PRESENTING OUR SECOND ANNUAL SHOWCASE
Mind,Body,Soul
Welcome to this behind-the-scenes look at those in the community that help people on their journey to mind-body-soul balance. Not only does this highly anticipated feature provide area businesses a chance to share what health, wellness, eco-friendly and spiritual products and services they offer, it gives our readers the opportunity to get to know the faces behind these establishments— what inspires these driven entrepreneurs, what their values are, what their missions are, what they are passionate about and more. In a nation where many of us haven’t met our neighbors and don’t have the good fortune to experience the many benefits that come from being part of a community, it is our hope—and was a major intention——that this section helps readers feel connected to our area’s amazing mind-body-soul community and that they seek these folks out on their road to well-being.
Reneau takes pride in how EarthShack has evolved. Now with two locations, he offers handmade and fair trade pieces in the shop, along with more than 200 teas, essential oils, salves and hemp cannabidiol (CBD) prod ucts. He supports more than 300 artists that craft most of the items he Reneaucarries.hasalso just introduced a new opportuni ty for his customers, EarthShack Outside. This initiative connects people with nature featuring a variety of out door workshops, local tours to organic farms and national parks, and the introduction of his New Minitugz Overland Travel Trailer Rental.
WilliamEARTHSHACK(Bill)Reneauis
Although he has other businesses, “EarthShack is the one that feeds my soul,” he says. About 12 years ago, Reneau developed a renewed interest in herbalism and woodworking while creating pieces with his then-partner. They sold their creations at craft fairs for a year before es tablishing a home in an Amish Market in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, which was ultimately the genesis of EarthShack.
an entrepreneur, e-business consultant and is the owner and participating woodwork er in the artisan store EarthShack. He’s worked as a con sultant, owner and partner for over the last 35 years in the fields of business and technology solutions. He is also a mesa carrier and initiated shaman within the Peruvian and AztecReneau’straditions.diverse array of talents and experiences gives him a unique and refreshing perspective to problem solving. His main strength is his ability to draw from and blend his knowledge of business and technology with shamanic principles to access, identify and utilize the various needs of a company.
Bill Reneau
“I’ve experienced a lot of personal growth during this journey,” Reneau reflects. “EarthShack was healing for me. I learned a lot over the years from the indigenous cultures and traditions.” And as an initiated shaman, he is honored to help pass those traditions on to future generations.EARTHSHACK: In the Amish Market 108 Swedesboro Rd., Mullica Hill In the Shoppes at Medford Mill 14 Charles St., 856-210-7662Medford|EarthShack.org
In addition to individualized dietary changes targeting nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods, she emphasizes sleep, increased physical activity, spending time outdoors and stress man agement. For people with complex medical histories or symptoms that do not resolve with lifestyle changes alone, she focuses on testing specific gut conditions and other specialized functional medicine
Most of Lang’s clients are successful businesspeople that have peaked in their careers. They’re financially successful, but lack the communication skills in personal relationships and interactions with staff. “No matter how healthy you are, if you have a toxic mind, you will not be living your best life,” she affirms. Her coaching helps clients access what she calls “gremlins,” or childhood wounds, that fre quently hold people back during adulthood. She observes that, for many of them, they are completely unaware of many, if not all, of these patterns.
Abbe Lang has always had the ability to understand and help others. While running her own business, she found that many of her interactions with customers led to advising them on their personal relationships. This inspired her 15 years ago to become a certified life coach and create a thriving business in which she could help people live their best lives.
MEDFORD FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
Lang is also a practicing homeopath and uses remedies and nutritional counseling to help her clients feel their best physically and mentally. She has helped numerous clients overcome anxiety and depression.Themostrewarding part of her work is seeing clients have that “ah-ha” moment. Lang can quickly, effectively and intuitively get to the core challenges that hold people back from achieving the success they desire.
MEDFORD FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE 617 Stokes Rd., Ste. 4, Medford | 609-969-4844 | MedfordFunctionalMedicine.com
By addressing gut health, nutrition and elimination of toxins, Nussbaum combines functional medicine with ancestral health—re-aligning our lifestyles to include strategies that kept humans healthy for hundreds of thousands of years—to address root causes of ailments. “Chemicals in the modern food supply, contaminants in our water, degraded plastic in our environment, air pollution, heavy metals, depleted soil quality, sedentary lifestyles, lack of outdoor exposure and disconnect from our communities have all taken a huge toll on our health.”
“I’mtesting.inspired when I see my patients dramatically improve their health,” she enthuses.
Charlotte Nussbaum, M.D., has always loved digging deep into healthcare challenges and working with patients to explore ways to achieve optimal health. “When I discovered functional medicine, I knew that was my true calling,” she says. With a background in conventional health care, she had started her career at a hospital and was using pharmaceuticals to treat patients. “I never considered that I could actually change the trajectory of people’s health by using lifestyle changes. Once I realized the possibilities with functional medicine, I underwent a huge paradigm shift.”
“Once my clients see what’s holding them back, I guide them through various exercises and teach them the skills and tools to make impactful changes in their lives moving forward.”
MOTIVATION POINT COACHING: 701 Rte. 73 N., Marlton | 856-452-3434 | AbbeLang.com
She realized that issues such as allergies, eczema, asthma, autoimmune diseases, unwanted weight gain, high blood pressure and heart disease, while common, are not normal to develop as we age. “Even though genetics may predispose us to certain diseases, genetics do not determine our destiny,” she says.
Abbe Lang
“It’s been amazingly fulfilling. I see one success story after another as I give my clients the confidence and courage to lead their best lives,” Lang says. She works with adults, couples and teens, providing them with the backbone they often cannot provide themselves. “I am extremely caring, but also firm enough to hold my clients accountable for miraculous changes in their lives.”
MOTIVATION POINT COACHING
Charlotte Nussbaum
Terry Eldh ofperformedclassicallycompany,musicismentAfterSOULOSOARINGlongcareersinboththeentertainandcorporatesectors,TerryEldhnowabletomeldhertwopassions—andhealing—inherrelativelynewSoulOSoaringLLC.EldhisatrainedoperasingerwhoalsointheBroadwaycompany
SOULOSOARING: 917-282-5554 | SoulOSoaring.com
The Phantom of the Opera. She began practicing reiki (energy healing) almost 20 years ago, and after a spiritual trip to Egypt, she was inspired to use her voice not only to entertain, but to heal. While working in the corporate world, Eldh received a request from up per management to lead a livestreamed sound meditation, or “sound bath”, to ease employees’ stress and isolation while working from home during the pandemic shutdowns. The event was extremely well received— more than 100 people participated. Eldh enjoyed the experience so much that she was inspired to form SoulOSoaring, a sound and en ergy healing company. She also became an authorized distributor of Crystal Tones alchemy, crystal, singing bowls. Eldh describes her approach to sound healing: “I want to put these beautiful, crystal, singing bowls out into the world. A very central part of my philosophy is that I believe that Mother Earth, or Gaia (the Greek goddess of Earth, mother of all life), is going through an unprecedented energy transition as we shift from the Piscean to the Aquarian Age. Anything that we can do to help raise the Earth’s vibration, as well as our own, is critical at this moment in time.” Her background as a classically trained musician bears on everything she does, especially training other sound healers. “In my trainings, I teach people the basics of how music theory applies to playing singing bowls,” she explains. “When people have a deeper under standing of how to play the bowls—and why—it’s all the more meaningful and they can have a greater impact in the world.”
When Eldh sees how people transform physically and emotionally from sound healing, she becomes even more inspired to reach more people through alchemy crystal singing bowls. “They’re powerful interdimensional healing tools. One client even experienced a visitation from her mother on the other side. Her mother had passed away four years ago. Moments like that really move me.”
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Polina
“I’m inspired by seeing first-hand the improvements in our client’s health,” she says. “We try to get to the root causes of their symptoms, which really helps them heal. I love seeing the joy and relief when they are free from whatever was holding them back. Good health is the most important asset you have, and being proactive can save you from experiencing the pain of missing out on life experiences.”
HALO WELLNESS CENTER: 968 New Jersey Hwy. 73, Evesham | 856-574-4433 | ElevateYourHealth.com
Michele Marcinko
For two years, Karmazin worked as medical director at Virtua Center for Inte grative Medicine. When that program was shut down, she had to make a choice—return to conventional medicine or take the leap and open her own clinic so she could practice medicine the holistic way.
SOUTH JERSEY HOLISTIC: 2301 E. Evesham Rd., Pavilions of Voorhees Bldg. 800, Ste. 219, Voorhees, NJ | 856-528-2258 | SouthJerseyHolistic.com
“Over the following two years, I saw her suffer the awful side effects of conven tional cancer treatment, surgery, chemotherapy and hospital visits. She passed away at the age of 59,” Marcinko reflects. “This tragedy changed my path and purpose, and I vowed to help others avoid this same fate.” With a goal to help people be proactive with their health, Marcinko became a holistic health coach. She left her corporate job, opened the Halo Wellness Center and never looked back. Marcinko strives to make Halo a special place. She observes that her clients feel safe, relaxed and cared for on a personal level. “Our clients really become family, and we take the time to listen to their health concerns and determine what we can do to help them,” she says.” Offering clients natural and judgement-free healing solutions that are convenient to incorporate into their everyday lives is of upmost importance.
Karmazin M.D. SOUTH JERSEY HOLISTIC Polina Karmazin, M.D., of South Jersey Holistic, is a third-generation female physician. Growing up in a family of healthcare professionals, she developed early on a deep appreciation for medicine and a passion for helping people. After finishing medical school, Karmazin spent a year studying Chinese medicine. Upon moving to the U.S. from Moldova, she finished her residency and worked as a primary care physician, but she had always leaned toward holistic and functional medicine
“Seeing happy patients is very gratifying,” she says. “When they come to me, it’s usually after they tried everything else and have been suffering for years. Being able to help them is the reason I stay in practice.”
Hippocratic Oath is to do no harm,” says Karmazin. Having witnessed firsthand the unfolding of the opioid crisis and the devastating effect it had on patients and their families, her belief in alternative natural and preventive approaches only grew. She specializes in Holistic Pain Management utilizing acupuncture, biopuncture and homeopathy.
“In my practice, we treat the whole person, not just their symptoms, and try to find the root cause of their ailment. No two patients are the same, even if their complaints sound similar, and each requires an individualized approach.” Because of this, during an initial consultation, Karmazin spends two hours with each patient. She stays motivated by getting to know her patients and seeing positive results.
HALO WELLNESS CENTER Michele Marcinko never thought she would be where she is today. After graduating from college and starting a career in accounting and finance, she climbed the cor porate ladder, earned a master’s degree in business administration and started a family. All seemed right with the world until her mom—her best friend and caretaker of her children—was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian cancer.
Sutin’s youngest son had taken violin lessons there when it was still operated by co-founder Frank Salicandro. When Sutin heard through the grapevine that Salicandro planned to sell the school, Sutin and her husband purchased it in February 2001. Her son is also involved, making it a true family business. Since owning the school, Sutin has achieved her goal of adding modern technology to make operations more efficient, while also bolstering programming. “We knew there was a need for music therapy in the area,” she says. “We got inquiries about whether we were going to offer music therapy. We added sessions gradually, and we now have a music therapist here five days a week.”
Renee Sutin
NEW JERSEY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Lessons are offered in a diverse array of musical genres, from classical, folk, country and jazz, as well as instruction in many separate instruments. Sutin strives to make music approachable for everyone. “Sometimes people think that before they come here, they have to have had a lot of lessons or talent, or a goal to become a professional musician. That’s not our purpose,” she says. “Our purpose is to offer music education to everybody; if somebody wants to take it to a collegiate or professional level, that’s fine. But given that there are plenty of opportunities already for that out in the world, we cater to people that want to have some music education for their own gratification and enjoyment.”
NEW JERSEY SCHOOL OF MUSIC 10 Union St., Medford | 605 Rte. 70 W., Cherry Hill www.njschoolofmusic.com
“I see them briefly when they walk in and out for their weekly lessons, but at the recitals, they’re actually playing music, and it’s really satisfying to see.”
Renee Sutin played the cello throughout middle and high school. Although she wanted to go to college to study music and become a music teacher, she was discouraged by some adults in her life. She gave up her dream, but she’s been helping many others live theirs as owner of the New Jersey School of Music, that she co-founded in 1958.
Sutin says it’s magical to see the students grow in every way.
Renee Vidal EXCITARI WELLNESS CENTER
EXCITARI WELLNESS
Excitari Wellness Center was born from a desire to bring together different holistic wellness practitioners to work together and collaborate while serving the community. While Vidal was on her own wellness journey, she often had difficulty finding practitioners. When she did find a practitioner offering a modality she had been seeking, they often lacked professional space in which they could practice.
“I built Excitari to bring together practitioners to collaborate and create new things.” CENTER: 30 Jackson Rd., Unit D-101, Medford | 856-885-2990 | ExcitariWellness.com
“I wanted to create a professional office space in a wellness collective format. We have integrative physicians, massage therapists, energy and sound healers, ayurvedic bodyworkers, reflexologists and spiritual wellness practitioners—a broad range of practitioners that encompass the entire scope of body, mind and spirit.”
THE VEDA DEN
“It really makes me feel good that something that I built has brought healing and peace to somebody else,” she enthuses.
I am sitting in the Veda Den’s Sub “Urban” Garden. We just celebrated our one-year anniversary. It is hard to believe we have been in business for a year—so much has changed and yet so much has remained the same. Year one was about figuring things out. Understanding those who walk through the door and those that have not. Calling on the Goddess Saraswati to help us create offerings and experiences that align with consumer needs. Collaborating with other healers to offer variety and ensure we operate from abundance, not competitiveness.
Nicoli Rena Sinclair
Renee Vidal, founder of Excitari Wellness Center, has often been told that she spends much of her time “mom-ing” others. As a lawyer by trade, Vidal enjoys running a wellness center because it gives her the opportunity to make someone else’s day and helps them feel better.
Vidal has personally experienced each of the modalities at Excitari, so she has first-hand knowledge of the practitioners and their services. “I think every client is on their own personal journey toward wellness,” she says. “They all have had their own journey to get to where they are today. The first thing I do is listen so I know what they’re looking for.” She strives to offer options tailored to each individual client to provide the opportunity to find a path that works best for him or her, and when something is not working, to try something new. This approach offers clients the opportunity to discover a wellness journey that is best for them.
I opened this multi-cultural meditation and spiritual club a year ago, during the COVID-19 era, with an intense desire to help people feel con nected to their True Essence, and through this connection, realize they are capable and complete as they are. These core values remain the same for year two, however they have evolved. As I look forward to year two, I see the Veda Den becoming more focused. We will continue to offer courses and classes on the Chopra method of meditation and Jnana Yoga philosophy as a foundation for discovering deeper spiritual connections. We will be offering advanced classes, courses and Yoga Alliance Teacher Training on how to use these foundational teachings in the world. Swami Vivekanada believed that spir ituality should be practical or it was useless. Thus we aim to make spiritual living more practical, accessible and seen as a powerful tool that can be used to navigate this thing we call life.
THE VEDA DEN: TheVedaDen.com
Montesano discovered alternative energy work while healing from an illness. While re covering from major surgeries, Bivona sought help from various healing modalities, including mediumship practice. Both feel they were placed on this path to uncover their own gifts and ultimately find their authentic selves.
Katherine Montesano
“I want to expand the number of people in this world doing yoga,” Lucas says. “I want to attract teachers that can lead classes in tai chi, qigong, beginner’s yoga, chair yoga, gentle yoga—I want to attract people that have never taken a yoga class.” Because many yoga teachers cannot access studio space, Lucas wants to offer affordable space for them to create the programs, and to offer online and marketingLucassupport.recalls
a recent day in the studio: simultaneously, a stained glass workshop was taking place as the artist-in-residence was painting. Meanwhile, a bead work artist was working at a nearby table, while Lucas’ high school friend was playing her new guitar in the performance area. “That was all occurring after the morning yoga class ended,” he says. “I thought, ‘How cool is that?’ We’re around happy people doing happy things, and it’s kept my sanity since my wife passed away. I get to be here instead of being home alone.”
Dina Marie Bivona, a psychic, medium and energy practitioner, and Katherine Montesano, a sound healing and light language practitioner, each believe that we are all marvels of the uni verse with infinite potential to heal. Both saw a need for a trusted place to find evidence-based alternative health and wellness solutions. That need led to the Alternative Network presented by Divine Design Health, a carefully vetted, online community of practitioners, businesses and those seeking alternative health and metaphysical solutions.
Bivona explains how her approach differs from many: “I don’t approach my work in terms of religion; it comes from a sci entific standpoint. When we can discuss science and spirituality together, it opens up a new perspective. It changed my life.”
Jeff Lucas
DIVINE DESIGN HEALTH ALTERNATIVE NETWORK
STUDIO 67 When Jeff Lucas co-founded Studio 67 last year with his late wife, Libby, his goal was to create an affordable, approachable arts and wellness space for teachers to teach, students to learn and people to have fun.
Enlightening people about their energy is the most rewarding part, acknowledges Montesano. “I love what I do. When people feel the energy move through their body, it’s fun and I’m very fulfilled by supporting people in that realization.”
Co-creating a community with products and services motivates Bivona. “It’s all about one community, with pure intention to support the greater good. We drive to one central online marketplace people can trust. Utilizing the power of one network to empower us all!” DDHealthAlternative.com
Both Montesano and Bivona agree there is stigma surrounding alternative health and metaphysical arts, and the field draws some practitioners that may not be gifted, knowledgeable or well-intended. “I feel like this is our calling and desire to co-create this service, both for individuals seeking help and for businesses wanting to expand their online footprint,” Montesano says.
STUDIO 67: 67 North Main St., Medford | Studio67Medford.com
“That’s why we call it a ‘fun’ arts center instead of a ‘fine’ arts center,” Lucas affirms. He served as president of the Medford Arts Center for five years. When space became available in the Feed Mill building, which also hosts several other local busi nesses that provide services for the community, Lucas wanted to create a more diversified performing arts space with music, singing, dance, comedy, art and crafts. Influenced by the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, in Massachusetts, he wanted to also include a healing arts program alongside artistic offerings.
| Dina Marie Bivona
Gandy Torres is self-taught and holds certifications in sev eral separate holistic wellness modalities so she can empower people to find their light. She’s particularly proud of her five-part Embodying Wisdom series that helps people connect with their inner guidance and strength. “That inner light and peace is always there, but sometimes we need help revealing and undoing what has been laid down in our lives. That leads to greater joy.”
~ Frida Kahlo
Laurie DiMatteo-Weiner PILATES PLUS MARLTON
| @pilatesplusmarlton
PLUS
Robert Reti-Nagy LOGICAL HEALTH 21
EMBODYINGWELLNESSCOACH.COM: 609-634-2396 | Julia@EmbodyingWellnessCoach.com
She is a proud Mom; Love, Sex & Relationship Coach; RN; KRI-certified 220-hour Kundalini Yoga Teacher; certified 200hour Ayurveda Yoga Teacher; certified Chair & Restorative Yoga Teacher; certified Usui Reiki Master; Sound/Energy Practitioner; and Ordained Minister.
TEJA VALENTIN: Love, Sex and Relationship Coaching 856-952-7841 | Teja@TejaValentin.com | TejaValentin.com Facebook.com/tejashanti.kaur | Instagram @teja_valentin
Julia Gandy Torres believes that we all have inner light and wisdom, but for some, it is diminished and harder to access. As a massage therapist and wellness coach/ consultant, she strives to help everyone’s light shine brighter. “I knew from my own experience that I wanted a way to help people find peace and relaxation on multiple levels of their being—phys ical, mental, emotional and spiritual,” she says.
In addition to her coaching practice, Valentin offers Kundalini yoga classes, reiki healing sessions, reiki training and Kundalini/ Gong meditations. Words of wisdom that she follows is to “Follow your heart, your One True Teacher”. It is her desire and commit ment to help plant the seeds of passion in others and guide them on their own path of healing, so that they may also plant seeds of passion and bloom hard.
“I love helping people and empowering them to achieve their goals and feel better about themselves. Whether they’re recovering from an injury or seeking to improve athletic performance, I work with everyone through a holistic approach,” she says. “Movement heals, and I meet clients where they’re at. If someone is in a cast due to an injury, I work around that to help them still move so they can continue to stay healthy while they’re healing.”
EMBODYING WELLNESS
Robert Reti-Nagy, founder and CEO of Logical Health 21 LLC, completed his studies at Semmelweis University, one of the leading universities of health sciences in Europe. He collaborates with scientists from Europe to research and develop inventions that offer natural solutions to common health issues, and then imports them and makes them available in the U.S.
LOGICAL HEALTH: LogicalHealth21.com
When Laurie DiMatteo-Weiner opened Pi lates Plus Marlton more than 20 years ago, she knew she wanted to build a comprehen sive wellness center that went beyond Pilates and fitness. “We’re about so much more than Pilates—it’s a healing center with many holis tic modalities,” she emphasizes. With a staff of teachers trained in multiple wellness approaches, she strives to help people heal emotionally and physically.
Positive attitudes are contagious, and DiMatteo-Weiner finds inspiration from her clients and her team. “I feed off their energy,” she adds. “Some of my clients have been with me since I first opened. Two of my staff members have trained under me and have been with me for 10 years.”
Teja Valentin Valentin is a Passion Catalyst, Healer and Lover of the Mystic. Her thirst for growth and self-actualization fuels the ability to facilitate growth and actualization in others—body, mind and spirit. Through her non-judgmental and receptive spirit, lighthearted and playful, yet respectful of the serious and sacred, she helps empower us to reclaim our pleasure, passion and vitality.
Julia Gandy Torres
PILATES MARLTON: 151 Greentree Rd., Marlton 856-304-5556
“Passion is the bridge that takes you from pain to change.”
He loves to share knowledge and help people understand how the human body works “I want to help people solve problems nat urally,” he emphasizes. One of the scientists he closely collaborates with is Dr. Köntös, the inventor of the world’s first, pure, elemental iodine complex, IODINE-V. It’s the active ingredient of Köntös’ all-natural nasal spray to cleanse nasal passages, compensate air pollutants and allergens and to help neutralize airborne virus es. IODINE-V is also available for internal use as water-soluble Essential Iodine Drops, which are instantly absorbed and utilized by the body, with no side effects, bringing relief to the more than 20 million Americans suffering from thyroid issues. Healthier people are often happier people, and Reti-Nagy is inspired by people’s happiness. “I want to see as many happy people as possible in the world,” he says.
As a mother and an aunt, Gandy Torres is inspired to provide future generations with a more kind and socially just world. “We borrow this Earth from our children. It’s not ours. We need to have the mindset that we can leave a better world for them to lift up.”
