Belleville News , by Brett Mann
Wellness at the Black River Retreat–
Danella Hesler, a holistic healer from Eldorado, practises her healing arts on Shannon-Binder Bray at “Wellness in the Woods,” a presentation by nine holistic practitioners on alternative healing. The event was held at the Black River Retreat.
The Black River Retreat north of Tweed hosted its first “Wellness in the Woods” holistic healing fair this month. The original plan was to have the various alternative healing practitioners display their products and techniques in a woodland environment but steady day-long rain forced participants into a marquee tent. Nine holistic therapists explained and demonstrated a range of practices and associated crystals, oils and pendants. Life coaching, energy healing, Reiki, Tarot card reading, alchemical healing, Tai Chi and chakra alignment were only a few of the approaches demonstrated. Despite the inclement weather about 30 visitors came out for the evening event.
Trevor Telford has been the owner of the six-acre Black River Retreat since 2011 and is also the chair of Hastings County Wellness, a group of about 20 holistic healing practitioners.
“We’re in the midst of a membership drive. Our AGM is in September and hopefully we’ll see that number increase substantially in the coming year. We try to have several events and workshops throughout the year to keep everybody engaged and to bring some public awareness. We want to create ‘wellness tourism’ in Hastings County and show that we’re a wellness destination.”
The natural surroundings of forest, quartz-veined granite and the Black River offer a naturally healing environment Telford observes. “We thought it would be a neat, engaging event in the woods, but the tent is comfortable and appealing.” Mr. Telford loves cooking and had prepared an impressive selection of hors d’oeurves. Pork tenderloin, shrimp and chicken satay were among the mouth-watering treats on offer, included in the $10 admission fee.
The Wellness group has a marketing committee and hopes to create a niche tourism market to complement existing tourist attractions such as fishing and outdoor recreation.
“Here at the Black River Retreat we’re kind of catering to the ‘foodie’ tourist, and all these different groups bringing in tourists show that Tweed’s not just one thing.”
Mr. Telford is on the board of the Ontario Highlands Tourist Association which he reports has recently been focussing on motorcycle tourism. “The consultants we brought in say we have the best motorcycling roads in Ontario.”
In the marquee tent, visitors were treated to demonstration treatments of energy healing as they lay on padded tables and healers used hands, minds, crystals and pendants to rearrange energy patterns and open channels to healing energy. Holistic practitioner Ellen Williams explained the protective powers of orgonite which offers “simple and easy to use protection from electro-magnetic field radiation” according to an accompanying handout. “Great to throw several pieces at the base of cellular and Internet towers too!” the pamphlet advises.
It was clear from the Wellness in the Woods presentation that a substantial number and range of holistic healing practitioners and practices are available in Hastings County to those interested.
source: http://www.insidebelleville.com / Belleville / Home> WhatsOn> ArtsEntertainment / Belleville New, by Brett Mann / June 19th, 2014
