Birmingham, you’ve never seen anything like Practice Works in Avondale. Meet the women behind the holistic coworking space opening this spring

Coworking spaces—they’re the perfect office alternative for small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking a place to work without the pricy overhead cost of an office. Birmingham is peppered with them—but none quite like Practice Works, the new holistic health coworking space opening in Avondale this April.

We sat down with Becca Impello and Meredith Calhoun, co-owners of Practice Works, to chat about their new business and what you can expect when going to a therapy appointment or yoga class at Practice Works. Also, find out what kind of holistic wellness practitioners you’ll be able to find at Practice Works.

View the Practice Works class schedule.

“Holistic wellness coworking space” is definitely a new term for Birmingham. It sounds very innovative and like nothing we’ve seen in Birmingham. Can you tell us exactly what you’re bringing to the Magic City with Practice Works?

There are around ten coworking spaces in Birmingham, but no coworking community addresses the specific needs of the one-on-one health practitioner. These professionals need the same flexibility of space—the ability to use space they need,  when they need it for the amount of time they need it. But they also need privacy—and a consistency of experience for their clients, which isn’t the model for a typical coworking space.

How does a coworking space for wellness practitioners function for clients?

For the client, Practice Works offers a new way of consuming wellness services. While the practitioner’s client doesn’t have to be a member to book a session with them, we offer membership opportunities for the general public as well.

We will offer these classes:

• Therapeutic yoga
• Meditation and relaxation
• Functional movement
• Tai chi

Additionally, the fact that there will be so many different types of practitioners under one roof will offer the client more options in addressing needs.

Why Birmingham and why did you choose to locate Practice Works in Avondale?

Our lives and our families are here in Birmingham. And Birmingham needs this and wants it—I wouldn’t want to do the first Practice Works anywhere else.

Also, Avondale offered a great building with great parking. That was the number one concern for the practitioners we interviewed when creating and validating this concept. The Avondale market proved to have more affordable options and the land to accommodate the parking.

Tell me more about why you decided to start this journey together.

Meredith: I am coming to this concept from the client’s side (the wellness seeker) and a user of wellness practitioners. With one foot out the door of my realty career and looking for the next opportunity, and as luck would have it, Becca was referred to me looking for space to grow her business.

Getting to know Becca was easy. She brought with her an excellent reputation and our values lined up right away. I knew it was the right next move for me to partner with Becca to create something that doesn’t exist in Birmingham and really doesn’t exist in this way anywhere.

How do you choose what kind of practitioners to host at practice works? Is there a certain balance of services you are looking to offer?   

We are actively recruiting the best of the best in Birmingham in the areas of nutrition, counseling, health/life/executive coaching, concierge MD, yoga therapy, physical therapy and massage therapy.

How do you describe the vibe you’re creating at Practice Works?  

We want the client and practitioner to walk in and feel an immediate sense of calm and ease. The vibe we are creating is welcoming, thoughtful, supportive and easy. Like you’re walking into your favorite boutique hotel in a big city and the place envelopes you—wiping away the bustle of the big city which now feels more than just steps away.

What kind of benefits can wellness practitioners expect from working at Practice Works?

• Efficient/furnished and beautiful space
• Receptionist for greeting clients and check-out after the session
• Technology/software for scheduling, client notes and point of sale
• Community, collaboration and a referral network
• Opportunity to use classroom space (3 size options)
• Periodic education on small business best practices, leadership training, CEU’s

What problems are you looking to solve in the community with the opening of Practice Works?  

We want to address the inflexibility of real estate and lack of business support for the practitioners. We want this space to serve as their office, but the best version of their office they could imagine at an affordable price.

Also, we want the experience for their clients improved. Now a client can come to one place for more of their wellness services such as massage and counseling and nutrition coaching, etc.

What makes your yoga program unique?

The yoga offered at Practice Works is a little different in that it is alignment based, more therapeutic in nature. Classes will be slower paced generally and accessible to more physical abilities. If you ever thought you wanted to try yoga but have been intimidated or have a physical limitation or injury that makes you think you can’t, Practice Works is the place for you to try it.

And, we have a YOGA WALL! This is an installation of holds and straps that allows for a unique exploration of many traditional poses that may not typically be accessible to most people and offers a multitude of therapeutic applications. 

Practice Works is set to open in April. They’re located at 3613 6th Avenue South in Avondale.