June-July 2013 Essential Wellness

essential wellness june-july 2013 • resources for inner peace, health and healing

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Meta Institute

Assisting people in recognizing their resources in order to maximize opportunities for growth and success in any area of their life.

We offer an array of services and training activities, from one-day workshops to 15-month intensive certification courses

Therapeutic Coaching速 Class Application being accepted for 2013 Class! Early payment discounts & payment plans available!

Free Information Session, Tues., July 16 (6:30-8:30)

Reiki I June 29 or July 27 (Sat., 10am-6 pm) $75

please call to register

Reiki II June 30 or July 28 (Sun., 10am-6pm) $150

Reiki III Aug. 3 (Sat. 10am-6pm) $300 Reiki Master Teacher June 8 (Sat., 9am-5pm) $300 Intro to NLP & Hypnosis July 19 & 20 Fri. (9:30am-6:30pm) & Sat. (10am-6:30pm) $325

*register and pay in full by June 19 and save $30!

Intuitive Readings by Mary Beth Tracy 30, 45, 60 minute readings available by appointment only

Individual, Couples, & Family Coaching Available Office and Classroom Space Available 5121 Winnetka Ave. Suite 200, New Hope, MN 55428

763-533-6527 Meta@metainstitute.com www.metainstitute.com june 2013

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staff

june-july 2013

essential wellness digital magazine

8-9 Animal communication becomes mainstream; here to stay

BY MARY STOFFEL

Twin Cities Wellness

12-17 Kindred Spirits essential oils help align us to our kindred animal spirit guides

BY RANDY PETERSON

aka Essential Wellness 4270 Honey Tree Pass Danbury, WI 54830 Publishers Dee & Lynn LaFroth ADVERTISING Dee LaFroth sales@esswellness.com 715.259.3047 EDITOR Lynn LaFroth info@esswellness.com ART DIRECTOR Sunshine Sevigny WRITING SUBMISSIONS Click here for 2013 Writers Guidelines RECEIVE ESSENTIAL WELLNESS BY EMAIL Send us your email to receive twice-monthly Celebrate Wellness e-news and Monthly digital Essential Wellness info@esswellness.com 4 www.esswellness.com

20-21 Discover your pet’s health and wellness voice

BY SAMANTHA STUPAK 24-25 “Little Lady”—another foster failure? BY LENA SWANSON 28-30 Take a retreat to Shire in the Woods for relaxation, rejuvenation

BY MICHAEL BONNETTE

34-35 Live your life to its fullest—take a YoCation with Free Life Yoga

By ERIN HOFFMAN 36-37 Sacro Wedgy® alleviates back pain, rebalances the body

BY CINDY BALLIS

june 2013

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Rest and Relaxation. Solana State Forest. Soo Line Trail System.

A place for individuals, groups, retreats, families, clinics, weddings, and more. Come and stay in one of our 7 unique cottages and relax in front of a wood burning fireplace or take a walk on one of our many trails. The natural surroundings will nourish and rejuvenate your soul!

2 hours North of the Twin Cities

www.shireinthewoods.com

320-592-0180

•The daily rate is $50.00 - $75.00 per person (see website for further details).

•Stay for 6 nights and get 1 free.

•Catering is available upon request.

•Children age 17 and under are free.

•The Commercial Kitchen and Octagon Multipurpose Room can be rented for $75 per day.

•25% off for a two week stay, 35% off for a three week stay, and 45% off for a month rental!

•SPECIAL RATES available for large groups, retreats, weddings, special events, workshops, more!

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shireinthewoods@outlook.com for questions or reservations. Special is valid up to August 31th, 2013. To learn more, visit us at www.shireinthewoods.com.

We hope to see you soon!

june 2013

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BY MARY STOFFEL

Animal communication becomes mainstream

W

HEN I decided to be a professional animal communicator about 20 years ago, I joined one other person doing this work in Minnesota.

At least that was all I was aware of at the time. As my business and name recognition grew, I began to get requests to teach others how to do this. So I attended Penelope Smith’s teacher training class in California and began offering the basic animal communication class that I still teach today. There is one huge difference though—I now teach the same class as part of the Normandale Community College Integrative Health Program. I certainly did not expect this rapid shift from

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woo-woo stuff to mainstream practice and I suspect most other people didn’t either.

Since I am also a former librarian, I know that you can always tell how popular a subject is by how many books are written about it. When I first started teaching in 1995, I bought every book I could find on interspecies, telepathic and animal communication. I took them all to my classes; they fit into a large cardboard box. By the year 2000 I was carting around three or four boxes of books and by 2005 I had stopped buying everything available and became much more selective about what I added to my collection. I was also teaching four or five basic classes a year and had added an advanced class for those students who wanted to set up their own practice.

ANIMAL COMMUNICATION BECOMES MAINSTREAM However, the real signal that animal communication was here to stay was the advent of the popular Pet Psychic television program.

Suddenly, everyone knew what animal communication is and how it works. The Pet Psychic was an hour-long television program that was broadcast on the Animal Planet network in the United States. The program premiered on June 3, 2002 and featured Sonya Fitzpatrick as a psychic who claimed she could communicate with various animals including audience members’ departed pets.

Subject animals included the normal cats and dogs as well as horses, various birds, and farm animals.

The last regular airing of the pro-

gram was on January 1, 2003, but the impact of the show lingers on.

The greatest change is that people now freely admit talking to their animals, listening to them intuitively, and consulting with professional animal communicators. I still am asked how it works, but seldom meet the skepticism that was so prevalent before. And, of course, we believe that the real winners here are the animals that share our lives. It is true that this awareness of animals as fellow spiritual beings has helped improve the lives of many through increased understanding. But if you stop and think about it for a moment, you will realize how much this movement has helped to raise the consciousness of the entire human race as well. And none too soon!

www.humanimal.com Mary Stoffel (763) 444-8146, mlstoffel@innovatord.com

june 2013

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BY RANDY PETERSON

Kindred Spirits essential to our kindred animal spi

O

UR ANIM A L friends are deeply connected to the Earth and to the rhythms of life. They have no hidden agendas, no greed and they don’t lie.

They do, however, have characteristics, qualities, skills and talents that can serve, teach and tutor humanity.

Our Kindred Animal Spirits demonstrate potential characteristics, qualities, talents, abilities or strengths that constitute an expression of our own personality. The animal world shows us the potentials that lie within us. Some animals are excellent parents and nurturers, teaching us patience, respect, love and loyalty. Others are great protectors and show us how 12 www.esswellness.com

to have courage and overcome fear. While some are teachers of fun and play reminding us of the needs of the child within.

Bonded in friendship our “Kindred Spirit” animal friends can rescue us, teach us, and can be a vehicle for wisdom that will serve us.

THE CIRCLE: ONE OF THE MOST PRIMAL SYMBOLS OF LIFE The circle or wheel, one of the oldest symbols dating back to ancient times and found in ancient ruins on virtually every continent, is one of the most primal symbols of life.

It can be found throughout the world’s indigenous cultures. Sometimes represented as a “medicine wheel,” “circle of life,” or “web of life.”

Each culture views their wheel or circle from a slightly different perspective but each has a common understanding that the circle represents a map of the balance, harmony and the cycles of nature.

Representing the circular nature of the seasons and cycles of life. From birth, to adolescent, to young adult, to midlife, and wise elder-hood, then the return to dirt within mother earth and our creator.

There is a Kindred Spirit Blend to assist, teach and nurture each of us along the way.

Whether we’re struggling with a life challenge, wondering about a life-question, or just wanting to navigate the inevitable daily ‘ups & downs’, the Kindred Spirits can assist.

Continued Page 16...

oils help align us irit guides

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Achieve harmony between your mouth and body

Healing the Wounded Spirit, Soul Retrieval, Recovery From Trauma, Space Clearing, Depossession

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continued...

The Kindred Spirit blends are day life represented by plant essences that • Body Workers who would are alive, intelligent, and interaclike another tool to assist tive. We promise you that they clients are unlike any other essential oils • Spa Owners & workers who blends that have ever existed. would like a cutting-edge modality to add to their ‘menu’ of services ATTEND a • Healers who would like WORKSHOP another simple, easy, empowThis workshop is perfect for: ering tool in their tool box to • Individuals who want to facilitate transformation learn about essential oils, • Business Owners who would how to use them in every-

like a unique, cutting-edge product to offer to customers • Health care professionals who want to incorporate cutting-edge energy work • Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunties, Uncles who want to harmonize family dynamics.

Participants in this workshop will learn experientially and in seminar format.

• Learn about each Kindred Spirit Blend, its purpose, its element, its wisdom.

• The concept of the Circle of Vitality, how to use it for positive life enhancement, and find the appropriate Kindred Spirit to resolve a life-issue.

LEARN HOW TO USE

• In-depth training about how to choose, work with and use

the Kindred Spirits on a daily basis.

• How to work with the Kindred Spirits in problem-solving and daily-life challenges.

• How to work with the Kindred Spirits with the chakras • Opening up to the wisdom, insights, guidance, qualities, and enlightenment available from working with the Kindred Spirit blends and The Circle process.

LEARN HOW TO FACILITATE

• In-depth training about how to facilitate, work with and use the Kindred Spirits in a healing practice.

• Creating Sacred Space in the creating of The Circle.

• Clearing your own energy before supporting a Circle process.

• Teaching others to clear their energy before entering The Circle.

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greenorganicsinternational.com/circle-of-vitality.asp?sponsorsite=acaciacenter Randy Peterson ID#282626, (701) 429-8928, randy888888@gmail.com

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BY SAMANTHA STUPAK

Discover your pet’s health & wellness voice

F

OR MANY pet owners, our furry friends are much more than just dogs and cats. They are our family members and our most loyal friends that seem to know how to be there for us when we need them the most. However, it can be challenging when we notice that our pets seem to change from their normal happy self and they cannot directly tell us what may be wrong.

In these cases, have you ever wondered how your pet is actually feeling? Proud pet owner and health advocate, Samantha Stupak, asked herself this same question and has developed an approach that has helped many pet owners discover their pets “voice” to address overall health and wellness.

PETS SUFFER SAME HEALTH ISSUES AS HUMANS With so many health issues we face today, we sometimes forget our pets are just as likely to suffer from similar issues. Samantha Stupak, CNHP, has focused on providing pets the voice to answer their owner’s health concern questions such as; Are they in pain?

Does their stomach hurt? Why are they so anxious? Samantha founded Balanced Health to help other pet owners unlock potential health and wellness issues facing their pets.

With advanced methods and equipment Samantha is able to scan your pet’s hair and saliva to determine a number of potential issues. She scans to see which organs in the body are under stress and to what level. She also scans to see if there are toxins resonat-

ing with your pet such as bacteria, parasites, metals, chemicals, mold, viruses, and hormonal imbalances. She then analyzes the results to determine what nutrients are out of balance and recommends what would bring your pet back into balance with remedies such as herbs, homeopathic remedies, or nutritional supplements.

BALANCED HEALTH SUCCESSFULLY addresses MOST PET ISSUES Most of her pet clients are dogs, cats, and horses. She has successfully balanced many issues ranging from skin issues and anxiety to digestive disturbances and inflammation of various kinds. She works with pets that have been dealing with chronic issues as well as pet owners seek-

ing preventative care options.

This is what one of our dog client’s owner had to say about working with Balanced Health, “My dog had been bit by many ticks over the years and treated with antibiotics many times. She was very lethargic, limped when she walked, and had a very difficult time getting up after lying down.

When we started having her hair and saliva scanned it was interesting to see exactly where she was holding her stress, what toxins were resonating with her, and the regimen they put her on. I’ve been getting her scanned once every

couple months for about six months now and she is back to the same vibrant dog she once was before all the tick bites and antibiotics! She seems pain free and most importantly, happy again.”

If you are looking to hear your pet’s health and wellness voice, Samantha and the rest of the staff at Balanced Health would like you to know that they are here to help you and your pets.

www.CreatingBalancedHealth.com 612-804-1171

june 2013

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BY LENA SWANSON

A home for “Little Lady”

A

HEN A cat suddenly starts showing up in my neighborhood it can be quite confusing. Does it belong to one of the neighbors? Was it abandoned? Is it lost? Is it a feral cat, born outside and considered wild? Most domestic cats that do end up living outside for whatever reasons often seem wild or feral. Their behaviors mimic the wild ones as a way of coping with their new lifestyle.

Over the past several years I have been faced with this situation many times. Cats and kittens show up in my neighborhood and I begin the rescue process: Feeding on a consistent basis, befriending when possible, live trapping when necessary, taming,

www.lenaswanson.com

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getting proper medical attention and finding homes. Alas, I admit to being a foster failure more than once!

PROVIDING A WARM CAT SANCTUARY Sometime in January I noticed that a kitty had begun to use my heated feral cat house. I get very emotional from the thought of cats living outdoors during Minnesota winters so the heated cat sanctuary gives me the peace of mind that there is at least one place safe and warm if anyone needs it. I had no idea that the cat I was feeding for much of the winter was actually a kitten!

As spring approached she started sticking around more and staring at me. At times when she was really hungry she would even run toward me when I went out

with her food. I saw how small she was and noticed that she seemed to want to be friendly but just couldn’t muster the courage.

I started calling her “Little Lady” so at least she would have a temporary name. Since she seemed so tame I began feeding her in a very large plastic dog crate. It kept the food dry in the rain and she started to feel comfortable going in to eat. She still kept her distance but I could tell she was starting to like me.

After making the necessary arrangements for spaying at one of my favorite vets I gave her a nice meal of tuna and when she went in to eat I simply closed the dog crate door. Voila, another rescue! After some communication it turns out she is not wild at all but had been in a household and then abandoned mid winter.

“Little Lady� has now recovered from her surgery and is sitting on my lap, nuzzling my face! I laugh when I think about my initial fears that she was wild and may be difficult to tame. She is simply a treasure looking for a forever home. I can only hope that I don’t become a foster failure once again!

Lena Swanson is a professional animal communicator, psychic, shamanic healer, past life regression facilitator and Reiki master. She is known for her accuracy and wonderful rapport with both people and animals.

Lena also teaches a variety of animal communication and shamanic journeying classes. lena@lenaswanson.com 651-206-0644

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BY MICHAEL BONNETTE

Take a retreat to Shire in the Woods for relaxation, rejuvenation

T

he Shire in the Woods was formerly known as the Dwelling in the Woods. It was founded in 1989 by three Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet with a vision of creating a place where people can spend time in solitude, quieting the mind and opening heart and spirit, realizing wholeness.

They recognized the need for individuals living in a modern, fast paced society to be able to retreat to a quiet, nurturing place, thus replenishing the soul and deepening their connection with self, nature, world, and the universe. They settled upon a lot of land of 120 acres, a small log house,

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a pole barn and a wood burning sauna. Now, over 20 years later, the grounds have expanded considerably. Many hands have helped build and donate to create these unique buildings and versatile landscape which is now known as the Shire in the Woods.

The Shire is located inside the Solana State Forest and the Soo Line Trail runs alongside us. Relax with a good book in front of a fireplace or take a stroll in the woods.

See the full website at www.shireinthewoods.com for details, photos of cabins, pictures of the unique landscape, and the beautiful, rich history.

The Shire can serve your family, friends, hold your next retreat, facilitate spe-

cial meetings, host weddings, workshops, professional development events, and more!

Whatever your event, we will work with you to best serve your needs. The outdoors and especially the circle drive would be great for demonstrations or clinics with horses for example. Or you can come and just be a hermit.

There are many groomed trails as well as opportunities to make your own path.

There is a wood burning sauna, a gazebo, and a labyrinth.

All of the unique cottages are equipped with many of the accouterments of home and have cozy fireplaces. Buildings range from an entire house Continued Page 30...

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that sleeps 10+, a large vaulted multipurpose octagon shaped building, to a cozy one room cabin.

There are many things to do in and around the Shire. Enjoy wooded solitude and hiking in the Solana State Forest, kayaking in Banning State Park, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, horseback riding, ATVing or snowmobiling on the Soo Line Trail and surrounding trails, or pick up a game of golf. Plan your next birding or photography adventure, or just enjoy the quiet sounds of nature as the many frogs and birds sing their melodies.

The daily rate is $50 to $75 per person.

Children 17 and under stay for free. You can stay for 6 nights and get one free. Catering is available upon request. The Commercial Kitchen and the Octagon Multipurpose Room can be rented for $75 per day. Longer stays have great rate deals (25% off for two weeks, 35% off for 3 weeks, and 45% off for a month stay), and there are special rates available for large groups, retreats, weddings, special events, workshops, special interest groups, and much more.

Email us at shireinthewoods@outlook.com for questions and reservations.

www.shireinthewoods.com

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june 2013

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june 2013

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By Erin Hoffman

Live your life to its fullest —take a YoCation with Free Life Yoga

“L

OOK AT that!” I urge.

“Some people will live their whole lives without ever seeing anything half as wonderful, and here you are, standing in front of it. Isn’t this incredible?”

I lost count of the number of times I spoke these words to students and adults I have led abroad: I’ve said it in front of DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, watching her legendary eyes shift mysteriously.

I’ve said it with Michelangelo’s brilliance showering down from overhead in the Sistine Chapel, his passion and prowess palpable.

I’ve said it standing amongst the

ruins in Pompeii, looking out over Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, staring at the vast Mediterranean with my feet in the sand and in a hundred other places.

None of us knows how long we have on this planet, and no one truly knows whether this is our only shot at life or if we’ll come around again. What we do know is that we for sure get this life, right now. My question is whether or not we really live it.

Have you ever caught yourself saying some version of “I’ll do X when X happens”?

I’ll volunteer when…

I’ll take a language class when…

I’ll travel with friends after…

www.freelifeyogamn.com 34 www.esswellness.com

The world is a big place and an unbelievable gift. God has created natural beauty and splendor that can move us to tears with hearts grateful to be alive. Mankind has played an equally important role, continually defying what we think is possible, changing the face of art and science and adding to the landscape of innovation and creativity.

The time to be a part of these miracles isn’t when we retire, nor is it when the kids are out of school, and it isn’t even after you finish the addition on the house.

The time to experience the world and its miraculous display of awe-inspiring beauty is NOW. You can go to any number of places on a yoga retreat, spending a week in a remote location doing yoga and meditating all day while eating a vegetarian or vegan diet.

You’re removed from day-to-day work and stress, but you’re also removed from your fullest possible experience.

Free Life Yoga, a Saint Paulbased company, provides better health and richer experiences to its clients via global YoCations.

Is there yoga every day? Absolutely! Taking care of our bodies should be a priority! But Free Life YoCations offer so much more.

The Free Life team is multilingual, the guides are local, and the YoCation Leads include energy workers, artists, yogis and teachers with advanced degrees in their disciplines. On the Gourmet YoCations, the Free Life private chef cooks daily meals of regional specialties, some of which are transformed into classes you can attend and

have recipes to bring home.

Free Life Yoga provides the whole experience: the experience that changes your life and enriches your time on this planet, showing you everything good this world has to offer.

One free life….how are you going to spend it?

Erin E. Hoffman, M.A., E-RYT, is a music nut, teacher, adventure travel junky, writer, yogi, runner and artist. Her company, Free Life Yoga, specializes in global YoCations.

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BY CINDY BALLIS

Sacro Wedgy® alleviates back pain, rebalances the body

H

ERE WE are 25 years later and still helping people with sciatica, hip pain, low back pain, poor posture and more. My dad, the Sacro Wedgy® inventor, is almost 89 and going strong. He too relaxes on the Sacro Wedgy® daily. And to think for years he used his hand to hold the sacrum of his athletes with back pain issues.

cles relaxed, the time constraint is what led him to create this simple device to mimic that technique.

It didn’t happen overnight. In fact it took almost 10 years, hundreds of x-rays, having an injection mold built, finding the right mixture, creating instructions; you know the rest. I’m the oldest of four daughters and decided around 1990 to take this on and keep it in the family.

It’s been an amazing journey and receiving testimonial letters from people that are pain free, off prescription drugs and leading NECESSITY IS STILL better lives are what have kept THE “MOTHER OF us going. You can’t imagine how INVENTION” Because he had to hold their much you can learn by listening sacrum for 20 minutes until mus- to people, some of which have

www.sacrowedgy.com 36 www.esswellness.com

been through nightmares trying to find relief. Is this going to be for everyone? Of course not! Nothing is, but when this works, it’s amazing.

SACRO WEDGY HELPS MUSCLES RELAX FOR PAIN RELIEF The concept is so simple and that’s actually the hardest part of marketing this. I often hear “how can something so simple and affordable do so much” until they start using it. One man told me had he known how much this was going to help he would have gladly paid $300.

I told him he could send me $270. After the silence I said just kidding. I was happy he was better. We concentrate

mostly on the three major muscles that tend to jam the pelvic girdle. The piriformis muscle can tighten and grab the sciatic nerve. I experienced that once and it will take you to your knees. I relaxed on the Sacro Wedgy® four or five times and as the muscle relaxed, the nerve released.

We explain what we’ve learned mostly from people using the Sacro Wedgy®. If it helped one person with a par-

ticular symptom it may help more. We are creatures of balance and all we’re trying to do is teach you how to create muscle balance by relaxing with both ends of your spine supported.

We have exhibited at hundreds of expos demonstrating and talking to thousands of people but have now settled in with mostly massage therapists and physical therapists. We even teach classes for Continuing Education Units and in the

class the first part is self-care for the therapists. Physician heal thyself—then the rest of the world.

For more information visit the www.sacrowedgy.com, built and maintained by my son; my daughter-in-law handles marketing. We are truly a family business with all of our products USA made.

Please call if you have questions.

Cindy Ballis: 1-800-737-9295.

PO. Box 38. Theodore, AL 36590 june 2013

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Live Well.

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