'Health truly is our wealth': From corporate world to midlife...how Northern Ireland mum created a one-stop wellbeing studio

My journey to opening the Bangor studio has been anything but straightforward — but it’s been led by instinct, experience and a desire to do something that truly felt meaningful.

I started my career in media, working within the advertising agency world before moving into sales and marketing with Hastings Hotels. It was fast-paced, creative and people-focused, which I loved. After having my babies, I returned to work in a completely different environment, managing the Belfast office of a management consultancy. I stayed there for 13 years. While I’m grateful for everything the corporate world gave me, over time I realised I was craving something more aligned with who I was becoming.

I wanted to do something that felt good — not just for me, but for others too.

I’ve always valued looking after myself. Movement, whether that’s Pilates or stretching, time spent nourishing my body, spa days and treatments, and simply allowing myself moments of calm — all of that had a huge impact on how I felt, both physically and mentally. I knew firsthand how powerful it was. That’s when the idea started to form: why wasn’t there a space where you could do all of this under one roof, somewhere accessible, welcoming and luxurious, without feeling intimidating?

That’s how Eclectic was born. I wanted to bring a spa-like sense of calm and luxury to Bangor’s Main Street — a place where people could come as they are, feel looked after and prioritise their wellbeing.

What makes Eclectic different is our holistic approach. We offer high-end treatments, mat and reformer Pilates, and holistic wellbeing services all under one roof, delivered by highly skilled and experienced therapists and instructors. We’re incredibly proud to work with Dr Jenna, who provides our aesthetic injectables, and Aideen Carmichael, who delivers our sound baths and energy healing treatments. It’s a carefully curated offering — and truly one of a kind in the area.

A typical day for me starts with my own practice. I’ve learned that if I don’t look after myself first, I can’t give my best to anyone else. I usually begin with stretching and light movement, followed by breakfast and some admin — emails, scheduling and planning for the day ahead. I liaise with our therapists and instructors, prep for classes and teach Pilates on Wednesday evenings and at weekends. The day usually ends with more admin, a cup of herbal tea during the week (and maybe a glass of red wine at the weekend), reflection, journaling and an early night around 10pm.

The biggest highs? Without question, when clients tell me how much Eclectic means to them — when they thank me for bringing it to Bangor. Seeing members of our team genuinely enjoy their work and bring their passion every day is incredibly rewarding.

The lows have been tough. Covid was incredibly challenging, as it was for so many small businesses. Staff retention has also been difficult, especially post-Covid when many people were setting up their own practices at home and flexible working became the norm. Running a small business is hard — really hard — and it’s taught me that a strong, committed team is everything.

What I’m most proud of is training to become a Certified Pilates Instructor at the age of 50. It was intense, challenging and one of the most enjoyable seven months of my life. I’m also proud of establishing Eclectic within the community and, most of all, of our incredible team. Many clients have become close friends, which means more to me than I can say.

If I could do things differently, I’d plan the building layout with more flexibility in mind and perhaps be a little less trusting — learning to be firmer and less emotional has been a big lesson for me.

Looking ahead, I’m incredibly excited about our upcoming Wellbeing Event on February 15 at Titanic Hotel Belfast. It’s all about bringing like-minded people together for self-love through movement and calm — a mat Pilates class followed by a beautiful sound bath. It’s a perfect way to spend a Sunday morning.

We’re also focused on expanding further into the community, connecting with charities, community hubs and the corporate world to highlight how vital wellbeing is for everyone. We’re revamping our website to make online booking easier and planning more community events, so watch this space.

‘Health truly is our wealth and Eclectic is a one-stop wellbeing shop. So I’d love to invite readers to come and see Eclectic for themselves. I’m so proud of our space, our team and the warm welcome you’ll receive — you’ll be genuinely looked after from the moment you walk through the door.