yourself on a regular basis. She said self-care is something that should be a part of everyone's routine.

“There is no stigma; there is no judgment," she said. "You will be a better mom, you will be a better partner, you will be a better professional if you give your mind space to just relax and slow down for a moment. Self-care is not selfish.”

The moment you step into the Enclave Stress Recovery Center, you're greeted with the soothing aroma of essential oils.

Three private rooms – the garden room, beach room and Himalayan salt room – each offer different benefits.

“We want you to have the getaway experience without having to go away,” Kerr said.

Kerr said you can sit in the garden for 45 minutes during your lunch break or go to the beach without having to drive two hours; it's up to you.

Whether you want to enjoy the zero-gravity massage chair, take a nap on the warm beach or practice yoga in the Himalayan salt room, the stress recovery center is tailored to your needs.

Kerr understands some people want to be alone and decompress without the pressure of an instructed class. That’s why the center offers guided meditations and yoga classes that you can access on your phone.

“We create the space for you,” she said. “And then we give you ideas for how to use it at your own pace, so your recovery is on your terms.”

Kerr said it's designed so that everything can be self-paced.

If you want to try journaling but don’t know where to start, you can try one of the prompts or other resources to help guide you.

There's also a larger area for group activities, such as yoga and art therapy.

The Enclave also offers different classes every month. Next month, people can come and enjoy a candle-making class.

“We try to vary the experience and the activities that we have so that there’s always something new that you can do,” she said.

The center has a weekly group meditation, and the weekly “wine down” is another fan favorite.

“You can come and have a glass of wine,” she said. “It’s kind of like a sip-and-paint, but we do journaling and group meditation and discussion. So, going into your weekend, you leave the stress of the work week behind.”

If you want to bring friends to the center, they’ll create a customized program for your group.

Kerr said they keep their prices low to make their services accessible to everyone.

Individual clients can get a membership, which gives them the option to come in anytime and enjoy unlimited use of the space.