"Breathing in, I feel joyful. Breathing out, I feel joyful."
Thich Nhat Hanh
The HWB Healing Project Mobile Clinic has been invited to participate in Spirituality Week! We are being hosted by Gaia Nomaya Salt Cave and Spa, 510 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. A gorgeous, serene location, this urban Utopia is nestled in the heart of Brooklyn, right down the block from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Prospect Park.
We have been guided to a sacred community platform and space from which to educate the community about the many tools and resources that offer relief from the daily grind of the city. We are grateful.
Spirituality Week (June 2-11) was co-founded. by Peter Corlett and Ross Guttler. It is a city-wide festival produced to nourish the spiritual needs of individuals needing a respite from the stress-inducing pressures of daily living.
Self-care is not as popular as it is necessary. Many people just throw the dice and reach for what they believe to be the most effective pharmaceutical offering as long as it is "fast-acting." The consequences of the associated side effects are often overlooked.
Michael Finkelstein, The Slow Medicine Doctor, is the recipient of numerous distinctions and certified in both Internal Medicine and Integrative-Holistic Medicine. I met this very personable healer at a Holistic Chamber of Commerce meeting some years ago. Our conversation remains rooted in my memory.
His approach to self-care is centered on an individual recognizing that holistic medicine is slow, steady, and nutritive.
This timing is in sync with Mother Nature.
The team of volunteer practitioners who represent the HWB Healing Project Mobile Clinic are dedicated to shifting the perspectives that negate the ability to address the needs of the mind, body, and soul with plant medicine. That said, we are also firm believers in Integrative Medicine.
Here is our offering for Spirituality Week, June 7, 2023, 12pm-6pm.
The protocols that will be featured for Wellness Wednesday for our Spirituality Week event are:
Sound Therapy with didgeridoo, Lloyd Leary "The Body Mechanic NYC." accompanied by Inci aka "The Gong Diva," Lloyd will discuss the effects of sound healing on the biology of the human body, and he will then will immerse us in a sound bath meditation. A master of frequencies, The Body Mechanic masterfully creates vibrations that trigger whole body wellness in a magical and transformative way.
Following the Sound Healing experience, a panel discussion titled "The Benefits of Medicinal Herbs: A Global Perspective" will educate our audience about the efficacy of the three recognized systems of medicine (Western, Ayurvedic, and Traditional Chinese Medicine).
Amy Fabrikant, Certified Holistic Health & Wellness Coach and Reuben Finerson, founder of Keep Your Health, LLC and fitness coach are two of the featured panelists for this prestigious event.
Amy Anthony, Certified Clinical Aromatherapist, founder of NYC Aromatica, and New York State Representative of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists (AIA) will give a presentation on aromatherapy for the Soul and Spirit. Sacred incense...resins and how they connect us with the Divine.
Flower essence therapy and auricular massage (ear massage) are healing strategies that support those who are desirous of soul retrieval and who want to learn how to achieve an immediate state of relaxation in times great stress.
I am an educator and a Chaplain licensed by New York State Chaplain Task Force (NYSCTF), certified Flower Essence Practitioner and Reflexologist, a Board member of Herbalists Without Borders International, Inc. (HWB) and the HWB Healing Project Mobile Clinic Coordinator.
My vision for the Clinic is to offer this team of qualified volunteer practitioners an opportunity to provide holistic health education and services to the community and promote the wonderful work of HWB.
We focus on mental health because the aftermath of the pandemic cannot be overlooked or underestimated.
The following research was documented and published by The Kaiser Foundation in a brief titled, "The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use" by Nirmita Panchal , Heather Saunders , Robin Rudowitz, and Cynthia Cox.
It states:
Symptoms of anxiety and depression increased during the pandemic and are more pronounced among individuals experiencing household job loss, young adults, and women. Adolescent females have also experienced increased feelings of hopelessness and sadness compared to their male peers.
Deaths due to drug overdose increased sharply across the total population coinciding with the pandemic – and more than doubled among adolescents. Drug overdose death rates are highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people and Black people.
Alcohol-induced death rates increased substantially during the pandemic, with rates increasing the fastest among people of color and people living in rural areas.
After briefly decreasing, suicide deaths are on the rise again as of 2021. From 2019 to 2021, many communities of color experienced a larger growth in suicide death rates compared to their White counterparts. Additionally, self-harm and suicidal ideation has increased faster among adolescent females compared to their male peers.
We are in crisis mode!
Here in New York, we see those in need of mental health services languishing on trains and train platforms, on sidewalks and public parks, sleeping on church steps, and even living in boxes right next door to public assistance agencies.
We don't have all of the answers. But, it is my belief that a little knowledge goes a long way. Flower essences are gentle and effective, and can be used without concern for the presence of prescription drugs.
It is time for the general population to know that they have other options to consider.
Nata is an Integrative Pelvic Health and Mayan Abdominal Womb Practitioner.
She will do a demonstration of self-abdominal massage for de-stressing and show us how to experience an enhanced, spiritually fulfilling sexual connection.
In this photo (see above), Nata is demonstrating a massage on Performance Coach Omar Jones that can support male reproductive health.
The event will come to a close with a Q&A session that will offer the audience and the practitioners to have heartfelt conversations about how they would like to go forward with their personal health concerns.
Palenque @ Gaia offers mouth-watering plant-based, Colombian dishes that create a craving for "just one more bite."
The yoga space and the Gamelatron gongs create a peaceful oasis and a welcome departure from the signature noise pollution of city living.
There is also an opportunity for you to book a service for your next visit. Gaia NoMaya offers unique spa services and theatrical cacao ceremonies. Treat yourself to something different and include the salt cave, crystal bed, or infra-red sauna in your self-love protocol.
The HWB Healing Project Mobile Clinic continues to grow and is open to other healing practices (e.g. acupuncture, acupressure).
We are currently working on welcoming a team of acupuncturists who are interested in being a part of our volunteer team. So, feel free to reach out if you are interested in helping us meet our goals.
Hope to see you soon! Thank you for your support!
Spirituality Week, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, 12pm-6pm
Wellness Wednesday @ Gaia Nomaya Salt Cave & Spa
12pm - Immersive Sound Bath with Didgeridoo: "Frequencies Matter"
1pm - Panel Discussion: "The Benefits of Medicinal Herbs: A Global Perspective"
2pm - Aromatherapy: "Connecting with the Sacred Divine with Resins"
3pm - Auricular Massage & Flower Essence Therapy: "Be the Peace You Seek"
4pm - Prostate & Womb Massage: "De-Stress with Abdominal Massage Techniques"
5pm - Ask the Practitioner: Q & A Session
Closing Remarks
"Your body is a reflection of your lifestyle."
Reuben Finerson, Holistic Health Instructor
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