Seasonal Health Cuts Ribbon, Opens Doors

Hoboken now has a one-stop shop where you can get a massage, learn how to cook healthy, sniff herbal remedies and also have your uterus adjusted. Just visit Seasonal Health, the multi-practice medical office and wellness center that held its grand opening celebration last Monday.

About Town often encounters Seasonal Health founder Dr. Kathia Roberts at local events. We never really knew what she did though, so we attended the grand opening to learn. Roberts explained the Seasonal Health concept: “We promote natural and holistic health care to optimize well-being and change your life.”

Roberts then listed treatments and procedures Seasonal Health offers like homeopathic drinks and neuro-endo immune testing. We still have no idea what those things are, but we do know that Roberts is a doctor of integrative medicine and trust that she knows what's she's talking about. Speaking of talking, Roberts comes from South Africa, so when you hear her pronounce “mah-ssage” with an exotic accent you feel like you just had one.

She then gave us a tour of the wellness center, located on the second floor of 117 Washington St. Each room is designed with a seasonal theme. The consultation room signifies spring and rebirth, the fully functional kitchen represents summer and so forth. About Town then visited the center apothecary stocked with herbs such as horse chestnut, fennel seed and cacao powder. It's great to know the apothecary trade still exists in case we ever get into a messy relationship with one of those Capulet girls.

Dr. Roberts also introduced us to her fellow practitioners, who include an acupuncturist, sound therapist, aroma therapist and masseuse. “We all compliment each other and cross-refer,” Roberts said.

We had an interesting conversation with one specialist in particular, Trish DeTura, a registered nurse and licensed midwife who practices something called Maya abdominal massage on female reproductive equipment. Many of DeTura's patients are women who want to improve their chances of getting pregnant.

“I always ask, is your uterus happy?” DeTura said. 

About Town did see some notable guests at the grand opening party, including hMag Magazine publisher and Tisha Creative owner Joe Mindak, True Mentors director Susi Tully and Roberts's South African compatriot Peta Moran.

We talked to Chamber of Commerce president Michael Novak, who's been telling us for months how Dr. Roberts has changed his life with dietary advice. He mentioned that she helped him and two other members of the Chamber's executive committee lose a combined 100 pounds. “We wish Dr. Roberts the best of luck with her new office,” Novak said.

After an hour of mingling the guests gathered outside, where Dr. Roberts, her partners and Mayor Dawn Zimmer staged a ribbon cutting.

“I want to offer you huge congratulations on your new business,” Zimmer said. “Hoboken needs a healthy option like this.”

With that Roberts and the Mayor cut the ribbon. Though About Town jokes about not knowing anything about the services Seasonal Health offers, we're a fan of the wellness concept — take better care of yourself now and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble later. So here's to strengthened immune systems, slimmer waistlines and smiling, ecstatic uteruses.

Alan Skontra was a big dork who never went anywhere. Then he started writing the About Town column for Patch, and now he's everywhere. Have a hot tip on an event in Hoboken? Send an invitation, questions and comments too, to alanskontra@hotmail.com, and peep his tweets @twitter.com/alanskontra.