Haas Wellness Centers at the Arboretum is the first doctor’s office in the area to offer Zerona Laser treatment for the reduction of accumulated body fat. This FDA-approved fat reduction laser was recently featured on the show The Doctors, where it received rave reviews from their panel of experts.

In a recent controlled study, more than 80% of patients treated with the Zerona™ laser demonstrated a significant decrease in the circumference of their waist, hips or thighs just three weeks after beginning treatments. “The treatment is especially beneficial for those patients who are already dieting and exercising, but have trouble spots that haven’t responded to their efforts,” says Haas.

The laser works by temporarily creating a hole in the fat cell, allowing liquefied fat to leak into the surrounding tissue where it is excreted naturally. There is no surgery, bruising, or downtime associated with the procedure. The typical Zerona™ Laser Liposculpture treatment takes about an hour and requires six to ten treatment sessions over a two-week period of time. 

For more information visit www.doctorhaas.com or call 704-837-2420.  

Ayurveda for Women Classes Living an Ayurvedic Lifestyle

Gather with other women beginning October 21st and learn how integrating Ayurveda into your life can help restore balance to your body, mind and soul. Ayurveda, often translated as “science of life”, is the system of health and healing native to India that emphasizes balancing the body systems to promote self-healing.

Christine O’Dell will teach how restructuring one’s life to align with the course of nature promotes a higher state of health. "The guiding principle of Ayurveda is that balance in the body is brought about by contacting our own awareness and expressing our true inner nature,” says O’Dell. “Practicing an Ayurvedic lifestyle helps a woman become well established in herself so she radiates health, harmony, joy and peace.” O’Dell is a Women’s Wellness and Spirituality Coach who strives to empower, support and inspire women to become their most powerful, joyful and authentic selves.

Classes held at Consciousness Gathering Room at 5200 Park Road, Bldg. 2, Suite 131 on 10/21, 10/28 and 11/4 from 6:30 – 9pm. Cost: $22 per class; attend one class or all three. Registration/Info:  (704) 989-1830, www.christineodell.com or [email protected].  

Tai Chi in the NC Mountains Retreat with Eric Sbarge

Modern science has begun to learn how tai chi can help reduce stress, improve a variety of health conditions, and even help people lose weight without straining the body.  Local tai chi expert Eric Sbarge will be holding a retreat October 23-25 in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

With approximately twenty percent of the world practicing tai chi or qigong in some form, the event will feature applications, theory, and techniques of the ancient martial art.  “Over the years, many Westerners are becoming more aware of the therapeutic benefits of tai chi practice,” says Sbarge, who has practiced tai chi for over 30 years.

The event will feature practice in authentic and traditional tai chi, qigong, Cha’an (Zen) meditation and Shaolin Yoga and is open to ages 13 to seniors, beginners or advanced practitioners.

For information visit www.thepeacefuldragon.com or contact Eric Sbarge at 704-504-8866.     

BePeace Foundations Course Master the power of heart wisdom

Unity of Charlotte will host Bepeace - a 40-hour experiential workshop in which participants use easy-to-learn techniques to master the power of heart wisdom through scientifically proven methods. They also become skilled at using compassionate language to resolve conflicts and enrich their lives and the lives of others.  

Bepeace is a powerful synergy between coherence for “feeling peace” and connection to universal needs through empathy and honesty for “speaking peace.” Upon completing the Course, participants are able to start their own BePeace groups. Classes will be led by Dr. Rita Marie Johnson who founded the Academy of Peace in Costa Rica where all children are taught these skills as part of the required curriculum in the schools. 

Classes will be held Monday, November 2- Friday November 6 from 8:30am- 5:30pm each day. Information/registration: 704-523-0062 or www.unityofrcharlotte.org.  

CMC-Mercy Adopts Planetree Model of Healthcare

Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy is the first hospital in NC to use the Planetree model of healthcare - a patient-centered, holistic approach to healthcare, promoting mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and physical healing. It empowers patients and families through the exchange of information and encourages healing partnerships with caregivers. It seeks to maximize positive healthcare outcomes by integrating optimal medical therapies and incorporating art and nature into the healing environment.

Features at CMC-Mercy include 24-hour visitation, music therapy, pet visitation, aromatherapy and a planned healing garden.  The hospital also has an impressive visual art collection comprised of original pieces of artwork from local and regional artists. 

   “The arts contribute to and support an individual’s sense of well-being and enhance the experience of families and staff,” explains Phyllis Wingate-Jones, President of CMC-Mercy. “We have a visual art collection that is built on our belief that hospitals can and should be healing environments for all who enter our doors.”  

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony, art tour and reception on Oct. 12 from 3-6pm. and a Patient-Centered Care Community Day on Nov. 1 from 1-4pm. To learn more, visit www.cmc-mercy.org/spiritofmercy.  

Charlotte Fine Art Show Oct 24 & 25

The 2nd Annual Charlotte Fine Art Show will be held October 24 & 25. Juried artists from around the world will sell their work in all forms of media including paintings, clay, glass, sculpture, wood, fiber, photography, and more. Many of the world’s preeminent artists will exhibit. For some, this will be their only event in North Carolina.   

The Institute for Arts & Education, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, will provide live art demonstrations and children’s art activities. Stop at The Mint Museum booth for a virtual tour of Charlotte’s new Mint Museum Uptown. Enjoy live entertainment, as well. “Our goal is to create an atmosphere that enhances the artwork and creates a relaxing environment for art lovers,” says show director Patty Narozny. 

She says this event is unique, from the indoor setting to the quality and variety of fine art. “There is something for everyone at this event.  Dad can relax in alfresco while enjoying the sounds of various musicians; the kids can create refrigerator quality masterpieces in the kid's art section and others can enjoy the time selecting that perfect art work for their living room, bedroom, kitchen or garden.”

The event is open on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 from 10am-5pm at The Park (formerly known as the Merchandise Mart, Freedom Hall, 2500 E. Independence Blvd. For more infor visit www.hotworks.org.  

Breathe Organic Massage Goes Green

Breathe Organic Massage, owned by massage therapist Jonathan Winn, now incorporates as many sustainable materials as possible.  "I feel it's important for each of us to do what we can within our means to live more consciously.   At Breathe Organic Massage, I use certified organic massage oil, essential oils and linens.  I also designed the interior of the studio using eco-friendly products such as low-VOC paints, vintage furniture and reclaimed wood art.  Even my table is PVC-free," states Jonathan. "We can change the world by changing our own micro-worlds that we live and work in each day."

Info: www.breatheorganicmassage.com or 704-808-9977.   

Isha Yoga Inner Engineering 7-day program Nov 11-17

Isha Yoga will offer a week long Inner Engineering intensive program for personal growth. The program and its environment establish the possibility to explore the higher dimensions of life and offers tools to re-engineer one's self through the inner science of yoga. Once given the tools to rejuvenate, people can optimize all aspects of health, inner growth and success. For those seeking professional and personal excellence, this program offers keys for meaningful and fulfilling relationships at work, home, community, and most importantly, within one's self.

Inner Engineering can be thought of as a synthesis of holistic sciences to help participants establish an inner foundation and vision for all dimensions of life and find the necessary balance between the challenges of a hectic career and the inner longing for peace and well being. The approach is a modern antidote to stress and presents simple but powerful processes from yogic science to purify the system and increase health and inner well being. Program components include guided meditations and transmission of the sacred Shambhavi Maha Mudra. When practiced on a regular basis, these tools have the potential to enhance one's experience of life on many levels.

The program will be held at the Holiday Inn - Billy Graham on Nov 11-17. A free introductory talk will be held Oct 3 from 4:30-5:30pm at South County Regional Library, 5801 Rea Road. Info: 704-503-1904, 646-285-2879, www.innerengineering.org or www.ishafoundation.org.    

 Cherrystock Sustainable Living Festival Oct. 17

The first Cherrystock Festival will take place Oct.17 at Charlotte Energy Solutions in the historic Cherry Community of Charlotte. The brainchild of environmentalists Mark Englander and Mike Gorman, Cherrystock is a benefit for the Community Charter School and the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Soup Kitchen Program which feeds hungry people in the neighborhood every Wednesday.

Englander is a longtime resident of Cherry and owns Charlotte Energy Solutions, a store in the neighborhood that offers environmentally friendly products for transportation, energy consumption, and water conservation. He and Gorman wanted to do a green event to benefit and celebrate the Cherry Community.

Highlights include: live music, fresh local barbeque and vegetarian foods, numerous green exhibits, a tour of Historic Cherry, and a Trash Man performance by local mime artist Hardin Minor. Kids can enjoy storytelling, musical instrument making with recyclable materials and animals from Reedy Creek Park.

“Best of all, the PA equipment will be powered by a generator using pure vegetable oil biodiesel and the speakers/exhibitors and food vendors will be powered by a solar charging station,” says Englander. “All cups, plates and cutlery used at Cherrystock will be biodegradable and compostable.”

Cherrystock will be taking form 2-9pm at Charlotte Energy Solutions, 337 Baldwin Avenue. Info: 704-333-4358.