Western Mass Wellness proudly presents the following speakers:

Please join us on Saturday November 14th, from 12 noon until 6pm:

1pm: AROMATHERAPY BASICS - Monica Gagnon has been an RN for 18 years and currently works for Weldon at Mercy Medical Center. She is a student in the Clinical Aromatherapy Course at Mercy Medical Center and additionally will be opening her own practice in March 2010. Monica is also working with administration at Mercy Medical Center to start a complementary health program at the hospital. Her talk will include an overview of the practice of Clinical Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils.

2pm: TAROT READING INTRODUCTION - Maribeth McNair affectionately known as “The Happy Medium”, has been professionally reading Tarot cards since 1997. She is a gifted intuitive and author of “Tarot Talk”, a tarot-advice column published weekly in the Newport Daily News’ publication the Newport Mercury. During this Open House session, Maribeth will be discussing the class description for The Symbolism of the Tarot. Using the Universal Waite tarot deck, throughout this 26 week course we will study each of the cards in a way that will allow you to absorb the meanings and vibrations of the cards. You will be able to provide readings for yourself and others in a healing and helpful way. During the overview on November 14, she will also provide a one-card reading for each attendee so that they may walk away with an understanding of the power available through the Tarot.

TAROT READINGS WITH OUR VERY OWN “HAPPY MEDIUM”

Before and after her talk, Maribeth will be available for private readings. $25 for every 15 minutes. Space is very limited, please be sure to call to schedule your readings before she is filled up.

3pm: NATURAL WEIGHTLOSS - Renee Blanchard Hastings is a Holistic Health Counselor certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Renee received her education from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. As a Holistic Health Counselor Renee works with clients to guide them to follow their body’s intuition to achieve optimum health and wellness. She recommends an easy to follow diet and lifestyle changes that clients incorporate into their lives as it feels best for them.

Also available at the Open House will be items for sale from the Simple Pleasures Boutique such as crystals, pendulums, and handmade beaded jewelry. There will still be time to order something custom for that special someone on your Holiday List!! Natures Inventory Oil Blends & Northern Edge Flax Seed.

Also, gift certificates for Reiki available in any denomination. Makes a great gift for anyone on your Holiday list!

Please call for directions! Thank you and of course... Be Well.

Everything Retro

Everything seems to always come back "in". From the mustang styling to new (old) fads for clothing to even football uniforms...

I say... let's bring "love thy neighbor" back! or maybe good old fashion child rearing... where parents were in charge! Just like it used to be!!

Ahhhh... the good ole days...

Just think... no cell phones or texting, your child actually asks if it is ok to go next door and hang out with Bobby before dinner since his homework is finished. Those were the days right? Not worrying if Janey is pregnant,no. Just worrying whether or not she will be too nervous to kiss Jimmy for the first time at the prom!

That was the life, right? simple, slower than it is today... what seems to be the problem? Society, and what we are becoming, where we are going... Look around, it's not pretty... More responsibility at work for less pay. No employee/employer loyalty. (What's that?) My father worked at the same company for 43 years, that's right 43! started off at the very bottom and made his way all the way to the top. An honest living. Not who he knew, or who he - well... you get the picture. When I tell folks I was at a company for 17 years, at my age, they look at me as though I have three heads! Yikes! I loved that job!

The only way life can get more simple now a days is if we make it so... ourselves. Learn to slow down. Breathe. Deep. The only one that can do it for you, is you... I know it seems impossible. In this technologically savvy world we live... when a businessman could tell a fellow colleague, "I'll get back to you on that." and if it was by the end of the week, that was terrific. Now? If you do not return calls within 24 hours someone out there, without a shadow of a doubt will think you're dead. Trust me, it's happened to me! Sad... but none the less true...

Join the Retro Rage! why not?

Mary-Anne DiBlasio
Western Mass Wellness, llc

Fitness is Fun - Health & Wellness Fair

SATURDAY · OCTOBER 17TH · 10:00AM TO 3:00PM · EASTFIELD MALL - MALLWIDE

Join us for a health & wellness fair for the whole family and people of all ages. Featuring interactive exhibitors, FREE health screenings, Reiki, flu clinic, blood drive, children's activities, live performances, raffles and more.

Flu clinic provided by Center Pharmacy - no appointment necessary
Blood drive hosted by Mercy Medical - no appointment necessary
Reiki provided by Western Mass Wellness - sample sessions - first come first serve basis

FREE health screenings include: Blood pressure
Hearing test
Glaucoma
Macular degeneration
Blood glucose
Body fat analysis

Reiki II - upcoming class, Date Change

The Reiki II Class scheduled for Saturday - October 17th, 2009, has been moved to Sunday - October 18th, 2009.

Saturday, Western Mass Wellness will be at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, MA at their annual Family Health and Wellness Expo sponsored by Mass Mutual.

Please stop by to say hello!

Also, don't forget to register for Reiki II SUNDAY instead of SATURDAY!

Thank you and of course, Be Well...

Mary-Anne DiBlasio

Words to live by...

I have four simple words that make up a profound phrase that a new Reiki friend shared with me today...

Simplify Life - Magnify Living

Isn't that wonderful? Thank you Laura!

Meet the faces behind Be Well Kids, Inc.

09-09-09 will be the long awaited Open House for Be Well Kids, Inc. This will be the opportunity to meet the faces behind the scene. An opportunity to ask questions you may have as well as touch and feel the facility in which they will be located. Be Well Kids is happy to announce that they will be located at 174 Brush Hill in West Springfield – in the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative (LPVEC) building. The LPVEC has warmly opened their doors to the BWK and both parties feel this will be mutually beneficial.

The LPVEC relocated to Brush Hill in 2005 and provides career and technical education programs, special education programs, supplemental services, and transportation. They have a state of the art facility and truly is a hidden gem within the community. LPVEC’s Executive Director Anne McKenzie states: “Offering BWK space within our building gives families the opportunity to see the educational programs and services we offer. “

The Open House will be held in the Brush Hill Bistro at LPVEC from 6:30-8:30 on Wednesday, Sept 9th. It will be a chance to see the facility, where the program will be run, and meet the people responsible for making this happen. Founder Mary-Anne DiBlasio states: “We are very excited to have the opportunity to be located in such a great building with so much to offer. We strongly feel that although the other potential locations seemed feasible at the time, now looking at the LPVEC, there truly were no options to be elsewhere. We are grateful that the LPVEC sees the benefit of having us as a tenant in their facility. We are ironing out all the details now to run a seamless program come January 2010.”

When asked about the fact that the children’s programs were unable to open in September as she had hoped, Ms. DiBlasio states: “The community wasn’t ready, and I do feel that timing is indeed everything. We were trying to push it to open too soon. The folks in the community need to know who we are and what we stand for; so we have formed the BWK Teen Talk Series. This will give the Board of Directors a chance to speak directly to the parents in their particular fields of expertise. The Board of Directors that is in place is quite impressive to say the least, and the Teen Talk Series will give them the platform to show what they’ve got and to show what expertise they will be offering the Center.

Their outline is as follows:

Jonathan Taylor - LICSW, Clinical Social Worker, Family Care Counseling Center, Wilbraham as well as offices in Longmeadow
~Raising your Young Teen – Weathering the Storm

Justin Dion – ESQ, Bankruptcy Attorney, Bacon & Wilson
~Teaching your Teen to budget – Money doesn’t grow on trees

Gabrielle Riola - Registered Dietician, Shriners Hospital
~Feeding your young Teen – Eating for maximum health

Monica Gagnon – RN, Clinical Liaison, Weldon Rehab at Mercy Hospital
~Keeping your Teen active - Your Teen’s physical health

Elizabeth Shepardson - PhD, Child & Family Therapist, Private Practice
~When emotions run wild –Positive strategies that work

We will run the talks for 5 consecutive weeks after the Open House. Each talk will be two hours – with an hour presentation by the BOD member, followed by an hour of Q&A. The talks will be held in the Brush Hill Bistro and light refreshments will be served. Check the paper next week as well as the BWK website for the schedule of dates.

Dr. Joseph Foresi Jr, West Springfield School Committee Member and Educational Consultant had this to say about Be Well Kids, Inc. “It is visionary in scope providing a program of studies for all. It is well suited for students who are desirous of improving their academic, vocational and social skills in an after school setting as well as a summer program. I highly recommend this program {BWK} to parents who want to become inextricably involved in their children’s extracurricular activities.”

For more information about becoming a “Be Well Mentor” (or any further questions regarding the program) please contact Founder & Executive Director, Mary-Anne DiBlasio @ 413-73B-WELL (732-9355) or email kids@bewellkids.com or visit www.bewellkids.org and click on link
“Become a Be Well Mentor”.

Pet Parade for BWK

Gi-Normous Pet Parade

Friday August 28th, 2009 at 7PM
Located at KID STUFF, 1504 Allen St (Bicentennial Plaza), Springfield, MA (413) 782-0057

Recommended Ages 3-18
Entry Fee $9.99
CASH Prizes Awarded
Pre-registration required
Proceeds to benefit Be Well Kids, W.Spfld, MA

Come join us for our 1st annual Gi-Normous Pet Parade. Parade is open to all children age 3-18. Cash prizes will be awarded at the close of the parade. Animals will be paraded by their owners around KID STUFF and Bicentennial Plaza for judging. Pets must be leashed or carried at all times. Please do not register pets that may bite or get upset being around other animals or people.

Western Mass Wellness presents:

THE SUMMER OPEN HOUSE 2009 – SATURDAY – AUGUST 22nd, 12NOON-6PM

HOW DO YOU COPE WITH STRESS?

Life is hectic and you may find you are stressed by everything from the economy to family concerns. Come to the WMW open house on Saturday August 22, 2009 where you’ll have an opportunity to learn and practice a variety of approaches designed to help you relax and feel grounded and peaceful.

One powerful energy technique you’ll learn is EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique. With this and other approaches, we’ll address physical, emotional and spiritual issues.

So come prepared to have some fun, learn something new, and leave your stress behind!

About the Instructor

Deb Hewitt is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked as a psychotherapist for over 25 years. She has a private practice in Enfield, CT. Deb has an interest in mind-body therapy, specializing in energy psychology, guided imagery and hypnosis. Other specialties include women’s issues and addiction treatment. She is a Reiki Master. Deb is a member of various professional organizations, including ACEP, Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology.

Deb will be speaking at our next Open House, Saturday, August 22nd. at 1pm (the Open House will run from Noon-6pm) Deb should speak for about an hour and will be available for Q&A afterward. Please join us for a day of Health & Wellness.

Intuitive Readings

Of course our very own Maribeth McNair, Tarot Care, will be on site offering intuitive readings during this time as well... Please be sure to call and book your appointment, since they always fill up fast! $25 for every fifteen minutes, and worth every penny!

Tibetan Bowls and such…

We also will be sporting some new items offered by Himalayan Views out of Deerfield such as Tibetan Bowls... yes, Tibetan Bowls... there will be a few other goodies also thanks to Sue (owner Himalayan Views) that she feels our group would enjoy…


Nurturing Nutrition

Gabrielle Riola, RD, LDN

Gabrielle is a Registered Dietitian. She completed her undergraduate coursework at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut. She completed nine-hundred internship hours in an acute-care hospital, a long-term care facility, a corporate insurance company, a WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) office, a preschool and a Homeless/Wellness Center throughout the greater Hartford, Connecticut area. She has experience working with children, adults and the elderly - including healthy individuals. In addition she has experience with surgical patients and those with diabetes, cancer, heart disease, including both the underweight and the obese. Her goal is to both educate and counsel clients on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle.

We are hoping to see you…

ABC 40's It Just Makes Sense Segment

In the hopes of gaining the interest of potential corporate sponsors, ABC's TV 40's "It Just Makes Sense" Segment gives Be Well Kids two thumbs up!!


See Video Here...

Architect & Commercial Contractor Quotes Needed

The Be Well Kids, Inc. board of directors is looking for a couple of more quotes for architectural drawings and construction on a remodel for a 7500 sq ft facility in W. Spfld. Most existing walls to be used. Bathrooms need to be added. Kitchen needs to be fit up. Three exterior doors to be added.

All quotes need to be submitted in writing no later than May 22nd.

If interested please contact Be Well Kids at 413-73B-WELL (732-9355) or email kids@bewellkids.org or respond to this post.

WMW and BWK in NoHo...

Western Mass Wellness as well as Be Well Kids will be at the following ArtisaN Productions Event!

BRING YOUR FAMILY OUT FOR A WONDERFUL DAY AND SUPPORT SEVERAL GREAT CAUSES!

The Northampton Fantastic Family Expo, Sponsored by Lake Compounce
Saturday & Sunday April 25-26, 2009 10 am - 5 pm
The Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, Northampton, MA (Right Off I-91 Exit 18)

Awesome Activities For Kids & Teens/ Fun Activities & Important Information For Parents

Performances by the Acting Lab Teen Ensemble, Karate For Kids, and other groups! Workshops on SAT's, College Admissions, and much more! Interactivities Like Kids Fun Soapmaking and Extreme Paintball and much much more!

KIDS UNDER 16 are FREE! EVERYBODY ELSE IS ONLY $5!

$1 FROM EACH TICKET WILL BENEFIT THE FOREST PARK ZOO!

If you have questions regarding the event - please contact Tom Locke from artisN productions LLC (413) 885.8782 (T) (413) 789.3505 (F) www.artisNproductions.com

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! WMW and BWK will only be at the show on Sunday, so be sure to come by our booth to say hello!!

Mary-Anne DiBlasio
Western Mass Wellness
Be Well Kids, Inc.
413-73B-WELL