Rehoboth Christian Church in Dobbs Ferry is partnering with Open Door Family Medical Centers of Ossining and the Westchester based health coalition, Women Organized Around Wellness (WOW) to offer a series of wellness workshops for local women. The workshops will focus on women’s health issues, particularly preventative health strategies for Latino and African-American women.  Rehoboth’s Pastor Frieda Smith is enthusiastic about the upcoming workshops and encourages everyone in the community to attend, regardless of their race—though she does acknowledge that health education has been proven …

Last week’s horrific shooting in Tuscon occurred only eight days into 2011 and 11 days prior to the national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  The tragedy set a somber tone for the New Year—our nation had hoped for a brighter sign.  Instead, we are forced to reflect upon the increasing divisiveness of our politics, the persistence of our economic woes and an even deeper sort of poverty-- pervasive moral and social injustice.  Regardless of our race, political affiliation or religious views, we are a nation united by our thirst for healing and our hunger for peace.  This is a time …

Opening a yoga class I attended recently at Yogaworks in Irvington, our teacher Elizabeth Cooke asked if any of us had new year's resolutions.  A silent class of yogis stared back; not a single hand was raised.  She seemed pleasantly surprised.  I smiled as I listened to her describe our tendency to "lean into the future" at the beginning of every new year, promising to lose weight, save more money, or find one more way to improve ourselves or our lives.  Lately I have been thinking a lot about acceptance and presence and where those words are pointing me.  I agree with Elizabeth that those …

I belong to a group on Facebook called "Thanks a Million!"—A Daily Gratitude Group. The purpose of the group is to provide a public forum for members to profess gratitude for everyday blessings. The group's administrator believes that everyone should have a daily gratitude practice for spiritual health. In the weekly meditation classes offered at Vajra Light Buddhist Center in Hartsdale, students learn about cultivating joy through mindful appreciation.  While attending a class, I picked up the book, The New Meditation Handbook: Meditations to make our life happy and meaningful by Geshe …

Yoga is a practice of self care, awareness and nurturance. It keeps me calm, grounded and focused. It preserves my body and extends my life as a dancer. Mostly, it allows me to have a very high quality of life spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically.  -Claudia Jill Stoltman Each yoga practice has a unique energy signature. Regardless of the particular school or style of yoga, no two teachers approach the practice in the same way.  Hastings resident and yoga teacher Claudia Jill Stoltman has developed her own method of teaching yoga, based not only on her extensive training at the …

I really feel that stress relief is achieved through a combination of physical movement, meditation and an assessment that brings people to the root emotional cause of the stress.  If you just work on the mind, it doesn't work for the body and the emotions.  If you focus only on the emotions, it doesn't work for the body and the mind. We hit every aspect: the body, the mind and the emotions.  –Brett Cotter, Founder and CEO of Stress Is Gone, LLC Stress is a universal part of the human experience.  We all experience stress at different levels in our quest for survival.  Stress is painful.  In …

"If you open up the body, the mind will follow.  The mind will find an easy state automatically.  You can't force the mind shut, but you can find your mind going quieter until it quiets down to the point that you are in a bliss state.  We are here to teach you a reliable path to that truth."-  Jeffrey Comulada, CSYT, RYT Jeffrey Comulada is on a life-long yogic journey to discover the true connection between the physical practice of yoga and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.  He says he has found that connection through Svaroopa Yoga.  When Comulada gave an interview for Patch earlier …

"What does 'die' mean?"   My son Alec, who is soon turning four, has been asking about death quite a lot.  Unexpectedly, he initiates conversations about his fear of dying.  My two-year-old echoes him, yelling, "I don't wanna die!"  Nothing seems to trigger these interjections.  During a recent bath, Alec declared, "When I die, you and Daddy and Rhys are gonna die too, so our family will stay together."  On another occasion, he asked if he would still have feet when he dies.  Since death is such a hot discussion topic in my household these days, I am prompted to share how we are handling it…

"Yoga is for the spine.  The spine is the central conduit of consciousness.  Consciousness is equal to the One, or the Universal Mind, so the spine should be well cared for and should be in proper working condition.  That is in essence the spiritual connection." – Jeffrey Comulada, CSYT, RYT Svaroopa Yoga is a unique yoga style that is restorative and therapeutic.  The Sanskrit word Svaroopa means the bliss of your own being—and  through engaging in the gentle practice of Svaroopa Yoga, students may learn to transcend physical, mental and spiritual discomfort to access the truth of the soul…

On the wall of Roger Elkrief's office hangs a sign that reads, "This, is it."  So, what is "this"? Through counseling and teaching about spirituality, Elkrief wants to bring people to a direct experience of presence. He has the singular goal of cultivating awareness in himself and others.  Elkrief is a self-taught spiritual teacher and counselor offering one-on-one sessions to adolescents and adults. In his individualized sessions, Elkrief helps people to make sense of their spiritual beliefs, answering questions about what it means to follow a spiritual path and encouraging clients as they …

Emotions, spirituality, and family dynamics are integral issues in health. I incorporate these issues [into my practice] by providing a safe space for parents and their kids to explore and talk about their beliefs and experiences. Many times things just need to be spoken out loud for the healing process to begin.  –Dr. Penelope Gay Sheely, Dobbs Ferry When our children are sick, we take their temperature, monitor their symptoms and try to make them comfortable. While looking for the physical cause of an illness, emotional triggers are easily overlooked.  We know that our child is more than …

In the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, we will actively promote peace to all persons who seek hospitality and spiritual reflection time, in order to be present to our loving God and all of creation.  –Mission Statement, Franciscan Retreat Center Saint Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan monastic religious order in 1208.  In 1212, Saint Clare was received into religious life by Saint Francis. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, closely following the Franciscan tradition. Francis and Clare valued poverty, humility, simplicity and service. Saint Clare and the women in her …

Elka Boren is a healer, clairvoyant and medium who discovered her spiritual gifts early in life, while still in her native Panama.  She has lived in the United States for 20 years and began offering her services publicly 30 years ago.  Though she is often referred to as a shaman, Boren never speaks of herself in those terms.  "Shamans never call themselves shamans," she said. "People call me that because they identify me as a healer.  A shaman to me is a person who carries knowledge, gifts and talents from ancestors—that's what I carry, the knowledge from my ancestry."  Boren learned her …

Sign up for one evening class in Irvington this fall, and you just might "gain insight to understand your life, the people in it and how to make better choices," said Pamela Cucinell, a local astrologer.  Cucinell will be teaching a four-week astrology course in Irvington through Inter-Village Continuing Education (IVCE).  The practice of astrology has been constant throughout human history all across the globe.  Even if you don't believe in astrology, chances are  you have ancestors who did. "Through patient observation and exacting math, ancient societies developed sophisticated ways of …

Have you ever wished for a concrete explanation of things like: soul, heaven, hell or reincarnation?  Believers and skeptics alike have often considered these topics, failing to reach any intellectual understanding.  But Michael Rosenbaum, a local metaphysician practitioner, answers these lofty questions as part of his daily work. Rosenbaum says his primary mission is "to help people on their quests to discover who they are as spiritual beings, how to connect with the highest levels of themselves and how to bring that into their everyday lives." Though his line of work is mysterious by …

Since 1991, Francine Vale has officially described herself as a healer.  She was formerly reluctant to speak of herself this way, though she became aware of her spiritual healing gift when she was very young.  "Unofficially, without exactly identifying myself that way, I was bringing healing energy through the power of love all of my life," Vale said. "When I was 3 years old, I had an angelic visitation.  The angel described to me how much love was needed everywhere, and even in my home with my own parents.  I knew then that the most important thing in my life was going to be bringing love …

Nearly a year has passed since Carl Carvalho opened Human Bodyworks Massage Therapy and Healing Arts Center in September of 2009.  In that time, Human Bodyworks has emerged as a local haven for all who are interested in alternative health, spirituality and the arts.  Alternative health practitioners of varied backgrounds have held private sessions, workshops and classes at the Healing Arts Center at 32 Main Street in Hastings-on-Hudson.  Local artists regularly show their work on the walls.  Carl opened Human Bodyworks primarily as a center for his private practice, but his responsiveness to …

Guest-written by Lizzie Hedrick: Every day we're inundated with information about the Atkins Diet, cleansing diets, veganism, raw foods diet, South Beach Diet, grapefruit diet and, many people's favorite, the midnight ice cream diet.  How on earth does one choose what's right?  Stephanie Korn is a health coach who works one-on-one with locals seeking to rid themselves of symptoms associated with such ailments as: irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, Barretts esophagus—or those looking to lose weight or live healthier lifestyles.  But although Korn has just completed her studies at the …

In recent years acupuncture has achieved widespread popularity.  It is practiced in hospitals and private practices across the country, and professional athletes and sports teams now have acupuncturists on staff.  Though the health benefits of acupuncture are widely lauded, the lesser known aspects of the art include mental balancing and spiritual expansion. Acupuncture is part of an ancient, comprehensive system of beliefs and practices that treat the mind, body and spirit.  Cary Brosius--whose office is in Dobbs Ferry--has practiced acupuncture for over thirty years, graduating from the New…

We are free to believe in no God, one God or many Gods.  As a movement, we are more concerned with how God(s), or the universe, or just good ethics informs your life and calls you to live in right relationship.  –Reverend Jef Gamblée, Interim Minister, First Unitarian Society of Westchester (FUSW) Freedom of religion is a major founding principle of this country, yet most Americans follow only one religious practice or none at all.  Here in the Rivertowns though, we are lucky to have abundant religious diversity.  Many local families have more than one faith background, making  the First …