ST. ALBANS CITY — Not too long ago, Melanie Jean took a leap of faith.
After quitting her day job, Jean took her passion for alternative medicine to downtown St. Albans.
Gene opened two weeks ago. Epiphany Hypnotherapy & Massage A small but cozy two-room space located at 75 N. Main St. One room has a massage table and a golden table lamp, while the other has two oversized armchairs and an electric kettle.
Jean specializes in relaxation massage and alternative therapies such as Reiki and hypnotherapy. She believes that stress interferes with both mental and physical healing processes, manifesting itself in muscle pain, anxiety, and depression.
“The body is designed to heal if you let it relax,” she told the Messenger.
Jean believes in mysticism.This term has many definitions, but the most common is Gaining insight, hidden truths, or self-transformation through various practices and experiences.
Jean first began her journey into mysticism in 2015 when she learned meditation from a yoga teacher friend. She said her meditation practice has changed her life by allowing her to practice self-care.
“When I was working as a single mom and going through life challenges, such as the death or breakup of a parent, I was so busy that I found it difficult to slowly process my grief and put myself on the list of priorities. I couldn’t do it,” she said. . “I think a lot of people don’t know how to do it. They’re just in survival mode.”
But during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have changed their lifestyles, Jean said. There were no commitments, no soccer games for the kids, and parents had a chance to go for a walk or practice yoga.
Melanie Jean offers relaxing massages, Reiki and hypnotherapy in her room at 75 N. Main St. in St. Albans.
After taking up meditation, Gene earned certifications in relaxation massage and Reiki while working with families and businesses in nonprofit organizations and state government.
“I continued to pursue things that were more in line with the business I wanted to run and what I wanted my life to be,” she said. “The first 25 years of my professional life were dedicated to others and I loved it, but when I got older and the kids left home, I left behind… I kept wondering what it was.”
her own space
Before having his own space in the city, Gene traveled extensively for service work. She had weekly massage appointments at Hare Loft in St. Albans and Salt Cave in Montgomery. She drove to the Washington County Mental Health Center in Montpelier twice a month.
“There was a lot of running in different directions,” she said. “So it’s a bit of a miracle that this place is vacant.”
It took Jean a while to feel secure enough to quit her part-time job at Samaritan House in St. Albans, which she only recently started.
“It was a huge leap of faith,” she said. “But I love this job and would much rather do it than an office job.”
Now managing the business full-time, Jean feels she’s coming into her own. Many of her regular customers were already visiting her in the new space, and calls from new people interested in her services came in almost as soon as she registered.
“What’s the challenge of running a small business? I think it’s slow growth,” she said. “It’s one thing to be willing to put yourself out there and promote yourself and talk about yourself, which is difficult for introverts.”
alternative healing methods
Many years ago, Gene worked for the Vermont Department of Labor, first as a career counselor and then in workforce development.
“It was really interesting to watch people do the assessments and discover what their talents and interests are,” she said. She adds: “We also help companies with strategies and grant applications to help them evolve and survive over time.”
Her current work with relaxation massage and other healing modalities is similar in many ways, she said.
“You can get caught up in regrets from the past and worries about the future,” she says. “But if you practice mindfulness and focus on the present moment, your eyes will open to everything you’re missing here.”
Clients may come to see her because they want to change something in their life, she says. They may be stuck in old patterns and need someone to help them change their perspective and release their fears.
For example, during hypnotherapy, Gene uses hypnosis to help clients Quit smoking, lose weight, and build self-esteem. And she says she uses her Reiki to channel spiritual energy to clients through her palms, facilitating emotional or physical healing from her trauma.
“Change is not necessarily inevitable,” she says. “You have to take the initiative.”
Although Jean has faced skepticism about her practice, she ultimately believes that people’s doubts about alternative medicine can be overcome.
“Most of us are running on autopilot and don’t even realize there are other options,” she said. “The first step is to suspend disbelief and be open to possibilities.”
