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From comedy to edible landscapes, the 5th Annual Snowmass Wellness Experience, showcases the variety of flavors, products and practices of healthy living and environmental well-being.
A tasting of organic spirits and wine launches the weekend. Peak Spirits, the first distillery in the United States focused on making premium products from locally grown or sourced organic produce, hosts the event. Later, comedian Steve Bhaerman, aka Swami Beyondananda, demonstrates wellness through laughter in a show especially amusing to those centered on spiritual and personal growth, and environmentalism.
Organic food cooking demos and tastings, keynote lectures, a series of workshops and a variety of physical activities fill Saturday from 8 a.m. to late into the evening. Participants can start the morning with meditation, followed by yoga and Pilates sessions.
During the mid-day cooking demonstrations, organic chefs Dava Parr and Clark Church show how to use locally harvested vegetables, fruits and meats to create tasty dishes. Wellness guru Ricki McKenna gives healthy living tips and talks about how eating foods from the earth improves your health. Those who attend also have the opportunity to sample the chefs' creations.
Saturday afternoon offers several healthy living workshops. Among them, Mariana Bozesan, author of Diet for a New Life, shares simple solutions to meaningful weight loss. Later, she presents Healthy Snacks For People, Families On-The-Go while a chef creates delicious fast and nutritious snacks for health and vitality.
In addition to giving an inspirational talk on living in the moment, David Romanelli, Yahoo's Mind-Body Expert, presents Yoga + Wine. This vinyasa yoga workshop teaches that a human being can model the aging process after one of the few things that ages well — a bottle of wine. At the end of class, participants taste several Sicilian varietals.
Saturday evening, Snowmass Wellness Experience features its keynote speakers. Horticulturalist Barbara Damrosch presents Beauty and Bounty in a Cook's Garden, describing how a kitchen garden can be a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. She also relates stories about Four Season Farm. This experimental market garden in Harborside, Maine produces vegetables year-round and has become a nationally recognized model of small-scale sustainable agriculture.
Next, nationally renowned organic farmer Eliot Coleman presents Beyond Organic: The Promise of Future. During his talk, he explores the how-to's of organic agriculture and discusses the benefits of a plant-positive as opposed to a pest-negative philosophy of agriculture.
Early Sunday morning, participants can experience the natural beauty surrounding Snowmass during the Mind-Body Bootcamp, an invigorating aerobic/anaerobic morning workout on the trails. Or they can opt for yoga and Thai massage. Later, David Romanelli presents the Chocolate Chakra Tour, a deep stretch yoga session during which he explains the chakra system. Participants savor an exotic chocolate truffle for each of the seven chakras. Vinyasa yoga and Pilates mat classes are offered in the afternoon.
Mid-day, Jerome Osentowski, founder and director of the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, presents a slide show on growing and eating environmentally friendly living foods. Afterwards, he speaks on How to Create Your Indoor and Outdoor Edible Landscape and shares the benefits of incorporating edible plants into a residential landscape.
Sunday's cooking demo, Natural Foods & Organic Foods — What Is The Difference?, clarifies what various food labels and designations mean. During the demo, Chef Kendra Wilcox discusses such topics as farming methods for pest prevention, FDA food labeling guidelines, methods of preserving foods and the importance of buying local seasonal produce.
Throughout the weekend, everyone can explore the shopping expo and the organic farmers market. The expo showcases some 35 vendors of cutting edge products and techniques for healthy living, well-being and green awareness. The organic farmers market offers local, sustainably grown foods and the opportunity to talk to local and regional farmers about their practices.
Before departing, participants can wrap up their wellness experience by moving into the deep peace and calm of a guided meditation session.
IF YOU GO
For detailed information, visit www.snowmasswellness.com or call 1-800-SNOWMASS.
Dates: Friday, August 15 to Sunday, August 17, 2008.
Tickets: A variety of passes are offered. They include Friday Evening; Yoga, Pilates & Nature Hike; Keynote Speakers; All Access Day Pass (excluding keynote speakers); and All Access Weekend Pass. Prices range from $30 to $175. All ticket holders receive one complimentary treatment (mini-facial, table or chair massage, manicure or pedicure) at the Aspen Spa & Club.
Host Lodge: Crestwood Condominium Hotel, www.thecrestwood.com
Published in Buzz in the 'Burbs, July/August 2008.
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