When we’re overstressed, undernourished, dehydrated, chronically fatigued and lacking authentic communal and spiritual connection, it’s time to take a hard and long look at our foundational health.

Frustrated with rises in obesity and diabetes and declining quality of life, along with his own struggle for medical answers, Jesse LaFramboise launched a come-as-you-are space for movement, fitness, education and holistic therapies. Mountain Wellness Collective empowers guests to reach their full feel-good potential through an exciting schedule of yoga, martial arts, fitness classes, acudetox, meditation, self-defense, Tai Chi, breathwork and more.

The Dillon, Colorado-based studio opened in spring of 2022, pooling a wide co-op of talented facilitators and healers. LaFramboise says his inspiration stemmed from recognizing the shortcomings of conventional medical care.

“In a country that spends far more on healthcare per capita than any other nation yet also maintains the worst outcomes of any developed country, it’s obvious that something is wrong,” he says.

From a young age, LaFramboise was heavily involved in athletics. These pursuits propelled him to accept a scholarship to play soccer at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa while pursuing a degree in human physiology and biochemistry. Following his senior season as captain, he was asked to stay on as a conditioning coach for his alma mater.

Soon thereafter, LaFramboise began experiencing a health condition that doctors were unable to cure. As joint pain and fatigue increased, activating systemic inflammation and autoimmunity, he identified triggers that included poor diet (sugar and processed oils), alcohol, poor sleep and stress. It was time for a big lifestyle change. So, he moved to Colorado.

“Moving to the mountains afforded me a few things related to a more aligned lifestyle,” he says. “For one, I escaped a community that prioritized partying. Second, I was excited to pursue outdoor activities, like rock climbing and rafting. I  was breathing clean air, getting plenty of exercise, eating well, finding purpose in life and making real social connections.”

In Summit County, LaFramboise became enamored with competitive martial arts, namely jiu jitsu. The combination of cardio, strength and flexibility, as well as the mental focus and stress management required, was just what the doctor ordered.

Realizing what wonders a holistic approach did for him, LaFramboise pursued his master’s in nutrition and functional medicine through the University of Western States’ online program during the pandemic. Now, he seeks to share his experience and knowledge with others and, along with his collective of practitioners, optimize community well-being.

“Isolated, scared and lost more than ever after the pandemic, people needed a place to reconnect with community, educate themselves, strengthen their immune systems and take control of their overall health,” he says.

Mountain Wellness Collective looks at foundational health by building up seven pillars of wellness: physical, mental, emotional, social, occupational, environmental and spiritual. While overlap is obvious, he says, the foundations of true wellness must include a focus on exercise, diet, hydration and toxicity status, stress management, social/communal engagement, sleep optimization and connection to a deeper purpose.

Always growing, the Collective is currently comprised of 15 practitioners, all dedicated to the philosophy of holistic care. Nutritionists, yoga teachers, meditation guides, creativity coaches, mental health therapists, aura readers and martial arts instructors serve a wide spectrum of wellness wants and needs. Classrooms, therapy rooms, fitness and rehab space and a calming meditation room with an infrared therapy bed make up the Dillon studio space.

Photos Courtesy of Mountain Wellness Collective. 

“Ultimately, we hope Mountain Wellness Collective is known for being a safe space that offers the broader community access and guidance along their optimal health journeys,” LaFramboise says.