Shannon Engel recently opened HydroLight Lounge, a unique wellness lounge in Nocatee that blends relaxation, rejuvenation and a spirited twist on traditional self-care experiences.
Tell me about HydroLight Lounge, where it is located and what it offers.
HydroLight Lounge is a water- and light-therapy wellness lounge offering a range of services: cold plunge, colon hydrotherapy (coming soon!), infrared saunas, light therapy, red light therapy and contrast therapy. We are located in the heart of the Nocatee community.
Your “menu” is really interesting. Tell me a little about that and how you decided to describe your services using drink names as the reference.
After working in advertising for over 20 years, I was ready for a change. While the advertising world has its perks and can be fun, it can also be draining. I had invested so much time and energy into my career and wanted to channel that same drive into something of my own.
Growing up, my mom was a nutritionist, so health has always been a part of my life. In the last five years, my perspective on health and wellness evolved — not just for myself, but for my family and kids. I started to really re-evaluate everything — what we put into our bodies and what’s important for maintaining a balanced mind and body. I had already been incorporating different wellness routines into my life for years, but I began to dive deeper into the research, learning what other beneficial practices were out there.
My background in the spirits and marketing space inspired the type of wellness space I wanted to create — something unique that no one else was doing.
What sets your services apart from others? Are there some unique things you offer?
During my career, I worked with a lot of spirits brands, like Jameson Irish Whiskey, and also with musicians, like Kings of Leon. I was surrounded by spirits and music every day, and that’s what sparked the idea of giving the wellness space a twist. I didn’t want it to feel medical, nor did I want it to be a traditional spa. I wanted to create something unexpected — HydroLight Lounge is where holistic health meets happy hour.
I infused that concept into every detail — from the menu to the design. You’ll find song lyrics etched on mirrors, cocktail and music-themed photography throughout the space, and nods to a bar/lounge atmosphere with cocktail names on the menu. Occasionally, we even serve mocktails during our happy hours.
What led to your decision to open this business? Do you have a background that inspired it?
I wanted my wellness business to have a focus, or in advertising terms, “a concept” that everything ties back to. After researching various equipment and modalities in the wellness space, I landed on a focus of water- and light-based therapies.
When I moved here, I realized that colon hydrotherapy (or colonics) was very hard to find in Northeast Florida compared to back north. Gut health is so important, and I knew this was something I had to bring to the area. There are so many people who could benefit from it, and it’s rare to find right now.
While some of our services may overlap with other businesses, it’s all about the way we offer them and the experience we provide. The name HydroLight emphasizes the services we offer, and the “Lounge” part speaks to the relaxed, unique environment we’ve created. That’s what makes us stand out.
What do you like best about what you do?
I really enjoy being able to create a space where people can truly relax, recharge, heal and even have a little fun. I've always been a creative person, and I just like being able to put that creative side to work in everything I do. I also like being able to say I’m here to help people even if it’s just giving them a place for some self-care time. I like meeting with people and talking through what we have to offer and figuring out what service may be right for them to try or do.
Are you from this area? If not, where did you come from?
No, I moved here from NYC with my husband and two boys (7 and 10) almost 2 1/2 years ago.
What do you like best about living in this community?
Coming from living in NYC, I really have enjoyed moving to this community and being in the sunshine and fresh air. I love that the Ponte Vedra community values health and wellbeing — whether it’s people going for family walks, exercising outdoors or spending time at the beach. I love that my boys are also thriving in what this community offers to kids and families.
