Today we’d like to introduce you to Fontashia Johnson.
Hi Fontashia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey to where I am today has been shaped by purpose, education, personal experiences, and a deep desire to help people live healthier, more empowered, and fulfilling lives.
During my years as an educator, I saw firsthand how much people needed support beyond traditional education. It was during that time that I founded FACTS—Financial Awareness Counseling & Teaching Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. My intention was to educate and empower marginalized communities in areas that I longed to understand as a child and in life skills that I realized I had not been taught even as I entered adulthood. I wanted to create opportunities for people to gain knowledge, resources, and tools that could truly impact their lives.
Education and empowerment have always been at the heart of my work, but over time, I began to understand that knowledge alone is not always enough. We can have access to information and still struggle with stress, burnout, emotional challenges, financial pressures, and the demands of everyday life. I began to recognize just how deeply connected our overall well-being truly is.
A pivotal moment came during a personal retreat. In a moment of reflection and stillness, I received a vision for something greater—a safe and inclusive space where people could come to receive more than just education. I envisioned a place where individuals could cultivate a whole-body experience and intentionally care for their mental, emotional, physical, and overall well-being.
That vision eventually became FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center.
I wanted to create more than a place where someone could simply book a service. I wanted to create a space where people could pause, breathe, heal, learn, reconnect with themselves, and explore wellness in ways that felt accessible and meaningful to them. A place where education, healing, self-care, and community could exist together.
Today, FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center brings together a variety of wellness experiences, including massage therapy, facials and esthetic services, yoga, mindfulness, sound healing, fitness, retreats, and community wellness events. My background in education, financial literacy, mindfulness, and wellness has allowed me to approach this work through a unique lens—one that recognizes that true wellness involves the whole person.
The journey has not always been easy. Entrepreneurship comes with challenges, pivots, lessons, and moments when you have to believe in your vision even before everyone else can see it. But every experience—from my years in education, to founding the nonprofit, to that powerful moment during my personal retreat—has helped shape the woman, entrepreneur, and community leader I am today.
What began as a desire to educate and empower others has evolved into a larger mission of helping people understand that wellness is not a luxury—it is an essential part of living a healthy, balanced, and fulfilling life. I am proud of how far the vision has come, but I am even more excited about where we’re going and the continued opportunities to create spaces, experiences, and conversations that support the well-being of our community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road. The past couple of years have come with many obstacles, challenges, and moments that truly tested my faith, resilience, and commitment to the vision.
There were times when I honestly did not know how the bills were going to get paid or how I was going to continue keeping the space open. As a growing business, I had to become creative and strategic with marketing, often searching for ways to reach people with little to no budget. I also started this journey after recently moving to Fayetteville, so I came into a new community with a vision but without many established connections or relationships to help build awareness around what we were creating.
Another challenge has been finding the right people to grow alongside the vision. Building a team is about more than simply finding talented individuals—it is about finding people who genuinely connect with the mission, believe in what you are building, and want to contribute to the growth of the space and community.
I’ve also had to learn how to handle rejection and understand that sometimes you will hear many “no’s” before receiving the right “yes.” There have been outside obstacles and unexpected circumstances that challenged the growth of my business and forced me to pivot, adjust, and sometimes start again.
And honestly, there have been moments when I wanted to give up. There were times when I questioned why I was chosen to do this work and whether I was truly capable of carrying such a big vision. During those moments, I prayed for strength, clarity, and the courage to keep going.
What continues to ground me is the belief that this work is bigger than me. I remind myself that even if something we offer supports, inspires, or positively impacts just one person, then we have accomplished something meaningful. Of course, I want the business and the vision to continue growing, but at the heart of everything is service.
The journey has taught me that purpose does not always come with an easy path. Sometimes you have to keep believing in the vision during the seasons when the results are not yet visible. Looking back, every obstacle, rejection, setback, and moment of uncertainty has strengthened me and helped prepare me for what is still ahead.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At the heart of my work, I am passionate about creating spaces and experiences that support the whole person. Through FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center, we offer a variety of services and experiences designed to support physical, mental, emotional, and overall well-being. Our offerings include massage therapy, esthetic and skincare services, yoga, mindfulness, sound healing, fitness and movement experiences, retreats, and community wellness events.
What I specialize in is creating opportunities for people to reconnect with themselves. My professional background is unique because it brings together education, mindfulness, wellness, business, financial literacy, and community empowerment. I don’t believe wellness should be approached from only one perspective. True wellness involves how we care for our bodies, manage stress, nurture our minds, build healthy relationships, create financial stability, and connect with the communities around us.
I believe what I am most known for is bringing people together and creating meaningful experiences with intention. Whether it is a wellness event, retreat, workshop, community gathering, or a service offered inside the center, I want people to walk away feeling that they received something more than what they came for.
What I am most proud of is seeing a vision that once existed only in my mind become a physical space and a growing community. I am proud that FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center has created opportunities not only for clients to prioritize their well-being, but also for wellness professionals, practitioners, and entrepreneurs to share their gifts and grow alongside the vision.
What sets us apart is that we are intentionally creating a safe and inclusive space where wellness is not viewed as a luxury or something reserved for a certain type of person. We want people from all walks of life to feel welcomed, represented, and supported.
We also believe in the power of connection. Our goal is not simply to provide individual services and send people on their way. We are cultivating a community-centered wellness experience where education, healing, self-care, movement, mindfulness, and meaningful connection can exist together.
Ultimately, I want FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center to be known as a place where people can come as they are and find something that supports their journey. Whether someone needs rest, relaxation, education, healing, connection, movement, or simply a reminder to prioritize themselves, we want to be a space that meets them where they are.
That, to me, is what makes this work so meaningful—and what I believe truly sets us apart.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next five to ten years, I believe the wellness industry will continue moving away from the idea that wellness is simply an occasional massage, workout class, or spa day. I believe we will see a greater shift toward more intentional, immersive, and holistic wellness experiences that support the whole person.
People are becoming more aware of the impact that stress, burnout, overstimulation, and the demands of everyday life have on their overall well-being. I believe the future of wellness will place an even greater emphasis on mental and emotional health, nervous system regulation, rest, movement, mindfulness, connection, and creating environments where people can truly disconnect and recharge.
I also believe people will begin looking for more comprehensive wellness experiences. Instead of choosing just one service, they will want opportunities to spend an entire day—or even several days—immersed in experiences that support their well-being. We are already seeing a growing interest in wellness retreats, nature-based experiences, sauna and heat rituals, deep rest, and spaces that allow people to slow down and reconnect with themselves. That is exactly where my vision for FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center is headed.
I already have a vision for what I call Phase 2—a larger wellness destination that would allow us to significantly expand our offerings and create an even more immersive experience for our community. My vision is for a space where someone could purchase a day pass and intentionally spend an entire day focusing on their well-being rather than simply coming in for one appointment and leaving.
I envision a property where guests can experience a variety of wellness offerings in one place—massage and bodywork, movement and yoga, mindfulness, sound healing, relaxation spaces, educational experiences, and opportunities to simply rest.
My bigger vision also includes the ability to host overnight retreats directly on the property. I imagine a peaceful wellness destination surrounded by nature, with amenities such as a sauna, walking trails, a labyrinth, gardens, and other intentional spaces designed to encourage reflection, movement, rest, and connection.
For me, Phase 2 is about creating an environment where the space itself becomes part of the wellness experience. I want people to arrive and immediately feel like they can exhale.
I believe the future of wellness will be less about quick fixes and more about creating sustainable experiences and environments that help people build healthier relationships with themselves. It will also become more personalized, inclusive, and community-centered.
My hope is that FACTS Wellness & Retreat Center will continue growing alongside those changes while remaining rooted in what has always been at the heart of our work: creating safe, inclusive spaces where people can come as they are and find meaningful support for their overall well-being.
Phase 2 is a big vision, but I have learned that every meaningful thing we’ve created began as a vision before it became reality. So, I am excited to continue building toward what is next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fwrcnc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/factsretreat/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/FACTS-Wellness-Retreat-Center-100092441542027/
- Other: https://music.youtube.com/@FACTSWellnessRetreatCenter
