Chester Spring Wellness Faire

KEEPING IT SIMPLE: OUR 3 BEST TIPS FOR HEALTHY LIVING

by Jan Cox

Ideas flew fast and furiously at the planning meeting for this year’s Chester Wellness Festival.  Reorganization was necessary due to both the state of the economy and the vast amount of information we are confronted with in our daily lives.  A new format emerged.  The Winter Wellness Festival became the Spring Wellness Faire to be held April 15-17, 2010, with the theme, Keeping it Simple: Our 3 Best Tips for Healthy Living.

I spoke with Jan Davies, Whole Health Practitioner and one of the planners of the faire, who had some interesting observations to share about wellness.

She suggested that “wellness” is often thought to be the same concept as “health,” and while they share a commonality,  they essentially have two different meanings.  Health is usually considered to be the absence of disease or ailments; whereas, wellness is a more holistic term encompassing the whole person and usually implies a vitality in daily living.  Wellness is unique to each person.  It describes a movement toward freedom from ailments but also happiness, vitality and a greater sense of value and meaning in life.

According to Davies, if we are going to integrate wellness into our lives it could encompass the following: finding and treating the source of illness instead of medicating symptoms; disease prevention; pain management; healing our relationships; eating wholesome foods; living in and creating supportive job, community and recreational environments; meditation, spiritual study and intellectual challenges; massage; time in nature; appropriate exercise and movement; and making choices that improve the world around us.

One of the important outcomes resulting from the Wellness Festival in the past has been a building of community and a sharing of the wealth of knowledge in this more isolated rural environment we live in. An opportunity has been created for those interested in healthy living to meet each other, develop new alliances and strengthen the awareness of alternative and complementary healthcare available in the Lake Almanor Basin.

The wellness-based events in Chester began with a small group of alternative health practitioners, Dr. Thomas Archie, a family physician who worked as a functional medicine and integrative doctor, and merchants interested in healthy lifestyles. The basic goals of this group included: a) to expand awareness of the holistic medicine and healthy lifestyle resources in the community; b) to educate the public with classes on wellness-related topics; c) to show appreciation for the local community in a variety of health-related venues.  Alternative, integrative and complementary healthcare are the largest growing industry in the U.S. at this time.  As our modern healthcare systems become increasingly overwhelmed, more people are taking responsibility for their own wellness.  Davies reports that “National studies show a high percentage of Americans integrating the best of both worlds using conventional Western medicine along with attention to diet, exercise, stress management, supplements, mind/body medicine, Eastern therapies and more.”

This year the Spring Wellness Faire will begin on Thursday, April 15 with a community dinner open to all.  This dinner is free with donations welcomed at the door from those who are able to give. The emphasis will be on a delicious, well balanced  and healthy meal served by the wellness committee along with local merchants and others interested community members.

Friday evening, April 16, will set your spirit soaring at a community bonfire and drumming circle. Bring drums and rhythm  instruments to join in the fun. Please watch for information on the location of this activity.

On Saturday, April 17, a variety of wellness group practitioners will be holding short talks at Good Vibrations, 278 Main St. Chester.  Parking is available in the back of this building. Speakers will include Sharon Geney, Jan Davies, Dr. Don Tharpe, Jan Cox and several others.   Each speaker will give the audience their 3 best ideas for healthful living in their specific area of expertise.  These speakers will also have stations set up throughout the building where community members may talk to them and get questions answered or peruse books written or recommended by them.  There will also be an opportunity to experience Sound Healing using crystal and Tibetan bowls. Watch both the local newspapers and flyers for further information. Or call Sharon Geney or Jan Davies at 258-4663.

Bookmark to: