THE CELADON CLUB AND SPA
A Slice of Paradise Hidden on Lady’s Island
story by JEANNE REYNOLDS photos by JENNY PHILLIPS
If you’ve never heard of the Celadon Club and Spa, aren’t sure where it is, or maybe didn’t know you could go there, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re a member of a pretty big club.
The 5,759-square-foot state-of-the-art Celadon Club is practically hidden in plain sight, behind the clock tower in the Celadon community just off of Sam’s Point Road on Lady’s Island.
“We’re sort of a hidden gem,” says General Manager Theanette Holmes. “Most people don’t know we’re here or think you have to live in the Celadon community to come to the club. Our spa is open to the public, and we offer nonresident memberships for individuals, couples, and families, as well as a vast array of social events, programs, and fitness experiences open to all of Beaufort, member or not.”
The Celadon Club offers nearly everything from fat-burning cardio workouts to relaxing spa services to educational programs.
“We really focus on wellness, and by that I mean total wellness, not just fitness,” Theanette says. “It’s wholeness — taking care of not just your physical body, but also your mental and social body. Our entire staff has a mission to promote wellness, membership, engaging and purposeful lifestyle activities and events for members and beyond, and community outreach and service. Visitors are always welcome and highly encouraged. We want to make an impact in the greater Beaufort community and we’re always eager to share all of the goodness the club offers.”
Members have access to a fully equipped gym, group and specialty fitness classes, personal training, spa services, steam room, saltwater outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, bocce court, Har-Tru clay tennis court, fully stocked locker rooms, social events and activities, snack shop, and even a small library. The monthly schedule includes up to 96 yoga, cardio, and strength-training classes at no additional cost to members, plus quarterly or seasonal specialty classes and workshops, ranging from kickboxing to tai chi for an additional charge. The staff boasts 10 fitness professionals, including four yoga instructors offering a variety of styles, such as hatha, vinyasa, gentle yoga, heated yoga, and yoga for healthy aging.
One of the club’s more unusual wellness offerings is a “sound healing” Full Moon Sound Bath.
“It’s a holistic healing modality where our sound therapist, Chandra Bergmann of Alchemy, uses sound vibrations from crystal singing bowls to wash and cleanse the energetic body, returning recipients to homeostasis,” explains Jessica Zsamar, Celadon’s lifestyles coordinator.
Chandra will also bring this healing modality to Celadon’s pool this summer as Aqua Sound, premiering at Celadon’s Yoga Wellness Retreat May 17–19. “It’s a full weekend, where participants will retreat in the beauty of the club and immerse themselves into the world of yoga, guided by Celadon’s wonderful yoga professionals,” Jessica says. “It’s a weekend not to miss.”
Jessica says her job also includes “planning all the fun stuff” at Celadon. That ranges from a monthly lunch-and-learn series with a class or project led by local artists or community members to a bimonthly supper club with Celadon resident chefs Robert Singleton and Sherri Whitmire, offering a small-group “chef’s table” experience. The club collaborates with community leaders, local businesses, and professionals to provide monthly wellness “happy hours” (leave the alcohol at home) on physical, mental, medical, financial, and other wellness topics, while local authors and storytellers host bimonthly interactive presentations on their books and stories. Both the happy hours and book talks are complimentary and open to the public.
Also on the club’s packed calendar are walk-and-talks with Master Naturalist Jill Moore of Moore2Life SC through Celadon’s private nature preserve on topics such as birds of the Lowcountry and planting pollinator gardens. Spring break will blossom with story and craft times for kids, while summer will feature five week-long camps for children ages 5 to 12, with no membership required.
“This is the seventh summer we’re offering our very popular Camp Celadon, featuring themed weeks in sports, fitness, art, dance and cheer, and nature, led by master teachers, naturalists, top tennis pros, and more.” Jessica says. Expanding those youth offerings beyond summer to develop a youth program over the full year is an area of focus, she adds.
While many of the club’s lifestyle activities are available to nonmembers, membership includes several extra perks, such as 24-hour access to the gym, all core classes, the pool, and locker rooms, plus priority booking and special member pricing for classes, workshops, and events. Theanette says that the club has grown to about 230 members — a little more than half of them Celadon community residents — under the current owners who bought the club and residential community in 2015. Day passes also are available for visiting family members and friends or local residents who want to try out the facilities.
“I feel blessed to have the opportunity to serve such an amazing membership and to have grown with the community over these past almost seven years,” Theanette says. “When I arrived at Celadon in 2017 there were only 11 houses in the neighborhood. Now there are 127 homes and a blossoming membership of nonresidents.”
The spa offers services including facials, microdermabrasion, waxing services, and therapeutic and Swedish massage, which the club considers another wellness modality. Three licensed and experienced massage therapists are on staff, including Cheryl Carver, the club’s longest-standing therapist, who’s been part of the Celadon team for eight years.
“Finding staff who want to stay with you and make this a career path shows again how special the club is,” Theanette notes.
One of the newer services in the spa is hydradermabrasion, an advanced treatment that combines a facial, mild peel, and microdermabrasion, according to Connie Nickles, esthetician and Celadon Club spa director.
“Hydradermabrasion is a customizable hybrid treatment that gives dull, aged, and damaged skin an instant transformation,” Connie says. “Your skin is cleansed, exfoliated, and hydrated, then fused with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and peptides, leaving you with a glowing complexion. This treatment also works wonders for protecting against environmental damage, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and plumping and firming skin. You can expect noticeable results immediately after a treatment. Your skin will feel fresh, clean, and hydrated with no downtime needed.”
Clients booking a service at the spa also receive a pass to enjoy the facilities for the entire day. “It’s perfect for special occasions, a girls day outing, or just for some much needed me time,” Connie adds.
“I don’t think you can go anywhere else and access so much,” Theanette says. “We’re so much more than a gym.” But she’s quick to add the long list of services and programs isn’t what makes Celadon special.
“It’s the staff and members,” she says. “Everyone is greeted by name, the customer service is impeccable, and everyone here is a true expert in their area. We’re always continuing to educate ourselves, so we can always offer something new and fresh. It’s amazing to see people who care that much about what they’re doing.”
The club’s members create Celadon’s atmosphere, Theanette adds. “From the day I arrived here, they welcomed me with open arms. Any time we’re doing an event or community service project, or one of our members or staff is going through something, they show up. They’ve really become like an extended family. The magnetic energy that you can feel as soon as you walk into the club, and the amazing dynamic everyone wants to be part of is because of our members and staff. Sometimes I just pinch myself. I feel like we’re working in paradise.”
Coming up at the Celadon Club and Spa
Learn more about events and how to sign up on Celadon’s website at https://celadonclub.com/ or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CeladonClubWellnessCenter.
• April 7 – Supper club: Gullah Geechee dining experience
• April – TBD Lunch-and-learn: Create your own skin care routine
• April 19 – Spring break nature adventure
• April 22 – Nature is neat: Birds of the Lowcountry
• May 7 – Lunch-and-learn: Pollinator walk and talk
• May 17 – 19 – Yoga Wellness Retreat
• June 10 – 14 – Camp FUNdamentals
• June 17 – 21 – Camp Create Jr.
• July 4 – Fourth of July celebration
• July 8 – 12 – Camp Create: Art camp
• July 22 – 26 – Camp Go Wild
• July 23 – Aug 27 – Aqua Sound series
• July 29 – Aug 2 – Camp Go, Dance, Cheer
• Sep 2 – Summer send-off celebration
MEET THE CELADON TEAM
Theanette Holmes: General Manager
Originally from: New Orleans, LA
Beaufort County resident since: 2005
Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology and dance with a focus on education and teacher’s certification from Radford University
Celadon team member since: 2017
Other career highlights: Dance educator at Lady’s Island Elementary School, arts grant writer and ABC chair, dance and fitness instructor, children’s activities director/assistant sports club director at Oldfield Club
Favorite wellness experience or treat: A massage at the club and a good meal from a local restaurant
Best wellness advice: Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s essential and it looks different for everyone. Find what it means for you and make time to do it!
Jessica Zsamar: Lifestyles Coordinator
Originally from: East Stroudsburg, PA
Beaufort County resident since: 2005
Education: Master’s degree in education from the University of South Carolina, bachelor’s degree in dance from Point Park University
Celadon team member since: 2022 as yoga instructor and 2023 as lifestyles coordinator
Other career highlights: Hospitality industry, dance educator, and award-winning choreographer
Family: Husband, Adam; children, Jase, Mac, and Everett
Hobbies: Yoga, reading, and doing laundry
Favorite wellness experience or treat: Meditation
Best wellness advice: Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future. Concentrate the mind on the present moment. — Buddha
Connie Nickles: Spa Manager and Esthetician
Originally from: Beaufort, SC
Beaufort County resident since: 1964
Education: Coastal Carolina, SC. Massage and Aesthetics Institute
Celadon team member since: 2018
Other career highlights: 17 years in esthetics starting with permanent makeup; certifications in aging and acne facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, hydradermabrasion, and brow and lash tinting
Family: Husband, Mike; daughters, Katelyn and Chloe
Hobbies: Boating, going to the beach
Favorite wellness experience or treat: I love a massage. Not only does it feel amazing, but it improves my physical and mental health.
Best wellness advice: Stick to a skincare routine. Be consistent with morning and night skin care.
