From Chopra to Oprah, everyone’s talking about the healing power of nature, nurture, mindful meditation, yoga and GMO-free healthy eating. And St. Petersburg is riding the resurgence of sixties’ style, hippie dippie alternative lifestyles, once thought to be alternative and now very much mainstream.
In celebration of April’s Earth day, we hugged a tree, planted our herb garden and took a walkabout to see what’s percolating in St. Pete’s mind/body/spirit resources.
By The Sea
With miles of Gulf beaches to stroll, we wondered what the health benefits of living on the water are. We caught up with Dr. Vincent M. Pedre, author of “Happy Gut,” and one of the country’s leading authorities on holistic living, from the dangers of EMF to fracking’s effects on our mind and bodies. The Gulf’s benefits, says Dr. Pedre, is that it’s both calming and energizing.
“When you live near salt water… negative ions generated by the crashing waves have a healing effect on the body. They calm. They help promote alpha rhythm in the brain. They help expand brainwave amplitude which helps create a higher awareness level. This explains why being by the seashore can feel so healing and energizing for all sorts of conditions.”
Laughter is the Best Medicine
Stretch your funny bone. There’s no doubt that yoga ups the Bliss Quotient. but have you tried laughing yoga (and even yoga with your doga at SPCA Tampa Bay)? The healing benefits of laughter and smiling? According to the Mayo Clinic, it enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air and stimulates the heart, lungs and muscles; relieves stress, soothes tension and in the long run, can improve your immune system and relieve pain.
Improve your mood, feel the happy with some of our local yoga classes /studios including Kripalu Yoga with Jeanne Salvo in Pass-A-Grille, Tree of Life Yoga at South Pasadena Shopping Center, Gulfport Yoga, Nava Yoga Studio in Isla, Perfect Circle Yoga & Fitness on Corey at Gulf Blvd. including hot yoga, The Body Electric Yoga Company, St. Petersburg Yoga, (even yoga for kids and aerial yoga) , YogaBlu, Yoga4All, Ganesha Hot Yoga and classes at the city’s Rec. Centers, Don Vista Arts Center, Sundial, Dali Museum, Sunken Gardens and area gyms/YMCA.
Mind Over What’s The Matter?
“Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff” author Dr. Michael Mantell believes that there is no such thing as STRESS, Unless you create it by your thoughts about events and advises you to redefine and prevent STRESS with these simple steps:
S (smile),
T (think rationally and walk away from negativity),
R (relive the good and healthy relationships),
E (eat right),
S (sweat more) and
S (savor your moments).
As for spiritual sweating, check out the Drum Circles, on the 4th Friday on Gulfport’s Beach and each Sunday before sunset in Treasure Island. Drumming empowers and heals, while Hoop Dancing at Sunken Gardens celebrates your inner goddess.
Eat Local, Think Global
Eat real foods, more veggies/fruits, less meat and avoid processed foods. Sounds simple, right? Unlike San Diego, where I’m from, local options are a bit limited. In Pass-a-grille there’s the tiny Vida de Café which offers a dining out opportunity even for strict vegetarians. Then there is the Sweetwater Organic Farms, some vendors at downtown’s Saturday Market, and the Sunday Market on Corey Avenue. Cider Press Café, Leafy Greens Café, Evos Feel Great Food, Karma Juice Bar & Eatery. Our very own Jackie’s Bistro on Corey Avenue will feed you delectable vegetables and healthy meals with innovative flavors seasoned with ethnic twists and everything is amazingly gluten-free. For heaven in a glass, try Soho Juice Company.
Edibles, Lotions, Potions & More
While Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Richard’s, Fresh Market, Rollin’ Oats Market & Cafe and even local grocery stores offer more healthy eating products (sugar-free, lactose-free, gluten free, organic), the grand-pooh bah for good eats are Earth Origins on Central Ave. in Pasadena and Nature’s Food Patch in Clearwater. Classes, organic wines, take-out foods, juice bar, cheeses, grains and 1,001 good for you comestibles and potables.
Great American Natural Products is tucked away downtown on 16th St. N, a veritable oasis of herbs, bulk teas, rejuvenating potions, aromatherapy candles, cool jewelry and hip gifts for chicks, even organic clothing and hemp fabrics. Shop there and they hand you a soothing cuppa tea when you enter and a flower when you leave.
Helping Hands
Looking for a healthcare practitioner who understands whole body health, integrative medicine, Eastern-Western medicine, ayurvedic, detoxification, Chinese herbal therapy, Qi Gong and holistic interventions for health, wellness and anti-aging? Look no further than Dr. April Wang, at Ancient Healing and Acupuncture, a few blocks north of Tyrone on 66th St. at 31st Ave N. Other options include Chantilly Wellness, St. Petersburg Health & Wellness, Peaks of Health Metabolic Medical Center (run by Tracie Leonhardt, DO) and Lifeworks Wellness Center.
Libby Higdon, a highly sensitive mobile massage therapist will bring her considerable talent and her massage table to your home, office or hotel room if there’s space to set up. Otherwise check out Tierra Verde’s Island Massage Therapy, Lemon Tree Spa at Corey and Gulf or Seaside Massage, at 4615 Gulf Blvd..
Below the Blue Fugu at Dolphin Village Shopping Center where there is an especially therapeudic, pain management oriented massage practice. Other healing hand havens have experienced, compassionate practitioners for taming the wild beasts roaring in your mind and muscles.
For those who want to explore other holistic options, there are herbalists, chiropractors, holistic dentists, reiki and energy medicine practitioners. Some, such as massage therapist Maud Hoffman, work with new techniques such as cupping to energize and improve lymphatic functioning and improve oxygen flow to the cells. New on the scene is Mark Tong’s Crystal Bay Hotel Spiritual Retreat for Wellness and Healing, at Park St. and Central, catering largely to cancer patients. He worked as a healer at Utopia Wellness in Oldsmar and opened this healing center with meditation, yoga and cancer-fighting foods in January 2016.
Story by By Nanette Wiser