Why the name "Wellilo"?

[ well-ee-lo ]

About Our Name

Wellilo is named after Lilo Foster, the yoga teaching grandmother of Wellilo founder, Ariele.

Lilo lived an extraordinary life. She was always active, quick to laugh, dedicated to healthy eating, and living and the principles of yoga.

She was a Jewish Holocaust survivor, born in Berlin. She lost most of her family in World War II. Despite all of the suffering she experienced, Lilo bubbled with joy and mischief and a true love for teaching both children (she was also an elementary school teacher's aide for more than 30 years) and her yoga students.

Lilo taught yoga in and around Rappahannock County Virginia until her late 80s, and was beloved by her students, family, and friends.

She was profiled in the Northern Virginia Daily newspaper in 2009, profiled again in 2012 by the Rappahannock Daily News, and given the honor of Rappahannock County Citizen of the Year in 2012.

Lilo passed away in 2021 at the age of 94. Her story can be found in the Shoah Foundation archives and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.