top of page
Search

MARIETTA BOOKSTORE UNVEILS NEW COMMUNITY WELLNESS STUDIO

By Crystal Jordan

Auesomely You Magazine

Published: 9/16/2025

Pillar Focus:  Mental Health & Emotional Wellness

ree


When the ribbon was cut on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at A Better Today Books & Boutique, it wasn’t just the launch of a physical space it was the opening of a sacred one. Nestled in the heart of Marietta, this Black-owned bookstore just unveiled its new Wellness Studio, a haven for healing rooted in intentionality, community, and care.


Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography
Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography

Dr. Viola Lanier, cancer researcher, author, and owner of A Better Today, shared her heart behind the studio:

“Our Wellness Studio is the expansion of my vision to create a total body wellness space in my community. I want people to make intentional choices about their well-being... I want to encourage people to make their personal wellness a priority.”

Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography
Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography

And that’s exactly what the grand opening delivered. From sound bath therapy to therapeutic painting, the event offered more than celebration—it offered restoration.


Guests were treated to a complimentary wellness experience from hand-selected partners, including:

  • Sound Bath Therapist Mika Newton

  • Massage Therapist Paradise Johnson

  • Paint Therapy Artist PeQue Brown

Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography
Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography

There was something sacred about the atmosphere—a sense of slowing down, of reclaiming our right to breathe, feel, and be. Children and adults alike explored holistic practices many had never accessed before, turning a typical Saturday into a memory of peace.


Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography
Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography

At Auesomely You Magazine, our Mental Health & Emotional Wellness pillar uplifts the bold community builders curating healing spaces for those who often carry the heaviest loads. Dr. Lanier is one such visionary.

The programming at the Wellness Studio is a reflection of her belief that healing doesn’t have to look like therapy—it can look like painting, stretching, cooking, reading, and just being. It’s wellness through joy, mindfulness, and collective care.


Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography
Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography

Backed by science, her vision is also rooted in data. According to research cited by Drexel University and the American Academy of Neurology, participation in creative, leisure, and group wellness activities can:

  • Reduce heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol (the stress hormone)

  • Ease symptoms of depression

  • Improve cognitive function and memory

  • Reduce chronic pain and fatigue

  • Spark joy and elevate mood

Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography
Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography

As Dr. Lanier puts it:

“Whether it’s five minutes in the morning to breathe or an hour-long class with us—I want people to stop surviving and start thriving.”

Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography
Image Credit: Bob Mackey Photography

With regular hours from Sunday to Friday (12 PM to 6 PM), the studio is open to the public and poised to become a cultural staple in Marietta.

Auesomely You was not only proud to cover this event—we were moved by it. Because in a world where rest and healing often come last, this studio says: come first.


📍 2300 Shallowford Rd Ste. 7 Marietta, GA 30066📅 Regular Hours: Sunday – Friday, 12 PM – 6 PM



For media inquiries or to submit your event for coverage:


Follow @AuesomelyYouMag for event highlights, inspiring features, and the heart of advocacy and celebration.


Want to write for Auesomely You Magazine?




Comments

bottom of page