Lake Tahoe Women’s Wellness Weekend at Granlibakken

Written By Ffjorren Zolfaghar |

On November 12th and 13th, the Granlibakken Conference Center and Lodge in Tahoe City hosted the annual Lake Tahoe’s Women’s Wellness Weekend, “an event fusing Eastern tradition with Western practices to offer you balance, rejuvenation and well-being.” There were over 130 registrants, and more than 20 health-focused businesses involved in the event.

Healthy Beginnings Magazine was invited to join the event as well. We were able to attend as participants, enjoying the conference from a “healthy woman” perspective, as opposed to just having our magazine blinders on.

The conference began on Saturday, November 12th, however we arrived the evening before. We were able to settle into our accommodations and get ready for the coming weekend; which, began on an early note. Attendees could choose to join a morning session of yoga, or a friendly 5k fun-run, both at 7:15 am. Exercise is a wonderful way to get your body going, and the mental juices flowing.

Our breakfast provided a well-balanced array of hot and cold items, including slow-cooked oatmeal, omelets, muffins, fruit, yogurt, cereal, bread, bagels and more. The tables filled up, but the food and coffee were constantly replenished.

After breakfast, the first speaker was scheduled to begin at 8:45 am. Dr. Amy Vail, Psy. D, spoke about a “mindful life.” She asked us to think about how we are not true to ourselves; and to find the things that distract us in our daily lives. These are elements of destruction, in regards to our personal foundation.

She went on to discuss how you can find power within yourself by taking responsibility for your life, 100 percent of the time. Let go of the past and stop blaming. Moving forward, ask “what” questions, in order to find answers, instead of using “why” questions, which typically produce defensive excuses.

“Love begins with really showing up and being present,” Dr. Vail said. She believes that if we all “turn up the light” within ourselves, we can change the world, as “one candle can light up other candles, without dimming its own light.”

Dr. Vail was enthusiastic, funny and kept us engaged. It was a great starting point for the conference, as she helped create excitement and energy among the audience. From that point forward, the conference continued to impress me. There were speakers each hour, all covering topics concerning their ex- pertise.

Oncologist Ahrin Koppel spoke about prevention and the ad- vancement of breast health. Naturopath Stephanie Riley spoke on supporting your immune system, highlighting the importance of G.I. tract health. From there, attendees were able to choose a class, including astrology and health, Zumba and Ki Gong.

Again, the lunch Granlibakken provided was well-rounded and nourishing. As we ate, we received a presentation from Jill Whisler, a registered dietician. She covered weight topics, and using nutrition to heal, as well as nourish the body. She challenged us to look at how we are eating, and why we eat the way we do. It’s truly astonishing to think that most of us do not even ingest one “whole” food a day, meaning an apple or carrots, something that is not processed.

After lunch, Carolyn Willette, RN, discussed heart disease, the number one killer among women. We heard from Naturopath Christina Campbell, ND, as she talked about empowering

healthy aging, throughout the decades. She provided a list of potential supplements to aid in nourishing a woman’s aging body.

Last, but not least, Dinny Evans spoke on finding a spiritual path to physical well-being. She demonstrated her point through a worksheet she provided on “Radical Forgiveness.” It is the idea that nothing happens “to” you, but rather “for” you. It’s letting go of fear, and changing your mindset. If you can forgive, you will not forget, but rather empower yourself with the knowledge you gain from this process. At that point, the negative cycles end and your life can move in a happier and healthier direc- tion. It was the perfect ending to our day. It was uplifting and spiritually moving.

Some of us made our way to the social event, where we noshed on cheese, crackers and fruit, and drank our antioxidant-filled red wine. We were also able to meet with vendors, along with some of the speakers from the day. The Ki Gong instructor, Dr. Tim Schroeder, DC, offered his children’s book, “The Legend of Eagle Rock,” an inspirational book for all. My children now have a copy.

It was off to bed at a reasonable time, as the next day began in the same fashion. Pilates, if you chose to attend, breakfast and then the first speaker of the day: Robert Ayers, Financial Consultant and Astrologer. He spoke on financially surviving in the tough economic times we are currently facing, and will face for years to come.

The topic seemed heavy at 9 am, but I was on the edge of my seat during his entire talk. He did not have fancy, digi- tized accompaniments during his presentation, however it was not needed. The content was powerful and easily driven

home with his silver-tongued speech. One of his main points, “preservation of capital,” made perfect sense. We, individually and collectively, need to get back to the basics, and preserve what we already have. We need to look at life from a creative perspective and reposition ourselves, aligning with our true purpose in life.

After Mr. Ayers, we listened to Dr. Gregory Tirdel, MD, a local sleep specialist. He was funny and captivating, and talked about the many facets of insomnia. “It’s not about the pill,” Dr. Tirdel stated many times. I found hope in his statement, as not all western-educated medical doctors use the same mantra.

From there, we heard from Carla McClure, L.Ac, on the cycle systems within our bodies, from a Traditional Chinese Medical perspective. It was interesting and informative; she provided an abundance of references. The last speaker of the day, and of the conference, was Dr. Lily Kuehne, DC. She spoke on Vitality, and how to achieve it.

Our day ended with a health fair, filled with information, prod- ucts and fitness classes. I had a quick session of acupuncture and spoke to several speakers from our conference. Although I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of the conference, and where it was held, I was ready to bring my weekend to an end. Even though my body relaxed, my brain needed to download, and then rest.

I am so grateful to have attended this event. It was well worth the drive, time and effort needed to plan this trip. Although I am well-versed in the healthy lifestyle niche, I gained knowledge and good connections through this event. It is definitely on my to-do list for next year!