Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center

Certification v. Licensure

2011-08-31T22:04:00.001-07:00

Q: I recently learned that Darya just got her national massage certification. I've been going to her for years now and had no idea she was not certified. I'm very concerned because I assumed someone in a professional establishment like yours would be appropriately licensed. Do the rest of your therapists have licenses?

A: This is a great question--thank you for asking. I'd like to start off by assuring you that all of our practitioners and instructors are appropriately credentialed. But I would also like to explain the difference between certification and licensure, which may help eliminate the confusion. The two main levels of credentialing in our society are licenses and certifications.

First, licensure is a status granted by an individual state. For example, driving licenses are regulated at the state level. Similarly, states can choose to regulate other activities, such as hunting, fishing, or even careers by regulating specific professions. Being able to practice medicine or psychology is almost always regulated through the granting of licenses at the state level. Typically, professions where significant harm could be done to a client if the professional is not appropriately trained are regulated by licenses. In these cases, states determine what requirements they have for licensure, and an individual is not allowed to practice in that state without a license.

However, there are many fields that fall under a gray area and so it varies from state to state--clients could be harmed if the professional is not properly trained, but the risk of harm is minimal or the state does not want to regulate it for some other reason. This is the case with massage therapy in Vermont. Although there is a great deal of science connected with the practice of massage therapy, and although a massage therapist could do some damage to a client if not properly trained, this is not a profession that Vermont has chosen to regulate at this time. Therefore, anyone can practice massage in Vermont without a license because Vermont massage licenses do not exist.

In contrast to state licensure, professionals can also be certified. Certifications come from a specific organization. For example, the Pyramid certifies students in massage therapy, Reiki, and fitness instruction. Certifications can be extremely localized, or they can be more nationally focused. A certification simply means that some person or organization has reviewed and/or provided a professional's education and/or work experience and certifies that it meets a minimum standard.

In the field of massage therapy, it is generally accepted in Vermont that a localized professional certification is enough; however, some practitioners choose to increase their level of certification by adding additional training or testing. This is the case with both Darya McNolty and Tammy Brown. Darya had already received her massage training certificate from the Santa Monica School of Massage, and she worked for ten years as a massage therapist. However, in the field of massage, there is no national standard from state to state but the national board for massage therapy and bodywork (the NCBTMB) offers what they call a national certification, and that just means that the massage therapist meets one of the highest levels of certification in the United States. Darya recently successfully took their national exam which now gives her the additional certification, which, by the way, very few massage therapists in Vermont have. Tammy Brown has also recently completed an additional Yoga teaching certification; although she had completed her Yoga teacher training years ago, she recently completed education for another level of certification.

So I want to assure you that all of our practitioners and instructors have appropriate credentials--either licensure or certification status--and they are all actively working on improving their skills, so be sure to watch for more announcements of additional certifications coming soon and always!

William D. Kelley, Ph.D.

Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center

Pyramid Fitness and Oxygen Bar

120 and 79 Merchants Row

Rutland, VT 05701

802-775-8080

www.pyramidvt.com

kelleyw@pyramidvt.com

Thai Yoga Massage

2011-07-25T21:33:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how ironic and sad it is that I work at the Pyramid and hardly ever get to take a class from another instructor. Equally ironic and sad is that I am constantly surrounded by excellent massage therapists, and I am almost never able to receive a massage. So it was especially valuable to me last Wednesday when I was able to receive a Thai Yoga Massage (TYM) from local Yoga instructor and TYM therapist Tammy Brown.

There is no question that Tammy's reputation as a Yoga instructor preceeds her everywhere she goes, but many people do not realize that she also offers TYM. Although I had seen it demonstrated at various wellness fairs throughout the country, my first TYM experience was with Tammy just a few years ago. Soon after I officially met her, she let me know that she was going through training in TYM and needed guinea pigs. Wait--stop--twist my arm! So I was lucky enough to be one of her first "clients."

Fast forward to 2011 and I am committed to my own plan of self-care more than ever. That plan includes the things you might expect from someone at the Pyramid--daily exercise, healthy eating, meditation, and plenty of sleep. But working at the Pyramid, I also have access to an almost limitless array of other services--the Salt Cave, the Halotherapy Room, the Oxygen Bar, the Nautilus circuit, the inversion table, and over 40 different instructors and practitioners. So part of my plan includes partaking in as many of these offerings as I can, as often as I can. So when the opportunity to receive another TYM from Tammy presented itself, I could not refuse.

Of course, I have had the pleasure of many Thai Yoga massages from Tammy over the years, but schedules had gotten in the way and Tammy and I had not been able to connect for a while. This particular day was a day that I definitely was in need of some work, and Tammy's session was exactly what I needed.

One of the things I respect the most about Tammy is her precision. Whereas my Yoga training and interest have been mostly in the philosophy of Yoga, Tammy is clearly also an expert on alignment. Her attention to detail and form in the classroom is equally present in her massage sessions, and from the moment it begins, you know that Tammy is going to make sure that you are in proper form, that you get the most benefit from the massage, and that you do not injure yourself during it.

Those not familiar with TYM may not understand these references; although there are some traditional massage techniques used in TYM, a TYM session is so much more than a traditional massage. This type of treatment allows the recipient to remain rather passive as the therapist actively moves him or her through a series of postures designed to stretch and release the muscles. Some might liken TYM to a Yoga class where the instructor moves your body for you. Because it is an assisted process, often the therapist will help you get a deeper stretch while supporting your body for an intensity that you cannot safely get on your own.

Beyond her clinical precision, though, there is just something special about Tammy. Do not let her quiet presence fool you...she is a powerhouse of wellness expertise. She will greet you at the start of your session, ask some questions to get a sense of how to create a safe, positive experience, and then she will go to work with a smile. I'll admit--sometimes I like to open my eyes during a session sneak a peek at her working, because she is in her bliss when she is able to do TYM. Everything...her music choice, the way she prepares the massage room, and her soothing touch all work together with her expertise to create a special experience like none other.

During the massage I also find myself opening my eyes to see how she is doing what I am feeling, because sometimes the feel of it defies logic and I cannot picture what bizarre things she must be having to do so it can feel like that to me. I am often in awe at the workout that she must get during a TYM session, because in any given moment, she could be crouching over your back, pressing her foot into your hamstring, squeezing the back of your neck with her palms, or some combination of these and more. It definitely takes skill to provide a Thai Yoga Massage.

As she works, I find myself in my own state of bliss. No one can deny the benefit of human touch, and Tammy's calming, Reiki-infused touch is incredible. I immediately feel my heart rate slow down, my blood pressure relax, and my muscles melt down into the floor. For this one hour, I do not have to think...I just have to allow and breathe. I trust Tammy to move my body through the session, and by the end, I feel completely relaxed and ready to move on to the rest of my day. By the end of my session on Wednesday, I found myself wondering why I do not do this more often. Oh, yeah--schedules, money, time. And in those post-TYM bliss moments, I tell myself that there is nothing more important than my wellness, and I need to make time and budget for it accordingly.

Thai Yoga Massage with Tammy Brown: $70/session

TYM Benefits: blissfully priceless

If you would like to try a TYM session, please call us at 802-775-8080.

Thanks, Tammy, for an amazing session, and for being part of the Pyramid team!

William Kelley

Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center

A little piece of Heaven...for $6!!!

2011-07-01T09:12:00.000-07:00

It's kind of embarrassing to say but although I work at the Pyramid and am surrounded by wonderful instructors all day long, I almost never get to take a class from another instructor because I am almost always teaching my own classes. But last night the stars lined up and I was able to take Darlene Kepner's Upbeat Yoga class.

Once I recovered from the shock of being able to actually take a class (and I think once Darlene was able to recover from the shock, too!) I spread out my mat and water, turned off my cell phone, and sat down on the floor with the other students. I had honestly never sat on the floor facing that direction, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the mountain view and feel the cooling breeze entering through the third floor windows. In those few minutes, I enjoyed the scene--Darlene happily preparing for her class, checking in with new students and setting the mood with her excellent taste in music. I wasn't sure what to expect for the music from an "upbeat" class, but I soon fell into the rhythmic world music, enjoying the change from the usual new age class music. My breathing slowed down and I found myself slipping into a familiar state of peace.

Darlene has a voice that is so easy to hear and follow. Even her instructions were calming. I felt reassured, because her confidence in her teaching and herself came through. I knew I was in good hands when she started inviting us into her interpretation of the practice of Yoga.

Although the class started gently, it did not take long for me to work up a sweat. Downward dog...chair posture...planks. My type of class! And yet Darlene did a wonderful job of showing alternatives for every level. I watched as even the beginners in the class could follow and enjoy her non-judgmental style. The more advanced participants were also challenged. That is the joy of taking classes in Vermont for me--in more urban areas, there are so many people taking classes that they can split them up by level, so you would choose to attend a beginner, intermediate, or advanced class. But in Vermont, because we do not have the popularion, all levels are usually combined. I enjoy this especially because although I have been practicing Yoga for 20 years and teaching it for over ten, there are days when I want a gentler class...there are times when my body feels like it needs a beginner level. And then there are days when I really want to bust it out and use my practice to release serious stress and build strength. A mixed level class allows you to work at your own pace without feeling pressure to conform to the level of those around you. And although I consider myself a more advanced Yoga student, I wasn't created with the typical "Yoga body" so it is often more work for me than the average person to get into the asanas. In a mixed level class, it is always nice to be reminded of the basic cues, and it is great to see how others challenge themselves. In short, a mixed level class allows you to grow in ways that one might not imagine--and I was definitely not disppointed in Darlene's class.

I have to admit that the class went by quickly. I don't know whether I was just in a zone or I was so craving the experience of taking someone else's class that I was in what positive psychologists call "flow" and the experience of time was dramatically sped up for me. Either way, I watched and learned from Darlene's expert teaching style and had a wonderful time.

As we moved into the final few moments of class, I checked in with my body. I forgot how good it feels to just follow along with someone else leading, and especially when the instructor is as wonderful as Darlene. I felt awesome--energized and relaxed at the same time...like I had just taken a mini-vacation. I looked around at the other students and imagined that they were feeling the same way I was. For a moment, I felt connected to everything and everyone. While that is definitely one of the goals of Yoga practice, I realized how easy it is in this life to feel disconnected. In that moment I realized that too much lately I have felt disconnected. Like many, I've felt more in the flow of work than the flow of the universe. Even instructors can fall into this pattern. As I rested in corpse pose, I felt a disconnected sadness that I had never experienced in my practice before, and I knew that I have to make some changes.

To say that this experience was intense is an understatement. It was one that came just at the right time that I needed it. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this class positively changed my life. And when I think of the small investment that I made--an hour of my time and $6--I feel so blessed to be surrounded by the tools to truly make a difference in my own life and the lives of those around me. Experiencing this class reminded me of why I wanted to keep our class prices at $6 in the first place--because I do not believe that the practice of Yoga should be reserved for the world's elite. Everyone should have access to a class like I took last night. I have so much respect and gratitude for our instructors who have also committed to this mission of affordable instruction.

With Darlene's smile and soothing encouragement, with the energy of the other students, the music, and the beautiful atmosphere of the ballroom studio at the Pyramid, it was easy to see why so many people take classes. And it was easy for me to recommit to myself to make sure that I take classes as often as I can.

Of course there will always be things that come up--board meetings, emergency clients, facilities issues, and more--but aren't we all worth taking the time to invest in ourselves?

I cannot wait for my next awesome class with Darlene--and the other wonderful Pyramid instructors.

Darlene currently teaches Upbeat Yoga on Thursdays at 7 PM, Sun Salutation Sunday on Sundays at 10:30 AM, and Gentle Yoga on Mondays at 4 PM. For the full Pyramid class schedule, please visit our website:

www.pyramidvt.com/pyramidvt_13.htm.

Thank you, Darlene, and thanks to everyone!

William Kelley
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center and
Pyramid Fitness
www.pyramidvt.com
kelleyw@pyramidvt.com

Why Nautilus?

2011-06-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

As a child, I remember reading in the newspaper that our local YMCA had purchased a line of Nautilus equipment. I remember thinking how scary the equipment looked---and in my head, it was associated with serious body building. I never imagined that someday I would fall in love with Nautilus equipment...I never imagined that I would be someone who would use Nautilus...and I certainly never imagined that I would someday own a fitness center that featured a Nautilus circuit.

Until I was in college, I never fully realized that muscular strength is a huge part of the wellness puzzle. Strong muscules keep us healthy, and even though I especially should do strength training because of my weak genetics, I thought that I would feel totally out of place if I tried to go to a gym. In my head, I had imaginative reasons for not going--I thought that big body builders would make fun of me if I tried to lift weights. But what I did not realize was that Nautilus equipment was designed exactly for me, and everyone else as well!

The people at Nautilus knew that modern Americans were more out of shape than ever due to sedentary lifestyles and unlimited access to low-quality, low-nutrient foods. They also knew that many Americans were like me and afraid of strength training equipment. And most importantly, they knew that Americans had less and less time to dedicate to working out, so they needed to create equipment that would be very efficient, and that is exactly what they did.

The Nautilus circuit is made up of selectorized strength training equipment--that is, pieces of equipment that are geared towards strengthening one part of the body. In a typical circuit of eight to twelve pieces of equipment, the human "machine" works all muscle groups. The circuit is also designed to be completed in around twenty minutes, making it a time-saving workout meant to be done every other day. Basically, in an hour a week, people can reach their fitness goals. Beyond the time benefits, there are other benefits as well:

- Safety--it is nearly impossible to injure yourself on a Nautilus machine
- No need for a "spotter"
- Easy to adjust the machine to your body type
- Easy to quickly and effortlessly change the amount of weight
- Easy to learn and the machine will usually not allow you to use it incorrectly
- Many of the machines offer multiple exercises and work overlapping muscle groups, allowing for a very flexible workout
- Increases shape, size, strength, and endurance of the muscles
- Improves immune system performance
- Increases self-esteem
- Supports body fat loss by speeding up the metabolism, as stronger muscles require more calories to function than weaker muscles
- With Nautilus, you see almost immediate results
- Very little waiting around time, so people are not watching you while you exercise
- Most people find doing Nautilus fun and rewarding

Yet many people, like I used to be, are afraid to try Nautilus. They may fear the size and weight of the equipment, exercising in front of other people, or injuring themselves. They may also think they do not have time to get a real workout.

Serious body builders often believe that Nautilus is for lesser athletes; however, even elite athletes in the professional world use Nautilus because of its versatility.

Whether you are an elite athlete or someone knew to Nautilus, you are sure to get benefit from a genuine Nautilus circuit. At Pyramid Fitness, we have the Nautilus Nitro line, which is the latest generation Nautilus equipment, going through several upgrades since that line that my childhood YMCA purchased.

Come check it out today and you will not be disappointed!

The Scientific Research on the use of Himalayan Salt

2011-04-24T21:15:00.000-07:00

It wasn't long after the press release went out about Dr. Margaret Smiechowski's Himalayan salt cave opening in Pennsylvania that we started getting bombarded with requests for information from a self-appointed "watchdog" organization in that area whose members were concerned that the use of Himalayan salt in salt caves was a scam. Among other things, these people ridiculed the notion that salt could provide any real benefit, ridiculed Dr. Margaret's "foreign" education, and claimed that no scientific evidence exists to support the use of Himalayan salt. Further, they challenged us to produce even one study that shows beyond a reasonable doubt that there are statistically significant benefits to using the salt.

The truth is that there are literally dozens of scientific studies that have been conducted over decades that show without any question that there are medical benefits to using Himalayan salt. If this is true, one might wonder why these organizations waste their time trying to discredit speleotherapy and halotherapy?

The answer to this question is fairly complicated. The main reason is because most of these studies were conducted in Europe and Asia and were published in scholarly journals in languages other than English. They are not translated into English and discussed in the US because in general we are putting our research dollars into more traditional, pharmaceutical-based research. Truthfully, Americans do not care about the research of salt. Those who have experienced its benefits do not need to see the multitude of studies that exist--they just know and believe. And those who will not believe no matter what do not want to see the studies. For those who are on the fence, we created this blog entry so you can see what research actually does exist.

Most of the dozens of clinical trials thus far, mainly reported in Russian-language journals, have focused on the use of speleotherapy or halotherapy as a treatment for asthma, chronic bronchitis, a range of respiratory conditions and potentially against systemic diseases. Clinical studies have also been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2006) demonstrating that the inhalation of saline produces sustained mucus clearance and improved lung function in patients with Cistic Fibrosis. In 1995 the Journal of Aerosol Medicine reported significant improvements in patients with various types of respiratory diseases (bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive and non-obstructive bronchitis, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis) who were treated with halotherapy in a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Here is a small sample of some of the other relevant studies:

Chernenkov RA, Chernenkova EA, Zhukov GV.
The use of an artificial microclimate chamber (salt cave) in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases
Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 1997 Jul-Aug ;( 4):19-21. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 9424823

Chervinskaya AV, Zilber NA.
Halotherapy for treatment of respiratory diseases
J Aerosol Med. 1995 Fall;8(3):221-32.
PMID: 10161255

Gorbenko PP, Adamova IV, Sinitsyna TM.
Bronchial hyperreactivity to the inhalation of hypo- and hyperosmolar aerosols and its correction by halotherapy
Ter Arkh. 1996; 68(8):24-8. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 9019826

Grinshtein IuI, Shestovitskii VA, Kuligina-Maksimova AV.
Clinical significance of cytological characteristics of bronchial inflammation in obstructive pulmonary diseases
Ter Arkh. 2004; 76(3):36-9. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 15108456

Grigor'eva NV.
Halotherapy in combined non-puncture therapy of patients with acute purulent maxillary sinusitis
Vestn Otorinolaringol. 2003;(4):42-4. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 13677023

Abdrakhmanova LM, Farkhutdinov UR, Farkhutdinov RR.
Effectiveness of halotherapy of chronic bronchitis patients
Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 2000 Nov-Dec ;( 6):21-4. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 11197648

Maev EZ, Vinogradov NV.
Halotherapy in the combined treatment of chronic bronchitis patients
Voen Med Zh. 1999 Jun; 320(6):34-7, 96. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 10439712

Chervinskaia AV.
The scientific validation and outlook for the practical use of halo-aerosol therapy
Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 2000 Jan-Feb ;( 1):21-4. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 11094875

Farkhutdinov UR, Abdrakhmanova LM, Farkhutdinov RR.
Effects of halotherapy on free radical oxidation in patients with chronic bronchitis
Klin Med ( Moscow ). 2000;78(12):37-40. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 11210350

Borisenko LV, et al
The use of halotherapy for the rehabilitation of patients with acute bronchitis and a protracted and recurrent course
Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 1995 Jan-Feb ;( 1):11-5. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 7785211

Roslaia NA, Likhacheva EI, Shchekoldin PI.
Efficacy of therapeutic use of ultrasound and sinusoidal modulated currents combined with halotherapy in patients with occupational toxic-dust bronchitis
Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 2001 Jan-Feb ;( 1):26-7. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 11530404

Maliavin AG, Filiaeva IuA, Umakhanova MM, Chervinskaia AV.
Halotherapy-a new treatment for bacterial vaginosis
Vopr Kurortol Fizioter Lech Fiz Kult. 2004 May-Jun ;( 3):35-7. (Article in Russian)
PMID: 15216790

Wark, P.A.B. and V. McDonald (2004), "Nebulised Hypertonic Saline for Cystic Fibrosis," Cochrane Review (abstract), www.update-software.com/abstracts/AB001506.htm (as of August 3, 2004).

In case these thirteen clinical studies are not enough, the following websites offer additional support:

Tano, L Tano
Salt mine rehabilitation center
http://www.kopalniasoli.pl/en/objects/health-centre/about-the-centre/about-the-centre.html

http://www.sanatoria.org/eng/sanatorium/kopalniasoli.html

http://nationalnursingreview.com/2010/08/halotherapy/

http://www.pravasolnajaskyna.sk/ClinicalResults.htm

http://www.crklan.com/speleotherapy-and-halotherapy-for-healthy-lungs-and-skin/

http://www.aai.mf.vu.lt/alerimun/renginiai/99_05_palanga/2dalis.htm

http://www.salinetherapy.com/html/asthma___bronchitis.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18019972

http://www.saltrocks.org/Salt-Pipe_Clinical-Trial-Study-of-Asthma-Bronchitis-COPD.html

http://www.saltrocks.org/Salt-Pipe_Clinical-Trial-Study-of-Children-With-Asthma-Etc.html

http://hyeforum.com/index.php?showtopic=12047

http://www.xs4all.nl/~jorbons/souterrains/art/saltrome.html

http://www.salt-touch.com/articles/speleochamber.aspx

http://www.salitair.co.uk/published_studies.php

http://www.pravasolnajaskyna.sk/ReferencesNCBI.htm

http://www.saltspacolorado.com/research.html

If you are still reading, here is something else that might be of interest from Dr. Smiechowski about the mines at Wieliczka: http://www.wieliczka.com.pl/site.php?

In 2004, the Wieliczka Salt Mine Underground Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre received the International ISO 9001:2000 Certificate in the Quality Management in health care in the field of treatment of the respiratory system and allergic conditions in adults and children. [Surely this is not granted to institutions using non-scientific methods or quackery?]

Thanks to the agreement signed between the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum and the Academy of Physical Education on co-operation in teaching, research and scientific activities, the Centre is a venue of research on the influence of the special microclimate of the Wieliczka Mine on the human body.

The scientific research conducted at the Centre is supervised by Professor Krystyna Obtułowicz - the head of the UJ Collegium Medicum Allergology department, as the Plenipotentiary of Collegiom's Vice-chancellor for of Co-operation with the Mine.

So you see, much research does exist.

Do people really think we would waste our time, money, and other resources (not to mention risk our professional reputations) on something that was a scam? While Dr. Margaret had the benefit of growing up in Poland where no one would even think of questioning the benefits of salt, I did not--so when she approached me to build a salt cave at the Pyramid, you better believe I did my research. Although I do not speak Russian, Dr. Margaret was able to summarize the studies for me and it did not take long for me to realize that things like the Salt Cave and Halotherapy Room hold the potential for incredible wellness benefits. I've done the research myself, so I know that even though we must say that these treatments are just for relaxation, I know that they are so much more. People living near salt therapy options in general do not understand the potential they hold, and so we find ourselves trying hard to raise awarenes without violating the rules of the FDA. The other complaint that the watchdog members had was that if these studies exist, why are they not on our Pyramid website? The answer to this is quite simple; because of FDA regulations, we cannot make any medical claims about salt, so it would be wrong for us to advertise it as anything except a relaxation technique. Why would we point to studies on our website that is designed to give people information about what we have to offer that would suggest that salt could be used as a medical treatment?

Of course, it is hard enough in this world to get people to try new things, especially in this economy when you must charge for the service. The watchdog organization members claimed that we were ripping off the public and probably making a lot of money off this scam. At $10 per session, we are hardly getting rich off the Salt Cave. Most days we do not even cover our own expenses to run the cave, but we continue to offer it and other similar treatments because we believe in them, we see them work, and we want to provide people with effective tools to manage their own wellness.

The bottom line is that it is not our job to convince people that they need Himalayan salt. The research is out there if someone wants to take the time to look. The benefits are there if someone wants to take the time to experience it. We actually invited the members of this organization to come have a session on us. They declined.

As I watched them ridicule everything I believe in, I learned some very valuable lessons. There are people out there who are just plain miserable and want to attack others via the Internet for the fun of it and the power that it must make them feel. They do not feel empowered to be well, so they do not want to see anyone else feel empowered, either. And they would rather put their lives in the hands of medical doctors because it is easier to turn that responsibility over to someone else instead of accepting that they have some ability to treat themselves as a complement to regular medicine.

Although I was sad to see this incredibly healing treatment attacked, it was a great opportunity for me to return to the original research that convinced me. Now more than ever, I feel strongly that speleotherapy and halotherapy are two ways that we have as humans to use the power of salt crystals from the earth itself to help us stay well.

Thank you for reading.
Be well!
William Kelley, Ph.D.
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center
http://www.pyramidvt.com/
http://www.massageschoolvt.com/

ASK THE MASSAGE EXPERT: FIRST TIME MASSAGE INFORMATION

2011-02-23T22:47:00.000-08:00

So you are getting a massage for the first time. And you probably have many questions to ask the massage therapist. In this first supplement of “Massage at your fingertips” Kathleen will be able to answer some of your questions even before you have your first appointment.

1.) What time should I arrive for my appointment?

Being on time is important! Arrive about 10 minutes prior to your appointment. This will give you time to use the rest room and to change into a robe and slippers (if they are provided).Should you arrive late, your treatment will end as scheduled as a courtesy to our other guest and to the therapist. If there is a front desk receptionist, be sure to “check in” so that they can tell your therapist that you have arrived.

2.) When will I meet my massage therapist?

At the time of your appointment, the massage therapist will come and get you and call you by name. They will introduce themselves. “My name is Kathleen and I am your massage therapist.” Expect to shake hands. At this point, the therapist will bring you into a treatment room.

3.) Once I get into the massage room, does the massage “just start”?

Most of the time, your massage therapist wants to get to know you. Plan on about a 5-10 minute consultation in regards your health. You may even have a health information form to fill out and a signed release “to treat” agreement.

4.) What types of question will they ask me?

Questions such as: Have you ever had a massage? If so, when was your last massage?

Do you have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems or could you be pregnant?

Do you have any allergies? Have you had a recent accident, injury, illness or surgery?

5.) It seems like they ask a lot of personal health questions, why is that?

With massage therapy being one of the most hands on professions in health care, massage therapists need to make sure that each person they treat will receive they best care possible. And the best way this can be done is to ask many questions about your health.

6.) So I am about ready to have my massage, now what?

At this point, the massage therapist will explain that they will be leaving the room for a moment or two so “that you will have time to undress down to your comfort.” Meaning, “your may leave on your undershorts or take them off”. They will also tell you to either get on the massage table by being face up or face down in the face cradle. Once you are undressed, you will get on the massage table between the two sheets. After a moment or two, the therapist will knock on the door and come back into the room and then your massage will begin.

7.) I just found out I am pregnant, can I make an appointment for a pregnancy massage?

Many massage therapists will ask you what trimester or how many weeks along you are. If you are less than 12 weeks or 3 months from the last day of your last menstrual period, chances are you will be unable to be treated at that time. Many therapists will refuse to offer massage to a woman who is still in her first trimester because of the increased statistics for miscarriage associated with the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. However after 3 months, be sure to discuss massage options with your OB/BYN or midwife. Contraindications for pregnancy massage are as followed: Hypertension (high blood pressure) with preeclampsia, previous preterm labor, severe headache or swelling or questionable vaginal bleeding. Also do not be surprised if the massage therapist tells you that they will not be massaging your feet. Trained prenatal or pregnancy massage therapists are aware of pressure points on the ankles and wrists that can gently stimulate pelvic muscles, including the uterus. Certified prenatal massage therapists are trained to avoid very specific and intentional pressure to these areas during pregnancy. Any woman who has experienced pre-term contractions or consistent Braxton-Hicks contractions should alert her therapist to that fact so that pressure points can be avoided completely.

8). I just had a car accident, can I still have a massage?

Consult with the doctor that is treating you with your injuries. Request a referral to a clinical massage therapist. Most clinical massage therapists have experience with how to treat those who have been injured in an accident. The therapist will be able to file with insurances, work with physicians and lawyers.

Please feel free to e-mail me at fleuryk@pyamid.com with any question that you may have in regards to massage. I welcome questions from massage therapists, patients, those considering treatment and massage students.

Ask Dr. Margaret: Hot Flashes

2011-02-23T22:22:00.000-08:00

Q: I thought I was too young, but I am finding myself starting menopause. This is of course bringing up all sorts of emotional issues that I am working through with my counselor. But the physical symptoms are really stressful for me—especially the hot flashes. I used to think my grandmother and mother were just teasing me, but I am finding out for myself now that they can be really bad and really impact my life. What causes hot flashes? And what do you recommend for treating them?

A: Thank you for this question. The following article may be of interest to you:

Hot Flash Relief.

What is the most common symptom of menopause experienced by 75% of women at some point? Hot flashes. This pesky problem is attributed to estrogen withdrawal. As of the year 2000 there were approximately 37.5 million women reaching menopause; with the aging baby boomer population this number is only growing. With such a common symptom affecting such a large percentage of the world's population, it's no wonder research continues to focus on ways to gain relief.

Recent research into the efficacy of escitalopram (Lexapro), suggests it may cut the number of hot flashes experienced by postmenopausal women in half. Lexapro, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was originally developed as a pharmaceutical treatment option for depression. This is not the first SSRI researched for hot flash relief, even so, the exact way in which Lexapro works to relieve hot flashes is not completely understood. It's pricy though. Women choosing this pharmaceutical for hot flash relief can expect a lofty price tag as the treatment runs approximately $110 per month.

During the menopausal transition, hot flashes are associated with a rise in the body's core temperature and a narrowing of the body's thermoneutral zone, with a decrease of the sweating threshold and an increase of the shivering threshold. Simply put, peri and menopausal women tend to run a bit warmer than pre-menopausal women with an increased tolerance for cold and a decreased tolerance for heat. These changes in the body's temperature regulation are associated with multiple fluctuations in hormones and the neurotransmitters that accompany menopause, including changes in estrogen, norepinephrine and serotonin.

So what is the connection? Well, in the brain, estrogen increases serotonin's ability to activate its receptors. Estrogen withdrawal during menopause causes decreased serotonin receptor sensitivity, resulting in multiple physiological changes including the temperature regulation changes that contribute to menopausal hot flashes. Although the use of an SSRI does not address the decreased serotonin receptor sensitivity associated with estrogen withdrawal, it does maintain higher levels of serotonin available for use by the receptors.

Known to be a symptom of low estrogen, a more commonly known treatment option for hot flash relief may be estrogen supplementation. In addition to providing relief from hot flashes, topical bioidentical estrogen supplementation may also be beneficial for optimal bone health. Supplementing estrogen by itself may increase the risk of estrogen-dependent cancers including uterine and breast cancer, thus it's important to balance estrogen therapies with progesterone supplementation. Baseline salivary hormone testing of estrogen and progesterone levels will demonstrate if a woman is deficient in estrogen and determine if she is estrogen dominant. Continued monitoring of her symptoms and hormone levels at regular intervals while participating in a bioidentical hormone supplementation program will ensure she is enjoying her peri and post menopausal years hot flash free.

In short, hot flashes are a normal part of life for women going through menopause. However, there are both traditional and holistic treatments that can help. I do offer one-on-one consultation and together we can talk about your specific case and plan the best treatment for you.

ON LOCAL EXPERTS

2011-02-23T21:58:00.000-08:00

It’s very difficult to express the gratitude I feel…for the wonderful people who choose to work at the Pyramid and to those who use our services, for this growing holistic wellness community we’ve created by coming together, and for the amazing power of living and working within this community that supports mindful living on every level. Every day is a blessing for us, and as we move into our fourth year of business, with tons of new projects and expansion underway, I realize that the greatest achievement of the Pyramid is the assembly of the most diverse, talented team of experts anywhere.

It’s funny…here we are just Margaret, Josh, Tammy, Darlene, Bryn, Mara, Darya, Raven, Alison, Karen, Brad, Jane, Kitty, Tejasinha, Mary, Kammie, Cameron, Gary, Barbara, Scott, Jon, Laurie, Jen, Autumn, etc. But our practitioners and instructors are truly gifted people who are experts in their fields. They are sought after all over the world to present, train, and share their knowledge. They write books and create their own products. They have almost icon status outside of Rutland. And yet in Rutland, they are just regular people who have been drawn to sustaining our mission of providing a quality wellness experience at an affordable price. That is truly amazing to me.

As we prepare to bring yet another internationally known expert to the Pyramid in May (www.JohnHolland.com), it occurs to me what a wealth of expertise exists in our area already…of course I am very proud of the Pyramid team, but I am also aware of the expertise that exists around us at other establishments. I don’t know any other area in the United States that boasts so many experts in one place. Per capita, this means great things for the citizens of Vermont.

Unfortunately, however, many Vermonters have to choose between getting a massage or paying their fuel bills. I am sure it is this way all over the country from what I have heard. But given the particularly challenging social and physical environments here, it seems especially difficult for Vermonters.

For those of you new to our newsletter—I want to assure you that the Pyramid is 100% committed to continuing our mission of providing affordable wellness options. Although times are tough, we know that the world would be a much better place if everyone could experience wellness—so we are creating opportunities.

One of my favorite early Pyramid memories was when I taught a Yoga class where a billionaire was sitting next to someone who had picked up quarters from the laundry mat floor to pay for class. Wellness should not be available just to the elite—it should be available to everyone. The reality, of course, is that we have to charge something for our work. But the idea with the Pyramid is that if we keep the costs low, more people will participate—and that is how we can afford to operate. This is how we can afford to offer the same class you would pay double or triple for at other area businesses for only $6. This is how we can offer workshops for $10 that you would literally pay ten times for at other places. And that is how we can offer monthly health club memberships starting at $20, tax included!

Over the next few months, in addition to bringing top notch guest practitioners and lecturers to the Pyramid, we will be highlighting our very own local experts. Sometimes I am in awe at just what the Pyramid team has accomplished collectively and individually. Did you know that we have North America’s foremost expert on Himalayan salt and that she is debuting a new salt technology at Pyramid Fitness? Did you know that you can experience Mindful Movement Therapy, a brand-new offering by the person who invented it? Or receive Ashiatsu Bar Therapy from one of the very few experts trained in it in Vermont, at one of the few facilities with the bars? Did you know that you could learn how to be a massage therapist through the only program in Vermont that combines distance learning with in-person, hands-on training? The list goes on and on. We don’t have enough space to list the accomplishments of all of our team members…but suffice it to say that it is impressive, and we hope you will take some time to get to know the expertise that exists at the Pyramid and beyond in the Rutland area.

If it’s been a while since you’ve been to the Pyramid, we hope you will check out our new offerings. Either way, thank you so much for reading our e-newsletter. Be well!

William D. Kelley, Ph.D.

Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center

120 and 79 Merchants Row

Rutland, VT 05701

802-775-8080

www.pyramidvt.com

kelleyw@pyramidvt.com

Pyramid Fitness and Oxygen Bar Q&A

2010-12-28T18:41:00.001-08:00

After months of anticipation, Pyramid Fitness and Oxygen Bar opened in downtown Rutland, Vermont on December 21, 2010. Lovingly called P-Fit by the Pyramid team, we are very excited to have this new venue and look forward to building a healthy environment where people can work on their fitness in a unique center offering a holistic wellness approach to fitness.

Q: What do you mean by a "holistic wellness approach to fitness?"
A: By "holistic approach," we mean looking at the whole, integrated person through a comprehensive approach to wellness. So at Pyramid Fitness, our members and guests have the opportunity to work on their physical bodies through traditional fitness methods (exercise equipment and group fitness classes), but they also have access to other offerings, such as Yoga and meditation, massage therapy, the oxygen bar, and even a halotherapy room--all designed to help address overall wellness rather than just physical fitness.

Q: Where is Pyramid Fitness located?
A: In downtown Rutland, at 79 Merchants Row. This is the second floor of the building that houses the Boys and Girls Club, and is directly across the street from Three Tomatoes restaurant.

Q: What are the hours of Pyramid Fitness?
A: Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 8 PM, and weekends 8 AM to 3 PM

Q: What equipment do you offer?
A: We currently have a full selection of equipment: StarTrac treadmills, Precor elliptical machines, Nautilus Nitro selectorized weight circuit, an inversion table, a cable cross machine, free weights up to 50 pounds, kettleballs, medicine balls, stretching mats, and more.

Q: What classes do you offer and when?
A: Currently, we offer about 20 classes per week. These are spread throughout the week at convenient times like 9 AM, 12 PM, 4 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:30 PM during the week, and 9 AM, 10:30 AM, 12 PM, and 1 PM on the weekends. Classes include cardio kickboxing, step aerobics, group strength, core strength boot camp, karate, kabox, meditation, Yoga, and more. In addition, members receive discounts on some classes at Pyramid Wellness Center (our sister facility at 120 Merchants Row in Rutland). Between the two Pyramids, we offer more ongoing classes than any other facility in the Rutland area, taught by the best instructors around. And because our instructors have years of teaching experience, they know how to put together an incredible, safe workout, and our classes promise not to be boring or waste your time. Our instructors regularly change routines and soundtracks, creating a unique fitness experience each time.

Q: Do you have to be a member to use the Center?
A: While it is more economical to be a regular member of Pyramid Fitness, we do offer drop-in guest memberships at $6 per class, $6 for the use of the fitness equipment, or $10 for a day pass.

Q: What types of memberships do you offer?
A: At Pyramid Fitness, we believe that you should only have to pay for what you want to use. With that in mind, we have created several different types of membership packages. For those who just want to use the fitness equipment, the basic price is $30/month. For those who just want to take classes, the basic price is also $30/month. For those who want to use the fitness equipment and take classes, the basic price is $40/month. In addition, we offer a limited discounted membership for those who could come between the hours of 8 AM and 10 AM or 3 PM and 5 PM. These special memberships are $20/month and are perfect for senior citizens and students. Further, we have a deluxe package that includes unlimited everything, plus the use of the oxygen bar, as well as separate oxygen bar memberships.

Q: Do you offer any special group or family discounts on memberships?
A: We believe that our pricing is rockbottom. For that reason, we do not usually discount membership prices further. However, signing up for a year gives members a free extra month, and through our referral program, members can earn up to $10 each month off their next renewal simply by referring their friends and family to P-Fit.

Q: Do you require initiation fees or long-term contracts?
A: Not at all! We do not really understand what an initiation fee is, anyway--a fee so that we can then charge you more fees to use our facility? It does not fit with the Pyramid philosophy of making things as affordable as possible. We will also never make you join for longer than you want. We want our Center filled with happy people who really want to be there. Although many health clubs make their money from selling memberships to people who do not come back, we want to create a vibrant fitness environment with lots of people who love the place as much as we do.

Q: Do you offer full locker room facilities?
A: While we do have private changing alcoves, for many reasons we did not want the traditional locker room environment to be part of the Pyramid experience. Typically, the locker room area is the most troublesome part of a health club for its members and management; often thefts occur in the locker rooms, bacteria builds and is spread via the public showers, fights often break out in the locker rooms, people are often embarrassed or uncomfortable to change in front of others, and sometimes even seedy things can happen in locker rooms. Of course, providing showers would mean that we would have to dramatically increase the price of memberships. We want to keep our focus on providing a high quality facility that is cost-effective to our members, and we can do this much easier without the distraction of locker rooms.

Q: Do you offer child care?
A: We have partnered with our neighbors downstairs, the Boys and Girls Club, and we have worked out a great child care arrangement. During regular school days, we will be able to offer child care through the Boys and Girls Club from 2:30-7 PM (and 9 AM to 5 PM during school vacation days). The best part is the cost--only $1/child or $15 for the entire school year! (Please note that children must be at least 6 years old to use this service.)

Q: What is the atmosphere like at Pyramid Fitness?
A: Our facility is the choice of everyone from brand new exercisers to elite athletes. Everyone is friendly and supportive. This is not a show or a meat market. You do not have to have the perfect body or the perfect workout clothes to be part of the Pyramid family. The environment is relaxing and positive. We do not have televisions because we want you to exercise in the moment and focus on your form, and we never have loud, blaring music. We encourage people who would like listen to music to bring their own personal music player, or we have several MP3 players to loan at the reception desk. Because it is a small facility jam-packed with features, our members get a very efficient, effective workout without a lot of waste.

Q: I would like to join, but I am embarrassed about exercising in front of people. Any suggestions?
A: This is a common situation, and a big reason why people often do not go or do not continue to go to a traditional health club. At the Pyramid, everyone is welcome. We have the bare minimum mirrors so you do not have to look at yourself (except when necessary to maintain good form) unless you want to. We recognize that everyone has to start somewhere, so we have several personal trainers who are available to help you jumpstart your fitness. For those who are very shy, we do offer individual training sessions in our private Personal Fitness Center at Pyramid Wellness. Speak to a guest services member if you are interested in this special service.

Q: I have belonged to health clubs before where you cannot find anyone to help you. Does Pyramid Fitness have people there?
A: Yes! We have a professional guest services staff in your line of vision at all times. Someone is always there to help show you how to use a machine, make sure you are not injuring yourself (we will correct your form if we see you do something dangerous!), and motivate you to keep going. We will even call, e-mail, or text you if we have not seen you for a while! (Extra fee of $5/month applies to this service.) In addition, we have a personal training staff that is second to none. If you want personal service and attention, Pyramid Fitness is really a great choice for you.

Q: Is Pyramid Fitness air conditioned?
A: Yes! Although we believe it is healthy to exercise in fresh air, we do have air conditioning and will use it when it is necessary to create a healthy environment.

Q: What is an oxygen bar?
A: Oxygen bars are very popular in other parts of the country and even around the world, but until now have not been available in Vermont so we spend a lot of time trying to introduce the concept to our guests. Although humans can go three weeks without food and three days without water, we cannot go three minutes without oxygen. Oxyen is a major component of air and is a vital element essential to life, but pollution and other factors reduce the percentage of oxygen in air. An oxygen bar is a place where people can go to take in concentrated oxygen to enhance overall well-being.
The main component of an oxygen bar is the oxygen concentrator--a hospital-grade machine that splits up air into its components; everything else is released into the air, while the pure oxygen is sent into the aromarizer infuser bar. Here, the oxygen is combined with natural essential oils, and the oxygen/essential oil blend is delivered to the guest via nose cannules, similar to those used in hospitals for oxygen.

Q: Are oxygen bars safe?
A: Absolutely! Because the oxygen is mixed with the essential oils and then outside air as you breathe it in through the nose cannules, you are receiving a high quality, safe oxygen blend. We limit our guests to two five-minute sessions per day, which is considered a safe amount by the American Medical Association. Each guest has his or her own nose cannule, making it even safer. Although the Internet is filled with claims about its dangers and ineffectiveness, one Oxygen Bar session will show you what a safe and positive experience this is. (For people will severe respiratory problems, we do recommend talking to your doctor before using the Oxygen Bar.)

Q: What is the Oxygen Bar good for?
A: We must state that the Oxygen Bar is not a medical treatment and therefore we cannot make medical claims about it. Participants understand that the use of the oxygen bar should never replace proper medical treatment. That said, oxygen bars are used around the world for a variety of medical treatments. A simple Google search will pull up some of these. Athletes often use oxygen sessions for improved performance and recovery time. Some people believe that oxygen sessions help eliminate the symptoms of a hangover. Mixing the oxygen with essential oils adds the benefits of aromatherapy. Currently we have wintergreen, peppermint, cherry, lavender, almond, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and lemongrass. Our essential oils are organic and offer a direct delivery of professional grade aromatherapy.

Q: How much does an oxygen session cost?
A: Everyone using the Oxygen Bar must have a nose cannule. You can bring your own, or purchase one from us at $1. For Pyramid Fitness members, each session costs only $2. For non-members, each session costs $5. We also offer special packages--a month of oxygen sessions (up to two per day) is $20 for members or $30 for non-members.

Q: Do you have a sauna?
A: Yes. We have a 1-2 person far infrared sauna at Pyramid Fitness (and a 2-3 person sauna at Pyramid Wellness) that is available whenever the Center is open. For Pyramid members, the sauna is 50 cents per minute; for non-members, it is 75 cents per minute. People using the sauna should bring three towels with them or be prepared to rent them from us--for sanitary purposes, one towel on the floor, one towel on the seat, and one towel to wrap and wipe with. Although the temperature of the far infrared sauna runs lower than a traditional sauna, participants using it for more than fifteen minutes will break a sweat. Unlike a traditional sauna, a far infrared sauna uses the very powerful far infrared light rays rather than heat--so the rays penetrate deeper into the body, offering an excellent detox for our muscles and organs. A simple Google search will reveal the possible medical benefits of far infrared, although we do not personally make any medical claims about it. Pregnant woman and anyone with current heat or blood pressure issues should consult with a doctor before using the far infrared sauna.

Q: What is the halotherapy room?
A: Halotherapy is similar to the Pyramid Wellness Center's Himalayan Salt Cave (www.pyramidvt.com) except that it uses a moist delivery system. The halotherapy room is decorated like an old Polish mine and contains a saline tower that creates a fountain effect. Participants sit in relaxing zero-gravity chairs, or we can remove the chairs and offer massage and other wellness treatments right in the halotherapy room. As participants relax in the halotherapy room, microscopic droplets of Himalayan salt-infused water are spread through the room by the tower and are taken in through the mouth and nose. Again, while we can make no medical claims for this room, halotherapy is used successfully around the world to treat many medical conditions. Our halotherapy room is primarily a relaxation chamber. Like the Salt Cave at Pyramid Wellness, the cost to use the halotherapy room is $10/person/hour. Personalized treatments are available in the halotherapy room for $40 in addition to the cost of the treatment.

Q: Are there other benefits to membership?
A: Yes! Pyramid Fitness members get special disounts on many Pyramid services...$5 off ionic foot baths, special pricing on the sauna and oxygen bar, $5 off massages, $10 off personal training sessions, special discounts on Pyramid workshops, and much more.

Q: This sounds amazing! Where do I sign up?
A: Thank you--we think it is pretty amazing, too! You can stop in during regular business hours to see the place in person and join, and all of our forms are available online if you would like to get that part out of the way. www.pyramidvt.com

Community

2010-12-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

It's all about community.

Over the last few months, concerned people have pulled me aside: "Are you sure you want to invest any more in Rutland? There's nothing here! People are leaving left and right, the economy is bad, and there are already some great fitness options in Rutland. The downtown area is crumbling. Why don't you do this somewhere else, like Burlington?"

I appreciate these concerns more than I can say. Believe me, I've thought about them over and over. I've crunched the numbers, I've done research about the current wellness of Vermont and Rutland County, and I've looked at how many people are actually using these fitness options. I know the economy is not as good as any of us would like, and people are having to make very careful choices about what and how they spend. There is no question--this is a challenging time to open a fitness center--or anything--in Rutland.

But those of you who know the Pyramid team members know that we are not doing what we are doing because it is easy, or because we are just interested in making money. We are here in Rutland because we feel a strong desire to help where it is needed. If Rutland is going to become the amazing place I am told it once was, we need to be part of the positive change. We cannot leave because it is challenging. We cannot ignore that Rutlanders now more than ever need MORE healthy options, not less.

We want to create a place where people of all walks of life can come and feel safe and comfortable to improve the quality of their lives. We have worked hard over the last (almost) four years to do that with the Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center and Salt Cave. We've all put our professional and personal lives on the line to create this place. Now, we are again putting our professional and personal lives on the line to create another place...Pyramid Fitness and Oxygen Bar.

While I have lots of great reasons for wanting to open this new facility, the main reason, to be perfectly honest, is that I long for another place where I can work on my wellness supported by a community of like-minded people who also want to work on their wellness. I know--it's purely selfish, I admit.

I want to walk into a place where I immediately feel welcome and at ease. I want to be greeted and feel like I've just come home. I want to know that for the time I am here, I do not have to worry about anything. I can just focus on myself and getting stronger and healthier. And I know that for this time, I will be surrounded by other people who feel the same. It's not a competition or a show...just a place of support and growth. I want to feel like my presence means something, and that my business is appreciated. I want to see smiling faces all around as people set and reach their goals.

And that is what Pyramid Fitness is all about. Do we have 200,000 square feet? No. Do we have 400 treadmills? No. Do we have 500 pieces of fitness equipment? No. What we do have, though, is a very powerful combination of what you really need in a health club in a healthy environment, supported by an amazing customer service and fitness staff.

We've designed Pyramid Fitness to have just enough space and equipment so you get a very efficient workout. We've got the classes that will keep you interested and motivated, and where you will really see results. We've got a customer service staff that is going to work very hard to get to know you, and help you stay focused on your goals. Our fitness team is going to be there when you work out to make sure you are staying on task and that you don't hurt yourself. And of course, although we do not have warehouses full of it, we have top of the line equipment that is always well-maintained. There is nothing like the Nautilus Nitro line of equipment.

Add to that our very unique offerings for Vermont--the far infrared sauna and the oxygen bar, as well as some creatively-packaged memberships, very affordable prices, and convenient hours, and I think we are on the way to creating something very special. There are definitely benefits to being a member of a well-established fitness center, but there are also benefits to being on the ground floor of a new venture; among these, our charter members will have the ability to shape the atmosphere of the club and have input in ways that you just do not have in established businesses. It is definitely an exciting time to join Pyramid Fitness!

To add to the excitement, Dr. Margaret Smiechowski, North America's foremost expert on Himalayan salt and the creator of salt caves around the US, has just announced that she will be introducing a brand new technology to North America called halotherapy, and she will be taking a break from building salt caves to build the first and only halotherapy treatment center in North America--where? Right at Pyramid Fitness!

So good things are happening, and although I have been cautioned, I am willing to move ahead with a focus on the hopes of building a new community of wellness. I do not believe that Rutland is dying...and I believe now more than ever is a great time to provide people with another option for improving the quality of their lives.

Hope to see you at Pyramid Fitness!

William Kelley, Ph.D.
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center
120 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
802-775-8080
www.pyramidvt.com
www.massageschoolvt.com
kelleyw@pyramidvt.com
Memberships on sale now!

Can Rutland support another gym? No!

2010-10-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

"Can Rutland support another gym?" someone asked over Facebook. "Aren't there already five or six? In this economy, are you taking too much of a risk?"

Some people might wonder if I have finally lost my marbles. Have I finally done too many head stands in Yoga? Why am I risking everything to create this new health facility when there are already many good ones nearby?

The truth is, Rutland CAN sustain all it has already and many more establishments focused on the well-being of the community.

Absolutely--Rutland already has some excellent health clubs and options for helping people get and stay healthy. But it is safe to say that not even five percent of the population belongs to a health club here. The existing clubs have done so much to improve the quality of life for Rutlanders, but there is still so much more to be done as Rutland County still tops off the scales in Vermont for obesity, diabetes, and other such health and wellness concerns.

According to the Southern Vermont Area Health Center, among the 63,331 residents in Rutland County, 22% smoke, 24% are obese, 16% binge drink, and 15% have no health insurance. Further, 165 per 100,000 people die from heart-related problems, 60 per 100,000 people die of stroke, and in all of these categories, Rutland County is bringing up the state-wide averages.

So, sure, there are fitness centers, but these are clearly not enough to spread the message of wellness to a community that desperately needs it.

And that is why we are starting Pyramid Fitness...not because there aren't already great exercise options in Rutland, but because we need more. We need a new mentality towards wellness. Pyramid Fitness is not just a health club or a gym--it is a wellness club. It is a place where like-minded people will come together in an effort to support each other on the path to fitness. Of course we have all of the equipment that makes this easy--brand new, safe, easy-to-use equipment. But we also have the people who will create a new atmosphere.

Pyramid Fitness isn't about wearing the brand name jogging suit or sneakers, or having the perfect body. It isn't about the elite membership fees. And it certainly isn't about filling the place with people who come for a month but pay for the service for a year. In fact, at Pyramid Fitness, we don't want your money if you are not actually using our services. We want to fill this beautiful, newly-renovated space with people who want to be healthy and are going to commit to using our services. In that light, we are going to be offering only a limited number of memberships. We want to create a vibrant community of exercisers, not frustrated people who never come back.

At the Pyramid, our members will be a name, not a number. The goals of our members will be our goals. We are a team. When you succeed, we succeed.

Of course, Rutland cannot support another gym if we define "gym" as a dirty, grungy place with old, broken down equipment where they lock you into contracts and take your money, even if you aren't going, so some off-site owner can take luxury vacations. No, in this economy, Rutland cannot sustain even one of those.

So what we are talking about here is a new breed of fitness club. A place that has everything you need equipment (but not too much--you don't need 40 treadmills--you only need one that works when you want it!), the people with the education and experience to help you define and reach your goals, and the atmosphere that makes it all possible.

And it certainly doesn't hurt that you have access to a multitude of other services--the sauna, the oxygen bar, massage therapy, homeopathy, acupuncture, Ayurveda, personal training, counseling and hypnotherapy, special classes and workshops, and of course, the only salt cave in Vermont.

I know some people probably think I am crazy...but I believe I am simply optimistic about the future health of our local Vermonters. I believe we can do this...I believe we will do this...and I cannot wait to let you know when we open our doors so you can check this incredible place out yourself.

Thanks to all of you who have expressed positive thoughts and support for what we are doing. We do hope to be open in the very near future. Watch for more information coming soon!

Be well!

William Kelley, Ph.D.
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center

Pyramid Fitness and Oxygen Bar - opening in October!

2010-08-29T12:23:00.000-07:00

I was 21 the first time I reluctantly stepped foot into a health club. A very close friend had taken a job at a small Nautilus gym and was excited to show me her new place of employment. Prior to going to visit her at the club, I had actually been afraid of the gym scene. During high school and college I was pretty much a "band geek" and I was sure that fitness was not for me. However, a serious knee injury during my freshman year of college showed me the importance of exercise; had I been in better shape, my injury would have been significantly less impactful to my life, and my recovery time would have been much faster and easier. After the injury, I began working out on my own to strengthen my weak body, but was too shy to go work out in front of anyone else.

Visiting Jackie at the gym was incredibly daunting for me. I can remember the sense of dread as I pulled open the front door. But walking through that door was an incredible crossroads of my life. It was like Dorothy walking through her doorway from the black and white farmhouse to the technicolor Land of Oz.

I found myself mesmerized by the equipment. It looked so complicated, and yet I watched as person after person went to each station, seemingly effortlessly, improving the quality of their lives with each machine. The people looked energized and healthy. They were having fun, being social, and getting stronger and more fit. I knew at that moment that that was what I wanted. And oddly enough, I knew that someday I would also start my own fitness center.

Following this visit, I signed up for the gym and became a regular member. Then when life circumstances changed and I moved on to new things, I always made finding and joining a gym part of what I do. Although I was a bit shy to exercise in front of someone else at first, it quickly became easy and comfortable, and as I got in better shape, I felt my confidence increase. Going to the gym was not only what I did--it was who I am. By 1995, I was managing a 5-star resort's health club and spa (even though I honestly knew nothing about maintaining a pool). Out of necessity, I became certified in teaching all sorts of fitness activities (because instructors and trainers would often call in sick, and as manager, I would need to provide a last minute substitute activity). I later worked as a trainer at a YMCA. In the last 20 years, I have belonged to, taught or trained at, or managed more than twelve gyms--an amazing accomplishment for someone as shy as I am, who couldn't even step into a gym without feeling fear.

When I moved to Vermont in 2000, I was very excited to find many high-quality fitness centers. I quickly joined the staff at Fair Haven Fitness and then later the Gymnasium, where I taught for almost ten years. The call to have my own fitness center was quiet as I enjoyed teaching at these outstanding facilities. However, a recent turn of events has caused me to leave both gyms, and for the first time in 20 years, I no longer have a gym as my second home.

Sure, we have lots of fitness classes, training, and options at the Pyramid. But I have honestly missed the original Nautilus circuit that I fell in love with years ago. I miss the excitement of feeling like you are part of a group of people all wanting to be healthy at the same time in the same place. And so that call to have my own fitness center has returned--this time louder than ever. And this time I am listening!

Although I may be insane to do this in this relatively unstable economy, I have realized that now is the time to open a new fitness center! Through the generosity and help of many people, including the amazing Pyramid staff, we expect Pyramid Fitness and Oxygen Bar to open in early October.

Q: What makes Pyramid Fitness and Oxygen Bar so special?
A: Over the last three years, many of our clients have repeatedly asked us to create a membership-based fitness offering for the community beyond what we already offer. This facility will offer low-cost memberships where you can pick the exact level of membership you want. The equipment will be very high quality, featuring the Nautilus Nitro Plus circuit. Our hours will be convenient, as we will be open every day. The facility will be sparkling clean. It will be both air conditioned in summer and heated in winter. Although located on the second floor, we do have an elevator for those who need it. Most importantly, the facility will be staffed by the Pyramid team members you have come to know--and our customer service will be second to none.
We will also be the only health club in Rutland to feature a far-infrared sauna, and I believe we will be offering the only Oxygen Bar in Vermont.

Q: What is an oxygen bar?
A: Oxygen bars are very popular in other parts of the country, especially in California. These are gathering places that instead of offering alcohol offer concentrated oxygen infused with essential oils.

Q: What are the benefits of the oxygen bar?
A: Many athletes use oxygen before and after workouts to improve performance. However, everyone can benefit from using oxygen because it is believed to improve bodily function, increase energy, enhance sexual pleasure, support weight loss, detox, and improve sleep. Of course, we cannot and will not make any medical claims for the oxygen bar, but we believe that it will bring a big city service to Vermont that has otherwise always been lacking.

Q: Are there any negative effects from or contraindications to the oxygen bar?
A: This is actually a controversial question. Under proper management, an oxygen bar can be safe for almost anyone. However, the problem is that most places that have oxygen bars (like night clubs, airports, etc.) have no medical staff to supervise their use. Pure oxygen intake is actually harmful to people who have lung problems and other medical conditions. Our bar will feature a safe concentration of oxygen mixed with regular air and essential oils, and we will carefully limit the amount of time that people spend using it. In our carefully controlled environment, there will be no safety problems or negative effects.

Q: Is Pyramid Fitness located in your current Pyramid building?
A: No! We are opening a brand new facility in a separate building in downtown Rutland. It is within walking distance from our current location and close to lots of easy parking.

Q: Will you be closing the current location of the Pyramid?
A: No--this is just an expansion of our operations. Everything at the current Pyramid will continue to operate unchanged, including the Personal Fitness Center for those clients who will not feel comfortable working out in the open gym. Some of the classes will be moving to the new gym, but otherwise everything will continue as before. Of course, Pyramid Fitness members will receive special discounts on Pyramid services and massage.

Q: Will you be selling advance memberships?
A: Yes! Watch for announcements. Pre-membership specials will run later in September.

Q: What else is special about your new facility?
A: We will be widely expanding our fitness products and supplements, and new product lines will be available at the new location. We will also not use membership cards (a waste of resources!) but will use an electronic finger print capture to allow entry. Our facility is also going to be a true wellness club--our members will get to vote on which pieces of equipment we buy in the future, etc. We will have lots of holistic classes that are not usually offered in a health club. And we will also have a beautiful massage room in the facility for those who want an on-the-spot massage. And we hope to work with other area health clubs to offer joint special promotions and packages so that the community gets an incredible array of options. In short, there has never been a club like this in Rutland or anywhere!

Stay tuned for more information coming soon...

Major sex hormones - Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA, and Cortisol

2010-08-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

The major sex hormones to assess are estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. The main adrenal hormones are DHEA and cortisol. These five hormones will provide crucial information about deficiencies, excesses and daily patterns, which then result in a specifically tailored treatment approach and one far more beneficial than the old “shotgun" approach. Below is a brief description of each of these five hormones:

Estrogen: there are three forms made by the body: estrone, estradiol and estriol. The form used in past hormone replacement therapies is estradiol, often in the form of concentrated pregnant mare’s urine (premarin). It is a proliferative (causes growth) hormone that grows the lining of the uterus. It is also a known cancer-causing hormone: breast and endometrial (uterine) in women and prostate gland in men. It will treat menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia and memory-loss. With the bio-identical formulas estriol is matched with estradiol (biest) to provide protective effects and additional estrogenic benefits. The other major protector in keeping estradiol from running amok is progesterone.

Progesterone is called the anti-estrogen because it balances estradiol’s proliferative effects. It is considered preventive for breast and prostate cancers as well as osteoporosis. In addition too little progesterone promotes depression, irritability, increased inflammation, irregular menses, breast tenderness, urinary frequency and prostate gland enlargement (BPH).

Testosterone is an anabolic hormone (builds tissue) that is essential for men and women. The proper level of testosterone is necessary for bone health, muscle strength, stamina, sex drive and performance, heart function and mental focus.

DHEA is an important adrenal gland hormone, which is essential for energy production and blood sugar balance. DHEA is a precursor to other hormones, mainly testosterone.

Cortisol is your waking day hormone (highest in the morning and lowest at night). It is necessary for energy production, blood sugar metabolism, anti-inflammatory effects and stress response.

Some of the common imbalances identified through testing include estrogen dominance, estrogen deficiency, progesterone deficiency, androgen (testosterone and DHEA) excess or deficiencies, adrenal dysfunction and adrenal fatigue.

ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE:
Estradiol and progesterone are 2 hormones that are often tested together. At Labrix when you test these 2 hormones together we also provide you with a Pg/E2 ratio. This ratio allows you to determine if the patient (male or female) has “Estrogen Dominance". Estrogen dominance is a risk factor for breast cancer and osteoporosis in females and prostate gland enlargement and cancer in males.

The term “Estrogen Dominance" is less related to the amount of circulating estrogen and more related to the ratio of estrogen to progesterone in the body. Menopause and PMS are not the result of estrogen deficiency; although, estrogen levels do decline during the latter phases of a woman’s reproductive cycle. More relevant is that the estrogen levels drop by approximately 40% at menopause or during periods of stress while progesterone levels plummet by approximately 90% from premenopausal levels. It is the relative loss of progesterone that causes the majority of symptoms termed estrogen dominance. The disproportionate loss of progesterone begins in the latter stages of a woman's reproductive cycle, when the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle begins to malfunction. The malfunction is initiated when the corpus luteum, the primary source of progesterone, begins to lose its functional capacity. By about age 35, many of these follicles fail to develop creating a relative progesterone deficiency. As a result, ovulation does not always occur and progesterone levels steadily decline. It is during this period that a relative progesterone deficiency, or what has become known as Estrogen Dominance, develops.

Typical Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance Include:

Irritability/Mood Swings
Depression
Irregular Periods
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Vaginal Dryness
Water Retention
Sleep Disturbance
Hot Flashes
Headaches
Fatigue
Short-term Memory Loss
Weight Gain

The Progesterone/Estradiol (Pg/E2) reference ranges are optimal ranges determined by Dr. John R. Lee MD. While they are not physiological ranges, they are optimal values for the protection of the breasts, heart and bones in women, and the prostate in men. Salivary values within these ranges have been shown by Dr. Lee to decrease both breast and prostate cellular proliferation, thereby providing protection to these vital tissues.

TESTOSTERONE:
Testosterone is often tested because the patient talks of low libido. Declining testosterone levels are the number one cause of low libido in males, and plays a contributing factor in females.

Declining testosterone levels are commonly seen in men beginning in the fourth decade of life. Suboptimal or low testosterone levels in males are often associated with symptoms of aging and are referred to as “Andropause" or male menopause.

Testosterone is an important anabolic hormone in men. It increases energy, prevents fatigue, helps maintain normal sex drive, increases strength of all structural tissues such as skin/bone/muscles; including the heart and prevents depression and mental fatigue. Testosterone deficiency is often associated with symptoms such as night sweats, insulin resistance, erectile dysfunction, low sex drive, decreased mental and physical ability, lower ambition, loss of muscle mass and weight gain in the waist. The primary cause of this increase in girth is visceral fat, not excessive subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin).

The visceral fat cells are the most insulin resistant cells in the human body. As a person ages hormone levels change in favor of insulin resistance. The insulin levels rise while progesterone, growth hormone and testosterone decline. The visceral fat cell begins to collect more fat in the form of triglycerides. A vicious cycle is initiated, which if not interrupted with natural hormone balancing will lead to abdominal obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol levels. This phenomenon is known as “Metabolic Syndrome". In males, metabolic syndrome results in lower testosterone levels, however, in females metabolic syndrome results in high testosterone levels and a phenomenon known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (see below).

Stress management, exercise, proper nutrition, dietary supplements, and androgen replacement therapy have all been shown to raise androgen levels in men and help counter male metabolic syndrome symptoms. The “trick" is to know how much testosterone is required for each individual male. This is where knowing the salivary testosterone levels come into play. Initial salivary testing and following salivary monitoring are crucial for determining the most optimal prescription.

Metabolic Syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) in females results in the same visceral fat pattern, insulin resistance and triglyceride formation as in males, however, the female patients with PCOS and metabolic syndrome had high levels of testosterone and often DHEA. This results in a typical symptom pattern seen in women with metabolic syndrome – acne, increased facial and body hair, hair loss on the head, trunkle obesity and infertility. Salivary testosterone and DHEA levels are diagnostic for this syndrome and follow up testing is key for monitoring treatment. It is important to note that women do not need to have their ovaries to have metabolic syndrome. The adrenal glands in women who have a predisposition to metabolic syndrome can produce above normal levels of testosterone and DHEA.

DHEA AND CORTISOL:
DHEA is often thought of as an adrenal hormone and in fact it is, however, DHEA is also made in the ovaries. When we measure DHEA we are eliciting information about both the adrenal glands and the ovaries. This is particularly important when DHEA levels are high. High levels of DHEA can mean that the adrenal glands are increasing DHEA production on response to stress or high glucose levels, or that the ovaries are increasing the production of DHEA as part of the PCOS cascade. High levels of DHEA are often seen years before a female develops metabolic syndrome and should be used as a risk factor marker for insulin resistance.

Low levels of DHEA are seen in evolving “Adrenal Gland Fatigue" (hypoadrenia). As acute stress becomes more chronic, the constant demand by the body for adrenal gland hormones begins to wear out the adrenal glands and DHEA and cortisol levels fall. It is for this reason that DHEA is often measured in combination with cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress and blood sugar levels. Cortisol secretion has a diurnal rhythm. Normal cortisol levels should be highest one hour after waking in the morning and drop gradually throughout the day. Measuring the diurnal rhythm with 4 cortisol levels throughout the day gives a very accurate measure of adrenal gland function and their ability to cope with stress. Adrenal fatigue occurs in stages. The stage at which a patient is at can be determined by looking at the diurnal cortisol graph and DHEA levels. Symptoms of evolving adrenal gland fatigue include fatigue, sleep issues, inability to cope with stress, anxiety, nervousness, irritability and allergies.

Hypothalamic Pituitary Axis (HPA) Dysregulation is due to chronic stress with the resultant excess cortisol production and down regulation of cortisol receptors in the hypothalamus. In other words the negative feedback loop that normally shuts down the production of ACTH release is blunted and cortisol production by the adrenal glands is uncontrolled. If this continues, hypoadrenia always evolves. The symptoms of HPA and hypoadrenia are essentially identical but salivary testing easily distinguishes the two. This is crucially important as treatment of each can be very different.

Measuring cortisol and DHEA levels will also diagnose complex diseases such as Addison’s Disease and Cushing’s Syndrome. Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol and DHEA. The disease is also called adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism. It has however, no relationship to end stages of “adrenal gland fatigue" described above. The two illnesses have very different mechanisms of action. Most cases of Addison’s disease are caused by autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex. Symptoms include chronic fatigue, weight loss, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, and hyperpigmentation of the skin.

Cushing’s Syndrome results in excessive production of cortisol by the adrenal glands. Symptoms include rapid weight gain of face, trunk and back of neck, hirsutism, depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

1 in 25 people have no conscience

2010-03-12T07:46:00.000-08:00

Conscience is defined by Dr. Martha Stout as "a sense of obligation ultimately based in an emotional attachment to another living creature." Researchers believe that about 4% or 1 in 25 people has no conscience and can do anything at all without feeling guilty, remorse, or empathy for those who are hurt in the process. This condition is called "antisocial personality disorder," or "sociopathy," and it is the subject of the book, The Sociopath Next Door by Dr. Stout.

What this means is that in an average classroom, at least one child is a sociopath. In a hospital's emergency room waiting area, at least one person is a sociopath. In a symphonic band, at least one musician is a sociopath. One in twenty-five people that you interact with during a day, pass on the street, walk by in the grocery store, share a bus, train, or plane ride with, or go on a date with have no empathy.

To give a sense of just how many people are walking around with this disorder, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the rate of people with anorexia is 3.43%. People with schizophrenia account for 1% of the population. The CDCAP calls colon cancer prevalence "alarmingly high" and yet only 1 in 2500 people develop this disease. So if sociopaths are so common in our society, why do most people not know about them and fall victim to their heartless behaviors?

The challenge is that sociopaths are often intelligent and charming in a very superficial way, so at first glance you would never know there is a problem. These people have learned how to behave in public to mimic concern for others. They parrot back things they have heard so that they can sometimes appear to be like everyone else, but according to Dr. Stout, they actually have limited emotional depth.

Sociopathic behaviors range from relatively harmless to the extreme homicidal killers. Although researchers are not entirely sure what causes this disorder, there is some correlation with childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma. Many sociopaths as children torture or even kill small animals, or torment other children and do not seem to have remorse. For most sociopaths, the usual things that matter to humans (like doing a good job, making a contribution to the world, treating people with kindness and respect, developing love and healthy relationships, etc.) do not matter; according to Dr. Stout, often the sole motivation for sociopaths is just winning. Therefore, sociopaths often latch on to people who have what they want, and they will go to any lengths to "win," often undermining people behind the scenes while pretending to be a great friend. Money is often a motivator for sociopaths, so they will often stop at nothing to get money, whether it is faking an illness or starting a fire to get insurance money, stealing, or lying. They believe they are entitled to getting this money, and they do not have fear of being caught. Because of this, they are often sloppy criminals, and do end up in the criminal justice system. (Many sociopaths actually study criminal justice and counseling so they will have a better understanding of what to expect and how to get around the system.) Sociopaths are notorious for being able to fool counselors and law enforcement officers because they are so charming. They often also learn to do some socially acceptable things that bring them praise so that they can point to these things as examples of how good they are. When caught for the bad things they do, they blame others or outright lie. Sociopaths often find themselves in leadership roles because people find them so charming and they often seem to be so kind and helpful that they appear on the surface to have the great qualities of a leader. But deep down, they are only focused on winning. For many, winning means putting and keeping others down, and some sociopaths make it into a game--taking pleasure from hurting others.

For the sociopath, lying, cheating, stealing, manipulating--even killing--is a game. But for those who fall into the traps of these dangerous people, it is life-changing and often a life-threatening experience. Sociopaths often find subtle ways to abuse their victims, making threats that stay under the radar (because they know what they can get away with without actually breaking the law) but these types of threats strike terror for people. For example, a sociopath might say something like "you should really be careful. I heard that there was a string of break-ins in your neighborhood. I'd hate to think someone would break into your house when you are asleep and kill you." Technically, the sociopath has done nothing wrong. If you call the police about this subtle threat, there is nothing really even to report. It just creates an underlying fear that even telling the police cannot take away.

If you find yourself dating or married to a sociopath, working with or for one, or otherwise involved with one, it can be incredibly traumatic. As someone who has been the target of several sociopathic individuals, I would highly recommend reading Dr. Stout's book. Counseling is extremely useful in working through the complex emotions that this form of abuse can cause. The Pyramid is also going to be focusing on personal wellness and safety over the next few weeks especially, offering a series of workshops, self-defense seminars, and more. We have invited the police department, fire department, substance abuse agencies, identity theft experts, and other agencies to come in and offer information and support on how to deal with threats to personal safety. We hope that this blog will raise awareness about this common but virtually unknown disorder, and that if you are dealing with someone like this, you will use this blog entry as a reminder of your ability to take control back of your life.

William Kelley, Ph.D.
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center
120 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
802-775-8080
www.pyramidvt.com
www.massageschoolvt.com
kelleyw@pyramidvt.com

Roll with the Punches

2010-01-20T11:37:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the biggest lesson that I have learned in my life came when I was 16 and had the opportunity to spend the summer touring Europe with a band--not a rock band, but a 120-piece symphonic band where I was lucky enough to be able to play both the alto and tenor saxophone. To a 16-year-old who had never left North America, it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me. The thought of spending the summer touring Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein (yes, Liechtenstein!) was almost more excitement than I could take. The other members of the band were students like me from all around New England. We spent my sophomore year preparing the music on our own, and then at the start of summer, we came together for a week of very intense practice to build our program. Then we were off, spreading the joy of music to anyone who wanted to hear.

Before we left for the intense week of practice, my band leader warned the six of us from our school who were going. "This experience is going to be one of the most memorable ones of your life," he said. "But I need to warn you. Coordinating 120 students and ten chaperones for months of travel in several different countries can be very difficult. Things never go as planned. No matter how well you prepare for something like this, the unexpected can happen and things can turn out nothing like you plan. So I am going to ask you all to be as flexible as you can going in to this and know that rolling with the punches is going to become your motto. View this as an adventure, and no matter what happens, it is what is supposed to happen."

At the time I did not really understand what he meant. But as soon as our plane landed at Heathrow International, I started getting a sense. Have you ever tried to travel with two suitcases and two saxophones by yourself? It was just like an "I Love Lucy" episode. I hadn't quite figured out how to carry everything yet, so the director told me he would carry my second saxophone--so I set it down prior to going through Customs, thinking he would pick it up. When we met up again on the other side of Customs, we chuckled at how long it had taken. Then we realized that neither of us had my second sax, but we could see it just over the line on the other side. In our post-9-11 era, this makes more sense, but to me, then, it made no sense...I asked one of the guards if I could just reach over the line and get the saxophone, but of course he would not allow that. They had to search the saxophone case and me, and I held up the entire group while they made sure I was not an international terrorist. And of course it just kept getting more and more bizarre. In our first night in London, one of our band members was sexually assaulted. In Paris a group of anti-Americans broke into our tour bus and stole everything--all of our passports, money, wallets, and cameras. (And a French horn, but we were not exactly sure why they would take that!) Then our tour bus broke down in Austria. Someone had a death in the family and had to arrange and emergency departure (which was delayed because we still did not have our passports back). During our last week, when most people were feeling very homesick to begin with, we visited Dachau, the concentration camp in Germany, where the stench of rotting flesh and spiritual energy of the pain that had happened there just forty years earlier was more than most of us could take. It was a sobering reminder of how life isn't always what you want or expect. I remember my very wise band leader telling us "just think of it all as a journey. It's all a ride. It's still going to be wonderful. You just can't let the troubles get you down."

For me, a small-city boy from New Hampshire, it was absolutely incredible to be halfway around the world, connecting with people who might not even speak our language. I took my band leaders' advice, and the day I got seperated from the group in Switzerland and had to walk through a French-speaking town to our concert site with two saxophone cases in the full heat of summer, lost and afraid I would miss the concert and be sent home, I chose to look at it like an adventure. Sure, there were members of our group who were upset that things didn't go just as the itinerary had outlined. People were angry because they were not able to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower due to high winds. People were angry and shocked that the people of Paris were not thrilled to have Americans there. People were angry because the bread tasted weird in Germany. And it was then that I realized that life is what you make of it. You have the power to choose. You can choose if you are going to go down that path of "poor me" or if you are going to look at life as an adventure.

And so since then but especially over the last three years of my life, I have tried to remember this lesson. Floods? Shoplifting? Family deaths and illnesses? What a ride! World issues? Earthquakes? Hunger? Horrible but part of the human experience.

In these times, we can either sit back and feel like victims, or we can roll with the punches. What can we do? Well, we can start by taking care of ourselves. You are no good to the world if you are not at your peak level of wellness. Many people sit at home and feel bad for the people of Haiti. Isn't it horrible? Yes, of course it is! But if you sit there and watch it on CNN and do nothing, nothing gets better. But if you are physically active and healthy, you might actually considering organizing a relief effort, or going down to help. Or maybe Haiti isn't where you feel compelled to help. Maybe you feel drawn to help people closer to home...putting together a collection drive of food for our local friends who are struggling this year.

The media talks a lot now about the doom and gloom prophecies of the world ending in 2012. Of course, these theories are loosely based on facts, but when you look at the actual prophecies themselves, you see that it is not the world that is ending, but the human systems that are currently in place. Communication, finances, social welfare...all of these things are changing. And for more humans, change is difficult. We had better learn to roll with the punches, or we are going to have a very difficult time as the world shifts.

Yes, life is tough. There is no question. As this New Year rang in, I looked back at my own life...all of the things that had happened in 2009. So many good things happened, despite the difficulties. And I realized that many people would be making their own New Year's resolutions. By this week in January, 70% of all New Year's resolutions are broken already. So my challenge to you is to do two nice things for yourself every day. To those of you who already do this and more, I commend you. You are in the minority now. So please take this as a reminder to continue your efforts. But for everyone else, consider which two things you would do for yourself if you could.

One thing is easy. Maybe you drink a glass of water. Maybe you go to the gym. Anyone can do one thing. But honestly, if you only do one good thing for yourself all day, that is not enough in this world to maintain wellness. What if you also got a massage, or went for a walk with a friend, or listened to your favorite music? What would the world be like if we all felt empowered to be the best we could be? What if we turned off the television for one night and did something? What if we all made our own health a priority?

Most of us use excuses about why we cannot focus on our wellness. Well, the car broke down, or I had a surprise visitor, or I ran out of cash easlier than I expected this week. Or it is too cold outside to walk so I am just going to stay inside until April. We all do this from time to time. We let the stressors and surprises of life prevent us from focusing on the most important thing in our lives.

But what if we took that same roll with the punches attitude about our wellness? Okay, so it is cold outside. Perhaps I could join a gym, or walk around the mall. I could climb stairs in tall buildings. So my car broke down...perhaps I have a friend who would also like to go exercise and would be willing to give me a ride. My surprise visitors showed up? What if I told them how happy I was to see them, but that I have to use this time to do Yoga--would they like to come with me, or would they prefer to wait here at home until I get back?

Believe me--I am not saying I am perfect. I never procrastinate about my own wellness and the wellness of others--but there certainly are other areas of my life that I do not focus on as much as I should. And I do understand how hard life can be sometimes. I understand that probably as well as anyone.

But I think if we all do at least two things every day for our wellness, this will be a major improvement for society. So I challenge you...try it for a week. See how it feels to focus on you and not let anything else prevent that. Roll with the punches, and see how far you can roll! I imagine that even you will be surprised at how far you can go!

Be well!
William Kelley
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center

Timeless

2009-12-17T11:27:00.000-08:00

Hello! I am going to try not to use this blog (too much) for shameless self-promotion...but I do want to let people know that I have a new CD coming out soon, which is called Timeless. This is similar to other instrumental CD's I have done in the past, except that its aim is even more at relaxation. In the last couple of years, I have become increasingly interested in the healing and relaxation qualities of not only music, but sounds, and have been experimenting with these in my music. This new CD has some very subtle sound frequencies that will really help people relax, balance the chakras, reduce pain, and more. So if you are looking for new music, I hope you will consider my new CD, expected to be released in the next couple of weeks.

Q: How is this CD like and unlike others you have done before?
A: Timeless is a themed collection--a collection that happens to focus on the notion of time. So much of our perceived stress is related to lack of time, or time constraints. So I became interested in the idea that perhaps we could actually use time to our advantage. What if we could use time to help us relax? The music ranges from simple and quiet pieces to very complex and lush arrangements. Like past CDs, the music all runs together in one continuous stream, allowing people to listen to it all at once and take a musical and wellness epic journey. It is also split up into tracks, so people can listen to their favorites if they don't have time. On this CD, I only used one percussion instrument, which is very different for me. Many of the arrangements have a suspended animation feel...like time is standing still. But most of the tracks are hypnotic, using binaural beats to induce a deep state of relaxation. People may not want to listen to this CD in times when they need to stay awake.

Q: What are binaural beats?
A: This is not new technology--it dates back to the 1800's. It has to do with using two different frequencies and playing them at the same time. The dissonance between the frequencies creates this third, "phantom" beat known as the binaural beat. It is this phantom beat that seems to have healing qualities on the body and mind.

Q. This sounds fascinating. Will you be doing more work with this in the future?
A: YES! In the very near future, with the help of fellow Pyramid team members Brad Young (counseling and EMDR), Raven Mardirosian (intuitive wellness), and Traci Pena (Program Director and Reiki), we will be releasing a new series of subliminal tracks that people can download from Amazon. They will offer assistance in healing from every ailment--from anxiety and depression to physical pain. They all include very positive affirmations recorded at a subliminal level. Watch for these coming very soon!

Q: Will Timeless be out before Christmas?
A: It is likely that this could happen, but I've learned not to put a time frame on things like this, because I am always surprised with how long some things can take. If not before Christmas, then right after.

Q: So will you be playing this soundtrack in the Salt Cave?
A: Yes! This CD will play exclusively at the Rutland Salt Cave. So people can expect that the new salt cave soundtrack will be even more relaxing than before!

Q: Can I listen to a sneak preview?
A: Yes! As a little tease, I have put a sample track on the Pyramid website:
www.pyramidvt.com/pyramid_holistic_wellness_center_017.htm

What are pre-release reviews saying?
"This disc is truly magical. It flows so well from one soundscape into the next. It was the most hypnotic thing I've ever listened to in all of my years of reviewing music." - James D. Ross, independent music reviewer

"A masterpiece!" - A. Franklin Gladstone, independent music reviewer.

"It put me to sleep...in a good way!" - Marilyn Richards, independent music reviewer.

COMING SOON to the Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center

I Choose Life...

2009-11-16T20:53:00.000-08:00

I am not one who likes to talk about my private life very much...unless there is a possibility that what I have to say might help someone else. And so in this case, I don't mind telling you that this is the eve of my mother's triple bypass and valve replacement surgery. Unfortunately this is not an elective surgery; my mother needs this surgery to live. Her doctors were very clear with us that without this surgery, she would not be around much longer. And so I should probably be getting a good night's sleep so I can be refreshed for the morning to help in whatever way I can from afar...but for whatever reason I think I will sleep much better if I write this now. I'm not sure if anyone even reads our blogs at the Pyramid...but I know for me, it feels like my personal responsibility to share this. And if one person is inspired by this story, I will feel better.

This started months ago...my mother started getting shortness of breath, and found that she was having trouble doing simple tasks. And yet my siblings and I were all going through lots of other challenges of our own so my mother did not want to bother or worry any of us, so she kept this to herself. She totally ignored the signs that there was something wrong and did not tell me because she knew the stress I was having already trying to rebuild the Pyramid and get the fire alarm done. When I think of the selflessness of my mother, I am reminded what a special person she is--and yet I am also frustrated because I know I can handle pretty much anything. It's going to take more than a fire alarm problem to get me flustered...so I wish she had just told me that she was having problems. I definitely would have taken her to her doctor, but I did not know.

On Halloween, it got so bad that she could not breathe...and so she drove herself to the hospital where she was immediately admitted. My sister called me with the news, and I went to see her in the hospital right away. This was where she confessed her sickness to us---it was heart failure. The doctors told us that her lungs had filled up with fluid--they weren't sure why, but that was why she was having trouble breathing and she could not sleep lying down. They worked for a few days to remove the fluid and then did some exploratory surgery and found that she was having leaks in her heart and valves were sticking. They discovered that she had had at least one major heart attack, probably a very long time ago, although she did not even remember a time when she might have had one.

They scheduled the surgery, and thankfully she has good enough medical insurance so she was not kicked out of the hospital as she waited.

In the midst of my focus on my mother, a very good friend asked me if I was at all concerned that I might have some undiscovered heart condition. Could it be that I had some genetic defect? Well, the likelihood of that is, of course, yes. My father had had several heart attacks in his life. His father had had heart attacks and struggled with angina his whole adult life. His father died of heart problems decades before I was born. Clearly my mother has had heart problems. Her brother had a heart attack. Their mother and father had heart problems. Almost all of them also had cancer in one form or another. Countless other relatives have heart and cancer problems. So there is a pretty safe bet that genetically I am predisposed to some of this stuff.

But many wellness practitioners (myself included) believe that most of what we deal with as health challenges is the direct result of our lifestyle choices. I would guess that more than 90% of what we experience is because of the way we live our lives, and 100% of it is because we are not living fully mindfully, or because we think ourselves to poor health. That means that less than 10% of what happens to us is because of heredity, and almost all of it can be prevented based on what we do and what we think.

So if 90% of it is what we choose, I choose life. Believe me, I have created a life for myself that is far from perfect for most people. But every chance I get, I exercise...at least daily. I do Yoga and meditate regularly. I try to live mindfully. I follow an almost vegan eating pattern. I don't use substances of any kind. Typically I get plenty of sleep. And I fill every moment of every day with joy. This has been my goal since I was a teenager. If I don't do these things for myself, there is no way I can be healthy.

But please don't misunderstand...this is not about arrogance or me fooling myself to think that my lifestyle is better than anyone else's. As I get older, I am increasingly turned off by the "perfect" people who who think they are "perfectly spiritual" because they spend some time at Kripalu and drink green tea and eat vegan. That may be part of a healthy spiritual program, but it is not all of it. Attitude and gratitude are a huge part of it--and I am so grateful to be surrounded by people at the Pyramid and beyond with amazing attitudes. The truth is that I see myself as just a regular person and my body is susceptible to all of the same ailments as everyone else. I am no better or worse than anyone else. I know for myself that taking the best care that I can of myself is the only way I am going to turn around this genetic code I have. The last thing I want is to come across like someone who thinks he is perfect or knows it all about everything wellness-related. This is not about perfection. It is about learning and sharing.

What I do know is that we are living in challenging times...but in some ways we are also living in the best of times. We have a system of Western medicine that is going to make sure my mother continues to live--I am sure of it. And we have ancient knowledge of a holistic nature to complement this medical technology. In short, we have the best of both worlds. And we have ultimate control over what we do to ourselves, even if we do not always believe that is so.

The people in my family that I listed with heart problems and cancer were also just regular people. But they grew up in times where it was fashionable to smoke cigarettes. Where a part of social wellness was sitting around a table and eating a delicious meal of fried foods--daily. Where exercise for the sake of exercising was a waste of time. Yoga? Meditation? Mindfulness? What sort of weird, New Age quackery was that?

We can blame ignorance for only so long before personal responsibility comes into play. I cannot blame my parents or their parents for not knowing any better. These were very intelligent people who were products of their time. And I could sit around and think "oh, poor me!" with a focus on my possible genetic heart problems. Or, I could choose to take charge of my life...and that is what I am doing now and will continue to do for as long as I have in this life.

As I get older, my level of compassion for people who continue to do unhealthy things to and for themselves yet complain that nothing in their lives is changing or that they are not getting any better is harder for me to uphold. I'm trying to support my mother right now with compassion, knowing that her lack of information about wellness probably caused her current illness--but also trying not to beat myself up for not being able to get it through to her before it came to this.

When I look at what people in general are investing their time and money and energy into, I become even more frustrated. Do you think cigarette companies are struggling financially right now? Sales may be down, but when your sales are so high to begin with and you've done everything in your power to get people addicted to your product, a slight decrease in sales may mean that your CFO cannot buy four luxury homes this year.

And yet I look at the current state of Vermonters' health. I have clients who feel forced to choose between food or medication. Some people are giving up their health club memberships or stopping working with a trainer because the price of cable has gone up. Some people are not getting a massage because the price of fuel has risen so much in the last couple of weeks and no one knows what it will do as we move through the heating season.

In the past I have written a lot about the importance of making wellness a priority. But now as I sit here just hours away from the physical trauma that is about to happen to my mother, I am more aware than ever that we MUST make wellness our priority. We MUST be mindful of our bodies, and we MUST NOT ignore the signs of our bodies because we do not want to be an imposition to our loved ones.

The time is now...we cannot wait until we have more time or money. The commitment to ourselves is the most important one we can make. What are we as a society waiting for?

So if you have bothered to read to the end of this blog post, I thank you--would you please keep my mother in your prayers or send Reiki or whatever else you do? And would you please do me a favor and turn off your text messaging for just a few moments and go for a walk? Would you please turn off the computer and go drink a glass of water? Would you please go smile at a stranger or do some other random act of kindness because you can? If you feel so inspired, would you please share this post with someone who might benefit?

Would you please commit to yourself...and choose life?
Be well!

William Kelley, Ph.D.
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center
www.pyramidvt.com

The Wellness Marketplace at the Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center

2009-10-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Recently I was interviewed for a magazine article on complementary medicine, and a part of the interview was focused on how can small retail stores survive. Since many people entering the Pyramid ask similar questions, I wanted to publish the transcript of that part of the interview here:

Q: Was it always your dream to own a wellness store?
A: Actually, no. If you had told me ten years ago that I would own a "store," I probably would've laughed at you because I am about as anti-commercialism as you can get. These huge commercial corporations that make a fortune off convincing people to buy stuff that they don't really need, or worse--when they make money off wellness products that people need to get well or even live--really bother me. I purposely shop at the small family-owned businesses whenever possible, because I know that it is hard for them in this economy to surivive with all of these big chains. Knowing how hard it is to run a small store these days, I never even considered it as something I would want to do.

Q: That's interesting. So how did you end up with your own store, and why is it the centerpiece of your wellness center?
A: Honestly, as we were designing the original Pyramid, each new practitioner that came aboard would say things like "can we sell this awesome product at the Center? I'd like to be able to offer it to my clients" and so I would keep saying yes, and before long, we had a huge collection of products that we wanted to be able to bring to the Rutland area. As word spread about what we were doing, we kept getting visited by sales representatives who also wanted us to carry their products. And honestly, it became kind of fun to me to test out the products and try to find other products that would fit nicely with our mission. I realized that I like to be a "buyer."
The other thing that happened was that I started seeing the actual prices that other businesses were paying for the merchandise, and realizing how much they were marking up things, and I became sick. I realized that by having my own store, I could actually only mark things up enough to make a reasonable living...and my theory was that if I kept prices really low, people would actually buy more, and if I only sold products that were good, solid products we believed in, I would feel good about offering great products at great prices.
The placement of the Wellness Marketplace was actually pretty funny. Originally where the store was at the old Pyramid, I had envisioned the Yoga studio. But during the creation of the business, I did a lot of meditating and asking for guidance, and what kept coming through was that the store should actually be the center point. The reason was simple--Americans have been highly socialized to stores--so coming into a holistic wellness center that is cleverly disguised as a store would probably make a lot of people feel more comfortable.
Now, we've greatly expanded our product lines at the new Pyramid. But we've really taken on this "support other local businesses" theme...and so most of our products are locally made. The Rutland area has a ton of very talented jewelry makers, for example...so we have lots of the local artwork whenever possible.

Q: And how does that artwork connect with the wellness theme of the place?
A: Artwork is vitally important to wellness on many levels. The creation of art itself for most people is therapeutic. And so from time to time we do have arts and crafts and jewelry-making workshops at the Pyramid. Next month we are going to be showcasing Mary Ellen Rudolph's egg painting...this is the most amazing thing I have ever seen--she takes tiny eggs and paints them in very complex patterns. It is a long process to make one egg, but it is so beautiful at the end.
Beyond that, having beautiful things in our environment helps us to stay positive and can impact the feng shui of our home or work. Taking into consideration color and placement, these original art pieces can really help us feel good.

Q: What about jewelry? Is that the same thing?
A: Yes. Most of the jewelry in the store is made from natural objects like gems, crystals, and stones. Although we make no medical claims about our jewelry, we do note that throughout history, people have believed that certain stones are good for improving different aspects of our wellness. So to be able to provide people with something original that they can wear that may improve their wellness, and support local artists, all at a low price, is amazing.

Q: I walked through the Marketplace and I was stunned. You have incredible pieces that even mass produced would cost hundreds of dollars elsewhere, and your prices were $10, $20, or $30. That is amazing!
A: It really is amazing. Obviously there are times when you want to have or give someone else some very classic jewelry like gold or diamonds. Downtown has several awesome jewelers that we often refer people to. But because we get our jewelry right from the designer and each piece is made of natural materials, we can offer these one-of-a-kind pieces at unbelievable prices. I always tell people that every piece in our store was made and picked personally to be at the Pyramid. When you buy something from us, you literally have a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Q: And you don't break the bank so you have enough left over to also get a massage.
A: Exactly!

Q: So why did you create this business in a place like Rutland, Vermont?
A: That is a great question. The simple answer is that I don't know...I just had a feeling. The more complex answer is that I was very cleverly guided to Rutland for other things and it just became clear over time that Rutland NEEDS this stuff. It may not realize that it needs it yet, but it needs the Pyramid. And so even though Rutland is a place where people typically are not as open or may be struggling financially, I am not going anywhere. The Pyramid is not going anywhere. We're doing fine...but I know that there are still tons of people for us to reach.

Q: So what is the secret of your success?
A: The incredible people I work with. I have found people who share this passion for wellness and have a personal mission to do good in the world. These people have a personal investment in seeing the Pyramid succeed--and they are just good, caring, fun people. The Pyramid team works tirelessly--doing anything they need to do to make it work. We have doctors cleaning toilets...practitioners carrying things up the steep staircases...instructors sweeping the floors. We're like a family...or, rather, a functional one. It is amazing.

Q: So tell me--what is your favorite product in the store?
A: Wow...that is a hard question because I love everything there. I guess I really love the essential oil line. I was hesitant at first to have these in the store because I didn't know how a high-end line would do in Rutland--especially when you can walk across the street to the dollar store and get similar scents. But what I have learned is that when it comes to oils that you are going to put on your skin, you do not want to skimp on quality. You only want natural stuff with no chemicals. And since I've seen the difference it has made in my life personally, I love having the oils and being able to share them with the community. I also love having Galen Berry's Marble Art in the store. That is another example of beautiful stuff--and each piece of marbled paper is its own original piece of artwork. The salt products have really been making a different in peoples' lives, so being able to offer them means a lot--because these are not only beautiful, but may improve peoples' lives.
As an almost vegan, it was also important for me to find a protein powder of the highest quality--not only to sell, but to use myself...and our fitness director introduced me to Jarrow Formula's whey protein. Wow, that stuff is incredible.

Q: So do you believe in everything you sell like that?
A: Absolutely! There is no way I could sell something I didn't believe in. I'm not a salesperson, although I'm sure people have sometimes mistaken my passion for wellness as "selling."

Q: What is the best part about owning your own store?
A: I guess just knowing that I am bringing some very unique products to a part of the country that would not normally have some of this stuff. I know that at the end of the day, I've given people the best products I could find that really will be helpful to them at a reasonable price.

Q: I read your last newsletter and I saw the piece you put in about some of your prices being high. Can you explain that?
A: Oh, sure. One of my friends came in one day and told me that she was buying a similar product that we sold at another store for somewhat less. I think she was probably embarrassed telling me, but it was actually very helpful to me. So I started looking into it, and sure enough, she was right--another store did have a similar product and they were selling it for 10% less than we were. I've also seen a situation where a chain store like TJMaxx gets stuff in that is similar to what we could sell, but it is WAY less. And the simple reason for that is that they have the buying power to buy in huge quantities for the whole chain at once, and so they can sell the products for way less than my cost. Basically, it comes down to the integrity of the distributor. I am really old-fashioned in my values, and if a distributor is operating in a way that is similar to my values, I will buy the product from him or her, even if it is slightly more expensive. As long as I know that the product is of the highest quality, I am okay with paying a little more for something so that I know I am supporting people with integrity.

Q: I see. Have you ever had a problem with that?
A: Yes. I have had salespeople tell me whatever they think someone in my position would want to hear. They make promises and then do not follow through. Primarily this has been in the advertising part of the business, but it has also been from sales distributors. As soon as I am lied to, or I feel like the person does not care about the product, or is not giving me the best price for my customers, I will not go through that person again...and I will switch to someone who will. Take the teas in our store, for example. We have the most delicious teas you can find anywhere. They are made in NY by a woman who scours the earth to find the absolute best ingredients to use in her teas. Her teas are actually served in the Natural Museum of History in NYC and lots of other great places like that. Typically her higher end teas are more expensive than Rutlanders are used to...but they are amazing and such high quality, and I like this woman's integrity so much that I continue to buy her teas. The reality is, we still sell the teas for $1.50/cup, which is reasonable for what you get. The difference is that I do not mark up the tea...we want people to be able to have an awesome tea while at the Pyramid. So our customers get a great product, and we are selling something I really believe in. Everyone wins.

Q: What is the hardest part about owning the store?
A: Honestly, it is not hard. If you run the store with compassion and keep the customer's needs at the forefront of everything you do, the store sort of runs itself. But there are some things that I do get concerned about, like advertising. In any given week, we are visited by 5-10 salespeople who want us to purchase advertising. They all have wonderful products, and we would love to be able to advertise with all of them...but financially that is just impossible. We've tried every type of advertising you can imagine, and honestly, the thing that works the best for us is word of mouth. When people come in and see all we have to offer, and they experience the outstanding customer service, they come back and bring their friends. We really hope our customers will help us spread the word, because Rutland needs wellness!

Q: What is the most frustrating thing?
A: I guess the shoplifting. I know I sound naive, but I never in a million years thought that shoplifting would be a problem at a holistic center. I know that our regular clientele would never think of stealing anything, let alone from us...but from time to time people do come in and help themselves. I don't think like that, so it is hard for me to imagine doing that. We've learned the tricks now that people use--and we've installed cameras so that every square inch of the retail area is seen and recorded. I just never thought I would have to do that. I don't like having to have signs up in the store to remind people about shoplifting. It seems tacky to me, honestly, but it's the only way I know to remind people. I'd like to think that karma would take care of anyone who steals, but in the meantime, I've got to find ways to keep the merchandise on the shelf. Maybe I should be flattered that it's a store that people want to steal from? That just seems wrong.

Q: How do you compete with other similar stores in the area?
A: Well, first of all, I don't believe in competition. I truly believe that we all have something unique and special and important to offer the world. And so even though you can get incense at a couple different places in Rutland, I know that our incense is unique. It is hand-dipped--by a real person in the US--without the use of chemicals so the smell doesn't overwhelm people when they walk in. And the best part is that the cost is incredibly reasonable for a hand-made product--just ten cents a stick. I know that the people who want this level of quality are going to come to us. And other people will like the incense offered by other establishments.
We do overlap a bit with the local food co-op in terms of our products, but mostly we have different brands or different selections of items. I feel a very comfortable comradarie with the co-op so I don't feel any competition there. We actually refer people back and forth all the time. I personally shop at the co-op as often as I can.
Otherwise, I do not think there are many places in our area that offer the types of things we offer. In general, I support every other local business. When your mission is truly to see people get and stay well, it doesn't matter to me where people get the products as long as they get them. And of course, as long as we stay afloat financially, it is all good!

Q: You have a really unique take on running a business. I don't usually meet someone who is so not focused on the money. Is that true--are you for real?
A: HA! HA! Of course I am for real. I learned a long time ago that if you focus on doing good work, the universe or God or whatever you want to call it will provide you with everything you need. And so I do try to not worry about money as much as possible and just focus on doing the best I can for our customers. So far that has paid off as despite floods and thefts and all of that stuff, we have survived...thanks to the hard work of our staff and the support of the community. We are all so grateful. The trick is really finding a balance between doing this work and managing the facility to make sure that every need is met and the bills are paid.

Q: You mention gratitude a lot. What role does that play in your business?
A: It is the focus of not only my business, but my life. It is a central tenant to the Yoga belief system I hold...and it goes to the core of my beliefs about the laws of life. We get what we focus on, quite simply. And when you acknowledge and express gratitude, you keep getting more good things, which allow you to do more good work, for which you can be more grateful for, which brings you more good. It's a cycle. And honestly, when I acknowledge gratitude, it feels great. The Pyramid is a huge complex, and there is no way I could run it myself without the help of lots of people. Our staff is the most amazing group of people you could imagine.

Q: I also saw in your newsletter some subtle jabs at pharmacies who claim to be holistic wellness stores. Can you say more about that?
A: Oh, please do not get me started on this because I don't know if I will be able to stop. I am usually a pretty mellow, easy-going person. And I do not believe in competition, and I believe in everyone's right to make a living in a way that works for them. But I find it very upsetting when a pharmacy creates an aisle of holistic wellness products and then calls itself a holistic wellness store. Now don't get me wrong--I really don't have anything against the pharmaceutical companies because a lot of their products do enhance peoples' lives and in some cases save lives. But I do have a problem when businesses make money through the pharmaceutical company but also pretend to be something they are not. Just be honest about what you are and your expertise. Don't try to be an expert in an area you are not. And I guess it wouldn't matter to me too much except that because they have the financial resources to do a ton of advertising, they are truly misleading the public about what holistic wellness really is. They are selling products that they may or may not know anything about...often at outrageous prices...and often they do not know how to instruct their customers on how to use these products. And they make disparaging remarks about us to their customers. For a long time I just bit my tongue about these wellness stores, but now that I realize the amount of money they are spending on advertising to try to convince the public that they are the best option for holistic products, I am extremely bothered. I want people to know that holistic wellness is something different than you can get from a pharmacy that markets itself as a holistic place.

Q: What is your funniest story about the store?
A: Well, at the time it wasn't really very funny, but soon after we opened the second location, a woman came in and talked to us for a long time. Then she explained that everything in our store was stuff that she wanted...and she started pulling tons of things off the shelf, asking us to wrap them up. She had a whole crate full of items by the time she was done, and everyone working that day had to help wrap up her items. She picked out lots of intricate things that had to be carefully wrapped, like gemstone chess sets, hand blown-glass products, and more. So while we were all frantically packing up her things, she said she was going to the parking lot to bring her car closer. Given the bags of items she was purchasing, this made sense...but she never came back! Now, I don't know if this is something she does regularly and it is a thrill to have so many people waiting on her, or if something weird happened and she had to leave...but she has not been back since. And we then had to unwrap every item and put it back on the shelf.

Q: Any advice you have to other store owners out there?
A: Well, I think the biggest thing I have learned is that the more diverse your offerings, the more likely you are to survive these difficult times. So I would suggest offering multiple lines of products. And like I said earlier, just focus on doing a great job for your customers and everything else seems to fall into place!

The quick fix

2009-10-11T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome to the Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center blog. I don't actually know if anyone will ever read these posts, but for me, as someone who is a writer at heart, and someone with a LOT to say about wellness, this is a fantastic outlet. So if you have found it, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my ideas.

This week especially I have been thinking about "the quick fix." It all started with an interesting conversation I was having with Dr. Smiechowski as we were driving around Rutland in her convertible with the top down and bamboo trees sticking out the back. (This might sound normal, except that it was a cold, rainy October day in Vermont...but when you need some bamboo trees and you don't have a truck, you do whatever you have to do...) Anyway, we were talking about our work, and how we have really been lucky to be able to work with some amazing clients. But then the conversation shifted to the notion that despite our efforts, some people just do not understand what holistic wellness is. Some people come in to meet with us and expect us to do something magical or prescribe a holistic pill that is going to "cure" them of what they are struggling with. Unfortunately, that is not holistic wellness.

Clearly we live in a time where people have come to expect everything instantaneously--from drive-through banks and fast food restaurants to the information superhighway--the Internet--where it is possible now to find almost anything you want in seconds. Unfortunately, this same mentality has carried over into the medical field. People go to a doctor where they may sit and wait like cattle in a room full of sick people. The doctor, if you are even lucky enough to see a doctor, may or may not know anything beyond your name. Because the doctors often have large numbers of patients to see, they need to look at you as quickly as possible, and then will usually prescribe a medication or medications for you, or send you off to a "specialist" where this whole process is repeated. Then you go to a pharmacy and wait for them to dispense your medications, which you take and expect to get better. Even our antibiotics have become susceptible to the desire for a quick fix...at one time almost all antibiotics were prescribed for ten days--now, we even have some that can "fix" you in as little as one to three days!

So often when people decide to explore holistic wellness options, they come in with the same philosophy of expecting an expert to look at them quickly and make a quick fix recommendation. Now, don't misunderstand--sometimes the fix is quick and easy. But most of the time, by the time you are aware of a problem with your body, it is beyond the point of an easy fix.

A true holistic practitioner is almost never going to give you a quick fix. Instead, they are going to educate you about what is happening and why, and act more like a coach to help you make the long-term changes required to make lasting benefits to your wellness.

For example, here is a common problem we see at the Pyramid...someone will come in and say he or she is having problems sleeping. After the initial examination by the holistic practitioner, the practitioner will most likely make some lifestyle change recommendations to allow the person to come back to being able to sleep soundly. Unfortunately, many people are not willing or able to make these changes...they just want to be prescribed something "natural" to get to sleep. The irony of this is that the only true natural way to sleep is to allow your body to sleep when it is tired and wake when it is rested. Using any invasive substance to help you sleep is not natural at all, whether it came from a pharmacy or it came from a plant. So lifestyle changes are usually what is required to get your sleep back on track.

Often, sleep troubles are the result of stress...and so the best, most natural course of action is to find ways to relieve stress. Sometimes it has to do with food and beverage intake, and so dietary changes are required. Sometimes it even has to do with the amount and time of physical activity, and so changes in this area may be the best course of action.

Sometimes there are homeopathic remedies, herbs, or acupuncture needles that will help. But these are not usually instantaneous fixes. Often these will help set up the possibility of success, but the client must accept responsibility for his or her own well-being and actually make the lifestyle changes necessary to make sure that the desired result occurs.

Sure, this is different from the way traditional Western medicine works. It is different from what people usually expect and want. But there are lots of benefits to doing things the holistic way. First, if you are having trouble sleeping, there is usually an underlying cause. So just taking a medicine to help you fall asleep does not actually address the cause...and often people are stuck taking sleeping pills for the rest of their lives. No matter what the substance, taking anything long-term puts pressure on your liver and stresses your whole body. Over time, some medications can actually become toxic. So masking the symptom (trouble sleeping) does not relieve the stress of what is causing the problem. Granted, some people do not care as long as they sleep. But by learning the true cause and by making often subtle but powerful lifestyle changes, one can learn how to improve the overall quality of life for the rest of the life. Lifestyle changes often also have no side effects except improved wellness and perhaps even confidence and self-esteem. Most people actually report feeling happier and more energized when using holistic methods, too.

From our perspective at the Pyramid, it is a no brainer. When you need Western medicines, by all means, use them. But for something like problems sleeping, the best long-term solution is to figure out what is causing the lack of sleep, and then do something to fix it.

Another example that I work with a lot is depression. Many times people will come in to counseling because they are feeling depressed. Sometimes the reason is very clear--and it is a situational depression. That is, "event A" occurs which makes the person feel depressed. So the solution is either to eliminate "event A" or change how one feels about it. Taking any sort of medication might help reduce the symptoms of depression, but a person is not really going to feel fully better until "event A" is no longer a threat. And of course, it is only natural for humans to feel sad from time to time. This is a normal part of the human experience.

Other times, however, the cause of the depression is not as obvious. Sometimes people come to a counselor expecting that the counselor is going to tell him or her what to do. Unfortunately, healing from emotional difficulties is no easier than healing from physical ones. Like with the problem of sleep, people with depression may need to make minor or major lifestyle adjustments to achieve the desired result. And of course, there may be homeopathic remedies, herbs, acupuncture needles, or a regimen of self-care that might help, but lasting change is going to come only from the client accepting responsibility for his or her own wellness. Of course, one of the problems with depression is that it usually includes a complete lack of motivation for doing the things we know would help us...but that is where a good holistic wellness practitioner comes in--someone to help coach you through the difficult times.

Of course, there are times where the quick fix is important and even necessary. If you are having a heart attack, for example, you probably do not want to reach for an herbal supplement. You are probably going to want to get to the emergency room as quickly as possible and take everything that they offer you to quickly save your life. But if the problem is not yet life-threatening, holistic wellness may be a good course of action, or at least a supplement to traditional medicine.

But if you find a practitioner claiming to be holistic who offers a quick fix, you should probably be skeptical. There are undoubtedly some exceptions to this rule. Some modalities do work quickly for some problems. For example, Bowen therapy does wonders for helping reduce the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome very quickly. Reiki often helps immediately reduce pain associated with cancer. Simple homeopathic remedies will virtually eliminate the symptoms of ADHD. Quantum biofeedback can help wipe out other ailments. But in general, promises of quick fixes in the holistic field are red flags.

However, there are lots of wonderful practitioners out there who are qualified and ready to help you take over your own wellness care and make lifestyle changes. As the health insurance industry changes rapidly, it is becoming more and more apparent that we as human beings must take charge in managing our own wellness care. Stories of insurance companies not covering necessary treatments abound on the Internet. More and more, people need to accept the responsibility for their own lives.

Here are some simple lifestyle changes you can make immediately to help improve the quality of your life:
1. Eliminate high fructose corn syrup and refined sugars from your diet.
2. Reduce white bread and pasta intake and increase whole grain intake.
3. Replace soda and juice with water as often as possible.
4. Increase fruit and vegetable intake, taking care to include a rainbow of foods every day.
5. Eat organic and local whenever possible.
6. Reduce portion sizes.
7. Find a regular routine to reduce your stress.
8. Get your heart up every day for at least 20 minutes.
9. Get plenty of sleep and rest.
10. Minimize substance use and eliminate addictions.
11. Find natural ways to detox your body to keep everything functioning as well as possible.
12. Plan regular fun in your life.

Our commercialized society would like us to believe that it is vitally necessary to buy $6 lattes or drive the sharpest looking car or even use a medication to help us with a problem we didn't even know we had. (The other day I saw an ad for a medication to help people grow thicker eye lashes!) But there is another way...a holistic way...an empowering way. There is nothing more powerful to know that you created your own state of wellness by the choices you make. And that can ultimately be more empowering than turning over your own health for a quick fix.

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!
Ideas? Thoughts? Comments? E-mail me!

Dr. William Kelley
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center
120 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
802-775-8080
www.pyramidvt.com
kelleyw@pyramidvt.com

Introduction

2009-10-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

Greetings and welcome to the first posting on our new blog site!
If I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting you, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. William Kelley, and I am the owner and one of the practitioners at the Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center in downtown Rutland, Vermont. But this blog is really not about me at all--it's about you. Or, rather, it's about the current state of wellness in the world, and how you can find a "home" in our wellness community. Whether you are brand new to thinking about holistic wellness, or you are a holistic wellness expert in your own right, the Pyramid is a place for everyone to come together and teach and learn with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of EVERYONE's life.

The story of the Pyramid is very interesting, actually. (And you can read more about it at our website, http://www.pyramidvt.com/.) Basically, to sum things up, I was working at a small liberal arts college doing a job I absolutely loved, but feeling the deep yearning to do something more. As a psychologist/mental health counselor, hypnotherapist, musician, fitness instructor, and Reiki Master Teacher, I've had a wide variety of work-related experiences in my past, and I knew that there was somehow going to be a way for me to combine all of my interests into one career. So one day while raking my leaves, I just asked. It's amazing how we sometimes forget that we have the ability to get the answers we need--often just from the simple task of asking. So I asked for some guidance...some direction...I meditated on it, and as I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth, I saw a "vision." It was a row of practitioner spaces, and although I didn't know where it was, I did know that it was a new kind of place for Vermont...a place that combined everything I love to do, but also had tons more practitioners, and we would all come together to create a place of peace, where everyone would be welcome.

From there, I just started talking to my friends about my vision, and piece by piece, things fell into place for the Pyramid to start. There is obviously a lot more to it that I won't drone on and on about...I understand what are exciting details to me are probably not as exciting to everyone else. (I'm happy to talk with you about more of the details if you like, though!) Suffice it to say that to me, it was like magic the way everything came together...and the calling for me to do this became stronger.

Although no job is really, truly, 100% safe these days, I felt like I left a rather safe and comfortable position at the college to do this. I wouldn't say it was my dream...more like my mission. And I recognize it was a huge risk at the time, but I wasn't scared at all. I didn't have any doubts, because I knew on some level that this was all going to work because it was supposed to work. At the risk of sounding insane, I do know that I was being directed and assisted in allowing the Pyramid to develop. It was miraculous. But even more miraculous was the way everything came together to allow this to happen.

At each step of the way, the exact right person has shown up in my life. I needed the confidence to get this started, and then BOOM! There is Pat Murphy who tells me that there is no reason why this cannot happen now. Although it was work, the finances all fell into place and the right location at the time opened up at the exact perfect moment. All of my friends (Mara, Mark, Martha, Brian, Becky, Matt, and so many more!) pitched in to help with the initial building of the Pyramid...it was amazing. And then those who would become the core of the Pyramid staff--Margaret, Josh, and Darya--each ended up crossing paths with me in different and interesting ways, and "coincidentally" we were all in a position to be able to immerse ourself in the development of this very special place. Along the way, other people have come and just at the right time added their energy to push us to the next step...Traci, Darci, Karen, Jane, Alison, Bryn, Kammie, Gianna, Lina, Zach, Scott, Raven, ...and the rest of the gang each came and added their expertise. And as they say, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. What has emerged over the last two years has been entirely unbelievable! I cannot tell you how much gratitude I feel for each and every person who has helped...and for all of the clients who have helped us stay afloat through good times and bad.

Certainly our very well-publicized catastrophe (when the downtown Rutland area was flooded on June 14, 2008) is familiar to anyone who lives locally--and this caused us to have to move to our new location. While it was certainly a trying time, like most traumatic events, they do lead to something positive on the other side. Forcing us to move gave us the opportunity to re-build the Pyramid--having had the benefit of being open for almost a year, we knew what worked and did not work in the old location, so we were able to rebuild. And it was our goal to make the new Pyramid (which we call "P-2") bigger, stronger, better, and even more affordable.

You see, center to our philosophy about wellness is that it should be affordable. We are completely turned off by elitism that exists in our industry...especially when it comes to Americans who do not really understand the ancient history of the modalities they practice. For example, take Yoga...many Yoga instructors have a very strong elitist attitude...only taking Yoga from certain instructors who have trained in a certain style of Yoga or with a certain instructor. But Americans have only borrowed Yoga from India...and unfortunately borrowed only the parts of it that fit with American ideas about wellness. So many peoples' experience with Yoga is just doing the physical asanas or breathing--yet they do not even know about the other principles of Yoga. In short--many people are totally missing the point of Yoga because they are so caught up with who taught whom. At the Pyramid we only have instructors who have excellent credentials--but our instructors have down-to-earth attitudes that make the whole system of Yoga achievable to our clients.

Beyond our desire to eliminate elitism, we also work hard to keep costs down while operating a sustainable, environmentally-friendly business. Naturally we are a business when it comes down to it, and we have to pay our expenses and eat, but the philosophy at the Pyramid is that if we have many things going on at once, all of these things can share the operating expenses, and therefore we can afford to offer products and services at lower prices. Our classes, for example, are $6 each...and I have had the situation where in my Yoga class, there is a billionaire sitting next to someone who scraped quarters from the laundrymat floors to be able to pay for class. And for that hour, socioeconomic matters do not matter--we are all just people trying to achieve and maintain wellness. Our services are also incredibly reasonable for a small city downtown...most services are $30 or $60 per hour. And you may be able to find less expensive services if you go to individuals, but when you come to the Pyramid, you get a lot of extras...such as top-notch customer service, a comfortable, peaceful waiting area, and other perks that you would not get elsewhere. At the Pyramid, you are a person--and we look at you that way. We try to get to know you. And our mission is that every single person who enters the Pyramid will leave feeling a little bit better than when they arrived.

In addition to cost, we have created one of the most unique menus of wellness services around, focusing on all areas of total fitness. So whether you are interested in improving your physical fitness by working with a trainer or taking Pilates or Yoga, or you are interested in improving your health by working with our homeopathic doctor, acupuncturist, or one of the ten massage therapists...or you are interested in improving your emotional wellness by working with one of our six highly-trained and experienced counselors or hypnotherapists, the Pyramid is here for you. Since we are open seven days a week and offer daytime, evening, and weekend appointments, we can meet with you at your convenience, not at ours. Please see our website for our complete line-up of services.

One thing we love to do it put together a mini-spa day for individuals or groups. Because we have everything right here and our prices are affordable, for less than what you might expect to pay for one hour at an expensive spa or clinic, you can spend a whole day at the Pyramid. So let us know what you like to do, and allow us to create the perfect mini-vacation for you!

Our salt cave is currently only one of two public caves in North America that use Himalayan salt. (Although as I write this, more caves are being built!) There are other caves in Chicago, Miami, and Toronto that use other forms of salt...but nothing is as pure or healing as Himalayan salt. And with North America's foremost expert on Himalayan salt on our staff (Dr. Margaret Smiechowski), you are in good hands here whether you are just using the cave for relaxation, or you are using it under the supervision of a doctor for a medical condition. Regardless, the salt cave is just one of the many things that makes our Center special.

Or if you are looking for truly unique gifts that will help improve the wellness of your loved ones, the Pyramid Wellness Marketplace is a shopping destination! Filled with 90,000 products, our items are all one-of-a-kinds. You will find things here that are not usually available in rural areas like Vermont. From our hand-dipped incense (which are more subtle for those with sensitivities to chemicals!) to our amazing collection of books published here in Vermont, to the music CD's, Yoga DVD's, and our extensive collection of gems and crystals, you will find something for everyone here. In general, our prices are amazingly affordable...lower than most similar stores. However, we also believe in old fashioned values of taking care of the customer...so with some of our items, we have them in the store even though they are more expensive because they are of the highest quality, or we really support the person or company who sold us the items because of their business values. In other words, I will happily sell you something at a higher price than the store across the street if it came from a company that created it with care and treated us right during the sales process. Regardless, you can come to the Pyramid and shop in the tranquil, bright, open Marketplace...forget the crowds...allow our staff to help you find just what you are looking for.

The other great thing about the Marketplace is that we will not sell any homeopathic or other remedies that could be harmful to you. Other stores claiming to be "holistic" or "homeopathic" place these items on their shelves without fully understanding what they are selling...and without anyone on staff who has a lifetime of knowledge. At the Pyramid, every person behind the counter is also a practitioner...and all of the practitioners here have dedicated their lives to holistic medicine.

Unlike pharmacies who sometimes advertise themselves as being "holistic," we don't make our money off the sales of prescription medications. We actually make our money by providing a really high quality service at reasonable prices--by caring about seeing that our clients actually get matched up with products and services that will be helpful--not harmful.

And it is truly the people at the Pyramid that make the difference...our practitioners and instructors are truly amazing. Every day I cannot wait to get to work to see my coworkers who I feel are my friends and adopted family. We have so much fun together. Don't get me wrong--we work very hard...but in this caring environment that has formed here at the Pyramid, it is hard to feel like we are working.

We are truly blessed to be able to be part of this amazing center.

But our work is hardly done...for now that the Pyramid is built (and rebuilt), the next phase of our existence is really dedicated to education. And that is in part why we have started this blog. Have you ever read a newspaper or magazine and found contradictory information about health? Of course you have--because wellness is in many ways an art, not a strict science. We call it medical "practice" rather than medical "perfect"--the so-called experts in our society are at best caring humans who want to make a difference...but the human body is so complicated that one field of study cannot pretend to answer it all. In many ways, we live in the best of times because we have the knowledge and technology of today--but we also have the ancient wisdom. And the best practitioners I know live in modern times but are able to blend the best of both worlds. We at the Pyramid have a strong respect for Western medicine...but we also have a strong respect for the ancient wisdom of our ancestors. And we believe strongly in the benefits of holistic wellness rather than just treating someone's symptoms.

More importantly, we believe that there is so much misinformation out there about wellness--much of it even potentially harmful. Companies trying to sell you products and services will say just about anything within what is allowed by the FDA to make you give them money. They bank on the idea that humans want the quick fix.

So please check back on our blog site regularly for more information. I will often post information as I get it that is reliable...and I will welcome your comments and questions. From time to time I may also post relevant information from other experts in the area and beyond...regardless, you can count on this blog site as a place for good, solid information.

If you've read this far, you probably have been sitting at the computer for too long...now, go stretch or drink a glass of water.. ; ) Thanks so much for reading, and we are so glad you've joined us on the quest for wellness!

Be well!

Dr. William Kelley
Pyramid Holistic Wellness Center
120 Merchants Row
Rutland, VT 05701
802-775-8080
www.pyramidvt.com
kelleyw@pyramidvt.com