ADVANCING WELLNESS - The intersection of high-tech healing and clean living in South Burlington
03/20/2024 08:39PM ● By AMBER RICHARDS
In our busy, toxic world, it can be hard to come by convenient resources to live a healthy lifestyle and heal from chronic issues or injuries. Fortunately for Chittenden County and surrounding areas, Ecobean and REGEN are here to provide just that with a comprehensive range of resources to support individuals on their journey to health and healing.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
On Dorset Street in South Burlington lies a sanctuary of wellness curated by a local couple—Trisha Dion and Justin Cruz. Trisha was born and raised in Milton, VT, and is a graduate of The UVM School of Business; Justin moved here from the hustle and bustle of Long Island at the age of 13 and graduated from BHS. Their journey began over a decade ago, fueled by the increasing awareness of what is allowed and is commonly found in our food, particularly when eating out.
Disappointed by the absence of local restaurants serving “clean” food and beverages (those without unhealthy ingredients such as GMOs, toxic chemicals, and gluten, to name a few), they embarked on a mission to remedy this and, in 2012, created Ecobean, a culinary destination where the integrity of every ingredient is held to the highest standard.
When Ecobean first opened, Trisha was well into her 13-year career as an insurance accountant in the captive insurance industry, and Justin, a celebrity hairstylist in NYC and LA, had a full roster of clients and was booked solid for months. Though neither had a background in food, they continued to learn and invest every penny they made into growing Ecobean.
Their strategy worked. From its humble beginnings on Pine Street in Burlington, Ecobean became a local favorite, renowned for its sourcing standards, dedication to quality, and superior customer service. “When word got around,” Justin says, “we ended up with lines almost out the door on many days.”
What’s more, their deep roots in the area allowed them to form strong connections and build a loyal customer base that appreciated their genuine passion for promoting wellness and supporting the local community.
ECOBEAN RELOCATES AND REGEN IS BORN
Just like everyone else in the world, Trisha and Justin’s journey took an unexpected turn with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, in 2017, they had opened a second location in South Burlington. Justin says, “We put in a full kitchen, which our other space didn’t have. We wanted customers to be able to sit down for a meal knowing they can trust the integrity of every single ingredient they are consuming.”
The move also enabled the couple to greatly expand Ecobean’s offerings, never wavering from their original mission to use the utmost care and integrity when sourcing ingredients.
However, forced to adapt to the changing landscape during the pandemic, Trish and Justin decided to close their original location and redirect their focus toward meeting the growing demand for clean, healthy takeout options at their expanded restaurant.
REGEN, VERMONT’S ONLY CELLULAR
RECOVERY SPA
Amid the challenges of the pandemic, a new
vision materialized—a vision that merged their
culinary oasis with a passion for holistic wellness
and the latest in healing technologies. In 2022,
drawing on their intimate knowledge of the
community’s needs, they further expanded
Ecobean and transformed an adjacent space into
a technologically advanced health and wellness
sanctuary called REGEN.
Trish says, “During the pandemic, we all learned a lot. We found ourselves with time to think and time to pay attention to ourselves and those around us.” Justin, as a lifelong learner, was no exception. He saw what was going on in the community and worldwide in regard to health and wellness and immediately began researching emerging technologies. This research led him to discover red light therapy, a modality that has quickly become mainstream because it’s effective, natural, and non-invasive. It heals at the cellular level and reduces inflammation, making it great for everything, from pain relief and sleep improvement to emotional issues such as seasonal affective disorder and for use in reducing recovery time pre- and post-surgery.
The first piece of equipment on Justin’s radar was the TheraLight 360 Full Body Red Light Therapy Bed. However, the equipment came with a whopping price tag. “Our goal was to take this expensive technology and make it available locally,” Justin says. And he knew the only way to do that was to make it into a business, which is exactly what he did. “[Red light therapy] is one of the hottest beauty and health trends out there,” Justin says. “It’s huge for collagen production and anti-aging.”
Red light therapy, in particular, is FDA- cleared, and there are hundreds of published medical studies on PubMed that demonstrate its effectiveness. It has been shown to enhance the body’s natural processes for metabolizing free radicals and minimizing the damage they cause. This boost in the body’s natural healing cycle helps reduce inflammation and promote the healing of damaged tissues, increasing the rate and quality of tissue repair, improving muscle performance, enhancing recovery, and reducing pain with no known negative side effects.
WHAT ELSE YOU WILL FIND AT REGEN
At REGEN, in addition to the TheraLight 360 bed, you will find an Apex Quad-Wave red light laser, full-spectrum infrared saunas,
and ionic detox foot bath systems. “These
modalities not only jump-start the body’s natural
healing processes for existing issues but are
amazing for overall wellness and protecting the
body from future injuries or sickness,” Justin
says. People can come in with pain at any level
and leave in as little as 15 minutes, pain-free.
Trisha says, “Most issues, be they physical, mental, or on the skin, are the result of cellular damage and inflammation, all of which can be addressed easily, quickly, and painlessly at REGEN.”
When you are done with your full-body healing experience, head through the glass door connecting REGEN to Ecobean and further nourish your body with its 100 percent gluten-free, GMO-free, and soy-free menu of rice/quinoa bowls, salads, wraps, soups, smoothies, and more. While they do serve organic chicken, grass-fed beef, and pasture- raised pork, 90 percent of their ingredients are vegan, making Ecobean a culinary hotspot with something for everyone.
“REGEN is a natural extension of Ecobean,” Justin adds. “We wanted a place where we can help people heal their bodies, detoxify, and have access to clean food. “One thing to note,” Trish adds, “is that although Ecobean is an organic establishment, you will NOT leave hungry. Justin likes to eat until he is full, and his whole menu is created to be filling, taste amazing, and promote your health and wellness.”
Justin concludes, “When I get up in the morning, I am happy knowing we are giving people a choice. They can come here and eat clean food and then get the benefits of red light therapy in just 15 minutes. Trish and I worked very hard for this.”
REGEN
150 Dorset Street, Suite 310
South Burlington, VT
regenvt.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ECOBEAN AND REGEN
