Grand Rapids|Holland|Grand Haven
JANUARY 2020
ROAD WARRIORS
Reinventing Yourself
Crush Your Big Goals For 2020
Auto Show Charity Spectacular
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Laura Armenta, The ‘Barefoot Queen’
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Training for the Amway River Bank Run
Spark Inspiration The Museum Store with Creative Paper Goods
Spark SparkInspiration Inspirationwith with Creative Paper Goods The Museum Store Creative Paper Goods The Museum Store
Grand Rapids Art Museum | 101 Monroe Center | Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | 616.831.2920
Grand Rapids Art Museum | 101 Monroe Center | Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | 616.831.2920 Grand Rapids Art Museum | 101 Monroe Center | Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | 616.831.2920
Spark Inspiration with Creative Paper Goods
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The Museum Store
Clockwise from top: Assorted greeting
Clockwise from top:cards, Assorted greeting Clockwise from top: Assorted greeting Concrete Desk Set by Areaware, Concrete Desk Set byOne Areaware, cards, Concrete Deskcards, Set by Areaware, Notepads by R Nichols, Minute Notepads Minute by R Nichols, One Minute Notepads by R Nichols, Journal One by Potter, Logifaces Concrete Journal byConcrete Potter, Logifaces Concrete Journal by Potter, Logifaces Puzzle Planbureau. Puzzle by by Planbureau. Puzzle by Planbureau. Clockwise from top: Assorted greeting cards, Concrete Desk Set by Areaware, Notepads by R Nichols, One Minute Journal by Potter, Logifaces Concrete Puzzle by Planbureau.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
Contents
January 2020 Edition #262
womenslifestyle.com
PUBLISHER Two Eagles Marcus
8 Her Legacy
PHOTO BY ELYSE WILD
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
FEATURES 16 Meet the Road Warriors 20 Laura Armenta: The ‘Barefoot Queen’ Shares Her Passion for Movement
Roxanne O’Neil EXECUTIVE PUBLISHING CONSULTANT
22 YWCA Nurse Examiner Program Offers Medical and Emotional Support to Sexual Assault Victims
Carole Valade EDITOR Elyse Wild editor@womenslifestyle.com
HEALTH AND BEAUTY
ART DIRECTOR
ILLUSTRATION BY LIBBY VANDERPLOEG
Kelly Nugent
PHOTO BY TERRY JOHNSTON
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Elyse Wild Megan Sarnaki Michelle Jokisch Polo COLUMNISTS Women’s History Council GROW
34 “The Snowman”
20 Laura Armenta: The
by the Grand Rapids Symphony
ʻBarefoot Queenʼ
Kate Sage, DO
Spencer Wild
32 Auto Show Charity Spectacular
Two Eagles Marcus SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
14 How to Crush Your Goals for 2020
CALL (616) 458-2121
08 Her Legacy: Recovering Minnie Mickel in 2020
30 January Events
Elyse Wild
(616) 951-5422
07 Reinventing Yourself
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PHOTOGRAPHY
sales@womenslifestyle.com
LEARN & DO
10 Reader’s Lounge
Kelsey Emmanuel
Terrie Lynema
14 How to Crush Your Big Goals for 2020 24 Enjoy More Time Outdoors — Even When it’s Cold
Kayla Sosa
Greater Grand Rapids
12 What to Know About Your Pelvic Floor Health
12 What to Know About Your
34 “The Snowman” by the Grand Rapids Symphony 36 History Detectives
Pelvic Floor Health
PHOTO BY ELYSE WILD
EMAIL info@womenslifestyle.com MAIL 3500 3 Mile Rd NW, Ste A Grand Rapids, MI 49534 IN MEMORIAM Victoria Ann Upton Founder 1955 - 2018
22 YWCA Nurse Examiner Program
To extend an uplifting, inclusive and vibrant invitation to enjoy life, every day, in our community.
ABOUT THE COVER
Becky Vander Zwaag, Erin Williams, Gabriele Gottlieb, Sarah Holloway | photo by Two Eagles Marcus The Road Warriors are a specially selected team of runners of various experience levels who are raising money for charity, serving as ambassadors and training for the Amway River Bank Run. Turn to page 16 to read more.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
From the Editor
ONLINE ONLY CONTENT
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We have too much great content to fit it in all in the print edition every month. Please visit womenslifestyle.com for exclusive online content featuring:
PHOTO BY TWO EAGLES MARCUS
ith the dawn of the new year comes a renewed desire to make decisions that have a positive impact on our well-being and that of those around us. Often this means setting goals to eat better, exercise more and engage in mentally stimulating activities, as opposed to allowing binging and scrolling to eat up our free moments. We get it, and we are rooting for you! With this edition, we want to accompany you on your journey of health and wellness. We want to help you make the right choices for your body, encourage you to keep going and inspire you to forgive yourself when you fall short. We want to make you feel like you can accomplish anything because we believe you can. On page 14, WLM columnist and personal trainer Kelsey Akiyama brings solid steps on how to set — and achieve — goals that serve you. In “Meet the Road Warriors,” we introduce you to four women who are a part of a specially selected team of runners who are raising money for charity and serving as ambassadors as they train for the Amway River Bank Run. The article is the first in a series in which we will take you along on their journey as they train to run the nation’s largest 25K on May 9 (16).
34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Laura Armenta is known to her students as “The Barefoot Queen” named for her proclivity for dance styles that connect our bodies with the earth. Armenta has been teaching dance and yoga in Grand Rapids for 25 years and holds firm in her belief that movement is a means of connecting with our humanity and sharing experiences. Turn to page 22 to learn about the YWCA Nurse Examiner Program, which supports an individual’s health during one of the most traumatic periods of their lives: post-sexual assault. The program serves more than 500 people each year, providing medical care and counseling services at no cost to victims. As usual, we bring you the latest the city has to offer in our event listings and spotlights starting on page 30. We are excited to embark on another year with you; to bring you stories of women creating a positive impact through their passions, careers, and benevolence; to highlight local organizations that lay pathways to indulge in the arts, philanthropy and learning; and to provide you with a big invitation to enjoy life, every day, in our community. Happy reading and Happy New Year!
Winter Warm-Up Recipes
25 Things to Do This Winter
-Elyse Wild, Editor
Women’s LifeStyle is a dynamic multi-media platform designed to make beneficial connections in our community. The positive, upbeat, award winning and popular locally owned publication is supported by a dynamic mobile friendly online presence and an interactive website (including an events calendar, embedded video), as well as friendly, helpful and consistent social media interaction with the community. With 490+ distribution locations, Women’s LifeStyle is favored by an active, engaged and progressive audience. You are now looking at the 262nd edition. All content ©Women’s LifeStyle, Inc. 2020.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Spotlight on Community Initiatives
Join In
Sponsored by Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Rapids Eagles Disabled Sports Team The Grand Rapids Eagles Disabled Sports team is a team of athletes ages 7 and up who have a physical disability. They are the largest team that participate at Michigan Victory Games at Michigan State University and were Michigan Victory Games champions in 2012 and 2013. Volunteers are needed to help at practices from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays nights at the Kent ISD Kent Education Center on the Beltline. For more information, visit the organization’s Facebook Page.
“While I’m not a runner, love to help out at GRAAHI’s annual 5k walk/run. It’s an amazing event in my community that gets people moving and active. To see kids run, laugh and get a free backpack to get ready for school fills me with hope.” — GRAAHI Participant
Children’s Healing Center The Children’s Healing Center works with local businesses, colleges and universities, medical centers and other nonprofits to create holistic services for sick kids. Volunteers are always needed, scheduled and on-call, at the center. Different jobs include center helpers, outdoor work and serving on the board as committee members. Volunteers must be a high school graduate or older, be able to give a weekly commitment and must be up-to-date with immunizations and the annual flu shot. To help out, visit childrenshealingcenter.org.
Porter Hills Village Help out a senior to swim by being a swim buddy at Porter Hill Village. The retirement community has a Wellness center pool where residents can swim, but those who may be at risk need a volunteer to spend time in the pool with them. A fivemonth commitment is preferred. There are also many other activities at Porter Hills if swimming assistance isn’t for you. Visit porterhills.org for more information.
Gilda’s Club
Gilda’s Club provides free cancer and grief support for those in need. With over 10,000 visits to our free cancer & grief support programs each year, there are many opportunities for volunteers to get involved, including assisting with meals, cleaning, gardening and yard work, administration and more. Visit gildasclubgr.org/ for more information.
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute is devoted to achieving healthcare parity for African Americans. Driven by research and committed to education and advocacy, GRAAHI aims to create awareness and develop community programs that achieve positive health outcomes for all people. Our mission is to ensure that all people have optimal health care and benefit from health systems without race being an impediment.
More than 500 scholarships are waiting for you. This year we’ll give more than $1 million in scholarships to Kent County students—students like Edgar, who graduated from East Kentwood High School. Scholarships are available for undergraduate and graduate students attending college or trade school. Apply by March 1 at grfoundation.org/scholarships. 6
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
Learn & Do “Expect setbacks and failures; they are signs that you are truly breaking new trail. Learn from them.”
Reinventing Yourself BY GROW
W
hether it’s a new career, moving across the country or starting new relationships (or ending old ones), “reinvention” is something many of us will go through in life, sometimes multiple times. If you are thinking about reinventing some aspect of your life, it pays to know what’s in store to increase your chances of success. We sat down with Smiti Majumdar, a Lead Data Analyst at Amway Corp., to discuss reinvention because of her unique story. She has reinvented herself many times over the years. Earning three Master’s Degrees, she has been among other things a student, teacher, wife, mother, scientist, and most recently, a business analyst. Raised in Calcutta India, she’s accomplished these personal and professional reinventions across two cultures. She came to the US shortly after marrying in 1999. This change in her personal life illustrates an important aspect of reinvention. It can be by choice or necessity. Sometimes our interests change and we seek new circumstances, sometimes circumstances change around us and we have to make a change. Marriage, divorce, births and deaths, job loss, launching a business, etc. can all force us to face a new chapter in life. If you’re considering reinvention, and it’s not due to external causes, you may be asking “How do I know it’s time for a change like this?” “Do I really need this?” According to Forbes, signs that it’s time to consider reinvention include: • Spending too much time online and on social media • Thinking about your “dream job,” not how to make your current job better • Relapsing into habits that you know aren’t good for you • Feeling disconnected at work — as if you’re an outsider observing yourself
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
The key to successfully moving into the next chapter is the ability to adapt and keep moving. According to Smiti and several authors on the topic, key aspects of reinvention are: • A “North Star” Smiti was guided by a few overarching ideas throughout the changes in her life. These ideas were the backdrop for her choices in education, career, and life. It wasn’t a passion for a particular type of work or living in a certain place. It was a thirst for learning, a desire to simply be happy, and to have time with her family. • Patience and sustained hard work Don’t expect a new normal overnight. If you are truly changing an important aspect of your life such as your career or your relationships, it will take time — perhaps years. Set your goals accordingly. • Focus on learning and processing goals Stating that you will write four times per week for three months is more realistic and achievable than saying you will make $30,000 as a freelance writer in the next year. Paraphrasing writer James Clear, “Don’t fall in love with your desired results, fall in love with doing the things that will bring those results.” Perhaps most importantly, Smiti always kept a question in the back of her mind when making life choices: “What will help me have people around me when I die?” Experts call this “intrinsic motivation.” It’s motivation from internal needs rather than external factors such as money, title, or possessions. According to Psychology Today, intrinsically motivated people are more likely to make progress towards life goals because they commit sustained effort and keep going despite roadblocks. There are several roadblocks to successful reinvention to watch out for. • Uncertainty You may think “I don’t have a passion.
How do I figure out what I should do?” Start with small steps and focus on what is important to you and makes you happy. As Smiti notes, “I tried to find the best thing I could do to make me happy with minimal impact on others.” • A skewed view of the future We tend to be overly optimistic and underestimate the effort required to change. Be as realistic as possible about how your future choices will play out before you begin. Expect setbacks and failures; they are signs that you are truly breaking new trail. Learn from them. • Taking on too much at once Due to our skewed view of future effort, it’s better to take on one major goal at a time according to Professor Art Markman quoted in Psychology Today. It may seem that reinvention by definition means that your current self is somehow “bad.” Why change in such a big way if there’s nothing wrong with the person you are, the job or relationships you have? However, reinvention isn’t necessarily a statement about defects in your current self. Indeed, it’s a huge sign of self-awareness, character and courage that you can change. It’s also a necessary mindset to evolve and remain happy. Even after all the changes in her life, Smiti ended our discussion by smiling and saying “I’m willing to reinvent again.”
GROW is a service focused on current and aspiring business owners. They are the local entrepreneurial resource to help owners the next steps, empowering and supporting them with professional expertise for a lifetime.
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Recovering Minnie Mickel in 2020 BY THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS WOMEN’S HISTORY COUNCIL
JOIN US IN JANUARY! For a warm Saturday in January, join the GGRWHC and other area history organizations for History Detectives on the 18th! This annual, day-long event showcases six programs on Grand Rapids history starting at 9:30 am at the Grand Rapids Public Library. Admission is free, and you are welcome to attend just one or all six programs, ranging from a plank road to the Pokagon Potawatomi. Reserve a delicious boxed lunch by noon on January 14th, and pay $10 for it at the event. Email historydetectivesgr@ gmail.com or call 616-234-3038. For fuller information, find us on Facebook, check subjectguides.grcc. edu/HistoryDetectives and on page 36 of this edition.
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er photo rescued from a 21st-century garage sale, Minnie R. Mickel had been so thoroughly forgotten by her family that they guessed her name was “Grace Kelly Freehouse.” The recent search for Minnie’s actual name and personal history can remind us how easily women have been lost to the past--and how difficult it can be to find them again. Between 1912 and 1914 when Minnie sported suffrage colors, little did she know how long a life her photo would have or that it would become an iconic image for the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council in its efforts to recover city women’s suffrage history. On January 18th the GGRWHC will launch its year-long celebration of the centennial of the 19th Amendment granting universal suffrage after a determined fight of over seventy years. Unveiling its groundbreaking digital suffrage exhibit at History Detectives 2020, the GGRWHC will share twenty years of research uncovering the diligent and creative Grand Rapids suffragists, whose work intersected intimately with long, entangled state and national efforts. Just as the individual Minnie R. Mickel had been forgotten and misremembered, Grand Rapids’ early and vibrant suffrage history was assigned to oblivion in twentieth-century city histories. Even academic accounts of state history emerging during the twentieth century overlooked Grand Rapids, despite the city’s steady supply of energetic state leaders who hosted the largest suffrage event ever held in Michigan. In 1899, the entire national movement, led by Susan B. Anthony, met in the spacious, new 700-seat auditorium of St. Cecilia Music Society. Throughout 2020, the GGRWHC will cover the sweep of this long reform movement illustrated in the timelines of its new digital suffrage exhibit (ggrwhc.org/suffragegrand-rapids/). From a city abuzz with activity during Michigan’s first statewide campaign for equal voting rights in 1874, to local suffragists striding onto the state’s center stage during the 1880s and 1890s, to their local promotional hijinks but steadfast leadership statewide during the last decade, you will also find tales of a “Lilly Float for Suffragists” gliding past 75,000 spectators, a newspaper takeover, and a national stir caused by the lone African American delegate to the NAWSA convention.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY LIBBY VANDERPLOEG But, during 2020, the GGRWHC will focus not only on spectacle. It will also offer tips on how to talk about suffrage history, instructing that “suffragette” was a British term and that Americans were “suffragists”; and explaining that, after the U.S. Congress approved the women’s suffrage amendment in 1918, they sent it to the states for “ratification,” enabling its “certification” as the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920. The Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council’s area-wide and year-long celebration of the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment will culminate in HER VOICE HER VOTE on Equality Day--the August 26th anniversary of its certification as the law of the land. Mark your calendars for festivities and join the crowd at St. Cecilia Music Center for a grand salute to our suffragist forebears and their contemporary inheritors!
Throughout 2020, the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council will talk about suffrage from Coloma to Traverse City and in Grand Rapids venues from cemeteries to movie theaters. Celebrate women leaders, then and now, on August 26th at HER VOICE HER VOTE! And follow us on Facebook, our website at ggrwhc.org and in WLM!
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
For This
Exact Moment
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
Learn & Do
READER’S Kent District Library librarians share their favorite book from the
past year.
The Death of Mrs. Westaway, by Ruth Ware The Death of Mrs. Westaway is my absolute favorite kind of book: gothic suspense featuring an orphaned heroine alone in the world who might inherit a fortune. Hal is desperate for money after her mother is killed in a car accident — just desperate enough to investigate a letter from an attorney implying she might have an inheritance coming from a heretofore unknown grandmother. However, in order to claim it, she must go stay in a creepy house in the middle of nowhere with her possibly nefarious long-lost family members and an ominously hostile family servant. I neglected all my chores to read it because I had to know what happened. — Susan Erhardt, Youth Services Specialist, Plainfield Township Branch
A Ladder to the Sky, by John Boyne
St.Cecilia Music Center Music Center
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN 2020!
Maurice Swift is an Adonis — his good looks are only rivaled by his ambition, which unfortunately is not matched by any creative talent. Enter Erich Ackerman, a lonely, well-established author and professor with a terrible secret. There starts the beginning of a life of betrayal where Maurice will stop at nothing to quench his thirst for literary fame. Told in four parts woven together by the common thread of Maurice’s deceit, there are unpredictable and sickening twists in every section. With his signature flair, Boyne’s A Ladder to the Sky will haunt you. — Nanette Zorn, Adult Librarian, Cascade Township Branch
The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood EMMET EMMET COHEN COHEN ++ BENNY BENNY GOLSON GOLSON JANUARY JANUARY 16 16
ROSANNE ROSANNE CASH CASH JANUARY JANUARY 19 19
FRENCH FRENCH ENCHANTMENT ENCHANTMENT JANUARY JANUARY 23 23
THE THE INFAMOUS INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS STRINGDUSTERS FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 66
CHRIS CHRIS THILE THILE FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 25 25
RAUL RAUL MIDÓN MIDÓN FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 27 27
For fans of The Handmaid’s Tale (both the 1985 novel and the Hulu series), The Testaments provides the must-read backstory of Aunt Lydia and the future of June’s daughters. Aunt Lydia gives a testament of the making of Gilead and the remaking of herself into one of its key players, exploring choices she was forced to make. June’s daughters, two sisters with disparate upbringings, testify to their separate truths. Atwood is a master at crafting multidimensional characters and refusing to cast the women in her novels as stereotypes or monsters. — Penni Zurgable, Adult Librarian, Cascade Township Branch
Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee, by Casey N. Cep LUCIANA LUCIANA SOUZA SOUZA MARCH MARCH 55
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Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was first published to wide acclaim in 1960. In the decades since, the book has been loved by generations of readers, securing a solid spot for itself in the American literary canon. Despite its popularity, however, its famously reticent author never wrote another book (although a book she had written previously was eventually published in 2015) and avoided the public eye for the rest of her life. Cep fills that gap with the gripping Furious Hours, a story that Lee started to write, but never finished. It’s a book that’s part true-crime and part history, as well as a reckoning with Lee’s complicated life and why she never comfortably fit the image created for her by the status of Mockingbird. — Mark Dunham, dult Librarian, Krause Memorial Branch KDL librarians are always available to help you find your next favorite read.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
CHRISTIAN
HEALTHCARE CENTERS
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Health & Beauty
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR PELVIC FLOOR HEALTH BY KATE SAGE, D.O.
“It’s a common misconception that Kegels can help with all pelvic floor dysfunction. But Kegels are not for every woman.” — Dr. Jannah Thompson
W
e’ve all heard of Kegels. You know, the exercise you do to strengthen your pelvic floor? Even Oprah has done them live on her show. But what exactly do Kegels do, and should you be doing them? The pelvic floor is the group of muscles positioned along the base of your pelvis. Their function is to hold your pelvic organs in place. In women, some of those organs include the bladder, uterus and bowel. Just like the muscles in any other part of your body, these muscles have the ability to tighten and relax, become stronger and weaker, and degenerate with age. They can also be affected by other factors, such as damage to the nerves to the area, surgeries, childbirth, and trauma. Keeping these muscles healthy can improve bowel, bladder and sexual health. Pelvic floor dysfunction is when these muscles are too tight or too relaxed. Symptoms can include the feeling that you need to have many bowel movements in a short period of time, feeling like your bowel isn’t empty after having a bowel movement, frequent feeling of the need to urinate, urinating often, constipation, pain in your pelvic region, or pain with sexual intercourse. If some of these symptoms seem to be opposites from each other, like constipation and the need to have bowel movements frequently, it’s because they are! Pelvic floor
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dysfunction can be caused by either the muscles being too tight or too relaxed. “It’s a common misconception that Kegels can help with all pelvic floor dysfunction,” Dr. Jannah Thompson, a urologist in Grand Rapids, said. “But Kegels are not for every woman.” If the muscles are too contracted, Kegels to try to strengthen those muscles can be the wrong thing to do. There are several ways to diagnose pelvic floor dysfunction. First, the doctor will take a history of your concerns, which may include any of the symptoms above plus a few others like frequent urinary tract infections, and if you have delivered a baby vaginally. Your doctor will then likely do a physical exam to inspect and palpate the muscles and organs around your pelvis to evaluate for tightness or contracture. Other tests may be done to see how well the pelvic floor muscles respond to stimuli, or how well your bowel or bladder empty. “You need an expert to determine if there’s too much tone, or not enough tone,” Dr. Thompson said. Pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to several different medical problems including constipation and urine
leakage. Another common problem is prolapse of the bladder or rectum, which is when the bladder or rectum are not properly held in place because the pelvic floor muscles are weak or damaged. When that happens, the bladder protrudes through the vagina, or part of the bowel protrudes through the anus. Treatment is based on your history and the results of the tests. Physical therapy, also called biofeedback, can help coordinate the pelvic muscles. This can be prescribed by your doctor. Some studies have shown effectiveness of 70% with appropriate biofeedback training. Additionally, medications to help with bowel and bladder dysfunction can be prescribed. If indicated, there is surgery that may help with pelvic floor dysfunction that does not respond to other treatments. If you have concerns about your pelvic floor, or have any of the signs or symptoms listed above, contact your doctor. There are physicians that have been specifically trained to help women with incontinence, prolapse, problems with urination or bowel habits, and pain with sexual intercourse. “You don’t need to Kegel your whole life,” Dr. Thompson said.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Health & Beauty
CRUSH HOW TO
YOUR BIG GOALS FOR 2020 BY KELSEY EMMANUEL
W
hy do your New Year’s resolutions fail every year? You feel you need to make extreme changes. You feel that you have a long way to go, so you need to go big or go home, but going cold turkey can be hard on you mentally and physically. Achieving long-term goals goes deeper than needing motivation, self-discipline and willpower. If you want to make a true change in your life, you need to take incremental steps daily, be patient, and let them compound for you. There’s no magic bullet to success. Your action steps need to be sustainable, so you are doing them every day until they become a habit. The first thing you can do to set yourself up for success is to make a paradigm shift. Some ways to do that is to stop relying on motivation, work on your philosophy and apply the law of correspondence to your life.
STOP RELYING ON MOTIVATION It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of making New Year’s resolutions. The gasoline that your resolutions are running off of is motivation. Now, motivation is not the enemy; it is great to have, but it cannot be the foundation you are working off of. Here’s why: motivation is affected by your mood and emotions, and we all know that life can be an emotional rollercoaster ride. Therefore, your motivation will naturally ebb and flow. You cannot rely on it to get you from Point A to Point B because once you lose it, you’ll stop taking action and working toward hitting your goals. Motivation not
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only disrupts consistency, but it can delay your start time. The worst thing you can do is wait to feel ready. You just need to start with something simple that you can do every single day.
HAVING THE RIGHT PHILOSOPHY Take radical responsibility for everything that is happening for you by fixing your philosophy. Your philosophy determines how you perceive things and impacts everything you do. For example, if Thomas Edison had the philosophy that “failure is not an option” where would our world be today? In his efforts to create his electric light bulb, he failed thousands of times. If failure was not an option for him, he wouldn’t have tried 1,000 more times to find success. It is crucial to know what philosophies are running your life. The philosophy you hold affects your attitude, which in turn affects your behavior, which affects your results.
THE LAW OF CORRESPONDENCE IS KEY The Law of Correspondence basically states that your reality is a result of your innermost dominant thought. If you want to take control of your life, you need to work on your self-talk. In order to have a breakthrough, take a hard look at yourself and ask, “How are my self-talk, inner thoughts, and attitudes causing this situation in my life?”
Take ownership of all of your problems so that you can apply a solution that will help you grow out of them. Ask yourself, “What are my beliefs about myself, relationships, my career, family, etc.? Where did these thoughts come from? Why do I think this way? What is the root cause of these thoughts?” More often than not, the beliefs and thoughts you hold have been ingrained in you since you were a child. Those beliefs came from your environment, parents and outside influences. You need to dig deep to ultimately dissolve your old limiting beliefs, so that you can make room for the new beliefs of your inner world. Your reality is a mirror of what is happening within you at a conscious and subconscious level. Ultimately, it is important to understand how you function. You know yourself better than anyone else. Make it your responsibility to observe your behaviors and reflect on how they’ve impacted your life. Every moment in life is an opportunity for you to act in alignment with a positive philosophy. Kelsey Emmanuel is a certified CrossFit Level 1 trainer. Follow along with her workout tips and tutorials on Instagram @kelsey. emmanuel and on Facebook at Kelsey’s Health Journey.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
AGE HEALTHIER & LIVE HAPPIER IT CAN START WITH A SIMPLE TEST
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Meet The WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELYSE WILD
or 43 years, the Amway River Bank Run has served as a vehicle for overcoming challenges, achieving goals and launching running careers. Among the more than 15,000 runners who will converge at the starting line this year on the morning of May 9 are the Road Warriors, a specially selected team of runners who spend months training together, serving as community ambassadors of the race, and raising money for the nonprofit of their choice. The following is the first in a series in which we will introduce you to four Road Warriors, dive into what inspires them to run and take you along on their journey as they train for the nation’s largest 25K.
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“The last year of my life has been about showing my kids that you can do the hard things. If I can teach them and show them how to do it, then I feel like I’m being a good influence for them, and I don’t just give up.” — BECKY VANDER ZWAAG
What’s your running experience?
BVZ: I started running in 2010 after my second son was born, just as a way to get back in shape. It was the only thing I could do without having to go to a gym because my husband was still home and sleeping. I would just get up early and I had no experience and could barely make it around like a mailbox. I’ve basically winged it since then! I’ve done the 25K a couple of times. This is my sixth or seventh year doing it. I never trained efficiently. My first year doing it was my best time. Why did you join the Road Warriors?
BVZ: I thought, “I’m just going to try it.” I had seen little bits and pieces but didn’t really understand the scope of what it was. It’s pretty cool. What is the most challenging aspect of training?
BVZ: The most challenging is just spending the time doing it with two kids and working. That’s probably the most difficult thing. What is the most rewarding part of training?
BVZ: The rewarding part of that is it is a huge stress relief for me — running clears my mind. I just like how I feel and how I look when I stay active. What motivates you to push through difficult moments while running?
BVZ: The last year of my life has been about showing my kids that you can do the hard things. If I can teach them and show them how to do it, then I feel like I’m being a good influence for them, and I don’t just give up. This past year, that’s been my huge thing. I want to show them that there are parts in life that are really difficult, and you just gotta push through. That’s a great motivation.
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Are you a morning runner or an evening runner?
BVZ: Whenever I can fit in. I am a morning person, so I would rather do that but it depends on my schedule. Sometimes I love being able to see the sunrise, but then also chasing the sunset is cool, too. What do you listen to when you run?
BVZ: I don’t listen to anything, but I also live out in the country. For me, it’s about hearing my surroundings. I can do my best AGE: 36 OCCUPATION: Cosmetologist thinking when I don’t have CHARITY PARTNER: American Cancer anything plugged in. I love the Society Hope Lodge trail run. It’s also about safety. I don’t have a lot of sidewalks where I live, so I’m running on the road and I have to pay attention.
Becky Vander Zwaag
What are your goals for the race this year?
BVZ: I think my goal for this year is to come back and beat the first time I ever did it. The first year, I trained as hard as I could on my own, just learning. The second year I did it I was overconfident. I didn’t train enough, and I was hurting. I’m surprised that I even finished. It was a good lesson for me: You don’t get the reward unless you put in the time. What is your post-race indulgence?
BVZ: For me, it’s just the beer. What advice do you have for people who are interested in running, but are afraid to start?
BVZ: Find a group to go around. You can utilize social media to find all these different groups in your area. It’s so much easier when you find someone that you can run with. It passes the time a little bit more. Get yourself in a group and let them help guide you.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
Road Warriors ..........
“… running is very spiritual for me. It’s more of a spiritual journey rather than a physical journey. I use it as a way to become a better person for the sake of myself and for the sake of the whole wide world.” — ERIN WILLIAMS
What’s your running experience?
EW: I ran my first 5K in June of 2018. On August 30, 2018 I ran my first marathon. The 5K was a total accident. A friend of mine had just gotten injured when she was hiking, and she’s said, “I’m supposed to be doing this 5K tomorrow, and I can’t because I’m injured. Can you just take my registration?” It was like four days before the race. I said, “Ok, I am not a runner, but let’s give it a go!”
spiritual for me. It’s more of a spiritual journey rather than a physical journey. I use it as a way to become a better person for the sake of myself and for the sake of the whole wide world. The lessons that I learned from running help me to choose love in every facet of my life, especially when it’s hard … finding the courage to run even when it’s difficult and then finding the courage to choose love when it’s difficult in other aspects of my life. Are you a morning runner or an evening runner?
It was pretty tough, but I fell in love with the race day energy and how positive and supportive all of the runners were with each other.
EW: I’ve dabbled in both. During the week I’m an evening runner, and on the weekends I’m a morning runner.
I’ve run a few races, but I’ve only been in the game for a short period of time.
What do you listen to while you run?
Why did you join the Road Warriors?
EW: It wasn’t something that I hadn’t initially planned. I ran the 10K in 2019, and I had a lot of fun with it. I looked to learn more about the Road Warriors program, and I thought it was really cool to have ambassadors trying to empower the community to be able to get up and start moving. I thought that was a really incredible AGE: 25 cause. Having charity partners OCCUPATION: Urban Roots that we raise money for helped Community Market Organizer seal the deal CHARITY PARTNER: Children’s Advocacy
Erin Williams Center of Kent County
What is the most challenging part of training for you?
EW: Consistency. I like to commit to ideas, but getting up to run four or five days a week is not always easy, especially when it’s dead of winter, or it’s like 90 degrees out. What’s the most rewarding part of training?
EW: Sometimes I listen to podcasts. Sometimes I listen to my favorite music. My favorite podcast is the Rich Roll podcast. He is a previously overweight, unhealthy person who made his way into becoming an ultra-marathoner. There’s a lot of stuff about fitness, spirituality, interviews with a lot of the most incredible of athletes. What are your goals for the race this year?
EW: I’m a slow runner, so my goal is to finish it and have a lot of fun. My biggest goal is to help empower other people to be able to do the race, too. It’s 15 miles. A lot of people say, “I can’t do that. I could never do that.” I want to share my story and my experience to be able to help people realize that, “Hey, you can!” What is your post-race indulges?
EW: Vegetable lentil soup. After a long race, you have all of this sweat sticking to you and you’ve lost a lot of electrolytes. I’m usually craving something really salty, like French fries.
EW: I’d love the eating aspect of it! I really like to carbo-load. What motivates you to push through difficult moments while running?
EW: It’s helpful to have other people. I thought that being a part of the Road Warriors team would be very helpful because we get to train together for the next several months. But on a personal level, running is very
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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“Running is very social for me now. I love meeting new people through running. I love adventuring with people I know through running. It’s just so much fun.” — SARAH HOLLOWAY
What is your running experience?
SH: I started running in 2010 and did my first River Bank in 2012. I took an office job after working in the hospitality industry for a long time. I went from being on my feet all the time and being busy. It was a big change — my desk was right outside the break room and there was always food. I gained 30 pounds in something less than a year. I was still a poor college student at the time, so I didn’t have extra money to buy new clothes or anything like that. I was complaining to my sister one day, and she’s always been active. She was running at the time, so she said, “Come do a 5K with me.” I trained for about three weeks. I didn’t have really great shoes. I didn’t really have anything I needed. I just went out and started trying to run and walk and do what I could to survive the 5K. As I’m crossed the finish line, I felt a whole mess of emotions. It snowballed into more 5Ks, which snowballed into 10Ks and half-marathons, marathons and ultramarathons, triathlons and all that. I’m to a point in my running career now where I really feel established, I finally have kind of found myself in my own confidence in the world of endurance sports, and I really want to give back. Why did you join the Road Warriors?
SH: It’s a way that I can meet people and motivate people. Our Road Warrior team is such a great mix of people, and I’m excited to see everyone else’s journeys. I ran on my own a lot when I was first doing it because I was embarrassed. I thought, “Well, it’s my mental release. I don’t want to run around people.” That’s not true for me anymore. Running is very social for me now. I love meeting new people through running. I love adventuring with people I know through running. It’s just so much fun. What is the most challenging part of training?
SH: Speed work. When I first started running, I was relatively slow. I’m not the speediest runner out there by any stretch of the imagination, but putting in the work doing speed workouts is really, really, really tough.
What motivates you to push through difficult moments while running?
SH: People — seeing all the spectators that come out and high-fiving the little kids you want to set an example for or giving another runner a pat on the back and encouraging words. A couple of years ago there was a guy that was dressed as Spider-Man, and I wanted so badly to get my picture at the finish line with him. And we had about a mile to go and he was really struggling. I was chitchatting with him and trying to keep him going o get him through his race because that is so rewarding. The adventures that I’ve had and the people I’ve met through running — even in the tough parts of the race — thinking AGE: 38 back to those times is OCCUPATION: Insurance worker really encouraging.
Sarah Holloway
Are you a morning runner or an evening runner?
CHARITY PARTNER: Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan
SH: Evening runner. I used to be a morning workout person — I don’t know what changed. I used to be the girl that was work out, shower, coffee in that order. I do evening runs during the week, and on Saturday mornings, I run with a group. What do you listen to when you run?
SH: I used to be hardcore about running with music all the time and my playlist was a variety — everything from some good classic rock, 90s hip-hop and pop-country. If I do wear headphones, I keep them turned down so that I can still talk to people. What is your post-race indulgence?
SH: I have a pre-race ritual: The night before I always have two draft beers and pizza. I do a lot of clean eating leading up to the race, but the night before it’s pizza and beer.
What is the most rewarding part of training?
I have the same answer for both: speed work!
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
What is your running experience?
GG: I started running when I moved to Grand Rapids about 13 years ago. I always played sports throughout my life, mostly soccer and volleyball. By the time I moved here, my knees just wouldn’t do the soccer. A friend of mine was said, “Hey, you like swimming, you like biking and you run. Why don’t you do a triathlon?” I joined RunGR, and running became a big part of my life. It has given AGE: 50 me a great OCCUPATION: Professor community. CHARITY PARTNER: Conductive I don’t have Learning Center family here. My family is in Germany, so for me, my triathlon community is my community. It has been a great experience.
Gabriele Gottlieb
Why did you join the Road Warriors?
GG: I have friends who had been Road Warriors in the past. One year I was the coach for the 5K/10K runners. This year I thought, “I should just try it. I need a new challenge.” I struggle with running. The Road Warrior program became a way for me to say, “OK, I’m just going to focus on running for a little while and get back into better shape.” It’s not that I’m in bad shape, but I feel like I could be in better shape. I could be faster. I like the combination of raising funds for charity, but also focusing on yourself.
before work.” I like running in the afternoons or evenings. What are your goals for the race?
GG: My goal is to run a 2:30 in the race. It’s going to be a little bit of a stretch — I think my PR is a 2:47. I really felt like I need a big goal, a goal that challenges me to really be committed to training. What do you listen to when you’re running?
GG: Sometimes I listen to podcasts or music, but rarely. I also don’t talk much when I’m running. I love running in a group, but I don’t necessarily want to talk — I love to listen to people who tell stories. I like, you know, like I like trail running — being outside and listening to the birds and the leaves and having some alone time. What is your post-race indulgence?
GG: I like doing races with friends, and then afterward, you go out and you share stories about how your day went, and you celebrate your achievement and have fun. I have had ups and downs racing. I had DNF (did not finish) and have had great success racing. I have a chronic illness so that doesn’t always allow me to do everything I want to do. For me, the race is really just the celebration at the end. It’s more about the lifestyle. I love racing, but it’s not like if I don’t finish always, it’s not the end of the world. Obviously, I do want to finish a race and I have goals. For me, it’s the overall experience of training, the social aspects of it and doing races with friends and then celebrating at the end.
What is the biggest challenge of training?
GG: The biggest challenge is me — getting out of my head. I have dealt with like depression and some anxiety over the last past last few years. And running has been consistent throughout that but also has been the biggest challenge. What is the most rewarding thing about training?
GG: The most rewarding thing is doing a good workout and the way it makes me feel. I try to remember that when I have a tough workout and want to stop. It’s something that balances me out, that gives me space to think, and go back to life more relaxed and rested. Are you a morning runner or an evening runner?
GG: I am not a morning runner, so I have this debate with my coaches all the time who say, “You should do it
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“For me, it’s the overall experience of training, the social aspects of it and doing races with friends and then celebrating at the end.” — GABRIELE GOTTLIEB
PHOTO BY SPENCER WILD
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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BY MEGAN SARNACKI PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELYSE WILD
Laura Armenta
The ‘Barefoot Queen’ Shares Her Passion for Movement
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ost of the time, professional dancers start training at a very young age, such as 3 or 4 years old. But that is not the case for Laura Armenta, owner of Armentality Movement Arts Center. For Armenta, dancing started at the age of 13. Flash-forward two years and she was already dancing professionally, auditioning among adults rather than kids her own age and securing the role of principal dancer. As a holistic practitioner, performer and instructor, she has a deep passion for collaborating within the community and bringing forth the healing nature of the arts.
“People should understand that through mobility and through connecting with their bodies, they can overcome everything. I was a lost and abused teenager, but dance was my outlet and shelter.” — LAURA ARMENTA
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
“I am doing what I do because I believe that people should move,” Armenta said. “People should understand that through mobility and through connecting with their bodies, they can overcome everything. I was a lost and abused teenager, but dance was my outlet and shelter. With dance, you can communicate with others without using words; that became an instant way to express my sorrows and darkness and in turn, became my family and community.”
CALLING ALL LOCAL POETS!
Because Armenta has overcome her own trauma, she understands that people’s first reaction to traumatic experiences is often to hold their breath and stress their shoulders. To address the physical, emotional and psychological challenges of life, Armenta incorporates breath work and encourages emotional support throughout her teaching philosophy. “I teach not only moving your physical body but also integrating a lot of breathing techniques because that allows images and experiences to come through our movements,” Armenta explained. “I like to create an aspect of sisterhood where we can move together to support and empower each other.” After needed help with stress management, Julia Weston and her friend started taking restorative yoga with Armenta. “It was immediately apparent that this was a place where there is no pressure to fit into any specific mold,” Weston said. “Laura’s direction has really helped me become more mindful of my stress level and how to use my body to control it.” Now, these practices have become a tradition for Weston and her friend, who have been taking classes at Armentality every Monday for four years. Born in Mexico City, Armenta has always been an avid advocate of educating students about the anthropological aspects of movement. Known as the “Barefoot Queen,” Armenta only teaches dances that connect her and others with the ground because when you are a dancer or yogini, your instrument is your body. According to Armenta, dances that require shoes not only can cause unrealistic standards and damage to the body, but there is also the element of a financial burden that shoes create for students of dance. Dancing barefoot, on the other hand, has the power to show dancers an intimate and often forgotten view of culture.
The Grand Rapids Public Library is currently accepting applications for the 7th Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids.
The Poet Laureate will: Serve a 3-year term Receive an annual stipend Be an ambassador of poetry Demonstrate a love of poetry Be a resident of Kent County
Applications due January 31, 2020 For more information and how to apply, visit www.grpl.org/poetlaureate.
“You have to be barefoot in order to feel your ancestors,” Armenta said. “In addition to ancient times, many countries right now are showing us that dance can be taught through generations instead of going to a dance studio. Women of different generations are connecting and learning from each other so it is important to honor the human aspect of culture.” For more than 25 years, Debbie Trent has had Armenta as an instructor. While she initially took classes to alleviate back pain, Trent continues her practice at Armentality because of the noticeable affection and dedication Armenta has for the community. “Through Laura’s work and multi-talented nature, it is apparent she is committed to the loves of her life — dance, yoga, friends, students and the Grand Rapids community,” Trent expressed. In her spare time when Armenta is not teaching dance, yoga and fitness classes at Armentality, her work aims to reach the overlooked members of the community, such as through leading yoga classes at the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and movement classes at Artists Creating Together for children with autism and Down syndrome. “Movement, in general, is empowering because it brings self-confidence and allows you to connect with who you are and what you want,” Armenta said. After residing in Grand Rapids for more than 20 years, Armenta feels a sense of responsibility to not only engage with the public but also provide spaces for the community to grow. Because of this, Armenta has transformed her own studio on East Fulton Street to be an umbrella for other creatives and holistic practitioners from such things as local burlesque rehearsals to sword fighting training for actors.
This annual contest is open to poets ages five through adult who reside in Kent County. Winners have their poems published in Voices, receive a cash award, and participate in a reading during the Festival of the Arts in June.
Submissions accepted February 1 – 29, 2020 For more details and submission guidelines, visit www.grpl.org/dyer-ives.
“Now that I have younger performers, I want to give them the opportunity to have the space that I didn’t have when I first moved here,” Armenta said. “The world is so crazy with madness and rejection, but if I have the power and the capacity to offer a space for creatives, to bring a smile to someone that was born blind or to create safety for people with disability, it makes me so happy to have the opportunity to do it.” For more information, visit armentality.com.
EVENTS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 616.988.5400 WWW.GRPL.ORG Sponsor: Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation – Dyer-Ives Foundation Poetry Fund.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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PATTI HAIST, MA, LLP YWCA DIRECTOR OF CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES AND REGIONAL OUTREACH COORDINATOR AND STEPHANIE SOLIS, MSN, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P,YWCA NURSE EXAMINER PROGRAM MANAGER
BY MICHELLE JOKISCH POLO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELYSE WILD
YWCA Nurse Examiner Program
Offers Medical and Emotional Support to Sexual Assault Victims
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addie Vervaeke remembers the first time she went to see the nurse examiner at the YWCA of West Central Michigan.
“In the moment, it was the scariest thing I had ever experienced,” she shared. Although it was a couple of years ago, Vervaeke replays the events that led her there almost every single day. But sitting in the patient’s room at the nurse examiner’s office is where Vervaeke’s journey began to become an advocate for others who have been sexually assaulted. “I think it takes a minute to build trust because I know that initially, you’re not trusting of anyone at all,” Vervaeke added. She says being a victim advocate during the process is really about making the person receiving the exam as comfortable as possible. Anyone who has been sexually assaulted can visit a nurse examiner at the YWCA to receive medical care and support through a comprehensive physical exam. A nurse examiner, like Stephanie Solis,will work with the victim of the assault to gather medical evidence about the incident. Upon first meeting the victim, Solis, begins with a question. “I ask them, ‘How are you feeling? How can I help you get through this exam in the best way for you?’” Solis explained.
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Visiting the nurse examiner doesn’t have to involve doing what is legally known as a medical forensic exam. “Doing the exam is completely voluntary, some patients come in for medications,” Solis added. The medications available to a victim can include Plan B to prevent pregnancy and others to prevent sexually transmitted infections. If a patient does decide to go through a medical examination, it involves collecting a medical history, doing a head-to-toe physical exam and a genital exam. During the exam, evidence is gathered for a rape kit. A rape kit consists of gathering evidence such as clothing fibers, hairs, saliva, and taking photographs of any physical injuries that may be on the person’s body. The evidence gathered is for the victim so that if they want to they can file charges with the police department. The rape kit is available to the victim for up to 18 months after their exam. When volunteering as a victim advocate at the YWCA, Vervaeke is not able to share that she too has been a victim, but she says she tries to show them with her body language that she truly does understand. “I try to observe closely what their reactions are and then I ask myself what kind of support they need,” Vervaeke added. According to Solis, every year about 500 people visit her office for an exam, resources and support. The services
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
“I think we need to be more aware of how we ask or don’t ask for consent and it can be as simple as asking for a hug before going in for a hug.” — MADDIE VERVAEKE
the YWCA offers are completely free, and patients are encouraged to continue to receive regular care for up to 12 months after they visit their visit. “We refer patients to their primary care doctor, the Kent County Health Department or Planned Parenthood,” Solis explained. Because victims of sexual assault and violence are at high risk for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the nurse examiner program is working to be able to provide PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, to reduce the risk of contracting it. “So our work right now is doing a rapid HIV test in the office, offering a 3 to 5 day supply of the medication, and making a clear path for follow up care with a community partner,” Solisaid. One out of every six women in the United States has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime, according to 2018 data gathered by the Department of Justice. And while sexual violence and sexual assault affect everyone, people with disabilities are six times more likely to experience sexual violence; and Native women, black girls, transwomen and queer people
are more likely to be victims of sexual assault. “The vast majority of sexual assault cases involve someone the victim knows closely like a partner or friend,” Vervaeke said. For her, it was someone she knew, someone with whom she was on a first date, someone she trusted, someone who chose to ignore her body language and her hesitancy. “I can replay it in my head as many times as I want, and I know that I never said, ‘yes,’ but it’s hard because I still blame myself for what happened,” Vervaeke expressed. After the assault, she says she became more aware of how our society fails to practice consent. “I think we need to be more aware of how we ask or don’t ask for consent and it can be as simple as asking for a hug before going in for a hug,” she added. While it wasn’t easy for Vervaeke to go through a comprehensive medical examination after she was assaulted, she says in a way she felt empowered.
“I had options, and I got to decide what I wanted to do with the evidence gathered during my exam,” she expressed. Today, when Vervaeke isn’t going to school for a master’s degree in public health or providing emergency medical care as an EMT, she spends her free time volunteering as a victim advocate so that every person receiving an exam can feel safe and supported. The Nurse Examiner Program is available to anyone at no cost at the YWCA of West Central Michigan at 25 Sheldon Ave SE. To schedule an appointment with a nurse examiner, or to receive support and resources, you can call the confidential hotline at 616-454-YWCA or 9922.
Michelle Jokisch Polo is a Grand Rapidian transplant from El Salvador & Ecuador. She is passionate about creating spaces where intersectionality is encouraged and marginalized voices are elevated.
ONE OUT OF EVERY SIX WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF AN ATTEMPTED OR COMPLETED RAPE IN HER LIFETIME, ACCORDING TO 2018 DATA GATHERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. A RAPE KIT CONSISTS OF GATHERING EVIDENCE SUCH AS CLOTHING FIBERS, HAIRS, SALIVA, AND TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF ANY PHYSICAL INJURIES THAT MAY BE ON THE PERSON’S BODY.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Enjoy More Time Outdoors — Even When it’s Cold COURTESY OF MCC
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he amount of time people spend outdoors has dramatically decreased, as the Environmental Protection Agency now reports the average American spends 87 percent of his or her time in a residence, school building or workplace. Being outside is linked to better moods, more physical activity and less exposure to contaminants (concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher indoors). Also, people who spend time outside may not come into contact with surface germs or develop various illnesses spread as often as those who spend a lot of time indoors. Cold weather can make the desire to be outside less appealing, but it is important for one’s mental and physical well-being to get outside. The following activities might coax people outside for some crisp air.
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CREATE SNOW CRITTERS
Why do snowmen and women get all of the fanfare this time of year? Just about any living or fictional creature can be molded from snow and embellish landscapes. Use food-grade coloring in spray bottles to added even more creative flair to snow designs. GO ON A NATURE HIKE
While many plants and animals hibernate in winter, there is still plenty to see. Bring along a sketch book or camera and capture nature in winter. White-washed hills can be beautiful to behold, and many small animals and birds look even more vivid against the white backdrop of snow. MAKE AN OBSTACLE COURSE
Turn an area of the yard or park into a homemade obstacle course. It’s much more difficult — and a great workout — to try to jump over snow mounds or run down paths when decked out in warm layers. Engage in
lighthearted competitions with friends and family members. BUILD A BONFIRE
Children can set off in different directions to gather up firewood to craft a bonfire with adults in a safe location. S’mores taste equally delicious whether it’s warm or cold outside, and in winter they can be accompanied by toasty mugs of cocoa. GET SPORTY
Sledding, skating, snowshoeing, and ice hockey are just a few of the winter sports that can get the heart pumping and muscles working outside. These activities are entertaining and also great exercise.When venturing outdoors in winter, dress in layers. This way clothing can be put on or taking off to reduce the likelihood of hypothermia.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
EXPERT ADVICE
ON MEDICAL TOPICS
GET TO KNOW
THE FACES OF WEST MICHIGAN HEALTHCARE
ASK THE EXPERT
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BIOTE METHOD OF HORMONE THERAPY! AM I A CANDIDATE FOR THE BIOTE METHOD OF HORMONE THERAPY? The symptoms of women’s hormone imbalance are often overlooked during conventional doctor’s visits or chalked up to ‘getting older.’ Trouble sleeping, hot flashes or flushes, low energy, weight gain, joint pain, decreased mood, and brain fog may all be signs of a hormone imbalance. A blood test and a conversation with a certified BioTE provider can help you identify if you are suffering from imbalanced hormones.
LISA PULLUM, DO
BOARD-CERTIFIED IN PAIN MANAGEMENT AND ANESTHESIA
ASK THE EXPERT “There are so many symptoms and everyday issues that can be made significantly better with hormone replacement. We need to stop saying it’s due to the aging process!”
DR. LISA PULLUM uses her own strug-
gle of fighting breast cancer, and the rapid menopause she experienced as a result of treatment, to better understand the link between hormones and pain. After working in pain management for over 20 years, she noticed that her patients were not sleeping well, lacked energy to keep up with a healthy exercise routine, and were gaining weight. She realized that hormones and pain were often interconnected and wanted to better understand this connection and how she could alleviate the symptoms of hormone imbalance both for herself and for her patients. Initially drawn to the BioTE method of hormone optimization because of their use of bioidentical pellet therapy, which yields long-lasting and consistent results, Dr. Pullum became a certified BioTE provider. With BioTE, she feels she gets strong support from the extended network of providers, and BioTE’s emphasis on ongoing education allows her to continue to grow and learn how best to relieve her patients of their symptoms of hormone imbalance and help them to live better longer.
WHAT TYPES OF IMMEDIATE CHANGES CAN I EXPECT? Some patients experience relief in two to four weeks, but full hormone optimization may take up to six months. Patients have said that after insertion, they experience better sleep, fewer uncomfortable hot flashes, increased mental clarity, and improved mood, among other benefits! Changes are different for every patient and will depend on your personalized hormone therapy. WHAT TESTS ARE REQUIRED PRIOR TO INSERTION? We are all different, and as such our hormone imbalances are as unique as we are! Prior to insertion, a BioTE provider requires a blood test and a comprehensive consultation with any prospective patient to better understand how best to approach their particular hormone imbalance symptoms. WHAT SHOULD I DO BEFORE THE INSERTION? If possible, avoid taking NSAIDS (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen sodium, etc.) for one week before the insertion date. Otherwise, all you have to do is take a deep breath and get excited to potentially experience the benefits of hormone optimization! WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE IN-OFFICE INSERTION? An in-office insertion is a quick and simple process—taking only a few minutes! First, the insertion site, normally on the upper buttocks, will be numbed. Then a small incision will be made, the hormone pellet inserted, and the insertion site covered with a bandage. WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE WEEK IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING INSERTION? After pellet insertion, it’s a good idea to take a break from 3-7 days at the gym! Avoid lower body exercise until you remove your bandage—usually about a week. Showers are fine, but it’s best not to take a bath or go swimming during this time. Once you remove the bandage, you can return to all normal exercise routines. WHAT HAPPENS TO PELLETS AFTER INSERTION? Pellets are absorbed entirely into the body. Women can expect their pellets to last anywhere between three to six months. Once fully absorbed, you may begin to experience a return of symptoms and it’s time to schedule your next insertion!
For more information: www.michiganpain.com or www.simplehormones.com/pullum 26
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
EXCELLENT SOLUTIONS FOR MISSING TEETH What are dental implants? Dental implants are small titanium screws that are placed in the jawbone to simulate the roots of a natural tooth. Dental implants have an internal screw system that allows your dentist to attach a single tooth, dental bridge, removable denture or even rebuild an entire upper or lower set of teeth.
ROSEANNA NOORDHOEK DDS,
ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON. THE CENTER FOR ORAL SURGERY AND DENTAL IMPLANTS
ASK THE EXPERT “There are so many possibilities with today’s implants. No one has to live with bad teeth!”
DR NOORDHOEK GREW UP in Dewitt,
MI and attended Grand Valley State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Health Science. In 2007, she graduated from The University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry with a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree. She completed her Oral Surgery residency in 2011 at Virginia Commonwealth University. While finishing residency, Dr. Noordhoek established the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA, where she was the lead surgeon. After Practicing in PA for 5 years Dr. Noordhoek wanted to return home with her family to Michigan and is so happy to be back in Grand Rapids. Dr. Noordhoek practices full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery and is board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. She is most passionate about bone grafting and placing dental implants to restore function, confidence and quality of life in her patients. Dr. Noordhoek has been on multiple medical mission trips in Central America and is passionate about giving back in her community. She also enjoys artistic pursuits such as knitting, jewelry, and clothing construction. Dr. Noordhoek is married and has two children.
Who is a candidate for dental implants? Anyone who is missing one or more teeth that they would like to replace should sit down with us for a consultation. Dental implants do need to be placed after the jaw has stopped growing (around 18-21 years old), so younger patients that are missing teeth are usually given temporary solutions first. There are no upper age limits, and I have many patients in their 80’s and 90’s who did not want removable teeth and have had successful dental implants placed instead. We do know that some medical conditions such as diabetes and medications for autoimmune disorders can make it more difficult for implants to fuse to the jawbone, and patients that are heavy smokers will need to cut back prior to implant placement. What is the process of getting a dental implant? In our office, every case is individual. Depending on if your tooth is already missing or if it still needs to be removed will determine how long treatment will be. In some cases your tooth can be removed and an implant placed at the same time, shortening treatment time. The most important thing for a dental implant is to have a good bony foundation, many times we will recommend a bone graft when your tooth is removed or at the time of implant placement. Bone grafting has come a long way in recent years and often we can use “bone in a bottle,” saving the patient from having to harvest a bone graft from another site on their body. Once all the implants have healed, you will see your general dentist to have the actual teeth placed on top. What is the downtime after the procedure? The procedure itself is straight forward and can be done in our office with a variety of anesthesia options. For a straight forward implant surgery, many patients can resume work and activities later in the day. Heavy exercising and sports will need a bit of downtime and you will need a soft diet for a few weeks afterward. What are the benefits of an implant over other options to replace missing teeth? In the past, many people had to choose a removable appliance and/or get a bridge that would need to cut down the two teeth adjacent to the space of the missing tooth. An implant allows the most natural way to replace a tooth or missing teeth and is fixed in place – meaning that you brush and floss it like normal and it does not have to be removed at night. This is a huge functional benefit and definitely the most natural way to restore a smile.
For more information, visit www.grandrapidsoralsurgery.com Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
27
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
MY ROLE AS YOUR OBGYN What is one thing you want all women to know? Women need to take time to focus on their own health! As women, we often take care of everyone else at our own expense and forget that we need to be mentally, spiritually and physically healthy to be able to serve others and live our lives to the fullest, the way God intended. Take the time to invest in yourself by investing in your health. Don’t neglect yourself!
SHANNON MADISON, MD
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
ASK THE EXPERT “My job is not just pap smears and catching babies. The scope of practice is much broader and includes education related to lifestyle changes that decrease cancer risks.”
Meet DR. SHANNON MADISON, the new Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Christian Healthcare Centers, a direct primary care multispecialty medical practice on the northeast side of Grand Rapids. Dr. Madison attended college at Miami University of Ohio and earned her MD at the University of Cincinnati in 2014. Medical school was life-changing in many ways; she met her wonderful physician husband, Chris, his very first day. She then completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wright State University, where she served as administrative chief resident. During residency, she received the Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Academic Achievement Award. After residency, Dr. Madison joined Wright State University’s OB/GYN faculty. In June 2019 she received the ACOG National Faculty Award as well as the Physician Role Model Award. She then moved to Grand Rapids where she has had the immense privilege of starting the Obstetrics and Gynecology program for Christian Healthcare Centers (CHC).
What is the primary role of an OB/GYN? Most people think of “pap smears and catching babies” when they think about an OB/GYN. While that is important, our scope of practice is much broader and includes women of all ages. Since breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women, uterine cancer affects 1 in 39 and ovarian cancer affects 1 in 70, much of my job is screening for cancer and teaching women about lifestyle changes to decrease risk and live healthier lives. Additional areas of expertise include evaluating and treating abnormal periods, PCOS, pelvic pain, urine leakage, pelvic organ prolapse, hot flashes and concerns about sexual intimacy. Are annual or routine appointments really necessary? Yes! It is important to visit your OB/GYN annually to establish a normal pattern for your health and talk through changes and concerns as you age. You can significantly decrease your risk simply by getting screened regularly and making a few small lifestyle changes. Family planning is another important part of annual visits; did you know that ideally women should start prenatal vitamins 3 months before getting pregnant? What is direct primary care (DPC)? My family likes to use the phrase “concierge medicine” as a synonym for direct primary care. While there are similarities (neither bill health insurance), direct primary care tries to make health care affordable, whereas concierge medicine can be quite costly. One of the ways CHC provides affordable care is through Healthy Tomorrows, a program that makes prenatal care available at no cost to financially disadvantaged women. Since CHC is a direct primary care practice, I can make decisions that are best for an individual, not based on insurance company mandates. What is different about a DPC OB/GYN? As a multidisciplinary office, I have internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, counseling and ultrasound, all in one building. The camaraderie we share as providers allows us to care for the whole person. Underlying depression or anxiety can exacerbate medical conditions, so providing on-site counseling can have an immense impact on patients’ quality of life. I am also afforded time to deeply know my patients and understand their needs with 90 minute new patient appointments, allowing me to get to the root cause and help provide health and healing.
Dr. Madison enjoys is passionate about educating and supporting women. She is committed to going the extra mile to provide detailed, personal health care to all her patients.
For more information, visit www.chcenters.org 28
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
HOW THERAPY HELPS WITH ADDICTION RECOVERY Why should people with addiction go to therapy? Our culture supports people going to detox or rehab, thinking this is the cure. Really, it’s just one part of the process for most. Addiction is a chronic disease that needs ongoing maintenance just like diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma. Studies show that individuals who receive follow-through care are more likely to maintain sobriety, and statistics show that those attending peer support groups and professionally-led groups have the greatest chance of success.
KATHY CARRUTHERS, LMSW, CAADC PINE REST RETREAT CLINIC
ASK THE EXPERT “Quitting drug or alcohol use is just the beginning of the process of recovery from addiction. In order to maintain sobriety, therapy and new support systems are essential.”
KATHY CURRUTHERS, LMSW, CAADC
is a Licensed Master of Social Work and a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Grand Valley State University. She is currently attending Walden University for her Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) with a specialty in addiction. Kathy uses several different treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy and motivational interviewing. She is willing to weave spirituality into any of her treatment modalities, and she also specializes in serving the deaf and hard of hearing.
How does therapy help? Therapy helps individuals in recovery: • Explore their issues around use to determine if they have a substance use disorder. • Learn skills that will help them avoid or reduce relapses. • Uncover and address underlying behavioral health issues like trauma, depression, or anxiety. • Address the consequences of their use as well as everyday life in new, healthier ways than how they did in the past. What are some of the skills people can learn in therapy? • Recognize and change negative thinking. • Avoid high-risk situations. • Identify ways they can cope when can’t avoid a high-risk situation. • Learn new methods to unwind and relax (i.e. meditation, breathing techniques, exercise, etc.). • Create strategies that tap into their motivation for staying in recovery. • Identify recovery-friendly activities that include recovery-friendly people. Should individuals ask for a specific type of therapy or therapist? Although many different clinicians can provide therapy, I recommendworkingwithaCertifiedAlcoholDrugCounselor (CADC)oraCertifiedAdvancedAlcoholandDrugCounselor(CAADC).Therequirementsforthiscertificationarequite extensive and include a great deal of training. These counselors can draw from a range of therapies and experience and create a program that works best for each individual to meet personal goals. Which is more beneficial … individual or group sessions? Researchshowsbotharehighlybeneficial.Inindividualtherapy, the counselor acts more like a coach or personal trainer to help the individual use personal strengths to create a new life and manage the anxiety that comes with learning to live without the substance. Therapy also addresses any behavioral health issues that are uncovered. Although group therapy might sound intimidating, most really enjoy group because everyone is facing similar challenges. It’s veryaffirmingtoknowyou’renotalone. Where does Pine Rest offer therapy for addiction? We offer individual therapy in 12 clinics and group therapy at four. Individual therapy is now available through teletherapy. Is teletherapy as effective as in-person therapy? Yes!Manyofthepatientswerehesitantatfirst,buttheyreally enjoyed it.
For more information, visit pinerest.org/addiction. Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
What I’ve seen is that this option makes it possible for some people to attend therapy who wouldn’t otherwise. That made me a believer!
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January Events Tuesdays
Nature Buds-Winter Edition. These programs will include guided and self guided play for the little ones in your life, ages 1yr-4yrs. Blandford Nature Center. 9:30-10:30am. blandfordnaturecenter.org
Thursdays
The Chilly Challenge. Participants will enjoy a unique tour each week, traversing the sidewalks while focusing on a theme, narrated by Caroline Cook of Grand Rapids Running Tours. JW Marriott Grand Rapids. facebook.com
Saturdays
Mindstorm Saturdays. Kids ages 10 and up can explore robotics every Saturday at the library. Using Lego Mindstorms EV3 kits, these hands-on robotics teach essential coding skills, problem solving and more. Grand Rapids Public Library. 10am-12pm. grpl.org
Ongoing
Rebecca Louise Law: The Womb. This exhibition of new work explores the intimate relationship between humankind and nature. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. meijergardens.org The Art of Change. An exhibition of art that raises awareness of current global issues of our time in an effort to provoke positive change. Lowell Arts. lowellartsmi.org Larry Cook: On the Scene. On the Scene is a solo exhibition that explores the cultural aesthetic of “club” photography and painted backdrops. Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. uica.org Mark Rumsey: Memory Map: Roof Line - State Street. It features braids of repurposed textiles strung into planes floating in space. Urban Institute for
Compiled by editorial staff. We do our best to ensure the accuracy of each listing. Time, date and location of events are subject to change.
Contemporary Arts. uica.org
Spot. 10am-3pm. thehotspotgr.com
Kennedy Yanko: Before Words. Before Words is a body of metal and paint skin work meant to induce new ways of seeing. Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. uica.org
Jan 7-14
Jan 1
Owl Moon. Listen to a classic winter tale about the owling adventures of a boy and his grandfather while sipping hot chocolate. Blandford Nature Center. 6-7:30pm. blandfordnaturecenter.org
Jan 1-16
Snowflake Break. This holiday season, visit the GRPM and take part in a variety of family friendly programs and activities themed around history, science and culture, and our special exhibits – Bodies Revealed, Design Zone & TOYS. Grand Rapids Public Museum. grpm.org
Jan 2
Winter-Themed Storytime. Learn about the countless ways to explore the winter season in the Children’s Garden through stories such as All You Need for a Snowman, Bear Snores On, Time to Sleep and Froggy Gets Dressed. Frederik Meijer Gardens. 11:1511:45am. meijergardens.org
Jan 4
GR Symphony Presents the Snowman. Based on the award-winning children’s book The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, this concert captures a magical night for a boy and his snowman friend. DeVos Performance Hall. 3pm. devosperformancehall.com
Jan 5
Cabochon Stone Setting Workshop. In this 5 hour class, you will learn to cut, solder, and work with silver and bezel wire to set those beautiful stones in your own ring or pendant. The Hot
Watercolor for Beginners. In this two session course led by Solstice Handmade, you’ll learn useful techniques and advice to tackle painting in full color from life. Lions and Rabbits. 6pm. lionsandrabbits.com
Jan 8
Open Studio: Lyubov Popova Inspired. Artists Creating Together. 6-7:30pm. Artistscreatingtogether.org Grand Rapids Drive vs. Long Island Nets. DeltaPlex. 7pm. deltaplex.com
Jan 9
Division Avenue: A Trip Back in Time (Part II). In part two of this series, Ed Paciencia will look back at South Division between Wealthy and 28th Street, showcasing photographs and sharing stories from his book, The History of South Division. Grand Rapids Public Library. 7-8:30pm. grpl.org
fabrication techniques. The Hot Spot. thehotspotgr.com
Jan 13
FSC Screen Club. Koning Microcinema. 6pm. Grcmc.org
Jan 14
Shen Yun. Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance company, bringing to life a lost culture through profoundly beautiful art. DeVos Performance Hall. 7:30pm. devosperformancehall.com
Jan 16
Emmet Cohen Master Legacy Series. Multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen has emerged as one of his generation’s pivotal figures in music and the related arts. St. Cecilia Music Center. 7:30pm. scmc-online.org
Jan 17-31
Jan 10-11
GR Symphony Presents Shostakovich & Mozart. DeVos Performance Hall. 8pm. devosperformancehall.com
Translating Valence: redefining black male identity. Translating Valence propagates ideas regarding black masculinity that lie in conjunction with, and opposition to, widely held historical and stereotypical beliefs. Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts. uica.org
Jan 10-26
Jan 18
A Streetcar Named Desire. A tragic drama from the mind of Tennessee Williams about a young woman’s delusion, volatile relationships, and the madness in between. Grand Rapids Civic Theatre.grct.org
Jan 11
11th Annual Winter Wheat Festival. The Intersection. 1pm. sectionlive.com
Jan 11-12
Elements of Design. This Two day intensive workshop will focus on combining cabochon setting skills with
FHC Random Acts of Talent. Forest Hills Fine Arts Center. 7-8:30pm. fhfineartscenter.com
Jan 21-30
Broadway Grand Rapids Presents Hamilton. DeVos Performance Hall. devosperformancehall.com
Jan 22
Culinary Conversations: Creating Vital Connections in the Food World. Eastern Kille Distillery. 5-6pm. downtownmarketgr.com
JAN. 2 - MARCH 31, 2020 FOR ADULTS AND NOW TEENS, TOO! Read six books and receive a Let It Snow prize mug. Read an additional four books to be entered into a drawing for an iPad. kdl.org/snow
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
New Year! New You! Open House
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 • 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Come in for a CoolSculpting demo! See what LASER/IPL for skin rejuvenation can do for you! Learn the TRUTH about hormones and wellness. Discover how PRP restores sexual vitality! *SPECIAL: 25% off CoolSculpting for attendees* RSVP to (616) 301-7390 www.optimalwellnessmedical.com
5070 Cascade Road SE, Suite 210, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Russell Peters
JP Sears
Justin Willman
Miranda Sings
Ralph Harris
Jim Gaffigan
signature event with
Jeff foxworthy
MAria Bamford
adam caytonholland
Check out laughfestgr.org/news for the latest LaughFest announcements.
MARCH 5–15, 2020 10 days of free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff!
AND more!
Visit laughfestgr.org for the latest ticket and event information! CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF LAUGHTER FOR THE HEALTH OF IT! Proceeds benefit the free cancer and grief emotional health support program offered through Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids. Find out more at gildasclubgr.org. LF20 Women's Lifestyle - January Ad.indd 1
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
laughfestgr.org | info@laughfestgr.org | 616.735.4242
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12/12/2019 9:46:50 AM
Arts & Entertainment:
Event Spotlight
Auto Show Charity Spectacular BY ELYSE WILD
O
n Jan. 29, The Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Foundation invites you to join in celebrating one of the year’s premier events: The Auto Show Charity Spectacular. Guests may relish in a gourmet strolling dinner by local sponsoring restaurants — including Reserve Wine & Food, The Candied Yam, Bar Divani, KJ Catering, Noco Provisions and more — and cocktails while enjoying an exclusive preview of the 22nd Annual Michigan International Auto Show exhibition hall, which features 300 new vehicles from car manufacturers across the globe. A highlight of the event is the popular Million Dollar Motorway, a stunning display of exotic vehicles, each of which must have a sticker price of $1 million to be included. The hall also features an exhibit by The Gilmore Car Museum reviewing 120 years of automotive innovation; a collection of Great American Muscle Cars and the latest in automotive development from more than 25 manufacturers, including Ford, Hyundai, Subaru, Dodge, Jaguar, BMW and more. The show will run from Jan 30-Feb 2. Entertainment for the evening includes a talent show by current and past patients of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Nicole Cook is a senior event specialist at Spectrum Health and the organizer behind the Charity Spectacular. “The talent show is really that moment in the evening that reminds of we are all there,” she said.
Jan 26
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Experience the grace, wit, and charm of French music. St. Cecilia Music Center. 7:30pm. scmc-online.org
Harlem Globetrotters. Van Andel Arena. 3pm. vanandelarena.com
Property Management Happy Hour/ Downtown Neighbor Network. Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. 4-5:30pm. facebook.com
Jan 24
The Frog King (A Tribute to Neil Diamond). Peter Wege Auditorium. 7:30pm. grcmc.org
What: Auto Show Charity Spectacular When: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 6-9:30 p.m. Where: DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW xx Cost: $150 Rapids’ band, Brena. Sponsors include Fifth Third Bank, Gentex Corporation, Auto-Wares Group, Sharp Corp., Gun Lake Casino and more. Live media coverage by WOOD TV and WOTV will take place throughout the evening. Guests are encouraged to dress in cocktail attire. Proceeds from this premier event provide life-saving and life-changing care at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, the largest children’s hospital in Michigan. Since 2002, the event has raised $2 million for the hospital. “This is one of our bigger events,” Cook expressed. “I love that we get to celebrate and support the children’s hospital in a fun and unique way.” To purchase tickets visit give.spectrumhealth.org/AutoShow
Also performing is popular Grand
RUNNING LATE? CALL AHEAD! 616-301-4554
Huntin’ Time Expo. The expo features a variety of hunting exhibitors offering products and services unlike any other outdoor show. DeltaPlex. 1pm. Deltaplex.com Kombucha Workshop. Kombucha is a fermented beverage dating back almost 3,000 years and has been used in many cultures as a beneficial drink for digestion, inflammation, immune function, and countless other uses including skin toner. Blandford Nature Center. 1-3pm. blandfordnaturecenter.org Peter and the Wolf. One of the bestloved musical tales of all time will thrill your little ones in this performance featuring the Grand Rapids Symphony. Dan Heintzelman Fine Arts Center. 10:30am. grsymphony.org
Jan 25-26
Orchid Show. Escape winter’s chill and enjoy a stunning variety of beautiful, unusual, and colorful orchids exhibited by orchid enthusiasts from across the state. Frederik Meijer Gardens. Saturday 12-5pm and Sunday 11am4:30pm. Meijergardens.org A New State of Matter: Contemporary Glass. Each of the nineteen artists included in the exhibition examines the material and symbolic potential of glass in unique and revealing ways. Grand Rapids Art Museum. artmuseumgr.org
WEEKDAYS
7 A.M. - 6 P.M.
SUNDAYS
family crisis, founder Jennifer
10 A.M. - 3 P.M.
Masley began selling Jenergy Bars and Detoxes from her kitchen. With avid support from the Grand
JUICES
Rapids community her client list
SMOOTHIES
grew, and in 2012 Sip Organic Juice Bar was born.
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Our menu includes juices,
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ORGANIC JUICE BAR GRAND RAPIDS ORIGINAL JUICE BAR 888 FOREST HILLS AVE SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49546
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Auto Show Charity Spectacular. Join the Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Foundation for an exclusive preview of the International Auto Show, complete with live entertainment, cocktails and a roaming dinner with culinary creations from local restaurants. All proceeds go toward the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. DeVos Place Convention Center.6-9:30 pm. showspan.com
Mary Jane. Mary Jane is a moving and compassionate portrait of a woman striving for grace and the prevailing strength of human will when fueled by unconditional love. Actors’ Theatre Grand Rapids. 8pm. actorstheatregrandrapids.org
Jan 30-Feb 2
Michigan International Auto Show. Car manufacturers from around the world will bring their finest traveling displays with new vehicles. DeVos Place Convention Center. showspan.com
Jan 31
Pop Scholars Improv Comedy. They impress with their fast-paced humor, perfect comedic-timing, and uncanny on-stage chemistry. Peter Wege Auditorium. 8pm. grcmc.org The Glory of the Baroque. St. Cecilia Music Center. 8pm. grsymphony.org
Jan 25-April 26
8 A.M. - 5 P.M.
industry, and in the midst of a
Jan 29
Jan 30
Jan 25
SATURDAYS
After many years in the wellness
Dynamic Drawing. Time for another night of life drawing with a live model and still life. Little Space Studio. 6pm. facebook.com
SALADS WELLNESS LATTES TEAS
For more event listings,visit womenslifestyle.com.
ONE BODY*ONE LIFE
OUR STORY
Jan 23
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
Assisted living does not mean you have to leave your home. Our carefully screened home care aides provide care, drawing from both their experience and their hearts. Call today so The Giving Care Group can put together a plan that will keep you safe and assisted in your own environment.
Holistic chiropractic services that embrace the totality of your creative human energy
(616) 366-7712
Alignment / Movement / Adjustment Reiki Chakra Diagnosis Nourishment / Supplemental Cellular Nutrients We address all areas of health with the goal of aligning all systems
MIND | BODY | SPIRIT for total integrative health
Beaubien Bodyworks Massage, Skin & Hair Boutique
2 hours of luxury only $99! Our new client specials make great Holiday Gifts 3 to choose from: • Luxury facial with wax, sugaring or peel • Organic color, cut & blowout • Massage & facial - both a full hour!
(616) 846-3860 | www.inspiredchiro.com | 1428 Waverly Ave, Grand Haven All services at Inspired Health Chiropractic can be used with your HSA/FSA healthcare accounts.
Purchase gift cards online at beaubienbodyworks.com or call 616.258.8181 We are in the heart of East Hills at 951 Wealthy St, SE
Eternal
desire
One show. Four passionate performances.
FEBRUARY 14-16, 2020 | PETER MARTIN WEGE THEATRE Buy tickets only at 616.454.4771 or grballet.com/eternaldesire. Alexandra Meister-Upleger and Nathan Young in Balanchine’s Ballade; photo by Jade Butler.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Arts & Entertainment:
Event Spotlight
“The Snowman”
by the Grand Rapids Symphony
BY KAYLA SOSA | PHOTOS BY TERRY JOHNSTON
T
Ivory said hearing the performance live is a unique experience. In some of the modern performances where a movie is accompanied by live music, the director is able to get cues from the video. Ivory said “The Snowman” doesn’t provide the director those same signals.
he festive fun doesn’t have to stop after the holidays are over. Those looking for some more joy in the season can join the Grand Rapids Symphony for the one time only performance of AcademyAward nominated animated film “The Snowman” on Jan. 4.
“It’s electric,” he described. “The conductor has to time everything to line up with the film. There are no signals at all. (Conductor) John Varineau has to just know the film so well that he can conduct. There’s a part where the orchestra has to play a sneeze, the snowman sneezes. All of that stuff has to
The classic 1982 animated silent film, “The Snowman” will be shown on the 40-foot-screen with a live score performed by the symphony and accompanying choirs. The story is from the 1978 children’s book by Raymond Briggs, with original music composed by Howard Blake. “It’s all done with pencil drawings, so the animation is really amazing,” said Sean Ivory, co-director of the Grand Rapids Symphony Youth Choruses. “There’s no dialogue to really tell the story, it’s kind of like a picture book. The music is depicting all the parts of the story in a really descriptive way.”
“The Snowman” tells the story of a young boy who builds a snowman that comes to life and takes him on a trip to the North Pole. While Santa makes an appearance, Ivory said the 30-minute show is very much a “winter story.”
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What: “The Snowman” by the Grand Rapids Symphony When: Saturday, Jan. 4, 3:00 p.m. Where: DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW Cost: $15
be timed completely perfectly, down to the microsecond.” Ivory said the show is for the whole family. “Even as an adult, I find it to be a really powerful story,” Ivory said. “I think kids and adults can really get into what they’re seeing and hearing.” Besides “The Snowman,” the program also features the Grand Rapids Symphony performing such wintery melodies as the “Winter” Concerto from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and the “Winter Train Ride” from Prokofiev’s “Winter Bonfire Suite.” Pre-concert activities begin at 2 p.m. Children can experience the joy of making music with an instrument petting zoo and make snowman crafts.
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Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Infant | Toddler | Preschool | Young 5’s | School Age Visit www.appletreekids.cc to find a location near you
Assisted Living at its best!
At Porter Hills Village you have a chance to be a son or daughter again — our care is excellent and you can gain peace of mind knowing your loved one is safe and sound. The ASSISTED LIVING approach at Porter Hills Village “CATERS” the best services, features, and amenities for your loved one. DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM ASSISTANCE? • Individual care plans • Bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene • Housekeeping and meals • Highly trained professional staff • Inter-generational opportunities through YMCA’s on-site child care center EXPERIENCE THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT DIFFERENCE!
Porter Hills Village Beautiful Gardens | Spacious Apartments | Chef Inspired Dining
Call 616.202.5179 today to make an appointment for a tour of our CATERED ASSISTED LIVING. 3600 E Fulton St., Grand Rapids • www.porterhills.org
COME IN AND SEE
WHAT’S NEW KIDS’ GIFTS, TOYS, GAMES AND MORE!
• Unique kids’ books & games • Baby/kids gifts & gear • Eco-friendly and locally-made items • Always FREE gift wrapping FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL >>
On Cherry St., between Diamond & Eastern, in East Hills. 909 Cherry St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 hopscotchstore.com • 616.233.4008
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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Arts & Entertainment:
2020 Moonpeace Lunar Calendar
(made in Grand Rapids) “With freedom, flowers and the moon, who could not be happy.” -Oscar Wilde
Intuitive / Psychic Readers ~ Reiki and Energy Therapy
Event Spotlight
Step Back in Time with History Detectives BY ELYSE WILD | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GREATER GRAND RAPIDS WOMEN’S HISTORY COUNCIL
The Rev. Vivian Love Kyle • Intuitive Angel Reader
Intuitive artist and counselor who channels messages from the angelic realm. Her clients receive insights and guidance from those entities and spirits with which they are surrounded. Vivian is a 5th generation medium who continues the legacy as teacher, spiritual counselor, and healer. www.loveisvictorious.com
Eugenia Marve • Psychic • Medical Intuitive • Medium
Awarded educator, workshop facilitator, Psychic over 45 years. Gives clients information about relationships, economics, health and those not present. International and national phone or Skype readings available. God is her foundation. www.marvecreations.com
Margaret Newman Nickelsen • Psychic Reader
Over 40 years experience reading for people from all walks of life. Each reading is unique, personal, in an atmosphere of calm assurance. Margaret is a certified Spiritual Director. Your Divine Self guides your reading. www.jokersjourney.com
Beth Ann Townsend • Traditional Healing & Educator
Beth offers Craniosacral, Reiki, Traditional Healing Modalities and Energy Therapies creating an integrative approach to wellness. She has studied and practiced with Traditional Elders for over 35 years. www.healingtraditionsgr.com
Call (616) 456-9889 to Schedule
$40 for 1/2 hour reading, $80 1 hour. Gift certificates available.
spirit dreams
1430 Lake Drive SE • Grand Rapids, MI 49506 • www.spiritdreamsgr.com HOURS: M-F 10-6 • Wed 10-7 • Sat 10-5 • Sun 11-4
You know I can evict you if you don’t go through with this, right?
I will lower your rent ... if you go out with me.
A
consortium of local historical organizations invites you to step out of the winter cold and into our city’s rich past on January 18 at the Grand Rapids Public Library. The day-long History Detectives event is sponsored by various historical organizations, including The Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council, Grand Rapids Historical Society, GVSU Kutsche Office of Local History, Grand Rapids City Archives, the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Western Michigan Genealogical Society. Presenters will be exploring topics prominent in Grand Rapids’ past, ranging from the furniture strike of 1911 to stories of early African Americans in West Michigan to the city’s role in the national suffrage movement.
Sexual harassment by a landlord is housing discrimination. You have the right to be safe in your home. You are not alone. You can report discrimination anonymously. If you or someone you know has experienced housing discrimination, please call the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan at 616-451-2980. www.fhcwm.org
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Six 45-minute long presentations will be lead by experts who have dedicated their passion for the past to educating citizens about pivotal events and key players and groups that have shaped our city. Tim Gleisner, who will be presenting on the furniture strike of 1911, during which one-third of the city’s workforce walked off their jobs and engaged in a 19-week strike that laid the groundwork for lasting social, economic and historical change, is the head of collections at the Library of Michigan. Jo Ellyn Clarey and Julia Bouwkamp will introduce attendees to the critical and unheralded roll Grand Rapids suffragists played in the national movement. Both women are board members of the Greater Grand
Six 45-minute long presentations will be lead by experts who have dedicated their passion for the past to educating citizens about pivotal events and key players and groups that have shaped our city. Rapids Women’s History Council, which is launching an unprecedented digital suffrage exhibition. Author, journalist, teacher and former magazine editor Marty Arnold will take the audience on a journey across the old wooden Kalamazoo highway that was a boon to Grand Rapids during the 1800s. The event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with a break from lunch from 12:15 to 1 pm. Reserve a boxed lunch for $10 by calling 616-234-3038 or emailing historydetectivesgr.@gmail.com
What: History Detectives When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 9:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Where: Grand Rapids Public Library Cost: Free
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
DEVOS PLACE, GRAND RAPIDS JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 2
Capture the Look and Feel of your Next New Car at The Michigan International Auto Show - Grand Rapids. F O R
D E TA I L S
V I S I T
G R A U TO S H O W. C O M
AUTO SHOW
Charity Spectacular J a nua ry 29, 2020 D e Vo s P l a c e Grand Rapids, MI
Tickets $150 | Sponsorship Opportunities Available | Cocktail Attire | Strolling Dinner | Entertainment Proceeds benefiting Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation For more information or to purchase tickets, visit give.helendevoschildrens.org/autoshow or contact Nicole Cook at nicole.cook@spectrumhealth.org or 616.391.2040.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
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2020 I’m proud to be a Peak Selling ™ Realtor for Midwest Properties of Michigan. Peak Selling™ is designed to generate multiple offers after only a few days on the market, a smoother transaction and closing. It’s proven to be a great way to do business for my sellers! This program also works well for buyers who are trying to buy a home in this crazy market. I utilize a deep understanding of how to write winning offers using aspects of the Peak Selling ™ program and all of the other tools at my disposal.
From everyone at Women’s Lifestyle Magazine!
Tom Briggs
SOUND & LIGHT Weddings, Corporate Events & DJ Service
Book me now at
(616) 532-7059 EMAIL:
Roxanne O’Neil - REALTOR®
2355 Belmont Center Dr.,
Call or email me today.
Suite 104 • Belmont, MI 49306
tomthedj50@yahoo.com tombriggs.webs.com
WEB:
(616) 822-0234 / roneil@grar.com Specializing in drama-free Real Estate
In this New Year … Here’s to your Good Health! The New Year is the season to reflect on the things in our lives that leave room for improvement, healing or change. This year the Women’s Lifestyle team resolves to help our readers discover options for improving their health from head to toe. Look for answers from the experts in the January, February and March issues of WLM. Our Wellness Series will feature area doctors and practitioners with Ask the Expert information about building and maintaining your physical and emotional health in the New Year. Experts on tap … • Pine Rest / mental and emotional health • Lisa Pullum, DO / hormone replacement (BioTe) • Jannah Thompson, MD, FPMRS / pelvic floor health • Roseanna Noordhoek, DDS / Oral Surgery & Dental Implants • Emily VanHeukelom, DDS / Oral Surgery & Dental Implants Women’s Lifestyle Magazine | 2020 Wellness Guide Advertising Special Section: January, February and March issues For information on advertising in this section, contact: Terrie Lynema, terrie@womenslifestyle.com
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According to the Dept. of Labor, women make 80% of health care decisions in the U.S.
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
The Finalists
Presented by the Hotel District
An Evening Honoring Angus Campbell
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2020 HORS D’OEUVRES RECEPTION 6-7PM JW Marriott Mezzanine DINNER & AWARDS 7–10PM JW Marriott International Ballroom AFTERGLOW 10PM–1AM Margaux in the JW Marriott Celebrate West Michigan’s food and beverage industry in the JW Marriott’s International Ballroom. This culinary celebration features hors d’oeuvres, a plated dinner, cocktails, drinks, and afterglow to make this West Michigan’s premier awards ceremony! All proceeds to benefit a professional Culinary Study Abroad Experience.
COCKTAIL/BAR PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
FAST CASUAL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Buffalo Traders Lounge
Taqueria San Jose
Eastern Kille Distillery
IRIE Kitchen
Sidebar
Pho Soc Trang
DISTILLERY OF THE YEAR
DIVE BAR OF THE YEAR
Eastern Kille Distillery
Anchor Bar
New Holland Brewing The Knickerbocker
Broadway Bar and Grill
Long Road Distillers
The Meanwhile
BARTENDER/MIXOLOGIST OF THE YEAR
NEW RESTAURANT/BAR OF THE YEAR (2019 OPENING)
Anthony Spyker - The Sovengard
Hancock Grand Rapids
Joel Ruberg - Buffalo Traders Lounge
Kingfisher Restaurant and Deli
Rob Hanks – Sidebar
Max’s South Seas Hideaway
RISING BAR/RESTAURANT MANAGERS OF THE YEAR
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR (ALL CATEGORIES)
Megan Knapp - Reserve Wine and Food
Grove
Tony Jones - Buffalo Traders Lounge
Marcona on Lyon
RESTAURANT/BAR GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR Kevin Skukalek - Terra GR Restaurant Peter Marantette - Reserve Wine and Food Buzz Goebel
BREWERY OF THE YEAR Brewery Vivant
WINE PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
The Sovengard
FOOD AND BEVERAGE RETAILER OF THE YEAR Apertivo Grand Rapids Art of the Table Martha’s Vineyard
FOOD AND BEVERAGE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Alliance Beverage
Aperitivo Grand Rapids
Gordon Food Service
Grove
Van Eerden Foodservice
Reserve Wine and Food
West Michigan Farmlink
OUTSTANDING SERVICE OF THE YEAR
LOCAL FARM OF THE YEAR (STATE OF MICHIGAN)
Butcher’s Union
Green Wagon Farm
Grove
Ham Farms
Reserve Wine and Food
Visser Farms
RISING CHEFS OF THE YEAR Graeme Glass - Reserve Wine and Food
SOCIAL MEDIA STAR OF THE YEAR
Katy Waltz - Brewery Vivant
Jenna Arcidiacono - Amore Trattoria Italiana
Michael Boraccio - Grove
Jenn Fillenworth - Jenny with the Good Eats
CHEF OF THE YEAR
Liz Della Croce - The Lemon Bowl
Jeremy Paquin - Grove
CHEF ANGUS CAMPBELL
Luke Verhulst - Reserve Wine and Food
Lifetime Achievement Honoree
Patrick Conrade
Women’s LifeStyle Magazine • January 2020
Reserve Wine and Food
City Built Brewing Company The Mitten Brewing Co.
Buy your tickets on eventbrite! Room nights and Sponsorship options available. Contact kborie@ahchospitality.com
Forty Acres Soul Kitchen
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FOOD, BEVERAGES & RESTAURANTS
■ Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano ■ Aperitivo ■ Bistro Bella Vita ■ Brewery Vivant ■ Byron Center Meats ■ Essence Group ■ Ferris Coffee & Nut ■ Field & Fire ■ Grand Rapids Cheesecake Company ■ Grove ■ Malamiah Juice Bar ■ Railside Golf Club ■ Reserve Wine & Food ■ Terra GR ■ The B.O.B. ■ The Cheese Lady Grand Rapids - CHZ Enterprise ■ The Green Well
AUTOMOTIVE
■ Arie Nol Auto Center ■ Community Automotive Repair ■ Harvey Automotive, Cadillac, Lexus, Auto Outlet ■ Pfeiffer Lincoln
SHOPPING & RETAIL
■ Art of the Table ■ Bill & Paulʼs Sporthaus ■ Frames Unlimited ■ Schuler Books ■ Spirit Dreams ■ Stonesthrow ■ Supermercado Mexico ■ Switchback Gear Exchange ■ The Shade Shop
HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES
■ A-1 Locksmith ■ EPS Security ■ Gerritʼs Appliance ■ Gordon Water ■ Morris Builders ■ Nawara Brothers Home Store ■ Rockford Construction ■ Tazzia Lawn Care ■ Verhey Carpets
BUSINESS SERVICES
■ Innereactive ■ The Image Shoppe ■ Womenʼs LifeStyle Magazine
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
■ Grand Rapids Community Media Center (GRCMC) ■ Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women (GROW) ■ Grand Rapids Public Library ■ Neighbors Development ■ Slow Food West Michigan ■ The Rapid ■ West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC)
PET PRODUCTS & SERVICES ■ Chow Hound Pet Supplies
HEALTH, BEAUTY & WELLNESS
■ AgeWise Eldercare Solutions ■ Design 1 Salon Spa ■ Grand Rapids Center for Mindfulness ■ Grand Rapids Wellness ■ Grand Ridge Orthodontics ■ Mommas Home ■ The hairport ■ The Village Doula GR
FINANCIAL & LEGAL ■ Lucy Shair Financial ■ United Bank
TRAVEL & LODGING ■ Breton Travel ■ Countryside Tours ■ Witte Travel
When you support a locally owned business, more resources stay in the community and get reinvested in the economy.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ■ Celebration Cinema ■ Community Circle Theatre ■ Frames Unlimited ■ Glitter Booth Photo Booth ■ Grand Rapids Art Museum ■ Grand Rapids Civic Theatre ■ Grand Rapids Public Museum ■ LaFontsee Galleries ■ LowellArts ■ River City Improv ■ ShowSpan, Inc. ■ The Ruse Escape Room ■ Triumph Music Academy
FLORAL & GARDEN
LOCAL FIRST means PEOPLE FIRST Communities thrive when the economy puts people first.
■ Ball Park Floral & Gifts ■ Eastern Floral ■ Romence Gardens
Local First •345 Fuller Avenue NE • GR, MI 49503 • (616) 808-3788 • www.localfirst.com