Positive Health We talk to passionate health store owners across the land

health stores galore EMPOWERING YOUR HEALTH.

by Alison McEvoy

There are over 200 established independent health food stores in Ireland. From Bantry to Bundoran, Bellmullet to Blessington, family run stores are located on main streets and city malls, each bringing a unique offering, all focused on natural health and sustainability. Health food stores are at the heart of their communities. I spoke with Lorin Taylor of Licorice Health Foods in Portumna recently, which celebrates its tenth birthday this year. Her story is unique, yet her passion for what she does is shared by so many of those like her, who run health stores as an expression of their soul’s desire to help others. After a traumatic life experience, Lorin decided to exit the workplace and stay at home with her children. She had worked in and managed health food stores before and, after sheltering down with her family for a year and a half, she felt impelled to step back out in the world;

“For me, opening my health food store means a lot of things. It’s my independence...my gateway to getting out into the world...it allows me to be who I am. I find it fascinating all the things we can learn and that I can make a difference in a really positive way to people’s lives.” Similarly, Sian Morgan of Harvest Healing heath food store in Kinvara, Co. Galway sees the health food store as an integral part of her life, her joy and her purpose. Healing Harvest is fifteen years old this year she tells me, excitedly. For Sian, “being a health food store owner means that I get to do something I love every day. I am a part of a nourishing and supportive community, being privileged to see families grow and to support them through all stages of life - births, marriages and deaths. It is a wonderful thing to be there for people through difficult times and good and I have also benefited from support from the community in return.” NO COMPROMISE

One of the key aspects to these owners’ contentment as health food store proprietors is that it means, in Lorin’s own words “I am not compromising how I feel.” She has the opportunity to research each product that lines her shelves and weigh the sustainability of all aspects of its production and packaging. For Sian, this aspect is central to her consciousness as a health food store owner also;

“We have always offered refills of cleaning products but, in more recent years, our offerings have developed with more options for eco-conscious living and it is good to know that we are helping to protect our planet too.” HUBS OF HEALING

Health Stores Ireland Chair, Martha Brennan spoke recently of the “wealth of experience with complimentary therapies within our network.” Health stores are magnets for individuals with healing in their hearts and minds. Many health stores also play host to beautiful spaces where you can practice all forms of healing physical therapy, such as yoga or tai chi. HEALTH STORES WITH STANDARDS

The trade body for independent health stores, Health Stores Ireland, offers a wide range of supports and training options for their members; As Martha explains, “Shops that receive their door badge will have committed to a strict code of ethics and will have met minimum training standards. Over 120 stores now meet the criteria for membership.” PLAN YOUR VISIT

Lorin and Sian, and so many other like them all over the country, await your visit!

“When the sun streams in through the window in the morning, there are few places I would rather be,” says Sian. “I love meeting and chatting to all the regulars and catching up on their news. It’s always great to hear someone coming back to say that something we suggested has helped them.”

healthstores.ie

“Being a health food store owner means that I get to do something I love every day.”