A new wellness retreat center founded by a yoga entrepreneur is in the works for South Dallas. Called The Feel to Heal Retreat Center, it's a partnership between Ricky Tran, a well known yoga instructor and entrepreneur who has opened several yoga studios in Dallas; and Edward Okpa, a business executive and former mayoral candidate, who will lead the development and planning of the center.

According to Okpa, the center will be located at 1801 E. Wheatland Rd., on about 25 acres of land by UNT Dallas Campus at DART Station. The land is under contract; Tran will dedicate two acres to develop the center. They hope to have it open in 2026.

Tran and Okpa have known each other for over 20 years.

"I met Ricky when I was a guest speaker in his real estate and entrepreneurial class and we struck a friendship," Okpa says. "He stayed in touch and we spoke about many things. About two years or so, he approached me with an idea for a Yoga-type wellness center that would serve the community and be devoted to healing."

"As a seasoned real estate practitioner with considerable experience in economic development and site selection to maximize project benefits, I proposed the site," Okpa says. "And Ricky given his natural disposition to spiritual bent, was sold and we started the process."

Tran, famous for leading classes in parks and over virtual sessions, began doing retreats in 2020 at locations such as Springhill Retreat Center in Richardson and in Wimberley, Texas, as a kind of getaway to practice yoga and meditate.

Having a center would provide not only a consistent location but also an opportunity to get into deeper events and stays of a week at a time or longer.

"While some retreats offer one class per day and allow time for activities or excursions, we offer more opportunities to practice, study and dig deeply, thus leading to life-changing "ah-ha" moments," Tran says. "The intention is to hold space and provide teachings that can further your healing on all 5 layers of being. Basically building a personal paradise for the world wide yoga and meditation community."

That would include a concierge, laundry, and kitchen with cooking demos and workshops, plus a pool, spa, and rooftop deck. Therapies would include cold plunge, sauna, red light therapy, massage, chiropractic, and acupuncture.