Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Robins.
Hi Christina, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Into The Well Collective began during COVID, when founder Ellen James started training neighbors and friends in her garage. In a time marked by isolation and uncertainty, she witnessed firsthand how powerful it could be to move together, support one another, and prioritize wellness, in community. That experience planted the seed for something much bigger.
In 2021, Ellen discovered a historic 1800s building in Downtown Garland and immediately felt it was meant to be home for this growing community. The energy of the space was undeniable. Soon after, Into The Well Collective was born with a simple but meaningful mission: to create a safe, welcoming place where all people could come as they are, move their bodies, connect, and feel a sense of belonging. From the beginning, it was never just a movement studio—it was a space for care, connection, and shared humanity.
Christina joined the studio shortly after it opened in September 2021, at one of the lowest points of her life. Coming out of the pandemic, navigating personal health challenges and infertility, she walked into the studio for a “Body Talk” gathering—a space for women to reflect on body image and societal pressures, led by Mary Lu. What she found was an immediate sense of calm and acceptance. This space felt like a light during a very dark season. It was the first time in her life she joined a “gym” and didn’t feel dread or pressure. Instead, she felt at home. In 2024, after bringing her daughter home, she stepped into ownership alongside Ellen.
Together, we expanded Into The Well Collective by launching our partnership program and growing our private event offerings. The partnership program was created to support other wellness practitioners and small business owners by giving them an accessible space to bring their ideas to life. At the same time, our event rentals naturally grew, enabling us to host and be part of meaningful life moments—such as engagements, weddings, milestone birthdays, and more.
Today, Into The Well Collective continues to grow as a place rooted in connection, accessibility, and care. We are proud to hold space for movement, wellness, and community in ways that meet people where they are and support them as they are.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Small business ownership is anything but a smooth road, but each challenge has a way of revealing how to move forward and grow. Beyond the typical ups and downs of running a business, we experienced the added challenge of opening during a full revitalization of the Downtown Garland Square.
When we first opened, the square was not yet a destination. It felt outdated, lacked consistent foot traffic, and had very few active businesses. Still, we saw the potential. While others underestimated Garland, we believed in the people, the vision, and the sense of community that already existed. We knew it was the right place to build something meaningful.
Shortly after opening, construction began on a complete redesign of the downtown square, including major street and infrastructure updates. Our studio has one of the best views of the square—which, for nearly two years, meant a front-row seat to construction vehicles, piles of dirt, limited parking, and reduced visibility. It was a significant hardship during an already vulnerable time for a new business.
Looking back, it was absolutely worth the wait. We are incredibly proud of our city and its Downtown. The sense of community here is rare—built by resilient small business owners and a city committed to supporting its residents. One of our community members once referred to us as “the gem of the Downtown Garland Square,” and we carry that sentiment with deep gratitude and pride.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What sets us apart from other movement studios in the Dallas area is both our community and the breadth of what we offer.
We’ve intentionally built a space where people come not just to take a class, but to connect. This isn’t a studio where you roll up your mat and leave without interacting—there’s often a natural gathering after class in what we call the “living room” of our studio. It’s common for conversations to continue beyond our walls, sometimes over coffee at Rosalinds, just downstairs.
When we follow up with new clients, the most consistent feedback we hear is, “Everyone is so friendly.” That sense of belonging starts with an ownership team and staff who genuinely believe in acceptance and inclusivity for all people.
We also prioritize making wellness accessible. Our memberships are offered at reasonable, sustainable rates and include unlimited classes—no tiers, no limits. Members also receive added value through free and discounted workshops, partnership programs, exclusive events, and merchandise discounts. We believe wellness should feel supportive, not restrictive.
In terms of programming, we don’t specialize in just one modality. We offer a wide range of classes under one roof—from strength and cardio-based classes to deeply restorative yoga, and everything in between. This allows people to explore variety in their movement and meet their bodies where they are each day.
What we’re most proud of is the culture we’ve created: a space rooted in warmth, accessibility, and genuine connection, where people feel seen, supported, and welcomed exactly as they are.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson we’ve learned is that people simply want to be seen. In a world where isolation and loneliness have become increasingly common, many are deeply craving connection and community. People need spaces where they can show up honestly—where their successes are celebrated and their hard days are met with compassion.
Our role is to offer that space. We accept people exactly as they are and permit them to take what they need, without pressure or expectation. One of the most meaningful symbols in our studio is a neon sign that reads “Take Up Space.” It’s more than décor—it’s an invitation. An invitation to stop shrinking ourselves to fit into boxes that were never meant for us, and instead to fully inhabit our lives, our bodies, and our voices.
At its core, our work is about reminding people that they belong, just as they are, and that their presence matters.
Pricing:
- $25 class drop-in
- $99/month unlimited membership
- $59/month weekend warrior membership
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.intothewellcollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intothewell_collective/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/intothewellcollective
Image Credits
Photos taken by Jen Lim Photography
