Healing Arts Festival: Something for everyone

In a community of hard workers, athletes and people working two jobs to meet the burden of a high cost of living, free time is not always available to learn about things that might pique the curiosity along the way.

The Healing Arts Festival at the Eagle River Center this weekend has brought to the Valley an opportunity to pursue alternative learning, medicine, spirituality and nutrition under one roof.

One stop shopping for the body and the soul.

The venue is lined with booth after booth boasting psychic readings, healing crystals and colorful clothes, There are sword dancing displays, lectures, drum circles and a story telling tee pee for the little ones.

But the festival also features specialists on nutrition, travel, and overall "happiness." The offerings of the festival are as extensive as they are broad in their subject matter.

Truly something for everyone.

Self

There are those that are unsure of psychic readings. Perhaps they've never had one. Or perhaps they just think the whole thing is a little hokey. The Healing Arts Festival may be a good place for those skeptics to learn a little more.

LeAnn Heinbaugh is one such alternative counselor - but don't call her a psychic.

"I have a background in psychology, so I work on a pattern level," Heinbaugh explains. "I studied to be an intuitive teacher, my readings are, in large portion, an affirmation of what the person already knows. I am helping them to find their own insight, creativity, and clarity, not telling them their future."

She uses an earthy, everyday approach to an art often thought to be other-worldly. In addition to readings she offers workshops and travel retreats to help the people of this community come up for air and find balance.

"People need to take the time out of ordinary life, to do something for themselves," Heinbaugh said. "Some people think life in this valley is all outdoors, relaxing, but people here are as busy as anywhere else. If you don't find the time, then you won't do it."

Heinbaugh's booth is open through Sunday, and more information can be obtained at www.jouneysinliving.com.

Health

Natural and holistic health treatments are becoming increasingly popular in American culture, as disenchantment grows over what some perceive to be the overmedication of society.

One such alternative healer right here in our community is Dr. Eliza Klearman, ND, MSOM, LAc. She is a doctor certified in naturopathic means, as well as Oriental medicine and acupuncture.

"Naturopathic medicine is a primary system of medicine, it provides natural solutions to health problems," Klearman said. "It is comprised of nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle counseling and nutritional supplements. Chinese medicine and acupuncture are also primary systems of care, and promote a whole-body wellness and balance."

Klearman says that her alternative approach allows her to treat illness with a broad array of tools not available to traditional doctors pulling only from the cupboard of Western medicine.

"These approaches really broaden my toolbox," Klearman said. "I have a huge toolbox at my resource."

And, Klearman emphasizes that much of her treatment focuses on prevention through basic lifestyle changes.

"Naturopathic medicine is used to both help people recover their health, and also to prevent disease," Klearman explained. "The difference between Western medicine and natural medicine is that we help people who are sick, but we also help people to prevent disease, and to stay off medication. We don't treat the symptoms or the illness alone, but teach preventative methods and lifestyle changes so that you don't become ill in the first place."

Klearman, who practices out of Eagle, encourages all members of this community to research their wellness options.

"For people who don't want to be on prescription drugs, who don't want to deal with the side effects, who are asking, 'what are my options,' I encourage them to research holistic medicine."

A good place to start is www.drklearman.com.

Nutrition

Another alternative approach to wellness featured at the festival is the Raw Food diet.

"Eating raw food is, in itself, a detoxification process," explained Kim Cohen, nutritional consultant for the Raw to Radiant Institute.

"Your body can utilize food in its raw form much more easily," Cohen said. "When you heat food, it changes the properties of the food. Especially meat - when you heat meat at high temperatures, you release the heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in the food - and these are known carcinogens.

The longer you heat it and at the higher a temperature, the more carcinogens you release. Also, the more lean the meat, the more HCAs you release."

This information, Cohen said, is directly adverse to many diets today, which encourage lean meats grilled or broiled, and the avoidance of carbohydrates. She effuses the importance of keeping animal protein in the diet - but doing it in the raw form.

"This is not a vegan raw experience, this is an animal protein-heavy experience," Cohen said. "I am a transition consultant, I help people make the change. But you have to do it in baby steps,. Don't change your entire diet, first I suggest you add a regular raw item, like a green juice or sushi. "

More healing arts The Healing Arts Festival continues today from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with the following events scheduled. The festival is held at the new Eagle River Center on Fairgrounds Road. 10 a.m. — Festival opens. 10:30 a.m. — Yoga class with Aaron. 11 a.m. — Myrna Lou, “The Love Doctor.” 12 p.m. — Dr. Robert Bump/Eagle Center of Wellness. n 1 p.m. — Maria Gurule, The Transformation of the World workshop. 2 p.m. — Bellydancing. 2:30 p.m. — James Lee’s Karate School of Champions. 3 p.m. — Juice Plus, with Kera Baggett. 3:30 p.m. — Forevergreen with Kathryn Oppenheimer. 4 p.m. — Closing ceremony and blessings with Gushikawa, Terra Raye and Shayla.

It's not as daunting as it sounds. Other legal food items are fresh wild salmon ceviche, and even raw honey to cure the sweet tooth.

And the process is well rewarded by the results.

"Once you have made the transition, you will notice a difference in everything, Cohen said. "You will look better, feel better, you will keep the weight off."

One valid concern Cohen often fields from her clients is finding quality meat and fish which are safe to eat raw.

"We are working to form a buying co-op in Vail, to extend the network we have in Aspen," said Cohen. "We buy our fish from the same provider that the top sushi restaurant in Aspen uses. This is how we know we are getting the freshest, safest, best product."

Cohen urges anyone interested in transitioning to a raw lifestyle - or to participating in the buying co-op - to stop by her booth today or to email her at kim@rawtoradiant.com.

Community

Another booth boasted colorful patchwork clothing, incense and a friendly, smiling woman behind the register.

When asked what she offered attendees of the festival, she answers with clarity and certainty "supreme levels of happiness."

Raquel Koch, owner of Bliss, a store in the Roaring Fork Valley, explained further after allowing her words to sink in.

"Bliss, the name of our store, is defined as supreme levels of happiness," she said. "Everyone who walks in our store is going to find happiness, be it for themselves or for someone close to them."

And shopping at Bliss - the booth or the store - is a truly happy experience for the community on the whole.

"We're a fair trade vendor, we support mom and pop vendors, we use the products of mom and pop vendors in our store, my husband and I are mom and pop vendors ourselves," Koch said. "Locals in support of locals, that is our motto."

And the community has something to smile about, according to Koch, as her offerings are all designed to bring happiness to the shoppers.

"We have holistic, happy items," she said. "Happy clothes, happy candles, happy art."



Vail, Colorado