Holistic Nursing Support Group

Highly Acclaimed Raw Food Author coming to Palm Bay

Join raw food expert and motivational speaker, Tonya Zavasta, for her high energy, 2- hour seminar that provides an informational, inspirational, and entertaining presentation about the raw food lifestyle, entitled “Miracle of Raw Foods: Make Aging Optional.” Tonya is author of “Beautiful On Raw” and “Your Right to Be Beautiful,” as well as a finalist for the 2004 Health Book of the Year Award. “Her story is a shining example of how the raw food lifestyle can influence people's lives,” explains raw food enthusiast Teresa McKessey. “Through humor, drama, and original perspective, she inspires people to make sense of their problems and make the most of their potential. Women who are concerned about beauty and aging especially love her lectures.”

Tonya will be speaking at Melbourne Community Church located at 4940 Stack Blvd., Suite C-1, in Palm Bay on Sunday, February 18th at 6pm. The cost is $20 in advance, $25 at the door. To pay in advance, please send check to Tonya Zavasta at c/o Teresa McKessey, 107 E. Laila Dr. W. Melbourne, FL 32904. For further information call 321-961-1874.

New Local Holistic Nursing Support Group

Pat Bratianu, regional network representative for east-central Florida American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA), will begin hosting meetings that support nurses in their holistic work. The profession of Holistic Nursing has attained new levels of acceptance, now officially recognized by American Nurses Association (ANA) as a nursing specialty with a defined scope and standards of practice.

AHNA President, Carla Mariano, states, “This is a phenomenal step forward and a very special achievement for holistic nursing. Having holistic nursing recognized as a specialty gives us legitimacy and authority within the mainstream of our profession and credibility in the eyes of the health care world. It also acknowledges our unique contribution to the health and healing of people and society.”

The AHNA was founded to promote the education of nurses, other healthcare professionals, and the public in the philosophy, concepts, practice, and research of holistic caring and healing.

For more information about joining a holistic nursing support group, contact Pat Bratianu of Simply Health at 321-727-7273.

Synergy Health & Fitness Studio Relocates

Synergy Health & Fitness Studio, Inc recently relocated to a new building at 2825 Business Center Blvd., Suite B9 in Melbourne. This new location includes environmentally-friendly natural lighting, state-of-the-art air filtration, personal showers, and expanded training area.

Synergy’s personal fitness trainers, coaches and therapists provide clients of all ages and backgrounds with a variety of safe, innovative fitness programs personally designed to yield optimal results. The Fitness Pros are all nationally certified, with a combined experience of more than 50 years. A nutritionist is available to set up individual diets plans for client and a massage therapist is on call.

Synergy’s future plans include corporate wellness programs with local businesses, senior fitness classes and ball yoga.

For more information, call 321-752-5258 or visit the studio’s web site at www.synergy4life.net.

Dance for Heart Health

The Spirit of Women Hospital Network annually hosts a fun Day of Dance for Heart Health at hospitals in more than 30 cities across the country. This year in Titusville, any number of dance styles will be in full swing Saturday, February 24th at Parrish Medical Center, beginning at 5pm. Dancing not only burns up to 400 calories an hour, it also can lower blood pressure and cholesterol, lead to a slower heart rate, and strengthen weight-bearing bones.

“Day of Dance is all about preventing heart disease in women while having a good time,” says Tanya Abreu, president of Spirit of Women. We know that “primary risk factors for heart disease–whether it’s obesity, smoking, high blood pressure or high cholesterol–all are easily preventable.” All are invited to a day of dance plus health education and screenings.

For information on this Downtown Titusville Street Dance call the Parrish Medical Center (PMC), Communications Department: 321-268-6110 or the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce (TAC): 321- 268-3036 or visit www.parrishmed.com and click on the calendar.

Loving Relationship Programs Offered

Loving relationships that work are relationships that are fed and nourished on a regular basis like any other living entity. IntimacyRetreats.com offers vacation/workshops that help couples nourish, enhance and celebrate their love. Participants enjoy romantic beach getaways where they focus exclusively on their relationships, learning practices to consciously create a deeper and more passionate connection in body, heart and soul.

As relationship experts Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks write, "None of us has the slightest chance of sustaining a healthy relationship until we make a conscious commitment to it.”

Intimacy Retreats are held in Florida on Siesta Key Beach (Sarasota), Feb. 16-18, Mar. 2-4, Mar. 23-25 and April 13-15. April 20-22 will be on Vilano Beach in St. Augustine. “The retreat jolted us out of a routine and we now can express more reverence for each other,” says one couple.

Events are facilitated by Richard and Diana Daffner, C.S., M.A., developers of Tantra Tai Chi and authors of "Lessons in Intimacy…The Lover’s Touch." For details or a free brochure, call 941 349-6804 (1-877-282-4244) or visit www.IntimacyRetreats.com

Local Author Book Signing in Melbourne

How to conquer cancer through personal empowerment is the focus of a new book by local author Leslie Bishop. Congratulations, You’ve Got Cancer! provides readers with an understanding of how crucial the quality of hope is in conquering disease. It shows how through the practice of observation and actively changing one’s negative thoughts and emotions, one can learn to respond and not react to life, and thus place oneself on the road to good health. The book also focuses on the importance of learning how to love oneself and listen to one’s inner guidance system. Bishop aids our understanding by equating the human body to a computer that can be reprogrammed for the better. Congratulations, You’ve Got Cancer! includes healing visualizations, inspirational poetry and recommended readings.

Author Leslie Bishop is a Certified Empowerment Life Coach and helps those who are experiencing illness or disease to create wellness. She will be speaking and signing her book from 2-4pm at Inner Journeys, 3134 Lake Washington Rd. in Melbourne on February 17. To order the book online visit www.outskirtspress.com/Congratulationsyouhavecancer.

Storytelling Camp Coming Soon

Registration is open for Florida StoryCamp 2007, produced by the Florida Storytelling

Association (FSA). This year’s camp, located at the Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg, Florida, is scheduled for March 29 – April 1 and features workshops, story swaps, concerts, and a well-stocked StoryStore filled with storybooks, props, and storytelling how-to resources.

“Teachers and librarians have long appreciated the power of storytelling to intrigue and educate young minds,” says FSA president Kaye Byrnes. “Storytelling is also a potent force in the healing arts, and social services, and is a valuable resource for those who work in parks and recreation departments who seek ways of preserving their local histories. This year’s StoryCamp includes presentations targeting these special interests, as well.”

To register online, visit www.flstory.org. For a brochure or for further information, call 1-800-940-1972.

Lee Pinkerson Performs in Cocoa Village

Lee Pinkerson will be performing at Nature's Haven in Cocoa Village on February 11 at 2pm for their Sunday Songwriter Series. In November, Lee Pinkerson was invited to perform at the Thessaloniki Poetry Festival in Greece, where her song "O'Live" won first place. She also wins awards for her guitar playing skills at festivals from Florida to North Carolina.

Lee has gathered information and written songs about the original Florida tribes, Appalachian Mountain heritage, ancient Greece, and her own personal adventures. People also commission her to write songs. Tune into Lee and her music will heal your heart with the natural beauty of life on earth – past, present, and into the future. Furthering the festive atmosphere, Lee creates jewelry that is a visual expression of her music. Using her guitar sensibilities to shape silver wire, she holds crystal clear notes of quartz and colorful gemstones in melodic designs. Her jewelry and CDs will be available the day of the concert.

Nature’s Haven is located at 602 Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Village (south-side across from Cocoa City Hall and Murdock’s restaurant). For more information call 321-632-1211.

Vinyasa & Pre-Natal Yoga Now Available in Indian Harbour Beach

Master Atma Shanti Devi of the Peace & Tranquility Holistic Yoga Center announces the arrival of Hope Thomas, RYT. Hope has been practicing various styles of yoga over the past twelve years and will be teaching Vinyasa and Pre-Natal yoga at the Center. When she teaches Vinyasa, she draws upon her training in Ashtanga, Bikram, Power Yoga and Vinyasa Flow to meet the individual physical needs of each of her students. Hope’s Pre-natal yoga incorporates gentle postures, breath work, vocal toning, pelvic toning, and visualization to prepare mothers for labor, delivery, and motherhood. She sees Prenatal yoga not only as an ideal way for the mom-to-be to stay toned and healthy during pregnancy, but as a means for developing an awareness of their body and deepening the relationship with their baby.

Peace & Tranquility Holistic Yoga Center in Indian Harbour Beach also offers spiritual guidance, yoga therapy, gentle Vinyasa yoga for all ages and body types, certified Usui Reiki healing and classes, and pranayana & meditation. Please call 321-773-4988 for more information.

Organic Indulgence Opens in Cocoa Village

Wine lovers will enjoy Brevard’s newest and largest selection of organic wines. Located in the heart of Cocoa Village at an exclusive second floor location next to the gazebo, you can find wines from around the world. Not only are these wines organic, many have no sulfites added. “Sulfites are what causes most wine drinkers to experience headaches and hangovers,” says Tina Steranko storeowner. “Drinking wine in moderation (no more than a glass per day) may have many health benefits such as improved lung function, increased cardiac output and arterial elasticity. Drinking one glass of red wine per week may also reduce the risk of senility and Alzheimer’s.”

At its most basic level, organic wine is made without the use of chemical fertilizers and Pesticides. Up to 240 different chemicals have been found in the making of conventional wines, with grapes topping the list of most chemically sprayed produce on the market today.

Organic Indulgence is proud to present a full range of organic wine, chocolate, coffee, tea and gift baskets. For custom made gift baskets loaded with great organic goodies Call Tina 321-412-5083 or visit online and design your own basket at allorganicbaskets.com. Organic Indulgence is located second floor at 315 Brevard Ave suite 6, Cocoa Village. Mention Natural Awakenings for your free sample.

Expo Offers Bodywork Oasis

Take a break, breathe in life and get inspired at the Healthy Living Expo. Indulge in the Bodywork & Energy Oasis. Lose yourself in a massage, nurture your feet with reflexology and linger in your state of bliss with an energy treatment. You’ll find all this and more and the 5th annual Healthy Living Expo on Saturday, March 10th in Melbourne.

Explore the benefits of a Honda hybrid car, try a free chiropractic screening, taste organic chocolate and nutritious juices, browse healing jewelry, art, books and CDs. Enter to win a cruise for 2 and sign up for a plethora of door prizes. Spend the day enjoying an array of health options and educational workshops including the latest on environmentally sustainable energy sources.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 10th from 10am-5pm. Admission is free. The expo will be held at the Florida Tech Clemente Center, 150 West University Blvd in Melbourne. For more information call 321-777-6433 or visit www.HealthyLivingExpos.com.

Learn How to Use Crystals & Stones

Crystals and stones can be used as healing and spiritual growth tools. When working on specific issues the right stone can be used as an energetic support to help you as you take the concrete steps necessary to heal that issue. There is a plethora of stones and crystals, each with their own properties that can be quite healing and used in a variety of ways.

Find out how and why crystals and stones work as healing and spiritual growth tools. Sign up for the “Becoming the Human Crystal: Explorations in Crystal Resonance” Workshop on February 24 & 25, from 9am-5pm. Enjoy information from both scientific and spiritual approaches, learn the purpose of crystals; choosing the appropriate crystal, clearing them, and using crystals to connect with your personal healing and spiritual guides; and much more.

The workshop is presented by Naisha Ahsian, a shaman, teacher, healer and the author of The Crystal Ally Cards: The Crystal Path to Self -Knowledge and co-author of The Book of Stones. “We are so fortunate to have Naisha coming to our community, it is an incredible opportunity,” explains Patricia Williams, owner of Inspired Heart. Naisha is the developer of the Crystal Resonance Therapy™ and Primus Activation Healing™ techniques.

Registration is limited so sign up early. Reserve your private consultation only available on February 26th-27th. The Inspired Heart is located at 2235 14th Avenue, downtown Vero Beach. Call 772-569-2877 for more information or visit www.theinspiredheart.com.

Women’s Intensive at Kashi

Join us for a women’s weekend intensive retreat with Ma Jaya and journey on the road of the ancient feminine warrior. The retreat “Awakening the Ancient Feminine Warrior” will take place at Kashi Ashram in Sebastian, from March 16th through the 18th.  Learn the tools to awaken the feminine power within and find the depth and truth of who we really are. Join with a group of women to explore this over two days. This intensive retreat will give each participant that ability to tap into her own inner knowing and truth.

The total price of the retreat is $325, or $295 before February 23rd. Price includes meals and lodging. For more information, please visit www.kashi.org or call us at 772-589-1403.

Lotus Heart Holistic Center Expands Its Services

Lotus Heart Holistic Center proudly announces expansion of services at both its Historic Downtown Melbourne and Lake Washington Crossings locations.

Denise Boehm, licensed massage therapist and energy healer, has joined Lotus Heart Holistic Center in Historic Downtown Melbourne. Denise is a nationally board certified massage therapist, Reiki Master, and Pranic Healer. A retiree from 20+ years operating a highly successful management consulting firm, Denise has been studying holistic and alternative healing modalities since 1996. For relaxation she creates and makes her own line of all natural soaps and body products.

Lynn Greenis, licensed skin care and body treatment specialist, has joined Lotus Heart Holistic Center Too at Lake Washington Crossings on North Wickham Road. She is now accepting new clients on the mainland in addition to her existing beachside practice. Her life passion for pampering people is what has led her to pursue a career as a skin care and body treatment specialist. Lynn is dedicated to providing results oriented personalized skin care in a highly pampered environment. She has gone to great lengths to research and select only those products with the highest quality, all natural, ingredients.

Denise is located at 529 East New Haven Ave., Melbourne.  For more information call 321-768-7575. Lynn is located at 3084 Lake Washington Rd, Melbourne. For more information call 321-259-5056. (MM11508, MA49001, BW998).

Pranic Healing Master in Melbourne

Stephen Co is a master of the Life Force energy. The “miracles” that Master Co performs are nature’s certain response to the conscious direction of our life force energy ( Chi or Prana ). This subtle knowledge has evolved in the Orient over thousands of years. These ancient mysteries have been organized into a clear-cut science by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, and are taught in the West by his senior disciple, Master Stephen Co. This system is called Pranic Healing.

All human beings are born with the incredible power to consciously, purposefully direct their life force energy, the foremost power in nature. Master Co trains and empowers everyone with their own latent ability.

The legacy of Oriental Masters is the tremendous development and refinement of the ability to apply these subtle, natural laws. “Today, anyone can realize these seemingly magical abilities to harness and direct nature,” explains Master Co.

Healing is perhaps the most clear and dramatic application of this ancient knowledge – and the need for healing can motivate people to learn! Thus, Pranic Healing opens the door to a life of power and mastery, in harmony with nature’s laws and gifts.

Master Stephen Co will present three events in Melbourne and Orlando. Please visit yourhandscanhealyou.com for details and CBS News coverage online.

Rich Pinches Offers Massage in Indian River County

Rich Pinches, LMT is offering massage therapy at Synergy Salon in Vero Beach. He specializes in Swedish and deep tissue massage and has been certified in Reiki. To provide his clients convenience, Rich also offers out call massage in Vero Beach and Sebastian. Clients may also choose to enjoy the relaxation of a heated massage table and aromatherapy offered with an in-salon massage.

“I feel a passion and a real love of the healing and healthful power of massage. I know that my clients are receiving health benefits that go way beyond just feeling good and relaxed,” explains Rich. “I have a truly unique energy and touch which many people are able to sense.”

Synergy Salon is located at 1902 14th Avenue in Vero Beach. Call 772-564-6170(salon) or 772-766-0960(cell) for appointments. Visit www.RichPinchesLMT.neomassage.com for more information.