Meet Amber Niswander of CELÉ Wellness

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Niswander.

Hi Amber, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Our story began with a shared vision and a dash of serendipity. We are Emily Trowbridge, Amber Niswander, and Tara Selleck, and together, we are the co-founders of CELÉ Wellness, a unique sanctuary born from our individual passions right here in Los Angeles.
For years, Emily poured her energy into Education- studying at the University of Southern California and teaching elementary school for nearly 15 years. But Emily’s true calling always revolved around movement. From a young age, dance was her love language, and fitness her lifeline. She became a barre instructor after the birth of her first child, witnessing firsthand the transformative power a routine of movement can have on the body. Her dream for CELÉ Wellness was to create a space where women could truly embrace their bodies, offering a gym, three diverse fitness studios, and group classes that are not just challenging, but genuinely fun and energizing.
Amber’s journey brought a different, yet equally vital, piece to the puzzle. As a former massage therapist and property manager, she understood the profound need for a serene escape. Amber envisioned an aesthetically beautiful and calming sanctuary, a place where women could find true restoration. Her expertise shaped our wellness offerings, from the soothing warmth of our saunas and red light therapy to the invigorating benefits of cold plunging, lymphatic drainage, meditation, and contrast therapy – all designed to nurture women through various holistic modalities.
Tara’s passion has always been self-care, particularly through the art of aesthetics. As an aesthetician, Tara has seen how powerful truly clean products and holistic modalities can be in enhancing natural beauty. Tara wanted CELÉ Wellness to be a haven for women to reconnect with themselves, offering facials and treatments that celebrate natural radiance and prioritize overall well-being.
Individually, we each had a clear path, but it was when we realized the immense overlap in our aspirations that CELÉ Wellness truly began to take shape. We recognized a common thread: the desire to empower women to meet all their wellness needs – mind, body, and spirit – under one roof. We envisioned a place where a woman could challenge herself with a vigorous workout, then unwind with a relaxing massage, and finish with a revitalizing facial.
From countless brainstorming sessions in the then vacant building to navigating the complexities of creating a business and membership model that had not existed before, our journey has been one of unwavering dedication and mutual support. We poured our hearts into every detail, from the layout of our space to the selection of our team, ensuring that CELÉ Wellness would be more than just a facility – it would be a community. Today, seeing our vision come to life, and witnessing the positive impact CELÉ Wellness has on the women of the greater Los Angeles area, is the most rewarding part of our story. We started with a dream, and through collaboration and a shared commitment to women’s well-being, we’ve arrived at a place where we can truly make a difference.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of our biggest initial challenges was transforming a nearly 14,000-square-foot second-generation space into the beautiful, serene, and visually appealing sanctuary we envisioned. This wasn’t just about aesthetics; it involved meticulous planning to ensure we didn’t interfere with existing water and sound proof flooring. We also had to be incredibly mindful of ADA compliance and building codes, which required careful attention to detail at every step. Although the build out was a challenge, it was seamless without many roadblocks- we always said it was because CELÉ was meant to be. It was a complex puzzle, but seeing the finished space now, we know all that hard work paid off.
Another significant challenge was building our incredible team. We were looking for passionate experts in their fields, and we cast a wide net, receiving nearly 400 applications for only 40 positions. This meant numerous rounds of interviews, intense auditions for our fitness instructors, and hands-on practicums for our spa staff. It was a rigorous process, but we were committed to finding the very best. And we did! Our staff is truly amazing, and their dedication and expertise are a huge part of what makes CELÉ Wellness so special.
Perhaps our greatest hurdle, though, was the sheer risk we took. While each of us had years of experience and passion within our respective fields, CELÉ Wellness is each of our first entrepreneurial endeavors. Stepping into the unknown, taking on the responsibility of building a business from the ground up, was a massive leap of faith. This was compounded by the fact that there was no business model to mirror the complexity of everything CELÉ has to offer. We had to invent our own unique approach, including our innovative credit system, which meant we were constantly navigating uncharted territory. We had no guarantee of success, and that uncertainty was a constant struggle- not knowing if it was all going to work or not was a significant weight.
But looking back, we are so incredibly grateful that we made the decision to found CELÉ. Every obstacle we faced, every challenge we overcame – from construction complexities to staffing, and especially the daunting task of creating an entirely new business model – has taught us invaluable lessons and brought us closer to achieving our dream of creating a truly comprehensive holistic women’s wellness center.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At CELÉ Wellness, we’ve created something truly special for the women of Los Angeles. We are a women-centered sanctuary, a place designed from the ground up to empower and support women in taking care of their whole selves – mind, body, and spirit.
What sets us apart begins with our unique approach. While our state-of-the-art gym operates on a membership basis, our luxurious spa is open to everyone, ensuring that a wider community can access our holistic offerings. We specialize in providing a completely personalized and curated wellness journey through our innovative credit system. Members can use their credits for a vast array of additional services, including our popular wellness amenities like saunas and cold plunges, specialized classes such as Reformer Pilates, one-on-one Personal Training sessions, and even the entire spa menu. This means our clients can truly “shop” with their credits, building a wellness experience that perfectly fits their individual needs and desires.
We are known as a one-stop shop for comprehensive well-being. Imagine completing an invigorating fitness class, then seamlessly transitioning to recovering via our wellness offerings, then receiving a relaxing massage, followed by a rejuvenating facial. This holistic approach, addressing everything from movement and physical fitness to deep relaxation and beauty, is what makes CELÉ Wellness unique. We also believe in the power of knowledge, offering a variety of workshops designed for learning and personal growth within our serene environment.
Brand-wise, what we are most proud of is the genuine sanctuary we’ve cultivated. It’s a place where women can step away from the demands of daily life and truly prioritize self-care. But beyond the beautiful space and diverse offerings, the most rewarding aspect has been the incredible community that has emerged and grown within the walls of CELÉ. Witnessing women connect, support each other, and embark on their wellness journeys together is truly inspiring.
We want your readers to know that CELÉ Wellness is more than just a gym or a spa; it’s a movement towards empowered self-care. It’s about providing the tools, the space, and the support for every woman to feel her best, inside and out. We invite everyone to experience the difference of a space where every detail is designed with women’s holistic well-being in mind.

What does success mean to you?
For us, defining success is deeply rooted in the well-being and happiness of the women who walk through our doors. Ultimately, success for CELÉ Wellness is having happy members. When we see our members truly flourish and connect within our space, we know we’re achieving our mission. It’s about witnessing them prioritize and take care of themselves, often for the very first time in a dedicated way.
There’s immense satisfaction in seeing women discover the benefits of our offerings, whether it’s through the invigorating experience of our fitness studios or the serene embrace of our wellness amenities. We celebrate every small victory: a member feeling safe and comfortable enough to truly relax, or someone belonging to a gym for the first time and finding their rhythm.
For us, the greatest measure of success is the tangible impact we have on individual lives. It’s the quiet confidence gained, the genuine smiles exchanged, and the sense of belonging that permeates our community. When our members feel supported, empowered, and genuinely cared for, that’s when we know CELÉ Wellness is truly succeeding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.celewellness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celewellness/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560412685765
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cel%C3%A9wellness/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cel%C3%A9-wellness-westlake-village?osq=Cel%C3%A9+Wellness

Image Credits
Crystal Quayle Photography
Blue Stripe Studios
Emmanuel Bichayda