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Day of Wellness Breakout Sessions – WELL Summit

Day of Wellness Breakout Sessions – WELL Summit

12193628_1259904754039089_6148228243814907053_n-square-6743384 Bringing Life into Sacred Balance. Balance is about knowing what season we are in and planning for it. Balance seems like a constantly moving target in our lives; some years life seem easier to manage and others it seems overwhelming. We are seasonal beings; some years we have YANG (active) years and others we have YIN (quiet) years. But most of us do not know ahead of time what to plan for!  Come join this breakout session where we will calculate your unique theme for this year using an ancient Japanese tool based on 9 year cycles. When you know your season, we can reduce the stress of uncertainty and be able to flow in 2017 with your theme. Participants will receive a bonus audio to download with explanation of all 9 years to come. sara-divello-at-the-mfa-5595979 Come unwind after a wonderful day of learning and connection. Based on Sara’s nationally taught workshop, “How to Power Down, Tune In, and Experience Profound Rest” this hybrid yoga class-workshop and will include only the most gentle and restorative of yoga poses, along with a few carefully researched, proven techniques from Sara’s Profound Rest workshop. No standing. Nothing vigorous. All poses will be seated or laying down on your mat as we gently release your muscles head to toe. Sara will include the best poses for unwind and power down and her top tips to prepare you body, mind, and soul for deep sleep. No yoga experience nec. All are WELLcome. heather-stevenson-square-6242562

In this session, you’ll learn about some of the less-talked-about ways that what we eat matters. From our mental health, to the economy, to the health of the planet, the food that we choose to put on our plates and into our bodies has a huge impact. Heather, who since founding a plant-based juice bar in 2014 has constantly strived to learn how food can be the most beneficial to humans and least damaging to the planet, will discuss some of the common misconceptions about food and responsible eating. You’ll also learn how you can improve your food choices to bring them in line with your values, and how to help keep yourself and the planet as healthy as possible. You’ll leave with simple tips to help make your diet one that you can feel great about, as well as a list of resources to consult if you’re interested in learning more.

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Jessica Diaz had a mild stroke at the age of 36. “I had heard of stroke; I just didn’t know I was eligible for one in my thirties”. What really surprised Jessica is that young “healthy” people could be effected, and she was also surprised to learn how critically important it is to get medical treatment right away. Since her stroke, Jessica has been on a journey of learning and advocating to raise awareness about stroke prevention, recognition, and in encouraging others to embrace a healthier lifestyle.  “One of the most important things I know now is that 80 percent of strokes and heart disease are preventable through living a healthy lifestyle, which means to me, in many ways you can save your own life”.  In this breakout session, Jessica shares her thoughts on the need for many of us to be more aware of our current state of health, so we can use that information as a compass to guide us in making important choices in how we live our lives. Jessica will discuss how she overcame the biggest challenges she faced post-stroke, which was learning to manage her fear and anxiety of a future stroke. Jessica will also discuss ways to reduce one’s risk of heart disease and stroke and share her mindful approach to eating and exercise.

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Everyone eats. But not everyone eats food. Recent studies claim that over 60% of the food we eat is highly processed and that only 2.7% of Americans follow the four pillars of healthful living – eating good food, getting enough exercise, maintaining a normal weight and not smoking. Yet, we are a culture obsessed with quick fixes, shiny packages, flashy logos, and gimmicky tag lines. We are hard wired for novelty and have become hooked on instant weight-based results, rather than long-term health. As a result, we are constantly searching for the next diet miracle, and in a quest for instantaneous perfection and promised immortality, we have completely diluted our diet of food – real food. In this myth-busting session you will explore the history of dieting, learn the missteps of several popular dieting strategies, and arm yourself with a proven and evidence-based nutrition plan for life-long health and wellbeing.

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It was Hippocrates who said ‘All disease begins in the gut’, and centuries later scientific evidence shows us how right he was. Vibrant living, endless energy, a robust immune system, mental clarity and optimum body composition all start with the foundation of health: our GI system.

In this session Holistic Nutritionist and Level 2 Bio Signature Modulation Practitioner Jennifer Hanway will discuss the nutrition, fitness and wellbeing strategies we can implement to optimize our gut health and help prevent chronic disease. We will identify the foods to eliminate to improve gut function, and learn how to heal and repair our GI systems with natural foods, supplements and self care strategies, to achieve optimum health and a healthy, happy you.

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Learn how to optimize your digestion using tips and tricks from the ancient wisdom and science of Ayurveda which teaches us that digestion is key to overall health: balanced energy, clear skin and a positive, happy mindset. In this breakout session with Emily, you will learn the basics of digestion from an Ayurvedic standpoint, takeaway easy-to-implement tips on how to keep your digestion smooth (nix any bloat & burps) and how to use your kitchen cabinets & spice racks as home remedies. You will create and mix your own, personalized, digestive spice mix to take home with you!

casey-von-iderstein-headshot-square-6811597 We’re bombarded with toxins on a daily basis from all angles:  in the air we breathe, in the food we eat, and in the cleaners, fragrances, and personal-care products we use.  On top of that, it’s become murky and overwhelming to navigate labels, keep an eye out for specific ingredients, and ensure that we’re not burdening our bodies with harmful chemicals.  Talk about sucking the fun right out of our wellness routine! Self-care should be easy, enjoyable, toxin-free, and beneficial for our physical and emotional health – and the best way to do that is to clear out all of the unnecessary stuff and simplify, simplify, simplify. Join me to learn about how you can majorly streamline and detoxify your self-care routine with the help of pure, therapeutic grade essential oils.  They’re the ultimate multi-taskers – and we’ll cover how you can use them in place of toxic everyday products, and at key points throughout your day to up your wellness game and eliminate overwhelm.  Don’t worry, we’ll cover what essential oils actually are, why they’re so effective, and how to select and use them, too. Side effects include: glowing skin, healthy digestion, deep sleep, humming hormones, increased immunity, reduced stress, laser focus, pain reduction, detoxification, mega-metabolism and so much more. saltyg-2-square-9255456

What does an inspired life look like to you? Although still working day jobs, Sarah and Leah are working towards building a trusted brand of wellness, being a place of education and giving back to the community. Come hear about their journey as they transition from full time jobs, identify what truly inspires them, how to hold onto that inspiration, and create a community that inspires others as they build a business.

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Neal Halfon

Neal Halfon, MD, MPH is founding director of the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, and also directs the Child and Family Health Leadership and Training Program in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Dr. Halfon is professor of pediatrics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; health policy and management in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health; and public policy in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Is well known for his health related publications.