A Safe Haven In Granby: New Beginnings Massage & Holistic Care

in Granby is more than just a place to get massages, aromatherapy, Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture or Reiki treatments.

While one can get all of those things, and more, at the cooperative located at 50 Hartford Ave., what New Beginnings really serves as more than anything else is a safe haven for area residents to escape their problems and even regain their health.

The cooperative features an inviting, relaxing atmosphere with soft lighting, soothing music and comfortable furniture, but what sets the cooperative apart is the people who work there who are most interested in treating people back to wellness.

“We do cancer massage, Reiki foot reflexology; we have nutritional cleanse consultants; we do help with weight loss…yoga for stress and depression. We have a relationship specialist, a life coach, a meditation person - we do it all,” owner/coordinator Annie Chamberland said.

“We love people back to health, however they need to be loved back to health,” she said.

The 15 or so people who work at the cooperative all have some form of medical background such as registered nurses or medical massage therapists. This allows the cooperative to provide the best possible care, Chamberland said.

The cooperative does a lot of work with emotionally and verbally abused women, providing what Chamberland calls a “safe place” for them to go.

“This is a calling that I see in here a lot,” Chamberland said. “When we’re doing Reiki on someone…things come out of these women and we address it. We have people on staff who are awesome at this and we’re going to start doing things through art therapy and music therapy.”

Chamberland said that women show physical manifestations of emotional abuse, like cancers, headaches, panic attacks.

“They can’t function in life, they can’t work, they can’t function for their children,” Chamberland said. “But we don’t judge anyone. We don’t judge the guys in their lives. We have no idea going on with them either. They are welcome here, too.”

The client base for New Beginnings is split 50/50 male to female, Chamberland said.

“We have tons of men who come in,” she said. “You know who come in a lot? Physicians and surgeons, big shots in the state, construction workers; they feel safe here…we are humbly awesome.”

“I’ve had people who have not been pain-free for ever and ever and when they come here, there is no pain. And it’s because they know they are loved. See it. Believe it. Be it,” she said.

And clients agree on the awesome part, describing New Beginnings in ways that sounded more like testimonials than simple recommendations.

“Annie gives the whole place its feel of welcoming and nurturing,” said Granby resident Laurie White, who goes to New Beginnings for massages to treat chronic neck and back pain acquired through years of horseback riding. “I go there for … the atmosphere. The people she has working there are exemplary.

“I have gone elsewhere and in other instances, I’ve gotten decent work done. But I’m always back at New Beginnings and they are the most effective as far as I’m concerned.”

Chamberland, according to White, ensures that the focus is on the client’s physical and mental well-being.

“[Chamberland] focuses on the complete picture,” White said.

New Beginnings client Barbara Thomas of Suffield agrees.

“I go there and I just love the atmosphere,” said Thomas, who receives acupuncture and foot and full-body massages. “I love the way I feel when I go there and when I leave there. I just feel so loved there.

“I totally swear by it. … It’s like all my bad feelings go away. You experience inner peace and it’s a safe place to go.”

Chamberland opened the cooperative in August 2011 after closing New Beginnings Day Spa last June. She said that she was, literally, called on to open the cooperative.

“When I started this business, it’s because I had a calling,” Chamberland said. “God is the CEO of this company.”

While New Beginnings takes some insurance, Chamberland said that the preference is to avoid the hassle and paperwork that goes along with it.

“Insurance covers naturopathic medicine and some of the counseling, but we’re trying not to do insurance,” Chamberland said. “We do that on purpose. We can give people a better deal. We can give people a really good deal and take care of you.”

Chamberland said that New Beginnings also does work off site with hospitals and corporate wellness teams.

“We help people wherever they need it,” Chamberland said.

For more information, call 860-653-0196 or visit newbeginningsholisticcare.com.

Correction: the original version of this article stated that New Beginnings has a "medication person" when they have someone who specializes in meditation. The Granbys Patch regrets the error.