The Healing Power of Food

I'm excited to be part of this unique day of cooking demonstrations, lectures on healthy diets from around the world, exhibits and opportunities to purchase a variety of healthy lunchtime treats from several local vendors .

Right by Nature has donated a Vegan Gift Basket for my Celebrating the Inner Healer raffle. They've also provided some non-dairy cream cheeses and smoked cheddar spread for sampling. I am inviting tasters to vote on their favorite plant-based product for a chance to win the Vegan Gift Basket.

Morning presentations cover a variety of topics including:
The Science of Healthy Eating
Plant-based Diets
Mediterranean Diet
Ayurvedic diet
Traditional Chinese Medicine Diet
Macrobiotic Diet

Afternoon demonstrations include:
Cooking with produce from your garden, cooking with ayurvedic spices and healthy desserts.

Look for me at the table offerring Free Su Jok acupressure hand massages and great hand-outs supporting your transition to a more powerful diet of more plant-based food.

How would your life be different if you invest in your health and wellness in a fresh way this month? If you are lucky enough to be in the 'burgh Saturday the 23rd, you could experience the support and gain momentum for a fresh start with your Self-care at this day-long special event Click for Details:
Frontiers of Holistic Medicine: The Healing Power of Food

If you are elsewhere - I'm very interested to hear what local resources you are discovering and happy to share some of my collection of educational literature sources with you.

Many Species...One Planet...One Future
~I See You ~ Namaste ~
Yours in Wellness, Gratitude, Vitality and Reverence for All Life,
Suzen Sharda Segall
This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.comListen at: http://tinyurl.com/Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.comOr on its unique radio channel at:Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally, for over thirty-five years.

No more burgers for Bill Clinton!

The president finally got the message that the public needs to get: what we eat is really a matter of life and death. Clinton's decision to adopt a plant-based diet was not so much about losing a few pounds for Chelsea's wedding, but about living long enough to see his grandchildren. Sandy Pukel recently wrote at the Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandy-pukel/president-clinton-one-veg_b_750879.html


Pukel went on to state that Clinton's decision to go vegan was also influenced by the ground breaking research of Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of the The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health. Turns out that the truism "You are what you eat" is spot on. Food creates the body and has a great influence on our mind and spiritual life.


I share Sandy's belief that the deadly seriousness of diet hasn't been enough to make most people change their ways. The reluctance towards veganism has been less about the medical proof of its effectiveness, and more about social perceptions, misconceptions and outdated stereotypes. What people forget is that the current explosion of degenerative diseases has not only led to an increase in premature death, but also to a significantly reduced quality of life. Healthy diet offers so many benefits, but most people never get past the obstacles to discover the possibilities.

Will Tuttle has documented in The World Peace Diet how the meaning of food for us goes deeper than simple health and nutrition. The vegan lifestyle is unfortunately associated with self-deprivation. Habit, taste and tradition also create barriers to change. For many, even those facing life risk, it is inconceivable to give up foods that they grew up with and associate with pleasurable events, such as the Sunday barbeque, hot dogs at the ball game or an ice cream cone on a hot summer day. What we really need is a change in consciousness about our food. As a vegan transition educator, I have really enjoyed problem-solving with these issues. I am deeply gratified when serving vegan variations of childhood comfort foods to my guests and get enthusastic thumbs up and interest in taking the next easy-after-all steps in self-care.

For me, my circle of like-minded friends and those I coach, holistic living is joyful living. I happily share the gift of food as medicine - food as love.

This lifestyle has come quite a ways in the four decades I have been involved in the whole food movement. Circa 2010 ain't your mother's vegetarianism. It needn't mean tofu: it can mean soul food, or Asian fusion, and even ice cream and cake. I was intrigued to hear Scott Tobe (a 30 something financial advisor), on our recent Wellness Retreat report that soon after he and his wife adopted a vegan lifestyle eight couples in their circle little by little did too. With the proliferation of vegan restaurants, conscious food companies, distributors, local markets and whole food markets with hot and cold bars, CSAs that provide recipes, cooking classes, wellness getaways and meet-up socials- it is easier than ever to feel supported and enthusiastic about making lifestyle changes so big - and just one coconut or brown rice yogurt at a time!

Many Species...One Planet...One Future
~I See You ~ Namaste ~
Yours in Wellness, Gratitude, Vitality and Reverence for All Life,
Suzen Sharda Segall
This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.comListen at: http://tinyurl.com/Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.comOr on its unique radio channel at:Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally, for over thirty-five years.

Nosh with us: Reflections on some tastes of Heaven and Earth

Sharing a few glimpses of the deeply nourishing tastes of heaven and earth experienced throughout out the WonderFilled Fall Retreat Celebrating the Inner Healer at the serene Grant Retreat last week-end...

-- communing with our inner nature...harmonizing with the magnificent nature around us...connecting with one another through the on-going practice of open-eyed meditation: cultivating being fully present --

For me, a funny moment was seeing our new four-legged friend 'Forgiveness' leaping with joy and abandon playing catch in the field -- also deeply affirming of my own joyfilled moments of freedom. Thank you Forgiveness - and of course for being the gift of constant opportunity reminding me to check-in and ask my self: need I forgive now?

The most awe-filled time was when the theme of Roses emerged as each of us shared at the start of our Friday evening in the Great Room: just because I stroked the chimes I brought along as an afterthought; just because I asked the translation of the name Shoshana. First it affirmed my mysterious connection with Bhagwan - (this is emerging as a pattern), and if that weren't enough, every one else in the circle had a deep connection with 'Rose' - even for Stephen - our 'absentee participant' ! Delightfilling!!


And from Scott:
It was truly a pleasure to meet every one of you. My special memories are rooted in my interactions with each of you.

Sharda I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness with my food. The past week and a half have been a challenge for me to change my eating habits and learn new ones. To have a weekend off, where I could just eat delicious food and not have to think about every ingredient meant a lot to me.

Thank you for putting this retreat together and successfully holding the space for a weekend that I believe will send out its ripples for months and years to come. I believe that it is groups like ours, all across the world that are creating the energy for our world to successfully transition to a higher and more conscious frequency. Thank you also for the love and thoughtfulness that you put into each meal. It truly raised my vibrations! Lastly, thank you for the Qi Gong, yoga and meditation. I really enjoyed it!


Brooke, Thank you for hosting us in such a magnificent spot. The energy was one that was built over years with much intention. It created a physical space where we could come together and do work on a deeper then physical plane. I enjoyed talking with you and getting to know you and your sweet dog, Forgiveness.


Rabbi Adalah, Thank you for your wonderful poetry, words of wisdom and prayers. Thank you also for showing me new depths within the religion of my birth. You have opened me to aspects of Judaism that so few are willing or able to share today. Your work is important and needs to be taught to many! Our people share a common purpose of Tikkun Olam (healing the world) and I think that you are doing this on your path.


Bhagwan, Thank you for sharing your musical talents and knowledge. It is obvious that music is your path and that you are a great teacher of the power that lies within music. In such a short time, I learned so much about drumming. However, more than the drumming, I recognized, all be it briefly, the power that lies in the unity that we created through the vibrations that we made, together, as one!

Lastly, I would love a synopsis on Bhagwan’s talk to the group that I unfortunately had to miss.

Thank you all for a wonderful weekend and I look forward to connecting again in the future.

From you I receive, To You I give, Together we share and From this we live
Many Species...One Planet...One Future
~I See You ~ Namaste ~
Yours in Wellness, Gratitude, Vitality and the Rhythm of Nature,
Suzen Sharda Segall

This blog post can be reproduced in its entirety with the following information:

© Suzen Sharda Segall 2010, CelebratingtheInnerHealer.com

Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/

Blog: www.celebratingtheinnerhealer.blogspot.com

Or on its unique radio channel at:

Suzen Sharda Segall, Wellness Personal Trainer/Consultant, designer and facilitator of BodyArts Therapeutics, has provided an integrated approach to health and wellness for a wide variety of populations, internationally,for over thirty-five years