Fall 2018

SYNERGY

GUIDED

HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Fall 2018 Vol. 14 Issue 3 FREE in select locations

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A LIFE WITHOUT COMPARISON

RECIPES

Learning to Embrace Myself

Architects of hope

3

FOR BUSY FAMILIES

Exclusive Interview with Suzanne Sagmeister

Alternative Health | Environment | Fitness | Food & Nutrition | Personal Growth | Philanthropy | Spirituality | Travel

Sharing stories of connection

GUIDED

14

Architects of Hope

SYNERGY HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

FALL 2018 Publisher: Chelsey Boyne Editorial & Design Senior Editor: Susan Fitzgerald Photographer: Sean Trostem Sales & Marketing Grande Prairie I Edmonton I Red Deer Victoria | Vernon Digital & Web Justin Vienslauze Articles in Guided Synergy Magazine are copyrighted and must not be reprinted, duplicated or transmitted without permission.

Freelance contributions are welcome for consideration.

Refer to the article guidelines on our website for submission details at www.guidedsynergy.ca. Please direct all inquiries to editorial@guidedsynergy.ca.

The information provided in this magazine is informational only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a qualified and licensed practitioner or health-care provider.

Guided Synergy Holistic Lifestyles Magazine makes every effort to preserve the accuracy of the information it publishes. We cannot, however, guarantee it to be true nor be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

No guarantees are expressed or implied.

Our readers and advertisers are health conscious individuals living a holistic lifestyle who use this magazine as a resource guide to find natural and holistic practitioners, products, services, courses, workshops and events in their region and beyond.

Subscriptions available for $20/year plus GST. Visit www.guidedsynergy.ca or contact us at subscriptions@guidedsynergy.ca ON OUR COVER: Suzanne Sagmeister, Vancouver Island, BC. Feature photos were taken in the Podollan Inn & Spa and in South Bear Creek Park in Grande Prairie, AB. Photography by Sean Trostem.

Guided Synergy Magazine By appointment only 7301 99A Street Grande Prairie, AB T8V 4Y3 780.538.3150 MAIN info@guidedsynergy.ca www.guidedsynergy.ca

CONTENTS

Inside FALL 2018

FEATURES 6 Learning to Embrace Myself

Tips from the journey

8 Buying CBD What you need to know

10 Simple Tips for Healthy Eating 11 3 Recipes for Busy Families

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Soup Beet Smoothie Teriyaki Chicken Salad

14 Architects of Hope

Sharing stories of connection

18 Camel Safari in Jaisalmer Finding joy in the desert

20 Moving Towards a More Positive Body Image Steps to building self-appreciation

22 Visiting the Akashic Library Learning from your own soul

24 A Life Without Comparison

Celebrating our real selves

IN EVERY ISSUE 26 Synergy Favourites

Fall Must Haves

28 Synergy Holistic Directory

GIVING YOU ENERGY TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO

TRYN A GOW E R

PSYCHIC · MEDIUM · AUTHOR

Located in the Prairie Mall

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Synergy IN YOUR ADVERTISING DEADLINE FOR FALL ISSUE

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#219 9804 100 Avenue • Grande Prairie, AB Mon.-Wed. 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Patsy 780-518-1421 3702A 48 Street • Wetaskiwin, AB Tues.-Fri. 9:00 am to noon, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm Connie 780 -352-8643 or 1-888-535-5653

FALL: A CHANCE TO SLOW DOWN T

he air is already crisper in the mornings, and although I am not looking forward to scraping ice off my windshield in a few short months, I am looking forward to cool fall days, cozy sweaters and spicy teas.

For me, fall brings a sense of renewal and a chance slow down. With such short summers in the Peace Country, I find myself trying to take advantage of every moment, camping on as many weekends as possible and exploring as much as I can. The summer goes by in a blink and soon those long days become short again. I have high hopes that September will be an extended summer for us and we’ll be able to enjoy warm fall evenings.

SYNERGY HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

GUIDED

ON THE COVER

As you get back into the swing of school and work, we offer three nutritious recipes for busy families from Shannon Boyne (page 11). Your family will appreciate a warm soup in their bellies on a cool fall night, and Shannon’s sweet potato and cauliflower soup is a great way to sneak in vegetables and use up what you have in the fridge.

Fall 2018 Vol. 14 Issue 3 FREE in select locations

{

A LIFE WITHOUT COMPARISON

RECIPES

Learning to Embrace Myself

Architects of hope

3

Pg 6

September is National Suicide Awareness Month, so the timing could not be better for our cover feature (page 14). We are honoured and proud to have Suzanne Sagmeister on our cover. She is a pillar in our community and the force behind Life After Dark: 100 Stories of Hope from Survivors of Suicide, a book for which she travelled across Canada, immersing herself in this issue while interviewing and photographing the survivors.

Guided Synergy’s favourite globetrotting family, the Hunters, are back in Grande Prairie after a year of travelling to non-English-speaking countries. Kyla and Randy took a year off from their everyday lives to experience the world with their two daughters. Through Kyla’s series of articles for Guided Synergy Magazine, we have followed along with their journey. Turn to page 18 to read about how they found joy on a camel tour.

Victoria Johnson has written a witty article about how easy it is to get wrapped up in comparing ourselves to others (page 22). She approaches this subject with a light heart and provides us with a few steps on how to live our happiest life without comparison.

Tickets are now onsale for Awaken Your Glow Retreat | Jasper, and they are selling fast. I will be co-hosting this retreat along side my cousin Shannon Boyne, who is a regular contributor to Guided Synergy for our recipes. For more information about this weekend in the mountains, November 9-11 visit our website at awakenyourglowevents.ca.

I hope you soak in all this issue has to offer. We love to hear from our readers!

Feel free to contact us at info@ guidedsynergy.ca.

Thank you for reading, Chelsey Boyne, Publisher

Pg 22 Pg 14

FOR BUSY FAMILIES

Exclusive Interview with Suzanne Sagmeister

Alternative Health | Environment | Fitness | Food & Nutrition | Personal Growth | Philanthropy | Spirituality | Travel

Pg 11

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY

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HEALTH

LEARNING TO EMBRACE MYSELF Tips from the journey

M

y journey to awakening started when I was three years old.

Feminine and sensitive, I was confused about my body from a very young age. When I started school, I would find myself looking in the mirror in the boys’ washroom, wondering why what I saw was not what I felt myself to be.

I grew up in the 1980s in rural and remote Fairview, Alberta. My great-grandmother was a survivor of residential school and my grandmother was born in a teepee. Like a lot of country kids, I was raised in a down-to-earth way. But I also encountered hardships: I grew up around addictions and survived various types of abuse. I was raised by my young mom; my father was absent.

I tried to hang myself in grade 4. I left home at 14 and lived on the street and in group homes. I experienced many risky situations. But I got my life together, at least on the surface.

Five years ago, things seemed to be going well. I was working for the City of Grande Prairie as a yoga instructor and making a name for myself. I appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Guided Synergy Magazine, which was dedicated to men’s health. I was doing work I loved, in a job that allowed me to be part of a community, helping others.

But my personal life was completely unmanageable. I was darkly depressed and didn’t understand why. I was living as a gay man, but was confused about my gender and sexuality. I thought maybe I just

6 www.guidedsynergy.ca

sucked at being gay. And I was struggling with the lasting effects of my childhood.

In life, especially in small communities, people are encouraged to wear their game faces. But what about those of us who wear our hearts on our sleeves?

My game face was trying to be manly. No matter how many feminine qualities I had, it wasn’t acceptable for me to be feminine. For many years, I tried to be what I thought other people wanted me to be, so that I could survive.

But inside, I was a ticking time bomb. Although I was doing work in every area of my life, I couldn’t connect the dots. Then one night, a few years ago, I saw a program about a transgender woman who was competing in beauty pageants. I looked her up and learned about gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person’s emotional and psychological gender identity doesn’t agree with their physical or assigned gender.

Could this be why I so easily visualized myself as a wife or a mother, why I felt so maternal and why most of my friends were women? Was this why, for as long as I could remember, I had been so confused with my body and why, when I looked in the mirror, I saw female anatomy under my male physical form?

I set out on a quest to make sure that I was transgender before I transitioned. First, I moved to Edmonton. I went skydiving, travelled down the West Coast and hiked in the desert. Along the way, I spent a lot of time reflecting on how I was feeling.

When I returned from my trip, I discovered that my cousin had been killed by a semi-truck outside of Grande Prairie. Losing someone I loved left me feeling broken. Life can be taken away so quickly. I realized it was time for me to start transitioning into my best life.

Today, three years later, I live in Victoria, British Columbia, and I am healing from gender confirmation surgery. I have graduated from hair school and now work as a hairstylist. I also do massage, and I’m slowly getting back into teaching yoga.

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It’s said that the first five years of transitioning are like going through puberty, and going through hormone therapy is like going through early menopause—let me tell you, at 37 this is an experience!

Living as a transgender woman has made me vulnerable. Being different and standing out is not easy. I go through every day knowing that I face strong opposition: from my parents, some family, strangers, potential employers and the constructs of our society.

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So, although I am following my soul, life is still challenging.

I have developed many means of coping. I embrace the things I naturally gravitate towards. Holistic health has always resonated with me because it looks at every part of our lives to create harmony, so I follow several holistic practices. I’ve been hooked on physical fitness since I was young, so going to the gym helps me both mentally and physically—it’s my salvation. Fresh air, clean water, healthy food and spending time in nature all help me take care of myself.

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I have surrounded myself with people who can see my true essence amidst my chaos. I talk with close friends and confidants. I’ve sought feedback from counsellors and life coaches. I have older friends who share their wisdom with me. I’m involved in a women’s circle, and I stay connected to the Indigenous community and go to sweat lodges.

I try to be a good person and give to others through volunteering as well.

I have learned to embrace the pain, awkwardness and confusion that comes with transitioning. I am honest with myself about where I’m struggling and where I’m thriving. Most importantly, I allow myself to be human and to learn from my experiences. That means I’m not scared to muck up!

Even today, people don’t seem to want to talk about gender dysphoria with me. They want to talk about my hair extensions or my makeup or how I dress, but not about my journey. But I feel it’s important to share my experiences and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have a voice. I’ve spoken at youth conferences and, as I heal from surgery, I am working on my first book.

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I take time to reflect, especially through meditation: seated meditation, creative meditation, physical meditation, musical meditation—whatever connects me to my centre. I also write in my journal, create vision boards and read tarot cards.

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Poet Rune Lazuli says, “If you want to see the truth you must be brave enough to look.” I’ve learned many lessons on the path to my new life: have the courage to look inside, take care of your body and soul, connect with and help others, spend time doing things you love, be honest, and embrace yourself, flaws and all. If you’re facing a difficult journey, I hope these lessons can help you, too.

Ariya Bliss has a diploma from Academy of Excellence Hair Design and Aesthetics and loves to help people look and feel their best. She also does massage and tarot card readings. She’s currently working on her first book. Connect with her at ariyabliss.com.

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY

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HEALTH

BUYING CBD

What you need to know

I

n October 2018, marijuana and associated products will become legal in Canada. As the date gets closer, people are realizing they have little idea what that’s going to look like and what they’ll have access to.

What should you watch for when buying it?

I’ve been learning about, using and working with cannabidiol, or CBD, for over a year. Some people think it’s already legal. Others say it’s not. While I’m not a lawyer, I’ve looked into this question, and here’s what I’ve found out.

Look for a reputable supplier. If the product comes in a little brown bottle with a homemade label and no information about what’s inside, should you trust it? I buy CBD only from a reputable company that has spent at least a few dollars on branding. The packaging should be properly labelled with ingredients and nutritional information readily available.

First, what is CBD? CBD is a compound in cannabis. It doesn’t have the same psychoactive properties as tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, so it doesn’t make you feel stoned. CBD oil is extracted from hemp plants or cannabis plants that have little or no THC. CBD reportedly is very beneficial to many people who deal with symptoms from a variety of health challenges.

Is CBD legal?

While evidence for the potentially life-changing benefits of CBD is growing, it can be a challenge to understand how and where to get it and to figure out its legal status. In my experience and through my research over the last year, I’ve encountered a lot of conflicting information.

Currently, selling and buying CBD is not legal except for authorized medical purposes. But you can easily find CBD in various forms in local retail shops, through independent distributors and online.

Some people believe that because CBD is not psychoactive and is safe to consume, it’s a low priority for regulating and lawenforcement agencies and there is no enforcement to speak of.

This, combined with the fact that many people selling CBD don’t even realize it is illegal, has created a grey-market environment across the country, with people selling, buying and using it freely.

How can you get it legally?

CBD is categorized as a marijuana product, so it is lumped under the medicinal cannabis rules. Legally, to buy any cannabis products for medicinal purposes, you need a letter of referral from a physician and you must buy the products through a licensed dispensary.

Many people in the cannabis/CBD industry agree that CBD could easily be categorized as an independent product from cannabis and that it should not fall under the same kind of regulation.

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As with most things, quality plays an important part in how effective a given CBD product is. The following four tips come from my own experience and resources.

Find a full-spectrum CBD rather than a CBD isolate. Fullspectrum CBD oil includes a wide range of cannabinoids from the cannabis or hemp plant, while an isolate does not.

Try to find CBD that has been extracted with carbon dioxide.

CBD can be extracted with carbon dioxide or with fossil fuels.

Carbon dioxide extraction is safer and cleaner, better for the environment, less toxic, and cheaper than using fossil fuels. The result is usually more consistent and palatable.

Pay attention to the amount of active CBD in the product. The most common way to buy CBD is as an oil in a 60-millilitre bottle with a dropper. The three most popular concentrations contain 500 milligrams, 750 milligrams and 1,000 milligrams of active CBD per 60 millilitres. The benefit to buying the higher concentrations is price. You pay a little bit more to get a whole lot more concentration, so it’s often the best value. Concentrations of 1,500 milligrams and higher are available, but these are usually reserved for more specific treatment of severe conditions.

Over the next few years, awareness and education about the entire cannabis industry will continue to improve, as legalization takes place and people get comfortable around this amazing plant once again. In the meantime, it is important that we take the responsibility to learn, understand and test how CBD can help us in our lives. The information is out there, but it takes some effort and sifting to find it.

Dave Doyle is a local entrepreneur and health and wellness advocate. His business partner, Janet Lofstrom, owns Infinitely U, and they have been educating people about CBD for over a year.

Dave can be reached at 780-518-8231. Janet can be reached at 780-518-1865. You can also visit www.purecbdcanada.ca for more information.

FOOD & NUTRITION

SIMPLE TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING SHOPPING • Shop locally and choose organic foods.

• Concentrate on the outside aisles of your grocery store, where the fresh foods are.

• Avoid the processed foods found in the inner aisles.

MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES • Limit your intake of white flour and other refined starches, which can cause your blood sugar to spike and lead to weight gain. Stick to whole grains.

• Limit your salt intake to one teaspoon daily. Try Himalayan pink salt, which contains many more trace minerals than table salt or sea salt.

• Instead of cane sugar, try raw honey or coconut sugar.

• Eat red meat no more than once a week. Fish and chicken are healthier choices.

• Avoid cows’ milk and limit other dairy products.

• Eat 5 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruits every day.

Make sure to choose some that are rich in antioxidants, which help protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals.

COOKING • Make healthy meals from scratch.

• Make a few vegetarian meals each week. Replace meat with tofu.

• Use soy milk or a nut milk to replace cows’ milk in recipes that call for milk.

Cheryl Walters-Atkinson is certified as a reiki master and crystal healer. She also has training in holistic nutrition and natural health. She practices in Grande Prairie. Her goal is to help teach others how to take care of their bodies in a holistic, natural way. Contact Cheryl at 780-518-2870.

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY

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FOOD & NUTRITION

RECIPES FOR BUSY FAMILIES

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Soup Gluten free, vegetarian, nut free

This soup is great for using up vegetables you have on hand. Feel free to add other vegetables like zucchini or celery. Don’t spend a lot of time chopping the vegetables.

The soup will be blended, so rough chopping is sufficient.

Serves 6-8 2 tablespoons butter 1 clove garlic, chopped ½ onion, roughly chopped 1 medium sweet potato, roughly chopped ½ head cauliflower, roughly chopped 4 carrots, roughly chopped 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, roughly chopped 5 to 6 cups vegetable broth ½ cup rice 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes Salt and pepper to taste In a large stockpot, heat butter. Sauté garlic and onion until onion is translucent, approximately 5 minutes.

Add the chopped vegetables and sauté for 5 minutes.

Add the vegetable broth, rice, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and bring soup to a boil. Simmer for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Pour soup into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. You may need to do this in two batches.

Serve right away.

Shannon Boyne is a yoga and meditation instructor and holistic nutrition consultant who specializes in pre- and post-natal nutrition. Through her business, Mama Yoga and Wellness Studio, she provides private consultations, e-books, yoga and meditation classes. Visit her website at www.mamayogaandwellnessstudio.com.

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 11

FOOD & NUTRITION

Beet Smoothie

Gluten free, vegan, dairy free This smoothie is great for hiding vegetables. Even the pickiest of eaters will love it!

Serves 2 1 small beet, peeled and chopped 1 carrot, peeled and chopped 1 frozen banana 1 cup spinach 1 cup frozen berries 1 teaspoon chia seeds Ÿ cup cashews ½ avocado 2 cups almond milk Place all the ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Serve right away.

Shannon Boyne, Mama Yoga and Wellness Studio 12 www.guidedsynergy.ca

FOOD & NUTRITION

Teriyaki Chicken Salad Gluten free, nut free

Don't want to to turn on your oven? Chop up some veggies, heat up the barbecue, and make this delicious salad entrée!

Serves 6 Teriyaki Marinade: 13 cup tamari 13 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons honey 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon sesame oil ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon powdered ginger 6 chicken breasts Salad: 6 cups chopped lettuce 1 cucumber, chopped 1 red pepper, chopped 1 green pepper, chopped 3 green onions, chopped 1 avocado, cubed ½ cup crumbled feta cheese Place marinade ingredients except chicken into a bowl and mix together until combined. Pour marinade into a plastic bag. Place chicken in marinade and seal the bag. Refrigerate 4 to 5 hours or overnight.

Place all salad ingredients into a large bowl.

Grill chicken on the barbecue until cooked. Slice and place on top of salad. Sprinkle top of salad with feta cheese. Serve right away.

Shannon Boyne, Mama Yoga and Wellness Studio

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 13

ARCHITECTS OF HOPE Sharing stories of connection

S

INTERVIEW AND STORY BY KALYN SLOAN PHOTOS BY SEAN TROSTEM HAIR STYLING BY DAKOTA DREGER MAKE UP BY MARISA BYERS

uzanne Sagmeister believes in the power of stories. Her book, Life After Dark: 100 Stories of Hope from Survivors of Suicide, uses real and raw storytelling to “break silence and free us from isolation, to inspire connection and change lives.” Each day in Canada, approximately 11 people die by suicide, and it’s estimated that for every person who ends their life, 7 to 10 other lives are profoundly affected.

Suzanne’s co-creative work shares stories that need to be told.

And it begins with her own.

Suzanne was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to two hardworking parents. She is the youngest of four children.

Her family lived briefly in many places throughout the province, following her father’s career. When she was 11 years old, they settled in Grande Prairie, her adopted hometown.

She now calls the wilds of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, home and lives there with her son, Lawson; her partner, Shane; and their furkids, a dog named Tenzing and two cats, Amelia and Junko.

Suzanne grew up listening to her father tell stories of his life. They were stories about being raised in war-torn Germany and about his career in emergency services and law enforcement in Canada. These stories told of trauma and suicide, panic and pain. Although she would not fully understand them or their impact on her until she was older, they were “my normal,” she says, “the very fabric of my life.”

Suzanne’s childhood was lonely. “My parents did the best they could with what they had,” she says. Her father worked long hours, her mother worked outside the home, and her three brothers were much older, so she was often alone.

Suzanne was shy and hypersensitive and felt like “the weird kid” throughout her childhood and young adulthood.

Life was isolating and hard. She spent years in cycles of self-harm and self-loathing, experiencing constant thoughts of suicide. She felt alone in the world and became hardened as a result. “I had encased myself in a shell to try to protect myself,” she explains. “I’d actually become morbidly obese and was living in this depression state, completely disconnected from myself.”

Photography gave her comfort. With every photo shoot came the opportunity to witness moments of genuine human interaction and honest vulnerability. Her subjects became her healers and helped crack open her hard shell. She wasn’t used to that level of realness and intimacy. She learned it was safe to soften and “feel the raw human connection I was starving for.” This real and raw perspective would come to characterize her unique photographic style and lead to a highly successful career.

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In 2013, while photographing Mighty Peace Day, a music event in Grande Prairie, Suzanne heard a musician talk about mental health. His words—“Someone out there needs your story”—struck her deeply. She thought of her own mental health journey and decided to share stories about surviving suicide because she’s been there, because she gets it.

Inspired, she began a three-and-a-half-year journey photographing and interviewing survivors of suicide from across Canada. A survivor is someone who has survived a suicide attempt or lost someone to suicide. Courageous survivors bared their hearts and souls, sharing their stories of pain, loss, hope and resiliency. The result is a book that powerfully illustrates transformations of “anger into action and pain into purpose.” It also demonstrates the power of storytelling. Suzanne says, “By sharing stories of lived experience, survivors become educators, healers and planters of hope.”

In the book, Suzanne also tells her survivor story. She gives detailed, intimate accounts of her youth and painful experiences that happened while interviewing other survivors.

“Life After Dark tore me right down, peeled all the onion layers off until I could get to that core,” she says.

While she was on the road, her son’s father died by suicide. “That happening to my boy was one of the things that knocked me down the most,” she shares. At the same time, she had to say goodbye to her two Great Danes, who were like children to her.

Despite her grief, Suzanne pressed on with the interviews. However, as constant pain and loss took their toll, she felt the darkness of depression and suicide take hold. “Digging my way out of that dark place took a whole lot of grit and a healthy dose of grace,” she writes in the book. Transparency and vulnerability took on new meaning then, as Suzanne knew she had the power within her to move forward.

Throughout her journey with Life After Dark, Suzanne learned that although mental health is part of our being, we are disconnected from it. The more time she spent talking with survivors, the more it affirmed her belief that we lack connection. She says it’s important to understand that how we speak to ourselves matters. Things happen that are beyond our control, but we have complete control over how we react to them. “In that reaction are the building blocks for how our life will look and how it will feel,” she explains. “We’re still that ‘weird kid’ or that wounded person until we deal with that.”

FEATURE STORY

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 15

Sharing our stories of pain and resilience “turns our words into wisdom” and heals us from the inside out. Storytelling also fosters connection by creating “I get it” moments.

“Because all of a sudden, being ‘the weird kid’ is not a detriment,” Suzanne explains. “You realize that there are people all around you that feel that too.” The power of story creates a connection to a community where “you’re bolstered, where you learn to look at emotion as a gift.” Survivors of suicide are “architects of hope” and “builders of possibility” when they share their stories, and in so doing, they inspire others to do the same.

“We are the new ancestors,” she says, “and we must realize that if we don’t heal ourselves, we’re going to hurt others, and that perpetuates the cycle.” Mother Teresa said, “Love begins at home”; to heal the world, we should start with those closest to us. “There’s nothing truer than that,” Suzanne says as she reflects on the death of her son’s father. “It’s really important to get ourselves on track.”

Life After Dark is creating conversation, and healing is happening in homes and hearts nationwide. Suzanne speaks at presentations and shares her story at book launches. If a survivor is attending a launch, they read their story from the book, as the author of their own life.

In the next 24 hours in Canada, an estimated 220 people will attempt to take their own lives. It’s clear that suicide awareness and conversation are vital. Suzanne’s book and journey of survival are a testament to our need for human connection and to the resiliency of the human spirit.

“The survivors who shared their story with me are my heroes," Suzanne says. “They are the ones changing and saving lives. The healers in the book will never know how many lives their stories will inspire.” Suzanne smiles. “And that is the most beautiful thing of all.”

For more information or to contact Suzanne, visit her at suzannesagmeister.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @lifesafterdarkbook. Suzanne uses #lifeafterdark and #igetitmoment.

Life After Dark can be purchased through Suzanne’s website.

There are pick-up locations in Grande Prairie, throughout the Peace Country and Alberta, and across Canada. Books can be shipped if there is no location near you. Distribution is handled by Life After Dark team members and people affected by suicide. This creates human connection, which is why the project started. For every book purchased, another is donated. All proceeds are used to get Life After Dark into more communities.

Kalyn Sloan is an empathic writer and teacher. She enjoys using words to help others learn, laugh and love. To read more, visit her blog at www.kalynsloan.com and find her on Facebook at WriterKalynSloan.

16 www.guidedsynergy.ca

A CALL TO ACTION If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of suicide, please call 911 or the Canadian suicide hotline tollfree at 1-833-456-4566. You can also visit Crisis Services Canada at crisisservicescanada.ca to find specific online chat and text contact information for your province.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please tell someone. Sometimes just talking can provide tremendous relief. If you want to help unmask suicide and be a part of the change, be a good listener.

And if you get it, if you’ve been there, share your story: Survivor stories are life rafts for people drowning in dark thoughts.

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HeArt. Henna.

Y Artist, Henna & Mixed Media Y Reiki Practitioner Y Angel Empowerment Practitioner Bookings for private appointments, parties, and festivals welcome.

info@he3art.com www.he3art.com 18 www.guidedsynergy.ca

Michelle Forrester 780-518-5464 Beaverlodge, AB @he3art Photos submitted by author

TRAVEL

A

s I threw my leg over the camel and pulled myself up onto his back, I wondered what I was getting myself into. The desert ahead looked hot and hostile, and the sun beat down without remorse. A feeling of panic crept in when the camel stood up. I was jostled forward and backward as he pushed off the ground with his long legs. I was up so high that once he started to walk, I felt like I was swaying in the breeze. At first I worried that I was going to fall off with every move he made. Thankfully, I soon settled into the rhythm of his steps and began to relax.

It was hot on the camel. Every inch of exposed skin felt like it was getting more and more burnt with every minute. We meandered past a few farms, where herds of sheep hid in the shade. Many of the farms had broken fences and huts that looked long abandoned.

Eventually we came upon a hut that was in good shape and a fence that wasn’t in need of repair. It was our camp.

We climbed down from our camels. It didn’t take long before we were all rolling down the sand dunes. I always feel like a kid again when I’m on a swing, but swinging is nothing compared to rolling down a sand dune! We were in the middle of nowhere, without a care in the world.

Soon a cup of sweet tea showed up, confirming it was time to stop playing. My arms were sore from hanging on to the camel so tightly, and I was happy to relax. I sat on the dunes with a steaming cup of milky chai and watched my girls play in the sand while the sun set.

It was magical—and definitely not something I had expected to be doing in India.

After dinner, we gathered around the fire. The camel driver and his helper sang traditional desert songs, using a large water jug as a drum. The music was haunting and made me think about the hard life these people have had in the past and still have now in the present. The environment is hostile, with temperature extremes and minimal water or agriculture. Yet for generations they’ve made a life for themselves and have truly conquered their little corner of the desert.

Kyla Hunter is a serious wanderluster who loves travelling with her family: husband Randy, seven-year-old Calais (kal-lay) and six-yearold Kacela (kuh-say-luh). She writes about her family’s year-long adventure on the blog Where Is the World (www.whereistheworld.ca).

You can also follow them at www.youtube.com/whereistheworld.

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 19

PERSONAL GROWTH

MOVING TOWARDS A MORE POSITIVE BODY IMAGE Steps to building self-appreciation

H

ow do you see yourself? When you look in the mirror, what are you looking for? Do you see your hips? Your hands? Your eyes? Your thoughts?

Your body image—your own subjective mental picture of yourself—includes memories, assumptions, feelings and experiences. Often, when we look in the mirror or consider our own selves, we are stormed by messages we have internalized throughout our lives.

Messages about size. About shape. About how we should dress. About how we should move.

These messages hit heavy, hard and fast. A negative body image can, quite honestly, take us out. It can make us want to disappear. It can make us feel as though we already have.

So, how can you move from a negative body image to a more positive one? Here are some steps to consider: 1. Notice your body.

Pay attention to what your body does for you. Even if it’s simply sitting, your body is keeping you here. It is your vessel. It carries you from one dream to the next. If remembering to do this is difficult, it can help to choose a particular activity, such as walking up the stairs, and gratefully arrive in your body each and every time you perform this activity. Thank your body for allowing you this experience.

2. Experience your body as a whole.

When you look in the mirror or consider yourself, do not focus on only part of yourself. Consider your whole self, as deeply as you can. Even the tough parts. Especially the parts you aren’t crazy about. Let them in and be with them. Your body is a magnificent machine that relies on all its parts to function properly. Come as close as you can to being grateful for it, in its entirety.

3. Develop a self-care practice.

Take care of yourself in small ways. When you remember, do something nice for yourself. Try to do this daily, and see what happens! What you choose to

20 www.guidedsynergy.ca 20

do is completely up to you. It could be painting your nails, eating vegetables or drinking water. Or it could be having a nice latte, taking a walk on the beach or spending some time meditating. Do what works for you. It doesn’t have to be hard; it just has to be effective.

4. Surround yourself with positive people This is key. Allow yourself to be sensitive while healing—as sensitive as you need to be. This means spending time away from those who leave you feeling triggered or negative. Grant yourself space. Helpful and positive individuals will come your way once you provide the space for them.

5. Wear what you want.

If you’re worried about what others might think, start at home. Wear whatever you want around the house, whatever makes you feel great. Wear what gets you dancing, what makes you shine. As you feel more comfortable with your self-expression, take it outside. Wear it for a coffee. Wear it for a walk around the park. Let people see you, and if they don’t like it, know that it’s not personal. And know that you’re attracting the attention not only of those who don’t like it, but also of those who do. Be patient and let them come.

Start small and go easy on yourself. You are erasing programming that has likely been in you for longer than you can recall. Let time work for you and know that self-appreciation and self-expression can go a long way in helping you feel more confident and at home in your own skin.

If you or someone you know is struggling with body image issues or may be experiencing some form of body dysmorphic disorder, please seek help. The National Eating Disorder Information Centre has many online resources available at www.nedic.ca.

Please do not suffer in silence. You are strong and you are worthy of your own love.

Spinelli Pod is a writer originally from the Peace Country and now based in Edmonton

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 21

PERSONAL GROWTH

A LIFE WITHOUT COMPARISON Celebrating our real selves

Everything is perfect, until it is compared to something else. - Gregg Braden

W

hile the rest of the world—at least according to social media—is out and about living life, riding unicorns from yoga to the organic market, I am stuck in my humanness, longing for a spiritual experience.

There’s a quote, attributed to both Pierre Teilhard de Chardonnay and G.I. Gurdjieff, that says, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” Somehow, in the midst of all my enlightenment, there are still days when I think the only spiritual experience I will have might be a cocktail.

My inner conflict arises because I keep trying to resist my humanness. It keeps showing up, puffed-up ego and all, ready to pounce. I know, we’re not supposed to be judgmental, critical or resentful. I try hard to let things go, I really do, but how many times do I have to go through this? Oh right, until I learn the lesson.

When I was in my twenties and thirties, I often noticed a particular type of woman. These women had the same bob haircut, same highlights and lowlights, same skort and same offhand air of superiority. I was old enough to notice them, but young enough to ignore them.

Then I moved into my forties and noticed people evolving into members of an elite society where they all spoke “spiritual” language, survived on nuts and seeds (but only the ones with healthy fats) and did 3,000 consecutive days of hot yoga. This time, though, I tried to gain membership into their club by learning to speak their language. I started tossing around terms like releasing, mantra, afterlife, consciousness, dharma, spirit guides and third eye like I had been using them my whole life.

Did I believe the words? Absolutely! Did I enjoy being part of the club? Absolutely, until I started seeing the gap between words and actions. As I aged gracefully into my fifties, I noticed that the words of a new-and-improved self-appointed guru (or gurvi, in the feminine), even when spoken with a smile and in a sing-song voice, do not always align with that person’s actions.

The bob-sporting, skort-wearing woman is child’s play compared to a gurvi on the hunt. This spiritual warrior can take you down with words in two sentences flat and have you believe it is your fault. She stands balanced on a pair of too-high wedge heels, her bow carefully aimed and pulled tight, her quiver full of arrows dripping in niceness and spirituality. My bitchy self wants to knock that avatar flat on her vegan, gluten-free ass. My spiritual self tells me to let it go. My real self will settle for something in the middle, letting it go but not being disappointed if she twists her ankle on those wedges and falls off her pedestal all on her own.

These are the thoughts that run through my head as I supposedly reach for my highest level of spiritual consciousness. And you know what? It’s okay. I don’t need to be perfect all the time; I just need to be authentic and perfectly me. I aspire to remain in a state of balance and to surround myself with people who are, like me, sometimes messy, sometimes enlightened, always real.

The truth is, we know when we are out of alignment and off balance. It feels uncomfortable, like a thousand butterflies are about to break loose from our ribcage, and we can’t show up with love. The little voice in our head calls us a fraud when we talk about abundance and gratitude after spending the last hour (or week) in judgment and resentment. It is easy to remember which state of mind feels better both physically and mentally.

When we show up as we are, perceived flaws and all, we are free to shine our light. No one else’s. Ours. Imagine living a life without comparison, fully embracing who we are. Imagine kicking our old beliefs about how we “should” be to the curb. We could live authentically. We could be the lighting director in our own movie. We could choose to crank that dial fully on and shine our brightest, knowing that we are perfect just the way we are, right here, right now, no matter what is going on around us. Or we could choose to dim the light and spend some time in the shadows, resting, exploring our feelings, using the shade to provide cover when we feel we need it.

We could choose to truly live as the best version of ourselves.

Do that. And then some.

Victoria Johnson is a business coach, facilitator and national trainer who helps people revolutionize their businesses. She also trains Heal Your Life coaches and workshop leaders. Learn more about her work at victoriajohnson.org.

22 www.guidedsynergy.ca

CREATE + MEDITATE STEPS TO LIVING WITHOUT COMPARISON • Know that you are enough. Repeat this over and over throughout the day.

• Stop all self-criticism—right now.

• Have daily conversations with yourself in the mirror. Know that you don’t have to be anyone else’s perception of you. You are perfect just the way you are.

Join us for a grounding meditation to release any self-doubting beliefs and creative blocks. Then we will dive into a DIY Project for you to take home completed that evening

Starting October 2018 AWAKENYOURGLOWEVENTS.CA

• Forgive yourself for the months, years or decades you spent trying to be someone else. The past is over. The future is yours to shine in, as yourself.

• Stop comparing yourself to others. Just stop. You are the star of your show. The spotlight is right where it should be: on you.

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 23

Enjoy Guided Synergy on your Mobile Device CANNABIS BODY BUTTERS To help relieve pain & inflammation

WHERE TO FIND US! ALBERTA BARRHEAD Whimzy Boutique Kathy’s Massage DIXONVILLE Dixonville General Store FAIRVIEW Revitalized Salon & Spa

MANNING The Nest PEACE RIVER Fit Body Boot Camp Split Enz Beauty & Wellness Lounge

SPIRIT RIVER GRANDE PRAIRIE The Dragonflies Den Suncapsule Tan ‘N Fitness

GRIMSHAW Riverside Ranch Decor

WHITECOURT Coming Soon

BRITISH COLUMBIA NELSON Santosha Spa

VERNON Artisan’s Gift Market

It’s a whole new way to experience GS Magazine

Handmade in Grimshaw, AB

780-618-5329 www.pink-lotus.ca

www.issuu.com/guidedsynergy

BE A MEMBER, REAP THE

REWARDS The Tourism Association works very hard to advocate for the Region and together we can do great things to promote our incredible community.

T o u r i s m

Tell our story of community, history, pride, passion, beauty and uniqueness.

Offer various avenues, strategies and potential marketing funds to help promote your organization or event.

Unite operators and industry to increase visibility and opportunities.

Represent our members & region through promotions,at tradeshows, marketing, advocacy and partnerships.

Increase economic impact for the region, by interacting, engaging & believing in our local industry.

Share our stories, smiles and distinct experiences.

Motivate people to explore, learn, love the region.

Let’s Talk. Contact us today at 780-539-7688 email Info@gptourism.ca, GPtourism.ca 24 www.guidedsynergy.ca

SPIRITUALITY

VISITING THE AKASHIC LIBRARY Learning from your own soul

M

y best memories are of summer camping trips with my mum, dear friends and family. Getting away from the daily routine and building and tending a lovely campfire soothed me and provided many hours for self-reflection, taking me to a place of origin deep within my soul. I reviewed my life, my goals and my relationships.

Often, though, this reflection led to doubts and fears. My life seemed to pass so quickly and must-do lists went unchanged. As I thought more deeply about how things weren’t the way I wanted them to be, questions took over the conversation in my mind.

What could I do better? Why weren’t my dreams coming true?

Why didn’t I have better relationships with myself, my family, my community? One question in particular always crept in: Why did I keep repeating the same patterns over and over again?

I tried to answer these questions. I looked for answers that would help me improve my life, business and relationships and even find permanent inner peace. I reached out for help from others.

But many of my questions remained unanswered, and my search seemed to end only in more questions.

It is easy to lose hope when healing that will calm the soul feels out of reach. And the soul does know best. It remembers. It longs for living at its best.

It was my own soul that helped me find answers. I began to feel hope again as I studied how to read my Akashic records. As I received wisdom and concrete, applicable answers to my lifelong questions, I began to experience inner peace on a new level and was finally able to make major shifts in my life.

The Akashic library contains records of all the experiences of every soul—be it animal, human or land. Each of us has a personal library of Akashic records, which includes records of all the times our soul has been in corporeal form and spirit form.

Have you ever met a total stranger who seemed incredibly familiar? Have you felt immediately uncomfortable on meeting someone? Have you experienced unexplainable grief that seems to have no foundation yet drives many of your daily decisions? The soul remembers. And the soul has the answers.

The keepers of your Akashic library—you personal guides and teachers—can give you those answers through an Akashic record reading facilitated by an Akashic record practitioner. You can bring a question or problem you are experiencing to the practitioner, who then opens your records and accesses your guides

and teachers. These record keepers relay information and offer solutions through the practitioner. At the end of the session, your records are closed until you access them again. It is always your choice whether you act upon the information you receive.

A reading is not a form of fortune-telling. Instead, with the help of the practitioner, you can receive long-sought-for answers to your questions from your own soul wisdom. As you gain clarity, you experience release from old habits and limiting beliefs. Compassion and understanding for yourself and others break down blocks that have stood in the way of your success. Grief so heavy that it has weighed your soul down can be gently lifted. Your soul can thrive through such release. With self-forgiveness comes renewed momentum and an open mind that is ready to embrace your dreams and goals and act to fulfill your soul’s desires.

It might be hard to believe that we can clear blocks so simply; most of us are unaware of the benefits of accessing the Akashic records and the wisdom of our own souls. I previously believed that such burden-like feelings could not be lifted. But since I learned how to read my own records and those of others, I have seen repeatedly that the impossible becomes possible when we take the time to ask questions of our personal records. Yes, some healing involves many layers. Some release from the past is quickly noticeable, and some goes unnoticed until life presents an opportunity to see that the soul is much freer.

I was blessed the other day to enjoy a small campfire. While it still brought me to a place of deep centredness and reflection, I noticed that I was seeing more of the beauty of the flames than I had in years gone by. I credit learning how to read my records and accepting help from my guides and teachers for this shift. Today, my reflections are free from wishing things were different and feeling stuck, unable to achieve my goals. I experience a richer, more meaningful life thanks to working with the guides of my Akashic records.

Malkiel is an Akashic record reading practitioner, animal communicator, soul retrieval and sound practitioner, author and student of earth and human energies. Malkiel’s clients express that they experience clarity, resolution and compassion thanks to Malkiel’s uniqueness, openness, creativity and connection to Spirit.

Find out more about Malkiel’s work at www.heavenlyakashicreadings.com.

Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 25

SYNERGY FAVOURITES

MICROPRO™ GRILL

TUPPERWARE BY JENNA Save TIME MONEY & ENERGY in the kitchen and share the cooking duties with your kids! This is a fantastic product for busy families! Add all the ingredients the night before & when the kids get home from school they can remove from the fridge and pop it into the microwave and cook, it heats to 4250 F/2200 C. Revolutionary, less-mess, less-stress grill speeds cook time. Limited lifetime warranty! Ask me how you can get this at half off! $249 | www.jennatrudeau.my.tupperware.ca *Free or Half Price when qualifications are met. Ask me how.

be.come

FALL MUST-HAVES ECOTAN FACE WATER

begin to be.

THE HEALTH HUT A gradual self

TRYNA GOWER By taking you on Tryna Gower’s real-life journey of death, healing, and love beyond the grave, be.come will teach you one simple skill. It’s a skill, a concept and a practice that your family, school or employer never taught you. be.come imparts a knowledge that’s hard to find elsewhere — there are no universities or online courses that teach it. It’s the simplest lesson in the world, but it has more power than war or affluence.

And if there was ever a time to learn this lesson, it’s now.

tanning liquid toner, especially created for face, neck and décolletage! Build a beautiful glow, and create a youthful radiance.

Made with only certified organic and natural ingredients sourced from Mother Nature. It contains nothing artificial and is free from synthetic ingredients, vegan and cruelty free.

ISBN 9780995184602 $15 | goo.gl/a6FfgD & www.trynagower.com 26 www.guidedsynergy.ca

$37.95| www.healthhut.ca Mention this ad to recieve $5 off

LIFE AFTER DARK:

100 STORIES OF HOPE FROM SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE SUZANNE SAGMEISTER Life After Dark is a more than just a collection of photographs and stories about surviving suicide. It is a collection of experiences-of losses and gains, of dreams and those horrible moments where reality intrudes in the most brutal ways imaginable and changes your life forever. But through it all, there is HOPE, shining like a beacon in the darkness.

These stories are told by real people from all across Canada-people whose lives have been impacted in one way or another by suicide. Whether they have survived attempts themselves or the loss of a loved one who succeeded, their lives will never be the same.

But they will live. $100 | www.suzannesagmeister.com/pre-order-life-after-dark For every book purchased, another is donated.

COOL MINT CANNABIS BODY BUTTER

PORCELAIN MUG

PINK LOTUS ALTERNATIVE CARE Mint has been used for centuries to relieve multiple ailments such as muscle/joint pain, headaches, sinus congestion, abdominal upset & so much more. They contain powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Mints also bring aid to the respiratory system.

CHLOE LYDIA is a Calgary-based ceramic artist. She is currently creating porcelain pieces that focus on the contrast of a raw, rougher exterior on the surface of something that is commonly presented as more pure and delicate.

This handcrafted porcelain mug is accented with 18 karat gold lustre. It makes a great addition to your favourite hot beverage.

$27.50 | www.pink-lotus.ca

Pieces starting at $35 Facebook: Chloe Lydia

108-BEAD MEDITATION MALA

WANDERER BY BRIDGES YOGA

NATURES BALANCE FUTURE ESSENTIALS Colon cleansing means removing and detoxifying, then maintaining the detoxification for life.

Natures Balance, Bowel Supreme and Colon Supreme are three very unique products. They are a perfectly balanced combination of superior herbs designed to gently massage and release all build up from your intestinal tract. Safe, gentle, yet powerful allowing the toxins and compressed matter to be released gently and safely.

It isn't a matter of curing disease. It's a process of removing the toxins before they cause disease. For centuries herbs have been used to help the body rid itself of these destructive materials. Your Body Will Love You For It! $62 ea | 780-518-1421 Grande Prairie 780-352-8643 Wetaskiwin

Covet! These stunning malas are handmade in the Peace region with love & mindful intention from one living soul to another. Semiprecious stones and sacred seeds come together and manifest as a beautiful and grounding reminder of our interconnection. $128 | Facebook: Wanderer

by Bridges Yoga Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 27

Synergy

holistic directory

Acupuncture

Birthing

ANODYNE CHIROPRACTIC & SPORTS THERAPY

COMMUNITY MIDWIVES

105 - 9814, 97 Street, Grande Prairie, AB 780-513-6633 www.anodynechiropractic.com

Aerial Dance THE SPACE

10001-101 Ave. Grande Prairie, AB 780-933-9295 www.thespacegp.com

Alternative Medicine PURE CBD CANADA

#111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.purecbdcanada.ca JanetAtInfinitelyU@gmail.com

Aromatherapy

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT 9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

COYOTE MOON

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

RAYLEEN D’AOUST

Grande Prairie, AB 780-897-6755 Rayleen.d@hotmail.com www.mydoterra.com/rayleendaoust

Art

COYOTE MOON

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

HE3ART

Beaverlodge, AB 780-518-5464 info@he3art.com www.he3art.com

Artisans

INTERIOR WILDING

Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-4449 www.crystalandkharma.etsy.com

FOX & CHAOS NATURALS

Grande Prairie, AB 780- 882-3868 www.foxandchaos.ca

MISS BLISS - HAPPY HOMESTEADER

Grande Prairie, AB www.facebook.com/homesteadermissbliss

Astrology

ANDROMEDA ASTROLOGY 250-382-8443 samstar@telus.net www.sam-star.com

Bio Feedback

PEACE COUNTRY WELLNESS CENTRE

Grande Prairie, AB 780-538-9833 www.peacecountrywellness.com 28 www.guidedsynergy.ca

853 Anders Road, Kelowna, BC 778-436-8060 communitymidwiveskelowna@shaw.ca www.communitymidwiveskelowna.com

POMEGRANATE COMMUNITY MIDWIVES 2647 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC 604-255-5556 office@pomegranate-midwives.com www.pomegranate-midwives.com

PRAIRIE MIDWIVES #26, 29152 Range Road 280, Red Deer, AB 403-356-2012 midwives@prairiemidwives.ca www.prairiemidwives.ca

Body Talk HEALING CONNECTIONS 10548 – 115 Street, Edmonton, AB 780-488-9779 wellness@healing-connections.ca www.healing-connections.ca

Books

COYOTE MOON

Courses / Classes

COYOTE MOON

Grande Prairie 780-830-6387 hello@awakenyourglowevents.ca awakenyourglowevents.ca

THE WHISPERING TREE

AWAKEN YOUR GLOW EVENTS

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT 9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

HE3ART

Beaverlodge, AB 780-518-5464 info@he3art.com www.he3art.com

HEALING CONNECTIONS WELLNESS CENTRE 10548 - 115 Street, Edmonton, AB 780-488-9779 healingconnections1@gmail.com www.healing-connections.ca

THE INFINITE ELEMENT #111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.theinfiniteelement.ca

JOURNEYS WITH THE HEART

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

Grande Prairie, AB 780-524-8618 journeyswiththeheart@gmail.com www.journeyswiththeheart.com

DAWSON CREEK HEALTH FOOD CENTRE

ATMA WHOLISTIC PRACTITIONER

833 102 Avenue Dawson Creek, BC 250-782-4656 hfcentre@telus.net www.healthfoodcentre.ca

MAMA YOGA & WELLNESS STUDIO Grande Prairie, AB shannonmboyne@gmail.com www.mamayogaandwellnessstudio.com

THE WHISPERING TREE 9022B 108 St Grande Prairie, AB 587-259-0530 www.thewhisperingtreeinc.com

Studio #106 8715-109 Street 780-832-8959 tammjw@telus.net

SEVA YOGA CO.

RAINING RELIEF MASSAGE

A-8649 112 St , Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-6403 www.rainingrelief.yolasite.com

Dance

THE SPACE

10001-101 Ave. Grande Prairie, AB 780-933-9295 www.thespacegp.com

Detoxification

AVENA ORIGINALS - RECLAIM YOUR HEALTH #20, 6200 - 67A Street, Red Deer, AB 1-800-207-2239 info@avenaoriginals.com www.avenaoriginals.com

PLANK HEALTH Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-9663 kellie@plankhealth.ca www.plankhealth.ca

Victoria, BC 778-433-9145 tarotbykathleen@gmail.com www.tarotbykathleen.com

THE SPACE

Essences

Chiropractic

Counselling

#107, 10126 - 120th Ave., Grande Prairie, AB 780-532-2570 www.chiropractorgrandeprairie.com

Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-5858 www.embodywellnessgp.ca

Grande Prairie, AB shannonmboyne@gmail.com www.mamayogaandwellnessstudio.com

9022B 108 Street, Grande Prairie, AB 587-259-0530 www.thewhisperingtreeinc.com

CHIROPRACTIC WELLNESS CENTRE

EMBODY WELLNESS

MAMA YOGA & WELLNESS STUDIO

9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

105, 9814 - 97 Street, Grande Prairie, AB 780-513-6633 www.anodynechiropractic.com

Cupping

Dream Interpretation

Card Readings

ANODYNE CHIROPRACTIC & SPORTS THERAPY

9022B 108 St Grande Prairie, AB 587-259-0530 www.thewhisperingtreeinc.com

9022 108 Street Grande Prairie, AB www.sevayoga.co sevayogaco@gmail.com

10001-101 Ave. Grande Prairie, AB 780-933-9295 www.thespacegp.com

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

THE WHISPERING TREE

GP HOLISTIC COUNSELLING

#101 9857 97 Ave. Grande Prairie, AB 1-877-540-9870 www.gphcs.ca

Crystals

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT 9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

PSYCHIC KATHLEEN

COYOTE MOON

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

RAYLEEN D’AOUST

Grande Prairie, AB 780-897-6755 Rayleen.d@hotmail.com www.mydoterra.com/rayleendaoust

Emotional Healing

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT 9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

JOURNEYS WITH THE HEART Grande Prairie, AB 780-524-8618 www.journeyswiththeheart.com

Footcare

Hair Services

10135-101 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-0439 www.beyondwellnessgp.com manonmichaud37@hotmail.com

#101,9905-101 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB Jessie: 780-933-3387 Jeanette: 780-814-3931 @jeanettejessiebobbipins

BEYOND WELLNESS

Fitness

212 PREMIUM HEALTH PERFORMANCE CENTRE

#1400, 9909 - 102 Street, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-3212 my212life.com

ATMA WHOLISTIC PRACTITIONER

BOBBI PINS

THE VINE LUXURY SPA 9816 107 St, Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-7558 www.thevinespa.com

Health Food Stores

DAD'S ORGANIC MARKET

Studio #106 8715-109 Street 780-832-8959 tammjw@telus.net

11906 99th Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-532-7007 www.dadsorganicmarket.com

V02 MAX

DAWSON CREEK HEALTH FOOD CENTRE

10071 - 120 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-518-0469 info@crossfitvo2max.com crossfitvo2max.com

WINSTON’S HEALTH & FITNESS 9905 - 112 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-538-4922 www.winstonsfitness.com

Gifts

COYOTE MOON

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

DAWSON CREEK HEALTH FOOD CENTRE

833 102 Avenue Dawson Creek, BC 250-782-4656 hfcentre@telus.net www.healthfoodcentre.ca

THE HEALTH HUT

Prairie Mall , Grande Prairie, AB 780-539-4339

HOMESTEADER HEALTH

Gateway Location: 10320 - 111 Street Downtown Location: 104, 10012 - 99th Avenue Grande Prairie, AB 780-538-9970 www.homesteaderhealth.com

Healing Energies

833 102 Avenue Dawson Creek, BC 250-782-4656 hfcentre@telus.net www.healthfoodcentre.ca

BEYOND WELLNESS

EARTHY FIBERS AND MORE

HE3ART

5012 - 50 Street, Rocky Mountain House, AB 403-846-8855

HE3ART

Beaverlodge, AB 780-518-5464 info@he3art.com www.he3art.com

THE INFINITE ELEMENT #111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.theinfiniteelement.ca

JOURNEYS WITH THE HEART Grande Prairie, AB 780-524-8618 www.journeyswiththeheart.com

MISS BLISS - HAPPY HOMESTEADER

Grande Prairie, AB www.facebook.com/homesteadermissbliss

SEVA YOGA CO.

9022 108 Street Grande Prairie, AB www.sevayoga.co sevayogaco@gmail.com

THE WHISPERING TREE 9022B 108 St Grande Prairie, AB 587-259-0530

10135-101 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-0439 www.beyondwellnessgp.com manonmichaud37@hotmail.com Beaverlodge, AB 780-518-5464 info@he3art.com www.he3art.com

RAINING RELIEF MASSAGE

A-8649 112 St , Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-6403 www.rainingrelief.yolasite.com

Jewelry

Meditation

AWAKEN YOUR GLOW EVENTS Grande Prairie 780-830-6387 hello@awakenyourglowevents.ca awakenyourglowevents.ca

COYOTE MOON

THE INFINITE ELEMENT

THE INFINITE ELEMENT

O2XY-WELLNESS

#111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.theinfiniteelement.ca

293 Burnt Park Drive, Red Deer, AB 403-347-0277 alevans@shaw.ca www.o2xy-wellness.com

SEVA YOGA CO.

MAMA YOGA & WELLNESS STUDIO

9022 108 Street Grande Prairie, AB www.sevayoga.co sevayogaco@gmail.com

Grande Prairie, AB shannonmboyne@gmail.com www.mamayogaandwellnessstudio.com

Massage Therapy

SATORI YOGA & HEALING ARTS

Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-5858 www.embodywellnessgp.ca

Natural Products

THE INFINITE ELEMENT

#20, 6200 - 67A Street, Red Deer, AB 1-800-207-2239 info@avenaoriginals.com www.avenaoriginals.com

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

EMBODY WELLNESS

#111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.theinfiniteelement.ca

PEACE COUNTRY WELLNESS CENTRE Grande Prairie, AB 780-538-9833 www.peacecountrywellness.com

RAINING RELIEF MASSAGE

A-8649 112 St , Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-6403 www.rainingrelief.yolasite.com

THE VINE LUXURY SPA 9816 107 St, Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-7558 www.thevinespa.com

Hypnotherapy

Maternal Massage

#111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.theinfiniteelement.ca

#200, 9914 - 109th Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB www.satoriyoga.ca

AVENA ORIGINALS RECLAIM YOUR HEALTH

COYOTE MOON

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

DAD'S ORGANIC MARKET

11906 99th Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-532-7007 www.dadsorganicmarket.com

EARTHY FIBERS AND MORE

5012 - 50 Street, Rocky Mountain House, AB 403-846-8855

FOX & CHAOS NATURALS

Grande Prairie, AB 780- 882-3868 www.foxandchaos.ca

FUTURE ESSENTIALS

CELESTIAL HYPNOSIS

EMBODY WELLNESS

Calgary, AB 403-801-1582 cheryle@celestialmind.ca www.celestialmind.ca

Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-5858 www.embodywellnessgp.ca

#219 9804 100 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-518-1421 3702A 48 Street, Wetaskwin, AB 780-352-8643

Infant Massage

A-8649 112 St , Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-6403 www.rainingrelief.yolasite.com

RAINING RELIEF MASSAGE

HE3ART

SOMA STUDIO

THE HEALTH HUT

ACUMAMAS

301 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver, BC 778-323-3973 info@acumamas.com acumamas.com

EARTH SONG MASSAGE CENTRE 11619 - 130 Street, Edmonton, AB 780-414-1245 relax@earthsongmassage.com www.earthsongmassage.com

KELLY THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE

#107, 10127 - 121 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-539-1717 dana@kellytherapeuticmassage.net kellytherapeuticmassage.net

Suite 303, 1529 W 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC 604-738-1502 info.somastudio@shaw.ca www.somastudio.net

SWEET MAMA SPA

#109, 10903 - 23rd Avenue, Edmonton, AB 780-432-2265 www.sweetmama.com

THE VINE LUXURY SPA 9816 107 St, Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-7558 www.thevinespa.com

Beaverlodge, AB 780-518-5464 info@he3art.com www.he3art.com Prairie Mall, Grande Prairie, AB 780-539-4339

PURE CBD CANADA

#111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.purecbdcanada.ca JanetAtInfinitelyU@gmail.com

HOMESTEADER HEALTH

Gateway Location: 10320 - 111 Street Downtown Location: 104, 10012 - 99th Avenue Grande Prairie, AB 780-538-9970 www.homesteaderhealth.com Fall 2018 l GUIDED SYNERGY 29

Synergy

holistic directory

THE INFINITE ELEMENT #111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.theinfiniteelement.ca

MISS BLISS - HAPPY HOMESTEADER

Grande Prairie, AB www.facebook.com/homesteadermissbliss

PEACE COUNTRY WELLNESS CENTRE Grande Prairie, AB 780-538-9833 www.peacecountrywellness.com

PINK LOTUS

780-618-5329 www.pink-lotus.ca

SECOND CHANCE FACIAL REJUVENATION Red Deer, AB 403-396-3405 www.secondchancefacelift.com secondchanceface@gmail.com

Nutrition

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT 9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

DAD'S ORGANIC MARKET

11906 99th Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-532-7007 www.dadsorganicmarket.com

DAWSON CREEK HEALTH FOOD CENTRE

833 102 Avenue Dawson Creek, BC 250-782-4656 hfcentre@telus.net www.healthfoodcentre.ca

ESSENTIAL NUTRITION

Grande Prairie, AB 780-933-1727 essentialnutrition4u@gmail.com www.facebook.com/jennkloberdanznutrition

PLANK HEALTH Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-9663 kellie@plankhealth.ca www.plankhealth.ca

THE INFINITE ELEMENT

FUTURE ESSENTIALS

#219 9804 100 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-518-1421 3702A 48 Street, Wetaskwin, AB 780-352-8643

HOMESTEADER HEALTH

Gateway Location: 10320 - 111 Street Downtown Location: 104, 10012 - 99th Avenue Grande Prairie, AB 780-538-9970 www.homesteaderhealth.com

THE HEALTH HUT

Prairie Mall, Grande Prairie, AB 780-539-4339

THE L SPA & WELLNESS CENTRE 10612 - 99 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-830-0302 www.lspa.ca

Professional Association

NATURAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS OF CANADA 6th Floor, 10339 - 124 Street, Edmonton, AB 780-484-2010 www.nhpcanada.org

Retreats

AWAKEN YOUR GLOW EVENTS Grande Prairie 780-830-6387 hello@awakenyourglowevents.ca awakenyourglowevents.ca

Reflexology

THE INFINITE ELEMENT #111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.theinfiniteelement.ca

THE L SPA & WELLNESS CENTRE

10612 - 99 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-830-0302 www.lspa.ca

Reiki

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT 9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

Spas

BEYOND WELLNESS

#111 10015-102 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-533-5122 www.theinfiniteelement.ca

10135-101 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-0439 www.beyondwellnessgp.com manonmichaud37@hotmail.com

MAMA YOGA & WELLNESS STUDIO

THE L SPA & WELLNESS CENTRE

Grande Prairie, AB shannonmboyne@gmail.com www.mamayogaandwellnessstudio.com

WINSTON'S HEALTH & FITNESS 9905 - 112 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-538-4922 www.winstonsfitness.com

10612 - 99 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB 780-830-0302 www.lspa.ca

THE VINE LUXURY SPA 9816 107 St, Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-7558 www.thevinespa.com

Organic Products

Skin Care

11906 99th Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-532-7007 www.dadsorganicmarket.com

10135-101 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-0439 www.beyondwellnessgp.com manonmichaud37@hotmail.com

DAD'S ORGANIC MARKET

30 www.guidedsynergy.ca

BEYOND WELLNESS

DAWSON CREEK HEALTH FOOD CENTRE

833 102 Avenue Dawson Creek, BC 250-782-4656 hfcentre@telus.net www.healthfoodcentre.ca

SECOND CHANCE FACIAL REJUVENATION Red Deer, AB 403-396-3405 www.secondchancefacelift.com secondchanceface@gmail.com

THE VINE LUXURY SPA 9816 107 St, Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-7558 www.thevinespa.com

Wellness Centres

HEALING CONNECTIONS WELLNESS CENTRE 10548 - 115 Street, Edmonton, AB 780-488-9779 healingconnections1@gmail.com www.healing-connections.ca

O2XY-WELLNESS

93 Burnt Park Drive, Red Deer, AB 403-347-0277 alevans@shaw.ca www.o2xy-wellness.com

AVENA ORIGINALS RECLAIM YOUR HEALTH

Sound Therapy

#20, 6200 - 67A Street, Red Deer, AB 1-800-207-2239 info@avenaoriginals.com www.avenaoriginals.com

780-518-0102 daisyharpe@gmail.com www.holisticharpe.com

Wellness Coaching

GROUND WITH SOUND

Spiritual Health/Healing AWAKEN YOUR GLOW EVENTS Grande Prairie 780-830-6387 hello@awakenyourglowevents.ca awakenyourglowevents.ca

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT 9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

COYOTE MOON

9931 100 Ave Grande Prairie, AB 780-832-4008 @coyotemooncrystalshop

O2XY-WELLNESS

293 Burnt Park Drive, Red Deer, AB 403-347-0277 alevans@shaw.ca www.o2xy-wellness.com

THE WHISPERING TREE 9022B 108 St Grande Prairie, AB 587-259-0530

Tai Chi

FUNG LOY KOK TAOIST TAI CHI (tm) 1-888-TAI-CHI1 (1-888-824-2441) www.taoist.org

Waxing

BEYOND WELLNESS

CHERYL ATKINSON HOLISTIC HEALING MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT 9724 99 Ave, Grande Prairie 780-518-2870 cheryl.atkinson15@yahoo.com https://goo.gl/nNw43o

ESSENTIAL NUTRITION

Grande Prairie, AB 780-933-1727 essentialnutrition4u@gmail.com www.facebook.com/jennkloberdanznutrition

PLANK HEALTH Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-9663 kellie@plankhealth.ca www.plankhealth.ca

MAMA YOGA & WELLNESS STUDIO

Grande Prairie, AB shannonmboyne@gmail.com www.mamayogaandwellnessstudio.com

AVENA ORIGINALS RECLAIM YOUR HEALTH

#20, 6200 - 67A Street, Red Deer, AB 1-800-207-2239 info@avenaoriginals.com www.avenaoriginals.com

Yoga

MAMA YOGA & WELLNESS STUDIO Grande Prairie, AB shannonmboyne@gmail.com www.mamayogaandwellnessstudio.com

10135-101 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB 780-228-0439 www.beyondwellnessgp.com manonmichaud37@hotmail.com

SEVA YOGA CO.

BOBBI PINS

THE HOT BOX YOGA

9022 108 Street Grande Prairie, AB www.sevayoga.co sevayogaco@gmail.com

#101,9905-101 Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB Jessie: 780-933-3387 Jeanette: 780-814-3931 @jeanettejessiebobbipins

223 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, BC 778-484-9642 www.thehotboxyoga.com

THE VINE LUXURY SPA

#200, 524 - 11th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB 403-277-3058 yogapassage@shaw.ca yogapassage.ca

9816 107 St, Grande Prairie, AB 780-814-7558 www.thevinespa.com

YOGA PASSAGE

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