Can Rutland support another gym? No!

"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!

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

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.

Roll with the Punches

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

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...

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

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!