Jillian, Erica, and Emi
We recently were informed of an English-speaking directory showcasing health services for pregnancy and postpartum in the Geneva area. We caught up with Erica, Jillian, and Emi.
Jillian Aragon explained, “When I first arrived in Geneva, I faced the challenges of navigating a new environment with no knowledge of the language or the local maternity healthcare system. As a doula, I envisioned being able to connect my clients to like-minded professionals who shared my passion for supporting physiological birth and holistic health practices. Over time, I met incredible providers and realized there was a genuine need for a comprehensive free resource guide to connect women with compassionate, holistic care.”
Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
She goes on to say, “The concept of offering a free resource didn’t fully form until I crossed paths with Erica and Emi. At first, I envisioned creating a guide for my private business, and then I considered partnering with one of the international organizations here in Geneva to refresh their resource page for English-speaking families. But as the idea grew, I realized that to bring it to life in a meaningful and sustainable way, I needed a strong, connected, and creative team of women to help weave this vision into a resource that could truly serve the community.”
From the Heart2Heart team
As we reflect on the past year, we are humbled by the moments of resilience, compassion, and hope that define our journey. Since 2023, Heart2Heart Crisis Line (H2H) remains committed to being a beacon of support for individuals navigating life’s toughest moments, and we could not do it without you.
In 2024, we responded to over 1200 calls from individuals in crisis; more than 2000 calls in the last 2 years.
Each call represents a life touched, a story heard, and an opportunity to listen.
One of our callers was struggling with the divorce and custody of their young child and called our H2H line. Our team member provided encouragement and a listening ear and together, they are able to name the things that bring joy and clarity.
Another caller shared their work challenges with a colleague and at the end of the call expressed that they had a plan of action to advocate for themselves and more importantly, they felt heard.
Lois Vitry Trapman, 9D Breathwork Facilitator
We have known Lois Vitry Trapman since 2019 when we wrote an article about Royal Bloom florist shop in Lausanne at this link. We got to know Lois better when The Fish Club opened in Geneva in 2021 (now closed) at this link. Following this talented, beautiful, humble, and personable lady has been an inspiration and we are delighted to let our readers know about her new venture, BloominBreath. She explained it to us below.
How did you get started in breathwork?
I have always cared about people, about wellbeing, about betterment. What we do with bretahwork can result in the same amount of work of years of psychotherapy... It has transformed me and I believe in it so much that I wanted to be able to teach others how they can transform their lives in a positive way.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
So far everything has been aligning in my life regarding this path. I feel drawn to it and it feels natural. Breathwork is not very well known but I think it is so important to your wellbeing that it should be taught in schools! It is something that needs to be explained as it is not very common yet.
What is the definition of Breathwork?
There is nothing like breathwork and its not just meditation or breathing calmly. Its breath WORK, I have been utilizing breath throughout my life. I started running with my father when I was 6 years old, and I practice apnea diving whenever possible.
I discovered "breathwork" itself in Bali during a life changing voyage, and i have decided to share this beautiful knowledge since.
In layman terms Wikipidia describes Breathwork as a term for various breathing practices in which the conscious control of breathing is said to influence a person's mental, emotional, or physical state, with a therapeutic effect.
The 9D method is one of a kind, mixing hypnosis bibaural beats voice coaching, and other methods to help you feel and deal with imprinted traumas and limiting beliefs in order to become a better you.
We were contacted by Erica Sluys, Founder of And You, a recently created company that offers online courses for postpartum women to take care of their body and get back to movement. The courses are taught a multidisciplinary, professional team in English. Erica explained all about And You here:
Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
And You was founded in October 2023 and courses were launched in July 2024. As an American expat and medical writer, Erica was motivated to reach English-speaking women in Switzerland and in the US (where there is such a lack of postpartum support) with trustworthy information. Erica is passionate about making health-related information easy to understand. As the postpartum period can be overwhelming, hard to navigate and also very baby-focused, And You is solely focused on taking care of the mother, holistically. Our courses are self-paced and online so that they can fit into the real constraints of postpartum.
Have you been working on this idea forever?
This idea has been turning in my head for a few years now. I wasn't exactly sure of the how but I knew why and what was needed. I started putting paper to pen with the blog and talking to mothers and healthcare professionals to see what we could create. Once I found a motivated and multidisciplinary team of teachers we ironed out the core material the courses came to life.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Learning about building a company! My career has been spent in medical communication so I knew what I wanted to deliver and how, but building a website, design, contracts, business admin, marketing and growth are all new to me and still part of the learning process.
ESCA CancerSupport is undergoing a significant transformation and will now be known as Cancer Support Switzerland. This name change is more than just a rebranding; it signifies their commitment to expanding their services beyond the Lake Geneva region and reaching a broader audience across Switzerland.
Cancer Support Switzerland, a non-profit association, will continue its mission to provide free support in English to those affected by cancer. Expanding their services across the country comes from the growing number of individuals affected by cancer. With increased life expectancy and a diverse population, our goal is to ensure that no one, regardless of nationality or language, feels alone during such a challenging time.
We caught up with Alana Dunsmore, Communications and Awareness Manager at Cancer Support Switzerland. She told us, "We believe that our new name better reflects our mission and the inclusive nature of our services. Expanding our services allow us to offer emotional support, practical assistance, and well-being support to anyone directly or indirectly affected by cancer who prefers assistance in English. We have services and activities available in Geneva, Lausanne, Zürich and online, delivered by both professional Counsellor and trained volunteers.
