Staff Photo Nick Brothers
Nee and Rob Karas own and operate the Karas Health Care clinic at 1041 N. Garland Ave. in Fayetteville. Nee teaches yoga in the studio pictured behind the couple.
If you’re looking for more of a personalized health care provider that can also offer you yoga or Jiu Jitsu classes all in one place, look no further.
Karas Health Care Clinic, located at 1041 N. Garland Ave. will host its grand opening this Saturday, Oct. 17. The grand opening will feature refreshments, free yoga and Jiu-Jitsu classes as well as a performance by the local African dance troupe Afrique Aya.
Locally owned and operated by Rob Karas, the new clinic sits right next door to his previous space which used to be Urgent Care. The previous space was becoming too small to operate out of, so when the much bigger space next door became available Karas jumped on the opportunity to expand.
Because the new space was more than 4,000 square feet — which was four times more than the old clinic and more than he needed — it provided a perfect opportunity for Karas’s wife, Nee, to open up her first yoga studio after she had been teaching for a few years around town. The space also allowed for Rob to utilize the space as a Jiu-Jitsu studio, something he’s always thought about doing since training with friends at his home.
Angelo, a close friend to the Karas’s and the director of Afrique Aya, also happened to be in the market for a permanent studio space to conduct lessons and rehearsals. So a lot of things were set in motion at the perfect time to expand the clinic and provide studio space for their passions.
“We wanted to show people that we could basically start having not just sick care, but health care, and here’s things you can do,” Karas said. “These are the things that we like to do that keep us healthy. It’s been really fun with the new space. I think my staff really enjoys it. It’s nice that it’s attached to the office.”
The clinic is split down the middle, with the 10 rooms on the right side used for clinic purposes and the left side’s open studio space dedicated the studio space for yoga, Afrique Aya, and Jiu-Jitsu.
The idea is to have a clinic that’s based on a health and wellness model rather than a sick care model, Karas said.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers
Rob Karas, owner and supervisor of Karas Health Care, works with his staff Monday afternoon, Oct. 12.
“We want to try to lead by example,” Karas said. “If you try and tell somebody to be healthy and you aren’t healthy, it doesn’t usually go as far… We can prevent a lot of our illnesses by a better diet and lifestyle. If we can help encourage that environment where our patients are actively doing that, it pays off in the long run.”
This layout provides the opportunity for the clinic employees to do yoga on their lunch breaks as well as provide opportunities for patients to learn about healthful hobbies to pursue all in one location.
The clinic offers walk-in services in addition to family medicine, acute care (stitches, bone injuries, etc.) and will soon have X-Ray services. Clinics can offer more attentive and personalized care compared to an ER in a large hospital, Karas said — who worked in ER’s for more than 10 years before opening his first clinic.
“My philosophy is that everyone deserves health care, regardless if you can afford it or not,” he said.
The clinic also houses an acupuncturist for those seeking a health care alternative for stress and pain relief among other types of symptom-relief.
Nee’s yoga studio offers Free Friday yoga classes, child daycare during yoga and classes taught by a certified therapeutic yoga instructor for those who may be unable to do mainstream yoga or are seeking yoga to help symptom management.
“We try to take it back to old time medicine where it’s personable, and I think it shows. That’s why we needed more space.” Karas said. “I take pride in my work. I look over 100 percent of the charts. That’s what kind of care you get here.”
For more information, visit karasurgentcare.com.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers
