A 'shifting' mindset

NORWALK — Amber Atkinson knows firsthand major gaps exist, as few local areas provide people with a safe spot where they can actively improve their well-being. "Everything I needed as a teen mom and didn't have, I want to be able to offer that, and more, to the next person," she said. So the entrepreneur recently embarked upon a groundbreaking initiative for Norwalk: The Maple City Nutrition owner transformed an empty storefront abutting her Benedict Avenue business into an alternative wellness center. It's called The Shift, which debuted earlier this month. Atkinson envisions the family-first sanctuary as a welcoming environment in which all community members, young and old, can visit. "I want it to be something like a resource for not just alternative wellness but for kids who want a quiet place to do their homework," the married mother of five added. "I want it to be a place where a mother can bring her children and do a class and not feel she can't be healthy because of her mom duties." Atkinson explained adults — whether they're parents or not — can come in and take classes related to yoga, dance fitness, pole therapy, cardio drumming, massages and more. Their children, meanwhile, can accompany them, completing schoolwork or playing by themselves and with others. Kids can also feel free to browse through and even take a book from The Shift's Little Free Library station. "I've not been able to rent books from the library because I forgot to return a movie and owed more than I had in my account. I've worked three jobs a day and slept two hours at night so I can put my daughter in a dance class that I couldn't afford," Atkinson added. "Everything I needed as a teen mom and didn't have, I want to be able to offer to the next person. No judgment. No differences. Just acceptance and support." The Shift represents Atkinson's first foray into creating a space like this. To help her in this venture, she enlisted the help of some friends, including Michelle DeMore, a holistic wellness coach who will instruct classes there. "We want to give people a fun way to relieve stress and feel well," DeMore said. Atkinson emphasized The Shift's genesis traces back to the ongoing pandemic and how COVID-19, in a general sense, has contributed to morale plummeting and mental health deteriorating, including in Norwalk. The Shift, on a local level, aims to reverse those disturbing trends, she said. "I have never done anything like this, and I am still learning, but sometimes doing something not in your comfort zone is what makes the biggest change," Atkinson said. "And I want to make a big, positive change for the people in the community." People can call 419-239-5168 or search for "The Shift" on major social networking sites for questions, class information and scheduling information. The logo pictures white type on a black background.