HEALTH & WELLNESS

Spring is a Time for Renewal Anya Sebastian

Santa Fe is widely recognized as a hub for natural and alternative healthcare. The options are many and varied, from acupuncture and Pilates, to the latest non-invasive techniques. In this issue of Fine Lifestyles magazine, we feature some of the best health and wellness practitioners in our community, experts in helping people to both feel and look their best.

Robyn Benson, DOM, the founder of Santa Fe Soul, agrees with Raymond Kurshals (Pilates Santa Fe). “Acupuncture opens the life force in your body,” she explains, “helping to eliminate pain, while fortifying the immune, organ, and brain systems.” Regenerative medicine, one of the fastest growing areas in medicine today, is also a prime focus of her practice. “Believe it or not, just as aging is a natural process, so is regeneration,” she says. “My team and I are here to help support that regeneration by design, instead of allowing degeneration and accelerated aging by default.”

“Most people have never been taught how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so they have no idea what it entails, or how important it is,” says Raymond Kurshals, the founder of Pilates Santa Fe. “What we offer is an opportunity to keep the body healthy and young, with proper alignment, balance, strength and flexibility. We also have a number of ways to combat and detoxify the environmental waste we accumulate simply by living in these times. You cannot eat or pay your way to good health; you have to do the work necessary to get there.” At Mariposa Health & Beauty Spa, Mary Ellen Lopez, a certified nurse practitioner, bridges the gap between Western and alternative medicine. “I don’t believe in sticking with just one or the other,” she says. “They both have valuable things to contribute.” Mariposa offers a wide range of services, from hormone therapy, vitamin injections and IVs, to dermal fillers and weight loss. “We are deeply committed to whole health and wellness,” she says, “and I just want to help in any way I can.”

If your primary focus is external rejuvenation, then check out the Santa Fe Skin Institute for some really innovative, cutting-edge options All the practitioners are experienced medical professionals and the results are as good as, if not better than, cosmetic surgery. So if you are looking to turn back the clock, either by addressing and enhancing internal health and wellness, or by engaging in external physical renewal, you are in the right place. Getting to know some of the top-rated practitioners featured in these pages will set you on the right path to achieving your goals.

SANTA FE SOUL CENTER FOR REGENERATION

By Kelly Koepke

Regenerative medicine harnesses one’s own biology to create new healthy tissue. In effect, it’s the reverse of aging and degenerative disease. For 16 years, Santa Fe Soul Center for Regenerative Medicine, uses this science of naturally boosting healing in damaged tissues and under functioning endocrine and immune systems. Patients achieve the benefits of restored healthy joints, regrowth of hair, skin rejuvenation and improved sexual function. No going under the knife, harsh chemicals or risky, invasive surgical procedures.

The Santa Fe Soul Center is different from any health clinic out there, too. It’s not the typical med-spa where facials and massages are the extent of treatment. This center is science based, with cutting-edge technologies applied to your health and wellness, truly a place where feeling and looking better comes first. Because regenerative health medicine’s revolutionary breakthroughs empower patients to take healing into their own hands, whether it’s sleep issues, weight, chronic headaches, pain, hormonal imbalances, digestive distress, anxiety, or depression.

Dr. Robyn Benson (now in her 30th year in practice) and her team specialize in teaching patients how to support their regeneration by design, rather than degenerating and accelerating their health challenges by default. She’s treated well over 100,000 patients and trained other doctors in the art of regeneration, too. She’s found that there are five effective, game changing therapies in addition to acupuncture that truly empower and amplify the existing process of regeneration.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy uses your own blood and its highly concentrated platelets to stimulate new, youthful tissue, including areas in the face, sex organs, breasts and joints.

Prolozone is a method by which a proliferative agent such as dextrose, combined with ozone stimulates the body’s natural healing cascade in order to facilitate recovery from musculoskeletal injury.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy incorporates the use of above atmospheric pressure to infuse blood plasma with life-sustaining oxygen which stimulates your immune system, thereby accelerating and supporting a natural regeneration process within the body.

Nutritional IV Therapy delivers essential vitamins and nutrients directly to your bloodstream, restoring energy levels, enhancing detoxification, and promoting good health.

Bioidenticall Hormone Therapy which can include Chinese herbal medicine, restores hormones lost with age, improving and/or relieving symptoms of peri/ menopause in women and andropause in men.

Dr. Robyn Benson and her staff know how to help men, women and couples look and feel their very best. “I consider Santa Fe Soul as one of the foremost holistic healing centers in the world. Robyn Benson has created a very special place with leadingedge modalities that facilitate true healing in patients. Thank you so much for your very fine work, and the high level of care at Santa Fe Soul that you all provide. It is greatly appreciated,” says Jim Williams. Visitors to santafesoul.com and destinationregenerate.com will find information about these five key age and degenerative disease reversal therapies. Of note is a special Women’s Retreat, July 28-30 offering life-changing workshops to learn how to reenergize from the inside out, increase focus and boost brain power, and transform bodies. In-person regeneration therapies are included. Visit Robynbenson.com or Destinationregenerate. com/womensretreat for complete details and to sign up.

Ready to get out of pain, re-energize and even rewind 10 years? Contact Santa Fe Soul Center for Regenerative Medicine today.

Santa Fe Soul Center for Regenerative Medicine 2905 Rodeo Park Drive East, #3 Santa Fe, NM 87505 505-474-8555 www.santafesoul.com Regenerative Medicine Autoimmune Conditions

Sexual Rejuvenation Medical Ozone Therapy

PRP Acupuncture

IV Nutrition Therapy Pain Management

L: Dr. Christi Alsop, DOM R: Dr. Robyn Benson, DOM

PILATES SANTA FE

Your Health and Wellness Center

By Anya Sebastian Photos by Liz Lopez

It is by no means an exaggeration to call Raymond Kurshals, the founder of Pilates Santa Fe, a Renaissance man of healthcare. In addition to being a Pilates grand master, who studied with pupils of the original founder, Joe Pilates, he is trained in chiropractic and osteopathic medicine; ozone and oxygen therapy; certified in applied kinesiology, homeopathy and nutrition; trained in cold light laser and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) and is also experienced in 5 different styles of massage.

Even that is not a complete list. The first Pilates instructor to be asked to be an Olympic coach, Ray has worked with athletes of all kinds, from gymnasts and skiers, to swimmers and equestrians and has been a trainer with the NBA and NFL. He also helps professional golfers to improve their game and is a practicing, licensed EMT (emergency medical technician) as well.

With such a wide assortment of knowledge and expertise, it is not surprising—but could well be Santa Fe’s best kept secret—that Pilates Santa Fe offers much more than classes and exceptional Pilates certification training. “There’s so much more to health and wellness than just physical

fitness,” explains Ray. “Human beings have a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body, and all need to be addressed, because everything is connected.”

There are many treatment options to choose from and clients can request a consultation, to determine the best approach for their particular needs. A total health scan is also available, which will provide an analysis of flexibility, strength and neuro-muscular coordination. This can then be used to create a program specifically designed to address physical weaknesses and/or nutritional deficiencies.

Some of the services offered by the studio, such as the far infrared sauna, can be used on an ongoing basis. Unlike a traditional sauna, the heat it produces is able to penetrate the body to a depth of 1.5 to 2 inches, boosting the body’s ability to detoxify. A well-established treatment, it is recognized by doctors around the world as the most effective way to remove heavy metals, including mercury. It can also help to relieve anxiety and depression, reduce pain, stimulate the immune system, and assist with weight control, among other positive benefits.

Another beneficial wellness option is the ion detox footbath. This particular appliance, made in the USA, was acquired after extensive research and is top of the line. The 30- minute treatment draws out toxic elements like heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, preservatives, mold, and other chemicals. These pollutants and toxins in the environment build up inside the body, eventually reaching a point where the body’s natural detoxification process is unable to cope, resulting in sickness or disease. Detoxification removes excess toxins and enhances the body’s own natural ability to detoxify itself. For those living in the high altitude of Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Albuquerque, the oxygen therapy available at Pilates Santa Fe is of particular benefit. It would also help visitors and tourists seeking relief from altitude sickness.

Another beneficial treatment commonly used in Europe and elsewhere is ozone therapy. Administered through the ears, since ozone cannot be inhaled, it has been extensively studied for over a century and has been proven to kill off 99 percent of all viruses and bacteria, as well as boosting the immune system. It can safely be repeated a couple of times a week. The studio also offers a line of supplements only available to professional health practitioners, and now has a certified naprapathic doctor on staff, trained to work with injuries and connective soft tissue disorders.

With such an extensive variety of treatments and services available, Pilates Santa Fe may well be able to offer assistance for whatever ails you, physically, mentally or emotionally. The studio motto: Live Young Longer clearly applies to more than just Pilates.

HUMAN BEINGS HAVE A PHYSICAL, MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL BODY, AND ALL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED

Pilates Santa Fe 839 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe 505.995.9700 Pilatessantafe.com

TRANSFORMATION WITHOUT SURGERY

By Anya Sebastian

Top Row: Jessica Gonzalez DNP, Nizhoni Denipah M.D. Teresa Gonsales M.A. Monica Lawry M.D. Lily Love M.D. Elena Romero MA, Garrett Werner Executive Director Sitting: Jared Seibert MD. Michelle Montoya MA, Natalya Afasan NP, Anne Munson

Nataliya Afanasyeva N.P. performing a Botox injection in the forehead region giving her a refreshed look and keeping up with her preventative maintenance. This is key for our patient’s long-term goals for anti-aging

Time marches on and combating the inevitable signs of aging has become a booming business. The cosmetic surgery market in the US, valued at over $50 billion dollars in 2018, is projected to reach a staggering $67 billion by 2026.

But a shift is also underway. Statistics show that since the year 2000, minimally invasive cosmetic procedures have increased nearly 200 percent, as more and more Americans turn to new, innovative ways to re-shape their bodies and rejuvenate their faces without going under the knife.

The Santa Fe Skin Institute is ahead of the curve. “I realized that there was nothing like this in this part of the world,” explains Garrett Werner, the Executive Director, and an aesthetics professional for over 25 years. “Santa Fe seemed like a good place to establish a base for what we are offering.”

There are a number of things that make the Santa Fe Skin Institute unique. The first, and most important, is that every member of the team is a board-certified, practicing medical professional, including dermatologists, facial plastic surgeons

Jared Seibert MD, performing the AGNES RF for neck sculpting and submittal fat reduction Head and Neck Surgeon Dr. Nizhoni Denipah performing a SCARLET RF procedure for skin tightening, firming and rejuvenation. SCARLET RF is the most advanced technology in the industry with no social down time and incredible results.

Dermatologist Dr. Monica Lawry is performing a skin check before her procedure with the AGNES RF. Patients receive a medical clearance before they begin our non-invasive procedures. This is the difference at Santa Fe Skin Institute, patient care is paramount.

and head and neck surgeons. They may not be doing surgery at the Institute, but their medical training and experience definitely inspires an increased level of confidence in their expertise.

Secondly, the services offered include cutting-edge treatments that produce results which are as good as, if not better than, plastic surgery. The prime, top-ofthe-line procedure is RF—a combination of microneedling and radio frequency energy—and two kinds are available, called Agnes and Scarlet. Scarlet can be used anywhere on the face, body or scalp, while Agnes is more intense and targets one specific area, or areas, of the face and neck. These treatments smooth, tighten and firm the skin, while improving tone and texture; three to six appointments are usually required to get the best results. They can be used to address many things, including wrinkles, veins, stretch marks, sagging skin, acne, sun damage… and unlike other, more conventional treatments, there is no downtime, and side-effects, if any, are minimal.

Every new client starts out with a free consultation with their chosen provider, who will do an in-depth analysis to assess each person’s individual needs and recommend the treatment best suited to meet their goals. All treatments are customized, so there is no standard, onesize-fits-all menu or pricing.

Customer care and personal service are a top priority at the Institute, and that also applies to services such as facials and dermal fillers. One completely unique treatment, available nowhere else, is an enormously popular goat milk peel, which is a holistic alternative to a chemical peel. It works with a natural enzyme, instead of chemicals, and is a much gentler alternative. It can either be done in-house, or carried out at home, using an ‘over the counter,’ to-go version, available at a reduced price.

So if you are battling the imprints of Father Time, and would rather not undergo surgery, check out the Santa Fe Skin Institute website, to see what other, highly effective options are now available. And you do not even have to leave the state to take advantage of them.

The Santa Fe Skin Institute 530 Harkle Rd. suite A 505.772.0564 santafeskin.com

WHERE NATURE AND SCIENCE MEET

By Anya Sebastian

My dog was in an accident and was limping with obvious discomfort. I thought about giving him CBD and after just a few days, he made an amazing recovery! Carol, Santa Fe

Hemp Apotheke is not only an exceptional hemp store, it is also a one-stop-shop for health and wellness issues of all kinds, for both people and pets, from allergies to insomnia, stress and pain relief. Owner Gyana Basse is constantly on the lookout for effective new items to add to her inventory. "Hemp and CBD products are constantly evolving and expanding in response to ongoing research," she says, "and we also have other plant-based items like mushroom extracts, essential oils, natural sleep aids and much more." Products come in a variety of different forms - capsules, tinctures, powders, salves, lotions, edibles and smokables - with the final choice primarily a matter of personal preference.

An exciting new product has just been launched for those who prefer to smoke CBD, rather than ingest it. This new vaporizer completely bypasses the carbon that is usually released when inhaling. Powered by a rechargeable battery, it gently heats the flower, which is loaded into a small, ceramic or quartz chamber, just enough to release the surface oils (trichomes) but not enough to burn the flower and produce carbon. Being produced by zero combustion, the inhaled vapor is both clean and fast-acting, causing neither harshness to the throat, nor inflammation to the lungs.

As for common health concerns, like insomnia, pain and stress, Hemp Apotheke offers a wide range of natural aids, including mushroom extracts and essential oils, as well as CBD tinctures, edibles, salves and lotions. With more and more people actively searching for ways to take care of their health without resorting to prescription drugs, it is reassuring to know that there are many natural-based remedies out there, just waiting to be discovered.

An exceptionally effective supplement, called kratom, is now available in capsule form, in bulk, in the store. This gives customers the opportunity to try it before

buying a pre-determined amount. Native to Southeast Asia, kratom is a tropical evergreen tree that belongs to the same family as coffee. Traditionally used for medicinal purposes for centuries, the leaves can be chewed, or, after drying, put into capsules, tablets or tinctures, or made into a tea. Laboratory analysis of kratom has shown that it contains powerful, natural opioid properties, that make it particularly effective for the relief of discomfort. It is not, however, suitable for everyone and the knowledgeable sales team in the store will be glad to advise on whether it is appropriate for your particular needs.

As for edibles, there are several kinds to choose from, including gummies, cookies, chocolate, energy bars, pecan bars and turmeric paste with CBD, which can be added to warm dairy or non-dairy milk to make 'golden milk.' There is also CBD-infused coffee and tea, that maintain the mental high, but without the nervous jitters, resulting in both mental stimulation and physical relaxation at the same time.

Healthy skin has not been forgotten either, as Hemp Apotheke has just launched an exciting new line of stem cell infused skincare products. The star of the show is a break-through anti-aging serum, that mimics the skin sebum of a 22 year-old. Components from the macadamia nut tree, jojoba bush, and green olive tree, are combined with pure essential oils and Hemp Apotheke's broad spectrum CBD, resulting in a powerful, collagen-boosting, anti-aging product that visibly diminishes the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Hand-crafted in small batches by Aromaland, the line also includes a facial cleanser, toner, moisturizer and body oil. Products can also be purchased by mail order, at hempapotheke.com.

So if taking care of your health and wellbeing, from the inside out, is important to you, head over to Hemp Apotheke to discover and explore the ever-expanding range of possibilities that nature has in store. You'll be glad you did.

Hemp Apotheke 1330 Rufina Circle, Santa Fe 505.985.5704 hempapotheke.com

I have a very stressful job, which has really taken its toll. Since I began taking CBD, I have noticed a big difference. Not only am I much more relaxed, it’s also helping with allergies and stress headaches. Thank you, Hemp Apotheke! Lauri, Santa Fe I suffered for a long time with chronic hip pain, which nothing could alleviate. When I heard about Kratom, I was skeptical, but decided to give it a try. To my amazement, it worked!

Jason, Los Alamos

MARIPOSA HEALTH & BEAUTY SPA

Where Wellness and Aesthetics Come Together

By Anya Sebastian Photos by Liz Lopez

The name Mariposa Health & Beauty Spa was deliberately chosen to convey something beyond the pretty butterfly logo. “It’s about transformation,” explains Mary Ellen Lopez, nurse practitioner and founder. “A butterfly starts out as a caterpillar, and our goal is to help people to move on to a place where they both feel better and look good.”

Mary Ellen began her nursing career at St. Vincent’s hospital and became a Board–Certified Nurse Practitioner after studying at UNM. Born and raised in Santa Fe, she has known, since high school, that she wanted to help others and give back to the community and she finally left the hospital in order to explore a more holistic approach to medical issues. “I respect both Western and so-called ‘alternative’ medicine,” she says, “and they both have their place. I work with both, depending on what people are dealing with. I’m here to help in whatever way I can.” She now has an impressive list of qualifications to call upon. In addition to her medical training, Mary Ellen is also a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer and nutrition counselor and she has over 15 years’ experience in aesthetics. She has completed multiple, advanced, in-depth training courses in procedures like Botox and other dermal fillers, and is an experienced, advanced injector.

Her medical background enables her to incorporate blood work, IV treatments, and hormone replacement therapy into the services she offers. The IVs are made-to-measure, and Mary Ellen puts them together herself, incorporating vitamins, minerals, amino acids and whatever else may be required to meet individual needs. There is also a menu book of ingredients that people can choose from. The IV ‘bags’ are created to focus on five main areas: overall wellness, athletic performance and recovery, migraines, hydration, and beauty. For maximum effect, they can be repeated once or twice a month, and are available for both men and women.

Other issues that Mary Ellen is able to assist with include weight loss, depression, general fitness and lifestyle changes. Her medical qualifications enable her to offer assistance in the form of therapeutic injections, including vitamin D, vitamin B12 and her own special formula for weight loss. A blend of vitamins and amino acids, it will boost energy, increase metabolism and utilize fat for fuel.

“Hormone replacement therapy is also a big one,” she says, “and it’s something I’ve devoted a lot of time to researching, because it affects many people, but doesn’t get a lot of attention. Getting the right hormone adjustment can be really life-changing, for men as well as for women.”

A line of medical grade skincare products, available only to professional healthcare providers, is also available at Mariposa. Specially formulated to deal with a range of issues, including acne, pigment, wrinkles and more, they provide valuable support for spa treatments and can also be purchased independently.

Mariposa is a unique resource for aesthetic enhancement, combined with and supported by medical services. Check out the website for details and to learn about, and take advantage of, the monthly specials on offer.

Mariposa Health & Beauty Spa 2019 Galisteo Street, Suite M5 505.699.9466 mariposahealthandbeautyspa.com

The New Arrival is Growing and Expanding

By Anya Sebastian

The line of breakthrough skincare products, launched less than five years ago by sisters-in-law Dr. Kristina Trujillo and Katie Uilk, has really taken off. The company is now so successful that, in response to popular demand, two new products have been added, an exfoliating scrub and, just in time for summer, a sunshield.

Consistent with K&K’s existing line of products, the new additions are both natural and uniquely different. The exfoliating scrub comes in the form of a cream that contains apricot oil as a prime ingredient. High in antioxidants and rich in omegas 6 and 9, it improves skin tone and lightens blemishes and dark spots. Other ingredients include jojoba beads for gentle exfoliation, and antiinflammatory oat kernel flour. The result is a scrub which is both effective and gentle enough to be used a couple of times a week. The cream is simply massaged into a clean, damp face, left on for up to 5 minutes, and washed off with warm water. Unlike the majority of commercial sunscreens out there, K&K’s sunshield contains neither artificial chemical additives, nor artificial preservatives. The main ingredient is zinc oxide, which is blended with oils that not only have natural sun protective and hydrating properties, but are also anti-microbial and antiinflammatory. It is absorbed quickly, leaving no residue, and for maximum effectiveness, can be applied every 2 to 4 hours.

If these products are not yet available on the company website, the QR code below will enable you to check out the rest of the range of products, including the company’s signature breakthrough product, BioVer-X™️, to keep your skin glowing and healthy throughout the summer months and beyond.

K&K Skin Products kkskinproducts.com 505.966.6725