Join us every Tuesday evening to rediscover and celebrate the joy of connection! Enrich your journey with the wisdom and support of other women. Wherever you are on your path, whatever your experiences, you have much to offer and much to gain. You are not alone. Reach out!

“Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey. At other times, it is allowing another to take yours.” – Vera Nazarian

More than a diet, macrobiotics is a philosophy. “Macro” means large and “bio” means life. Macrobiotic nutrition sees food as energy; having a comprehensive effect on the body and the mind. The more natural, energized foods that we consume, the more we are able to sense our intuition, which tunes us into the universe. By aligning ourselves with the pulse of the universe we can create a “Large Life”, a healthy, balanced and full life.

In this introductory course we will focus on:

• The basic macrobiotic philosophy
• The essentials of the standard macrobiotic diet for healing
• The basics of yin and yang energy
• How and why to soak grains and beans
• The challenges and benefits of macrobiotic living

Brigid Shannon was first introduced to the fact that the quality of one’s food has a profound affect on the quality of one’s life in 1997 when her holistic doctor recommended that she give up dairy and wheat. Since then, she has been on a journey of gradual lifestyle and diet changes that have resulted in her becoming passionate about how the food we choose to eat can support our health and well being. Brigid began practicing macrobiotics after being diagnosed with chronic lyme disease in 2010. After four months of eating macrobiotically her symptoms dissipated, her health and vitality came back and she felt fantastic! She was fascinated as to why she felt so good and determined to keep feeling better, so she went to study macrobiotics at the renowned Kushi Institute in Becket, Ma. Brigid is also certified by Paul Pitchford as a “Healing with Whole Foods” practitioner. Her dietary and lifestyle recommendations are based on her own personal experiences with macrobiotics and enlightened eating.

Every Spring we talk about “Spring Cleaning” usually in reference to decluttering a closet or garage space, how about learning to do an energetic clearing for your home, living space and/or office. Cleanse your home or office of the energy left over from the past year. Join Reiki Master/Teacher Ardath Berliant to learn how to do a house clearing for yourself and friends. Included are Meditations for opening and closing the cleanse and you will have the opportunity to purchase sage or sage spritzer and feathers to do your own clearings.

Ardath’s Reiki practice focuses her natural empathic nature to help ease the stress and sometimes physical pain associated with today’s hectic lifestyle. Although Ardath’s main focus is stress reduction and trauma related concerns, her clientele also consist of people suffering aches and pains associated with daily living, pre-natal women, children & babies, people recovering from surgery and cancer. Ardath also works with companion animals.

She has found that by relieving stress in the body through Reiki, there is space for healing to come in. Many clients have found that relief while on her table, most feel it within a day or two.

Ardath also completed Basic Biodynamic CranioSacral Therapy training and applies the principles and learning to her work. She also studied Pre-Cognitive Re-Education with Rick Moss in the mid 1990′s and is a Certified Practitioner. Her training also includes Tellington Touch for animals.

In the early 1990′s Ardath trained with renowned psychic Rita Goldsmith in Sedona, AZ. This training aids Ardath in using her innate intuition during Reiki sessions.

Join Dr. Cari for one of her upcoming health talks, they take place the second Wednesday of the month, not only do you get information, but you can asks questions!

These are the full talks, however, stay tuned for short edits featuring specific talking points!

Health Talk March 2012

 
Health Talk April 2012

Join us for an evening of entertainment, education and discussion. We are starting a Spring and Summer movie series, where we will watch a movie in alignment with Be Optimal’s mission and discuss what our take-away’s and questions from the movie.

This month we are watching:  The Business of Being Born

Birth: it’s a miracle. A rite of passage. A natural part of life. But more than anything, birth is a business. Compelled to find answers after a disappointing birth experience with her first child, actress Ricki Lake recruits filmmaker Abby Epstein to explore the maternity care system in America. Focusing on New York City, the film reveals that there is much to distrust behind hospital doors and follows several couples who decide to give birth on their own terms. There is an unexpected turn when director Epstein not only discovers she is pregnant, but finds the life of her child on the line. Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency?

Cost: $20 RSVP requested, call 847-486-8000 or email info@beoptimal.com

In this gathering Sacred Middle Eastern (Belly) Dance is taught with an honoring of the Deep Feminine.  We invite Mindfulness which offers the opportunity to witness our felt sense experience in the present moment.  The movements generate from within while we learn the outer dance.  Come join together in common unity through this ancient form of dance.

In our time together experience:

• A Movement Meditation that will stimulate and restore our centers
• A mindful Moving Into the Body that is our essential resource
• The original core-centered movement
• A joyful and spirit filled learning of the dance!