If you feel especially healthy, conscious and blissful on October 24th, it’s not just your wheatgrass shot. Chances are you are feeling the energetic aftershocks from The Future of Alternative Health, a symposium that will bring together acupuncturists, chiropractors, Reiki masters, energy healers, integrated and holistic physicians, spiritual advisers, shamans, and sages of every kind. The event will offer a way for the healing community to network, and discuss the current state of alternative health and how it can best contribute to society at large.
The Future of Alternative Health is being produced by Michelle Anne Johnson, who will also serve as host for the afternoon. Johnson is the creator of Kickstart Your Consciousness, a multi-media platform that promotes spirituality, consciousness and healing.
Speaking ahead of the event, Johnson said the idea for the gathering was inspired by the current health care debate.
“I was seeing the country engage in this huge conversation about health care. However, the focus was on the insurance, which is what you need when you are no longer in a healthy state. I believe this is indicative of how our society generally deals with health. We primarily act after the fact: after the stress of our daily lives has left us ill, after the symptoms have left us debilitated. And even then we address the symptoms only, not the emotional, mental and spiritual causes.
“But this paradigm is slowly changing, thanks to alternative health practitioners. I want to celebrate the people that are at the forefront of the shift towards approaching health in a holistic way, which includes healing the mind, body and spirit.â€
Johnson will be joined by distinguished guests representing various disciplines within the alternative health community, including: Almine Barton, L.Ac., C.F.T., an acupuncturist who combines the best of eastern complimentary medicine techniques with the latest cutting-edge sports performance and rehabilitation protocols; Melinda Hess, a clairvoyant reader/teacher/healer with over twenty years experience in the field; Audrey Hope, an award-winning spiritual/intuitive healer and addiction expert; Cynthia Lamb, a spiritual counselor who is going global with her message of spiritual integration; Dr. Jeffrey Ptak, a published author in the area of brain function and human behavior who offers a wide range of chiropractic and healing techniques; and spiritual coach Jason Nelson, who teaches a way to connect to our own healing abilities.
The event will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel Los Angeles/Commerce on Sunday, October 24th from 1-6pm. Parking is free, and the registration fee is $37.50.
To RSVP, go to www.consciouskickstart.com/events.
ABOUT THE HOST:
Michelle Anne Johnson is the host of Kickstart Your Consciousness on BlogTalkRadio, a weekly program that engages the leading healers and spiritual teachers about topics ranging from acupuncture to clairvoyance. She has produced the workshops Discovering Your Truth in the Present Moment and Moving Beyond the 3rd Chakra Experience, which offered a comprehensive overview of spiritual concepts and meditations. She has also written and produced Exercises for Spiritual Growth, an audio CD which is designed to be a workout for the soul. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA, and attended the Masters Degree program in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica. She is also a gifted intuitive, and works as a professional spiritual counselor.
STATISTICS ON ALTERNATIVE HEALTH
In 2007:
• Approximately 38 percent of U.S. adults (about 4 in 10) and approximately 12 percent of children (about 1 in 9) used some form of complementary and alternative medicine.
• U.S. adults spent $33.9 billion out of pocket on visits to complementary and alternative medicine practitioners and purchases of CAM products, classes, and materials.
• 38.1 million adults made an estimated 354.2 million visits to practitioners of CAM.