By Rachel Barrett-Trangmar
In the heart of St Barts’ rural environment you will find a spiritual cocoon otherwise known as Zion Wellness. With her healing hands and natural methods, Flavie Labbé will help you to improve your overall well-being.
What led you into the world of massage therapy?
I have always been greatly influenced by my parents who work in the social services sector assisting people with disabilities. My career began in life insurance, which frequently involved discussing death. It was an approach far too distant from my positive attitude and I was unfulfilled by my work. It was during this time that I realised how much I wanted to help others to improve their well-being, their level of happiness and self-confidence … which steered me to pursue a career in massage therapy.
Can you tell us more about your training?
From 2013 to 2016 I studied massage at a school for beauty and wellness in France. I then went to Tahiti where I learned Polynesian massage, working with experts whose skills had been passed down from generation to generation. I later became a Spa manager at luxury hotels in the French Alps, where I had the opportunity to further my experience. Then, in 2019, I was appointed as massage therapist at The Christopher Hotel in St Barts. I continued to train in new lymphatic drainage techniques and maderotherapy in Paris in 2023. This gave me the confidence to establish my own enterprise: Zion Wellness.
How did you decide upon the name ‘Zion Wellness’?
It came to me when I was thinking about my massage therapy and what I wanted to impart to my clients. I see ‘Zion’ as a healthy spiritual sphere, like heaven on earth. I believe it symbolises peace and freedom. Whereas ‘Wellness’ is the quality or state of being in good physical and mental health, designating a feeling of well-being and harmony, free from illness.
What type of massage therapy do you offer to your clients?
I offer holistic treatments in order to align the heart, mind and body. I believe it is increasingly important to treat the whole person in order to find the root cause of any malady.
The ‘Signature Zion’ is a customised massage designed to meet specific needs. It combines different massage therapy techniques such as Polynesian, deep tissue and Swedish, based on what I feel to be the energy needs and physical requirements of a client. Another popular massage incorporates ‘Maderotherapy’, an ancient Colombian technique using wooden tools to massage the body. It helps reduce stress and improve blood and lymphatic circulation. Finally, the ‘Belly Revolution treatment‘ is an energy-based therapy that takes care of our second brain: the belly, bringing both physical and emotional relaxation. These are just a few examples of the comprehensive massage therapy offered at Zion Wellness.
I believe your methods incorporate natural materials; can you tell us more about this?
Yes, I use maderotherapy wooden tools, as well as hot shells and pebbles. My special massage oils are all organic and thus adapted to all skin types. I have made a conscious decision to respect my clients’ health by only using natural materials.
What makes your massage therapy different to others on the island?
Over the past years I have focussed on my own personal wellness, which I believe creates a solid foundation for how you operate in everyday life. During my 11 years of massage training and experience I have dedicated a lot of time to studying physical and mental health. This has been vital for understanding my clients on their journey, in order to provide them with the help and tools they need in their search for inner peace and well-being.
Who are your clients and where do you practise your massage therapy?
My clients are both local residents as well as visitors to the island. I can be found at my massage studio in Gouverneur, Zion Wellness – which I refer to as my ‘cocoon’. I can equally visit clients in their villas or on their yachts.
What message would you like to convey to the readers of Coccoloba?
I created Zion Wellness in response to the fast-paced life of the world of today. I want to help people slow down and reconnect with their body. I believe in the phrase: ‘If you do not make time for your wellness you will be forced to make time for your illness’.
