Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mel Bowers. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
When I launched Relax and Release, people thought I was out of my mind. I was creating something Huntsville had never seen before a wellness space that offered Japanese head spa treatments, sleep tests, allergy testing, and quiet rooms for mental reset all under one roof. It wasn’t just a spa; it was a sanctuary for the tired, the stressed, and the overlooked.
The risk wasn’t just financial it was emotional and spiritual. I was taking a vision that lived in my head and betting on it in real life. There were no models to copy, no playbook to follow, and a lot of people who couldn’t quite see it yet. I invested my own money, my time, and my faith. There were nights when I’d sit in the space after all was done, wondering if people would even walk through the door.
But that’s what risk is believing in something you see before others can. I told myself, “You can’t pray for new levels and stay in old comfort zones.” That mindset carried me. And when we opened, people showed up not just for the treatments, but for the peace.
That leap became one of the most rewarding risks I’ve ever taken. Today, Relax and Release isn’t just a business; it’s a movement for self-care, stillness, and balance. It taught me that when God gives you a vision, He’s already lined up the resources He’s just waiting to see if you’ll trust Him enough to start.
Mel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hey y’all, I’m Mel B serial entrepreneur, business builder, and the creative force behind Mel B Enterprises and Relax and Release. My journey didn’t start in luxury; it started with grit, grace, and a vision to turn struggle into structure. I’ve always been fascinated by how people and ideas connect how one good idea, if nurtured the right way, can change someone’s entire life.
Through Mel B Enterprises, I help businesses, cities, and individuals bring their visions to life through consulting, branding, marketing, and strategy. My firm is built on innovation we mix creativity with structure, and intuition with technology. Whether it’s developing a brand, writing a proposal for government contracts, or coaching entrepreneurs through AI integration and future planning, I make sure our clients stand out, stay ready, and scale successfully.
Then there’s Relax and Release, my wellness concept that grew from a simple idea: people need a safe place to breathe again. It’s a full sensory self-care haven offering Japanese head spa treatments, naps, scalp therapy, sleep and allergy testing, and even quiet spaces for mental reset. I wanted to create something that honored rest as much as we glorify the grind. And we did it. We built a space that’s open seven days a week, where people come to unwind, recharge, and realign with themselves.
What sets me apart is that I don’t build businesses I build legacies. Everything I touch has purpose and people at the center of it. I’ve learned how to see beyond the “idea” stage and bring structure, brand clarity, and profitability to things that once just lived in someone’s notebook.
I’m most proud of turning obstacles into opportunities. I’ve faced real-life setbacks including legal and personal challenges and I use those experiences to teach others that failure isn’t final, it’s fuel. My story is proof that you can rebuild, rebrand, and rise again.
What I want people to know about me and my brands is this: we build for the future. Whether it’s a wellness center, a tech startup, or a government contract, I bring faith, vision, and execution to every table I sit at. My mission is simple to help others rest, reset, and rise.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When my father passed away, everything in my world stopped. He was my biggest supporter the one who always told me I could do anything. Losing him shook me to my core, but it also made me question what I was really doing with my time, energy, and purpose.
Up until then, I was building businesses, consulting, and helping others reach their dreams, but I realized I wasn’t truly resting or healing myself. Grief has a way of forcing you to pause and that pause became my pivot.
I decided to travel to Thailand to study wellness, peace, and the art of stillness. It wasn’t just a trip; it was a calling. Over there, I learned how wellness was treated as a lifestyle not a luxury. I saw how touch, sound, scent, and space could all heal the mind and body. I watched everyday people stop in the middle of their workday to breathe, reflect, and realign.
That experience changed everything for me. When I came back home to Alabama, I knew I wanted to create a space where people could experience that same level of peace and intentional care a place that felt like exhaling after holding your breath too long. That vision became Relax and Release.
It was born out of pain but built with purpose. My pivot taught me that sometimes loss becomes the doorway to your next chapter. I didn’t just create a spa I created a movement around rest, recovery, and restoration. And every day that someone walks into Relax and Release and says, “I didn’t even know I needed this,” I know I followed the right calling.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
My story hasn’t been smooth — it’s been sacred. I’ve had moments where life tested me in every way imaginable. I’ve lost people I loved, faced public challenges, and had to rebuild both my name and my confidence from the ground up. There was a time when I didn’t just have to restart my business — I had to rebuild myself.
I remember sitting in silence one night after my baby dying, feeling like everything I had worked for was gone. But I heard something in my spirit say, “You can stay in the ashes or you can rise.” That moment changed everything. I stopped asking “why me” and started asking “what now.”
That shift that decision to get up again became the foundation of my resilience. I learned how to find strength in stillness, faith in uncertainty, and power in patience. I took every painful lesson and used it as building material for my next chapter.
That’s why I built Relax and Release because I know what it’s like to need a safe place to rest, reset, and start over. I know what it feels like to carry pain but still show up with purpose. Resilience, for me, isn’t just about surviving it’s about transforming. It’s about finding beauty in the rebuild.
Today, I stand as living proof that your story doesn’t have to end where it broke you can rewrite it stronger, wiser, and more aligned than ever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melbowers.com
- Instagram: whoismelb
Image Credits
Jamar Carter and Visions by Aundre