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The Diamond Center, at 2203 Dunn St. in the Mendenhall Valley, now houses four women-owned business - Raintree Quilting, Sacred Forest Healing Arts LLC, Taproot Yoga and A Dance of Hands - the last three of which specialize in healing.

"We couldn't have found a better fit to complete our business community," said Malia McInerney, owner of Taproot Yoga. "We all support one another and learn from sharing our experiences as business owners ... It's an honor to have them move in downstairs, especially because our work is so complimentary. All of us are dedicated to the vision of bringing healing and health opportunities to Juneau."

Taproot, which will celebrate its one-year anniversary at the end of the month, is on the second floor of the Diamond Center and offers a variety of yoga classes that help strengthen, open and relax the body-mind system.

"We have a large studio with full amenities, as well as a serene ambiance," McInerney said.

In fact, Taproot will have a guest teacher, Suddha Weixler, director of the Chicago Yoga Center, visiting Thursday to Sunday, Sept. 24 to 27. Weixler will teach two classes a day as well as weekend workshops. All are welcome, including beginners.

"This is really exciting for Taproot to bring someone of Suddha's depth and experience to town," McInerney said.

McInerney said she has benefited in many ways from yoga and simply wants to share it.

"Practically speaking, (yoga) provides a great opportunity to take preventative care," she said. "But it also helps us become more open and centered, which we benefit from immediately. I also love the process of creating a warm and welcoming communal space where people don't have to be 'on' for anyone; they can just let go and have their own experience."

Sacred Forest Healing Arts

Sacred Forest Healing Arts, which opened in June, is located on the first floor and offers massage therapy, craniosacral therapy and healing touch.

"The broad category is body and energy work, the massage being the most physical of the three modalities," said owner Judy Macnak, who has 13 years experience in healing touch. "Craniosacral has that physical component. It's very gentle holding or manipulation, but it's very quiet work. And then healing touch is just energy work. It can be done without even touching the body, although often times, touch is used."

Macnak believes these types of healing arts are beneficial on many levels. On the physical level, they work to reduce muscle tension and help in physical relaxation.

"And when a person relaxes, they're better able to integrate the traumas in their life," Macnak said. "They're better able to allow self-healing, which we're all capable of, to happen without resistance."

Macnak said her art requires she listen on a "deep level" to what's happening in the body.

"There are very subtle rhythms within the body that, until we get very quiet and settle down, we're not often aware of," she said. "Most of us are pretty comfortable with recognizing our own heartbeats, but there's a lot of other rhythms going on as well."

Macnak has spent most of her 31 years in Alaska in Juneau. A resident since 1990, she worked until May as a nurse and massage and alternative healing therapist at SEARHC. She said business at Sacred Forest right now is slow.

"In this kind of work, word of mouth is the best form of gaining clients, and that takes time," she said. "But I'm very encouraged. I have a beautiful space, and I love the work that I do. And I think it's important work."

Sacred Forest shares a space with A Dance of Hands Massage.

A Dance of Hands Massage

A Dance of Hands Massage, which opened in May, specializes in integrative massage. Owner Rebecca Albert customizes treatment for each of her clients, pulling from the various techniques she's trained in: hot stone, deep tissue, Swedish, Hawaiian lomi lomi and prenatal massage; trigger point therapy; and myofascial and positional release.

"The reason I employ these different techniques is because different people respond to different modalities or applications of massage," she said. "Some folks respond better to deep tissue and firm massage, and other folks are going to respond better if you can get them to relax first with more gentle massage."

Albert has practiced massage since 1995 in Fairbanks, Seward and Juneau. A Juneau resident from 1996 to 1998, most recently since 2001, she practiced massage exclusively since 2004, working for Seventh Heaven Day Spa and Rejuvenation Day Spa. She said she is excited about her new studio.

"I love it," she said. "(The space) is great because it has excellent parking (parking is hard to come by in Juneau), and I love my neighbors. It's clean, bright and has great windows. I love the location; it's accessible, but it's off the road just a tiny bit, so it's quiet."

A Dance of Hands is usually open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, however, massage therapy sessions are booked in advance by appointment only. Call 209-4900 to make an appointment.

• Contact Neighbors editor Kim Andree at 523-2272 or kim.andree@juneauempire.com.