Westborough Small Biz Profile: Center For Arts And Wellness

WESTBOROUGH, MA — The Center for Arts and Wellness is the brainchild of two local Indian classical arts teachers – Vandana Rao and Hema Iyengar. Rao teaches Hindustani (North Indian style) classical music while Iyengar teaches Bharatanatyam (South Indian classical dance). Both these teachers have been imparting music and dance knowledge to kids and adults for several years now. The founders decided to collaborate and expand their vision to provide the community with a wider array of classical and applied art classes as well as wellness related services under a single roof.

The Center for Arts and Wellness creates a unique blend of creativity, learning, exercise and art for all ages. With more than 15 teachers and practitioners each with a different expertise, the Center is able to offer a cross-section of classes and services to cater to all interests.

The Center has two broad tracks – Arts and Wellness. Find out more on their website.

Here, we talk with Vandana Rao:

When did you open? The center opened its doors in October 2016. It is open on all 7-days of the week during scheduled class times. The center is continuously expanding its offerings and currently has more than 20 different classes and wellness services. It has seen aggressive growth in registered students and clients, and continues to pursue opportunities to develop new streams based on community needs and inquiries.

What made you decide to open this type of business? And why this location? We are passionate about art and about sharing art appreciation with our peers and the next generation. Our way of life has always embodied alternative approaches to food, healing and wellness and we envision enabling a fusion of these ideas under a single umbrella.

Westborough is a melting pot of various activities and cultures in the Metrowest region and provides the perfect platform for a business like ours to flourish. The center is conveniently located in Westborough on Route 9 and easily accessible from other highways such as I-495 and I-90. The center offers over 2700 square feet of space, with multiple rooms of various sizes on two floors. In addition to offering classes, the Center also offer opportunities for other entities to rent the space for events such as workshops, seminars, parties, mini concerts, and arts- and wellness-related classes by visiting professionals.

What do you like best about it? The center allows us to provide a platform to spread knowledge and expertise in the arts and wellness realms. We love that multiple members of a family can come at the same time and individually take advantage of separate classes and services. We like that we are able to offer a multitude and diversity of classes that meet various artistic, health and wellness needs of the community to help enrich and create a balance in our lives. We strive to maintain high standards of professionalism and customer satisfaction.

Biggest struggle? As a small startup business by first-time entrepreneurs, a key challenge we face is in gaining visibility in the community and the Metrowest region. Finding effective ways to reach out to potential customers is an ongoing challenge. We have to balance our limited marketing budget as a start-up, while continuing to invest in our business. We rely heavily on word of mouth, the network of friends and family as well as town media outlets such as yours who are willing to give us an opportunity to talk about our center so people can start to become aware of and learn about the various programs that are offered.

What do you see for the future? Our vision is to bring various arts, fitness and wellness activities for the entire family under a single roof where we are able to nurture and grow our students while instilling a sense of community. We see our center evolve into a broader community enrichment center that provides a unique opportunity for individuals and families to pursue a passion in art or an interest in better health and well-being.

Politics and small business: how does government affect your business? A local government that provides a flexible climate for small businesses to grow and thrive is very beneficial for an establishment like ours. A permitting, licensing and tax structure that is easy to understand and maneuver is essential for small businesses. Since we are blending various cultures and art forms to provide very unique programs, we believe our Center exhibits the essence of harmony and equality that this country is built upon. Being in a town and state that is accepting and nourishes people of various cultures is key to the success of a business like ours.

Name another local business you’d send customers to: We recommend local restaurants to our student-families.

Know a small business in Westborough that deserves the spotlight? Tell us about that, or any other news and tips, at charlene.arsenault@patch.com.