Infin8BodyWorks is being touted as Buffalo's first comprehensive community wellness cooperative. The business, or should I say group of businesses, opened to the public last Saturday. Under one-roof customers can find healthy vegan food, fashion-fibers-textiles, an art gallery, therapeutic massage, Hatha yoga, self-health kits, nutritional coaching, and meditation/visualization. That's a lot of offerings to pack into 224 Allen Street. I stopped in yesterday for my first ever 100% vegan breakfast. Melis Goff (RN, LMT, MNE), an oncology nurse, massage therapist and macrobiotic nutritional educator, was there to describe what ingredients go into an order of 'tofoodle plate'.
It was not long before Melis' two business partners, Felicia Parker (MS) - cancer prevention epidemiologist, research scientist, meditation instructor and Maren Michaels - artistic director, joined in the discussion and the past, present, and future plans of the three unfolded. Infin8BodyWorks has been established to inform the community about the importance of staying healthy through eating right, exercising right, and leading a thoughtful life in general. If you take care of your mind and your body, then they will take care of you. Food Farmacy, the food-based part of the operation, is open for breakfast when customers stop in to pick-up and take-out organic juices and vegetarian/vegan snacks. Then customers can also call in lunch orders, but the majority of the mid-day activities are mostly dedicated to the therapeutic lifestyle services - bodywork applications, ki-netics, and many of the healthy living practices mentioned above.
As Infin8BodyWorks grows, the team will be introducing reiki, dance, creative writing, and craft and whole food classes (kitchen in back). They are already purchasing bulk foods that are needed for the self-health kits. The remainder of the bulk food purchases are disseminated to customers (who pre-order) on Saturdays... barley, brown rice, polenta, sea salts, grains, beans, dried, veggies, miso, sea veggies, and many other hard to find whole and healthy goods. Breakfasts are served Wednesday through Saturday from 7:30am to 10am. Pre-ordered lunches can be picked up from between 12:30pm and 2:30 pm. Even thought the Food Farmacy is open at this point, it is being fine-tuned until October 8th when the hours will be more consistent and the menu items and menus will be completed. There are a couple of two-top tables set up at the moment for those customers who want to enjoy a hot cereal before heading back outside.
Infin8BodyWorks is currently looking for volunteers who might like to work in exchange for healthy meals and 'therapeutic lifestyle modifications'. While waiting for my tofoodle, another customer placed an order and when told that she would have to wait a couple minutes while it was being prepared, she exclaimed, "I can wait, I can see that this is not McDonald's." Actually, this is the furthest thing from McDonald's that can be found in Buffalo. This new business has all of the ingredients to become a true Allentown cooperative if it gets the support from the community that it needs. As Infin8BodyWorks learns what the neighborhood is looking for when it comes to living a healthier life, the group will surely accommodate its customers wants and needs.
While visiting Infin8BodyWorks, be sure to check out Jen Rodriguez’s Space @ 224 Gallery along with Maura Price’s M’Originals clothing – both can be found intermixed in the space. Even JR Visuals web design can be found upstairs.
Infin8BodyWorks is located at 224 Allen (across from The Pink). 716-870-8285
Photo: (l-r) Melis, Maren, Felecia (Fe)