JESSICA KOLDITZ / Scroll
Regenesis Intergrative Health Center offers massage therapy, nutrition counseling and colon hydrotherapy services. It is located at 160 East River Valley Drive Suite 4, in Rexburg, behind Sonic.

Holistic health center comes to Rexburg

Anissa Zamudio ZAM03003@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

A whole new kind of health center has come to town. Regenesis Integrative Health Center is reaching out to the residents of Rexburg on a whole new level.

Regenesis is an alternative heath care center that incorporates holistic and integrative health programs.

These programs help promote wellness and healing with services such as massage therapy, nutrition counseling and colon hydrotherapy, more commonly known as colonics.

“Your colon is not straight like a hose. Where it’s straight, it’s got little nooks and crannies in it, so we all have stuff that’s been in our colon for a long time,” said Catherine Nielsen, a certified colon hydrotherapist.

A colonic helps remove waste from the large intestine by depositing filtered water into the colon. Waste inside is softened and loosened and then expelled naturally.

“It’s funny because no one ever wants to talk about it. We take a lot of time taking care of our mouth, but we don’t take any time taking care of our colon,” said Melisa Nielsen, Regenesis’ nutritionist.

Colonics are most effective when combined with good nutrition and relaxation.

“My personal philosophy is if I can get a person in here once I can get them hooked. That’s just the confidence I have in my massage,” said Brenda Foster, the nationally certified massage therapist at Regenesis.

Foster offers a variety of massage styles including Swedish, LaStone and couples massage. Massage therapy can help repair internal and external damage caused by stress or other traumatic experiences.

“When students come in [for a massage] and they’re stressed, I can tell exactly what the stress is, caused by the muscles that are tight,” Foster said.

Foster said muscle stress can happen from the way students carry their backpacks on one side.

“It’s causing back pains and the muscles are getting stronger on one side versus the other. Instead of wearing your backpack on one side, switch, and then you build up the muscles just as much on the other side,” she said.

Along with colonics and massage therapy, the women of Regenesis know the most important component to a healthy lifestyle is nutrition.

“You have to look at what’s trendy and what’s right and there are a lot of things that are quick fixes out there that want to do everything for you and it really comes backs to the basics, like drinking a lot of water,” Melisa said.

Melisa also uses her nutritional training in conjunction with the Word of Wisdom. “It’s getting people to change their mindsets and change their attitudes towards food,” she said.

With their unique experiences and services, the women of Regenesis have set out to educate individuals about the benefits they offer.

They invite interested individuals to come in and talk with them or tour their facility at 160 E River Valley Dr. Suite 4, right behind Sonic, or call with questions at 359-2101 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

“It’s a life change. That’s why the three of us ended up together, and what we are promoting is a lifestyle change,” Melisa said.