New Orleans Healing Center

This place has its pros and cons, like any other — it is a work in progress. I don’t do yoga, but the food co-​op is great (if a bit pricey) and I love the clean, open feel of the building. Bike racks? please! Recycling bins? please! If you come here looking for it to be all things to all people, you will be disappointed. If you come here to just enjoy the people, the art, the genuine effort to be a COMMUNITY center, you will be happy for true.

After dealing with the incompetent and less than professional management team I’m in need of healing. The manager Dan Is unable or un willing to abide by a contractual agreement. He lacks a basic understanding of a contract. The arrogance and lack of professionalism of this management team is disappointing and reeks of political cronyism. I had to get a lawyer to enforce the terms of my contact and DaN still wouldn’t abide by its terms. This place is a major joke. Proceed with caution when doing business with these unscrupulous charlestons.

Three years later, still no recycling or proper bike racks. Inept, unobservant leadership must be to blame. NOHC is upholding some of the lesser characteristics of this city.

I recently signed up for some classes that ended up being held at The Healing Center. When I found out the location, I was like what the hell is a healing center? I imagined it as some sort of new age temple serving people on their paths to enlightenment… now, I played a hippy for a few years in the early 90’s when I was college, but I’m about as far from «new age» as it gets, so I was a little skeptical of what I’d be getting into solely based on the name. Then, I look up the web site and read a little and realized the «healing» part is because one of the purposes of the space is to help heal the surrounding community. I have no idea whether (1) the area needs/​wants to be healed or (2) if the center is achieving that goal, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there.
There is a good bit of parking in the back of the building, off Rampart. I had a little trouble figuring it out on my first visit, which could be blamed more on user error than any fault of the Center, but, IMO, it would have been helpful if they had a map or directions for parking on their web site (it just mentions that they have 75 parking spots, but no real details.) Of course, since the primary purpose of the center is to serve the surrounding communities, parking is less relevant for those within walking distance.
The building itself is very well kept. I still have a little trouble navigating through all the areas/​spaces, but maybe that’s just me (see my user error re: parking comment above.) I’ve finally figured out the shortest/​easiest route to my class… I just hope nothing gets moved around, because I’ll be lost again in a heartbeat without my «landmarks» to show me where to go.
There is a co-​op downstairs. There is a physical therapy studio on the second floor. And, based on all the people I see walking around with yoga mats, there has to be a yoga studio in there somewhere, too. There’s at least one restaurant and an auditorium where they have a variety of performances. The open spaces have art on display, which is something I always appreciate.
Bottom line, it’s a pretty cool place that has a whole lot of stuff happening. The parking is a nice plus. It’s well lit outside at night. I see tons of people of all ages and walks of life coming and going when I’m there, so it does seem to be a beneficial part of the community.

Since the affordable healing arts pod (aha) isn’t listed separately, and I have talked to both managers/​owners of the healing center about there sub lessor, aha. Because they don’t buffer there hours, They are encouraging 30 minute sessions, or really short hours. 45 minutes for an hour massage bites. Or the therapist has to pay for a second whole hour. Same thing with the table. Its not included in the rooms. It went from $ 5 for a 3 hour block to $ 10 for a 4 hour block. (You can do $ 5 for an hour again encouraging half hour or short (45 minute) hours. Drop the table fee, add it to the room so you get a table & buffer time, then allow 30 minute segments I.e. includes 15 minute pre/​post buffer 60÷90÷120÷150. (She could shorten it as yea, there need not be a full 30 minute buffer) it only saves my therapist $ 5 on an hour and on ninety minute sessions, but that’s more for them, and better quality for me as she’s not stressed carrying a table to save those 5 bucks when they should be included. Plus that could mean lower prices for me l’d rather pay $ 75 than 85 at the «affordable» healing arts center. P. s. did someone abuse there chair privlidges? ($ 10/​hour chair space rental) what if they sell me on an hour? They are promoting the space. P. s. perhaps switch to a $ 240 minimum vs an hourly minimum. Its cleaner. (Or are you discouraging larger room use and table rentals-​more quality issues as my therapist chooses to carry her own table.)

Way to go Bywater! This is exactly what this area needs while it’s revitalizing its identity. It has a great variety of shops and studios and the community has really responded with its patronage. It’s clean, safe, has a (limited) parking lot, and things are reasonably priced.
With all this said you may think it’s on the snooty side BUT it’s really more hippie than everything if you check out its list of stores. The center has a very laid-​back vibe yet is still organized and engaging.
It has a lot going on and I think it has staying power. Definitely check it out!

This review is for the restaurant at the front of the Healing Center, which is known as «Fatouche».
My wife brought me there when we first moved into the area. She swore it was excellent middle eastern food, and she was absolutely right. The food is fresh, fast, and very tasty. The prices are reasonable. The only (minor) drawback is that the service is just a tad sluggish and depending on the complexity of activity in the kitchen (which is half-​open to the restaurant), you may have to listen to arguments between the kitchen staff while waiting for your food.
Otherwise, everything about this place is great. The space is bright, tastefully decorated, and inviting. There is plenty of seating. It is clean and well-​maintained by an attentive staff.
I highly recommend Fatouche if you’re in the area and feel like good Turkish or Middle Eastern food. The gyro («yeah-​row» here, NOT «jye-​roh»), in particular, was especially good.

This place is great. They have a co-​op, Turkish Restaurant/​café, tai chi lessons, yoga room, cool events, and a chess club every Saturday morning at 10:00 am and Monday at 6:30 pm

Cool place with alot going on. Went for an art show on the second floor recently.

This in a funky place, no doubt about it. On the street front are the voodoo shop and the coffee shop. Deeper into the ground floor are the Fatoush restaurant, a fitness center, a credit union, and toward the back is the food co-​op. There’s also Café Istanbul, a venue for live entertainment. That place really rocks. At first, i wasn’t sure it would take off. But most nights, there’s something rocking going on there.
Half a flight up is the Maple Street Bookshop, whose slogan is «Fight the Stupids.» I can’t see this book store really lasting as there’s rarely anyone there shopping. They do have good book signings with local authors, though.
Upstairs is the yoga place, and while I’ve never been there, you can see a steady stream of people coming into the building with their yoga mats strapped across their backs. There are also rooms that can be rented for classes and seminars. And there’s always art exhibits up there and sometimes art talks.
On the third floor are businesses with a sustainable bent. And on the fourth floor is a spiritual space that can be reserved for meditation classes, poetry groups, and so on.
This is definitely a growing and evolving space. Unless you hang around a lot and see what’s happening, you might not realize the amazing diversity and liveliness of the place. The empty ground floor center, where ceremonies and craft bazaars are held, has a strange feeling to it. Wandering in off the street, visiting from out of town, it might all feel awkward. But the place works. It’s a gathering place.
I doubt you could find many places in the city with as much peaceful diversity as The Healing Center. And isn’t that the purpose? Peace with diversity? I think so.

First of all, I think we should all start calling it «The Healing Mall», not «center».
Second– coming from Seattle I very much appreciate having a food co-​op near by. Like other reviews: it is geared towards middle-​upper class river side kids. I certainly feel like I’ve been transported back to a moody west or east coast city when I walk in– the vibe is not so friendly (considering we’re in New Orleans). However, none of that will stop me from going there and supporting local farmers, artists, etc.

I go there frequently since I signed up for the Downtown Fitness center there. I have, at one time or another, belonged to several gyms in New Orleans. There are better gyms that offer more amenities, but it’s very inexpensive. I like going there, especially since I live so close-​by. As far as the Healing Center is concerned, it seems that more places there open every day. Maple Street Books just opened, and it’s nice that they sell inexpensive used copies as well as new. There is a restaurant called Fatoush which holds a lot of promise, and you can stop in the Botanica to get spiritual supplies or to look around. Wild Lotus Yoga is there, which I think is a cool addition. The food co-​op is scheduled to open soon, which will be a great and needed alternative to the über-​expensive Mardi Gras Zone.
I disagree with another reviewer who stated it’s a «resource for the higher-​income white people who are slowly but surely taking over the Marigny and Bywater.» This statement paints everyone with a broad brush, and it’s inaccurate. While it’s true that Marigny and Bywater have grown more affluent in recent years, after the massive suburban flight of the 60’s-80’s, it desperately needed an influx of tax-​paying residents. The historic housing stock was decaying at a rapid clip and the streets were completely unsafe. Thankfully, the neighborhood is thriving now.
Back to the center-​there are many patrons in the neighborhood, like myself, who are natives and aren’t «taking over» the neighborhood. Also, I see all sorts of different races of people frequenting the Healing Center every day– and it is in no way a place only for the well-​heeled.
There was recently a bunch of newly planted trees outside the center which were destroyed by a group of «anarchists» who were symbolically expressing their disapproval of the center in this very childish way– expressing their rage over the perceived «gentrification» caused by the creation of the Healing Center– it’s too bad this group of loser punks couldn’t find it within themselves to help poor people in an active, constructive manner.
So, all in all, I think it’s a great place for everyone of all income levels– there’s bound to be something there for you.
The Healing Center’s website is:

Ok, so I’m probably going to catch hell for this, but…
This place is pretty cool. I like the new Wild Lotus yoga studio, and hopefully I will like the Food Co-​op that I’ve been a member of for the past five or so years. I think it’s open now, so I’m gonna go by there soon. This place seems really cool, for what it is: a resource for the higher-​income white people who are slowly but surely taking over the Marigny and Bywater.
This place is supposed to be some kind of «healing» facility for the community (also, what is this supposed to be «healing?» Are we still trying to capitalize off of Katrina? Look, most of you were only tangentially affected by the storm, if you even lived in the area at that time. People aren’t loling about in gruesome throes of misery because of a disaster that happened 6 years ago. Those who ARE suffering are suffering in poverty, as they always have, because we live in a fundamentally unjust society. A building isn’t going to change that.). Now, I do think that’s an honorable purpose, but really, when I step back and look at it, it ultimately just seems like a symptom of gentrification. The patronage is decidedly white, middle-​class, educated non-​natives. Sure, they might be low-​income, but we all know that we were raised with a certain level of privilege that the community we’re pushing out of the area were not. Granted, I’m broke, and I’m from New Orleans. But I won’t deny that we were at least lower-​middle class for the majority of the time I was growing up.
Does this really contribute anything to the residents of this area who are NOT middle-​class white artists? I’m not sure. As for the Co-​op, it’s NOT the first grocery store in the area since Katrina. Sav-​a-​Lot is right down Franklin, and it is CHEAP. I can hear people screaming «BUT YOU CAN’T GET POMEGRANATE TEA AT SAV-​A-​LOT!!» Well, you know, when you have kids to feed, and generations of systemized oppression have kept you and your family in a state of poverty, your parents AREN’T professionals, a Bryn Mawr education WASN’T in the cards for you, and you don’t have time to create art because you have to work your ass off at a shitty job that provides no benefits, the availability of organically grown fair-​trade coffee isn’t a dealbreaker when you’re choosing a grocery store. Sav-​a-​Lot is cheap as hell. I bet the Food Co-​Op is awesome, and I’m glad to have another grocery within walking distance besides Mardi Gras Zone, but really yall, don’t make this out to be some kind of answer to the neighborhood’s food-​desert problem.
I’ve thought about what this place could do to be a community center that genuinely benefited the residents of the lake side of St. Claude. I think it would be cool if there was a low-​cost childcare program that operated not only during the 9 – 5 workday, but in the evenings as well, because most low-​income people don’t get those sweet 9 – 5 shifts. I also think it would be cool if there were some kind of adult literacy classes and maybe some kind of service where people can get help making a resume and filling out job applications… and a lot of people that totally qualify for assistance in one form or another (Medicaid, etc.), but they can’t figure out the application system (understandably). It would also be helpful to have volunteer tutors/​homework help for students, and maybe some kind of teen center/​program/​basketball goal in the parking lot/​whatever.
And look, I love Wild Lotus, but those prices, while discounted, are in no way within reach to people who are actually low income (and NOT choosing to live in a warehouse and make art while working as a bike delivery guy). I mean, the by-​donation classes are super cool, but I’ve never seen anyone attending them who, you know, wasn’t someone I also see buying gourmet coffee drinks. Is this stuff advertised? I live 2 blocks away and I have an internet connection, and I’m not sure, so I can only imagine how much of this information is actually making it across St. Claude into the homes of the residents it claims to want to benefit.
The building is beautiful, and I really, really hope it ends up doing what it promises. But really, I just don’t see this uniting the neighborhoods in any real way, or serving the majority of the community, who I’m guessing doesn’t really give a shit about a trendy juice bar and another quirky café. I see it being a wonderful addition to the Marigny/​Bywater, I see it helping to revive that dying commercial stretch of St. Claude, and I see it bringing a lot of convenience and joy to those of us who, frankly, find those two things relatively easy to come by.

wow. lets start with wow.
then lets move over to … awesome, and then lets go shopping, or should we eat? drink juices? shop for voodoo items, art, books, work out in a gym, eat healthy, listen to music, take a yoga class.
it just gets better all the time.
I’m more than impressed, I’m involved. I had an art booth this past weekend, and met many people, and celebrated with my neighbors, cause now I can shop just blocks from my house. I also made a small fortune, and got to be a guest speaker.
the last grocery store I was in? was on august 30^th, 2005. we all know what today is, so on this anniversary, I can finally say, we can finally make groceries in this neighborhood. only took six years, a co op, and a neighborhood that stands together.
and I can finally open a bank account in a credit union, and leave the bankster across the street.
this is a miracle. at the end of the evening, I danced to henry butler. I laughed with my neighbors, and I had a few drinks.
it was a good day.
thank you.