September 2024 Natural Awakenings Fairfield & Southern Litchfield Counties by Natural Awakenings Magazine

Emotional Healing Yoga Month

event program page 17

Caroline Simmons, Mayor, City of Stamford center with Kathleen Silard, President & CEO of Stamford Health left, and Heather Cavanagh, Stamford Chamber of Commerce celebrating the opening of the new Walk in Clinic at Harbor Point in Stamford.

FAIRFIELD & SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD COUNTIES

Publisher Erica Mills

Editor Michelle Bense

Design & Production Kathleen Fellows

Erica Mills

Contributing Writers Renee Edge

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Shirley Bloethe

Erica Mills

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Cover Image Photo Provided by Stamford Health

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© 2024 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Emotional healing is our focus this month, inviting us to take seriously the factors that contribute to storing trauma and angst within the body and explore ways we can unravel it holistically. No one needs data to confirm the impact of the past several years on the psyche of the population and planet. The idea of post-traumatic stress has peaked with professionals and families now familiar with the care needed for anyone who has sustained intense, sudden and life-changing events. From integrative counseling to energy healing, somatic movement, hypnotherapy and more, Natural Awakenings aims to connect you with the local practitioners ready to help you take the first step towards healing. I’m honored to be a catalyst in this process of union and wholeness.

The practice of yoga—a long-time love of mine—is also a potent stress-buster and the topic makes for a fitting match to our feature theme seeing as September is also National Yoga Month. Be sure to check out our enhanced yoga coverage beginning on page 28 chock-full of content to explore during this yoga focused month. Yoga’s contribution to mind-body health and fitness is proving to be a reliable defense against age-related loss of mobility, cardiovascular disease as well as depression.

You will notice that the 13th annual Health, Wellness & Lifestyle Expo is featured not only on the cover this month, but also within the issue. This issue serves as the program for the event, which is September 7 from 10am to 6pm at Harbor Point, 1 Harbor Point Road, in Stamford. You can find the program beginning on page 17. Natural Awakenings will be there sharing magazines and connecting with the attendess. Look for us this fall at other events in the area. We can’t wait to connect in person.

As always, we are grateful for your continued support and engagement.

Yours in Health,

Erica Mills, Publisher

Erica Mills

Photo

Victoria Gripas on AdobeStock

Experience Spinal Flow with Rachel

Rachel Borsavage, a Licensed Massage Therapist for 12 years, is opening a new self-care studio, Spinal Flow with Rachel, located in the heart of Watertown, in The Siemon Building. Borsavage will feature the transformative power of Spinal Flow Technique and help clients embrace a new level of health and wellness.

What is Spinal Flow? Spinal Flow is a therapeutic technique, a gentle, hands-on approach (done fully clothed), that prompts the spine and nervous system to increase flow of life force energy and release spinal blockage. This therapeutic method focuses on releasing tension, enhancing flexibility and boosting your body’s own natural healing.

There is an innate intelligence inside every human body to grow, repair and heal itself. Just as our gut digests our food, our hair grows and our heart beats naturally, our bodies know how to harness this innate intelligence—or Life Force Energy—to heal and grow. The spine and nervous system is the pathway through which our healing Life Force Energy flows.

However, when our bodies become overwhelmed with stress (physical, chemical and emotional), blockages can form in the spine which prevent our nerves from flowing properly, causing pain and dis-ease in our body which, when ignored, can lead to illness.

At Spinal Flow with Rachel, Borsavage blends expertise with compassion to create a personalized experience for each client. Sessions aim to alleviate stress, reduce chronic pain and improve overall vitality. Whether you’re seeking relief from discomfort, chronic pain or sickness, their tailored approach is here to support your healing journey. Borsavage also offers additional self-care services such as massage and facials.

For more information, call 860-483-8711 or visit SpinalFlowWith Rachel.com.

John Paul Beaudoin, Sr. Fall Health Expo’s Keynote Speaker

The 13th Bi-Annual New England Passport to Health and Wellness EXPO keynote speaker will be John Paul Beaudoin, Sr., author of The Real CDC: Covid Facts for Regular People, and includes a Q & A following his lecture. The EXPO take places October 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bristol.

His lecture will take place in the Atrium at 1:00 p.m. Beaudoin, Sr. is a Christian and the father of three sons. He spent his first 18 years in Windsor, Connecticut, obtained a BS in Systems Engineering, worked 30 years in the semiconductor research and design industry, and obtained an MBA in Management. In July 2018, Beaudoin’s eldest son died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 20. When the Covid narrative began circulating, Beaudoin had a purpose again, which is to save children from harm. He enrolled in law school at 56 years old, attended for two semesters, and was unenrolled due to his Covid “vaccination status.” Beaudoin now uses engineering, economics, morality, law, and philosophy to find evidence and bring truth to the people. His book gives the background of data and on Covid and CT and Massachusetts information from the Department of Health records. What his book reveals is the real information about what happened in the last few years.

The lecture is open to general admission (free) seating and reserved priority seating on EventBrite at Tinyurl.com/PTHExpoFall1024Tix.

The expo will feature speakers on the half-hour, over 75 vendors and readers, free raffles all day, and a grand prize of a Hilton overnight stay with breakfast for two, as well as a free sound healing event from 4-5 p.m.

The Passport to Health & Wellness Expo, co-sponsored by the Fairfield & Southern Litchfield Counties and New Haven & Middlesex Counties editions of Natural Awakenings, is a free event to the public with advance tickets available on EventBrite.com. All door proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Health Defense New England Chapter.

For more information, call Shirley Bloethe at 860-989-0033, email YourHolisticEvents@gmail.com or visit YourHolisticEvents.com. Location: The Bristol DoubleTree by Hilton, 42 Century Dr, Bristol, CT. See ad, page 11.

Rachel Borsavage

John Paul Beaudoin, Sr

Fall Equinox Afternoon Retreat

with Beth Leas and Matthew Broad

Celebrate the Fall Equinox during an afternoon retreat in the beautiful backyard at the Transformation Center in Westport, on September 22, from 2 to 5pm. This is the perfect time and place to reflect, reconnect and re-illuminate your path. Held by the season of the harvest, we gather together to connect with one another and ourselves as we nurture our magic, transform what no longer serves and step deeper into living who we are.

Join Matthew Broad and Beth Leas for a unique and powerful afternoon filled with fun, community and togetherness. Enjoy deep relaxation, raise your vibration and uplift your spirit through guided meditation, drumming circle, reflective writing, integration labyrinth walk and more.

Beth Leas (BethLeas.com) is a seasoned lifelong Spiritual Explorer. Her own healing journey began when she was 15 and has become the foundation of her extensive healing work over the past 35 years with adults and children of all ages. She has witnessed the amazing transformation of people embracing their inner strength. Her down-to-earth sessions and workshops—both virtual and in-person—combine her gift of intuition with her personal practice of mindfulness, compassion and light-heartedness.

Matthew Broad (FreehandMandala.com) leads community drum circles and has been teaching hand drumming for 25 years. Within a few minutes, he is able to teach a group of people to drum and listen to each other regardless of age and prior experience. Broad is also an amazing artist who experiences his freehand mandalas as a creative flow directly from a divine source energy.

All are welcome. No experience is necessary. Space is limited. Cost is $95 before September 1, and $125 after. Register at BethLeas.com.

For more information, email TransformationCenterCT@gmail.com or visit Transformation CenterCT.com. See ad, back cover.

Come Exerience a Day of Spiritual & Creative Enlightenment!

Sun. Nov. 7, 2021

10 AM - 5 PM

2 Rooms of Dynamic Speakers & Guided Meditations

The New Age & Craft Expo will be held November 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wyndham in Southbury, Connecticut. The day will be filled with creative and spiritual enlightenment. Vendors from the tri-state area will be on hand, as will a dozen readers skilled in past lives, angels, crystals, astrology and more.

Attendees can also bring a photo of a pet to receive a pet reading. Other experiences include having your aura photo taken, reiki sessions and dynamic speakers. It’s a great opportunity to do some holiday shopping for crystals, natural oils, candles, Tibetan singing bowls, handcrafted gifts, jewelry, soaps, spiritual art, handbags and much more. There will

For more information, call 203-733-6560 or email Cryours87@yahoo.com. Location: Wynd-

or call

Quantum Healing & Wellness, a holistic health and wellness center located in Bedford Hills, is celebrating its second anniversary this month. Inspired by a desire to explore more natural treatments for disease, Dr. Michelle Adams opened the center in September 2022, after a 27-year career in the pharmaceutical industry.

“We are deeply committed to enhancing wellness through continuous innovation, integrating bio-hacking research and providing all-encompassing wellness,” says Adams. “Quantum Healing & Wellness remains at the forefront of holistic health, blending advanced technologies and services, plus we’re the only provider of EES and halotherapy in Westchester County.”

The Energy Enhancement System (EES), which uses custombuilt units to create an energetic environment with bioactive fields, is the cornerstone for the business. “In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and environmental factors take a toll on our health, innovative wellness solutions like the EES are gaining attention for their potential health benefits,” notes Adams.

Additional services include microcirculation treatment for pain management, a therapeutic salt room, bio-resonance quantum body scanning for health insights, multi-therapeutic healing mats and acoustic light waves for holistic wellness and more. These methods are enhanced by BrainTap for mental clarity and stress reduction. Experienced practitioners provide energy healing and detoxification consults onsite as well.

Location: 7-9 Norm Ave., in Bedford Hills. For more information or to make an appointment, call 914-218-3428, email Info@QuantumHealingAndWellnesspma.com or visit QuantumHealingAndWellnesspma.com. See ad, page 15.

Dr. Michelle Adams

Photo

A Pilgrimage to Wholeness

by Marlaina Donato

One of the most beautiful aspects of youth is envisioning the future with undaunted optimism, but even the most strategic plan for life can go off the rails. Whether we carry the weight of unprocessed trauma and never quite reach our potential or zoom into the fast lane of success only to be brought down by sudden change, pain is part of every person’s story. The quest for healing and finding our whole self beneath the rubble becomes a new objective that can be the most arduous but the most significant.

We might accomplish monumental feats, transforming our trauma or going into physical remission from disease. We might even feel a calling to guide others along the path we have come to know so well, but it is important to remember that the deep healing process is a spiral. Our linear brains may be startled when our most gut-wrenching, seemingly resolved issues loop back around, and we are plunged even deeper into the crucible. During these times, it is easy to forget that we are multidimensional beings. A physical injury or illness involves much more than flesh or organ systems, and agonies of the spirit can greatly impact the physical body.

We heal layer by layer—sometimes even layers within layers— and despite our full commitment and steady growth, the task of peeling the onion is never quite finished. One of our greatest challenges is overcoming the illusion that we are failing miserably when we fall out of resonance; evolution is not a course that we can flunk. With each descent, our pain can provide an opportunity to lessen the chasm between mind and body and to acknowledge parts of our being that might need tending. For as long as we inhabit a human vehicle, we will always be in the process of healing something, and that is okay. We can rest assured that our process, like all spirals, will lead us safely back outward to continue our journey.

Marlaina Donato is an author, artist and musician. Connect at BluefireStudio.art.

Crystals & Jewelry • Candles, Essential Oils & Incense • Yoga Wear, Boho Clothing & Accessories

Special events, classes, workshops and retreats in both our Shungite Room and at The Angel Wing (our spiritual center next door).

• Readings • Yoga - All Levels • Massage

• Reiki • Sound Healing • Acupuncture

• Energy Work • Gong Baths • Certiﬁcation Classes

Spiritual Gifts & Statuary • Decks, Books & Cards • The First Shungite Room in the USA 51 & 49 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rt 7), Ridgefield, CT

The Harmonic Egg at Hummingbird Healing Center

by Erin Lehn

Lisa Pak with the Harmonic Egg

In the heart of Westport’s bustling Main Street lies the Hummingbird Healing Center, a serene, newly renovated, 2,100-square-foot wellness oasis founded by Lisa Pak. A certified sound healer, Harmonic Egg guardian, vocalist and leader of women’s song and chant circles, Pak’s journey to this space is one of profound transformation.

During the pandemic, like many, Pak experienced a deep personal shift. Having spent over two decades in interior design, she found herself unfulfilled and yearning for something more meaningful. At a time when many of her peers were contemplating retirement, Pak, in her early 60s, made the courageous decision to embark on

a new career path. “I had a beautiful career as an interior designer, but realized the world behind my eyes was becoming more important than the world in front of my eyes,” she reflects. Her story is a testament to the power of reinvention and the belief that it’s never too late to follow new dreams.

Her journey took a pivotal turn when she discovered the Harmonic Egg, a revolutionary sound and light energy healing pod. “It was a direct download, a calling,” Pak shares. “I watched a documentary about the egg technology, and it resonated so deeply with me that I knew I had to bring it to Westport.” After finding the perfect space, Pak established the Hummingbird Healing Center, the only location in Connecticut offering this cuttingedge therapy.

For over 30 years, Pak has explored various holistic modalities, but nothing has impacted her more than sound healing. Her background in art and design proved invaluable in creating the center’s calming atmosphere. “Everything I’ve ever pursued professionally and personally has led me to where I am today—interior design and graphic design alongside holistic health, yoga, meditation, music and sound healing. It’s the perfect synthesis of everything I’ve been about.”

Pak’s passion for sound extends beyond her role as a healer. A seasoned vocalist, she has sung alto in several prominent symphony choruses, including the

Hummingbird Healing Center, Event Space

Lisa Pak

Harmonic Egg

Colorado Symphony, Master Voices in New York City and the Fairfield County Chorale. In recent years, she has shifted her focus from performance to using her voice as a tool for transformation. “Sound is the gateway to the silence within,” she explains, a philoso phy she shares with clients to help them access their inner stillness.

The Harmonic Egg is at the shining centerpiece of the center. De veloped by visionary Gail Lynn, the egg is an immersive healing chamber that combines light, sound and the principles of sacred geometry to foster a state of deep relaxation and homeostasis. “The egg isn’t healing you,” Pak clarifies. “You are your own heal er. The egg simply creates the environment to help you get there.”

“Each 50-minute private session in the Harmonic Egg immerses you in a symphony of healing frequencies, with 40 minutes of soothing music and lights designed to harmonize your body and mind,” explains Pak. The “eggsperience” culminates in 10 min utes of tranquil silence, allowing one’s energy to settle and inte grate the restorative effects.

Pak is deeply committed to uplifting women through music, leading monthly song and chant circles, including a full moon circle, at the Hummingbird Healing Center. “These circles em power women to connect with their authentic voice in a safe and supportive environment,” she says, adding that no prior vocal or musical experience is required to attend.

The Hummingbird Healing Center, which can accommodate up to 21 people lying down, is home to a variety of other offerings as well. Pak hosts sound bath meditations, holotropic breathwork classes, kirtan, yoga with sound healing and workshops by local healers. The center is also available for private group sound baths, and is ideal for corporate team building, milestone celebrations, girls’ night out and other special events. Additionally, the center features a retail space that sells crystal bowls, Native American flutes, tuning forks, crystals and other metaphysical tools to sup port one’s healing journey.

For Pak, being the “guardian” of the Harmonic Egg and leading these healing sessions is the fulfillment of a lifelong journey. “Ev erything has been preparing me for this,” she says with a smile. “It’s truly a magical experience, and I’m honored to share it with my community.”

Pak’s story is a beacon of hope for those who may feel their dreams are out of reach due to age. Her journey reminds us all that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and pursue your pas sions, no matter where you are in life.

Location: 57 Main St. 2nd Fl., Westport. For more information, call or text 203-550-3390 or visit HummingbirdHealingCenter.com. For more information about the harmonic egg, visit HarmonicEgg.com. See ad, back cover.

Stopping the Trauma Cycle

Mind-Body Healing Strategies

by Carrie Gauthier

Trauma can strike anyone at any time. Loss, heartbreak, abuse, violence, displacement, accidents, disasters, health problems—the list of possible traumas is endless. According to the National Council for Behavioral Health, 70 percent of adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives, and more than a third of youth exposed to community violence experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma is a factor in most behavioral health and substanceuse disorders. While trauma may be part of our lives, it does not need to define who we are or how we enjoy our lives. Healing from trauma can take time, but it is within reach.

Health Effects

Left untreated, trauma or repeated trauma has a wide range of short- and long-term effects on physical and mental health.

Trauma increases stress and keeps the fight-or-flight response on elevated alert, resulting in the release of chronically high amounts of cortisol into the body. Initial reactions may include exhaustion, numbness, sadness, anxiety and dissociation. Excessive cortisol increases the risk of serious health conditions such as heart disease, digestive problems, muscle tension, headaches, sleep issues, weight gain, irregular periods, anxiety, depression and cognitive challenges.

Cycle of Addiction

Trauma is a common precursor to addiction, because individuals often turn to substances as a coping mechanism for their emotional pain. The use of drugs or alcohol gives trauma sufferers a reprieve from their chronic stress by producing pleasure and reducing negative feelings, and may even slow their central nervous system.

Untreated, trauma can lead to a vicious cycle where one condition feeds the other.

Holistic Healing

While medications such as antidepressants and antipsychotics can be effective in treating trauma symptoms, they may fall short in addressing the root cause. An integrative approach to trauma healing adds evidencebased therapies to tackle the underlying causes and promote long-term recovery.

Integrative Psychiatry

James Greenblatt, a board-certified functional and integrative psychiatrist and founder of Psychiatry Redefined, believes in a broader view of psychiatric care. “For example, if our patient is suffering from depression and we were to tell them they should exercise because it’s the best antidepressant we have, that could come off as incredibly insensitive, ruin our chances of gaining their trust and add to their feelings of helplessness and isolation. Alternatively, if we show them how to recover their motivation and energy, that is the way to begin the relationship.”

“Our bodies are different, and our genetics are different. How we react to stress and trauma are different too. I start with lab and genetic tests to see if there’s something I can optimize biologically. Then we supplement any nutritional deficiencies to restore their functionality and increase their energy. These tests also partially help inform the way we design the complementary healing modality plan. This is the piece that gets missed a lot,” says Greenblatt, adding that he tests depressed patients for a vitamin B12 deficiency, which may contribute to depression, anxiety and even psychosis.

Finding a Safe Place

Children are particularly susceptible to trauma, and an adverse childhood experience (ACE) can pose lifelong impacts. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 64 percent of adults say they have had at least one ACE, and 17 percent say they had four or more by age 18. ACEs can rob kids of the magic of childhood, disrupt their development and

lead to maladaptive behaviors in adulthood.

Aimie Apigian, a double board-certified physician in preventative and addiction medicine and founder of Trauma Healing Accelerated, started her work with attachment and trauma by working with adoptive families to help their children with attachment insecurity. She explains that childhood traumatic experiences can result in “underlying mistrust—literally wiring a child’s nervous system, brain and body for survival—and overwhelm connection, security and safety.”

Somatic therapy is one modality that Apigian integrates to assist individuals on their trauma-healing journey, helping them connect with their bodies, learn to understand its messages and resolve stored trauma. Apigian explains that just 10 minutes of sequential somatic exercises over 21 days can restore a sense of safety. “For each person, the specific improvement or the degree of improvement will be different, but there will be an improvement as soon as we shift our biology into one of safety rather than of danger.”

By following an essential sequence to safely address stored trauma through somatic exercises, Apigian says people “experience 30 percent less depression, 30 percent less anxiety, 30 percent fewer digestive issues, 30 percent improvement in energy and a 60 percent increase in their feelings of safety. The essential sequence has to start with creating a felt sense of safety, then a sense of support and then opening up while pacing our process. It is such a powerful way to empower them for their lifetime.”

Reaching Our Inner Child

Inner-child work can help develop a dialogue to reach the place where we hold past emotions, memories, beliefs, hopes and dreams. “I tell people when they’re starting this journey, if they put their hands on their belly above and below their bellybutton and just let the hands be there, that will calm down an aspect of us so that it begins to feel safe. It’s called the basic self,” says Dr. Lin Morel, a trauma management specialist and founder of Beyond Words Group. “It’s an aspect of our consciousness that is roughly 5

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years old, if you were to give it an age. So it gets very fearful, and if it’s not loved, it will act out.”

According to Morel, embracing the basic self can help people out of some of the darkest corners of trauma. No stranger to childhood and adult trauma herself, she empowers her patients with the W.I.N. protocol (willingness, intention, neutrality), which offers them a fresh approach to handling challenges while developing their intuition and regulating emotions as a neutral observer.

Mindful Self-Regulation

There is growing evidence that mindfulness-based practices such as meditation and yoga aid in shifting focus from the negative to the positive aspects of experiences. These techniques calm the nervous system and empower individuals to take control of their narratives and become more resilient.

A 2017 review of trials involving 650 trauma sufferers that underwent mindfulness-based stress reduction, yoga and mantra repetition was published in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. The researchers concluded that meditation was an effective treatment for PTSD and depression symptoms as compared to the control groups.

A 2022 systematic review of 149 records and 11 peer-reviewed articles published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that those that practiced yoga had an increased sense of self-compassion, felt more centered, developed coping skills, had a better mind-body relationship and improved their relationships with others. Participants also experienced a feeling of safety in yoga classes that included others recovering from trauma.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a mind-body practice that uses a trance-like state of deep relaxation to treat psychological and emotional disorders. Guided imagery, progressive relaxation and suggestion therapy are used to explore thoughts, feelings and memories that may be hidden from the conscious mind. Selfhypnosis techniques are also taught for ongoing support, empowering individuals to continue their healing outside of therapy sessions. A 2016 meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis concluded that hypnosis is effective in alleviating PTSD symptoms.

“A miracle, simply, is a shift in the mind. Once you find the root cause of the problem in the mind and bring that to consciousness, we’re shifting from ego to true self, from fear to love, from illusion to truth,” says Matthew Brownstein, executive director of the Institute of Interpersonal Hypnotherapy. “Through hypnotherapy, that shift is actually remarkably easy. You can shift as quickly as I can snap my fingers. So, basically, when you change your mind, everything changes. When a decision is made, it stays in place until you choose again.”

Carrie Gauthier is a writer in the healing arts with interests in clinical and transpersonal hypnotherapy.

How Grief Ages Us

Understanding the Brain’s Freeze Response

by Sonya Crittenden

Recent research from Columbia University has revealed that grief accelerates the aging process, and we may have an important piece of this puzzle. Through extensive work analyzing brain data, it was found that it is incredibly common for those who have experienced a recent significant loss to be stuck in a “freeze” state.

When faced with overwhelming stress, trauma or loss, the brain reverts to a freeze state to protect itself. Its purpose is to conserve energy by slowing down functions of the brain and body.

A freeze response often manifests as brain fog, a lack of focus, forgetfulness, feeling emotionally “numb” or disconnected, losing interest in things once enjoyed and low motivation. Physically, a freeze response

often presents as low blood pressure, low heart rate, slow circulation, shallow breathing, low energy, fatigue, physical stiffness or heaviness and slow healing responses.

Common expressions immediately following a loss reflect this freeze state:

“I feel numb.” In a freeze state, the brain dampens emotional responses to protect us from overwhelming grief and pain.

“This just doesn’t feel real.” The brain may dissociate and disconnect in a freeze state, which is a part of the brain’s defense mechanism.

“I can’t even process what is happening.” Because the brain is aggressively conserving energy in a freeze state, all cognitive processes are slowed, including thinking and decision-making.

Being stuck in a freeze state isn’t conducive to living a robust and resilient life. The brain and body, in energy-conservation mode, lack the resources necessary to replenish and rejuvenate, and are more vulnerable to illnesses, disorders and injuries.

When we know how grief impacts the brain, it is easier to understand how grief can accelerate the aging process. In fact, grief itself may not be the underlying driver of accelerated aging, but rather the brain’s response to grief. While a freeze response is entirely natural after the loss of a loved one, your brain may need a little help getting “unstuck” if the freeze state lingers on for several months.

Sonya Crittenden is Director of Client Services + Learning and Development at Cereset, Scottsdale, AZ. If you are curious to see if your brain might be stuck in a freeze state, schedule an Introduction to Cereset appointment at your nearest Cereset center, Cereset Westport, located at 18 Kings Hwy N, Westport, CT. For more information, call 203-557-3299 or email Info@Westport.Cereset.com. See ad, page 11.

Plant Medicine

A Pathway to Emotional Healing and Unity

by Jessica Chichester

In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and disconnection are often the norm, many people are searching for ways to reconnect with themselves, each other and the natural world. One of the most powerful and transformative approaches emerging in recent years is the use of plant medicine—an ancient practice that is gaining new recognition for its profound ability to promote emotional healing, creativity and a deep sense of unity with all life.

Why Plant Medicine?

Plant medicine refers to the use of natural substances such as Ayahuasca, San Pedro (also known as Wachuma) and psilocybin mushrooms to facilitate healing and personal growth. These plants have been revered for centuries by indigenous cultures, particularly in the Amazon and Andes, for their ability to open the mind, heal emotional wounds and connect individuals to higher states of consciousness.

In our modern world, where many feel overwhelmed by the pressures of daily life, plant medicine offers a way to break free from old patterns and view life through a new, more compassionate lens. These natural substances allow individuals to access deeper parts of their psyche, bringing to light emotions and memories that might otherwise remain buried. This process helps people confront and heal past traumas, break free from addictive behaviors and gain insights that lead to a more fulfilling life.

Plant Medicine and Emotional Wellness

One of the most profound effects of plant medicine is its ability to help people see themselves and the world around them with greater clarity and compassion. During a plant medicine journey, individuals often experience a deep sense of unity with all life—an awareness that everything is interconnected and that we are all part of a greater whole. This sense of unity can lead to a more compassionate outlook toward oneself and others, fostering healthier relationships and a greater appreciation for the Earth.

Research supports these experiences. A study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology found that psilocybin-assisted therapy significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer diagnoses. For many, this newfound sense of connection is transformative, allowing them to release negative emotions, forgive themselves and others and move forward with a lighter heart. This emotional healing often leads to lasting changes in how people approach their lives, making them more resilient, empathetic and open to the beauty of the world around them.

Plant Medicine and Addiction

Plant medicine has also shown incredible potential in treating addiction. For instance, Ayahuasca, a powerful brew made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and the leaves of the Psychotria Viridis plant, has been studied for its effects on addiction, particularly alcoholism and heroin dependence. Many participants in Ayahuasca ceremonies report that a single session can feel like 10 years of traditional therapy, providing them with the emotional insights and strength needed to sever ties with addictive behaviors.

A study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology examined the effects of Ayahuasca on addiction and found that participants reported significant reductions in cravings and substance use following ceremonies. These findings suggest that Ayahuasca can provide a level of emotional insight and healing that is difficult to achieve through conventional means. The ability of plant medicine to induce deep introspection and facilitate the processing of traumatic memories makes it a powerful tool in the fight against addiction.

Creativity and Problem-Solving

Beyond emotional healing, plant medicine is also known for enhancing creativity and problem-solving skills. Many prominent figures in Silicon Valley and other creative industries have turned to plant medicine to help them access higher states of consciousness and unlock new levels of personal and professional achievement.

Sebastian Duda on AdobeStock

When under the influence of plant medicine, the brain’s default mode network—a part of the brain associated with self-referential thinking and habitual behaviors— becomes less active. This allows for a more fluid and flexible way of thinking, which can lead to creative breakthroughs and innovative solutions to complex problems. It’s no surprise that some of the most successful and creative minds in our society have found plant medicine to be an invaluable tool for expanding their horizons and tackling challenges in new ways.

The Importance of Responsible Use

As plant medicine gains popularity, it’s important to approach this practice with care and respect. Not all plant medicine experiences are created equal, and it’s crucial to research who is administering the medicine and where the ceremonies are taking place. With the increasing demand for these experiences, some places may offer plant medicine ceremonies that are more about making a profit than providing a safe and therapeutic environment.

Traditional plant medicine ceremonies are often led by experienced shamans who have been trained in the use of these plants for many years, if not their entire lives. They understand the spiritual and emotional work involved in a plant medicine journey and are skilled at guiding participants through the process. In contrast, some modern-day ceremonies may lack the same level of expertise and care, which can result in less effective—or even harmful—experiences.

For anyone considering a plant medicine journey, it’s essential to do thorough research. Look for ceremonies that are rooted in tradition and led by experienced practitioners who prioritize the safety and well-being of their participants. It’s also important to prepare mentally and emotionally for the experience, as plant medicine can bring up deep and sometimes challenging emotions that require careful navigation and integration.

A New Era of Healing and Unity

As more people in the West discover the benefits of plant medicine, we are entering a new era of emotional healing and unity. These natural substances offer a way to reconnect with ourselves, each other and the Earth, fostering a sense of compassion and creativity that can transform our lives and our world.

The growing body of research, coupled with the increasing number of personal testimonials, highlights the immense potential of plant medicine as a tool for emotional wellness. Whether used to treat addiction, overcome trauma or simply gain a deeper understanding of oneself, plant medicine represents a powerful and transformative path.

However, as with any powerful tool, it must be used responsibly. Ensuring that plant medicine is administered in a safe, respectful and traditional manner is crucial for achieving the best outcomes. When done in a safe and supportive environment, plant medicine

can open the door to a more compassionate, connected and creative way of living—a gift that is more important now than ever.

This new era of healing is about more than just individual well-being; it’s about fostering a sense of unity and compassion that can ripple out and positively affect our communities, our societies, and our planet. Just as we are taught to put on our oxygen mask first before helping others, we must first heal ourselves to truly make a difference in the world. Plant medicine offers us the tools to do just that—to confront and heal our deepest wounds so that we can show up in the world as whole, compassionate beings. As we embrace the wisdom of plant medicine, we are reminded of our interconnectedness with all life and our shared responsibility to care for each other and the Earth. In healing ourselves, we heal the world.

Jessica Scofield-Chichester, PhD., Rev. is the cofounder and CEO of Haute Healing Oasis, in Stamford. Connect at HauteHealingOasis.com.

Welcome to the 13th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle EXPO at Harbor Point!

We are proud to once again be this year’s Exclusive Healthcare Sponsor and look forward to engaging with the community at this exciting event.

Stamford Health is a non-profit independent health care system committed to caring for the community through a wide range of high-quality health and wellness services. Patients and their families receive expert, compassionate care through the 305-bed Stamford Hospital, over 40 Stamford Health Medical Group offices in lower Fairfield County, which offer primary and specialty care, including telehealth, and a growing number of ambulatory locations across the region including HSS Sports Rehab provided by Stamford Health and our new Walk-In Center right here in Harbor Point.

We hope you will stop by our tent to engage with our outstanding health care teams, participate in interactive and familyfriendly activities including live discussions with our clinicians on various wellness topics, visit our Harbor Point locations, and learn more about how our programs and services support your well-being. Known for providing comprehensive, person-centered care, we continue to strive to be the most trusted healthcare partner for the communities we serve.

Thank you for making Stamford Health your preferred health care provider and for joining us at this special event!

YOGA & STRETCHING ZONE SPONSORED BY CHELSEA PIERS ATHLETIC CLUB

LOCATED AT THE ASTROTURF AREA ON THE BOARDWALK

10:30 AM – 11:10 AM

POWER YOGA WITH BRITTANY RODRIGUEZ BY CONNECTICUT POWER YOGA

11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

STRETCH FIESTA WITH DR. JAMES TYLER DODGE BY IRON HEALTH PHYSICAL THERAPY & WELLNESS

12:15 PM – 1:00 PM

YOGA FLOW WITH KATHY SALVO BY CHELSEA PIERS ATHLETIC CLUB

1:15 PM – 2:00 PM

YOGA FOR MUSCLE RECOVERY WITH DANIELLA FIORETTI BY EVOLVE FIT RX

2:15 PM – 3:00 PM

VINYASA FLOW WITH ALESSIA ADLER BY LIFE TIME STAMFORD

3:15 PM – 4:00 PM

BREATHWORK EXPERIENCE WITH JENN WARWICK BY BREATHE FOR LIFE

4:15 PM – 5:00 PM

POWER YOGA WITH A TWIST WITH AIMEE ELSNER BY CONNECTICUT POWER YOGA

GROUP FITNESS ZONE SPONSORED BY SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY LOCATED ON THE BOARDWALK AMPHITHEATRE

10:30 AM – 11:10AM

STRENGTH DRIVEN INTERVAL TRAINING WITH HANNA GLEASON BY MADABOLIC STAMFORD

RUMBLE BOXING POWER WORKOUT WITH KRISTA ESPOSITO BY RUMBLE BOXING

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM TIPS FOR YOUR HEALTH & WELLBEING WITH EXPERTS FROM STAMFORD HEALTH

• KIDS’ FANS (Fitness and Nutrition Services) promoting childhood wellness, obesity prevention, and physical activity presented by llaria St. Florian, RD.

• Posture and ergonomic setup throughout the day demonstrated by Physical Therapist Brian Roberts from Stamford Health’s HSS Sports Rehab at Harbor Point

• The importance of establishing a primary care physician and demonstration of proper blood pressure readings presented by Romulo Vasquez, MD.

1:15 PM – 2:00

EVENT SCHEDULE SEPTEMBER 7,

10:00 AM WELCOME & OPENING CEREMONY

Welcome to the 13th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2024 with special thanks to Stamford Health, ♥ EXCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE PARTNER VISIT, SHOP, AND EXPLORE OVER 125 EXHIBITORS!

OPENING CEREMONY ON THE BOARDWALK NEAR THE SANDPIT

• Welcome: Emcee

• Presentation of the Stamford Fire Department Honor Guard

• National Anthem: Annabelle Agosta, 12 year old singer from Fairfield, CT

• Invocation/Prayer: Josh Wilson, Senior Pastor, Greenwich

Baptist Church

• Thank you to Stamford Health: Presentation of Proclamation from Caroline Simmons, Mayor, by the City of Stamford to Stamford Health

• Thank you to KeyBank and BLT / Harbor Point: Presentation of the Community Leadership Awards by Mayor Simmons to KeyBank and BLT / Harbor Point for their commitment and dedication to the event and fostering community spirit as well as good and financial health. Both have been a part of this event for FIVE YEARS.

• THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VALUED SPONSORS!

• THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING THIS GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT!

EXPERIENCE OUR SPONSORS:

Stamford Health: Exhibitor #200 – #206

ShopRite / Cingari Family Markets: #152 – #154

Camp Bow Wow Stamford: #116

Cassena Care at Stamford and Norwalk: #158

Cassena Kidney Care: #158

Dello Russo Laser Vision: #180

Esse Care and Wellness: #106

GameDay Men’s Health Stamford: #107

KeyBank: #218

Life Time Stamford: #144

Toyota of Stamford: #103

EXPERIENCE THE 10 DIFFERENT ZONES:

1. PET WELLNESS ZONE

Sponsored by Spot On Veterinary Hospital & Hotel Section 100, on the Boardwalk Spot On Veterinary Hospital & Hotel, Camp Bow Wow Stamford, Veterinary Emergency Group, Adopt-A-Dog, Choice Pet, Get Joy Food, K-9 Resorts, Earth Animal, Greenwich Veterinary Center, Emergency & Critical Care of Cornell, Cornell University Veterinary Specialists, Pets a Go Go

2. YOGA & STRETCHING ZONE

Sponsored by Chelsea Piers Athletic Club Section 100, on the Boardwalk

Free Group Classes! Register at: hwl-expos.com/schedule Featuring Chelsea Piers Athletic Club Class 12:15–1:00pm

3. GROUP FITNESS ZONE

SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS

SITE PLAN

KID’S ZONE

156 SHOPRITE �� FREE FLU SHOTS

158 CASSENA CARE OF STAMFORD & NORWALK

SUPPORT SPONSOR

160 ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD

162 EVOLVE FIT RX

164 ALSA RESEARCH

168 PURE MEDICAL AESTHETICS

170 GO GREEN DRY CLEANERS

172 PURELY BOXED

174 LEAFFILTER GUTTER PROTECTION

176 RENEWAL BY ANDERSEN

178 ATRANIL

180 DELLO RUSSO LASER VISION ⭐ SUPPORT SPONSOR

182 MAPLEWOOD SENIOR LIVING

184 NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINE

PREMIER MEDIA SPONSOR

186 CONSCIOUS CREATIONS MEDIATION AND HEALING CENTER

200–202 STAMFORD HEALTH

EXCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE SPONSOR

204 STAMFORD HEALTH

EXCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE SPONSOR

206 HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY

TOUCH-A-TRUCK ZONE

208 STAMFORD EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND STAMFORD HEALTH + TEACHING CPR

211 STAMFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT STAMFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

212 RVNA HEALTH

213 COMPLETE KETAMINE SOLUTIONS

214 RESTORE HYPERWELLNESS STAMFORD

216 TUSOL WELLNESS

218 KEYBANK ⭐ SUPPORT SPONSOR

220 RUMBLE BOXING

222 NEWS 12 CT �� MEDIA SPONSOR

224 SALERNO CENTER

226 SUPER WELLNESS 11 11

228 BEMER GROUP

HEALTHY HOME ZONE

230 CONNECTICUT BASEMENT SYSTEMS

232 GET FRESH START LAUNDRY

234 SAM BRIDGE NURSERY & GREENHOUSES �� HEALTHY HOME ZONE SPONSOR

236 SAM BRIDGE NURSERY & GREENHOUSES

237 GALLERY OF KITCHENS & BATHS – MOBILE DISPLAY

238 PEARLS PREMIUM LOW MAINTENANCE GRASS SEED

240 TICK TOCK NATURALS | DR. SUSAN EISEN WELLNESS

242 BUMBLE BEE BLINDS

244 SUN KYEONG

246 COASTAL CONNECTICUT COUNSELING

248 LINHART DENTISTRY & LINHART SMILE CARE

249 LINHART DENTISTRY & LINHART SMILE CARE MOBILE UNIT

250 LIVEWELL DEMENTIA SPECIALISTS

252 SELF-CARE FOR HAPPY HUMANS

254 MADABOLIC STAMFORD

HEALTHY FOOD, BEVERAGE, RESTAURANTS ZONE

262 THE TACO PROJECT

264 GELATO & CIOCCOLATO

300 BODHI BEAR APOTHECARY

302 JACOB’S PICKLES 304 RIPE BAR JUICE

DIG RESTAURANT

BEAUTIFUL BIRTHS AND BEYOND

FREQUENCY ALIGNMENT 312 VISITING ANGELS

314 GOOD NEWS

316 JB ORTHODONTICS

318 CYCLEBAR STAMFORD

320 NEXT CHAPTER HOME CARE

ECO-FRIENDLY

WINE

AND SPIRITS ZONE

321 HARBOR POINT WINES AND SPIRITS

322 OWL’S BREW

324 ESTHETIC DENTAL GROUP OF WESTPORT

THE SIMPLEST MEDITATION 328 STAMFORD ADVOCATE HEARST MEDIA GROUP �� MEDIA SPONSOR 330 SHARP AGAIN NATURALLY 332 UTOPIA COMPANION SERVICES 334 URBAN LEAGUE OF SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT 336 AQUARION WATER CO. 338 AQUARION WATER CO. WATER VAN

CT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IN COLLABORATION WITH CDM SMITH AND FHI STUDIO

PERSON TO PERSON

SENIOR HEALTH & RETIREMENT SERVICES 346 HUD OFFICE OF HOUSING AUTHORITY 348 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY 350 NEW ENGLAND DONOR SERVICES 352 ACCESS HEALTH CT 354 OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS SOUTHWESTERN CT INTERGROUP

400 BOOST OXYGEN

UNITED HEALTHCARE

CAPTIONCALL BY SORENSON

STAMFORD DOT STAMFORD VISION ZONE

408 NEW LIFE DOULA SERVICES 410 FIRST MANHATTAN FINANCIAL

HSS, the world’s #1 in orthopedics, has teamed up with Stamford Health to bring the best comprehensive musculoskeletal care to Connecticut. And with a new location now in Westport, we’re bringing more of our industry-leading experts to support you from diagnosis through nonsurgical and surgical treatment and postoperative care. Now you can choose to move better and get back to doing what you love.

To learn more visit HSS.edu/StamfordHealth

Embodying the Goddess Archetype to Deepen our Practice

by Christy Abate and Alison DeNicola

The divine feminine is on the rise. We are seeing this reemergence as a necessity for our own growth and inner harmony. According to yoga philosophy, we dance between the feminine aspects of receptivity, allowing and flow and the masculine aspects of form, structure and focus. This divine weaving is what allows us to find balance on the inner plane and the outer world.

move through the world with more ease and grace.

The deities of yoga are personifications and teachers of our humanness. They are archetypal energies that invite us to explore our own inner landscapes. We can dive deeper into the hidden aspects of our psyche when we use the Goddess energies to experience all sides of ourselves to illuminate and embrace our light and shadow aspects. Kali, the dark one, is the Goddess of death, time, change and destruction. She holds a higher vision for us. She supports us in the death rebirth cycle. She wants us to play with our edge on the mat so we can become sensitized to discomfort off the mat. When we face our fear and bring what was hidden or shamed into the light, our soul heals and grows.

Now is the time to step forward and allow your own inner goddess energy to rise. Learning to work with the goddess energy intentionally is a true empowerment. We refer to this connection as an activation. Once the connection has been made, we open the channel for energy to flow. Goddess energy is easily accessed through yoga, breathwork, somatic movement, mudra and chanting. She opens a portal for us to tap into our own wisdom, empowerment and creativity.

As the goddess rises, we can see her influence as a beloved guide to finding ourselves. Eastern traditions have always celebrated the goddess as powerful channels of strength, courage and wisdom. These qualities are vital now on the earth and for navigating challenging times. Once we begin to connect to the goddess within, we can

The wise sages of Hinduism and Buddhism believed that subtle vibratory energy of everything is manifested as shakti. Shakti takes on the form of the Goddess, an expression of the divine feminine. Lakshmi is a heart-centered goddess known for purity of heart, beauty and abundance. Her sacred name is Shri and in Sanskrit, her name means “to understand your goals”. Lakshmi wants us to go inward to discover our truest gifts. She inspires us to uncover the deepest callings of our hearts so we can follow our desires. She calls on us to release old stories and patterns that hold us back from stepping into our highest selves. This divine feminine guide celebrates our inner beauty and helps us to feel our true value.

As the late, great meditation teacher Sally Kempton shared, “The transformative power of the Goddess energies can untangle psychic knots, calling forth specific transformative forces within the mind and heart. It can cleanse our mental and emotional bodies, put us in touch with the protective powers within us and deeply change the way we see the world. It can shift the way we see ourselves, giving us the power to see the Divine qualities we already hold.”

If you love the Goddess energy and want to feel more inspired, connected and aligned with your own divine feminine principle, join Christy Abate and Alison DeNicola for two opportunities to work with the Goddesses at The Angel Wing, in Ridgefield: Somatic Goddess Workshop & Activation Experience on October 27, from 1 to 4pm; Goddess Yoga Training & Immersion, a 40-hour deep dive held over two weekends in January and February 2025. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit TheAngelCoop.com or AlisonDeNicola.com. See ad, page 7.

Angel Cooperative Yoga Retreat

Christy Abate and Alison DeNicola

Renewal Through Yoga

Empowerment for Survivors of Sexual Abuse

by Vitalah Simon

The experience of being sexually abused often brings a sense of mistrust towards one’s own body and instincts, accompanied by confusing, disturbing and deeply shattering feelings.

Sometimes, memories of the event(s) are clear. Often, however, they are mentally vague, leaving a deep sense within the body that something terrible has happened. When memories resurface through the body, it can lead to re-traumatization and fear.

How can survivors come home to their bodies, befriend them, and compassionately process memories and feelings as they arise through the body, dreams and insights? The ancient practice of yoga, specifically Kripalu yoga, is a powerful tool for nurturing and encouraging this healing process.

Kripalu yoga strongly emphasizes developing a loving, respectful relationship

with the body while building strength and flexibility. Unlike many forms of exercise and dance that treat the body as an object to be commanded, Kripalu yoga encourages appreciation and care for the body as one’s home.

The word “Kripalu” means “compassion.” As we practice the postures, we are invited to be with ourselves in a compassionate manner rather than being harsh, forcing and judgmental. Performing strengthening postures with kindness builds self-confidence and fosters a vibrant, empowered sense of being in one’s body.

We are also invited to develop “witness consciousness”, the ability to observe sensations, thoughts and feelings without reacting to or suppressing them. This development of the Compassionate Witness Within is a key ingredient in Kripalu yoga, making it significantly beneficial for survivors.

Learning to listen to the body’s needs and honoring them, rather than dismissing them, can profoundly shift one’s relationship with oneself. Developing the capacity to experience a range of sensations, feelings, thoughts and images without reacting or fleeing is central to remembering trauma in a way that heals rather than re-inflicts wounds.

Another powerful aspect of Kripalu yoga is the practice of Meditation-in-Motion. In the early stages of healing, this involves gently letting go into whatever stretches the body wishes to explore on its own, without external guidance. It is a chance to allow the body some space to move and breathe without external impingements. This nurtures the development of self-trust in one’s own body and impulses.

In the later stages of healing, as one becomes more attuned to their body and the capacity to witness is more developed, the body may spontaneously express and release old feelings and experiences without residual trauma. The body is amazingly wise, re-experiencing only what it is currently capable of integrating.

The third key healing ingredient in Kripalu yoga is its consistent affirmation that there is an inner source within each of us, available for guidance, sustenance, love and life. The purpose of yoga is to reconnect and unite us with this source within our beings.

Throughout a Kripalu yoga class, the teacher frequently reminds everyone—including themselves—of this inner vitality and the opportunity to come home to the center of one’s being. This center is inviolate and cannot be destroyed by trauma. Unprocessed trauma may temporarily block access to the source, but it is always there, whether we can feel it or not.

Practicing Kripalu yoga in a group with other survivors can be supportive and synergistically healing. There is a common understanding of mutual vulnerability regarding feeling our bodies and learning to love them. Because everyone in the room

BURIN93 on AdobeStock

shares similar concerns and challenges, the space becomes very safe to explore new ways of being with ourselves and releasing the past.

As our bodies become our own, we begin to feel safer in the world, developing tools to face our fears, reclaim our beauty, and reconnect with a source of inner strength.

Vitalah Simon, M.Ed., RYT-500, BC-DMT, LCAT, of YogaShine studio, is a licensed dance/movement therapist and registered yoga teacher. For more information about online and in-person sessions, call 914-769-8745 or visit YogaShine.com.

HCP

860-255-8844

Holistic Community Professionals

HolisticCommunityProfessionals.org

Our professional team of holistic and natural businesses provides community outreach and education. We are committed to improving the health and wellness of body, mind, and spirit in the communities we serve.

Certified Intuitive Life Coach

Elizabeth Raver, PhD Psychic-medium, light trance. Classes, mentoring, workshops, private and group readings. Zoom, phone, in person. American Association of Psychics, Spiritualists National Union International (SNUi). • DrLizMedium.com RavElizabeth516@gmail.com • 203-400-9212

JULIANNE ROSHAN DOW, MA, RYT 500, JSJCP

Dow Integrative Institute

203-561-8125 • Kent • JulianneDow.com

Savasana (practice of surrendering)

This is the pose for Trauma-Informed Yoga Nidra, which saved my life. Lying in savasana and receiving a Yoga Nidra guided meditation brings me to deep states of non-doing that neutralizes excess stress and restores profound peace, relaxation and rejuvenation to the body. I set an intention for my practice that I repeat to myself as my consciousness drops from a Beta to a Theta or Delta brain-wave level. It is a deeply felt healing tool as I descend into deep states of consciousness and connect to Source. This internal healing allows me to navigate and move through life in a renewed way as something has shifted deep within. I lie in savasana for a forty-five-minute Yoga Nidra, which is the equivalent of three hours of sleep, and feel refreshed, balanced, whole and complete. A major Stress-Buster experience! By combining Yoga Nidra with Jin Shin Jyutsu Self-Help, I have the perfect healing tool with no more sleep deprivation and feeling more centered ‘off the mat’.

Energy Healing

Kathy Stalter, Owner, Sanaré Wellness, LLC

This energy field system creates an environment for the body to recharge and restore, so it can heal itself. • Sanare.life • Kathy@Sanare.life 860-600-0106

Naturopathic Physician

Dr. Nicole Klughers, ND, PharmD, MSAc Vis Wellness Center. Naturopathic Physician and Acupuncture Provider. Rocky Hill, CT & TeleMedicine Statewide • DrNicoleKlughers.com info@DrNicoleKlughers.com • (234)2-ACU-DOC

Professional Intuitive Energy Work

Justin Speller, Certified Holistic Practitioner Dissolve Limiting Beliefs Using: Universal Source Energy, EFT/Tapping, Matrix Reimprinting, Eden Energy Techniques • tapintothelight.com tapintothelight@gmail.com • Wethersfield, CT 617-435-7798

Psychotherapist, Intuitive Reader and Healer

Carolyn Coleridge, LCSW Psychotherapist and Mindfulness Meditation, Spiritual Readings, Mentor. Helps people find Purpose & Healing. Classes on Universal Consciousness and Intuition. intuitivesoulhealing.com • Carcole9@hotmail.com

Vibrational Healing

Rev. Bradford W. Tilden, MM, CMT, UWT

Starseed Support, Universal White Time, Crystal Healing, Sound Healing • Sessions and Trainings crystalmusichealing.com • linktr.ee/bradfordtilden 860-830-5841

Yoga Pose

Photo by: Scott Parker in Kent,

Health Benefits of Yoga

Resolving Trauma and Other Mind-Body Challenges

by Carrie Gauthier

TImmagini di Michelangelo Oprandi/CanvaPro

he first known reference to yoga is in the Upanishads Sanskrit texts, written 2,500 years ago. The practice originally comprised breath work, and the physical postures developed over time. According to the global data platform Statista, nearly 34 million Americans practice numerous types of yoga, while science continues to provide evidence of its healing potential.

Calming Effects

With the frenetic pace of life today, many people live in a permanent state of anxiety. Yoga can ease the panic and malaise by activating the parasympathetic nervous system to decrease stress hormones, blood pressure and heart rate.

“Yoga therapy differs from traditional psychotherapy in scope and aim. Rather than delving into traumas, yoga empowers individuals to be present, moving away from personal narratives,” says Adam Flores, a certified yoga therapist from Port St. Lucie, Florida, specializing in addiction and mental health. “Trained yoga therapists offer grounding techniques and skillful check-ins, especially for trauma cases, improving heart rate variability, vagal tone and overall nervous system health.”

Mental Health Benefits

A 2011 meta-analysis study published in Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders indicates that yoga may be an effective treatment option for severe mental illness, with the added advantage of being less toxic than pharmaceutical treatments.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant issue facing the U.S. military and a growing problem for teens that have experienced violent or traumatizing events. Conventional treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing have shown limited effectiveness due to high dropout and nonresponse rates. On the other hand, studies have found that engaging in yoga and other mind-body practices can reduce intrusive memories, avoidance and emotional arousal symptoms, as well as anxiety, depression and anger associated with PTSD.

Yoga therapy improves critical factors in addiction recovery, including emotional balance, mental clarity and stress reduction. In a 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, yoga for the treatment of substance abuse disorder was determined to be an effective option.

Popular Yoga Disciplines

Yoga has developed into a variety of styles that can meet the goals and objectives of their practitioners. Some of the more popular formats include:

• Vinyasa: An up-tempo class of postures or poses (asanas) often accompanied by high-energy music that typically results in a consistently elevated heart rate. A 2017 study published in The FASEB Journal found that eight weeks of vinyasa yoga improved physical fitness, relieved stress and improved mental well-being.

• Yin: This form of yoga focuses on gentle, passive stretches held for one to three minutes, offering ample opportunity to release stress and tension. Poses are often supported by props such as bolsters, straps, blocks, pillows and blankets. Long, slow, deep breathing promotes relaxation to help the practitioner hold each pose for extended periods of time. Yin yoga stimulates and stretches fascia, the thin connective tissue throughout the body, as well as ligaments and joints, resulting in increased flexibility.

• Hatha: This is a classic yoga style involving breathing exercises and poses that are held for longer periods of time than other formats. Although the slower, more meditative pace may seem easier, holding a proper pose for extended periods of time can be challenging for the body and mind. According to a 2018 study in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 12 sessions of hatha yoga significantly reduced stress, anxiety and depression in women.

• Kundalini: This yoga style prioritizes spiritual growth and awareness, with a focus on energy and chakras. Kundalini awakenings are common via movement sequences, breath work, mantras and chanting. Different studies in 2021 found that kundalini yoga is an effective short-term therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and can be helpful in reducing the severity of insomnia.

Maintaining Self-Esteem

One of the core tenets of a yogic practice is self-compassion, and it is important to resist the inclination for negative self-talk. To adopt the yogic way is to choose happiness over suffering.

“In my experience, the best healing experiences happened by tapping into the body and unlocking the energies we hold onto,” says Paty Renda, a certified Ananda hatha yoga instructor and co-owner of Premah

Wellness, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “I believe in serious work done through fun exercises such as breath, dance, laughter and movement. A simple, slow and deep hatha yoga practice can create profound changes. Gratitude is another very easy, and yet immensely powerful, practice I infuse into everything I do.”

Carrie Gauthier is a writer in the healing arts with interests in clinical and transpersonal hypnotherapy.

Healing Our Animal Companions

A First-Hand Journey of Love and Touch

by Julianne Roshan Dow, MA, JSJCP, RYT 500

Is your beloved animal companion struggling with emotional or physical challenges? Are you searching for ways to support their well-being and bring peace back into their life?

Animals suffer just as we do. The difference is that they are always in the present moment, and their present moment may be a continuous feeling of deep grief for a missing friend, or the anxious feeling when left alone, or overcoming the trauma of emotional abuse and physical neglect. Our shelter and sanctuary animals are particularly susceptible to feelings of anxiety, fear, anger and grief. The wonderful news is that with consistent love, care and the right healing touch, animals have an incredible capacity to heal.

The Power of Healing Touch

There are numerous soothing and healing modalities available to help our animal companions find emotional and physical balance. Techniques such as Therapeutic Touch, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Reiki and Breathwork offer pathways to healing that are both gentle and profound.

Ted’s Tale of Grief and Love: At the Catskill Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, NY, where I volunteered, I met Ted, a large horse who had lost his best friend, a Shetland pony. Ted’s grief was palpable, and he would sway back and forth in his stall, refusing to be comforted. The sanctuary hung a ball in his stall to distract him, but Ted was uninterested. His sorrow ran deep, and it lingered for weeks. I placed my hands on his chest and upper back, gently “sandwiching” his heart. Gradually, he stopped swaying from side-to-side, his grief softened by the loving energy he received.

Star’s Silent Sorrow: Another horse, Star, was a broodmare with a deeply swayed back from multiple pregnancies. There was a profound sadness about her that manifested into health issues. I placed my hands in four positions around her head, a technique

Dog/Cat Chart

Locations of the 26 “Safety”Energy Locks * C7/T1 are at the crease when animals head is tilted back gently

Breaks down old patterns

17 Relaxes the mind and calms nerves.

18 Any personality functions that need harmonising - hold the 18s

19 Helps voice, strengthens bladder, helps brain projects

20 Clears head, eyes and ears, great for memory

21 Good for all weight and digestion projects

22 For fears, alergies, environmental pollution, panic attacks and to be adaptable

23 Balances blood chemistry

24 Hold if overwhelmed or frustrated

25 Quietly and calmly regenerates - great for anger and fatigue

26 Helps lymph system

If you want to work with your pet you can use this simple chart to choose which points to hold, simply hold the points for a few minutes or as long as the animal will let you - if you would like a little more in depth information there is a beautiful book called “Jin Shin Jyutsu for your animal companion”by Adele Leas - available from any good bookstore or the online store at www.jinshinjyutsu.com

Julianne Roshan Dow and Star, a horse at the Catskills Animal Sanctuary in Saugerties, NY (2010)

often used to support “mothering” issues. Star exhaled deeply, a sign of release, and her physical conditions improved.

Henrietta’s Search for Peace: Then there was Henrietta, a turkey who anxiously searched for the perfect spot to lay her eggs, and never feeling settled. Her restlessness was almost frantic. I gently placed one hand on her back below the shoulder blade and the other on her opposite lower back. For the first time in a while, Henrietta relaxed, sitting on the ground, feeling some calm.

Rambo’s Resilient Spirit: Rambo, a large, curly-horned sheep, had earned his name from “ramming” the walls of any stall he was placed in. His aggressive behavior was a response to the trauma and neglect he had endured before arriving at the sanctuary. The sanctuary allowed Rambo to roam free, where he found solace in the company of other animals. After receiving treatments aimed at restoring his vitality, Rambo would run out of the barn with a renewed spirit.

Healing in the Hands of Children: At the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, turkeys allowed middle school students to place their hands on them for a calming Jin Shin Jyutsu treatment. The students were astonished as the turkeys settled into the earth beneath their gentle touch, their eyes fluttering in contentment. Even children, with the right guidance, can offer profound healing to animals in need.

Addressing Emotional and Physical Needs

Does your animal companion grieve the loss of a loved one? Do they feel anxious in certain situations like thunderstorms or when left alone? Have they developed physical conditions linked to emotions like anxiety, fear, anger or grief?

Seeing to our animal companions’ emotional and physical needs can be done by lovingly placing our hands on their bodies in an informed way, according to their emotional and physical need. If our animals are anxious and need comforting, we could place our hands on them by “sandwiching the heart”. If our animals have a chronic illness and are stressed, we can place our hands under each armpit. If our animals are transitioning over the Rainbow Bridge, we could hold the back of their ears on each side while we sing to them. By doing so, we are “jumper cabling” their life force energy, moving it along toward harmony and balance.

Julianne Dow, of the Dow Integrative Institute, in Kent, offers both online and in-person coaching on the Dow Integrative Animal Health modal ity. This holistic, hands-on approach empowers pet owners to nurture their animal companions, addressing their physical and emotional needs. While this modality is not a substitute for veteri nary care, it complements and supports it, offer ing a way to connect with and heal with your beloved pet. To learn more about this healing tool, visit JulianneDow.com/jin-shin-jyutsufor-animals. See ad, back cover.

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Wednesday, September 4

150-hour Herbalist Certification – 6-9pm. Course begins Sept. 4. In-person or virtual. Learn plants for each body system and how to make medicines. $2500. Herbs Love And Yoga, 111 Church Hill Rd , Sandy Hook. HerbsLoveAndYoga.com.

Saturday, September 7

Universal White Time Gemstone Healing 1 Certification – Sept 7 & 8. 9:30am-6:30pm. Open yourself to the living wonder of crystals with this tool for spiritual awakening. Learn to heal yourself, others, animals, and the environment with this rare and ancient ET-based knowledge. All levels welcome. $600. Register by 9/4. Crystal

Mark Your Calendar

13th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2024

September 7 • 10am-6pm

GO. GATHER. GROW. Let’s GO to the expo.

Let’s GATHER with family and friends to experience the best in health, wellness and fitness. Let’s GROW mind, body, and spirit. Parking and admission are free. Harbor Point, 1 Harbor Point, Stamford. 203-531-3047. hwl-expos.com

Mark Your Calendar

Center For Spiritual Development Contact CSDPastor@gmail.com to register

In-Person & Virtual Sunday Service Every Sunday at 11am

In-Person: Healing Service • September 5 • 6:30-7:30pm

In-Person: Free Intro to Metaphysics & Spiritual Philosophy • September 8 • 1-2pm

Couse starts on Thursday, October 10 7-8:30pm, 2nd & 4th Thursdays • $30/class Development Circle afterwards

Virtual: Spiritual Mediumship • Monday via Zoom Sept 9, 16, 30 & Oct 7 & 14 • 7-9pm • Five Sessions $120

Virtual: Spiritual Discussion Night

Feel The Qi • No Charge • September 10 • 7-8:30pm

In-Person: Spiritual, Psychic & Healing Fair September 14 • 11am-4pm • Free Admission Reservations Accepted • Mediumship, Tarot, Psychic and Past Lives Readings $65 for 25 min • Reiki Healing $40

Virtual: Children’s Lyceum September 15 (3rd Sundays) • 9:30-10:15am

In-Person & Virtual: What Is Spiritualism? September 15 • 1-2pm

Virtual: Healing Service • September 19 • 7-7:30pm

In Person: Move and Be Moved, Meditational Chair Dancing • September 22 • 1-2pm • $10

Canceled workshops/events will be posted on our website.

Center For Spiritual Development, 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich • 203-637-4615

Email: CSDPastor@gmail.com Website: Center4SpiritualDev.org

Music Healing, 92 North Summit St, Southington. 860-830-5841. Info@CrysalmMusicHealing.com. Tinyurl.com/UWTGem1-Sept2024

Tuesday, September 10

Shamanic Healing Clinic on Zoom – 6:308:30pm. Experience the physical and spiritual benefits of Shamanic Healing in a 30-minute intro session. This relaxing and peaceful method helps clear emotional and psychological hindrances and has been used for thousands of years in all indigenous cultures. By donation. The Transformation Center, 7 Reimer Rd, Westport. 203-820-3800. TransformationCenterCT.com.

Thursday, September 12

Outdoor Sound Bath from Grounded Meditation – 6-7pm. Join Diane Nickleberg-Barnett and Catherine Barrett of Grounded Meditation for an enchanting evening of relaxation and renewal. Enjoy harmonious vibrations of crystal and Himalayan singing bowls, chimes, gongs, drums and more, blended with the glorious songs of nature. $40. The Transformation Center, 7 Reimer Rd, Westport. 203820-3800. TransformationCenterCT.com.

Saturday, September 21

Fall Equinox Ancestral Ceremony and Healing with Laura – 1-3pm. With Laura Aversano, medical Intuitive, author, ancestral conduit and Spiritwalker. Join us in ceremony as we build an altar to our family lineage, working with ancestors, and creating space for past trauma to find stillness. Please bring a familial photograph with you to the event. $75. Hummingbird Healing Center, 57 Main St, 2nd Flr, Westport. 203550-3390. HummingbirdHealingCenter.com.

Fall Equinox Labyrinth Walk – 2-4pm. Walking the Labyrinth is walking meditation on an enlarged mandala. The Blue Lotus Peace Labyrinth, painted on a 24-ft. portable canvas, will be available. Free. The Unitarian Church in Westport, 10 Lyons Plains Rd, Westport. 203-722-2149. AlephTalks.com.

Sunday, September 22

Fall Equinox Afternoon Retreat with Beth Leas and Matthew Broad – 2-5pm. With Matthew Broad and Beth Leas. Includes: Guided Meditation, Drumming Circle, Reflective Writing and Integration Labyrinth Walk. $125. The Transformation Center, 7 Reimer Rd, Westport. 203-820-3800. TransformationCenterCT.com.

Relax & Renew Workshop – 4-6pm. Waiver required. Refunds up to 72 hrs. Blend ancient healing and modern wellness. Restore mind and body with restorative yoga, massage, Reiki, guided meditation and aromatherapy. All levels welcome. Bring mat and comfy clothes. $50. The Yoga Shala, 1961 Post Rd, 2nd Flr, Fairfield. 203-526-3847. lu.ma/21yofao9.

Tuesday, September 24

Meditation and Energy Healing with Exploration of the Seven Chakras with Diane Nicosia – 6:30-7:45pm. Experience guided Meditation/Energy healing with a practical twist lead by certified Reiki Master Practitioner and Wellness Coach Diane Nicosia. $65. Salt Cave of Darien, 555 Post Rd, Darien . 203-658-7667. SaltCaveOfDarien.com.

Saturday, September 28

Awakening Your Potential: Love Yourself, Create Your Life with Carolin Kuhmann – 2-4pm. In-person and via Zoom. Join us for an empowering workshop inspired by the teachings of Louise Hay, renowned for her transformative insights into personal growth and healing. $44. The Transformation Center, 7 Reimer Rd, Westport. 203-820-3800. TransformationCenterCT.com.

Sunday, September 29

Reiki I Certification – 12:30-5pm. Learn basics of energy healing, including self-healing techniques and offering Reiki to others. $325. Herbs Love And Yoga, 111 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook. HerbsLoveAndYoga.com.

Meditation and Art for Healing with Asami Green – 2-3:30pm. Visions of Healing workshops are designed to be spiritual and uplifting experiences. Asami Green, an intuitive life artist, Reiki Master, and meditation muse, will help you embark on a voyage of self-discovery that will leave you feeling inspired and rejuvenated. $44. The Transformation Center, 7 Reimer Rd, Westport. 203-8203800. TransformationCenterCT.com.

Mark Your Calendar

11th New Age & Crafts Expo Sponsored by Natural Awakenings November 3 • 10am-5pm

Come Experience a Day of Spiritual & Creative Enlightenment Intuitive Readers & Healers • Aura Photos • Crystals & All Your Spiritual Needs • Handcrafted Gifts • Health & Wellness • Reiki Circle • So Much More! Two rooms of dynamic speakers & meditations $6 Admission • $1 off with this coupon Wyndham Southbury 1284 Strongtown Rd, Southbury Vendor Space Still Available 203-733-6560 • Cryours87@yahoo.com

Mark Your Calendar Awaken Wellness Fair

November 24

…Awaken to Your Best Self… Unique Vendors, Expert Speakers, Intuitive Readers, Gifted Healers A day of education and inspiration! Westchester Marriott AwakenFair.com Exhibitor spots available.

Ongoing Events

Sunday

The Vibe – 9am. With Lisa Tenore. TTEndurance, 772 Post Rd E, 2nd Fl, Westport. 203-557-8004.

Online Meditation Practice Session – 10-11am. Online meditation practice sessions and Dharma talks using Zoom. All levels welcome. No formal charge. By donation. Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130. ReddingMeditation.org.

Sunday Services at Center for Spiritual Development, NSAC – 11am-12pm. A loving, non-judgmental environment where everyone can seek and search for spiritual understanding and personal unfoldment at their own pace. Zoom and in-person. By donation. 293 Sound Beach Ave, Old Greenwich. Pastor@Center4spiritualdev.org. Center4SpiritualDEV.org.

Ajna Light and Vibroacoustic Sound Therapy –11am-3pm. Transform your well-being at Trumbull PT. Experience effortless meditation, and harmonized mind-body. $60. Trumbull Physical Therapy and Wellness, 6527 Main St, Trumbull. 203-8805925. PhoenixStarlightwellness.com

Monday

Strength Training – 8am. With Lisa Tenore. TTEndurance, 772 Post Rd E, 2nd Fl, Westport. 203-557-8004.

TLC Online Holistic Networking Morning –8:30-10am. 2nd Mon. We are a vibrant and growing community committed to living consciously and offering healthy lifestyle opportunities through our businesses and passions. Come the first time as Beth’s guest, and later become a TLC member. RSVP to Beth at 203-856-9566 (call/text).

Ashtanga Yoga Practice – 9-10:15am With Patty Macrae (Wed & Fri). $25. Check website for more class options. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.

Kundalini Yoga – 11am-12pm. $25. Check website for more class options. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.

The Vibe – 6pm. With Lisa Tenore. TTEndurance, 772 Post Rd E, 2nd Fl, Westport. 203-557-8004.

Flow with Restorative – 6-7:15pm. First Monday. With Melissa. $25. Check website for more class options. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.

Tuesday

The Vibe – 7am. With Lisa Tenore. TTEndurance, 772 Post Rd E, 2nd Fl, Westport. 203-557-8004. TLC Networking Breakfast in Norwalk – 8:3010am. First Tuesday. We are a relaxed group of professionals offering a supportive community, free networking events, many affordable marketing opportunities and fun! $20. Valencia, 164 Main St, Norwalk. 203TLC.com.

Scalar Restorative & Reiki Yoga Class – 9:30am. Cultivate mindfulness and release stress and find physical, mental, and emotional relaxation. Restorative Yoga is appropriate for all levels, and is practiced at a slow pace, focusing on long holds, stillness, and deep breathing. $45. Quantum Healing & Wellness, 7 Norm Ave., Ste. 202, Bedford Hills. Info/register: 914-2183428; QuantumHealingAndWellnesspma.com/events.. Gentle Yoga with Christy – 9:30-10:30am. Flow through gentle sequences that invoke the energy of the gods/goddesses. Each class will honor a god/goddess. Open to all. Your first class with Christy is free. Use the code CHRISTY. $25.Check website for more class options. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.

Yogalates – 9:30-10:45am. Pilates-Yoga fusion tones glutes, thighs, and abs. Low-impact, boosts fitness. Develop core strength, flexibility, and alignment. Enhance posture. Improve fitness level. $22. Yogaspace, 78 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel. 203-730-9642. Yogaspace-CT.com.

TLC Networking Lunch in Milford – 11:30am1pm. Second Tuesday. Opportunity to meet other healthy living entrepreneurs and practitioners at Tribe TLC’s networking lunch event in Milford at Stonebridge Restaurant. RSVP to Beth Leas: 203-856-9566 (call/text), TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. Stonebridge Restaurant, 50 Daniel St, Milford. 203TLC.com.

Meditation-in-Motion – 4-5:15pm. Join us for a Meditation-in-Motion 5 class series. This class is for the spiritual seeker who wishes to cultivate a deep knowing of that which they already are, and take this off-the-mat into life. We will explore many tools to support our journey together. $100. JulianneDow.com.

Stretch and Strength – 6pm. With Lisa Tenore. TTEndurance, 772 Post Rd E, 2nd Fl, Westport. 203-557-8004.

Unmasking the Narcissist – Every other Tuesday. 6-7pm. Geared toward those individuals that would like to have a better understanding of how to respond instead of react to the narcissist that seemingly controls their lives. Group is held in person. Call for pricing and information. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, Ste B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3175. WolfSpiritWellness.org.

TLC Holistic Networking Evening in Newtown –6-7:30pm. Last Tuesday of each month. Calling all healthy living entrepreneurs and practitioners. Tribe TLC is a group of like-minded holistic practitioners and wellness entrepreneurs with a common mission to help and heal. Sticks and Stones Farm, 197 Huntingtown Rd, Newtown. 203TLC.com.

Precious Pet Healing Days – 6-8pm. First and third Tuesdays. During this special event, your pet can experience a variety of healing modalities, including therapy and meditation. We’ll also have treats, snacks, and toys available to keep your furry friend happy! Plus, register for a sleepover and your pet can enjoy a relaxing overnight stay. Quantum Healing & Wellness, 7 Norm Ave, Ste. 202, Bedford Hills. Info/ register: 914-218-3428; QuantumHealingAndWellnesspma.com/events.

Kundalini Yoga with Gong Bath – 7:30-8:30pm. With Katharine. $25. Check website for more class options. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.

Wednesday

Community Yoga Flow – 8-9am. Outdoor yoga with coach Court Fitness. All levels welcome. Bring: yoga mat, water. Led by: Courtney Lewis, CYT, CPT. $80 for 4 pack or $20 drop in. Huntington State Park, 9 Dodgingtown Rd, Redding. Ashtanga Yoga Practice – 9-10:15am With Patty Macrae (Wed & Fri). $25. Check website for more class options. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com

Gentle Yoga with Christy – 11am-12pm. Flow through gentle sequences that invoke the energy of the gods/goddesses. Each class will honor a god/goddess. Open to all. Your first class with Christy is free. Use the code CHRISTY. $25.Check website for more class options. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com. Wilton Farmers’ Market 2024 Season - 12-5pm. Through October 30. Wilton Town Green, 101 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton. 203-762-0567. Info@WiltonChamber.com. WiltonChamber.com.

TLC Networking Happy After Hours in New Milford – 4:30-6:30pm. Second Wednesday. Opportunity to meet people in a relaxed atmosphere and make connections and celebrate good times. The Abbey, 132 Danbury Rd, New Milford. 203856-9566. 203TLC.com.

Purple Lotus Womens Group (21+) – 5-6pm. A therapeutic support group for women geared toward personal growth. Group is held in person on telehealth. Most insurance accepted. $40. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, Ste B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3175. WolfSpiritWellness.org.

A Queer Experience (18-30) – 5-6pm. Open ongoing in person group. A supportive psychotherapy group primarily for individuals from 18 to 30 years of age to discuss the experiences and challenges of being a part of the queer community. Call for pricing. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, Ste B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3175. WolfSpiritWellness.org.

TLC Online Holistic Networking Evening –6-7:30pm. Last Wednesday of the month. We are a relaxed group of professionals offering a supportive community, free networking events, many marketing opportunities and fun. Online via Zoom. For logon info please RSVP to Beth at 203-856-9566 (call/text) or TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. 203TLC.com.

Finding Your Voice – 7-8pm. 1st & 3rd & 5th Wed. This is a therapeutic group for survivors of sexual assault. Via telehealth. Most insurances are accepted. $40. Seating is Limited. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, Ste B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3175. WolfSpiritWellness.org.

Online Meditation Practice Session – 7-8pm. Online meditation practice sessions and Dharma talks using Zoom. All levels welcome. No formal charge. By donation. Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130. ReddingMeditation.org. Mysticism: Where Science, Art and Religion Meet –7-8:30pm. What is the purpose of life? Our intent is to address these issues through lectures, readings and guided group discussions. We will present ancient concepts, cuttingedge theories, speculations, assertions, data, and most of all, thought-provoking ideas for discussion. Free. Aleph Talks, 606 Post Rd East, Ste 667, Westport. AlephTalks.com.

Thursday

Sound Yoga (Online) – 11am-12pm. With Barbara Soares, yoga/vocal yoga teacher and Reiki Master will help students explore the power of sound to relax, inspire, and listen deeply. Learn and practice humming, deep listening, and medicine melodies to improve wellness and reduce stress. Students should bring a yoga mat and wear loose, comfortable clothes. $50/5 sessions. Tinyurl.com/ SoundYogaBobbi.

Purple Lotus Womens Group (21+) – 5-6pm. A therapeutic support group for women geared toward personal growth. Group is held in person. Call for pricing. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, Ste B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3175. WolfSpiritWellness.org.

Unconventional Relating Group – 6:30-8pm. Third Thursday. We come together to talk about how to relate with each other in ways that are outside of the heteronormative, patriarchal, and settler mentality. This may look like practicing ethical nonmonogamy, nonviolent communication, decolonization, regenerative agriculture, sexual and gender fluidity or relationship anarchy - to name a few. $7. Renee Beyor, DBA RAY Life Coaching, Must join private, group link to get more Information. 860-966-5677. fb.me/e/6owZGkEs4.

Mysticism: Where Science, Art and Spirituality Meet – 7-9pm. Bart Stuck (applied mathematician and physicist) and Marjorie Partch (Jungian astrolo-

ger) lead these weekly discussions, which follow readings and lectures on ancient concepts and cuttingedge theories, presenting fresh alternatives to the apparent dichotomy that. To participate via ZOOM: BartStuck@gmail.com. Free. AlephTalks.com.

Friday

Stretch and Strength – 6:15am & 8:30am. With Lisa Tenore. TTEndurance, 772 Post Rd E, 2nd Fl, Westport. 203-557-8004.

Reiki 1st Degree Workshop – 10am-4pm. First Friday. With Gigi Benanti Reiki Master/Teacher. Learn Reiki 1st level, from an experienced Reiki Master/Teacher (29 years). Includes latest info. Learn how to use Reiki for self-healing and healing for others. Helpful for stress reduction and more. Two Manuals and certificate included (4 attunements), private classes offered). Please call to register. Prepayment required. This Workshop is also held on the first Saturday of the month, pick one date. Please no drop-ins. $135. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReiki.com.

Qi Gong – 11am-12pm. Every other Friday. With Josh. $25. Check website for more class options. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.

The Vibe – 4pm. With Lisa Tenore. TTEndurance, 772 Post Rd E, 2nd Fl, Westport. 203-557-8004.

Friday Night Fun Networking – 6:30-8pm. First Friday. With Beth Leas of Tribe TLC. Each month will feature a fun activity designed to enhance getting to know one another . RSVP to Beth Leas at 203-856-9566 (call/text) or TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. Free. Yoga for Everybody, 85 Mill Plain Rd, 3rd Floor, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. TLCBethLeas@gmail.com. Yoga4Everybody.net. Monthly Yoga Mom’s Night Out – 7-9pm. Second Friday. Join us for an evening that’s all about reclaiming you time. Calm your mind and body with candlelight yoga, a few other experiences. Space is limited to 16 moms, so please pre-register. $40. Come with a friend and get a special gift. $40. Yoga for Everybody, 85 Mill Plain Rd, 3rd Floor, Fairfield. 203-254-9642. Yoga4Everybody.net.

Overnight in the EE System – 9pm-7am. Bring sheets, pillow, blanket, water and all the comforts needed for a good night’s sleep. Recharge your cells in the ultimate relaxation experience overnight in the Energy Enhancement System! Quantum Healing & Wellness, 7 Norm Ave., Ste. 202, Bedford Hills. Pricing/preregistration (required): 914-218-3428; WellnessLiving.com/rs/ schedule/quantum_healing_wellness.

Saturday

Saturday Dharma and Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. Discuss various works on topics such as self-study, meditation, self-improvement, mindfulness, joy and much more. Discussion followed by 30-minute guided meditation. Proceeds donated to our charity of the month. $10/cash. Yoga Culture, 105 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury. 203-730-0250. WeAreYogaCulture.com.

The Vibe – 9am. With Lisa Tenore. TTEndurance, 772 Post Rd E, 2nd Fl, Westport. 203-557-8004.

In-Person Meditation Practice Session – 10-11:30am. Limited in-person meditation practice. All levels welcome. If it’s your first time, please let someone know so that we can provide a brief introduction. Must register online. Donations encouraged. Center for Mindfulness & Insight Meditation, 9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding. 203-244-3130. ReddingMeditation.org.

Reiki Second Degree Workshop – 10am-4pm. Fifth Saturday. with Gigi Benanti Reiki Master/ Teacher. Learn Reiki Second (Reiki2) level, from an experienced Reiki Master/Teacher (29 years). Private classes are offered. Includes latest info. Learn how to send reiki distance healing, deepen your use of Reiki for yourself and others and more. Two powerful energy connections included, from Gigi’s short Japanese Usui Lineage. Two Manuals and certificate included. Please call to register. Prepayment required. This Workshop is also held on last Friday and Saturday of the month, pick one date. Please no drop-ins. 203-852-1150. $225. Angelic Healing Center, 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk. 203-852-1150. AngelHealReiki.com.

Finding Your Voice – 1-2pm. 1st & 3rd & 5th Sat. This is a therapeutic group for survivors of sexual assault. In-person. Most insurances are accepted. $40. Seating is Limited. $40. Wolf Spirit Wellness and Counseling Center, LLC, 670 Main St, Ste B2, Woodbury. 203-263-3175. WolfSpiritWellness.org.

Restorative Yoga – 4-5:30pm. First Sunday. With Liz Wendel. The Angel Wing, 51 Ethan Allen Hwy, Ridgefield. 203-431-2959. TheAngelCoop.com.

Classified

For Rent

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE- NORWALK

– Associates In Family Chiropractic & Natural Health Care located at 156 East Ave, Norwalk right off exit 16 I-95. We have 2 separate rooms available to rent. Perfect for another professional such as LMT, IBCLC, LCSW, etc. looking for inexpensive professional space (includes weekly cleaning, utilities, and has shared common reception and bathroom). Please contact Dr. Mark Joachim: 203-856-8520.

Community Resource Guide

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email Erica@eNaturalAwakenings.com to request our media kit.

Acupuncture

INTEGRITY ACUPUNCTURE

Dr. Aimee Montanaro, D-TCM, L.Ac 250 Main St, Westport 64 Huntington St, Shelton 203-429-4406

DrAimee@IntegrityAcuCT.com IntegrityAcuCT.com

Dr. Aimee Montanaro of Integrity Acupuncture, offers gentle yet effective treatments blending Eastern and Western medicine. With a focus on patient comfort, services include acupuncture, herbal therapy, and lifestyle recommendations. Enjoy a serene healing environment with flexible appointment times.

All Things Health & Wellness

SHIRLEY R. BLOETHE

860-989-0033

PassItOnLLC.com

Shirley has the intuitive ability to find just the right referral for anyone looking for health and wellness support. Whether it is a new or existing business owner (or the general public), her extensive resources will likely be a great match for your needs. She also is able to offer low-budget, effective solutions for holistic businesses and practitioners. See ads, pages 11 and 31.

Alternative Healing

QUANTUM HEALING & WELLNESS

7 Norm Ave., Bedford Hills

914-218-3428

QuantumHealingAndWellnessspma.com

Give your body the energy to heal itself! The Energy Enhancement SystemTM is Bio-Scalar Photonic Fusion technology [aka, Tesla Waves] that generates multiple bio-active life enhancing energy fields, including scalar waves, which can allow cell regeneration, and enhance your energy levels for optimum function. See ad, page 15.

Alternative Wellness

CERESET WESTPORT

Crista Mathew, Owner/ Tech Coach 18 Kings Hwy N, Westport 203-557-3299 • Info@Westport.Cereset. com

Cereset.com/Centers/Cereset-Westport

Cereset (Cerebrum + Reset) is a proven technology that helps the brain to relax, rebalance and reset itself naturally. Clients report improved sleep, mood, energy, memory, focus and response to stress after as few as five sessions. See ad, page 11.

AmpCoil Center

AMPCOIL

Freddie Kimmel, Product Expert 95 Cross Hwy, Redding 833-267-2645 • Freddie@AmpCoil.com AmpCoil.com

Extraordinary Wellness! AmpCoil is an extraordinary system that delivers sound frequencies through PEMF to harmonize, balance, and support you on your journey to wellness. 90% of AmpCoil’s most active users reported that AmpCoil has been instrumental to their personal wellness, and over 55% reported that they experience relief from symptoms related to Lyme or other chronic conditions.

Ayurveda

NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies 805 Kings Highway East, Fairfield 203-331-9111

DrKaushik@AyurvedicInstituteCT.com AyurvedicInstituteCT.com

A combination of Ayurveda and Naturopathy is used to create a unique treatment plan to regain and maintain health. Based on one’s particular body constitution (dosha), a plan may include supplements, diet/nutrition suggestions, lifestyle management, detoxification, hydrotherapy, 0zone therapy, Panchakarma. See ad, page 6.

Career Coach

THEA LITSIOS

Certified Career Coach Career Coach and Kolbe Consultant TheaLitsios.com • 203-693-1493

Find the career or college major that is in alignment with your natural talents and strengths. Discover the joy of having a career that is right for you. See ad, back cover.

Cave Rental/Unique Gathering Space

SALT CAVE OF DARIEN 555 Post Rd, Darien 203-658-7667 • Info@SaltCaveofDarien. com SaltCaveofDarien.com

Our wellness destination offers an oasis of peace, calm and serenity. Whether you want to release stress, address a health challenge, or gather with friends and family, the Cave is inviting, warm and soothing. Check out our website for the many different ways to experience the benefits of our healing salt! See ad, back cover.

Education

EMBODY THE SACRED

Deana Paqua, MA, LMT Ridgefield and New Milford Deana.Paqua@gmail.com EmbodyTheSacred.net

Offering classes, training programs, healing sessions and mentoring in cross-cultural energy medicine and contemporary shamanism for healers, spiritual seekers and the energy sensitive. Learn self-healing, self-empowerment and trauma transformation through the sacred.

Energy Healing

BETH LEAS

Transformative Healing • Tarot Virtual and In-Person Sessions 203-856-9566 • BethLeas.com

If not now, when? Inspire change on all levels—greater physical ease, emotional freedom, peace of mind and spiritual connection. 30+ years of intuitive healing experience with adults and children of all ages. Reiki, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Tarot. See ad, back cover.

Energy Medicine

KATHY STALTER

Sanaré Wellness, LLC

Southington 860-600-0106 • Kathy@Sanare.Life • Sanare.Life

The Future of Energy Medicine is here! This 24-unit Energy Enhancement System creates multiple bioactive, regenerative energy fields, including scalar waves and biophotons, that can assist your body’s ability to repair and heal itself from disease. The body can become capable of rejuvenating and recalibrating itself back to homeostasis. Appointment only. See ad, page 31.

Holistic Education

OMEGA INSTITUTE FOR HOLISTIC STUDIES

150 Lake Dr., Rhinebeck 877-944-2002 • eOmega.org

Open from May to October, we offer a wide variety of workshops and retreats, led by world-class teachers on our beautiful 250-acre campus, just 90 miles north of New York City. Can’t make it to Rhinebeck? Join us for a livestream.

Holistic Healing

SPINAL FLOW WITH RACHEL

27 Siemon Company Dr., Ste., 361W Watertown 860-483-8711

Helping you relieve stress and restore your health. The Spinal Flow Technique is a holistic approach to healing that focuses on identifying and releasing spinal blockages in the nervous system. By Appointment: Rachel Borsavage; Licensed Massage Therapist and Spinal Flow Practitioner

Holistic Healing Resources

SACRAMENT

Marina A SacramentHealing@gmail.com Sacrament.us • Instagram: @sacrament.us

Enjoy personalized treatment for healing mind, body and spirit with a custom essential oil or Bach flower remedy, a rejuvenating session in our Sunlighten infrared sauna or an insightful reiki session with an experienced master level healer. Book online today. See ad, page 12.

Integrative Natural Medicine

SOPHIA NATURAL HEALTH CENTER

Ken Hoffman, DACM, LAc, Medical Director 31 Old Rte 7, Brookfield 203-740-9300 • INM.Center

Using naturopathic and Chinese medical principles, we get to the source of your health concerns. Diagnostic methods include functional testing such as advanced bloodwork analysis, cardiovascular testing and hormone evaluation. Our customized treatment program includes acupuncture, herbal and nutritional medicine, diet and lifestyle counseling and more. Most insurance accepted.

Integrative Optometry

EYECARE ASSOCIATES, PC

Dr. Randy Schulman, MS, OD, FCOVD

Dr. Krupa Baxi • Dr. Allie Decker

Dr. Jason Grygier • Dr. Ken Landesman

Dr. Diana Ngo • Dr. Maryam Nizami

Dr. Justin Rapp • Dr. Sonia Singh

Dr. Magy Tepliz • Dr. Matthew Weatherbee

Locations: 6515 Main St., Trumbull,• 203-374-2020 444 Westport Ave., Norwalk • 203-840-1991 2600 Post Rd., Southport • 203-255-4005 992 High Ridge Rd., 1M, Stamford • 203-357-0204 572 US-6, Mahopac, NY • 845-628-3750 103 S Bedford Rd., Mount Kisco, NY • 914-241-2020 CTNYEyecare.com

We offer behavioral optometry, comprehensive vision exams, contact lenses and vision therapy. Call to schedule your appointment today. See ad, page 33.

Meditation

CENTER FOR MINDFULNESS & INSIGHT MEDITATION

9 Picketts Ridge Rd, West Redding 203-244-3130 • ReddingMeditation.org

We teach and practice Mahasati meditation. Mahasati meditation cultivates selfawareness through attention to the movement of the body and, at more advanced levels, to the movement of the mind. No prior meditating experience is necessary. Ongoing weekly meditation classes, retreats and events. Please check monthly event calendar or visit ReddingMeditation.org for updated information.

SOUL & SPIRIT, LLC

Amy Dickerson, Ed.M. 140 Elm St. Ste. 1 New Canaan SoulAndSpiritllc.com

Amy Dickerson of Soul & Spirit, provides meditation, reiki and sound healing with the goal to help you calm your soul and heal your spirit. Amy leads Soul Sisters Meditation Circles and offers private sessions to help you find peace.

Medium

DR. ELIZABETH RAVER, PHD

Evidential Psychic Medium

203-400-9212

RavElizabeth516@gmail.com

DrLizMedium.com

Offering services in evidential psychic mediumship and light trance, including classes, mentoring, workshops, and private/group readings, available via Zoom, phone, or in person. Affiliated with the American Association of Psychics and Spiritualists National Union International (SNUi). See ad, page 31.

Metaphysical Store

THE ANGEL COOPERATIVE

51 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rte. 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959 • TheAngelCoop.com

YouTube (The Angel Cooperative)

The Angel Cooperative is a unique lifestyle boutique and metaphysical store featuring the first Shungite Room in the USA. Explore a wide selection of crystals, jewelry, candles, essential oils, divination tools, spiritual gifts, statuary, oracle and tarot decks, and home décor. The Shungite Room hosts private energy sessions, angelic, tarot and oracle card readings, channeling and psychic mediumship, reiki, workshops, aura photography, and guided meditation led by a group of talented and experienced practitioners. Shungite is the only natural material known to contain fullerenes, a naturally occurring antioxidant. Shungite is believed to have active metaphysical properties with strong healing powers. This is a time of re-membering. We set the intention that the offerings stir the soul and assist in supporting our innate healing abilities. See ad, page 7.

Naturopathic Physician

NEERU KAUSHIK, ND, MS ACU, MS, MA

Institute for Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Therapies

805 Kings Highway East, Fairfield 203-331-9111

DrKaushik@AyurvedicInstituteCT.com

NICOLE KLUGHERS, ND, PHARMD, MSAC

Vis Wellness Center

Rocky Hill & TeleMedicine Statewide (234) 2-ACU-DOC • DrNicoleKlughers.com Info@DrNicoleKlughers.com

Dr. Nicole Klughers offers comprehensive naturopathic care to restore optimal health and prevent disease. Dr. Nicole’s “health detective” approach identifies the root cause of symptoms and provides all-natural solutions such as personalized nutrition (food as medicine), herbal medicine, nutrient therapies, acupuncture and more. In-depth assessment is often done with detailed testing of vitamins/minerals, hormones, advanced cardiovascular markers, inflammation, food sensitivities, gut/microbiome and more. See ad, page 31.

Positive Psychology Coach

CONNECT2FLOURISH, LLC

Andrea Garin Kopilak MA, CMC 917-583-3218 • Andrea@C2FCoach.com Connect2FlourishCoaching.com

Andrea, Connect2Flourish Founder and Certified MentorCoach, specializes in wellbeing. She supports clients making a positive impact, addressing challenges like motivation struggles, assertiveness, prioritization, and longing for meaning. Utilizing positive psychology, Andrea collaborates to leverage values and strengths for resilience and optimal potential.

Professional Intuitive Energy Work

TAP INTO THE LIGHT

Justin Speller 617-435-7798 • TapIntoTheLight.com TapIntoTheLight@gmail.com

Professional Intuitive Energ/Work can help you balance your energies and align your mind, body, and spirit. In a session we may utilize Universal Source Energy, EFT/Tapping, Matrix Reimprinting, and Eden Energy Techniques to release emotions, dissolve limiting beliefs, and free you from suffering. See ads, pages 4 and 31.

Psychotherapy

NANCY S. SCHERLONG, LCSW, SEP, PTR/CJT, CM

Coaching/Psychotherapy/Consulting 470 Main St, Ridgefield 914-572-3167 • WellnessMetaphors.com

Manage stress with relaxation techniques. Rediscover your creativity through writing and the expressive arts. Resolve trauma with EMDR, IFS or SE. Or book an experiential workshop! Nancy has over 20 years of experience with children, families, groups, adults and corporate wellness programs. See ad, page 12.

Reiki

GIGI BENANTI, USUI REIKI MASTER

Angelic Healing Center 7 Morgan Ave, Norwalk 203-852-1150 • AngelHealReiki.com

Gigi is an experienced Reiki Master/Teacher. She offers all levels of Reiki training monthly. All classes and Reiki sessions include the latest techniques including Karuna, Angelic and Jikiden Reiki.

Reiki

TURNING POINT REIKI LLC

JoAnn Inserra Duncan, MS, RMT 100B Danbury Rd, Ste 101, Ridgefield 203-438-3050 • TurningPointReiki.com

JoAnn uses intuition, experience and a deep spiritual connection in her Reiki, IET and Reconnective Healing sessions. Specializing in care for individuals with cancer, back pain, Lyme disease and other tick borne illnesses. All Reiki levels taught.

Salt Healing Therapy Wellness Center

SALT OF THE EARTH THERAPEUTIC SPA

787 Main St, S Woodbury 203-586-1172 • NaturalSaltHealing.com

Combining an array of natural therapies that have been used since ancient times with today’s technology, Salt of the Earth Spa provides a sanctuary for deep transformations, healing and grounding for Mind, Body and Spirit.

Sound Healing

THE ANGEL WING

A Divine Spiritual Center

Located next door to The Angel Cooperative 49 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rte. 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959 • TheAngelCoop.com

YouTube (The Angel Cooperative)

The Angel Wing hosts a large variety of workshops, retreats, group and private readings, energy work sessions, Reiki, intuitive massage, sound healing and gong baths, group guided meditations, acupuncture, Qi Gong and a wide selection of yoga classes (vinyasa, gentle, yin, kundalini with gong bath, restorative, aroma yoga restorative, restorative with tarot, and hatha flow and restorative with guided meditation). We also offer myriad certification courses: Crystal Healing, Meditation Teacher Training, Reiki I, II, and Master, Karuna, Energy Space Clearing and Foundations of Sound Healing. Each offering is designed to uplevel and recalibrate so we can anchor in the light of the New Earth. See ad, page 7.

HUMMINGBIRD HEALING CENTER

Lisa Pak

57 Main St, Westport 203-550-3390

Lisa@HummingbirdHealingCenter.com HummingbirdHealingCenter.com Instagram @hummingbirdhealingcenter

The Hummingbird Healing Center in downtown Westport offers transformational sound healing. Our 2,100 sq. ft. center features a 36” Symphonic Gong and offers group Sound Bath Meditations, private sound baths, and a boutique with healing instruments. Private sessions in CT’s Harmonic Egg® are available by appointment six days a week. See ad, back cover.

HUMMINGBIRD SOUND YOGA LLC

Barbara (Bobbi) Soares

Merryall, New Milford • 860-946-9470

BSoares@LightOfTheNewMoon.com heal.me/HummingbirdSoundYoga Facebook @HummingbirdSoundYoga

Barbara (Bobbi) Soares, MA, CYT, is a sound yoga and vocal yoga teacher, blues/jazz singer, and Reiki master, certified in several modalities of energy and sound healing. She offers Hummingbird Sound Yoga and sound healing immersions for groups and private sessions. Using earth, dance and symphonic gongs, bowls, tuning forks and humming-for-health meditations, her goal is to help individuals experience becoming “one with sound” to promote a deep relaxation response that balances energy and encourages healing. See ad, page 5.

Tarot

BETH LEAS

Transformative Healing • Tarot

Virtual and In-Person

203-856-9566 • BethLeas.com

What’s in the cards for you? Tarot is a powerful tool for guidance and will empower you to make your best choices. Gain insight to your most thoughtful questions. The answers you receive will illuminate your path, making visible your challenges and ways to overcome them. See ad, back cover.

Transformative Healing

KATIE AUGUSTYN, MA, CPC

Transformation Coach, Shamanic Healer 203-820-3800

TransformationCenterCT@gmail.com TransformationCenterCT.com

Katie will assist you in reaching your true potential and heal what has been holding you back. You will experience real self-acceptance and start to live in alignment with who you truly are so you can create a life you love, a life of meaning and purpose. See ad, back cover.

BETH LEAS

Transformative Healing • Tarot Virtual and In-Person Sessions 203-856-9566 • BethLeas.com

Universal White Time Healing

BRADFORD W. TILDEN, MM, CMT, UWT 92 North Summit St, Southington 860-830-5841

Info@CrystalMusicHealing.com

CrystalMusicHealing.com

Become certified in Universal White Time Healing! Bradford is one of the pioneering teachers and practitioners of this exclusive and incredible new global healing modality given to us by our ET allies for our healing, spiritual growth, and the awakening of humanity. With White Time there is no limit to how strong a healer you can become, or how high you can spiritually evolve. See ad, page 31.

Voice & Sound Coaching

HUMMINGBIRD SOUND YOGA LLC

Barbara (Bobbi) Soares Merryall, New Milford • 860-946-9470

BSoares@LightOfTheNewMoon.com heal.me/HummingbirdSoundYoga Facebook @HummingbirdSoundYoga

Improve your voice, expand your range, find your ‘goldilocks’ note using soul singing, improvisation and ‘one with sound’ exercises. Learn from a certified vocal yoga teacher, sound healer and experienced performer who has studied with Bobby Mcferrin, Silvia Nakkach and Heather Lyle. Some of her music can be found at http://www.wisefishworld. com. Online Zoom groups and one on one sessions. heal.me/HummingbirdSoundYoga. See ad, page 5.

Wellness Center

CERESET WESTPORT

Crista Mathew, Owner/ Tech Coach 18 Kings Hwy N, Westport 203-557-3299 • Info@Westport.Cereset.com Cereset.com/Centers/Cereset-Westport Cereset (Cerebrum + Reset) is a proven technology that helps the brain to relax, rebalance and reset itself naturally by listening to its own echo. There is no outside intervention, stimulus, or medication of any kind – the brain does its own work while you may nap or relax quietly in a comfortable chair. A relaxed and balanced brain helps clients of all ages to flourish as they experience improved sleep, mood, energy, focus, memory and response to stress. See ad, page 11.

HAUTE HEALING OASIS

Jessica & Peter Chichester 792 Pacific St, Stamford 203-595-5304 • Info@HauteHealingOasis. com

HauteHealingOasis.com

HHO is your feel-great place! A 3,500-square-foot wellness spa and healing center featuring over a dozen wellness services in a caring feng shui inspired atmosphere. If you need relaxation, detoxification, body contouring or rehabilitation services, then you should check them out.

HUMMINGBIRD HEALING CENTER

Lisa Pak

57 Main St, Westport 203-550-3390

Lisa@HummingbirdHealingCenter.com

HummingbirdHealingCenter.com

Instagram @hummingbirdhealingcenter

The Hummingbird Healing Center in downtown Westport offers private sessions in the cutting-edge Harmonic Egg®. Heal naturally in 50 minutes! Our 2,100 sq. ft. center also provides group Sound Bath Meditations, holistic workshops, private sound baths, and a boutique with sound healing products. Private rentals are available.. See ad, back cover..

Yoga

THE ANGEL WING

A Divine Spiritual Center

Located next door to The Angel Cooperative 49 Ethan Allen Hwy (Rte. 7), Ridgefield 203-431-2959 • TheAngelCoop.com

YouTube (The Angel Cooperative)

The Angel Cooperative offers a variety of yoga classes at The Angel Wing, our divine spiritual center next door. Class options include vinyasa, gentle, yin, kundalini with gong bath, restorative, aroma yoga restorative, restorative with tarot, and hatha flow and restorative with guided meditation as well as yoga workshops. The yoga teachers at our spiritual center hold true that yoga is for all people, all bodies, all levels . We all belong. See ad, page 7.

HUMMINGBIRD SOUND YOGA LLC

Barbara (Bobbi) Soares

Merryall, New Milford

860-946-9470

BSoares@LightOfTheNewMoon.com heal.me/HummingbirdSoundYoga Facebook @HummingbirdSoundYoga

Barbara (Bobbi) Soares, MA, CYT, is a sound yoga and vocal yoga teacher, blues/jazz singer, and Reiki master, certified in several modalities of energy and sound healing. She offers Hummingbird Sound Yoga and sound healing immersions for groups and private sessions. Her goal is to help individuals experience becoming “one with sound” to promote a deep relaxation response that balances energy and encourages healing. See ad, page 5.

MANIPURA POWER YOGA BROOKFIELD

265 Federal Rd, Brookfield 203-994-3883 • MPYBrookfield.com

M ANIPURA

Power Yoga Brookfield

The studio offers 35 hot power vinyasa and restorative classes a week. Classes range from the gentlest restorative class to a powerful sweaty flow. We also offer infrared sauna sessions and one-on-one pilates. Come check us out!

www.mpybrookfield.com 203 994-3883

MINDFUL DRIFT YOGA

845-519-4558

Info@mindfuldriftyoga.com MindfulDriftYoga.com

Mindful Drift Yoga is your premier mobile yoga studio serving the beautiful counties of Fairfield and Westchester. We specialize in offering pop-up yoga classes and events in serene settings, as well as offer private group including kids’ yoga, 1:1 lessons and corporate yoga.

203 TLC TRIBE TLC

Tribe TLC is your healthy living go-to resource network. We are a vibrant and growing community of 150+ holistic practitioners and wellness entrepreneurs meeting throughout CT and beyond since 1997. TLC Members are committed to living consciously and offer a wide variety of healthy lifestyle opportunities designed to help you live life well. We offer high quality private sessions, products, workshops, classes and events.

Career Coach/Kolbe Consultant

Thea Litsios, Certified Career Coach and Kolbe Consultant. Find the career or college major that is in alignment with your natural talents and strengths. Discover the joy of having a career that is right for you! Thealitsios.com • 203-693-1493

Holistic Wellness Center

Energy Healing/Meditation/Tarot

Beth Leas

30+ Years Experience Private Sessions, Workshops, Events In-person or by phone bethleas.com 203-856-9566

Roshan Dow, MA, JSJCP, RYT 500 Dow Integrative Institute Integrative approach to health and wellness. Privates, group classes, workshops & online connection. 23 Maple St., Kent, CT iam@JulianneDow.com JulianneDow.com • 203-561-8125

Lisa Pak, Hummingbird Healing Center Westport’s newest wellness destination offering private sessions in CT’s first Harmonic Egg.® Sound Bath Meditations, new event space, sound instruments for sale. 57 Main St., Westport • 203-550-3390 Lisa@HummingbirdHealingCenter.com HummingbirdHealingCenter.com

Salt Cave of Darien

Salt therapy, massage, meditation, yoga & more! 555 Post Rd, Darien Info@SaltCaveofDarien.com SaltCaveofDarien.com

203-658-7667

Diane Nicosia, MBA, ibalanceLLC Certified Coach & Reiki Master Teacher. Move forward toward your personal & business goals. In person or Zoom. NicosiaDiane@gmail.com ibalanceuthrive.com 203-858-5848

Katie Augustyn, MA, CPC Transformation Coach, Shamanic Practitioner, Spiritual Evolution Trainer, Energy Healer, TV Host TransformationCenterCT.com 203-820-3800

Gregg Kirk, Lyme Recovery Clinic & Detox Center Heal from chronic illness through all-natural herbal treatments, intensive detox, cleanses & energy healing. 528 Post Rd, Darien Gregg.Kirk@gmail.com 203-858-9725

Looking for a relaxed group of professionals offering a supportive community, networking events, many marketing opportunities, and FUN?

We meet on the first Tuesday of every month at Valencia Luncheria, 164 Main St, Norwalk, CT, from 8:30 -10:00a.m.

Come the first time as Beth's guest - and if you find your time with us worthwhile, we invite you to become a TLC Member. Please RSVP to Beth Leas at: 203-856-9566 (call/text) or TLCBethLeas@gmail.com so she can reserve your place.