SheBreathes Balance & Wellness Studio Celebrates 5th Anniversary

WALPOLE, MA - Jennifer Gulbrand had a vision of creating a safe and empowering space for women when she founded the SheBreathes Balance Women's Collaborative five years ago.

The location at 55 West Street, which now also includes the WeBreathe Wellness Center, is hosting its fifth anniversary celebration on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. It has grown to encompass a myriad of health, professional and educational opportunities in an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. Its mission has become increasingly important at a time when Gulbrand said its services are more important than ever as people regain their balance due to the stress of pandemic life.

"I'm a corporate dropout gone goddess," Gulbrand said, noting she had a sales training office in the building behind the center for 21 years. While she enjoyed being in a leadership position, “something was missing in that it fed my family but not my soul."

Gulbrand's calling was to create a place that empowered women of all ages and backgrounds and offered support in terms of community, connection and well-being.

Gentle ambient music played softly in the background of the sunlit studio, providing a relaxing atmosphere as she spoke about how she came to the decision to switch gears in her career.

"My best friend got diagnosed with stage four nonsmoking lung cancer," she explained. "I always say that it was like somebody just flipped the switch and the screen changed for me. As I went through that journey with her and her family, I realized that we only have today and it was time to make a change in my life."

She rented the SheBreathes space in 2016 and opened the center in six weeks' time.

"My intention for was to create and hold space for women to practice self-care, find meaningful connection and experience educational offerings that supported them," according to Gulbrand. "My generation of women was not taught to put their mask on first - no pun intended. We were socialized to take care of others first. And while that is part of our nurturing nature, it can result in our becoming depleted and burnt out."

Gulbrand's three tenets have been "self-care, sisterhood and support." She sought to connect women of all backgrounds and cultures personally and professionally to help them rise.

She added that anyone can come visit the center, but SheBreathes membership offers a variety of benefits designed to support women looking to grow their business, such as the ability to collaborate with other professionals, get spotlighted on social media, and receive discounted rates on classes.

In the first year, she attracted 150 women to the center. At that time, she also became certified in yoga and reiki energy healing, key facets of programming that she currently offers. As interest grew, she decided to open the WeBreathe Wellness center in early 2020 "to open the space for everyone, regardless of their pronoun."

She opened a full-service retreat center three times the size of the original studio that now offers yoga, massage, reiki, reflexology, chakra clearing and energy work, among other disciplines. It also includes a cafe and a coworking space and business classes as well as a function room for corporate gatherings, wedding ceremonies and baby showers.

Her plans to implement this expansion in the beginning, however, were halted by the pandemic in early 2020.

"Two weeks after I signed the lease, COVID hit," Gulbrand said. "But in a way, I really feel like we needed this shakeup to evaluate who we want to be as a human race. It's creating an opportunity to serve one another in a supportive way.

"I wanted to use the shutdown to create this space," she added, forming a tranquil and safe environment where people could work and meet. "Now I realize that it is more necessary than ever. When you walk in, your shoulders immediately drop, and you just relax into the space."

Comfortable chairs and a spacious setting with hardwood floors contribute to the serene atmosphere. A cafe offering tea, coffee, espresso, juices and specialty "chakra smoothies" adds to the positive vibes.

"It's very different from other coworking spaces I have encountered," Gulbrand said.

"A lot of businesses aren't returning to the office," added Jennifer Fonseca, the director of client services. "They can come here for an hour or a day to work or hold meetings."

She added that anyone can come, but membership offers a variety of benefits, such as the ability to collaborate with other professionals and receive discounted rates on classes.

"The pandemic has changed the way we live, work, interact and communicate," said Gulbrand. "People of all ages are suffering mental health challenges and overwhelming feelings of anxiety and isolation in the wake left behind COVID-19. So many working professionals are seeking ways and avenues closer to home where they can find community and be inspired educationally and creatively."

Another component to the center that Gulbrand will be adding is what she called a "human library." People can come in and spend time with a person who is from a different culture or an immigrant for a half-hour to check out what their experiences have been like firsthand.

Clients come from Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island to join the "high vibe tribe." Other members from around the country participate in virtual classes.

Gulbrand also is scheduling her first wedding expo for January. Another idea is to host a pop-up farmers market once a month in the winter.

The anniversary celebration will feature inspirational speakers, music and poetry as well as well as food and opportunities to win raffle prizes.

"The evolution that some of these women have experienced and will speak about is amazing," Gulbrand said. “It brings me so much joy in knowing that we’re making a difference.”

The center is hosting and co-sponsoring the Destination Downtown event on September 12 to link community members with local merchants. For more information, read https://patch.com/massachusett....

For more information on the variety of services offered, visit www.webreathewellness.com.