Panel discussions with wellness industry professionals will be held at The Hedges Inn in East Hampton on two consecutive Thursdays — featuring a lunch and discussion on topics including mental health and nutrition.
On Thursday, May 13, starting at noon, award-winning journalist Bridget LeRoy will host a discussion on mental health. The panel will include Amy Kalaczynski, the founder of the Montauk Meditation Club, East End Acupuncture’s Julie Sigler-Baum, and Marisa Striano, the founder of Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue.
LeRoy, the co-host of radio show “Sundays on the East End,” is also a graduate of the Jaguar Path School of Yoga and Shamanism. She leads retreats and workshops, energy clearing ceremonies, and provides private coaching and energy work. She was also a co-founder of The Independent Newspaper in 1993, and has interviewed everyone from Steven Spielberg to Martha Stewart, the Clintons to Julie Andrews.
Kalaczynski, who writes a column on Vedic meditation for James Lane Post, studied in India with Thom Knoles and trained under Jeff Kober the past few years. She’s also a certified yoga instructor.
Sigler-Baum is a renowned acupuncturist with East End Acupuncture. “After twenty five years of practice, I am still in awe at the depth and beauty that Chinese Medicine offers,” she noted. “Everyday is an opportunity to heal and pursue the joy in life.”
Striano, the founder of Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue Program, specializes in grief counseling and holds a certification as an Equus Life Coach through the Koelle Institute. Her goal is to “help people love themselves again by giving them the tools and experiences they need to survive and thrive.”
On Thursday, May 20, award-winning journalist Nikki On The Daily’s Nicole Teitler will moderate a panel discussion on nutrition. The panel includes Thuyen Nguyen of Thuyen Skincare, Dr. Gerry Curatola of Rejuvenation Health, Charlotte LaGuardia of ThriveEast Nutrition, Hamptons Wellness Coach Alyson Follenius, and Wellness Foundation President Michele Sacconaghi.
Teitler is a “third generation New Yawker with a coffee addiction and a passion for telling stories.” She has 10 years of professional writing experience. Her website, Nikki On The Daily, features a variety of fitness and wellness coverage, and she has been covering the subject on the East End for years, while writing fitness and food columns for The Independent Newspaper.
Nguyen, the founder of Thuyen Skincare, has been creating natural-based products since he was ten. He draws on 22 years of expertise offering a healthier alternative to aging and skin health, which includes nutrition. Clients include Christie Brinkley, Katy Perry, and Jennifer Aniston, to name a few.
Dr. Curatola of Rejuvenation Health is a renowned biologic restorative dentist with over 30 years experience. He has studied nutrition and wellness at the Pratt Institute, Harvard Medical School’s program in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as well as numerous programs on natural health.
LaGuardia of ThriveEast Nutrition is a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist professional and a member of the American College of Nutrition. She promotes integrative nutrition, a science-based practice that views health through a holistic lens — exploring all aspects of life to identify the root cause of symptoms.
Sacconaghi, the president of Wellness Foundation, is a certified Vinyasa yoga teacher, who also has a B.A. from Brown University, a master’s in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and a certificate in Plant-based Nutrition from T. Colin Campbell’s Center for Nutrition Studies. Wellness Foundation empowers children and adults to take control of their health by building a community where healthy choices are both accessible and affordable.
Hamptons Wellness Coach Alyson Follenius is a holistic coach, yoga teacher, and swim and stand up paddle instructor. “I am honored to join these wellness leaders in our community to come together to discuss all things nutrition,” she noted.
The event is hosted by Discover the Hamptons, James Lane Post, McKenna Interactive Media, Discover Long Island, and the East Hampton Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by Intelli-Tec Security Services.
Each lunch costs $55 and includes a choice of entrée, a glass of wine, and coffee, tea, or water. Each panel will also be streamed live on @JamesLanePost’s Instagram. Click here for tickets.
