Weekly Focus: Anna Santens - healthy workshop spaces

We invited Anna Santens, holistic therapist and author of 'Juiced by Anna', a guide to healthy food and lifestyle. As an expert in wellness, she believes that space has an enormous influence on how we feel. Let's dive into it and get to know Anna, who will guide you through our best spaces to unwind or energize!

Can you tell a little more about yourself and what you do?
- Anna: I am a holistic therapist, meaning I help people to find the connection between their body and mind again. During my therapy sessions, I work on four domains: movement, nutrition, breathing and mindset. When you find your balance in all four, you can really start to optimize your lifestyle. Summed up, I help people age healthily and happily by offering holistic workshops and retreats. In addition, I teach yoga with a focus on less stress and more energy.

Are you already familiar with the concept of space sharing?
- Anna: I know the concept thanks to you (laughs)! I think it's a great concept. I’m often looking for locations for my business. I love the convenience of finding different locations through one app.

Is space sharing useful in your business?
- Anna: Definitely, space is super important to feel comfortable in general. In my job this is essential, my clients need to feel safe so they can open up. The same goes for me, I too need to feel comfortable in a space so I can put the right energy into my job as a therapist. I don't always have such space available, so space sharing can definitely help me find what I need.

What type of spaces do you especially need in your business as a holistic therapist?
- I’m often looking for spaces for my holistic workshops and day retreats. In the future I also want to expand beyond the region of Ghent, for which I am still looking for new locations. The type of space depends on the theme of the retreat. For a retreat focused on ‘de-stressing’, I prefer a location close to nature, but a retreat focused on 'more energy' can also be located in the bustling city. It’s challenging to find the right space that lends itself to different purposes, such as a day retreat combined with a healthy juice workshop. I often miss with locations a combination of different spaces.

Does location affect your productivity or mood?
- It does, massively! Every space has a certain energy and feeds me in a certain way. I like spaces with natural elements and open spaces. Anyway, space is super important in my job, for my clients, but equally important for me.