Natural Awakenings Boston Presents "Mind-Body Medicine" May 31st in Arlington, MA

Natural Awakenings Boston presents a mind-body experiential event and healthy living expo from 9am to 4:30 pm, May 31, at Arlington High School. The day includes a film screening and panel discussion, an afternoon of experiential workshops, and healthy living exhibitors and vendors. The event is the brainchild of publisher Maisie Raftery, who was inspired after seeing the documentary The Connection. 

“The film portrayed people who were chronically or terminally ill and used different forms of mind-body medicine, in complement to traditional medical care, to help cure them-selves,” Raftery recalls. “After the screening, audience members wanted to learn more about the modalities featured in the film and I realized that Natural Awakenings is the perfect conduit to connect people with mind-body practitioners in a more direct way.”

That moment led Raftery to create a Mind-Body Connection department in the magazine and, eventually, the expo itself. It begins with a 9am screening of The Connection, followed by a panel discussion featuring Alice Domar, Executive Director of the Domar Center for Mind Body Health and Ann Salerno, a patient profiled in the film, on the applications of mind-body medicine. Afterwards, visitors can attend workshops in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, qigong, tai-chi, meditation, Nia, hypnotherapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping), yoga, laughter yoga, Tong Ren, bio-feedback, guided visual-ization, crossinology, the Alexander Technique, the Relaxation Response and much more. A full list of workshops and exhibitors can be found at Submit.NaturalAwakening sBoston.com/Mind-Body-Experiential-Event/Workshop-Presenters-and-Exhibitors. Remember to check back often as new practitioners and businesses are being added daily, at the time of this printing. 

“The day allows people to experience a wide variety of techniques to see what might be a good fit for them without having to make multiple appointments with different practitioners,” says Raftery. “Our hope is that people will make lasting connections with practitioners and experience modalities that can bring about positive change in their lives.” Raftery has used such mind-body wellness methods as yoga, meditation and breathwork to reduce stress and heal from back surgery. She says it’s made her a believer. “We have much more control over our own bodies than we think especially when we tap into our internal power and learn to reduce the physical effects of stress with relaxation.”

Food at the expo will be on sale from local vendors including, Johnny’s Luncheonette, The Madrona Tree, The Soup Guy, and Boston Juicing. Exhibitors of healthy and green living products and services will also be on hand. Full day tickets in-clude the 9am. screening and panel, while half-day ticketholders have access to afternoon workshops and exhibitors only. 

A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Calmer Choice, a universal prevention program committed to teaching young people how to effectively and safely manage stress and resolve conflict so that they live happy, healthy and successful lives.

Cost: $30 for full day, $22 for half-day. Purchase at NA-Mind-Body-Event.Eventbrite.com. Use discount code WISDOM for $5 off. Location: Arlington High School, 869 Mass. Ave., Arlington. To learn more, visit www.NaturalAwakeningsBoston.com/Mind-Body-Experiential-Event  or call 617-906-0232. See ad on back cover.