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Articles
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
 BEE WELL MASSAGE PRESENTS
INSIDE-JOB PEARL JAM YOGA CLASS
A BEE-NEFIT FOR SAVING THE BEES
BCA CENTER
135 Church Street
Burlington, VT
Saturday, April 14, 2012
1- 3 pm
$15, advance | $25, day-of
Proceeds benefit Honey Bee Research
To register, visit beewellmassage.com
ABOUT THE BEES: Some of you may or may not know, but the honey bees are in peril. A lot of research is being done and many theories generated about the reasons why. However, the answer remains at large. This event and Bee Well Massage in general, support the research of preserving honey bees, which we as humans are dependent on. We need the Bees and the bees need us.
ABOUT BEE WELL MASSAGE: Melissa created this event and her massage business to raise awareness, support the research, and to celebrate her three loves: music , bees, and alternative health.
ABOUT THE EVENT: Both Melissa and Jane feel saving the bees is an important cause.
1-1:30 pm: Honey Tasting
1:30-2:30 pm: Inside Job Yoga Class
2:30-3 pm: Wrap-Up & Tea
ABOUT THE YOGA: All levels of experience are welcome. Jane will lead a moderately paced class with a gentle approach. Through Melissa’s love of Pearl Jam and creative inspiration, Jane’s yoga class will be enhanced by a one-of-a-kind Pearl Jam mix that celebrates oneness, personal empowerment, and the light within. Jane believes in the power of music and yoga to heal and liberate the creative life force that unites and runs through
I would like to send a special THANK YOU to Jane for believing in me and making this dream a reality.
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Monday, September 6th, 2010
 If you are like me, you believed to meditate properly we had to sit in a quiet room and concentrate on our breathing without letting a single thought enter our brains. For most of us this is very hard! Did you know you can dance as a form of meditation? Who does not like to dance, especially in the privacy of your own home?
There are a couple different ways I like to do dance meditation. The first is with a music video. My favorite band is Pearl Jam, so I will put on my favorite Pearl Jam video. Turn it up loud and get into the music as if I was at the show rocking out. When I feel my body starting to sweat I will close my eyes and still pretend I am at the show but I am the ONLY ONE at the show! So now dance as though nobody is watching, because nobody is. It’s just you and your favorite band. So get into it, dance and jump around, sing out loud, ROCK OUT! Let your body movements just take over your whole being!
The other way I like to do dance meditation is to put in my favorite mix of music, which will have some rock and hip-hop. I will add in some girlie pop tunes to make me feel feminine and sexy. I put in the mix and let the music and my body takes my soul on a journey. With your mix on shuffle you never know what is coming next and so you can really learn to challenge and move your body in ways you never thought were possible. So again, sing out loud if you want, or this is a good time to just listen to the music, pay attention to how each song, note and lyric makes you feel. Close your eyes and feel the music, feel it with your whole body, notice how your body wants to move without your brain controlling it. Your spirit is in full control now. Most likely you will not have a single thought in your mind; all stress will be washed away, and moved out through your dance moves. Your whole body will be like one dancing machine. Not only are you meditating but you are working out as well, what could be better!
The next time you feel the need to clear your mind and just let go, try your own dance meditation and try it often. It will feel so good to just let your whole heart and soul move where your body wants to go. Dance Trance is a fun, fabulous way to cleanse and strengthen your body and your well beeing !
This article I wrote for the Healthy Hippie Magazine Sept/Oct 2010. www.healthyhippiemagazine.net
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Friday, April 30th, 2010
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Monday, April 5th, 2010
Baking was never my thing. I did not bake my first anything until I was 28! So when my boyfriends’ mom sent me a recipe for a honey cake I was determined to bake it and send it to her. I thought "baking, how hard can it be?" Well 3 attempts later I finally had an edible honey cake.
The recipe card I was to use did not give much detail, and there were no step by step by instructions. I did not even know what some of the ingredients were. Shortening? What is that? When I got to the grocery store and realized what shortening was I was glad I had never used it before. Right then and there I decided to not mess around and took this recipe straight to the health food store. I found a shortening made from pine oil, as well as everything else I needed. I got home, set out all my ingredients and was happy my cake was going to be all natural and mostly organic.
With The Who’s Quadrophenia rocking out loud in the background, and me in my bee apron I began my first attempt at the honey cake.
I followed the directions exactly, but got a little confused. The recipe called for orange grinds and the next item on the list was coffee, so I just thought coffee
grinds. My cake came out dark black and tasted like burnt…I don’t know what. It looked sad. My first honey cake went to the compost.
I wanted to bake my friend a honey cake. This 2nd try did not go much better. I don’t know if it was the Pearl Jam music blasting in the back, or
thinking of things to do that day, but I was set on making a delicious honey cake. I did make cookies just in case and its a good thing I did!!
So my third crack at it was a good one! I got up early on my day off and was ready to bake. I decided to listen to Erykah Badu, she rocks my
world. The beats, her voice, the lyrics are all so good! I tied my apron, turned the music up and began to bake honey cake #3. I had enough experience with
cooking to know how to alter recipes to make them "my way" so this is what I did this time. I had picked up a few tips through my mistakes and put
them all to the test. "I am in love with a bumble bee" sings Erykah and I sing along, sifting, dancing, mixing, stirring, shaking my booty, pouring.."honey…
you’re so sweet" we both belt out. I am feeling good! I pour the cake into the greased pan and know this is it! An hour later I pulled the cake out of the oven,
sprinkled some powdered sugar over the top(which was my idea) and stuck my fork in the soft, brown cake and tried it. This one was good enough to send to my man’s mom!!!!
This got me buzzing…life is like baking. There are instructions, some more detailed than others. I think if you stick to the guide lines but do things your own way you can live a delicious life!
Song lyrics from Erykah Badu’s Honey from her album Amerykah 2006
This article was written for the Healthy Hippie Magazine. april/may. www.healthyhippie.net
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Friday, February 19th, 2010
Bees provide us with so many tools to heal our lives. These provisions are called Apitherapy. Apitherapy is the medical use of any honey bee product including, honey, pollen, royal jelly and bee venom.
There are some strange healing techniques being used today, and most would consider bee sting therapy to be one of them. However the venom from a bee can be support a healthy immune system, multiple scelerosis, depression and more! I was really curious and wanted to experience their healing venom for myself.
On a beeautiful summer morning, I went to visit Todd Hardy at Honey Gardens to recieve this treatment. I knew Honey Gardens was a special place and this was going to be a special occasion! It was not long before I was standing in the middle of four bee hives.
One might thing that with bees flying around and landing on me I would be a little nervous. Honestly the only time I was a little nervous was when Todd instructed me to stab myself in the leg with the epinephrine pen if I had a reaction. I knew I was not allergic to bees, but still! I then expressed my concern for the bee I would be sacrificing. I knew the bee was going to die after and I was not sure how I felt about that. The bees are already disapearing and now I was going to use one for my own benefit. Todd eased my guilt with the understanding that the bees natural instinct is to heal, that is their intention! Being the massage therapist that I am, I could really appreciate that.
With my job being a massage therapist my arms and wrist were in need of attention. Todd and I then sent a request to the bees and expressed our gratitude, followed by a silent prayer of our own for this and all bees! I stood there quiet and content as Todd took the bee with his tweezers and slowly stuck the stinger into my arm. As he did this, I gave thanks again and watched and felt intently as the slight pinch from where the sting had been placed. I saw the stinger seperate from the bee. Todd then left the stinger in my arm for about five minutes as the venom went on and into my arm.
After he removed the stinger my arm was red, but there was no pain. As I drove home I could feel a slight pressure on my arm. The pain in my hands and arm went away. The spot was itching like crazy as it healed, but overall is was an amazing memory.
What a truly great and natural alternative to heal some of those serious issues that people face. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort in your life maybe you can find relief from the healing sensation the honey bee!
Written for The Healthy Hippie Magazine DEC/JAN ’09 issue
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Friday, February 19th, 2010
We are all consumers of products. All of us spend our hard earned money on food and items we need to live. As inspiring Healthy Hippies we also take the health and safety of animals, the planet and ourselves into consideration.
In the first part of the article we talked about the importance of doing your own research. One of the reasons this is so important is because of the media. The media loves to tell us what we "need" and "can not live without." Usually this information is just a media fad, it is always changing and is generally marketed by the company that makes the product. If you think you want or need something you saw, do research first. Speak with a medical professional. You can also find out about what results others are having. Pay close attention to your own body and its needs. Just because it worked for one person does not mean it will work for everybody.
 Lets Go Shopping!!!Trying to save money is something we are all aiming for. When looking at the price tag you will see the actual price and the unit price. The unit price is usually found in a small block to the left of the actual price. The unit price will tell you how much you are paying per unit. For example if you are buying something measured in quarts, the unit price will tell you how much you are spending per quart. This is a great way to compare prices to see if you are getting the best deal.
A few tips to help you save is make a list of the 20-30 items you buy the most and then compare those prices at the stores in your area. Cutting coupons is always a good way to get more for your money. And when you buy things in bulk you generally are saving money and waste materials!
For the most part if something is more expensive there is a reason. All natural and organic ingredients cost more to manufacture, using recycled and organic packing materials cost more to make, which will make the item more expensive. The good news is when you spend your money on these things you are supporting companies and farms that practice "green" lifestyles and you are keeping these businesses in demand! When you eat local and clean food, and use natural and organic products, be assured you are saving money on medical bills, and the alike.
All of these ideas, labels, ingredients, researching, pricing, and staying on top of the media can feel like a job in itself. Just practice these steps and it become easier to be a smart consumer of safe and healthy products.
 Written for The Healthy Hippie Magazine Dec/Jan ’09 issue.
Photos from Google images.
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Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
To be a smart consumer of safe and healthy food, house hold items and body care products can be a real challenge. It is important to know what we are putting in and on our bodies. When it comes to such a confusing topic, how do we stay clear and knowledgable?
One of the most vital things you will want to look at is labels. When it comes to produce and packaged products there are a few labels you are most likely to see. When your product says Certified Organic, that means it is certified by the USDA to be grown or raised without chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, hormones, or genitacaly modified organisms. It also is means that 95% of the ingredients are organic. Look for the USDA certified organic seal! When you see a label that says made with organic ingredients this is also certified by the USDA and must contain atleast 70% organic materials. On of the labels you will want to look out for is the natural label. This basically means nothing. There are no legal standards. The FDA allows products that include highly refined and adulterated ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup to qualify as natural.
Before you purchase products like eggs and dairy you will want to pay attention to the labels. The USDA will certify eggs, and dairy products that are hormone free, RGH free, or BST free., which means the animals were not given hormones. The USDA will also certify Antiobiotic free, or process verified, this means that the animals were not given any antiobiotics as a preventitive measure only for a real illness. When looking at meat there is a seperate label system. The only label certified by the USDA is free range for poultry, and this indicates that the bird had outdoor access atleast once a day.
When it comes to body-care products not only do you want to look at the labels, but also the ingredients. When looking at the list of ingredients they will be listed in order by the amount in that product, starting with the most and
ending with the least. The rule I like to follow is you should be able to read and say atleast most of the ingredients.
This column only touches on the basics. So one of the best things you can do to be a smart consumer is to do your own research. A great book to reference is Easy Green Living, by Renee Loux. Please take the time to look up companies, farms and ingredients. Find out what you can before you even get to the store. In the second part of this article we will talk about what you can do to bee a smart consumer when in the store. Until then good luck, you are well on your way to being a healthy and smart consumer.
 Written for The Healthy Hippie Magazine July/August 2009 issue
Photos from Google images
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Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
As human beings we are constantly faced with challenges. Most of these challenges are tolerable and easy to handle, but life can surprise us with more intense personal battles. There are a number of different test life can give us, but when they are severe life is most difficult. I am sure you know the ones, where you just want to close the shades and not face the day. In a world so demanding of our time and energy how do we carry on while our hearts are breaking?
With our minds focusing elsewhere, work and family responsibilities can be extremely difficult. We don’t want to announce our our crisis to co-workers, management, and children so we must maintain a smile and act normally when inside we are falling apart.
Not only does this take alot of courage and discipline, but at some point we are going to have to release these emotions. To avoid unexpected breakdowns, have a good solid cry in the shower or take a walk. Even a good cry in your car before and/or after work can be highly effective. If you do feel the tears surfacing in an inopportune time, find privacy and let those feelings out!
When the heaviness of your heart is inescapable it is necessary to to nurture yourself. You must do what is best to heal. A great way to regain strength is to talk with trusted friends and family. Make sure you are honest and don’t hold back anything. Let them provide support and comfort. Creative outlets such as music and poetry can also be very therapeutic. Both yoga and massage therapy can assist in grounding, calming, and restoring your being.
This is one of the most challenging times in your life. Let yourself feel and go through the emotions. Listen and be honest with yourself. You have been through a trauma and only you know how much time you need to heal.. When you get through these extreme challenges and over-come such great obstacles, you will be a much stronger and wiser person. You will feel as though you can do anything because you just survived what seemed at one time impossible. I promise you each day will get easier, just bee patient.
   
This article is dedicated to my dog Grisman. Grisman was truly a special dog. My best friend. Grisman passed away on January 19th, 2009 at the age of 10. I miss him terribly everyday, the memory of him remains clear and strong. He has touched so many lives and will live on in the hearts of all of us.
This article is also dedicated to anyone going through a hard time. When there seems to be no end to the struggle, keep in mind there is hope. People are here to help and support you. You take all the time to need to heal and feel like your self again.
I wrote this article for The Healthy Hippie Magazine May/June 2009.
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Thursday, June 11th, 2009
 
 When I first picked up When Darla Hit I really had no idea what to expect. The store I purchased the book in said it was a local Vermont author, I grew up in Vermont so of course I was interested and it looked like a quick read, which is what I needed at the time. Right from the beggining the author explains that most of the story is true but not the whole book. In the first chapter I was already asking myself is that part true? Did this really happen to this Vermont woman. I read on to read of places familiar to me and situations, and feelings I thought only I had.
The story explains the life of a woman and her struggles and triumphs with location, family, men, and herself. Through-out the book she really expresses her postitive and negative feelings with these issues. Her will-power and strength to make hard times easier is an inspiration for all!
Her style of writing is clear, entertaining and heart felt. As you read along, you can hear the voice of the author as if she is right next to you telling her story. When Darla Hit could be out of any woman’s diary, but her attitude and out look, and they way she explains her experiences made it an original that is only hers, but with lots of room for us all to relate! So if you are a man or woman, from Alaska to Vermont this is a book for you.
 
For The Healthy Hippie Magazine spring ’09
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Thursday, June 11th, 2009
 Are you feeling slow and sluggish after the passing winter? Through the long winter months we tend to move less, soak up less sun, and sleep more. Now its Spring and everything starts coming alive, including us! Sping is a great time to release some of the "blockages" that have stored in your body. One great way to feel rejuvinated and alive again is through a massage therapy treatment.
A massage treatment can be very beneficial for you this winter to spring transition. Massage has some great cleansing benefits. A massage can remove toxins that have been stored in your muscles. Massage is also great for your digestive system, and the elimination of waste, which could result in wieght loss. If you decide to do a more specific cleanse a massage can be a good way to support your cleanse or it can be fabulous and healthy reward for when your cleanse is finished.
As you mat already know massage can relieve you of stress and anxiety. When you let go of your stress you relaese toxins and emotional build ups. Can you imagine how wonderful and refreshed you will feel to have such burdens in your life gone? Now that it is spring time, people start moving their bodies more. There is not a better way get your circulation moving than with a massage. When your body does start moving again, take care of it. Massage Therapy can improve flexability and stamina as well as relieve you from aches and pains that can surface as you begin to be more active.
Spring really is one of the greatest seasons. To get the most out of your spring get outside and enjoy the sun, flowers, and bees. Start your spring off right ready for anything. Take care of your body and it will take care of you. BEE ALIVE! HAPPY SPRING!
For The Healthy Hippie Magzine spring ’09
photo from google images
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BEE WELL MASSAGE PRESENTS
