Natural Nutmeg July 2025

July/August/September 2025

EL

EBRATIN

C

G

19 YEARS

G

P

U B OF LISHIN

Energy Medicine: A Modern Approach to Holistic Wellness Michele Beaule

Rediscover Your Spark: 3 BioHacks to Reclaim Your Energy Mark and Kathy Stalter

Unlearning Who You’re Not: The Wellness Power of Human Design April Goff Brown

The Frequency of Healing: Exploring Energy Medicine at the Cellular Level Dr. Pamela M. Cipriano, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC

Massage Therapy in 4 Levels of Complexity Ethan DeFord

CT’s Top Energy Healers & Yoga Health

Purpose

Spotlight

Spirituality

+ Before I Go Keto > 15 + Benefits of Stretch

+ The Battle of the

+ Angela

+ You Are Not

Therapy > 29

Smiley Face > 44

+ The Power

of Urgency > 46

Kazarian, RMT > 9 + The Diamond Sisters Circle > 14

Your Reading > 24 + Healing with Angels > 52

The Energy Enhancement System At My Quantum Space The EE System is a breakthrough in health technology.

By combining quantum physics, bio-photon fusion, and light therapy, it creates a powerful energy field that helps your body reset, recharge, and renew itself.

Your body is naturally designed to heal, but modern life—filled with toxins, stress, and harmful frequencies—can block this process.

The EE System at My Quantum Space is like sitting in a human battery charger where every cell in your body gets recharged, leaving you feeling revitalized and deeply restored.

Book a Session Today!

Call 475-471-1793 or visit myquantumspace.com

Struggling with low energy, in�lammation, pain, chronic conditions, or stress?

Experience cellular renewal and regeneration through the power of photonic Bio-Scalar energy “I have had significant trauma in my life and have been dealing with it for many years. The first few sessions at the EE center I just cried.

The last 2 sessions I do not feel impacted by this trauma any more.

I am deeply blessed and grateful.

It has made a huge difference in my life.”

My Quantum Space 5 Main Street, Suite 2R, Westport, CT 06880 475-471-1793 support@myquantumspace.com myquantumspace.com @myquantumspace

CONTENTS

July/August/September 2025

Features

26 The Frequency of Healing: Exploring Energy Medicine at the Cellular Level

30 Massage Therapy in 4 Levels of Complexity

By Ethan DeFord, Integrative Alchemy

By Dr. Pamela M. Cipriano, DNP, APRN

Departments 6

LETTER BUZZ 14th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2025 Healthy Habit #5: Watch What You Put in Your Mouth The Soul of a Space: How Wellness Design Transforms Your Home and Your Life

8

SPOTLIGHT: CT’s Top Energy Healers and Yoga Studios

58 COMMUNITY

RESOURCES

Health 15 Before I Go Keto: A Reflection on Genes, Fats, and Personalized Nutrition

By Dr. Yvette M. Whitton, ND, MS

16 Rediscover Your Spark: 3 BioHacks to Reclaim Your Energy

By Mark and Kathy Stalter

18 CBD for Seniors: A Gateway to Wellness

By Ira Ratner

20 The Qest4 Bioenergetic Scanner: A New Frontier in Wellness

By Dr. Bryan Ruggiero, DC

54 Energy Medicine: A Modern Approach to Holistic Wellness

By Michele Beaule, Imagine Float Owner

By Dr. Lyndsey Maher, ND

29 Unlock Your Body’s Potential: The Benefits of Stretch Therapy

By Kevin Ramsey, LMT, CEAP

32 Yoga for Treatment and Healing from Complex Trauma and PTSD: Part 2

By Nanci Kaczegowicz, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, ERYT 200, RYT 500

35 Your Backyard Is Trying to Heal You

By Amelia South

36 Harmonizing Hormones: Blending Traditional Endocrinology with Functional Medicine for Energy Healing

By Dr. Michael Duben, MD

38 The Purest Form of Nature: 6 Reasons Essential Oils Are the Best Way to Use Herbs

By Susan Cote, CLC

40 Infinity Symbol Healing: Energy in Motion

By Joyce St. Germaine, M.Ed., CHt., RYT200

42 How Energy Medicine and Thermography Empower Breast Cancer Survivors

By April Beaman, RDH, CTT

48 10 Quick Tips to Prevent Oxidative Stress

By Jane Grant, RDN, CD-N

3

Spirituality 24 You Are Not Your Reading

By Kelly L. McCarthy

52 Healing with Angels: How Angelic Frequencies Awaken Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

By Agnes Daddona, Psychic Medium, Counselor and Healer

Purpose 44 The Battle of the Smiley Face

By Sharon Sklar, BFA, LMT, CAR

46 The Power of Urgency

By Marcel Touponse

56 Unlearning Who You’re Not: The Wellness Power of Human Design

By April Goff Brown, Quantum Human Design Specialist and Intuitive Guide

Business 50 “My Brand Is Stuck”: 7 Signs It’s Time to Hire an Agency

By Deirdre Tindall, Founder, Tind-All Creative Marketing

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

4

22 Inflammaging: The Silent Inflammation That Is Aging You from the Inside Out

NATURAL Nutmeg

26

LETTER NATURAL Nutmeg JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

4

Hey, I’m Dr. Diane!

M

“The power of our mind to heal our body is knowledge I believe we all innately have, but sadly, it has been forgotten.”

—Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD

y favorite time of year is here once again! I hope that by the time you’re reading this, we’ll finally be having sunny weekends. I know we need rain, but every weekend is a bit much! I just love everything about summer—warmer weather, bright sunshine, fresh fruits and veggies, farm-totable dinners, outdoor concerts, festivals, and time spent on the beach or at a lake. This is our third year dedicating this issue exclusively to Energy Medicine and Healing, and it has been such a hit that we had to increase the page count— and we still sold out! We have a record number of fantastic articles about healing the body with amazing energy medicine modalities. I hope you will try at least one new service this summer, like the Energy Enhancement System. I can tell you that I was having extreme knee pain last year, and after one session, it completely resolved.

I have always been a big believer in the ability to heal your body with your mind. I’ve seen it happen time and again in myself and the people I know, and have heard countless stories from the holistic practitioners I meet and interact with. The power of our mind to heal our body is knowledge I believe we all innately have, but sadly, it has been forgotten. And quite honestly, most of us were never taught how to access and apply this ability.

I am more committed than ever to teaching this information and to continuing to provide a platform for our Energy Healers to educate our communities on all their unique healing modalities.

Also, don’t forget our annual reader-nominated 10Best Awards are here! They have been a huge hit with over five thousand readers voting last year! As a Natural Nutmeg reader, you will have the opportunity to nominate your favorite holistic practitioner or business in 18 categories listed on the full-page ad on page 57. Nominations will take place from July 1 to September 1 through an online survey tool at https://bit.ly/NN10Best2025.

Winners will be announced in late September.

We will be showcasing the 10Best in each category in a special additional issue released in December 2025.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD Publisher & Owner, ELM Publishing

Our mission is to provide valuable insight, information, and resources that will allow our readers to maintain a healthy, active, sustainable lifestyle. Natural Nutmeg contains timely information on natural health, complementary and alternative medicine, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

Here’s What’s In Store for Natural Nutmeg!

October / November The Mental Health & Stress Reduction Issue

December

PUBLISHER/OWNER

Dr. Diane Hayden, PhD Diane@naturalnutmeg.com

2026 10BEST/Essential Living Guide

DIR. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/OWNER

Christopher Urso Curso@naturalnutmeg.com

Lori Hubbard lori@naturalnutmeg.com DESIGN DIRECTOR

Ashley Frament layout@naturalnutmeg.com

Contact diane@naturalnutmeg.com to feature your business in Natural Nutmeg!

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Colleen Lee ADVISORY BOARD

5 OPTIMIZE YOUR WELLNESS. NATURALLY. Located Behind Avon Whole Foods

Frank Aieta, ND Adam Breiner, ND Mark Breiner, DDS Deanna M. Cherrone, MD DISTRIBUTION

Greater Hartford and surrounding counties, please contact Natural Nutmeg.

FFC—Tom Cossuto, Man In Motion, LLC In keeping with our concern for the environment, Essential Naples is proudly printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

Perfect for Busy Professionals, Parents & Retirees: Efficient workouts that fit your schedule.

Personalized guidance & progress tracking.

Nutrition support for a holistic approach.

Schedule Your Free Tour Today!

Natural Nutmeg is a free publication supported solely by our advertisers and distributed throughout Connecticut.

Please call for a location near you. (860) 508-0894 or email to publisher@naturalnutmeg.com. © 2007—25 by Natural Nutmeg, LLC. All rights reserved.

Parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, with permission. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your feedback.

TM

rob@levelupgym.fitness (203) 437-4593

Founded by former Navy SEAL & fitness expert, Rob Olson

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

colleen@naturalnutmeg.com

NATURAL Nutmeg

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

BUZZ

14th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2025

with special thanks to Stamford Health, Exclusive Healthcare Partner Saturday, September 6, at Harbor Point, Stamford, CT GO * GATHER * GROW

NATURAL Nutmeg

T

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

6

he 14th Annual Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo 2025 with special thanks to Stamford Health, Exclusive Healthcare Partner, returns Saturday, September 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to Harbor Point, Stamford’s beautiful waterfront community. This is Connecticut’s largest and premier health and wellness expo featuring over 130 sponsors and exhibitors, ten different zones, free health screenings provided by Stamford Health, flu shots and nutritional information provided by ShopRite/Cingari Family Markets, financial health and wellness information provided by KeyBank, doggy-daycare information provided by Camp Bow Wow Stamford, rehab and kidney care provided by Stamford Care Center and Norwalk Care Center, membership information and free group classes provided by Life Time Stamford, information about hybrid and electric vehicles provided by Toyota of Stamford, and so much more!

Once again, a highlight of the event will be the fourteen free group classes taught by the area’s top fitness instructors, situated along the stunning Harbor Point boardwalk. The theme again this year is GO. GATHER. GROW. Let’s GO to the expo. Let’s GATHER with family and friends to experience the best in health, wellness, and fitness.

Let’s GROW mind, body, and spirit. Parking and admission are free.

This one-day family and pet-friendly health and wellness extravaganza is packed with an exciting variety of sponsors and exhibitors showcasing and selling health and wellness products and services. The ten zones of the expo will showcase the Pet Wellness Zone sponsored by Camp Bow Wow Stamford; Yoga and Stretching Zone; Group Fitness Zone sponsored by Sacred Heart University; Healthy Home Zone sponsored by Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses; healthy food, beverages, and restaurants; ecofriendly wine, spirits, and craft beers; touch-a-truck; and the kids zone featuring fun and educational activities in the sand pit area on Harbor Point’s Boardwalk.

For the most up-to-date list of sponsors, exhibitors, and event activities, visit hwl-expos.com, Instagram @HWLEXPO, and facebook.com/HWLEXPO. Thank you to our sponsors, Stamford Health, Exclusive Healthcare Partner for the fourteenth year; ShopRite/Cingari Family Markets, Support Sponsor for the fourteenth year; Stamford Care Center and Norwalk Care Center, KeyBank, Life Time Stamford, Toyota of Stamford, Support Sponsors.

Camp Bow Wow Stamford, Pet Wellness Zone Sponsor.

Thank you to our Premier Media Sponsors, Stamford Magazine/ Moffly Media, Natural Awakenings Magazine, and Stamford Moms.

We appreciate all Media Sponsors for their valuable support and promotion of this event: Best of CT Moms, CT Kids and Family, HeyStamford!, Jen Danzi, Kids Out and About, Macaroni Kid, Natural Nutmeg Magazine, News 12 CT, Stamford Advocate/Greenwich Time/Hearst Media, and WEBE 108.

Thank you to our Community Partners, the City of Stamford, WinWaste Innovations, and the Stamford Chamber of Commerce.

The Health Wellness & Lifestyle Expo is created and produced by TMK Event Marketing, based in Greenwich, CT. For more information about the HWL Expo 2025, including exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities, please contact TMK Event Marketing at 203.531.3047 or email tamara@tmk- eventmarketing.com. To register online, visit hwl-expos.com/cart. See ad on page 53 >

Healthy Habit #5: Watch What You Put in Your Mouth

A

new golden age of American health and well-being is just beginning!

Can you feel it? Possibilities for improved health and well-being are all around us.

Have you ever seen the words “added to preserve freshness” on the packaging of a food item you eat? How does “preserving freshness” really happen? Most preservatives achieve this by preventing oxygen from causing food to spoil.

But since oxygen is vital to making cells run (called metabolism), what do you think the negative outcome of eating that “freshness-preserved” foodstuff is?

If you guessed that it prevents your cells from properly using that food for energy and creating new healthy cells, congratulations— you are correct! The “preserved” food is treated as a toxin or poison by the cell.

If it’s toxic or poisonous, then BAM! the cell doesn’t function correctly, and may, due to its dysfunction, result in pain, inflammation, and ultimately early death.

If enough individual cells don’t grow and function properly, the tissue they help make up fails. If enough of the tissue fails, then the organ it is part of fails. Ultimately, if enough organ damage occurs, the whole body fails.

It could be heart cells, liver cells, bone cells, brain cells, muscle cells, or any susceptible cells. But the outcome is the same—give cells poison, and they don’t function correctly.

The bottom line is this: Don’t put artificial “freshness-preserving” substances into your body, even though the government, through the FDA, claims they are safe. Stop allowing yourself to be an experiment for the food industry. Eat less processed and preserved foods. Read labels—if the ingredient list has more than two or three words that you can’t pronounce and don’t understand, don’t buy it and certainly don’t eat it!

Kevin H. Norige, DMD, is the founder and chief dentist at South Windsor Smiles, a private dental practice that focuses on oral health as part of the whole-body system. For thirty-five years, he has worked with patients to achieve healthy mouths and live healthier lives. Call 860.288.2111 or visit SouthWindsorSmiles.com. See ad on page 45 >

The Soul of a Space: How Wellness Design Transforms Your Home and Your Life

W

Perfect to use 1st thing in the morning for a strong day or last thing at night for a restful sleep!

Our THC-free NanoEmulsified BroadSpectrum CBD offers day-to-day support for overall wellness, tailored to your needs, regardless of life's challenges.

Designed to help with: • Pain Management & Inflammation

7

• Improving Sleep Patterns • Easing Anxiety & Depression • Improving Appetite & Digestion • Shielding against Cognitive Decline

Get Your Pure Today

Call 1-808-351-1574 or Visit www.pipwellness.com

Unlock the Medicine Cabinet in Your Backyard Book a Foraging Walk or Workshop at blacksunfarmct.com/foraging Wildcrafted and organically grown herbal oils, salves, teas, and tinctures along with handmade incense and crafts available at Blacksunfarmshop.com @theoriginalmealchan

@blacksunfarm

508.471.0186 blacksunfarmct.com

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Rachel Schemmerling is the founder of Timeless Living Designs, a wellness-centered interior design studio rooted in the art of intentional living. Blending mindful design with a soulful, slow-living philosophy, Rachel helps clients create restorative spaces that support healing, clarity, and connection. Through personalized design services, curated lifestyle experiences, and a deep appreciation for well-being, she inspires others to live well—beautifully. Call 203.500.9500 or visit timelesslivingdesigns.com to learn more.

PIPWellness is now offering Pure CBD Oil! NATURAL Nutmeg

ellness is more than a trend—it’s a lifestyle. Our homes can become more than just shelters—they can become sanctuaries.

As we become more attuned to the mind–body connection, our environments play an integral role in supporting overall well-being.

Rachel Schemmerling, founder of Timeless Living Designs, is a wellness-centered interior designer who helps clients create intentional spaces that nourish their well-being from the inside out. Her approach blends interior design with the principles of mindful living, emphasizing environments that support healing, harmony, and personal transformation.

Wellness design goes beyond aesthetics.

It involves curating an environment that gently supports the nervous system through natural light, clean air, calming color palettes, soft textures, and the thoughtful inclusion of plants and quiet nooks. Each choice is purposeful, designed to foster joy, clarity, and calm.

Whether an empty nester redefining their next chapter, a busy professional seeking peace at home, or an individual navigating a life transition, wellness-centered design offers a grounding foundation. Rachel has seen firsthand how a supportive space can ignite clarity, restore energy, and inspire a slower, more connected way of living. She offers personalized design services, consulting, and curated lifestyle experiences, all crafted to align with her clients’ goals for a more intentional life.

A home should be more than functional, it should be more than just pretty—it should feel like a reflection of self, welcoming stillness, joy, and connection. Learn more at timelesslivingdesigns. com or follow @timelesslivingdesigns for tips on cultivating a peaceful, wellness-centered home.

SPOTLIGHT

CT’s Top Energy Healers and Yoga Studios

E

nergy healers believe your body is instilled with a subtle energy or life force, the flow of which must be balanced for good health.

Energy healing activates the body’s subtle energy systems to remove blocks.

By breaking through these energetic blocks, the body’s inherent ability to heal itself is stimulated. Energy healers help people with a wide range of health issues, from anxiety to chronic pain to side effects from cancer, and also with a variety of mental health problems. Yoga is an ancient and complex practice, rooted in Indian philosophy. It began as a spiritual practice but has become popular as a way of promoting physical and mental well-being.

NATURAL Nutmeg

Gina Pawlak BiomagnetismCT

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

8

M

y name is Gina Pawlak, and I am the owner of BiomagnetismCT. This modality is newer to the U.S, so many have never heard of it. Everyone has a magnetic field around them, and the use of magnets that I place will help to aid in correcting the body’s internal pH. Therefore, f lushing out the pathogen that is causing the discomfort and addressing the cause, not just the symptom.

I always say that biomagnetism chose me; I didn’t choose it. In my case, my passion comes from a place of being. I fell in 2022, and the doctors were no longer able to help me. A friend suggested biomagnetism, and after many sessions, it worked! I was surprised because I am a skeptic by nature. Therefore, my passion comes from the fact that if it worked for me, it can work for you. From there, I turned my life upside down, taking every biomagnetism seminar available.

I like to take a personalized approach with each client. Since every body is different, it requires a personalized approach for each person, as symptoms vary. I like to incorporate mind, body, and emotional modalities as a support to biomagnetism, something that is often overlooked in traditional medicine.

I am one of those people who truly enjoys helping others. The greatest satisfaction I get from my work is when a client comes into my office and says, “My test results came back negative,” or when they say their symptoms have improved or have completely disappeared. It’s not a memory, it’s a feeling.

BiomagnetismCT • Woodbury, CT 860.417.6088 •healnaturallyct.com

Laura Ramirez Life Coach and Reiki Master Teacher

I

’m Laura Ramirez—certified Life Coach, Usui/Holy Fire®/Karuna® Reiki Master Teacher, and certified counselor.

After 20 years in the public school system, I followed a deep calling to open a heart-centered wellness practice. In 2021, Laura Ramirez, LLC was born from a desire to help people reconnect with peace, clarity, and purpose.

Whether you’re seeking individual Reiki sessions, ready to dive into Reiki training, or looking for guidance in navigating transitions, relationships, or life goals, you’re in the right place. I love making Reiki and coaching welcoming and accessible to everyone. I believe that true, lasting change comes when we organize life around peace and purpose, not pressure and perfection.

I offer monthly Reiki training and ongoing support through Reiki mentorship and a Reiki Professional Support Circle. These services are designed to be welcoming, accessible, and grounded in real life.

Over the years, I’ve worked with coaching clients on a wide range of goals, from spiritual exploration and wellness to entrepreneurship and other life goals. My ideal coaching client is someone with the “spark”—a sense of readiness to create change. Coaching offers space to reflect, refocus, and move forward with intention.

I will help you dig deep and make moves.

In 2023, I welcomed Greg Gallinoto of The Nature Within LLC as a collaborative partner. Greg brings breathwork, meditation, Reiki, and coaching to our practice with warmth and professionalism.

Greg has a special interest in helping men comfortably engage with this work.

It would be a joy to work with you! Use code NUTMEG for $10 off your first service.

Laura Ramirez, LLC • Life Coaching and Reiki Berlin, CT • 860.365.1116 • LRamirez1101@gmail.com LauraRamirezLLC.com

Angela Kazarian, RMT Loving Karma

A

t Wabi-Sabi Yoga & Wellness, we believe true well-being isn’t about chasing perfection—it’s about showing up for yourself, exactly as you are. We’re more than just a fitness studio—we’re a community rooted in selfacceptance, movement, and mindfulness.

Through our holistic approach to health, we offer a full range of classes including yoga, meditation, barre, Pilates, and strength training. Whether you’re flowing through breathwork or building power at our strength fitness gym, you’ll find a space that meets your body where it’s at and helps it thrive.

Wabi-Sabi Yoga Fitness & Wellness Center is a judgment-free zone where you can find classes or individual sessions to improve your overall health and quality of life at any age. We offer classes in Yoga, Meditation, Barre, Strength Training, and Pilates at all levels. With over 25 classes a week, we can accommodate most schedules with our newly added early morning classes. If you’re more comfortable in a private setting or just not sure where to begin, schedule a free consultation, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

The term Wabi-Sabi refers to a Japanese philosophy that emphasizes accepting imperfections and making the most of life. “Wabi” can be defined as understated elegance. “Sabi” is translated as taking pleasure in the imperfect. The philosophy of Wabi-Sabi encourages us to focus on the hidden blessings in our lives and celebrate the way things are rather than how they should be. So, if you fall out of tree pose (as most people do!), or you bend your knees in a forward fold (I encourage that!), say Wabi-Sabi. We are all “perfectly imperfect.’’

Wabi-Sabi Yoga and Wellness 32 Rainbow Road, East Granby, CT 860.352.0020 piaoliveri@wabi-sabiyoga.com wabi-sabiyoga.com

9 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Angela Kazarian, RMT • Loving Karma 34 North St, Williamantic, CT 860.798.9021 • lovingkarma.com

A

NATURAL Nutmeg

s an intuitive Reiki Master Teacher, Medium, Feng Shui and Healthy Home Consultant, I know that the work I do is not the traditional avenue most people take for healing services.

In 2022, four years after starting my small business, Loving Karma, I realized that my body and I were not cut out for the corporate world, where I was stuck in an office environment, underutilizing my ability to make a difference.

I made the decision back then to make Loving Karma my full-time job, where I could help others more authentically.

Clients often find me or are led to me when nothing else has worked to alleviate or heal suffering, trauma, or ailment. That can look like all sorts of things: physical pain, mental or emotional anguish over some life-change or situation, a diagnosis, chronic illness, disease, death of a loved one, or grief. It can also simply be a curiosity that some people have because they “feel off” and don’t know why. No matter what they have going on in their life, I am able to provide a compassionate and judgment-free space where they can move through what they are going through, without resistance to what is.

Everyone is dealing with something that others know nothing about, and I (like most healers) learned the hard way what happens when we invalidate ourselves by making sure everyone else’s needs around us are met.

In 2024, I became a cancer survivor, and no longer a fixer who tries to stop anyone from feeling their pain, myself included. I walk the walk and cry when those toxins are begging to be released. I’m here to help my clients show up for themselves and stop rejecting their own suffering so they can compassionately move through the discomfort of releasing what they have been holding onto.

I have no attachments to the outcomes of the sessions or consultations I offer. I tell my Reiki clients to trust that what they receive is exactly what they need for their highest good, because Reiki is an all-knowing energy; they are only ever receiving what they are meant to.

With Feng Shui and Healthy Home Consultations, I empower people to live with what they love and let go of what no longer serves them, allowing them to process and heal old wounds. Then they get to create the life they want, versus repeating each day on autopilot while nothing changes, and they remain stuck in their lives. As a Reiki Master Teacher, I also teach all levels according to the Usui system.

If you are curious about Reiki or Feng Shui, or looking to integrate holistic health/alternative medicine into your life, I would love to hear from you.

I offer both services in person in Willimantic, CT, and remotely anywhere around the world.

Pia Oliveri Wabi-Sabi Yoga & Wellness

Jackie Loyer The Om Center

NATURAL Nutmeg

T

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

10

he Om Center is more than a yoga studio—it’s a home for wellness, connection, and community in Watertown, CT. Since opening its doors in 2011, Om has become a sanctuary for individuals at every stage of life to explore movement, breath, and healing in a supportive, inclusive space.

Our weekly schedule includes a wide range of yoga classes—from Chair Yoga and Gentle Yoga to Heated Vinyasa and Yoga Fusion—each designed to meet you where you are. Monthly workshops, specialty series, and advanced trainings for yoga teachers complement our offerings, along with holistic services such as massage and Reiki, and now reflexology, expanding our support for body, mind, and spirit.

What makes Om special is the people. Our teachers are certified professionals with diverse training backgrounds and a shared passion for offering yoga that’s accessible and meaningful. Each teacher brings their own voice and heart to class, and together, they’ve helped shape a warm, welcoming community that continues to grow.

At the center of this is me, Jackie Loyer, Om’s current owner. I have been teaching yoga and meditation in Litchfield County for over twenty years and have been a part of the Om community since the beginning. In 2023, I stepped into the role of owner with a vision of continuing the studio’s mission while expanding its offerings.

My yoga journey began as a teen navigating recovery from an eating disorder. Yoga gave me a way to reconnect with my body, find self-compassion, and begin to heal.

My certifications include Kripalu and Kundalini Yoga, holistic health counseling with a focus on Ayurvedic living, and Reiki master training. My classes are known for being grounding, encouraging, and infused with realness and warmth.

I am especially passionate about working with beginners and pre-teens through programs like RadiantGirls, which focuses on confidence, self-esteem, and mindfulness for girls ages 11–13.

At Om, we believe yoga is for everybody. We offer monthly donation-based Yoga Happy Hour classes, community hikes, and a calendar full of opportunities to connect. Whether you’re walking into your first class or deepening your practice, you are welcome here.

Come breathe, move, and grow with us—just as you are.

Om is your home for healing and connection.

Jackie Loyer, Owner/Director • The Om Center 27 Siemon Company Dr., Suite 107S, Watertown, CT 860.417.3770 • noplacelikeomcenter.com

Inga Melick Universal Energy Healing Center

M

y passion for Quantum Energy healing stems from a deep commitment to helping others experience profound transformation at the energetic level. I’ve witnessed how this advanced healing modality can bring clarity, balance, and empowerment, often where conventional approaches fall short. Every session reaffirms my belief that when we align with the subtle frequencies of our own energy field, true healing becomes not only

possible but inevitable.

Quantum energy healing changed my life. I’ve seen how it clears emotional blocks, deep-rooted trauma, thought patterns, and old belief systems in a way that restores balance and reactivates a person’s natural ability to heal. Each time I witness someone step into their true energetic power, I’m reminded of why I do this work.

What drives my passion even further with this mode of healing is the intersection of science and consciousness. I’m fascinated by how quantum principles can be harnessed to access deep energetic shifts, and I’m committed to making this cutting-edge healing method accessible to those seeking real, lasting change.

What sets my Quantum healing apart is that it goes far beyond traditional quantum energy work. I’ve been gifted with a unique set of techniques and intuition that target and release deeply embedded thoughts, beliefs, and emotional patterns, which often manifest as physical pain, symptoms, illness, or even disease. These methods don’t just offer temporary relief—they work at the quantum level to dissolve root causes of imbalance, allowing the body to restore itself. I work at the level where energy becomes matter—helping the body remember its natural blueprint for health, alignment, and wholeness.

I often heal the healers, clients that are “stuck,” clients with chronic symptoms, deep trauma, unidentified points of pain, and clients that don’t know where else to turn for healing. I also work with the autistic community and offer help to the parents and their children who may be nonverbal or minimally verbal. Truly, there are no limits with this modality; it is amazingly beautiful, and long-lasting healing can unfold.

Healing the mind, body, and soul is essential to every living being on this planet. Feeling good is living a happy, healthy, and abundant life.

I feel honored to help anyone live their life to its full potential, if that is their wish. Watching my clients’ lives transform is one of my greatest joys!

Inga Melick • Universal Energy Healing Center 45 South Main Street, Suite 040, West Hartford, CT 06017 860.965.6770 • universalenergyhealingcenter.com

Megan Lockwood, Spiritual Life Coach and Numerologist The Dream Temple

I

Megan Lockwood, Spiritual Life Coach and Numerologist FFCHealth.Wellness@gmail.com • astrology-numerology-central.com

I

’m Katie Cavenagh, your consciousness coach, and the owner of Sacred Cocoon Healing, LLC. I’m here to help empower you to be in control of your mind, body, and life.

For almost fifteen years, I’ve been obsessed with learning about consciousness—how it works, how we tap into it, and how we use it to create our reality. I’ve studied energy healing, neuroscience, hypnosis, psychology, selfhelp, personal development, and all things woo, ultimately healing myself of crippling anxiety and depression.

I suffered terrible depression after my daughter was born in 2015. A few years later, before COVID-19, one of the founders of my dance company passed away suddenly from a heart attack. When the world shut down, I lost all my jobs teaching tap and performing. I knew I had to make a change. I wanted to do something good not only for myself, but for the world, too. I started offering online healings and coaching, and my business was born.

Teaching myself how to be consciously aware in my life was the most challenging journey I’ve endured. But if I can do it, so can you. I’m committed to helping people understand the root cause of their obstacles and create new pathways for healing so they can live the life they dream of.

Join me for classes, events, or private sessions and rediscover your personal magick. When we know better, we do better.

Katie Cavenagh • Sacred Cocoon Healing, LLC • 352 Main St, Durham, CT 860.655.5527 • Katie@FeelYourLight.com • sacred-cocoon.com

ow in its 13th year, Yoga in Our City is a statewide nonprofit organization that brings yoga and wellness classes to parks, libraries, and community spaces across Connecticut at no cost. Through strong partnerships and our Happy Warrior™ teacher training program, we continue to expand access to healing practices rooted in equity, care, and connection.

As an organization, we are passionate about expanding access to holistic wellness practices, particularly for communities that have historically been excluded from or underserved by mainstream wellness spaces. Our commitment stems from a shared understanding that yoga and mindfulness are not luxuries; they are essential to our wellbeing. They are paths toward healing, resilience, and empowerment in a world that often overlooks the needs of marginalized communities. The work we do is about more than just a physical practice.

It’s about offering brave, welcoming spaces where people can breathe, move, and heal together. That’s what motivates us every day.

Yoga In Our City stands out for our strong commitment to equity and trauma sensitivity.

Our classes are open to the public, centered on accessibility, and led by a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We are proud of our collaborative work with city partners, local leaders, and organizations to integrate wellness into the daily lives of our communities.

The Happy Warrior program, our 200-hour yoga teacher training, is led by a faculty of experienced educators and community leaders. The training brings a trauma-sensitive approach that centers social justice, accessibility, and collective healing and addresses the financial, cultural, and systemic barriers that often limit access to this field. This balance of representation, support, and communityrooted leadership makes our model unique.

We have graduated two cohorts of Happy Warrior teachers. These teachers are now part of our internal community, offering classes through our program and within the many communities they are a part of. This is our mission in action. It’s a reminder that collective healing is something we build and continue to nurture together. When people are given the tools, resources, and community support they need, they lead the way in transforming their own lives and the systems around them. I believe that is the heart of our work.

Yizza Galdamez • Yoga in Our City Hartford, CT • hello@yogainourcity.com yogainourcity.com

11 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Katie Cavenagh Sacred Cocoon Healing, LLC

N

NATURAL Nutmeg

’m Megan Lockwood, a numerologist and spiritual life coach as well as an artist and author. I created The Dream Temple to help people understand their soul’s blueprint through the power of numbers.

My work is all about guiding others to live with clarity and confidence, and to align with their most authentic selves so they can make their dreams a reality.

Numerology has helped me deeply understand myself—my patterns, my purpose, and my potential— and now, I get to guide others through that process. I especially love working one-on-one because it allows us to go deeper, creating space for real clarity and transformation.

My passionate, focused approach sets me apart, particularly in Life Path and Destiny Numbers. These two core numbers hold powerful insight into who you are and what you are here to do, and I use them as the foundation for every session. While I also explore other numbers in the chart, my coaching is centered on helping clients understand their soul’s mission and the energy guiding their long-term path. It’s a grounded, personalized experience that brings clarity and direction to every phase of life.

One such meaningful experience was helping a client realize her dream of becoming a writer. Through understanding her personal year and destiny number, she found the confidence to finish her memoir—a story she’d been holding inside for years. Watching her step into that purpose was incredibly powerful.

Yoga in Our City

SPOTLIGHT NATURAL Nutmeg JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

12

Gina Ferrara, MA, BC/DMT Odonata Reiki Healing Arts, LLC

C

are for your inner self and see your outer world transform.

“I can’t meditate.”

“My life is fine.”

“I manage stress my own way.”

I hear this often—from people who seem fine on the outside but are running on empty inside. I understand—this used to be me.

I’m Gina Ferrara, a Healing Arts Practitioner focused on what I call Inner Self-Care—a process for emerging from the weight of stress, burnout, and depletion.

When I transitioned from my role as a hospitalbased therapist, I knew I wanted to keep facilitating healing. Holistic practices had become essential to my own growth, and I wanted to share them in a more personal, expansive way.

I had been offering Reiki, sound healing, and acupuncture in clinical settings, without fully realizing their impact. Over time, I transformed.

I felt lighter, clearer, more present, better able to meet life with ease. That awareness changed everything.

I launched Odonata Reiki Healing Arts after the pandemic, when collective isolation revealed an inner void. I realized that space could be filled— not by doing more, but by turning inward.

I live what I teach. I offer private sessions, immersive group healing, Reiki certification, and self-care programs rooted in nervous system support and clarity. These practices integrate my expertise in Reiki, sound healing, acupuncture, guided meditation, journaling, and movement— accessible tools for real-life healing.

Whether you’re navigating stress, seeking reconnection, or curious about the power of healing arts, I hold space for you to return to yourself. Visit my website and schedule a complimentary discovery call to explore further.

Margot Broom Breathing Room Yoga Center

I

’m passionate about holistic wellness because I believe yoga is so much more than a physical practice—it’s a path of self-inquiry, healing, and transformation. With over twenty years of education in philosophy and yoga and sixteen years of owning and operating Breathing Room, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful this work can be when it’s rooted in authenticity and tradition. I was drawn to this path because I wanted to create a space that goes beyond the Western lens of yoga, honoring its depth by integrating holistic lifestyle, philosophy, trauma-informed care, and community connection.

What sets me apart in this field is my commitment to honoring yoga as a complete, living system, not just a sequence of postures. Our teacher trainings are not about producing instructors quickly, but about cultivating thoughtful, self-aware practitioners. We integrate diverse lineages and healing modalities to help students connect with their own voice while deeply respecting the roots of the practice. It’s a process of transformation from the inside out.

One of my most cherished memories as a business owner was during a recent graduation ceremony at Breathing Room. A student stood up, tears in their eyes, and shared how the training helped them reconnect with their true self after years of disconnection. That moment reminded me why I do this work. Supporting others in reclaiming their light is a profound gift. For me, being a holistic practitioner is not just a profession—it’s a calling.

Margot Broom • Breathing Room Yoga Center 216 Crown St. 2nd Floor, New Haven, CT 06510 203.562.5683 • breathingroomct.com

Elizabeth Aleksinas Morris Mountain Fitness and Wellness Center

W

hat is a healer? A healer is a trained professional, a listener, and a strong conduit for healing. Someone who takes the delicate time to truly listen to your own story and helps you to become your best self.

I am Elizabeth Aleksinas, healer, yoga teacher, mom, wife, lover of dogs. I specialize in Reiki healing, yoga, reflexology, chakra balancing, aroma touch therapy, and sound healing.

No two people are the same, and therefore, my sessions are unique, tailored to your individual needs.

Becoming a yoga teacher and Master Healer has been a great blessing. I believe that I became a professional healer because it is my calling, and I was called to serve. As I witness my clients becoming happier, more creative, passionate, and full of life, it brings me joy to know that I can help in a small way.

Located in beautiful Litchfield County, Morris Mountain Fitness and Wellness Center is a community for everyone. With an emphasis on yoga and healing, clients learn to connect deeply with their bodies, reduce stress, Gina Ferrara • Odonata Reiki Healing Arts and facilitate wellness. Start your wellness journey today and empower West Hartford/Farmington/YourSpace/Virtually yourself to live a life of mindfulness, good health, self-inquiry, and purpose.

203.679.1771 • OdonataReiki.com

Elizabeth Aleksinas • Morris Mountain Fitness and Wellness Center 16 Litchfield Road Morris, CT. 06763 • bethaleksinas123@gmail.com 860.459.0797 • morrismountainfitness.com

Kimberly Anne Psychic Intuitive and Astral Adventurer

M

y name is Carolyn Coleridge, LCSW, a psychotherapist, intuitive, and healer for thirty years. The therapy helps the mind, the intuition helps the spirit, and the healing helps the body.

It is a time on the planet for understanding that we are souls, and we grow when we interact with all aspects of who we are.

I am passionate about my work as I have seen firsthand how it helps people grow on a deep level and heal. People become co-creators in their lives and learn about tragedies as redirections to higher growth. I help activate and teach clients to harness their natural healing qualities within themselves.

We are all here as souls, and when we remember who we are, life can transform spiritually, emotionally, and financially.

I have worked in major cities and hold three licenses. I have lived in NYC and Los Angeles, and now I’m back home in CT. From working as an EAP executive to healthcare and meditation centers, I have taught transformation in many settings. Come join meditations on Saturday or peruse beautifully charged crystals at Conscious Creations Meditation & Healing Center. I am also on the Insight Timer APP and have downloadable meditations available on the app.

I take tremendous pride in the more than 95 public testimonials on LinkedIn, which validate working with the spirit of professionals and people in all walks of life. As I connected to spirit, I received more gifts, like that of knowing, channeling, and spiritual sight.

Carolyn Coleridge, Healer Conscious Creations Meditation & Healing Center 34 Jerome Avenue, #220, Bloomfield, CT 323.782.9085 consciouscreationsmeditationandhealing.com

13 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Kimberly Anne Psychic Intuitive and Astral Adventurer Northford, CT (no brick and mortar location) Holistic Dragon, Cosmic Black Cat, Hidden Gem on Main of Wallingford, Zoom, and Phone: 860.385.3358 facebook.com/MindBodyIntuitionKim

M

NATURAL Nutmeg

y name is Kimberly Anne, Psychic Intuitive and Astral Adventurer.

I have been able to connect with Spirit from an early age, and with the aid of my sister, I have been able to refine my gifts.

As I got older, my thirst for knowledge evolved, and so did my abilities. My passion for helping others, combined with years of learning, practice, and teaching, has allowed me to innately weave different modalities into my readings so that each session is tailored to the individual. This may include a combination of working with spirit guides and animal guides, as well as colors, chakras, past lives, mediumship, and divination through candles, crystals, pendulums, or other methods as Spirit sees fit. Each reading is a unique adventure that takes on a life of its own.

My passion for helping others stems from my own struggles. I always walked to the beat of my own drum and was viewed as weird and “different” because of my innate understanding of the gifts that we are all given, but often taught to ignore. As a child, this led to feelings of insecurity. Over the years, I have come to realize that this understanding is my superpower.

I believe that helping others is a calling that comes from within. Our experiences are like puzzle pieces that contribute to the picture of our own unique life path. Learning different spiritual and energetic techniques has given me the opportunity to realize my passion while helping others do the same.

I currently offer private readings from multiple locations and also work at private parties and events.

What sets me apart from others is my understanding of diversity, coupled with compassion and the knowledge that although we are all unique, we are also connected. Every life is beautiful and purposeful in its own right, with its own spark of divine light. I use my intuition to link with the person’s energy and guides, which allows the session to be guided by their higher knowledge. I fill in the gaps with personalized approaches to help them utilize their own wisdom.

One of the best memories I have in my work is of a client who was going through a mentally and physically challenging experience. She was at her wits’ end, and I was able to provide comfort and insight as to what was going on “behind the scenes.” Connecting with her guides helped initiate her journey of healing and self-discovery, creating a safe space for her to tap into her wisdom and discernment.

Carolyn Coleridge Conscious Creations Meditation & Healing Center

SPOTLIGHT

Jacqueline Kane, LMT; Erika Dworkin, BCHN; Melissa Wooldridge Breton, APRN The Diamond Sisters Circle—A Self-Care Collective

NATURAL Nutmeg

T

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

14

he Diamond Sisters Circle— A Self-Care Collective is devoted to helping women reconnect with their inner wisdom and vitality, to co-create sacred spaces where women feel safe to release, realign, and remember who they were always meant to be. We welcome you to explore our modern, comprehensive, whole-person approach, blending the healing arts and sciences, honoring the heart, mind, body, and spirit of today’s dynamic woman.

Experience our unique offerings and specialty services and step into your power and the life you envision!

The Diamond Sisters Circle offers three transformative energy medicine pathways to support your healing-growth journey to well-becoming: Jacqueline Kane, LMT, Master Energy Healer; Erika Dworkin, BCHN, Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition®, Dietary Supplements Specialist, and Intuitive Wellness Guide; and Melissa Wooldridge Breton, APRN, Integrative Nurse Coach, and Sound Emissary.

We are excited to announce that on Friday, August 15, 2025, we will be hosting a soul-nourishing retreat, Your Safe Harbor—An Island Daycation for MindBody-Soul Renewal at Connecticut’s charming Essex Island Marina. Throughout the day, you’ll experience the wisdom and essence of the Diamond Sisters Circle: • Cast Off Regrets. Forgive. Feel Anchored: Release invisible stressors through guided journaling, a symbolic ritual, and soothing wellness tools.

• From Silent to Seen: Clearing Your Voice into Power. Clear energetic blocks and claim your right to be seen and heard.

• Water Cure: An Ancient Holistic Healing Practice.

Immerse yourself in a sacred feminine gathering, honoring water as a source of intuition and renewal.

Discover Your Safe Harbor—A Soulful Daycation for Women Seeking Renewal. We’ll be excited to see you!

Reserve your spot and learn more at jacquelinemkane. com/safe-harbor-daycation.

Your Safe Harbor—An Island Daycation Essex Island Marina • Friday, August 15, 2025 Jacqueline Kane: 860.307.0232 Erika Dworkin, Vitathena Wellness: 202.270.5612 Melissa Wooldridge Breton, Eclipse Holistic Living: 860.614.7588 jacquelinemkane.com/safe-harbor-daycation

Dr. Sabrina Seeram, ND Herba Acupuncture

I

was drawn to naturopathic medicine for a simple reason: communication.

I didn’t just want to know a person’s list of symptoms or medical diagnoses. I wanted to truly know the person sitting across from me. Understanding someone on a deeper level—their story, struggles, lifestyle—is as important as understanding their health concerns. Naturopathic medicine gives me the time and space to do that. I’m not limited to 10–15 minutes, I can spend the time needed to listen, connect, and investigate.

Naturopathic medicine is unique in its ability to treat the whole person, not just isolated symptoms. It’s about looking at the full picture and uncovering the root cause because true healing begins when we see and treat the person, not just the condition.

At Herba Acupuncture, we listen to your story. Here, you’re more than just a patient—you’re a whole person with a unique story, and we want to hear it. Some visits may last over an hour because we take the time to truly understand you, not just your symptoms, but your lifestyle, goals, and challenges.

Our goal is to build a long-term partnership rooted in trust, compassion, and collaboration. We’re here to cheer you on, support you, and sometimes gently push you to become the best version of yourself. By focusing on the whole person, we create treatment plans that are entirely tailored to you. Naturopathic medicine at Herba Acupuncture is grounded in evidence-based research and is designed to uncover and treat the root cause of your condition, rather than simply managing symptoms.

Your treatment plan may include a combination of modalities, such as nutrition, movement, sleep hygiene, botanical medicine, supplementation, and more, all chosen to support your healing journey. I also love collaborating with other practitioners, whether it’s the acupuncture team at Herba or referring patients to other local businesses for various modalities. We’ve found that building a healthcare team rather than relying on a single practitioner can provide our patients with a more well-rounded experience and also help them reach their goals more efficiently!

Some of the most meaningful moments in my career come when I help a patient finally understand why they’ve been feeling the way they do. Many people walk into a naturopathic doctor’s office as a last resort—frustrated, unheard, and searching for answers. In those moments, I step into the role of a detective. I dig deep, ask the right questions, and look at the whole picture—not just the symptoms. And then, together, we uncover the root cause.

The real magic happens when I hear patients say things like, “I finally feel like myself again.” Those words never get old. They’re more than just feedback - they’re core memories, reminders of why I do this work, and deeply personal wins I’ll carry with me always.

Dr. Sabrina Seeram, ND • Herba Acupuncture 12 N Main Street, Suite 110, West Hartford, CT 06107 860.215.4480 • Info@HerbaAcupuncture.com HerbaAcupuncture.com

Health

Before I Go Keto:

A Reflection on Genes, Fats, and Personalized Nutrition

By Dr. Yvette M. Whitton, ND, MS

hen I entered menopause and was faced with the challenge of maintaining a healthy weight, I decided to adopt a ketogenic diet to support weight loss. I thought I couldn’t go wrong, after all; the ketogenic diet had gained a reputation for starving cancer cells and reducing inflammation, and the evidence was compelling. But with a personal familial history of cardiovascular disease and memory decline, I took pause.

I opted to run a full genomic panel, and that’s when I discovered my APOE ε3/4 status. That one finding transformed how I approached oncology nutrition, specifically aiming to develop a more precise dietary strategy to support healing.

Why APOE Genotype Matters

Other Genetic and Lab Markers to Assess Before Starting Keto

Beyond APOE, SNPs in genes such as MTHFR (affecting detoxification), FTO (regulating fat metabolism), PPARG (influencing insulin sensitivity), and SLC22A5 (regulating carnitine transport) can significantly influence the response to the keto diet. Lab assessments should include lipid panels

How I Adapted the Diet

Rather than full keto, choose a Mediterraneanketogenic hybrid approach. Prioritize olive oil, avocados, greens, wild fish, and low-glycemic carbs like lentils and berries. Adapt an intermittent fasting schedule of fourteen to sixteen hours a day, cycle carbs strategically, and supplement with PQQ, CoQ10, and alpha-lipoic acid. This strategy maintains metabolic flexibility without taxing the neurovascular system.

Alternative Strategies for Genetic Mismatches

For patients with APOE ε4, mitochondrial SNPs, or high inflammation, consider cyclical keto, plant-forward Mediterranean styles, or timerestricted eating. These can activate similar metabolic benefits, like insulin regulation and autophagy, without overwhelming fat pathways.

Nutrition should never be one-size-fits-all, especially for cancer patients. The ketogenic diet can be powerful, but only if your genes, labs, and metabolic status support it. My advice: “When in doubt, find out.” Precision is not elitist—it’s essential. Personalized nutrition saved me from worsening my condition. It might just save others.

Ultimately, the best decision is to consult with your healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your diet and to request that your APOE genotype status be assessed. The ketogenic diet can be modified for those with an APOE 4 status, and in these cases, such as in a cancer diagnosis, knowing is everything.

“Nutrition should never be one-sizefits-all, especially for cancer patients.

The ketogenic diet can be powerful, but only if your genes, labs, and metabolic status support it. My advice: “When in doubt, find out.” Precision is not elitist—it’s essential.”

—Dr. Yvette M. Whitton, ND, MS

Dr. Yvette Whitton is a board-certified, licensed naturopathic physician and founder and clinic director at Adonai Optimal Health and Wellness in Monroe, CT. Her journey into naturopathic oncology began after losing her mother to pancreatic cancer in 2013, guiding her to extensive knowledge in naturopathic and integrative oncology, earning certifications in integrative oncology from the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health, founded by the renowned Dr. Nasha Winters. Other certifications include mistletoe therapy, ozone therapy, and nutritional enzyme therapy from the Gerson Institute. Dr. Whitton is a member of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Dr. Whitton also holds a master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, which she considers an integral part of her practice. Call 888.655.8489 and visit adonaiOHW.com to learn more. See ad on page 19 >

15 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

The APOE ε4 allele impacts the body’s ability to process dietary fats, potentially increasing the risk of inflammation, high LDL cholesterol, and neurodegeneration. For cancer patients, where metabolic stress is already high, introducing a high-fat, low-carb diet like keto, without checking APOE status, can exacerbate problems. APOE ε4 is associated with mitochondrial inefficiency, reduced ketone utilization, and compromised blood-brain barrier. These factors make high-fat ketosis particularly risky for ε4 carriers.

(with LDL-P, apoB), hsCRP, IL-6, homocysteine, fasting insulin, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and organic acid testing to evaluate mitochondrial function.

NATURAL Nutmeg

W

Health

Rediscover Your Spark:

NATURAL Nutmeg

3 BioHacks to Reclaim Your Energy

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

16

By Mark and Kathy Stalter

“Reiki harmonizes energy by channeling universal life force energy through a practitioner’s hands to the recipient.

By channeling Reiki energy, practitioners aim to unblock and balance the flow of energy within the chakras.

This approach addresses the interconnectedness of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of well-being.”

— Mark and Kathy Stalter

A

re you finding yourself dragging through the day, battling that persistent afternoon slump? What if there was a way to tap into a deeper wellspring of energy — to not just survive, but to truly thrive?

Biohack #1: Recharge with Next-Level Technology

According to the CDC, six of every ten adult Americans have at least one form of chronic disease. Dr. Jerry Tennant’s book Healing Is Voltage highlights a common characteristic of chronic disease: inadequate cellular voltage. The body’s electrical frequency is rooted in the very nature of our biology. Rich in water and electrolytes— salts and minerals—our bodies are excellent conductors of electricity. This fundamental concept isn’t science fiction; it’s the foundation of the advanced wellness technologies you’ll find at Sanaré.

Our 24-Unit Energy Enhancement Light System (EESystem) Room is a unique environment designed to optimize cellular function. This system utilizes precisely modulated light and scalar energy to help your body synchronize with coherent energy fields, thereby improving cellular function. It is based on the idea that exposure to these energy fields can enhance the body’s natural healing process. The result? Many clients describe it as recalibration and have reported better sleep, reduced inflammation, improved mental clarity, and mitigated chronic symptoms.

Our body heals, recovers, and rejuvenates by making new cells at a rate of two to three million per second; however, due to our modern lifestyle and reduced exposure to the vital energies provided in nature, most of us lack optimal cellular function, or cellular voltage.

Introducing the BioCharger. This device replicates, amplifies, and projects the four essential energies that can contribute to optimal cellular function: light, frequencies/harmonics, pulsed electro-magnetic fields (PEMF), and voltage.

It uses specific programs or “recipes” to encourage proper cellular voltage, so your body can recover.

A BioCharger session is like a power nap for your entire system, leaving you feeling ready to tackle whatever comes next.

Biohack #2: Harmonize with Reiki

Fatigue isn’t always physical; it can often be rooted in energetic imbalances or blockages.

When subtle energy pathways become congested, mental fog, depression, anxiety, and exhaustion can result. Reiki is an effective tool for clearing blockages and restoring energy flow.

Reiki harmonizes energy by channeling universal life force energy through a practitioner’s hands to the recipient. By channeling Reiki energy, practitioners aim to unblock and balance the flow of energy within the chakras. This approach addresses the interconnectedness of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of well-being.

Experience Reiki with the renowned Mystic Sisters. Their sessions work in tandem with the EESystem to gently clear blockages and guide energetic renewal. Mark your calendars: they will be returning to Sanaré on July 13th and August 10th. Book early to secure your session.

Biohack #3: Tap into Light

We invite you to explore one or all of these powerful energy-boosting hacks at our Connecticut wellness center. Hearing our clients share stories of renewed energy and having “gotten their lives back” through our energy healing is truly the most rewarding aspect of what we do. It’s the very reason we came out of retirement to open our center.

Dare to dream big. Amazing results and a renewed sense of vitality may very well be headed your way. We are here to shine a light as you embark on your journey to a more energetic, vibrant life.

Mark and Kathy Stalter are the owners at Sanaré Wellness Center in Southington, CT. Please note that results from any of the above energy healing modalities may vary from person to person.

Learn more at sanare.life, email info@sanare.life, or call 860.600.0106. You can register for current events at sanare.life/events. See ad on page 21 >

17 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Begin Your Journey

NATURAL Nutmeg

Did you know that light, in its purest form, can be harnessed to significantly boost your energy?

X39 phototherapy patches are an innovative, remarkably effective way to unlock your body’s innate vitality, on the go.

These noninvasive patches utilize light to gently stimulate acupuncture points on your body.

This mechanism, known as photobiomodulation, doesn’t involve drugs or chemicals. Instead, it leverages your body’s infrared heat to stimulate the production of GHK-Cu Copper Peptide.

GHK-Cu Copper Peptide was first isolated from human plasma in 1973 by Dr. Loren Pickart. His groundbreaking research revealed that GHK-Cu plays a pivotal role in stimulating wound healing and tissue regeneration, thereby boosting the production of essential skin proteins, such as collagen and elastin. Consistent GHK-Cu Peptide production has been shown to reset approximately 4000 genes to a younger, healthier expression. The patented technology of the X39 patch offers a noninvasive and nontransdermal delivery system for this powerful peptide, providing sustained energy and cellular support.

Health

CBD for Seniors:

A Gateway to Wellness

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Ira Ratner

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

18

“Inflammation and oxidative stress are believed to contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. By reducing these factors, CBD could potentially slow cognitive decline.

Furthermore, its calming effects may help manage symptoms like agitation or anxiety, which are common in conditions like Alzheimer’s.”

—Ira Ratner

A

s we age, it’s natural for our bodies to encounter new challenges—whether it’s managing chronic conditions, staying active, or simply maintaining mental well-being. For seniors, the search for effective, natural solutions often leads to the discovery of CBD (cannabidiol). This non-psychoactive compound, derived from the hemp plant, has become a popular alternative for supporting overall wellness. By interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), CBD offers a range of potential benefits that make it particularly relevant for seniors. Let’s explore how CBD may enhance the quality of life for older adults.

seniors. Sleep disturbances can lead to a cascade of negative effects, including mood disorders, fatigue, and a weakened immune system.

CBD’s ability to promote relaxation makes it a promising option for sleep support. By influencing serotonin receptors, CBD helps regulate mood and stress levels, which are often contributors to insomnia. Additionally, its calming effects on the nervous system can reduce tension, making it easier to drift into restorative sleep. For seniors seeking a natural sleep aid, CBD offers a nonhabit-forming alternative to traditional sleep medications.

Chronic pain is one of the most common health issues among seniors, often stemming from conditions like arthritis, joint pain, or inflammation.

Traditional pain relief methods, including opioids or over-the-counter medications, can carry significant side effects and risks of dependency.

CBD offers a gentler alternative.

CBD interacts with CB2 receptors in the ECS, which are closely linked to inflammation and immune response. Studies suggest that CBD may reduce inflammation and help manage pain by enhancing the body’s natural endocannabinoids.

Seniors experiencing discomfort in their joints or muscles may find CBD creams or oils particularly helpful for localized relief, while tinctures or capsules offer whole-body support.

Mental health is an often-overlooked aspect of aging. Many seniors face challenges such as loneliness, anxiety, or depression due to changing life circumstances. CBD has shown potential as a mood stabilizer, thanks to its interaction with serotonin receptors in the brain.

CBD may help seniors manage symptoms of anxiety by promoting a sense of calm and balance.

It has also been studied for its potential antidepressant-like effects, helping to uplift mood and restore a sense of well-being. Unlike some prescription medications for mental health, CBD offers these benefits without the risk of sedation or severe side effects.

1.

Pain Management: A Natural Ally Against Chronic Pain

2.

Improved Sleep Patterns: Restoring Restfulness

A restful night’s sleep can become elusive with age. Insomnia, nighttime disruptions, or simply poor sleep quality are frequent complaints among

3.

Mood Stabilization: Easing Anxiety and Depression

4.

Neuroprotection: A Shield Against Cognitive Decline

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s pose significant challenges for seniors and their families. While CBD is not a cure, preliminary research suggests it may play a role in protecting brain health.

CBD’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are particularly relevant here.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are believed to contribute to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. By reducing these factors, CBD could potentially slow cognitive decline. Furthermore, its calming effects may help manage symptoms like agitation or anxiety, which are common in conditions like Alzheimer’s.

5.

Bone Health and Mobility: Supporting Active Aging

6.

General Wellness: A Holistic Approach

Exploring CBD with Confidence

For seniors seeking a natural and non-invasive way to support their health, CBD represents a promising option. From pain management to mental wellness, this plant-based remedy offers a pathway to improved quality of life in the golden years.

Ira Ratner is a serial entrepreneur, cannabis expert, and founder of Franklin Wellness Partners, which offers a line of high-grade female-orientated CBD topical products designed to enhance sexual pleasure and offset both menstrual and menopause discomfort. Their products are all-natural and contain nano-emulsified CBD with no THC.

See ad on page 7 >

Dr. Diane hosts a monthly LIVE Zoom call with a holistic practitioner panel of experts on all things holistic.

Wednesday, July 30th, 12pm-1pm Energy Healing Modalities Wednesday, Aug 27th, 12pm-1pm Intuitive and Spiritual Coaching Wednesday, Sept 24th, 12pm-1pm Gut Health & Digestive disorders

TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS AND ZOOM LINKS SIGN UP AT: https://bit.ly/NN_conversationswithexperts

19

NAVIGATING THE CANCER JOURNEY CONFIDENTLY WITH

Integrative Oncology OPTIMIZE YOUR TREATMENT OUTCOMES WITH:

• Mistletoe Therapy

A natural form of immunotherapy that has been shown to provide immune modulating and anti-cancer benefits.

• Intravenous Medicine

Designed to optimize cancer treatment outcomes in combination with conventional treatments.

• Comprehensive Naturopathic Oncology

Dr. Whitton holds certifications in Mistletoe therapy, Nutritional enzyme therapy and Ozone/UBI therapy. She is a member of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Medicine, and is a certified practitioner of Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health.

Call 203-220-8849 ADONAI OPTIMAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS

887 Main Street, Suite D, Monroe, CT 06468

ADONAIOHW.COM

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Beyond addressing specific health concerns, CBD offers general wellness benefits that can support seniors in leading a balanced life.

Its ability to promote homeostasis (balance within the body) through the ECS makes it a versatile tool for overall health.

Many seniors turn to CBD to enhance their day-to-day well-being. Whether it’s boosting energy, supporting immune health, or simply fostering a greater sense of calm, CBD can complement a holistic approach to aging gracefully.

THE PATH TO HEALING: CONVERSATIONS WITH NATURAL NUTMEG EXPERT PRACTITIONERS

NATURAL Nutmeg

Maintaining mobility and bone health is crucial for seniors who aim to remain active and independent. Osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weakened bones, becomes more prevalent with age, increasing the risk of fractures and injuries.

Some studies suggest that CBD may support bone health by influencing bone density and stimulating the healing process after fractures.

While research is still in early stages, the potential for CBD to promote skeletal strength adds another layer to its appeal for seniors.

Join Dr. Diane in...

Health

The Qest4 Bioenergetic Scanner:

A New Frontier in Wellness

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Dr. Bryan Ruggiero, DC

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

20

“Based on the scan’s results, the Qest4 system helps create a personalized protocol that includes energetic tinctures. These are customformulated liquid remedies that contain personalized, targeted energy frequencies, designed to be easily absorbed and used by the body to support energetic balance.”

—Dr. Bryan Ruggiero, DC

L

et’s face it: life moves fast. Between deadlines, screens, and stress, many people are feeling out of sync and looking for deeper solutions. That’s where energy medicine comes in—a growing field that looks beyond symptoms to explore how the body’s energy systems influence health and healing.

At its core, energy medicine views the body not just as a collection of organs and systems, but as an intelligent energy field. This idea isn’t new—traditions like acupuncture and Reiki have worked with energy flow for centuries. But what’s new is how modern technology is now helping us measure and support these energetic patterns. One of the most exciting tools in this space is the Qest4 Bioenergetic Scanner—a device that’s changing the way people think about wellness.

What Is Energy Medicine?

Imagine your body as a symphony. When everything is in harmony, you feel well: energized, focused, and at ease. But when energy becomes blocked or imbalanced, symptoms often follow. These can be physical (like fatigue or pain), emotional (like anxiety), or even mental (like brain fog). Energy medicine helps detect and correct these imbalances, often before they fully manifest into illness.

Unlike conventional medicine, which often reacts to problems after they arise, energy medicine aims to keep the system in balance from the start.

It is preventative, personalized, and designed to work with the body’s natural healing intelligence.

Meet the Qest4: A Window into Your Energy Field

The Qest4 Bioenergetic Scanner uses principles of energetic biofeedback to evaluate the body’s physical, emotional, and energetic states. It works by sending tiny electrical signals—energetic

signatures that represent potential stressors, such as toxins, allergens, nutrient imbalances, and emotional conflicts—into the body’s energetic field.

The body’s responses are measured through subtle changes in electrical resistance. These responses help identify imbalances or areas of stress long before symptoms may appear on the surface.

The result is a detailed snapshot of your current energetic state, offering insights into nutritional, physiological, and functional health factors.

The scanning process is gentle and noninvasive, using handheld electrodes in-office, or a simple mail-in hair sample for virtual clients. Many people are struck by how the scan is surprisingly accurate and detects concerns they’ve been feeling but haven’t voiced, or ones they didn’t even realize were there.

What Happens Next?

Here’s where it gets even more interesting. Based on the scan’s results, the Qest4 system helps create a personalized protocol that includes energetic tinctures. These are custom-formulated liquid remedies that contain personalized, targeted energy frequencies, designed to be easily absorbed and used by the body to support energetic balance.

This nutritional energetic support helps promote harmony within the body’s systems, encouraging self-regulation and healing from the inside out.

The Qest4 system does not diagnose, treat, or cure disease, but it offers a new way to support the body naturally and holistically.

Clients often report better sleep, increased energy, sharper mental clarity, and improved emotional resilience. Because energy shifts often precede physical changes, this kind of support can feel like a powerful catalyst for wellness.

Why It Matters

NATURAL Nutmeg

The Qest4 isn’t a replacement for traditional healthcare—it is a powerful complement. It offers a new lens through which to understand your health, especially if you’re dealing with lingering symptoms, chronic conditions, or are simply looking to stay in balance. In a world filled with external stress and internal pressure, supporting your energetic body may be one of the most effective ways to build lasting wellness.

And perhaps the most empowering part? It reminds us that true healing isn’t just about managing symptoms. It’s about restoring balance at the root.

21 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Ready to Explore?

The Qest4 Bioenergetic Scanner invites you to reconnect with your body’s inner wisdom.

Whether you’re seeking clarity, exploring alternatives, or simply curious about a new approach to well-being, this is a gentle yet powerful place to start.

Sometimes the true breakthrough isn’t found in doing more, but in pausing, tuning in, and truly listening to what the body is quietly asking for— balance, vitality, and a better quality of life.

Dr. Brian Ruggiero, DC, is the owner of Ruggiero Family Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Center located at 935 Main St., suite b104 in Downtown Manchester. Dr. Ruggiero has been helping patients heal for over twenty years. As a chiropractor, acupuncturist, hypnotherapist, energy worker, and Qest4 bioenergetic practitioner, he takes a holistic approach to uncover and address the root causes of pain and imbalances. If you’re ready to explore personalized, integrative care for body, mind, and spirit, contact Dr. Ruggiero at www. ruggierofamilychiro.com, drbrianmanchester@ gmail.com, or 860.643.2888.

See ad on page 23 >

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN

D R. N ICOLE K LUGHERS DR. NICOLE KLUGHERS Y O UR HEALTH DETECTIVE

Listens, takes time, finds you answers.

Discovers the root cause of symptoms.

Uses detailed testing, not guessing.

Provides safe, all-natural solutions.

Voted 10BEST Naturopathic Physicians..

ROCKY K HILL & TELEHEALTH KY

CALL/T / EXT: 234.222.8362 /T

DRNICOLEKLUGHERS.NET T

Health

Inflammaging:

NATURAL Nutmeg

The Silent Inflammation That Is Aging You from the Inside Out

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

22

By Dr. Lyndsey Maher, ND

I “Despite the

growing awareness of holistic health, society continues to prioritize outward appearances. In 2022 alone, over 9.2 million Botox procedures were performed globally, a 26.1% increase from the previous year. We tend to value or prioritize the things we can see; however, this is where we find ourselves at an impasse with our physiology.”

—Dr. Lyndsey Maher, ND

nflammation is a buzzword that often has a negative connotation. But what does it mean, really, and how does this translate into health implications?

When educating patients about inflammation, I always take a neutral stance. This is because inflammation is essentially the immune system; it is the reason for the redness and pain that accompany a paper cut; it is a healing mechanism.

But the true issues arise when this inflammation is chronic and ongoing.

Picture this: You’re being asked to work for 36 consecutive hours without a break or a nap.

Of course, your performance would be compromised, and so, too would your attention to detail, resulting in some undesirable outcomes.

While most providers discuss inflammation through the lens of health and illness, these “undesirable outcomes” aren’t seen with the naked eye because they’re physiological mechanisms unfolding underneath the surface, literally. But there is one exception: your outward appearance.

things we can see; however, this is where we find ourselves at an impasse with our physiology.

The body allocates nutrients and resources to our internal organs and systems first, leaving whatever is left over to the external: skin, hair, and nails.

Inflammaging is a term often used to describe the accelerated aging process that occurs due to chronic inflammatory processes already occurring throughout the body. This is why two individuals may be the same age but appear decades apart; one keeps a low inflammatory load, while the other may be battling chronic illness.

Despite the growing awareness of holistic health, society continues to prioritize outward appearances.

In 2022 alone, over 9.2 million Botox procedures were performed globally, a 26.1% increase from the previous year. We tend to value or prioritize the

What Causes Inflammaging?

What Is Inflammaging?

How to Recognize Inflammaging

I believe in getting to know yourself and your baselines. This way, when something is “off,” you can identify it without hesitation. Because your outside appearance isn’t high on the priority list of survival, many of these signs can be identified just by looking in the mirror! Aren’t you lucky?

• Dull, dry, or uneven skin tone • Accelerated fine lines and wrinkles • Loss of skin elasticity or sagging • Thinning or slowed hair growth • Delayed wound healing • Persistent under-eye circles or hollowness Now that you know what you’re looking for, it’s best to determine the cause so we can help slow and/or reverse it.

The saying, “you are what you eat,” reworded to say, “you are what you absorb,” provides a solid basis as to how this all unfolds; it begins with your overall health, because true health radiates outward.

Common lifestyle habits that facilitate inflammaging include: • Smoking • Regular alcohol consumption • Frequent exposure to stressors • Consuming processed foods • Poor sleep

Dr. Brian Ruggiero & Dr. Matthew Roberts Services We Offer to Balance Mind, Body, & Spirit:

And My Favorite, Digestion

This link may be the most profound! Certainly, there is a relationship between nutrient absorption and skin health, but more significantly, the skin and gut share a similar embryonic origin during early fetal development! This means that because the cells are so similar, what affects one is likely to affect the other.

• Chiropractic • Acupuncture • Bioenergetic Scans • Energy Healing • Hypnotherapy • Ionizing Detox Footbaths • Ergonomic Workstation Evaluations

Call 860-643-2888 Manchester, CT www.ruggierofamilychiro.com

Combat Inflammaging Naturally

23 SOUTHBURY’S PREMIER SPA

The Spa at the Heritage Hotel is open year-round.

Services offered in this serene environment are facials, nails, hair, body treatments, and massage therapy.

Enjoy a day pass to our gym facility when you book any spa service (amenities include: pool, hot tub, gym, sauna and steam room.)

The Spa at the Heritage Hotel, Southbury, CT 203-267-2639 • heritagesouthbury.com/the-spa Heritage Health & Wellness @heritage_healthandwellness

Roots Natural Medical Center

Holistic Medicine

Individual Care

We are Naturopathic doctors who specialize in: • Oncology/Cancer Therapy • Lyme disease & Chronic Infectious Disease • Environmental Toxicity (mold, heavy metals, etc.)

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Digestion • Autoimmune Disease • And More

106 Route 66 East, Columbia, CT (860) 471-1434 rootsmedicalcenter.com

DR. ZACHARY MORAN Naturopathic Doctor

DR. KORENE VARANO Naturopathic Doctor, Registered Nurse

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Dr. Lyndsey Maher is a naturopathic physician and co-director of Soleil Acupuncture and Naturopathic Wellness in Hamden, CT. With specialties in acupuncture, hormone health, and holistic aesthetics, she combines evidence-based therapies with individualized care to help patients optimize their health from the inside out. She is passionate about empowering patients to take an active role in their healing journey, blending the best of science and natural medicine. Connect with her at www.soleilholistic.com or 203.871.3262. See ad on page 43 >

NATURAL Nutmeg

Firstly, I like to identify easy targets. In the case of smoking and alcohol consumption, limiting or omitting altogether is a great place to start. Not only will this help aesthetically, but your overall health will thank you, too.

Next, identify stressors and work through ways to manage them. We live in a largely stressful world, and once we try to stop avoiding stress altogether, but rather do our best to mitigate it, we will eliminate a stressor right there! Deep breaths during times of increased stress, cultivating a daily practice around mindfulness, or even carving out time to listen to a meditation for a few minutes a day. Each of these grounds us back in reality, and that humility is very helpful in mitigating systemic inflammation.

Processed foods are loaded with ingredients that are not particularly conducive to human health, but rather, convenience and shelf stability.

The longer something can live on a shelf, the less likely it is that it has any business ending up inside your body.

Long story short: Your lifestyle choices are completely reflective back to you and on full display for others to see; what do you want to show them?

Spirituality

NATURAL Nutmeg

You Are Not Your Reading

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

24

By Kelly L. McCarthy

D “But here’s

the reality: You are not your chart.

You are not your reading.

You are not someone else’s interpretation of your future nor the story of your past lives.”

—Kelly L. McCarthy

but because we believed them into being. Just as one person convinced herself that her zodiac sign defines her, another has lived through repeated heartbreak because she was told she would only have two great loves. While yet another’s business is struggling because she’s so worried about doing it according to her “human design.” These beliefs were never universal truths; they were simply accepted as such.

But here’s the reality: You are not your chart.

You are not your reading. You are not someone else’s interpretation of your future nor the story of Readers’ Responsibilities your past lives.

This is not how I work with my clients. When I One of the most important practices in breaking offer a Soul Reading, I am reading the energetic free from this limiting mindset is learning to medifrequency as it is in the present moment. What they are feeling and believing at their core is what tate. Meditation isn’t just about relaxation—it’s the key to self-realization, inner connection, and disI’m picking up on—it is not a fixed destiny, and cernment. When you cultivate a strong connection it is certainly not an unchangeable truth, and it’s to your energy, you no longer need to rely solely our responsibility to share this with our clients. on external tools or readings for guidance. Instead, As a Universal Energy Guide and Soul Reader, these modalities can serve as supportive aspects I want to remind you: these spiritual tools— of your journey, offering insight while you remain astrology, past life readings, tarot, human design, firmly rooted in your truth. Meditation allows you Akashic records, and psychic readings—are to receive confirmation from within, rather than meant to help you understand yourself, not seeking it outside yourself. It helps you tap into the dictate your fate or how you should manage or infinite wisdom that already resides within you, “run” your life. Yet, many well-meaning seekers reinforcing the understanding that YOU are your place blind trust in readings, believing them to greatest source of clarity. be absolute. This is where the danger lies, and I am seeing it more and more. uring a recent session, someone casually said, “It’s because I’m a Scorpio.” In another case, a psychic told an individual they would only have two great loves in their lifetime. And yet another told me they are trying to use their recently learned Human Design printout to figure out how to use it to “run” their business but are struggling to figure it all out.

These statements might seem harmless at first, but they reveal a deeper issue—one I see as a major red flag in the spiritual industry.

Avoid Self-Fulfilling Prophecies

When we accept one of these as our unshakable truth, we unconsciously shape our lives around it, handing over our power. We create self-fulfilling prophecies—not because they were destined,

Control Your Own Journey

True spiritual guidance should empower you.

It should help you recognize your own energy, become aware of your patterns, and make choices that align with your highest self. The future is not predetermined—it is shaped by you, moment

25 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Kelly L. McCarthy, owner of BeyondWordsNWisdom in Winsted, CT, is a SoulReader, Energy Guide, and Intuitive Graphic Artist. She unlocks stagnant energies, reflecting others’ true selves.

Her ancestral wisdom and intuitive skills expand your awareness, opening your heart and mind to life’s possibilities, personally and professionally. Kelly offers in-person and remote opportunities to work together. Visit www.beyondwordsnwisdom.com, email Kelly at kelly@beyondwordsnwisdom.com, or call/text 860.806.9684. See ad on page 34 >

NATURAL Nutmeg

by moment, so allow yourself to be flexible with a willingness to grow, learn, and evolve past what you think you are, realizing that you are so much more.

So, the next time you seek guidance, ask yourself: • Does this reading empower me, or does it place me in a box?

• Does it expand my possibilities, or does it make me feel limited?

• Does it resonate with my inner knowing, or does it instill fear?

Question everything. Your intuition is your greatest guide—trust it above all else. Seek out practitioners who empower you in your awareness of what CAN be. And if a past reading has left you feeling trapped or fearful, release it. Reclaim your narrative and rewrite your story on your own terms, understanding fully that you chose to pick up a limiting belief from something you heard.

We are constantly emitting energy. We are energetic beings in constant cocreation with the universe. Our thoughts, emotions, words, and actions create ripples that impact everyone we encounter. Whether we realize it or not, we are cocreating the world around us through the frequency we embody.

Your path is fluid, dynamic, and uniquely yours to walk. You are not bound by anything except your own beliefs, and beliefs can change. You have the power to shift, grow, and manifest the life you truly desire. We often think the world around us is responsible for how we feel. But what if we pause to recognize that our inner state is shaping what we experience?

You are the creator of your path, and anyone who tells you differently is not someone you should be relying on for clarity or confirmation on your journey.

Feature

The Frequency of Healing:

Exploring Energy Medicine at the Cellular Level

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Dr. Pamela M. Cipriano, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

26

“Binaural beats are created when two slightly different frequencies are played in each ear, resulting in a perceived “third” tone that the brain follows. Depending on the frequency range used (theta, alpha, delta, or beta), binaural beats can help induce states of deep relaxation, creativity, focus, or sleep.”

—Dr. Pamela M. Cipriano, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC

I

n the evolving world of integrative medicine, energy healing is no longer considered fringe— it is becoming a foundational component of whole-body wellness. At our practice, we bridge ancient principles with modern science, offering energy-based therapies that work not only at the biochemical level but also on the vibrational plane where true healing begins.

Unlike traditional energy work, such as Reiki, which involves a practitioner channeling healing energy from the universe, which then flows through their body and out of their hands, our approach is grounded in frequency-specific modalities that stimulate the body’s own regenerative capabilities. We’ve seen remarkable outcomes in patients who have suffered from chronic fatigue, environmental toxicity, unresolved neurological symptoms, and emotional stagnation - especially when these therapies are integrated with personalized functional medicine protocols.

Unlike general PEMF devices that deliver a uniform pulse, AmpCoil is designed to deliver targeted frequency sets—called “journeys”—that speak to specific organ systems, microbial imbalances, emotional states, or detoxification pathways. Using a biofeedback-based voice analysis, the system identifies which frequencies may best support the body’s return to balance.

Patients lie comfortably during sessions while a circular coil emits these frequencies through a resonant magnetic field. Many report a sense of grounding, peace, or even emotional release. Over time, patients often note improvements in sleep, cognition, digestion, and energy levels. For individuals navigating Lyme disease, mold toxicity, or autoimmune dysregulation, AmpCoil offers a powerful, non-invasive adjunct to biomedical therapies.

Infrared Sauna with Binaural Beats: A Multisensory Healing Environment

The foundation of energy medicine rests on a simple truth: the body is electric. Every cell, tissue, and organ system communicates through electromagnetic signaling. When that communication is disrupted by chronic stress, environmental exposures, or infection, imbalances arise that conventional labs may not detect, but patients certainly feel: brain fog, pain, inflammation, emotional dysregulation, and more.

Modern energy therapies aim to restore coherence, a term used to describe the smooth and synchronized flow of biological and energetic processes. At our office, we use three core tools to facilitate this: AmpCoil, binaural beats paired with infrared sauna and halotherapy (salt therapy).

We’ve enhanced our infrared sauna experience by incorporating binaural beats—a form of brainwave synchronization therapy that promotes relaxation and emotional balance. As the infrared heat penetrates deeply into tissues to support circulation and detoxification, the layered sound frequencies work simultaneously on a neurological level, creating a deeply restorative mind-body experience.

Binaural beats are created when two slightly different frequencies are played in each ear, resulting in a perceived “third” tone that the brain follows.

Depending on the frequency range used (theta, alpha, delta, or beta), binaural beats can help induce states of deep relaxation, creativity, focus, or sleep.

Those dealing with chronic stress, insomnia, trauma, or cognitive fog often find that binaural audio helps “reset the brain” while the sauna aids the body in releasing physical toxins.

One of the most impactful tools in our office is the AmpCoil—a wellness technology that combines Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy, bioresonance scanning, and sound frequency delivery.

Our halotherapy chamber offers a sanctuary for both respiratory and energetic cleansing.

Halotherapy involves inhaling pharmaceuticalgrade salt particles, dispersed through a

Healing Through Frequency: Understanding the Science

AmpCoil: Tuning the Body Back to Balance

Halotherapy: Clearing More Than Just the Airways

halogenerator. These tiny particles reach deep into the lungs and sinuses, where they draw out mucus, reduce inflammation, and improve breathing.

But salt is not just antimicrobial and mucolytic— it’s also energetically purifying. Salt naturally emits negative ions, helping to neutralize electromagnetic pollution and rebalance the human energy field.

Many patients report feeling lighter, clearer, and emotionally uplifted after a twenty-minute session, making halotherapy a wonderful tool for individuals who feel “wired but tired,” overwhelmed by digital environments, or emotionally heavy from grief or trauma.

Offering coaching to help you create a life that aligns with your values and purpose. Let's interrupt patterns, step out of your comfort zone and discover your joy.

Join Our Email List!

Receive a $50 coupon toward an Aromatherapy Certification class or coaching call.

Susan Cote • Certified Life Coach & Aromatherapist • Mansfield, CT 860.942.0197 • info@everydayharvest.com everydayharvest.com

Consciousness, Coherence, and the New Frontier of Healing

For years, many of our patients had been told, “Your labs are normal,” despite debilitating symptoms. Others were bounced between specialists, misdiagnosed, or offered only medications that masked deeper dysfunction. Integrating energy healing into their care plan has been a game-changer—not because it replaces traditional diagnostics, but because it empowers patients to connect with their body’s deeper rhythms.

Experience the innovative BioCharger® NG at Imagine Float, your ally in revitalizing your spirit and illuminating your life. Tap into the restorative powers of voltage, PEMF, light, and frequencies and harmonics, all in one session.

Call 860.255.7771 to Schedule a session!

Visit us at: 290 West Main Street, Avon, CT 860.255.7771 • ImagineFloat.com

Book an Appointment The Colonic Institute is committed to helping spread awareness to the community about the importance of a healthy colon and living a more vibrant, positive and balanced lifestyle. We work in conjunction with Holistic Healers, Naturopathic Doctors, MD’s, and Chiropractors to help our clients achieve optimum health.

46 West Avon Road, Avon CT 860.481.2702 @thecolonicinstitute colonicct.com

Call 860.481.2702 to discover how the Institute can bring you into better mind and body wellness V ot e fo r us in th e 10 Be A w ar ds fo st r H ol is ti c Ce nt er !

27 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

A Clinical Shift Toward Empowerment

Reconnect with Nature's Healing Energies NATURAL Nutmeg

As our understanding of energy medicine evolves, so does our appreciation for the role of consciousness in healing. At its core, energy medicine is not just about waves, fields, or frequency devices— it’s about the restoration of coherence in the body’s internal communication systems. Illness, from this perspective, is not only a physiological breakdown but a form of energetic disharmony.

When cells, tissues, and systems fall out of coherence or synchronization, symptoms emerge: fatigue, pain, mood instability, brain fog, and immune dysregulation. While conventional medicine treats these symptoms as separate entities, frequencybased medicine recognizes them as manifestations of a system-wide misalignment, often stemming from a combination of toxic exposure, unresolved trauma, microbial burden, and chronic stress.

One of the most exciting insights emerging from both physics and neurobiology is that coherence is not just a physical state—it is a measurable biofield signature. In other words, when the heart, brain, and nervous system are synchronized, the body functions more efficiently. Heart rate variability improves. The immune system activates in a balanced way. Inflammatory markers fall. This is where energy medicine thrives—not just through devices, but through intention, environment, and presence.

That’s why in our office, we are intentional about every aspect of the healing experience. Whether it is the binaural beats in the infrared sauna or the supportive frequency journey from the AmpCoil, these therapies are grounded in creating coherence, not just in the cells, but in the whole person.

Elevate Your Wellness Business & Life in 2025 Are you a wellness entrepreneur ready to break through to new levels of success? Imagine achieving not only business growth but personal well-being, balance, and resilience that drives sustainable success. As a holistic high-performance coach, I specialize in guiding wellness-focused leaders like you to maximize both

NATURAL Nutmeg

business potential and personal vitality.

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

28

What will you achieve in 2025?

•

business growth & success

•

enhanced business & high performance skills

•

fulfillment of your purpose

•

increased fulfillment, happiness & health for yourself!

Take the first step toward an extraordinary 2025 by booking your complimentary consult: longviewvitality.com/contact

Christine Bilotti-Peterson Holistic High Performance Coach christine@whatsyourlongview.com

Mention Natural Nutmeg and get 25% off your coaching program!

Patients often tell us they feel seen, understood, and, most importantly, hopeful. Some report better sleep and mental clarity after their first sauna session with binaural beats; others note subtle but meaningful emotional release following AmpCoil journeys.

In cases of mold toxicity or tick-borne illness, these tools provide a gentle, noninvasive approach to support detoxification and nervous system repair.

We have also observed that energy therapies can shorten healing timelines when used consistently.

Patients often progress through antimicrobial or detox protocols with fewer Herxheimer reactions.

They feel more grounded, more in control, and less reactive to stress. Many develop a regular rhythm of incorporating these therapies, not only for symptom management, but also for prevention, maintenance, and self-awareness.

Reframing Health Through Frequency

One of the most beautiful aspects of energy medicine is reframing patients’ relationships to healing. Instead of seeing the body as broken, patients begin to see it as intelligent but imbalanced, capable of recalibrating when given the right input. Frequency-based therapies serve as reminders to the body of what balance feels like.

This perspective also aligns with cutting-edge research in quantum biology, which demonstrates that the human body communicates not only through chemistry but also through biophotons (light), vibrational signals, and electromagnetic resonance. As such, healing becomes less about fighting disease and more about restoring harmony to the body’s natural frequency range.

The Invitation to Heal Differently

Whether you are managing a chronic illness, seeking to prevent disease, or simply looking to feel more alive in your own body, energy medicine offers a different kind of invitation: to listen, align, and tune in. You won’t find these tools in every clinic, but at The Practice of Health and Wellness, we believe this is the medicine of the future.

We’ve seen firsthand that when patients are supported not only physically, but also energetically and emotionally, transformation occurs. These therapies are not magic—they are grounded in biology, physics, and intention. And for many of our patients, they’ve become the missing piece in a long and frustrating health journey.

Pamela M. Cipriano, DNP, APRN, is the CEO and founder of The Practice of Health and Wellness in Thomaston, CT, where she offers free monthly seminars to empower the community with knowledge about the disease process and provides practical tools to maintain and restore optimal health. Visit thepracticeofhealthandwellness. com to learn more. See ad on page 31 >

Health

Unlock Your Body’s Potential: The Benefits of Stretch Therapy

By Kevin Ramsey, LMT, CEAP

Y

What Is Assisted Stretching?

What Are the Benefits of Stretching?

While you may think of stretching as just something to do before and after a workout, assisted stretching does help a lot more than your mile time. Here are some of the top assisted stretching benefits: • Improved flexibility and mobility: Assisted stretching helps keep muscles limber.

What to Expect from Total Body Stretch

Now that you understand a bit more about the benefits of assisted stretching, you may be curious about what to expect when you schedule a Total Body Stretch session at a Massage Envy franchised location near you.

Your session will begin with a quick consultation where your provider will chat with you about your body’s history and any areas of tension or discomfort. This helps them tailor the session to address your specific needs and movement goals.

Sessions take place in a calming, private room designed for ultimate relaxation. Once you’re settled in, your provider will guide you through a series of assisted stretches, starting at the neck and working their way down to your feet. This handson approach helps you go deeper into stretches, easing tension and improving flexibility throughout your entire body.

Want to boost your stretch session even more?

Pair it with a customized massage or enhancement.

The Rapid Tension Relief enhancement uses percussion technology to ease minor aches and pains.

Or, if you have an area that needs extra support, try the Kinesiology Tape enhancement to help reduce discomfort or provide extra support for an injured part of your body.

Ready to discover the bend-efits of stretch for yourself? Make Total Body Stretch sessions a regular part of your routine when you sign up for a Massage Envy membership today.

“Unlike stretching on your own, assisted stretching is a guided, hands-on approach where a trained professional helps you move deeper into stretches in a controlled way.”

—Kevin Ramsey, LMT, CEAP

Kevin Ramsey, LMT, CEAP, is Massage Envy Body Care Service Manager at Massage Envy Franchising, LLC. Book a session at Massage Envy in Evergreen Walk South Windsor. Massage Envy West Farm offers craniosacral, manual lymphatic drainage, prenatal, sports, and orthopedic massage therapy in Farmington, CT. Call 860.677.4477 or email clinic1022@massageenvy.com to book your next massage and skincare treatment online today, and visit massageenvy.com to find the location nearest you! See ad on page 17 >

29 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Maybe you’ve tried stretching on your own and felt like you just couldn’t get deep enough to really feel the burn. Assisted stretching brings the benefits of regular stretching to those with limited flexibility, helping you safely extend your muscles further than you could alone. But is assisted stretching really worth it?

The short answer: Yes! Unlike stretching on your own, assisted stretching is a guided, hands-on approach where a trained professional helps you move deeper into stretches in a controlled way.

The session is tailored to your body’s unique needs and movement goals, targeting areas of tension and leading to assisted stretching benefits, such as improving flexibility and mobility.

• Clearer mind: The deep, synchronized breathing techniques that accompany the stretches help relax both your mind and body.

The benefits of assisted stretching make it one of the easiest, most effective ways to take care of your body. When you make it a regular part of your routine, it not only helps you move better—but also live and feel better.

NATURAL Nutmeg

ou’re feeling stiff. Tight. Rigid, even. Maybe your back protests every time you stand up, or your shoulders have practically fused with your ears.

And because you don’t think of yourself as a “flexible person,” you’ve long assumed stretching just isn’t for you. But what if we told you that improving your range of motion doesn’t have to mean hours of yoga poses or failed attempts at touching your toes?

That’s where Total Body Stretch comes in. Whether you’re an athlete seeking to boost performance, a desk worker fighting everyday screen-time aches, or you just want to stay mobile, assisted stretching helps stretch the limits of what you thought possible for your body to help you move better. And when you move better, you live better.

Feature

Massage Therapy in 4 Levels of Complexity

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Ethan DeFord, Integrative Alchemy

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

30

“By pressing, squeezing, and gently drawing the tissues in your body, your therapist cannot only relieve your aches but also help change structural patterns, resulting in less frequent pain and injury.”

—Ethan DeFord

F

or many, massage conjures up an image of a pampering service, a luxurious treatment that leaves you with a rosy glow for a while. The reality is that massage therapy can provide essential health benefits that promote a vibrant, healthy life. Consider four levels of increasing complexity that describe just how massage therapy can transform your life.

Level 1: Nurturing Space

When you build trust with your therapist and know your massage therapy space is secure, you can enter a deeper level of relaxation, allowing your body to open up to the skills of your therapist. To aid in the process, we will also attend to each of your senses, ensuring you feel engaged without being overstimulated. Warmth, softness, soothing music, gentle aromas, and mild lighting allow your mind to rest without anticipation of sudden new stimuli.

Whether your intention is a relaxing spa afternoon or you’re seeking relief for your overworked shoulders, attending to these details will set the foundation for your transformation.

Level 2: Neuromuscular Facilitation

Your body is a miraculous suspension structure (ask me about “tensegrity!”), where bones create space-holding resistance to compression, and your muscles create both a counter-balancing tension and inspire movement in your body through space. These dynamics mean that each of your joints is a balancing point across which two or more muscles work. There is no version of life where we don’t use our muscles continuously.

With use comes disruptions to these balances, increased muscle tension, and the occasional injury or dysfunction, which can produce pain.

A skilled massage therapist is adept at feeling the subtle and overt tension patterns in your muscles and can shift the behavior not just of

your muscles but also of your nervous system to relieve aches, restore balance, and protect your body from future injury. By pressing, squeezing, and gently drawing the tissues in your body, your therapist cannot only relieve your aches but also help change structural patterns, resulting in less frequent pain and injury.

Level 3: More Than Cells

Each muscle is composed of bundles of fibers, and each fiber, each bundle, and each muscle is wrapped in an extracellular matrix (ECM) composed not of cells, but of a web of various structural proteins, filled with a special fluid. This ECM is the primary structural system of your body, as it also wraps around and roots in each bone, wraps and secures your precious nerves, and holds your organs in place.

This matrix flows seamlessly from the top of your head to the tips of your toes, and we give it different names depending on what it is doing; for example, when the muscle runs out of muscle cells, we call it a tendon as it flows onto and around the bones, where we then call it periosteum. The structure provided by this ECM allows our muscles and bones to function as they do, and it also sets the stage for every physiological process in the body.

Each of our cells lives within or on this ECM, and the provision of nutrients and the removal of waste all occur within its fluidic space!

With advanced training, a therapist like me can sense the nuanced dynamics of tension within this ECM and stimulate it to rearrange itself, while simultaneously flushing the fluid space to clear stagnant cellular waste and invite in fresh nutrition.

This may produce a boggy feeling or aches when you first experience it, as you are suddenly cleaning up junk that was previously under the rug, but this will become a feeling of freshness and vigor with regular care.

Level 4: The Human Ecosystem

See ad on page 25 >

Psychic Medium Counselor Voted one of the best psychics in New England

“My reading with Agne s was life changing!”

– Donna, Avon, CT Book at

www. a gne s da ddona .com or cal l 860 941 2667 Intuitive Counseling Holistic Spa AVAILABLE IN PERSON, BY PHONE, OR VIA ZOOM.

Have you exhausted every medical professional seeking help for Lyme Disease?

Dr. Pamela Cipriano is your answer because she finds the root cause.

FIND THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR SYMPTOMS

CALL TODAY!

DR. PAMELA CIPRIANO NURSE PRACTITIONER

860-880-2525 The Practice of Health and Wellness

dr.pamela.cipriano@gmail.com thepracticeofhealthandwellness.com

We Offer: Free Monthly Seminars • IV Therapy • Infra-red Sauna • Red Light Therapy

THE PRACTICE OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, THOMASTON, CT 130 S MAIN STREET, SUITE 1C, THOMASTON, CT 06787 • 860-880-2525 DR.PAMELA.CIPRIANO @DR.PAMELACIPRIANO1329 THEPRACTICEOFHEALTHANDWELLNESS.COM

ECLIPSE Holistic Living, LLC.

Melissa Wooldridge Breton, Nurse Practitioner

A Co-Creative Healing Arts Studio • Integrative Nurse Coaching • Reiki • Crystal Sound Bowl Healing • Yoga • Alternative & Complementary Modalities • Guest Artists, speakers, presenters, workshops.

A sacred space for well-becoming on our healing-growth journey together!

30 Hebron Avenue, DERR Plaza, Glastonbury Center, CT 860-614-7588 (text preferred)

@eclipseholisticliving eclipseholisticliving.com

31 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Ethan DeFord opened Integrative Alchemy as an ecological health and wellness practice to help clients shift into happier and healthier lives. He calls from a diverse background stretching back thirty years to provide touch-based therapies and mindfulness-based wellness coaching for individuals and couples. His offices are in Guilford, CT, and he offers telehealth as an alternative for long-distance coaching clients. Reach out at www.alchemy.link or call/text 203.533.9466 and leave a message!

Agne s Daddona , MA

NATURAL Nutmeg

The fluidic space within the ECM runs throughout your entire body and sets the foundation for the activity of every specialized cell in your body. Not just the human cells, because a human being is a SUPERorganism; a thriving ecosystem of human and non-human cells alike. Every ecosystem is composed of a web of relationships, and every relationship thrives on one simple thing: communication!

The human body has four broad categories of communication: biochemical, bioelectrical, biomechanical, and optical. We will focus only on the first three here. We understand that our body responds directly to functional chemistry, as well as specialized, circulating chemical signals in the form of hormones and neurotransmitters, by stimulating receptors on the cell walls to change the behavior of our cells. In and around our cells, we also have ions, molecules that carry electrical charges. When these ions are allowed through cell and tissue boundaries, we create electrical charge differentials. This is what nerves rely on to convey signals more rapidly than circulating transmitters in our bodily fluids.

These communication systems enable us to rapidly coordinate a wide range of essential activities within our bodily ecosystem. The webbing of the ECM can transmit mechanical signals that alter cellular behavior, much like hormones. The ECM can transmit mechanical signals through the body at around 675 mph, and manual manipulation (massage) of our tissues can initiate such signals!

A skilled massage therapist can flush stagnated fluid out of your tissues and alleviate many potential impingements that can disrupt nerve signaling, including those caused by muscle tension and postural distortions. We can also help your body transform the continuous environment in which every sort of communication takes place, so that your whole system can harmonize and collaborate.

The end effect of this is what we experience as vibrant, resilient, personal health.

What seems like “just” a rosy feeling after an hour or more of pampering is, in fact, just a taste of the fundamentally life-supporting richness your massage therapist is liberating within your miraculous body. From there, what else is possible?

Health

Yoga for Treatment and Healing of Complex Trauma and PTSD Part 2

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Nanci Kaczegowicz, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, ERYT 200, RYT

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

32

“The use of physical postures, called shapes or forms in TCTSY, is a movement-based modality and may be considered a bottom-up approach to trauma treatment.

Bottom-up practices, such as a movement practice like yoga, have been found to help regulate the nervous system.”

—Nanci Kaczegowicz, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, ERYT 200, RYT 500

I

n our May/June issue, Part 1 of this article discussed trauma and the roots and practice of yoga.

In this issue, Part 2 explores the impacts of therapeutic yoga and its impact on the nervous system.

Therapeutic Yoga and TCTSY

Western cultures often associate yoga with Asana, the physical practice. Therapeutic yoga may be defined as the use of physical yoga practices, such as breath and movement, which are aimed to help improve one’s physical, psychological, or spiritual well-being. According to Singh, the therapeutic principles of a yoga practice include one’s holistic nature, individuality, self-empowerment, and the importance of the mind in creating a healing state.

These principles identified by Singh are similar to the philosophical foundation of TCTSY. The therapeutic alliance between the TCTSY facilitator and the participant is a key component of a TCTSY practice. The therapeutic alliance is promoted by the use of the five core elements of TCTSY, which include invitational language, non-coercion, choice-making, interoception, and shared authentic experience: 1. Invitational language: Nondirective use of language, such as “if you’d like,” “perhaps,” or “you may/might/could.”

2. Noncoercion: The TCTSY practice is based on the participant’s choice and preferences for movement and intentional breath. Cues are verbal, and hands-on assists or adjustments are avoided.

3. Choice-making: Offering non-hierarchical options for movement, such as an “either/or” choice or an “A, B, or C” choice for participants to engage in the TCTSY practice.

4. Interoception: Present moment awareness of somatic sensations.

5. Shared authentic experience: The TCTSY facilitator engages in the practice along with the participants.

The TCTSY practice was originally developed to treat women diagnosed with complex PTSD related to childhood sexual abuse. TCTSY has been found to reduce the symptoms of PTSD at a similar rate as cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a form of treatment that directly addresses the memories, thoughts, and feelings surrounding the traumatic event. TCTSY is considered a form of Hatha yoga made accessible to individuals with diverse levels of physical ability. The use of physical postures, called shapes or forms in TCTSY, is a movement-based modality and may be considered a bottom-up approach to trauma treatment.

Bottom-up practices, such as a movement practice like yoga, have been found to help regulate the nervous system by reducing SNS activity.

Yoga and the Nervous System

Improvements in trauma-related symptoms have resulted from interventions such as yoga that are based in present-moment awareness. The practice of yoga has the potential to increase parasympathetic activity and vagal tone, as well as promote resilience. Resilience may be conceptualized as an individual’s capacity to adapt to difficult or stressful life events without expending excessive time or energy to return to homeostasis.

A lack of resilience may result in dysregulation of the ANS. The vagus nerve is involved in the regulation of the ANS and is a major link between the brain and the body. Homeostasis in the human body is maintained by the ANS, which is comprised of the SNS and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

The physiological response to a stressor activates the SNS, causing increased catecholamine and cortisol levels while decreasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which may lead to symptoms of anxiety.

SNS activation may also result in an increase in heart rate, respiration, and muscle activation, preparing the body for a fight-or-flight response.

When SNS activation is reduced, this physiological response is reversed, which helps to improve attentiveness, mindfulness, and interoception.

One way a body-based therapy such as TCTSY may help to improve physical distress tolerance is to improve interoception in individuals with complex PTSD. Interoception may be defined as the processing of the body’s internal stimuli transmitted by the nervous system. Misinterpretation of interoceptive cues is posited to contribute to mental health conditions, including somatoform, anxiety, and mood disorders.

JOYCE ST. GERMAINE, M.ED, C.HT, RYT-200

The Sacred Journey Center for Spiritual Studies

• Sessions/Workshops for Adults & Children, Study Groups • Registered Yoga Teacher, Spiritual Counselor, Mentor • Certified Shamanic & Shapeshifting Practitioner • Energy Healing for People or Animals, Clearings • Certified Hypnotherapist & Regressionist • Readings, Spirit Detachment, Soul Retrieval • International Retreats & Cruises: Shamanic, Yoga, Psychic & Custom • CT Justice of the Peace, Host/Producer "The Sacred Journey" TV Show In-Person, Phone, Zoom, Skype

www.TheSacredJourney.biz jsgermaine@aol.com (860) 675-9706 29 Davis Road, Burlington, CT 06013

Polyvagal Theory

NATURAL Nutmeg

33 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in the human body. The functions of the vagus nerve include parasympathetic innervation, which regulates the respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems. The vagus nerve contains 80% afferent (leading from the body to the brain) and 20% efferent (leading from the brain to the body) nerve fibers. Polyvagal theory (PVT) theorizes that the PNS has two distinct vagal pathways, the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) and the ventral vagal complex (VVC). When activated, the DVC may result in physical immobilization or collapse, while the VVC, which, as part of the social engagement system, may result in a freeze or fawn response.

The DVC is the oldest part of the vagus nerve and is responsible for the body’s response to psychological trauma and the return of the nervous system to homeostasis after the resolution of the trauma. In response to a threat, DVC activation automatically results in decreased muscle tone and reduced cardiac output. Because the DVC innervates the viscera below the diaphragm, digestion slows, and bowel and bladder control is reduced often resulting in a reflexive loss of control. Outwardly, DVC activation may result in a freeze response, fainting, dissociation, or loss of consciousness.

Homeostasis, the body’s ability to grow and repair, is supported by feelings of safety which in turn allows individuals to co-regulate their nervous system as part of the social engagement system. Both eye contact and vocal tone may help to socially engage another while reducing SNS activation. When the DVC is activated, SNS response is reduced resulting in lower heart rate, decreased cortisol levels and lower levels of inflammation.

The VVC is integral to the social engagement system, feelings of safety and connection in relationship to others, and is often expressed through facial expression and tone of voice. Increased social engagement occurs when an individual perceives safety from both the internal and external environment. When a real or imagined threat is detected, the SNS becomes activated. SNS activation results in physiological changes, including increased heart

Dana Lapointe, ND, LMT, Esth. “the lifest yle doc” NN Readers Use Code NN49 to receive a $49 Introductory StemWave treatment (reg. $160)

Highly Effective Natural Treatments for Chronic Conditions

Gut, Skin, Diabetes, Auto-Immune, Mental Wellness, Fatigue, StemWave™, Weight Loss, Weight Maintenance

Online Wellness Programs for:

Optimal Aging, Seasonal Detoxification, Gut Health, Blood Sugar Regulation

Telehealth & Canton, CT (by appt.) 860-217-1171 @ D a n a L a p o i n t e N D ConnecticutNaturopathic.com

NATURAL Nutmeg JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

34

and respiratory rate, bronchial dilation, decreased gastrointestinal motility, and the release of stress hormones to prepare the body for mobilization.

Typically, the nervous system adequately senses risk in the environment. However, some individuals experience disruption of neuroception, thus perceiving a safe environment as unsafe. When this occurs, the SNS becomes activated, social behaviors are inhibited, and an individual may experience symptoms of withdrawal or aggression.

Conversely, activation of the social engagement system decreases the SNS response and inhibits the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

When there is an overwhelming or significantly threatening traumatic event, an individual may initially respond with SNS activation. If exposure to a threatening situation persists or the response to the situation is restrained, the PNS, or dorsal vagal system, may co-activate with the SNS, resulting in a freeze, collapse, or dissociative response. In time, this may result in a dysfunctional and paradoxical activation between the SNS and PNS. Symptoms of co-activation of the SNS and PNS may range from extreme states of anger and rage to a depressive collapse. TCTSY is an intervention that may help to target the co-activation of the SNS and PNS and help return the nervous system to normal functioning.

TCTSY is a specific yoga practice that utilizes the five core elements of invitational language, noncoercion, choice-making, interoception, and shared authentic experience to assist individuals who have experienced complex trauma. TCTSY decreases the effects of complex trauma by improving the body’s response to stress and increasing interoception through vagal pathways. The use of physical movement in the TCTSY practice offers a bottom-up strategy to help regulate the vagus nerve and promote homeostasis, which is an essential component of both physiological and psychological well-being.

Nanci Kaczegowicz, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, ERYT 200, RYT 500, is an advanced practice registered nurse with over twenty-seven years of experience. She is nationally certified as both a family and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Her additional training in holistic nursing and yoga helps her to promote spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. She is passionate about helping teens and adults experiencing depression, anxiety, insomnia, and chronic stress understand the root cause of psychological distress impacting their lives. Services may include medication, psychotherapy, therapeutic yoga, mindfulness, stress reduction, and relaxation techniques.

See ad on page 55 >

Health

Your Backyard Is Trying to Heal You

By Amelia South

S

Ever since humans began farming and settling in one place instead of wandering, the plants have found ways to come to us.

Have you ever noticed a new plant suddenly appear in your yard? Maybe you’re walking around, deciding where to put a garden or whether it’s time to weed whack, when it hits you: I’ve never seen that before.

Before you yank it out and toss it in the compost, I encourage you to pause. Identify the plant first.

There are many plant ID apps for your phone; I prefer LeafSnap when I need help. But you may be asking, why bother? Why care what the name of some weed is? Because in my experience as a practicing herbalist, the plants are here to take care of us.

“If you have lived in your house for more than six months, the local flora knows you.

They’ve felt your presence, heard your laughter and your cries, smelled your sweat, and watched you move past…. That plant came to your yard for a reason.

For you or someone in your home.”

—Amelia South

Need Help?

I’ve been foraging for nearly 20 years and practicing intuitive folk herbalism since 2018. It would be an honor to walk your land with you and help you uncover what your backyard has been trying to say all along.

Book a private foraging walk at blacksunfarmct.com/foraging.

Amelia South is a professional foraging instructor, herbalist, and organic farmer with nearly 20 years of experience working with wild plants. She teaches people how to identify and use the healing plants growing right outside their doors through guided walks, retreats, and online education. Amelia is the founder of Black Sun Farm in Connecticut, where she practices Intuitive Folk Herbalism and helps others reconnect with the wisdom of nature. Learn more at blacksunfarmct.com.

See ad on page 7 > Photo credit: Ling Li Messer Photography

35 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

The Purpose of Plants

If you have lived in your house for more than six months, the local flora knows you. They’ve felt your presence, heard your laughter and your cries, smelled your sweat, and watched you move past. They know you the way you might feel the presence of someone in a room without actually seeing them.

That plant came to your yard for a reason.

For you or someone in your home.

As a professional foraging instructor, I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened—but nearly every time I walk a property with someone, identifying edible and medicinal plants, there’s a jaw-dropping moment. A spark of realization.

A goosebump moment when someone says, “Wait… that’s exactly what I’ve been dealing with.”

Imagine struggling with a chronic condition for years, often sitting on the back porch wishing you had energy to enjoy the outdoors again—and the whole time, some persistent little weed has been quietly growing at the edge of your shed, creeping closer each year, waiting to be noticed.

No, I don’t mean poison ivy or bittersweet vines choking your trees. I mean that herbaceous perennial with soft leaves and tiny flowers that won’t stop showing up near your roses or along the walkway— no matter how many times you whack it down.

Identify it. Sit with it. Wonder why it’s here.

Because some part of you may already know: It’s come to heal you. You just don’t know it yet.

NATURAL Nutmeg

ummer is here. You might go camping, hiking, kayaking, fire up the grill, or simply mow the lawn. No matter what, you’re heading outdoors and soaking up fresh air and sunshine.

But how often do you take a slow walk down a forested path? Breathing in the scent of damp moss and mushrooms poking their heads through the leaf litter? Catching a whiff of wildflowers on the breeze?

Listening to birdsong, the trickle of a stream, and frogs leaping into the water as you pass?

How often do you sit barefoot in the grass, not thinking about chores, but instead wondering what that little purple flower is near the woodpile? Or where did that towering spire with yellow blooms and big fuzzy leaves come from?

Humans survived for millennia before written history because we were deeply connected to the world around us. Not just other people, but the natural world.

We could not have made it this far without plants.

Health

Harmonizing Hormones:

Blending Traditional Endocrinology with Functional Medicine for Energy Healing

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Dr. Michael Duben

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

36

“Traditional endocrinology excels at diagnosing and managing conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, adrenal dysfunction, and menopause through standardized lab tests and treatments….

Functional medicine goes deeper, exploring the “why” behind hormonal imbalances. By addressing these root causes, we alleviate symptoms and restore the body’s natural energy systems, promoting longterm healing.”

—Dr. Michael Duben

A

s a board-certified endocrinologist, I am delighted to introduce my new functional medicine practice in Fairfield, specializing in endocrinology through the lens of energy medicine and healing. My approach integrates the precision of traditional endocrinology with the personalized, root-cause focus of functional medicine, enhanced by cutting-edge AI diagnostics and evaluation tools.

I dedicate ample time to each patient—an hour and a half for initial visits and thirty minutes for follow-ups—ensuring a deep exploration of your health concerns to restore hormonal balance, optimize energy, and foster lasting vitality.

tools, holistic strategies, and advanced AI to enhance diagnostic precision.

In functional medicine, we view the body as an interconnected ecosystem. Low energy might stem from adrenal fatigue, but the root cause could be chronic stress depleting cortisol or a disrupted circadian rhythm affecting melatonin. By integrating energy medicine principles, I help patients tap into their body’s innate healing potential. AI-driven diagnostics further refine our approach, analyzing complex data patterns to uncover subtle imbalances with greater accuracy.

Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers, regulating energy, metabolism, mood, and overall well-being. In my Fairfield practice, I combine traditional endocrinology’s evidence-based diagnostics and treatments with functional medicine’s holistic perspective. This dual approach acknowledges that hormones are influenced by lifestyle, stress, nutrition, and the body’s energetic systems.

Traditional endocrinology excels at diagnosing and managing conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, adrenal dysfunction, and menopause through standardized lab tests and treatments.

Functional medicine goes deeper, exploring the “why” behind hormonal imbalances. By addressing these root causes, we alleviate symptoms and restore the body’s natural energy systems, promoting long-term healing.

My practice prioritizes a, patient-centered experience. Using my expertise and top-tier AI tools, I analyze health data to provide precise, individualized insights, complementing my clinical expertise. These tools help identify patterns in symptoms, lab results, and lifestyle factors, ensuring a tailored roadmap to wellness.

Whether you’re managing thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, or menopausal symptoms, my practice meets you where you are, with compassion and innovation. AI supports our work by streamlining diagnostics, allowing us to focus on creating actionable, holistic plans tailored to your needs.

A Dual Approach to Endocrine Health

Hormonal Harmony

Energy medicine aligns seamlessly with my practice philosophy. Hormones act as energetic signals, orchestrating bodily functions. When disrupted by stress, toxins, or poor lifestyle choices, the body’s energy flow falters, leading to fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, or mood swings. My goal is to realign this energetic balance using scientific

Personalized Care with AI-Enhanced Insights

Comprehensive Testing for Deeper Insights

I offer a robust suite of diagnostic tools to support our work, providing a foundation for diagnosing endocrine disorders. These include tests for thyroid hormones, blood sugar, cortisol, and reproductive hormones, ensuring medical conditions are addressed with precision.

I offer advanced third-party testing on a feefor-service basis, working directly with specialized laboratories. These tests explore areas often overlooked in conventional medicine, such as:

• Comprehensive thyroid panels, including thyroid antibodies, to uncover subtle dysfunction.

• Adrenal stress profiles, measuring cortisol and DHEA rhythms to assess energy reserves.

• Nutrient and mitochondrial panels, identifying deficiencies that sap vitality.

• Gut health assessments, as the gut-hormone axis is critical for energy and healing.

• Toxin and heavy metal screens, which can disrupt endocrine function and energy flow.

These functional tests, enhanced by AI analysis, provide a 360-degree view of your health, enabling highly individualized plans that address energetic and biochemical roots of symptoms.

The Healthy Gut Expert Navigate food as a natural medicine to heal the gut, correct nutrient deficiencies and restore balance Visit grantsnutrition.com to Book Online!

WE ACCEPT MOST MAJOR INSURANCES. Jane Grant, RD CD-N Functional Nutrition Specialist

27 Webster Square Road Berlin, CT • 860-357-2282

Grantsnutrition.com • Berlin, CT admin@grantsnutrition.com • grantsnutrition.com

A Healing Partnership

DID YOU KNOW RED LIGHT THERAPY CAN HELP YOU LOSE BODY WEIGHT? RLT is great for Body Restoration, Weight Management, Skin Health, Pain Relief & Overall Wellness.

Why Choose My Practice?

Dr. Michael Duben graduated magna cum laude from NYU and attended Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Montefiore and Mount Sinai hospitals and obtained his endocrine training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Hospital. He is a clinical instructor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is board-certified in diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolism, and has been in private practice since 2003. He finished his functional medicine training in 2024. His office is located at 501 Kings Hwy. E., Ste. 103, Fairfield, CT 06825. His office number is 203.760.5544, fax 203.502.8570, website www.restorehealthmd.com See ad on page 43 >

First time clients: $67 Special Offer!

Includes a consultation and lymphatic drainage vibration treatment and full body composition analysis.

A $279 value.

Book yours today!

Call 860.751.9453 AURA LIGHT THERAPY

270 Farmington Ave @ The Exchange, Suite 103, Farmington CT 06032 860.751.9453 auralighttherapy.com @auralighttherapy

IT’S TIME FOR A

WELLCATION A DAY IN THE HILLS | 6.25 HR

Indulge in a full day of wellness with a Spa Facial, Restorative Body Scrub, 50minute Swedish Massage, Luxe Manicure, Luxe Pedicure, and Goldwell ColorLock Hair Treatment with Blowout.

litchfield-spa.com | 860-567-8575 | 407A Bantam Rd, Litchfield, CT 06759

37 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Fairfield, CT is a hub for natural medicine.

My practice stands out by combining the diagnostic rigor of endocrinology, the holistic approach of functional medicine, and the cutting-edge precision of AI. By focusing on energy medicine, I help patients not only feel better but also tap into their innate healing capacity. With comprehensive testing, innovative diagnostics, and a commitment to root-cause healing, I’m here to support your journey to hormonal harmony and vibrant energy.

Ready to reclaim your vitality? Schedule a consultation by visiting www.restorehealthmd.com or calling 203.760.5544. Let’s embark on a path to healing—one that honors science, technology, and the wisdom of your body.

NATURAL Nutmeg

Healing is a partnership. You’re not just a set of symptoms—you’re a unique individual with a story. My role is to guide you, using the best of science, AI-driven insights, and holistic wisdom, to restore hormonal balance and energetic vitality.

For example, a patient with low energy might receive thyroid medication in conjunction with a plan to heal their gut and reduce inflammation, thereby addressing both immediate symptoms and underlying energetic imbalances.

Health

The Purest Form of Nature:

NATURAL Nutmeg

6 Reasons Essential Oils Are the Best Way to Use Herbs

By Susan Cote, CLC

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

38 “One of the most compelling reasons essential oils stand out is their versatility. A single oil can support multiple systems in the body…. With a small collection of oils, you have a natural remedy kit for body, mind, and home.”

—Susan Cote, CLC

I

n the world of natural wellness, we all know that herbs are foundational. For generations, they’ve been used to soothe, strengthen, and support our bodies—from calming chamomile teas to revitalizing rosemary steams. Today, our lives have become increasingly complex and fast-paced, and many people are seeking more efficient and powerful ways to work with plant medicine. This is where medicinal-grade essential oils truly shine.

Essential oils are the concentrated extracts of herbs, flowers, roots, leaves, bark, resins, and other plant materials. In just a few drops, you hold the plant’s most potent therapeutic properties, its life force. While herbal teas, tinctures, and capsules still have value, essential oils offer something unmatched: a fast, versatile, and profoundly effective way to experience the benefits of herbs.

Why Essential Oils?

1.

Potency in Every Drop Essential oils are incredibly concentrated.

It takes many plants to produce a single bottle.

For example, it takes more than sixty roses to create a single drop of steam-distilled rose oil.

That means even one drop carries powerful healing potential. A drop of peppermint oil can cool a fever, relieve indigestion, or soothe a headache—effects that would take several cups of tea to match.

2.

Fast Absorption and Action Essential oils are quickly absorbed through the skin and the lungs. When inhaled, their molecules travel directly to the brain’s limbic system (the area that governs mood, memory, and hormones).

When applied topically, they enter the bloodstream and begin working almost immediately.

Inhalation offers even quicker access: aromatic molecules travel through the olfactory system and into the brain within seconds, influencing mood, memory, and even hormone regulation.

3.

Versatility for Whole-Body Wellness One of the most compelling reasons essential oils stand out is their versatility. A single oil can support multiple systems in the body. Lavender can calm the nervous system, ease muscle tension, and promote restful sleep. Tea tree oil can cleanse skin, purify the air, and support immune health. With a small collection of oils, you have a natural remedy kit for body, mind, and home.

4.

Long-Lasting and Portable Unlike fresh herbs that spoil or teas that lose their strength over time, essential oils, when properly stored, retain their potency for years.

Their compact, travel-friendly bottles allow you

to bring your wellness tools anywhere. Whether you’re on a plane, at work, or simply running errands, an essential oil can go a long way in keeping you grounded and balanced.

5.

Emotional and Energetic Support In addition to physical healing, essential oils provide profound emotional support. Because they interact directly with the brain’s emotional center, they can help manage stress, anxiety, grief, and other emotional issues. Oils like frankincense, neroli, and rose have been used for centuries in spiritual settings, and today, they’re just as powerful for meditation, energy clearing, or simply creating a sense of peace in your space.

Book Your Appointment Online Kristina E. Mozzicato, LMT, BCTMB

Therapeutic Massage • Cupping • Gua Sha Facial Fusion Thai Herbal Poultice Facial Masaage VOTED A 10BEST MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTITIONER 2020–2024

CT LICENSE #5956

3 Forest Park Drive, Farmington, CT • 860.778.0315 abundanthealthct

abundanthealthmassagect abundanthealthct.com

Kristina E. Mozzicato, LMT, BCTMB, Certified Cupping & MedicuppingTM Therapist Board Certified, Licensed Massage Therapist and Owner

6.

NATURAL Nutmeg

Clean, Natural, and Effective Not all oils are created equal; it’s essential to choose oils that are pure, unadulterated, and ethically produced. Look for oils from companies that value sustainable growing practices, artisan distillation, and transparency. High-quality essential oils are more than just a pleasant aroma; they are powerful plant medicine.

A New Chapter in Herbal Wellness

Susan Cote, owner of Everyday Harvest LLC, is an aromatherapist and certified life coach and was voted one of the Natural Nutmeg 10Best Coaches of 2024.

Susan offers group and private coaching, as well as aromatherapy consultations and certification workshops using Wisdom of the Earth medicinal grade essential oils. Contact Susan at info@ everydayharvest.com. See ad on page 27 >

39

Dana R. Mascalo CFP®, RLP®, AAMS®, C(K)P®

203-693-8521 DMascalo@CoastalBridgeAdvisors.com

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

For those looking to integrate more natural remedies into their lives, essential oils are a game-changer. They offer the best of herbal tradition; amplified, simplified, and beautifully accessible. Whether you’re supporting your immune system, calming your nervous system, or creating a sacred daily ritual, essential oils bring the healing power of plants into your hands— anytime, anywhere.

Wellness meets convenience these days, so essential oils are not just a trend; they’re the future of herbal medicine.

Want to learn more about how to choose and apply essential oils? Join me each spring and fall in an Aromatherapy Certification Workshop. Start now and upgrade your knowledge of how to work intimately with essential oils to care for yourself and others.

If you have questions on your retirement, investments, or estate planning, contact Dana to learn more or for a financial review.

CoastalBridgeAdvisors.com

EMDR, AC T Psychotherapy

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .....

James W. Osborne, MS, LPC Counseling Services

JWOsborne.MS.LPC@gmail.com 860.384.4971 1265 Berlin Turnpike Unit B Berlin, CT 06037

Health

Infinity Symbol Healing: Energy in Motion

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Joyce St. Germaine, M.Ed., CHt., RYT-200

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

40

“The body has a great desire and capacity to heal. It knows balance, and it has the wisdom to restore it. My Infinity Symbol healing technique demonstrates this: When addressing injury or illness, call upon an area of weakness to share its woundedness with a robust, healthy part of the body.

It is important not to judge one part as “good” and one as “bad.” They are perfect partners.”

—Joyce St. Germaine, M.Ed., CHt., RYT-200

A

s a curious and enthusiastic explorer of things seen and unseen, few things are as simple and effective as infinity symbol or figure eight energy healing. At just four or five years old, I would use my hands or breath to send love and healing energies to animals who were injured. I would imagine my love transforming into healing energy, and I would feel their love being offered back to me. Even then, I had an innate awareness of the reciprocal nature of energy healing.

And so, the varied energy healing techniques that I learned as an adult became like a recipe, taking shape over time. Throughout the years, I added new ingredients, exploring and utilizing the things I had learned from teachers and mentors, while tapping into self-discovery and inner wisdom.

I combined my experiences as a shamanic practitioner, energy healer, intuitive reader, and hypnotherapist to fill my spiritual/energetic toolbox. Then I added one simple yet powerful technique to this recipe…my “chef’s kiss”: infinity symbol energy healing.

The infinity symbol has many spiritual meanings. It signifies that life is not just a onetime journey but a series of cycles, reincarnations, and spiritual evolutions. It is a reminder of the continuous cycle of life. It is also akin to nature’s endless rhythms. Think of the repeating pattern of the seasons, the tides, or the infinite stars in the night sky.

It is a symbol of our endless capacity for growth.

That is the ever-expanding consciousness and the limitless nature of the universe. And it signifies the immortality of our souls—always learning, experiencing, and evolving.

Infinity Symbol Energy Healing

Infinity symbol energy healing is often referred to as figure eight energy healing. No single person/culture is credited with its discovery (I learned the basic concept through energy medicine yoga, the combined work of Lauren Walker and Donna Eden). I love that it can be effectively used by anyone who wishes to take an active role in their self-healing. No background in energy healing is needed. It is user-friendly and can be applied in any way one can imagine. Everyone can visualize what a figure eight looks like, making this simple to use by anyone, especially for self-healing.

The body has a great desire and capacity to heal.

It knows balance, and it has the wisdom to restore it. My Infinity Symbol healing technique demonstrates this: When addressing injury or illness, call upon an area of weakness to share its woundedness with a robust, healthy part of the body. It is important not to judge one part as “good” and one as “bad.” They are perfect partners.

How It Works

Ask your injured shoulder (or any body part or system) to lovingly offer its energy to its partner, your healthy shoulder. Ask your healthy shoulder to lovingly receive this energy, to transform it, and gift it to your injured shoulder. Visualize the energies between your two shoulders flowing in a figure-eight pattern, repeatedly. Think of it as “energy in motion.” In addition to visualization, you may move your hand(s) in a figure-eight motion within your energy field, slightly above your physical body, or barely brush the surface. I like to start with the injured body part first, to honor its willingness to share its woundedness.

41 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Joyce St. Germaine, M.Ed., CHt., RYT-200, is the owner of The Sacred Journey in Burlington, CT, and offers Shamanism and Energy Healing Practices, Sacred Sound Healing, Hypnotherapy, Past Life Regression, Cord-Cutting, Soul Retrieval, Extraction, Spirit Detachment, and Yoga. She leads monthly study groups, workshops, children’s events, and Shamanism/Wellness Retreats in Costa Rica, Belize, Santa Fe, Sedona, and throughout the US. Call/Text (860)675-9706, jsgermaine@aol.com, or www. thesacredjourney.biz.See ad on page 33 >

NATURAL Nutmeg

For paired areas of the body that are separated by space, such as knees or elbows, work with the space that separates them. Address areas of the body that do not exist in pairs or are not connected by physical matter by working with the spaces between. Incorporate this energy in motion, as well, to connect different parts of the body that are close in proximity. A healthy knee or other joint will lovingly offer healing/balancing energies to an injured ankle, hip, or other nearby joint. A weakened liver might lovingly offer its depleted energy to a healthy pancreas, which transforms it and lovingly offers it back as healthy energy.

Use it to balance chakras or heal conflict between people; fill yourself with light (molecules, cells, atoms, and spaces between), then offer your true heart essence to another, with a willingness to be receptive to theirs. Because clear quartz is known as a transmitter, receiver, and magnifier of energy, I often use a quartz crystal, carved into the shape of an infinity sign, to amplify the results.

Any possible use, however, can be imagined, and it has the potential to be successful. The possibilities are endless, hence the name, “infinity symbol energy healing.”

Health

How Energy Medicine and Thermography Empower Breast Cancer Survivors

NATURAL Nutmeg

By April Beaman, RDH, CTT

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

42

“For women who have undergone lumpectomies, mastectomies, or reconstruction, traditional imaging methods like mammography may be limited or uncomfortable.

Thermography offers a powerful adjunctive option for monitoring breast health in a gentle, radiationfree way.”

—April Beaman, RDH, CTT

T

he healing journey after breast cancer is deeply personal and multidimensional. Traditional treatments are critical, and many survivors explore complementary therapies to support their recovery and long-term wellness. Among the most promising integrative approaches are energy medicine and thermography, which offer noninvasive, holistic ways to care for the mind, body, and spirit.

Embracing the Body’s Natural Energy Systems

Energy medicine is rooted in the understanding that the human body is more than just cells and organs; it is also composed of subtle energy systems that influence our health and well-being. When these energies are disrupted or blocked, they can contribute to physical and emotional imbalance.

Energy medicine helps restore flow and harmony, supporting the body’s innate ability to heal.

Key Modalities in Energy Medicine

• Reiki: This Japanese healing technique involves channeling life-force energy, helping reduce anxiety, ease pain, and enhance emotional clarity by fostering deep relaxation and a sense of safety during recovery.

• Acupuncture: A core practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture uses fine needles placed at specific points along energy pathways to balance energy flow. It has been shown to relieve pain, reduce nausea, improve sleep, and support hormonal balance—key concerns for many breast cancer survivors.

• Biofield therapies: Healing and therapeutic touch work within the body’s electromagnetic field, or biofield. These techniques promote balance, ease stress, and encourage resilience by smoothing and clearing energetic blockages.

The Role of Energy Medicine in Recovery Energy medicine provides meaningful support through each stage of recovery. Here are several ways it helps survivors navigate the physical and emotional aftermath of breast cancer:

• Stress relief: A cancer diagnosis brings immense emotional stress. Energy therapies create space for calm, helping to regulate the nervous system and improve the body’s stress response.

• Pain and symptom management: Chronic pain, post-surgical discomfort, or lingering effects of treatment can be managed effectively through techniques such as acupuncture or Reiki, reducing reliance on medications.

• Emotional and spiritual healing: These therapies offer compassionate support for the emotional complexities of survivorship, including fear, grief, hope, and renewal. They create space for inner healing and empowerment.

• Promoting overall vitality: By restoring energetic balance, energy medicine enhances the body’s natural rhythms, encourages restful sleep, and supports the immune system.

Thermography: A Modern Tool for Ongoing Breast Health

For women who have undergone lumpectomies, mastectomies, or reconstruction, traditional imaging methods like mammography may be limited or uncomfortable. Thermography offers a powerful adjunctive option for monitoring breast health in a gentle, radiation-free way.

Thermography uses infrared cameras to detect heat patterns and temperature variations on the skin’s surface. These patterns may reflect underlying physiological activity such as inflammation, poor circulation, or abnormal cell activity, often well before structural changes appear.

Why Thermography Matters for Survivors

• Radiation-free and painless: Thermography involves no compression, radiation, or invasive contact, making it ideal for those with surgical changes or sensitivity following treatment.

• Effective across breast types: Dense tissue, scarring, or reconstructed breasts often pose challenges for traditional screening. Thermography can assess these areas effectively and comfortably.

Lyndsey Maher, ND, MSAc Christina Lakomski, APRN Jared C. Pistoia, ND Caitlin Dean, RN

Ho lis t

Hormones, Fertility, BHRT IV Nutrient Therapy Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Non-Toxic Aesthetic Medicine

mention this ad and receive a complimentary B12 shot with your first IV!

tor oc

RN/RN | T AP C ic

upunctur /Ac e M

ropathi cD atu |N

• Early detection of recurrence: Subtle thermal anomalies may precede structural changes, offering an early warning system for possible recurrence or abnormal changes in breast tissue.

• Monitoring inflammation and healing: Post-treatment inflammation and tissue regeneration can be visualized, helping survivors and healthcare teams track recovery progress and manage concerns.

• Assessing lifestyle or integrative therapies: Those on alternative healing paths, such as dietary changes, detoxification, or energy-based treatments, can use thermography to monitor the physiological impact of these choices.

Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Rife Therapy ZYTO | EVOX Lactation Support

2661 whitney avenue, hamden, ct | (203) 871-3262 admin@soleilholistic.com | www.soleilholistic.com | @soleilholistic

Integrating Energy Medicine and Thermography for Holistic Care

At Restore Health LLC, we combine the best of the traditional endocrinology science with the integrative approach of functional medicine. Together, we will take on a journey to better health, not just management of chronic conditions.

•Diabetes • Thyroid Disease •Adrenal Function • Osteoporosis •Pituitary Disease • Calcium–Related Disorders • Cholesterol Issues •Nutritional & Exercise Plans

Call 203.760.5544

43

Michael Duben, MD

A New Chapter in Survivor Care

The post-treatment phase is not just about surveillance; it’s about healing, thriving, and reclaiming sense of self. Integrating modern diagnostic tools such as thermography with the wisdom of energy medicine provides more than maintenance. It offers hope, insight, and healing at every level of being. For breast cancer survivors, this integrated approach offers a path to lasting wellness that honors both the science of the body and the subtle intelligence of energy and spirit.

April Beaman, RDH, CTT, is a certified medical thermographer with the Professional Academy of Clinical Thermology and a professional member of Breast Thermography International.

Beaman has worked in the wellness industry for over 15 years and provides medical thermal imaging for both women and men. She is the founder of CT Thermography located in Farmington, with satellite offices throughout CT and MA. Connect at 860.415.1150 or CTThermography.com. See ad on page 47 >

501 Kings Hwy E, Suite 103, Fairfield CT 06825 Tel 203-760-5544 Fax 203-502-8570 www.restorehealthmd.com

Why Dr Steven Hinchey?

Both he and his staff Listen to YOU • Non judgmental assessments • Respect for you and your time Are concerned about YOU • Mercury free dental treatment Centers For • Mercury safe dental conditions • Mercury removal and detoxification Dental Medicine • Biocompatible dental materials Saving Lives One • Minimally invasive procedures Smile at a Time • Implant tooth replacement We want to help YOU get healthy • Same day non-metal crowns Steven F Hinchey DMD • 860.633.6518 drshinchey@gmail.com • dochincheydmd.com

We Offer Financial Flexibility

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

How to Integrate These Approaches • Routine monitoring: Incorporate thermography into annual or semi-annual wellness checkups to maintain awareness and track long-term trends in breast tissue health.

• Multimodal care plans: Combine thermography with conventional follow-ups and complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, nutrition, or counseling.

• Energy healing sessions: Consider regular Reiki or biofield therapy sessions during recovery phases to reduce stress and restore energy.

Functional Medicine: A Personalized Approach to Your Health

NATURAL Nutmeg

The synergy of thermography and energy medicine creates a robust support system for breast cancer survivors. Thermography offers visual insight into physiological changes, and energy medicine addresses the body’s energetic and emotional layers.

Both are essential in the healing process.

Purpose

The Battle of the Smiley Face

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Sharon Sklar BFA, LMT, CAR

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

44

“We are grounded by those who have successfully navigated the world before us, and in turn, we become the influencers of those who follow in our footsteps.

Celebrate these powerful connections and be grateful for the opportunity to listen and learn.”

—Sharon Sklar BFA, LMT, CAR

W

hen I pull into my Niantic neighborhood, there is an old stone train bridge with large brownstone walls. Amtrak refurbished the area a few years ago, painting warning stripes on top and a large corner stone yellow to caution drivers. A couple of years ago, someone painted a smiley face on the large stone. Every time I drove past it, I smiled because it was so genuine and uplifting.

The smiley face lasted months until one day it was painted over. Black diagonal stripes were painted over the bright yellow surface. This war of the smiley face went on for a while —one day the smiley face was there, and a week or so later, it was replaced by black diagonal stripes.

After many months, the smiley face has recently returned. I was so excited that I even called a friend in the neighborhood to ask if she had seen it.

We laughed and talked about how that smiley face lifted our spirits and helped us celebrate the small victories of life. Within a week, it was gone again, painted over with utilitarian caution stripes.

So the disappearance of that smiley face upset me. What seems so trivial has become so monumental in my life. I’ve closely examined a recent run of bad luck or bad karma to see if I’ve learned something from these unusual events. I might not have caused the issues, but I would be remiss if I didn’t learn from them.

Bad Luck Streak: Karma or Coincidence?

I became entangled in unusual communication and electronic mishaps. Before I left the country on vacation, I called my cell phone carrier to inform them that I would be traveling to Europe and asked if I needed to take any steps to secure

the use of my phone. I was told no—they would only charge me more for calls. When I got to Paris, my phone didn’t work. The internet in our apartment was not working and was finally fixed on my last day there. That evening, I said goodbye to my friend and left to have a night out in Paris.

Within ten minutes, my cell phone was pickpocketed, and I was left with no communication or navigation. How would I connect with the friend I was going to see in Portugal the next day? Would my pre-ordered Uber show up the next morning to get me to the airport on time?

Thankfully, I brought my computer on my trip because I had an article to write, and eventually, everything fell into place. I returned home, resumed my treasured work as a Rolfer, and purchased a new cell phone. Within 48 hours, a truck passed by and removed the wire for my business phone and internet. I couldn’t use my new cell phone because the SIM card took nine days to arrive, and I had no landline and no internet for three days. “What is the message here?” I kept asking myself.

When my phone line and internet were fixed, my printer didn’t work. On the phone for six hours— four with Geek Squad and two with a computer-wiz friend—and nothing worked. My business phone was so staticky that I couldn’t hear my clients or make calls. What a mess.

But then, a quick phone call to report the phone problem resolved my printer issue. They dispatched a team to fix my phone. Finally, a few days later, all was better. I learned a lot—that I needed people, I needed communication, and I needed to reach out more to loved ones, letting them know that they truly matter to me.

5-STAR GOOGLE RATING

A HOLISTIC DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY

WITH 25 YEARS OF INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE Tind-All Creative Marketing provides customized and impactful marketing solutions that are specifically designed to meet each client's individual requirements all geared towards delivering successful and results-driven strategies. We offer a range of services, including: SEO

Branding

Blogging

PPC

Marketing Strategy

And so much more!

Website Design

Social Media

Embrace the Smiley Face

Sharon Sklar is in her 44th year of private practice as a Certified Advanced Rolfer. She has been voted one of Natural Nutmeg’s 10BEST Bodyworkers for the last six years and is very grateful for the support.

Sharon works with direct manipulation of the soft tissue of the body and movement re-education over a ten-session series to help her clients feel freer, get more balanced, and reduce chronic pain. Great for athletes, children, and adults recovering from the stress, injuries, or traumas of life. Inquiries are encouraged! State Licensed. Call 860.561.4337 for more info or to schedule a consultation. www.

SharonSklarRolfing.com. See ad on page 41 >

SIGN UP FOR A FREE 30 MIN. CONSULTATION

CONTACT: Deirdre@Tind-Allcreativemarketing.com 860-916-4561 tind-allcreativemarketing.com

45

Know the Health Signs Your Dentist Can See That Your Doctor Didn’t Tell You About Discover why South Windsor Smiles is a 2021 & 2022 10BEST Winner for Best Holistic Dentist in CT. • Dental experts

agree that your oral health can affect your entire body’s health.

• Maintaining excellent

oral health is the right thing to do. Be smart!

• Ask about our South

Windsor Smiles Plans for the whole Family.

CALL AM THE TE AN C YOU T! TRUS Call Now for YOUR appointment at South Windsor Smiles 860-787-7212 | www.southwindsorsmiles.com

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

That smiley face reappearing within days after a long hiatus was a reminder to not sweat the small stuff and look at the bright side. Other neighbors commented that they were glad it was back. It gave us all a boost- a reminder that life could be simple and silly. Then, it was gone again.

Painted over once again with those cautionary stripes, I yearn to see that smiley face reappear, combating all the injustices, sadness, and upheaval in our present world, if only for a short-lived moment. It’s up to each of us to create that joy, see through the dark clouds, and live with the inner happiness that we all can manifest.

Find your inner joy and inner balance and create the life you desire. Reach out and seize the opportunities life offers. Channel your own smiley face, discover your happiness, allow miracles in, and live with intention.

dollars go right back to local non-profits who need it the most.

NATURAL Nutmeg

Plus, when you choose to work with our woman-owned agency, a portion of your

Purpose

NATURAL Nutmeg

The Power of Urgency

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

46

By Marcel Touponse

“A study on the placebo effect tested reactions to migraine pain medications. One group was given medication, one group was given a placebo, and the last group received no treatment. The results showed that the placebo was 50% as effective as the actual medication.

An astonishing testament to the power of the mind, no doubt, but there’s more at work here.”

—Marcel Touponse

M

any of us like to keep busy, but sometimes, we may feel that committing to things can be a soul-numbing drudgery. There are days when all the affirmations and positive visualization fail to overwhelm the prospect of one more hour of sleep, or the comfort of a couch molded to your body.

When you are motivated and have the seemingly infinite power of momentum behind you, waking up at 5:00 a.m. to have someone scream at you while you sweat all over the area immediately surrounding a stationary bike completes you.

But what about the other times? I, like all hypnotherapists, am completely fascinated by motivation. How do we flip the switch and find the groove or zone we operate best in? How do we remain consistent and productive? Is this all mental? Is some of this physiological? In these cases, urgency can help propel you forward.

In a recent deep dive, I read an article published in Science Translational Medicine. A study on the placebo effect tested reactions to migraine pain medications. One group was given medication, one group was given a placebo, and the last group received no treatment. The results showed that the placebo was 50% as effective as the actual medication. An astonishing testament to the power of the mind, no doubt, but there’s more at work here.

Patients who experience the benefits of the placebo effect are under the care of a physician, see the physician at regular intervals, and take the placebo at regular intervals. They are engaged in the process of getting well. There is a practice to it.

The placebo itself can prompt the release of things like dopamine and endorphins, bringing an immediate physical impact that supports the positive mindset.

How Can We “Placebo Effect” Ourselves?

While the placebo pill addresses an urgent situation or an ailment of some kind, many of us engage in wellness-related activities because we feel that we should, without assigning a more specific need. There’s little urgency, there’s no apparent problem to solve. Applying the placebo principle to these wellness practices ensures that all these activities are healing and preventative, rather than just performative.

Consider neurolinguistic programming (NLP).

NLP is a psychological approach that aims to help individuals understand their own minds and how they come to think and behave the way they do.

The intended impact is to help change an individual’s thoughts, behaviors, and emotions in order to achieve specific personal goals. It is based on

Design Your Reality

Marcel Touponse is a Hypnotherapist, Sound Healer, Life Coach, and Tarot Reader. He co-owns The Blackbird House in Old Wethersfield and operates Blackbird Hypnosis. Marcel’s goal is to assist you in “becoming aligned with your mind.” He offers regular workshops on Self-Hypnosis and is available for small and large group tarot readings.

See ad on page 21 >

INTEGRATIVE NATURAL MEDICINE KRISTIANA ENGELHARDT, ND

Services: Women’s Health Fertility & Hormones Gastrointestinal Health

Weight Loss Nutritional Counseling Comprehensive Lab Testing

365 Maple St. Wethersfield, CT 06109 reformednaturaltherapeutics.com (860) 904-4286

BREAST THERMOGRAPHY Love Your Breasts and Get Regular Thermography Screenings

No X-Rays! No Compression! Noninvasive! ✔ Detect breast changes early. ✔ Ideal for women with dense breasts and inconclusive mammograms. ✔ Suitable for women of all ages and those who are pregnant.

Call today!

860-415-1150 Scan here to book online

New clients receive 10% OFF of an Upper Body or Full Body Health Screening. Restrictions Apply

Voted a 10BEST 2020 - 2024 Integrative Functional Medicine Practitioner

Farmington • Glastonbury • Hamden • Westport ctthermography.com

Dr. Mark A. Breiner, Featured in the Netflix Documentary "Root Cause" and Best Selling Author of "Whole-Body Dentistry"

Optimize Your Smile and Your Health!

Comprehensive traditional and holistic approaches to oral health care. We understand the "mouth-body connection."

Come to the source: Dr. Breiner is a pioneer and recognized authority in the field of biological and holistic dentistry.

wholebodydentistry.com • 203.371.0300 501 Kings Highway East, Fairfield, CT

47 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Do you meditate? If so, take a moment and consider the condition of your mind without the benefit of meditation. The tight thicket of fractured thought that gathers to dull your acuity.

Incapable of finding the present moment, and instead, opting for long periods of doom-scrolling or binge-watching sitcoms. Consider this state continuing, unchecked, as you age. Is this painting an urgent enough picture for you?

Urgency can be the catalyst that drives change.

Yes, focusing on the healthiest, most productive version of yourself is positive, but understanding what you’re avoiding and preventing by engaging in these good habits can help maintain consistency and momentum.

You design your reality with each decision that you make. Decide to believe that your effort is worth it today. Just today. It doesn’t have to be the best workout, the most enlightening meditation session, or the most insightful walk. Just do it today and repeat this to yourself every day!

REFORMED NATURAL THERAPEUTICS

NATURAL Nutmeg

the idea that our brains, language, and habits are all connected, and by adjusting how we interact with them, we can unlock new possibilities in our personal and professional lives.

There is an 80/20 rule used in neurolinguistic programming: eighty percent toward your goal and twenty percent away from where you are. If you just gasped at the possibility of a premise that isn’t one hundred percent positive, well spotted. But consider this: isn’t the art of manifesting, or bettering oneself in any way, an admission that you aren’t satisfied with where you are? People who use NLP to create change in their lives know that the vision board approach often becomes a wish. A dream with no intention behind it and no resolve to do the gritty things that drive real change. The 80/20 rule is an overwhelmingly positive approach, but it contains the fear of being stuck where you currently are. It creates some urgency, provides a reason.

Health

10 Quick Tips to Prevent Oxidative Stress

By Jane Grant, RDN, CD-N

NATURAL Nutmeg

A

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

48

A plant-based diet, ideal for reducing oxidative stress, consists of nine or ten servings of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds in our daily diet. A plant-based diet does not mean you can’t eat animal proteins; it simply means you consume nine or ten servings of plant-based foods daily.”

—Jane Grant, RDN, CD-N

proper diet can help heal the body both physically and emotionally. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to addressing diet, but there are certain foods everyone should avoid because they can cause oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that create cell and tissue damage within the body. When there are more free radicals than antioxidants in the body, free radicals can start causing damage, which can lead to disease, including cancer, stroke, Alzheimer’s, atherosclerosis, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, chronic fatigue, and male infertility.

There are many signs and symptoms of oxidative stress, including headaches, joint pain, cough, wheezing, sore throat, immune system weakness, environmental sensitivity, fatigue, mood changes, anxiety, depression, high blood triglycerides, decreased blood circulation, and hives. Everyone has experienced oxidative stress—and our dietary and lifestyle habits will determine our risk of disease.

Foods that can cause oxidative stress include added sugars, white flour, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, and trans fats. Other lifestyle factors that put us at risk include high-fat diets, smoking cigarettes or use of other tobacco products, alcohol consumption, certain medications, and exposure to pesticides, air and water pollution, and the radiation we come into contact with daily. All these factors put us at risk for disease because they disrupt the balance between free radicals and antioxidants within the body.

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are high in antioxidants, which stabilize free radicals, making them less reactive. Most of us are not eating enough of these foods daily. A plant-based diet, ideal for reducing oxidative stress, consists of nine or ten servings of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds

in our daily diet. This does not mean you can’t eat animal proteins; it simply means you consume nine or ten servings of plant-based foods daily.

Putting It All Together

10 Tips to Prevent Oxidative Stress 1. Include nine or ten servings of plant-based foods in your diet daily.

2. A regular exercise routine has been associated with a decrease in damage caused by oxidative stress, as it strengthens the circulatory system.

3. Drink at least eight cups of water daily to flush out toxins.

4. Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke as well.

5. Increase your intake of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts—they help detoxify the body.

6. Decrease alcohol consumption.

7. Be cautious with chemicals, such as pesticides used on food or in gardening, and avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation.

8. Wear sunscreen when outside for long periods to prevent ultraviolet light damage to your skin.

9. Get plenty of sleep, as it is crucial for maintaining balance among all our body systems.

10. Avoid overeating. Studies show that overeating puts the body in a state of oxidative stress.

Working toward a whole-food, plant-based eating habit will produce gradual improvements, helping guide you to youthful aging and joyful living.

We need to love ourselves and our bodies enough to nourish them properly and allow them to rest regularly. Start with small changes and gradually add more. Look for better choices that resemble the foods you like. Remember, eating healthier is not a punishment, but it provides rewards like reducing chronic inflammation and helping to alleviate the struggle of weight loss.

Jane Grant, RDN, CD-N, has been a Registered Dietitian since 2005 and is trained in Integrative and Functional Nutrition to address the root cause of disease and help promote optimal health. Jane is the founder of Grant’s Nutrition and Wellness in Berlin, CT. She can be reached at 860.357.2282 or admin@grantsnutrition.com. Visit www.grantsnutrition.com and find us on Facebook and Instagram. See ad on page 37 >

Vote for Us for 10BEST Awards Vote here: https://bit.ly/NN10Best2025 Esthetician/Holistic Spa

Energy Healers

Milford Med Spa

Rio Comaduran, Inner Harmony

203.701.6161 www.milfordmedspa.com Instagram @milfordmedspa 99 Cherry Street Milford, CT 06460

Innerharmonyllc.net Rio@innerharmonyllc.net Instagram @RioComaduran

Chiropractic Physician

Esthetician/Holistic Spa

Chiropractic Health Center of Glastonbury Dr. Patrick DeFrancesco

Kate Sobotka, Forsythia Skin Care Studio

860.657.8800 www.glastonburychiro.com team@glastonburychiro.com Glastonbury, CT

860.365.1500 forsythiaskincarestudio.com Woodbury, CT

Esthetician/Holistic Spa

Naturopathic Physician

Melissa Raffone, Timeless Beauty Clinical Skincare

Dr. Keith Yimoyines, ND, Rivers Wellness

203.376.5822 tbbmmakeup.com melissa@timelessbeautyhealthcoaching.com Wallingford, CT

860.375.4591 riverswellness.com contact@riverswellness.com 415 Silas Deane Hwy Wethersfield, CT 06109

Business

“My Brand Is Stuck”:

7 Signs It’s Time to Hire an Agency NATURAL Nutmeg

By Deirdre Tindall, Founder, Tind-All Creative Marketing

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

50

“If your brand lacks a clear roadmap for reaching and engaging your audience across various channels, an agency can provide the strategic direction and executional expertise needed to craft an impactful and integrated marketing strategy.

From digital marketing to content creation, social media management, and beyond, an agency can orchestrate a unified approach to elevate your brand’s visibility and relevance.”

—Deirdre Tindall

A

s a business owner or marketing manager, you’ve poured your heart and soul into building your brand. But despite your best efforts, you may find that your brand has hit a plateau or is struggling to gain traction in the competitive marketplace. This is a common challenge faced by many businesses, often indicating that it’s time to enlist the expertise of a professional marketing agency. At Tind-All Creative Marketing, we understand the intricacies of brand revitalization and the pivotal role that an agency can play in reinvigorating your brand. In this blog post, we’ll explore seven compelling signs that signal it’s time to hire an agency to breathe new life into your brand and propel it to new heights of success.

1.

Stagnant Growth and Declining Results

If you’ve noticed a stagnation in your brand’s growth or a decline in key performance metrics such as sales, website traffic, or customer engagement, it’s a clear indicator that your current marketing efforts may not be yielding the desired outcomes. An experienced marketing agency can conduct a comprehensive analysis of your brand’s performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategic initiatives to reignite growth and drive tangible results.

2.

Lack of Brand Differentiation and Competitive Edge

In today’s crowded and competitive marketplace, standing out from the competition is paramount to success. If your brand is struggling to articulate its unique value proposition and seems indistinguishable from competitors, it’s time to seek the expertise of a marketing agency. A skilled

agency can help you refine your brand strategy, carve out a distinctive positioning, and develop compelling messaging that resonates with your target audience.

3.

Absence of a Cohesive and Impactful Marketing Strategy

A cohesive and well-defined marketing strategy is the foundation for sustainable brand growth.

If your brand lacks a clear roadmap for reaching and engaging your audience across various channels, an agency can provide the strategic direction and executional expertise needed to craft an impactful and integrated marketing strategy.

From digital marketing to content creation, social media management, and beyond, an agency can orchestrate a unified approach to elevate your brand’s visibility and relevance.

4.

Overwhelmed Internal Resources and Expertise Gaps

As internal teams grapple with existing responsibilities and skill limitations, the demands of developing and executing a comprehensive marketing strategy can become overwhelming.

Engaging an agency allows you to leverage an array of specialized skills and industry know-how that may be lacking in-house. This collaboration empowers your team to focus on core business initiatives while leveraging the expertise of seasoned professionals to drive your brand forward.

5.

Inability to Keep Pace with Marketing Trends and Innovation

The marketing landscape is continually evolving, with new technologies, trends, and consumer behaviors shaping the way brands connect with

their audiences. If your brand struggles to stay abreast of emerging trends and innovative marketing approaches, an agency can offer valuable insights and fresh perspectives to infuse creativity and relevancy into your brand’s marketing initiatives.

6.

Subpar Brand Communication and Visual Identity

Effective brand communication and a compelling visual identity are essential components of capturing audience attention and fostering brand affinity. If your brand’s messaging feels disjointed and its visual elements lack cohesiveness or fail to resonate with your audience, enlisting the help of a skilled agency can revamp your brand’s communication and aesthetic appeal, aligning them with your brand’s essence and the expectations of your target market.

Tired of Going to Doctors Who Can’t Resolve Your Health Issues?

Working with our team you can uncover the root cause of your illness and create a plan to get you healthy and prevent more serious illness.

Deirdre Tindall is the founder of Connecticut-based Tind-All Creative Marketing, a woman-owned digital marketing agency focusing on using business as a platform to make a difference in the local community. With creativity, strategic thinking, and a genuine desire to help businesses thrive, Tind-All Creative Marketing delivers personalized and effective marketing solutions. When you choose to work with us, a portion of your dollars always goes right back to local charities. Visit tind-allcreativemarketing.com, email deirdre@tind-allcreativemarketing.com, or call 860.916.4561 to learn more.

See ad on page 45 >

ADAM BREINER, ND

ELENA SOKOLOVA, ND

DAVID JOHNSTON, DO DAVID BRADY, ND, CCN

JOHN D'ANGELO, MS, RPT

SEAN ALTMAN, PT, DPT, CPT

Discover why Dr. Breiner & Whole Body Medicine is a 2023 10BEST Winner for Best Integrative MD/DDS/ Functional Medicine, Naturopathic Physician, Holistic Weight Loss, and Physical Therapy

Now providing treatment for Long Haul COVID, as well as Holistic Physical Therapy

Call Now for YOUR appointment at Whole Body Medicine 203-371-8258 The Team You can TRUST! www.wholebodymed.com

Whole Body Medicine • 501 Kings Hwy E. Fairfield, CT

51 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

When aspiring to scale your brand, enter new markets, or position your business for expansion, partnering with an agency can be a gamechanger. A seasoned agency can conduct market analysis, develop tailored growth strategies, and execute multifaceted campaigns to propel your brand into new territories and drive sustainable expansion.

Recognizing the signs that your brand is stuck and in need of a transformative boost is the first step toward revitalizing its trajectory. Engaging a reputable marketing agency equips you with the resources, expertise, and strategic guidance necessary to unlock your brand’s full potential and reignite its growth journey. At Tind-All Creative Marketing, we are poised to be your strategic partner in propelling your brand to new heights.

Reach out to us today and let’s embark on a collaborative journey to invigorate your brand and realize its untapped potential.

NATURAL Nutmeg

7.

Desire for Strategic Growth and Expansion

Spirituality

Healing with Angels:

How Angelic Frequencies Awaken Your Body, Mind, and Spirit

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Agnes Daddona, Psychic Medium, Counselor and Healer

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

52

“Many clients have shared transformative experiences during our sessions.

One, an athlete recovering from an injury, shared, ‘Doctors were surprised by how quickly my body healed. I believe the crystal bed sessions and angelic energy work played a huge part in restoring not just my body, but also my confidence.’ These encounters are common. When we open ourselves to the angelic realm, miracles happen.”

—Agnes Daddona, MA, Psychic Medium Counselor

H

ello, beautiful soul. I’m honored to guide you on a journey of healing and transformation through the divine power of angelic frequencies.

For over twenty years, I’ve helped thousands of people across the globe awaken their inner light, connect with their angels, and manifest the lives they were always meant to live. Whether you’re navigating emotional pain, seeking clarity, or ready to align with your soul’s purpose, the angelic realm is here to support you—and so am I.

What Are Angelic Frequencies?

Angelic frequencies are high-vibrational energies that resonate with the divine realm. These frequencies can be experienced through light and intuitive connection. They are the energetic signatures of angels, carrying messages of love, healing, and guidance. I am serving as a bridge between our physical world and the celestial.

When you attune to these frequencies, you open yourself to profound healing and transformation.

It’s like tuning a radio to the perfect station, you begin to receive clear, uplifting messages that align you with your highest self.

Angels and Energy Healing

Energy healing involves balancing and restoring the flow of energy within your body. Angels, as divine messengers, can amplify this process by infusing your energy field with their pure, loving vibrations. Through healing practices and channeling your Divine support, I can invite angelic frequencies to assist you in releasing blockages, healing past traumas, restoring harmony in your physical body, and manifesting your dreams.

Channel Angelic Guidance for Clients

I was born with a profound gift of intuition and healing—a gift that has been passed down through my family for generations. From a young age, I was attuned to the presence of angels and spiritual energies, and over the years, I have

honed this natural ability to help others on their healing journeys.

My approach is holistic, addressing the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of your being.

When you come to me for an intuitive reading, I open myself as a clear channel to receive loving guidance from your angels, spirit guides, and departed loved ones. This sacred connection allows me to tap into deep soul insights—exploring your soul history, past lives, unique spiritual gifts, and karmic lessons that shape your current path.

I assess your aura and chakras to identify blockages, imbalances, or areas in need of healing, drawing on inherited healing techniques and the support of divine energies. We discuss your present challenges, goals, and aspirations, and I provide intuitive guidance to help you align more fully with your soul’s purpose and highest potential.

Each session concludes with an angel card reading, offering tangible and visual affirmation of the messages received. Together, we co-create a healing path tailored just for you—one that honors your unique journey and the divine support you always have.

Inviting Angelic Frequencies into Your Daily Life

• Set Intentions: Begin each day by inviting your angels to guide and support you. A simple prayer or affirmation can open the channel for communication.

• Meditate: Spend time in quiet reflection, focusing on your breath and inviting an angelic presence. This practice enhances your intuitive abilities and deepens your connection to the divine.

• Seek Guidance: When in doubt, ask your angels for signs. Be open to receiving messages through dreams, synchronicities, or intuitive nudges.

It’s essential to recognize that when you’re experiencing emotional or physical distress or navigating challenging times, it can be more

NATURAL Nutmeg

difficult to connect with your angels and divine helpers. This is because pain, grief, stress, and fear often lower your energetic frequency, making it difficult to sense or receive loving angelic guidance.

That’s where I come in.

I serve as the channel for you, providing guidance, support, and healing when you need it most. As we work together, your energy will rise, your burdens will lighten, and you’ll experience powerful healing and transformation. You’ll find yourself reconnecting with your own Divine helpers and feeling their loving presence with ease once again.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected, a session with me can offer clarity, healing, and empowerment. Together, we’ll uncover the root causes of your challenges, release energetic blockages, and align you with your soul’s purpose.

My combination of intuitive counseling, energy healing, and angelic guidance offers a comprehensive approach to transformation. Clients often report feeling lighter, more focused, and deeply renewed after our sessions. One client shared: “During our sessions, Agnes helped me release deep emotional blockages I didn’t even realize I was carrying. She channeled messages from my angels that brought incredible comfort and clarity. I left each session feeling a warmth and peace I hadn’t felt in years. Over time, my energy improved, my confidence grew, and I began to experience a deep sense of connection with my own Divine helpers.

Working with Agnes has been nothing short of life-changing. She helped me rediscover my light.”

53

Ready to connect with your angels and transform your life? Visit agnesdaddona.com to schedule your session. Whether in-person or virtual, I’m here to support you every step of the way.

I warmly invite you to experience the profound shifts that angelic healing can bring. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together.

Agnes Daddona, MA, Intuitive Counseling, is one of the best Psychic/ Mediums and healers in New England.

The gift of intuition has run in her family for generations. For over twenty years, Agnes has worked with thousands of people worldwide through Psychic Readings, Mediumship, Channeling Angels, Counseling, Healing, and Teaching in English and Polish. Agnes has transformed many people’s lives to meet their dreams. She continues to solve the most difficult issues when no one else can help. Agnes offers sessions in her spa in Avon, CT, over the phone or via Zoom. To book your Intuitive Reading, contact Agnes at www.AgnesDaddona.com, email agnes@IntuitiveCounselingLLC.com, or call 860.941.2667. See ad on page 31 >

SATURDAY

10AM - 5PM

HARBOR POINT BOARDWALK, 1 HARBOR POINT RD, STAMFORD, CT

130

10

FREE

EXHIBITORS

ZONES

GROUP CLASSES

FREE FREE ONE-DAY ADMISSION

PARKING

FAMILY & PET FRIENDLY

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 6

Book Your Session Today

Health

Energy Medicine: A Modern Approach to Holistic Wellness

NATURAL Nutmeg

By Michele Beaule, Imagine Float Owner and Operator

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

54

“Incorporating energy medicine into your life doesn’t have to be complicated.

Explore what resonates—Reiki, acupuncture, BioCharger sessions—and notice how you feel afterward.

These therapies work beautifully alongside existing routines.”

—MIchele Beaule

W

hen clients first visit Imagine Float, they often share a familiar story: feeling drained by modern life and looking for solutions that go beyond traditional approaches. As those who support others in their wellness every day, we’ve seen how energy medicine can restore balance and enhance well-being. True wellness requires more than physical care—it’s about tuning into the energy that powers us.

Understanding Your Body’s Energy Systems

Your body is more than muscles and bones—it’s an intricate system of vibrating energy. Each cell carries an electromagnetic signature that contributes to your overall vitality. Known as qi or prana in ancient traditions, this energy has been recognized for millennia as the foundation of health.

But modern life—stress, illness, poor sleep, environmental toxins—disrupts this natural flow.

When your energy systems are out of sync, you may experience fatigue, mental fog, anxiety, or physical pain. Energy medicine helps recalibrate this system, guiding your body back into harmony.

A Legacy of Healing

Energy medicine spans thousands of years and takes many forms, both ancient and modern: • Acupuncture restores energetic balance via needle stimulation along meridians— great for pain relief and stress reduction.

• Reiki channels universal energy to promote relaxation and healing.

• Sound therapy uses vibration from tools like singing bowls to soothe and rebalance.

• PEMF therapy uses pulsed electromagnetic fields to stimulate cellular regeneration and healing.

Modern Innovations in Energy Medicine: BioCharger NG™

At Imagine Float, we’re proud to offer one of the most advanced energy medicine tools available today: the BioCharger NG. This revolutionary device delivers a blend of four powerful natural energies— light, voltage, frequencies, and PEMF—all working together to recharge your body’s systems.

Much like how walking barefoot on the beach revitalizes you, a 10- to 15-minute session near the BioCharger replenishes depleted cellular energy.

There are no wires, no contact—just your body absorbing what it needs from the energy field.

Clients report better sleep, reduced inflammation, faster recovery, and improved mental clarity.

It’s a deeply restorative experience that supports everything from physical performance to emotional resilience.

Benefits of Energy Medicine for Overall Wellness

Energy medicine doesn’t just treat symptoms— it addresses the root imbalances that can affect every part of your wellbeing.

• Stress relief: Energy balancing calms your nervous system, easing anxiety and promoting a sense of peace.

• Pain reduction: Many experience less discomfort as energy flow is restored and inflammation subsides.

• Better sleep: When your energy rhythms are aligned, sleep becomes deeper and more restorative.

• Immune support: A balanced energetic system strengthens your body’s natural defenses.

• Mental clarity: Clearing energetic blockages lifts brain fog and improves focus.

Much like nature resets us, energy medicine helps the body recover and thrive, supporting your capacity to heal from the inside out.

How to Begin

NATURAL Nutmeg

Incorporating energy medicine into your life doesn’t have to be complicated. Explore what resonates—Reiki, acupuncture, BioCharger sessions—and notice how you feel afterward.

These therapies work beautifully alongside existing routines.

Try an energy session after a workout to enhance recovery, or before a float to deepen relaxation. And don’t underestimate the power of whole, nutrient-rich foods to nourish your body’s energy fields.

Consistency is key. Just like any wellness practice, energy medicine offers the most benefit when done regularly. Listen to your body—it will guide you to what it needs.

Your Journey with Us

Imagine Float is a locally owned, award-winning, woman-owned wellness center in Avon, CT. We offer several innovative healing therapies that, when used in synergy, have endless benefits for your physical and mental well-being. Call Imagine Float at 860.453.6109 or visit us at 290 West Main Street, Avon, CT, and explore the therapies designed to help you move, manage, and live better—every day. Our services and advice are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Several of our services have not been evaluated and/or approved by the FDA. We are not, nor do we claim to be, medical professionals, and our therapies cannot guarantee results. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Our EMSCULPT NEO service is specifically managed and performed by our Medical Director, Dr. Kirsten Kerrigan, or an RN following Dr. Kerrigan’s guidance. See ad on page 27 >

55

Transformative ealing Arts Healing Integrative mental health combines psychotherapy, medication, and yoga to promote holistic mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Services include: • Psychotherapy • Medication • Yoga for Trauma Recovery, Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pain, and Insomnia Contact Nanci to learn how integrative mental health can help regulate your emotions, reduce stress, and promote a sense of calm.

Call 475-239-9429

Nanci Kaczegowicz, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, ERYT 200, RYT 500 Nanci@transformativehealingart.com

By Appointment Only • Shelton, CT

2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

Your path to health is personal, and having the right support matters. At Imagine Float, we believe in the power of holistic wellness and the profound results energy medicine can provide.

We’ve witnessed incredible transformations— clients regaining clarity, mobility, energy, and peace of mind.

If you’re curious about how energy medicine might support your wellness goals, we’d love to talk. Visit our center, give us a call, or explore our offerings online. Wherever you are in your journey, we’re here to walk with you—toward balance, vitality, and renewed energy.

Purpose

Unlearning Who You’re Not:

The Wellness Power of Human Design

NATURAL Nutmeg

By April Goff Brown, Quantum Human Design Specialist and Intuitive Guide

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

56

“Human Design is a synthesis of ancient teachings and quantum physics, revealing how your energy is uniquely wired to move through the world. At its core are nine energy centers, similar to the chakra system, that can be defined (consistent and reliable) or open (receptive and variable). It’s within the open centers that we are most vulnerable to outside influence.”

—April Goff Brown

Y

ou were born perfectly designed.

Then life happened.

From the moment we arrive, we absorb the expectations and energies of others. Parents, teachers, religious leaders, cultural norms, and peer groups all shape our sense of self. This shaping—known as conditioning—can pull us away from our natural state of well-being.

When this conditioning overrides who we truly are, it can disrupt not only our sense of identity but also our physical, emotional, and energetic health.

Think about the messages you received growing up. Maybe you were praised for being helpful, even when it cost you rest or joy. Or scolded for being too sensitive, too loud, too quiet, too curious.

Over time, we internalize these messages. We form protective habits, suppressing parts of ourselves.

These patterns may become automatic, especially under stress, triggering low self-esteem, emotional volatility, risky behavior, or withdrawal.

So how do we begin to heal, especially when we don’t realize how deeply we’re conditioned? This is where Human Design offers profound insight.

Human Design and Healing

Human Design is a synthesis of ancient teachings and quantum physics, revealing how your energy is wired to move through the world. At its core are nine energy centers, similar to the chakra system, that can be defined (consistent and reliable) or open (receptive and variable). It’s within the open centers that we are most vulnerable to outside influence.

Our definitions are what make us unique. We are a combination of definition and openness, and each is susceptible to conditioning. Each part of our design has a high expression (well-being, clarity, alignment) and a shadow expression (conditioning, burnout, confusion). The more we operate from the shadow—often unknowingly—the more disconnected we feel. Eventually, this misalignment can

manifest as chronic stress, anxiety, depression, autoimmune issues, fatigue, or other forms of dis-ease.

Human Design shows how we’re meant to be— our natural rhythm, strengths, and strategies for decision-making.

Some Human Design Energy Types

A Manifesting Generator with a 1/3 profile is here to learn through trial and error. They’re designed to move quickly, skip steps, and discover what works by first figuring out what doesn’t. But if this person was raised in an environment where mistakes were punished and curiosity was stifled, they may shut down, believing something is wrong with them simply because they don’t fit the “right way” of doing things. Over time, this creates a disconnect from their truth and drains their vitality.

Now consider a Projector with a 6/2 profile.

Projectors don’t have sustainable energy and need ample rest and recognition to thrive. As a child, they may have felt overwhelmed after a full school day, only to be told they were lazy for not keeping up with after-school activities or chores. Their exhaustion is misinterpreted, their gifts overlooked.

Over time, this leads to burnout, bitterness, and a belief that they’re simply not good enough.

And that’s the wound of conditioning: we internalize the idea that we are not enough just as we are, drifting further from our natural design. This misalignment, if left unaddressed, becomes a breeding ground for emotional and physical dis-ease.

But there’s good news: the conditioning isn’t permanent. When you work with someone trained to guide you to an understanding of your Human Design, you gain clarity about who you truly are and how you’re meant to operate. You learn how to release the patterns that don’t serve you and reconnect with your original blueprint.

You were born perfectly designed. Human Design helps you remember.

April Goff Brown is a certified Quantum Human Design Specialist, oracle card creator and reader, and intuitive coach in Hartford, CT. Her approach is holistic, with human design at the foundation. She helps clients shed life’s conditioning and reconnect with their most authentic self. Her Immerse Yourself in You package offers deep, transformative support.

Prioritize YOU. You deserve it. Learn more and schedule your free call at aprilgoffbrown.com, call 860.997.7924, or email hello@aprilgoffbrown.com. See ad on Back Cover >

Readers! We Need You 2025 8TH ANNUAL Reader-Nominated Awards NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE PRACTITIONER/BUSINESS IN EACH CATEGORY JULY 1 - SEPTEMBER 1

Natural

Nutmeg 10BESTof Magazine

Readers’ Choice

>> BE A PART OF THE ACTION <<

AWARDS

Use the link below to nominate your favorites

https://bit.ly/NN10Best2025

2025 10BEST Award Categories 1. Energy Healers (reiki, sound, crystal, shamanic, chakra, etc) 2. Esthetician/Holistic Spa 3. Functional Medicine/Integrative MD/Dentist 4. Health Food Store/Gluten Free & Organic Product Company 5. Holistic Center 6. Holistic Pediatrician 7. Holistic Psychotherapy/LCSW/Counseling 8. Holistic Weight Loss Center 9. Hypnotherapy

10. Integrative APRN/Nursing 11. Intuitives/Mediums/Spiritual Advisors (astrology, human design, etc) 12. Life/Business/Finance/Health Coach 13. Massage Therapy/Bodywork/Chiropractor 14. Naturopathic Physician 15. Naturopathic Physician Fairfield County 16. Nutrition/RD 17. Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture 18. Yoga/Movement Based Therapy

COMMUNITY RESOURCES Local Experts In and Around Connecticut ACUPUNCTURE

Stan Baker Acupuncture Stan Baker, LAC 35 Nod Rd, Avon, CT 860.836.1068 acupuncturestanbaker.com

NATURAL Nutmeg

Dr. Aimee Montanaro, DTCM, LAc Integrity Acupuncture

JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2025

58

Shelton and Westport, CT • 203.429.4406 draimee@integrityacuct.com integrityacuct.com Dr. Aimee Montanaro, DTCM, Dipl.

O.M. (NCCAOM)®, LAc, is a boardcertified acupuncturist and herbalist specializing in women’s healthcare and fertility. Using Traditional Chinese Medicine, evidence-based research, and a gentle, effective needle technique, Dr. Montanaro enables each client to remain strong, vibrant, and healthy throughout each phase of life.

AURA LIGHT THERAPY Jackie O’Keefe Aura Light Therapy LLC

Farmington • 860.751.9453 connect@auralighttherapy.com auralighttherapy.com Red light therapy is a cutting-edge wellness treatment designed to improve the body and mind in a wide variety of ways. With our medicalgrade red light therapy, we focus on safely and painlessly reducing body fat, easing muscle and joint pain, rejuvenating skin, and improving your overall sense of well-being.

CBD STORE Nature’s Gifts

304 W Main St., Avon, CT • 860.995.4444 naturesgifts-usa.com/ Nature’s Gifts is an independently owned, family run CBD Store in Avon, CT. Stress, sleep, and pain solutions available. Our knowledgeable staff will happily guide you through our offerings to find the perfect CBD product for your needs. Don’t pay too much for your CBD—stop in, say hello, and let us help you feel like you again.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

The Colonic Institute, Nina Veronesi Avon, CT • 860.481.2702 colonicsct46@gmail.com • colonicct.com The Colonic Institute offers closedsystem colonics by I-ACT trained colon therapists. Additional services include bioelectric lymphatic drainage, ionic detox footbaths, ear coning, reiki, and hypnotherapy.

Stephanie Patrick, RN, LMT Inside Out Health CT Mystic, CT • 860.980.1424 stephanie@insideouthealthct.com insideouthealthct.com Inside Out Health CT supports GI health with colon hydrotherapy using FDA-approved equipment to facilitate the evacuation of waste matter and impurities from the colon. Stephanie is an I-ACT-certified colon hydrotherapist who offers a safe and effective procedure great for constipation, IBS, functional bowel diseases, and detoxification.

Source Colon Hydrotherapy

Elizabeth Regal Columbia, CT • 860.634.7523 sourcecolonhydrotherapy@gmail.com sourcecolonhydrotherapy.com Colon hydrotherapy promotes hydration of the colon and loosening of waste matter, assisting elimination by natural peristalsis of the colon. Roots Natural Medical Center is offering colon hydrotherapy on our FDA-approved closed system device. Contact Elizabeth Regal, I-ACT certified colon hydrotherapist for an appointment.

Vitalized Performance Group Glastonbury, CT • 860.800.6775 VPGwaves.com

VPG Waves offers an open system colonic on the LIBBE device, GAINS/ Femi/AcuteWave treatments for head/face pain to toe pain, scar tissue, incontinence, and sexual wellness issues. We have ionic foot baths and biomat/ infrared heat, cupping, naturopaths and acupuncture.

Combining modalities for thorough healing is key!

ENERGY HEALING

Kelly McCarthy Beyond Words N Wisdom Winsted, CT • 860.806.9684 kelly@beyondwordsnwisdom.com Kelly McCarthy is a soul reader, energy guide, writer, and intuitive graphic artist. She helps expand awareness and connection, empowering you to embrace life’s possibilities and harness your unique energetic frequency. Kelly offers both in-person and remote sessions to support your journey toward a meaningful legacy.

Anton Vataj My Quantum Space

Westport/Connecticut • 475.471.1793 support@myquantumspace.com myquantumspace.com The Energy Enhancement System™ (EESystem™) generates multiple bioactive life enhancing energy fields, including “scalar waves,” which can allow cell regeneration, improve immune function, provide relief from pain, detoxify the body, elevate moods, and assist in balancing right and left hemispheres of the brain to increase energy levels.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE ENDOCRINOLOGY Michael Duben, MD Restore Health, LLC

Fairfield, CT • 203.760.5544 endomd@gmail.com • restorehealthmd.com My treatment model is innovative and deeply personal, combining the scientific foundation of traditional endocrinology with holistic, preventative strategies of functional medicine.

Whether you’re dealing with chronic conditions or simply wish to optimize your health, my practice is a beacon of integrative care in our community.

Welcome to a new era of endocrinology, where every aspect of your well-being is considered, respected, and nurtured.

HOLISTIC CENTER

Melissa Wooldridge Breton ECLIPSE Holistic Living, LLC Glastonbury, CT • 860.614.7588 melissa@eclipseholisticliving.com eclipseholisticliving.com Eclipse Holistic Living is a cocreative healing arts studio in Glastonbury.

A destination to envision your future self and actualize your fullest potential. Offering alternative and complementary modalities, Eclipse becomes the portal for all who enter in to embody conscious awareness through intentional holistic living—well-becoming on our healing-growth journey together.

HYPNOTHERAPY

Michele P. Rousseau, MA, CH Middletown, CT • 860.704.9054 mprousseau@sbcglobal.net micheleprousseau.com Live your dreams! Restore your passion, confidence, and motivation; transform habits; achieve goals.

Wake up each day to a life you are eager to live! Online sessions.

LIFE COACH

Susan Cote Everyday Harvest LLC Mansfield Center, CT • 860.942.0197 info@everydayharvest.com everydayharvest.com Susan Cote, owner of Everyday Harvest LLC, is an aromatherapist and certified life coach, attending the Co-Active Training Institute for a two-year intensive program. She offers both one-on-one and group coaching and, using Wisdom of the Earth medicinal-grade essential oils also leads aromatherapy certification workshops in CT.

Christine Bilotti Peterson Longview Vitality Simsbury, CT • 860.906.4454 christine@whatsyourlongview.com longviewvitality.com Empowering leaders and professionals to achieve peak performance with holistic, high-performance coaching.

Specializing in mindset transformation, wellness protocols, rapid transformational therapy (RTT), yoga, and executive development, we help you align inner well-being with outer success for lasting impact in your personal and professional life.

April Goff Brown

MARKETING/PR

Tind-All Creative Marketing

MASSAGE THERAPY

Abundant Health Massage Therapy & Wellness Farmington, CT • 860.778.0315 abundanthealthct.com Kristina Mozzicato is Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork by the NCBTMB and has been practicing massage for the past 12 years. She provides professional, therapeutic, customized sessions. In addition to massage, she offers cupping, medicupping, body contouring, Himalayan salt stone massage, and Reiki sessions. Convenient online booking.

METABOLIC PSYCHIATRY Dr. Lori Calabrese, MD Innovative Psychiatry

South Windsor, CT • 860.648.9755 info@loricalabresemd.com loricalabresemd.com

Kristiana Engelhardt Reformed Natural Therapeutics

Wethersfield, CT • 860.904.4286 reformednaturaltherapeutics@gmail.com reformednaturaltherapeutics.com Reformed is a naturopathic medical center specializing in integrative medicine and acupuncture. Dr. Engelhardt focuses on women’s health, hormonal balance, fertility, and gastrointestinal disorders. She is dedicated to uncovering the root causes of symptoms and providing personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Dr. Dana Lapointe, ND, LMT, Esth.

Sustainable Health & Wellness

Canton, CT and Virtual • 860.217.1171 SustainableHW.com • DrDanaLapointe.com Personalized holistic medicine, including restoration of the gut-brain axis to restore optimal physical and mental wellness and regain lifestyle balance in chronic conditions: gut, diabetes, obesity, pain, fatigue, autoimmune, and skin. Highly effective weight loss, detox, and vital aging programs. Now offering personalized brain training for seniors and noninvasive, regenerative StemWave therapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Riverstone Naturopathic Health 63 West Street, Suite B1 Litchfield, CT • 860.361.9494

Christina Amicone, ND, is a naturopathic physician seeing patients at Riverstone Naturopathic Health in Litchfield, CT. Her focus is on oncology/cancer (including supportive therapies during conventional cancer treatments), naturopathic detoxification, gastrointestinal health (including IBS, IBD, and SIBO), women’s health (hormone imbalances, menstrual problems, and menopause), autoimmune diseases, and food sensitivities.

Roots Natural Medical Center

106 Route 66 East • Columbia, CT 06237 860.471.1434 • info@rootsmedicalcenter.com rootsmedicalcenter.com Roots is a Naturopathic Medicinal Center that focuses on addressing foundational root causes to complex chronic disease.

The goal of the clinic is to properly identify, diagnose and treat patients with unexplained chronic illnesses. Our services are individualized, and patient focused, as medicine should be.

2661 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 203.871.3262 • admin@soleilholistic.com soleilholistic.com Soleil is a holistic clinic specializing in integrative and functional medicine. We are pleased to offer IV and IM nutrient therapy, craniosacral therapy, and general and facial acupuncture, with our roots in naturopathic medicine. We are passionate about using our tools to get our patients feeling their best!

Dr. Nicole Klughers, ND, PHARMD, MSAC Vis Wellness Center Rocky Hill, CT • 234.222.8362 hello@drnicoleklughers.com drnicoleklughers.com

Dr. Nicole Klughers offers all-natural solutions to restore optimal health and help individuals reclaim a life of energy, balance, and joy. Formerly a pharmacist, Dr. Nicole serves as your “health detective” by listening attentively and utilizing detailed testing to identify and address the root cause of any health concern.

PSYCHIC/MEDIUM

Intuitive Counseling Holistic Spa Agnes Daddona • 860.941.2667 Avon, CT • AgnesDaddona.com Agnes@intuitivecounselingllc.com Agnes Daddona is one of the best Psychic/Mediums in New England.

She is also a Counselor, Healer, and Spiritual Teacher. For more than 20 years, Agnes has worked with thousands of people across the world in both English and Polish. Her Holistic Spa in Avon, CT, is a one-stop shop and offers high vibrational healing for the mind, body, and soul.

ROLFING®

Rolfing®—The Art and Science of Body Change

Sharon Sklar, BFA, LMT, Cert. Adv. Rolfer West Hartford • 860.561.4337 sharonsklarrolfing.com Rolfing®—The Art and Science of Body Change. A dynamic 10-session bodywork series that eases pain, improves movement, and restructures your body when you feel “out of whack.” A hands-on and educational approach that establishes order and balance after life’s injuries, stresses, and accidents. Since 1981.

THERMOGRAPHY

April Beaman, RDH, CTT CT Thermography

Farmington and Glastonbury, CT 860.415.1150 • ctthermography.com CT thermography specializes in medical thermal imaging. Breast thermography is a compression and radiation-free screening tool that’s used to monitor breast health to detect physiological changes that may be early warning signs of a disease process. As a Certified Thermographic Technician, I help empower women to take a proactive approach following their thermography screening for optimal breast health.

59 2025 JULY / AUGUST / SEPTEMBER

New Hartford, CT • 860.916.4561 deirdre@tind-allcreativemarketing.com tind-allcreativemarketing.com A women-owned, full-service digital marketing agency, Tind-All Creative Marketing provides innovative and effective marketing solutions for your business. When you choose to work with our agency, a portion of your dollars go right back into the local community, to nonprofits that need it most. Our services include SEO, PPC, website design, branding, marketing strategy, social media, blogging, and much more.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

Soleil Acupuncture and Naturopathic Wellness

NATURAL Nutmeg

Hartford, CT • 860.997.7924 hello@aprilgoffbrown.com aprilgoffbrown.com Human Design readings and analysis coupled with intuitive coaching to guide you to living authentically. Human Design can help you improve relationships, work life and more by knowing your superpower, conditioning and how to shine as your best, vibrant, unique and fabulous self.

Metabolic psychiatry is where we use our deep psychiatric expertise, metabolic mastery, and approach to nutritional ketosis to transform your brain energy, lift depression, put bipolar into remission, tamp down anxiety, and produce clear thinking. Let Touchpoints 180TM restore your mitochondrial health to get you back to your best self.

You were born perfectly designed.

Isn't it time to find your way back there?

Immerse yourself in you. April offers: • 60 minute Human Design Reading • 90 minute Human Design Analysis • 6 hour Immerse Yourself in You package: a deep dive into your design with intuitive coaching provided • Services provided in-person and via Zoom

Unsure what's right for you?

Schedule a Clarity Call at aprilgoffbrown.com Start Here

1. Go to aprilgoffbrown.com 2. Download your free report 3. Schedule your Clarity Call

Human Design Specialist & Intuitive Coach

hello@aprilgoffbrown.com • aprilgoffbrown.com

Now providing services at The Blackbird House in Wethersfield, CT & Eclipse Holistic Living Center in Glastonbury, CT.