Find Your Best Self in the New Year
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the first issue of 2025—our Health and Wellness edition! As we step into this fresh new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how we can enhance our well-being, nurture our minds, and rejuvenate our bodies. We’ve all heard the saying, “New year, new you,” but I believe it’s more than just a catchy phrase—it’s an invitation to embrace the power of small changes that can lead to lasting transformation.
In this issue, we explore ways to prioritize health—mind, body, and spirit. From simple habits to help you kickstart a fitness routine to adopting healthier eating habits, we’ve gathered tips and stories designed to inspire you to make 2025 a year of wellness. We’ll also highlight the growing movement toward holistic health, where self-care extends beyond the physical and nurtures the emotional, mental, and spiritual. It’s about creating harmony in every aspect of life.
This issue also features the inspiring story of Whispering Grace, where God’s creatures help heal the human spirit. We hope their journey motivates you to begin the year with renewed energy and purpose.
So, as you turn the pages, remember that 2025 is your year. Embrace it with open arms and an open heart. Your best self is waiting.
Wishing you a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year,
NICOLE CERTO, PUBLISHER @CANTONLIFESTYLE
January 2025
PUBLISHER
Nicole Certo | nicole.certo@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Christian Williams | christian.williams@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Alexa P. Artistry
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsi Southard
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell
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RCD Wealth Management
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330.936.7097 http://fa.ml.com/RCD
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1-7: Friends of Anew Room and JLK Interior Design had a wonderful time shopping and catching up during their Holiday Open House!
Photography by Nicole Certo
Whispering Grace Horses: Freedom Farms
HELPING TO HEAL THOSE IN NEED
ARTICLE PROVIDED | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXA P. ARTISTRY
We will never turn down the opportunity to tell the story of Whispering Grace Horses and Freedom Farm. To be featured in the first issue of 2025 of Canton Lifestyle Magazine is certainly an honor for us.
With the theme of Health and Wellness in the air comes a topic that has helped calm and ease the minds of many across the globe, the use of therapy animals. However, this is not traditional therapy, horses become the center point of healing.
At Whispering Grace Horses and Freedom Farm, Bill and Marcia Shearer created a place where individuals from all sorts of backgrounds and some rescued horses can find a tranquil place to take deep breaths.
Starting back in 2012, the Shearer’s started their equine-human relationship program for youths, their families or anyone who wants to explore the program. Being horse enthusiasts since their youth was second nature for these two. Being educators within Stark County, they witnessed their share of young people struggling with relationships and broken families. Throughout their lives, they have recognized the ability horses have to partner with humans, “healing” their spirit. Now, they serve over 400 families and have an annual count anywhere between 2500 and 3000 visitors. Their program has been serving the greater Stark County Community all this time, providing hourly
sessions for children, adults, veterans and first responders at no cost.
In 2015, they built a new state of the art equine facility to house their seven horses. This was only the beginning. Only three years later Freedom Farm was built housing an additional six horses. A place where veterans, first responders, and families can come and just take deep breaths; a place dedicated to welcome those who have served, those who continue to serve and the families of the fallen. Recently a Chapel has been built and new memories are being created.
Now the question arises, why horses?
Putting aside Bill and Marcia’s history with horses, there has been much evidence and research showing that human-horse relationships can change one’s feelings and identify negative emotions. Whispering
Grace Horses has realized that horses help to Heal the negative emotions within people. “Many of our horses have been rescued in some manner,” says Bill Shearer. Some have been poorly treated or have had negative experiences with people. Now they are willing to trust those who come for sessions. Gabe is a great example. This horse was in a great deal of pain, but after evaluation, hospitalization and healing, we believe he said "thank you" for the first time in his life. His “horsenality” has improved immensely.
“It’s not all about the horsemanship; it’s all about the relationships.”
“Our goal is to make someone feel better leaving than when they came.”
All horses have insight of our own negative experiences. We believe our horses have developed their own form of PTS (Post Traumatic Stress). Whispering Grace Horses and Freedom Farm provides a place of recovery for these horses to shed their bad memories and flashbacks. “It could be the wind or change in temperature that reminds them of those memories. It could be even our tone of voice.” Recognition of these signs within our observations can make a huge difference. All of this is why Bill and Marcia open their arms and services to Veterans and First Responders who might be suffering from PTSD. Children and families may also be struggling to connect. “When you come into our barn, you will leave in a better way than when you came” states Bill. “This is our goal.” We cannot ask all those who come to forget their bad experiences but we can ask them to set aside such memories for maybe 60 to 90 minutes. It is almost magic to see what happens next. Those individuals return for a second and third time usually bringing an additional person along to share their experience.
When asked about the type of sessions that are held, it depends on one thing – patience. These sessions are about working with horses and establishing a special bond. Bill, Marcia and other volunteers have the knowledge necessary and don’t need any lesson plans for those who come. Sometimes, there will be a session where the individual will spend time just sitting down with a horse or they may just be leading the horse. Either way,
such sessions will further intensify the bond between the horse and the human. Sessions vary each visit, but one thing remains constant. The horse and those who represent Whispering Grace Horses and Freedom Farm simply care about making it a better day.
These sessions act as a way to search and find a relationship. There may be moments where the horse might even ignore the person. That is why these sessions are successful. Patience must prevail until a connection occurs.
All of what has been accomplished at Whispering Grace Horses and Freedom Farm could not have been possible without the advice, guidance and direction of our Board of Directors. Our Volunteers are here every day of the week to help keep our two facilities looking immaculate and work with horses so they are ready for our sessions. Pathway Caring for Children, Weaver Leather, Masters Equine (Jake Masters), Kimble Companies, Ventrac Tractors, Bair’s Lawn & Garden, and Toro are just a few of our wonderful partners. All of them just want to help Heal Hearts and reopen the door of HOPE for so many.
We thank the Canton Lifestyle Magazine for the opportunity to in some small way tell just a small part of our story of Whispering Grace Horses and Freedom Farm. We still have our challenges each day but will strive to help others who visit each of our facilities. There will never be a charge for any of our services. We only have one requirement. You have to want to come; then our equine counselors take over!
LEARN MORE: To learn more about Whispering Grace Horses and Freedom Farms and how you can do your part to continue helping please visit www.whisperinggracehorses.org
ARTICLE BY SYBIL VELARDE
whirled PEAS!
Vegetable juice is a great addition to your diet especially if you want to lose weight, gain energy, and feel great. Sometimes life gets too busy and you don’t have the time to cook healthy meals. Fall in love with leafy greens, fresh fruit, nut milks, and chia seeds all combined to make a quick, easy, and delicious contribution to your day.
Veggies And Blenders Bring The Health We Need
ENERGY ELIXIR
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 beet
• 1 carrot
• 1 celery stalk
• 1-2 inches of ginger
• 1 lemon
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all together in a blender until smooth.
BLUEBERRY MINT
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• 1 fresh or frozen banana
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup fresh mint and/or 1-3 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 1 cup ice if using fresh fruit
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all together in a blender until smooth.
GREEN SMOOTHIE
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 cups cucumber
• 1 cup Granny Smith apples
• 1 cup celery
• 1 handful baby spinach
• 1/3 cup fresh pineapple (for a sweet smoothie or zest and juice of a small lime for tart smoothie)
• 1 sprig parsley
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all together in a blender until smooth.
SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE
INGREDIENTS:
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries
• 1 scoop organic whey protein powder
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds or flax meal
• 1 scoop green superfood powder
VITALITY ELIXIR
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 lemon
• 1 green apple
• 1 cucumber
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all together in a blender until smooth.
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all together in a blender until smooth.
GREEN NECTAR
INGREDIENTS:
• 1/3 cup celery
• 1/2 cup cucumber
• 1/2 cup kale
• 2/3 cup Granny Smith apples
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup coconut water
DIRECTIONS:
Mix all together in a blender until smooth.
PINK FLAMINGO
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 cups spinach
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 2 cups strawberries
• 1 cup chopped mango
GREEN MACHINE
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 cups spinach
• 2 cups water
• 1 avocado, peeled
• 1 cup chopped mango
• 1 banana
DIRECTIONS:
First, blend the spinach and almond milk in a blender until smooth. Then add the berries and mango and blend again until smooth.
DIRECTIONS: Place spinach and water in the blender and blend until smooth. Then add avocado, mango, and banana and blend again until smooth.
KALEFORNIA ENERGIZING
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 cups kale, stems removed
• 1 cup water
• 2 oranges peeled
• 1 cup chopped pineapple
• 1 cup chopped mango
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds (soak in water for 10 minutes)
DIRECTIONS:
Blend kale, chia water, and oranges until smooth. Add pineapple, mango and blend again.
DR. TROY BUBANIC
(330) 491-8100 | @Bubanic_chiro www.bubanicchiropractic.com
bubanic chiropactic
A Natural, Hands-on Approach to Better Health
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
The spine plays a crucial role in your overall well-being, protecting your body’s communication center, the Nervous System. A misaligned spine can lead to pain and discomfort and even impact normal bodily functions. We use gentle and precise adjustments to realign your spine, relieve pain, improve mobility, and support your body’s healing ability.
The Nervous System controls everything your body does; Bubanic Chiropractic treats many conditions. We see patients for headaches, migraines, arthritis, sciatica, and disc herniations. However, we also treat many other conditions, such as muscle injury, posture, tech neck, fibromyalgia, and digestive conditions.
As chiropractors, we are holistic doctors- we treat the whole body as one unit. We know that when one part isn’t working right, you can feel “off” all over. At Bubanic Chiropractic utilizes many chiropractic adjustments, so if you don’t want to be “popped” or “cracked,” there are plenty of other effective techniques. Our office also provides decompression therapy, dry needling, cupping, whole-body vibration, and muscle stimulation. No two patient care plans are the same; we will work with you individually to treat and manage your pain or reach your wellness goals.
ARTICLE AND
BY TYLER SHANE
A PERFECT M ARRIAGE SOUP AND BREAD:
Hearty food nourishes the body during cold winter months
PHOTOGRAPHY
What if we chose connection — cooking seasonal meals and allowing ourselves to pause to truly enjoy our food? Maybe cheesy bread could be served without the side of guilt.
As we continue to embrace the cold weather, we may find ourselves craving heavier and grounding foods as we retreat into hibernation. This change in appetite reflects our body’s desire to align with the cycles of nature. Moving into the New Year, it can be common to place more discipline or restrictions on our eating habits. But what if instead of dieting, we nourished ourselves by choosing to support the ebb and flow of our body’s seasons? What if we chose connection — cooking seasonal meals and allowing ourselves to pause to truly enjoy our food? Maybe cheesy bread could be served without the side of guilt. This Italian wedding soup recipe is simple in its approach, but the result is a hearty and brothy dish. Chunky meats and vegetables add texture to the rich, savory broth making it the ideal meal to help you retreat from the cold temperatures. The Hasselback bread loaf is a straightforward, melty wonder and the perfect vessel for sopping up any leftover broth and goodies in your soup bowl. Together, the soup and cheesy bread make for a well-rounded meal to ground you this season, with a little indulgence.
CONTINUED >
HASSELBACK MOZZARELLA BREAD LOAF
INGREDIENTS
• 1 Italian bread loaf
• 1 cup butter
• 4-5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 8 oz. bag of shredded mozzarella cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Cut foil that is 3 times the length of the bread loaf and lay flat on countertop.
3. Place bread loaf parallel to the length of the foil.
4. With a serrated knife, cut bread in ¾ in. slices, making sure not to cut all the way through.
5. Melt butter in a bowl. Add garlic and seasonings. Stir to incorporate.
6. With a pastry brush, coat the slices of bread with butter mixture. Be generous with your butter! If you have leftover butter, pour the rest over the entire loaf.
7. Grab handfuls of mozzarella cheese and stuff in between each slice.
8. Cover the bread loaf with foil and place in oven. Bake for 20 minutes, uncovering the foil for the last 5 minutes until the top of the bread is golden brown.
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP RECIPE
4 Servings
INGREDIENTS
• 1 lb. fresh or frozen pre-made meatballs
• ½ cup carrots, diced small
• ½ cup celery, diced small
• 1 cup onions, diced small
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 48 oz low sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup orzo pasta (or any small, short noodle)
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped roughly
• 1 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley
DIRECTIONS
1. Whether freshly baked or cooked from frozen, prepare your meatballs and set aside. Meatballs can be prepared ahead of time and kept in the fridge.
2. Bring a medium-sized pot to medium heat. Add oil and butter.
3. Add vegetables to the pot and sweat until onions are translucent (about 5 minutes). Stir occasionally.
4. Add the bay leaf, chicken broth, salt, and pepper to vegetables. Turn heat to medium-high.
5. Bring broth mixture to a rolling boil for five minutes. With tongs, add meatballs to the boiling broth.
6. Add orzo to the broth, stirring continuously to make sure the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
7. Continue to cook the pasta for 6-7 minutes. Taste test to make sure pasta is al dente.
8. Throw the fresh herbs into the soup and add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Serve immediately.
BUILDING HEALTHIER
HEAR FROM NASM-CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER ABOUT ESTABLISHING THE BEST HABITS
ARTICLE BY KRISTIN BURNELL
The new year is a classic kickoff to start fresh and build many resolutions that we all hope stick around. How many times do your resolutions fall through each year? It can be challenging to build new habits and switch up routines if you’re looking for a change. That’s why we rounded up the best advice to establishing habits and making them stay for good. We spoke with Danielle Johnston, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)-certified personal trainer and aspiring kinesiologist, who broke down her top tips to maintaining healthy habits this new year.
HABITS
START WITH A SMALL HABIT AND MAKE IT SOMETHING YOU ENJOY
Think 1-3 things maximum and then give yourself at least a month or two to apply the change. If you like to eat and cook, maybe try a new recipe or browse a cookbook in the library or bookstore for inspiration. If you like fashion, maybe try cleaning out a section of your closet (i.e. tops, bottoms, shoes, etc) to make way for 1 new piece. If you like being outdoors, maybe you try adding in just a 5 minute walk down the road.
IF YOU MISS A DAY, TRY AGAIN
If you miss a day or make a mistake with whatever resolution you’re working on, take that next opportunity to try again. Danielle uses the goal to eat healthier as an example. Health can be interpreted in many different ways but if you can take the small first step of looking at ingredients, that alone can make a world’s difference in the recipe you use so maybe you don’t even have to alter or substitute it. Or if your goal is to snack less but one day you snack more, don’t wave the flag and sabotage your efforts. Take a minute to breathe through the moment and then move on, enjoying the ebb and flow of health instead of going all in or nothing. Starting small allows you to adjust everyday habits that will, with time, transition to lifestyle changes.
CREATE 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESOLUTIONS
Danielle says to create 1 health resolution, 1 personal resolution, and 1 professional resolution as it is the best format to better yourself in multiple realms instead of just physical health. Too often, we get caught up in this “New Year New Me” mindset and create a list of things you want to change or start doing. But as they get lost in the busy to-do list of life and we forget,
“The new year is a classic kickoff to start fresh and build many resolutions that we all hope stick around.”
we can also feel like a failure and revert to “I’ll try again tomorrow or next year.” But what if you don’t have to start over, just keep going.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS AND VISUALIZE YOUR FUTURE
Whether you keep a notebook of your habit building, or keep track on your phone, it is important to acknowledge the personal progress made. This will also help you see the future that you want to build as you make more desirable changes in your life. If you want to track how you feel after working out, it will serve as a reflection on the progress made through what has been written down. This will encourage you to continue pushing for your goals!
Make the Most of 2025
Many of us enjoy our jobs but also value time away. To make the most of your paid time off in 2025, plan around federal holidays:
• Presidents' Day: Take off February 14-17 for a four-day break.
• Memorial Day: Take off May 23-26 for a four-day weekend.
• Juneteenth: Take off June 20 for a four-day break.
• Independence Day: Take off July 3-4 for a four-day weekend.
• Labor Day: Take off September 2-5 for a nine-day vacation.
• Veteran's Day: Take off November 10-12-14 for a nine-day vacation.
• Thanksgiving: Take off November 24-26-28 for a nine-day vacation.
• Christmas Day: Take off December 22-26 for a nine-day vacation.
How to Snag More Vacation Days This Year
ARTICLE BY NICOLE CERTO
smart SWEETS
The beginning of the year is packed with inspiration and motivation to get back on track after a sweet-filled holiday season. It can feel extreme, and it also can be depleting to cut oneself off from everything indulgent after weeks of eating favorite sweet and savory recipes. For sugar lovers who believe going cold-turkey feels intimidating or overwhelming, nutrition-packed desserts are a great way to stick to healthy food goals without the guilt.
Nutrient-Rich Dessert To The Rescue
ARTICLE BY MEL BOBAN
Frozen PEANUT BUTTER Bites
Danger ahead: this snack is amazing. It’s the easiest of the bunch and also satisfies a sweet tooth craving. This can be whipped together in just 5 minutes and makes just a small amount. Feel free to take creative liberty here with your amounts, but if you make it to this recipe, they are around 90 calories per bite.
1. Cut a banana into 8-10 small slices, around 1/2 inch each.
2. Spread 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter (or your choice of nut butter) on each banana slice.
3. Drizzle a small amount of melted chocolate chips or caramel over each bite.
4. Freeze for 15-20 minutes and enjoy!
Pro tip: A dash of sea salt flakes on top of these can be *chef’s kiss.*
These are great to keep on hand in the freezer all weeklong. Once they set, add them to a closed container to keep the bananas from browning.
Late night snack cravings are real! When finding yourself rooting through the cabinets for a sweet fix, these protein cookie dough bites are a great way to curb temptation. This recipe yields around 20 small bites, which can be cut into small squares or rolled into dough balls. Each bite is around 105 calories. If you find the dough is a little too dry, add a dash of milk as needed.
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (or alternate nut or sunflower butter)
• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Chocolate chips as desired
Pro tip: Use mini chocolate chips and for a dash of savory add sea salt flakes on top. Once combined, store the bites in the refrigerator in a covered container to keep them moist.
Protein COOKIE DOUGH Bites
ARTICLE BY DON SEAMAN
Creating a Better Snowman
There’s probably no more quintessential symbol of winter than a snowman. We’ve all seen Frosty and are probably pretty familiar with Olaf. But if you want to install one into your own yard, you’ll have to put a little elbow grease into creating one without the help of world-class animators. Here are some tips to help give your yard a well-dressed frozen sentry sure to turn your neighbors’ heads.
Tip 1:
NOT ALL SNOW IS SNOWMAN SNOW.
It takes more than a flurry to build a snowman. Heavy, slushy snow won’t work, and if it’s too powdery dry it won’t pack together. If you can pack a good snowball, you can build a snowman.
Bonus tip: Dry snow can be modified to workable snowman snow with a quick spritz of water from a spray bottle, or a light mist from that garden hose you really should have already put away for the winter.
Tip 2:
ROLL TOWARDS YOUR GOAL — THE LONG WAY.
Decide where to position your snowman and make that your finish line. Start with a
well-packed snowball and get rolling, but don’t just go in one direction. Roll the ball to start accumulating snow, then roll back, then roll in a different direction. Pack and begin to shape your snowball as you go. Reinforce as necessary. Look to use a 3-2-1 ratio for the sections.
Tip 3:
EVEN SNOWMEN CRAVE STABILITY.
Once you get your base section in place, shore up the bottom with snow. Then at the top, create a bowl-shaped indentation to allow the next section to sit securely. Ensure each section is well-packed with added snow around the “joint” between the sections.
Tip
4:
SNOW IS HEAVY. ENLIST A BUDDY.
A willing helper can help lift that heavy next stage into place. You can even roll it onto a tarp and lift from either side to get it up there. A third set of hands can help move it into place. Otherwise, use plywood as a ramp to roll it up yourself (braced well against the bottom with plenty of support underneath, so as to not damage the base). You might need an extra bowl of Wheaties to roll it up there alone.
Tip 5:
PILOT HOLES ARE YOUR FRIEND.
Simply jamming details into your snowman can mess with its integrity. Use a sharp stick to gently create some pilot holes for your features before you set them into place.
Tip 6:
GIVE HIM SOME PERSONALITY.
There’s always that classic snowman uniform of a scarf, hat, a carrot nose and coal (sure, we all have that lying around these days — river rocks might be easier to get your hands on). Or you could be a bit more creative, maybe with an old oversized Hawaiian shirt, a jazzy vest, or go all-out and channel your inner Martha Stewart, breaking out your Dremel to make something custom for your wintery lawn guest. You might need to use your imagination — not many of us have corncob pipes or top hats anymore, either.
Pro tip: if you’re dressing your snowman, put any body clothing you might use on before adding the arms.
Just remember. If you mess it up, it’s ok because he’ll be back again some day.
POWER POSES
BRIDGE POSE (SETU BANDHA SARVANGASANA)
Project radiance up and out from your heart while strengthening your back body.
Open your heart for increased confidence and counteract “text neck” while you’re at it.
ARTICLE BY CAITLIN AGNEW PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIFE N LIGHT
Brett Larkin, founder of Uplifted Yoga, teaches yoga designed to ignite a personal transformation. A trailblazer in the online yoga space, her award-winning YouTube channel has over 500,000 subscribers. Here she shares power poses to incorporate into your practice for a confident and powerful year.
WILD THING (CAMATKARASANA)
Take up space. Get fierce. Practice stretching into the fullest expression of who you are.
CAN YOGA HELP BUILD SELF-ESTEEM?
Confidence is all about feeling good in your own skin, and practicing yoga makes you more aware of your body. You are tuning into your breath, your feelings, and your true vision. Physically it strengthens you. Mentally it helps you focus. With improved posture, you stand taller; and with a clear mind you are more prepared and confident to take on what comes your way.
For more info about Brett and her online training options for all levels, go to BrettLarkin.com.
CAMEL POSE (USTRASANA)
