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Reading from the Pagoda. Photo (c) 2005 by Ashvin J. Chudgar.

Welcome to 
holistic Berks County!

The following local people, places, and organizations have helped me along the way. I have lived in Berks County all my life, and it’s been truly wonderful to discover all the holistic resources my home has come to offer. This page is frequently updated, so please come back soon!

  • THE ART OF TOUCH
    Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
    4 Park Plaza | Wyomissing, Penna., 19610
    telephone (610) 685.0450
    The Art of Touch is a group of massage therapists and other bodywork specialists; compatible with each other, they form a good healing community. If you live in Western Berks and you’re interested in exploring massage therapy, the Art of Touch is an excellent place to start.

  • ANN C. BOLEK
    Therapeutic Massage and Energy Work
    telephone (610) 916-4796
    Ann is a reiki master, a practitioner of therapeutic touch and massage, and the head of the physics department at Wilson High School. She truly understands how to balance the intellectual and the physical parts of life; anyone who seeks balance could benefit from this lovely woman. She is a particularly good instructor; she teaches other teachers how to teach better.

  • MARIE ELAINA, CMT, CNHP
    Heart and Soul: Natural Wellness
    www.marieelaina.org
    Marie was recommended to me by Carole Parsons, who is a wonderful holistic therapist herself. On the strength of that recommendation, I met Marie and had a session with her—in my case, she recommended sound waves for deep relaxation. It was amazing how much more flexible I felt after just twenty minutes of Marie’s therapy. Anyone who has problems with flexibility or pain—athletes, performing artists, or people who are (like me) simply getting older—can benefit from Marie’s expertise.

  • DIANE MAJKA GRANDSTROM, RN, BSSN, CCRN
    Diane Grandstrom’s Aromatherapy Plus
    www.aromatherapyplus.com
    Diane is a certified aromatherapist, a registered nurse, an accomplished teacher, and a good friend. She is the person who taught me everything I know about aromatherapy, hand massage, and so much more. I often represent Diane and her products at local health fairs, with great pride and pleasure. I use her products myself, and I recommend them enthusiastically to my all my family and friends. A visit to Diane’s website will teach you so much about the art and the science of aromatherapy, and about this remarkable woman as well. Her products are shipped worldwide: a soldier in Afghanistan recently bought a sample of every one of her essential oils, and one of her blends, Eric’s Optimyst, was diffused in the chapel that received firefighters and first responders at the World Trade Center. Diane doesn’t just sell aromatherapy products, but also teaches; laypeople and health professionals alike learn from her, and she is particularly supportive to caregivers in nursing homes and hospices.

  • LASI LEAVY
    Mothering and More: Non-Profit Birth Network

    www.motheringandmore.org
    Lasi is a doula—a specialist in supporting women through pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the post-partum period. She is extremely knowledgeable about everything that concerns new mothers, brand-new babies, and how to get them both off to a good start. She’s intelligent, sensitive, and an amazing networking resource—she knows so many people who can help make the childbirth process easier, healthier, and calmer for the whole family.

  • KAREN PALCHO
    Karen’s Botanicals
    www.karensbotanicals.com
    telephone (610) 926-6169
    Karen is an expert in the use of herbs for health and beauty. She is a teacher, an artist, a gardener, and a totally delightful person to know. She uses herbs that she grow herself to make products—lotions, oils, spray-mists, herbal infusions, and more—that bring great pleasure. Karen truly understands the art and science of herbology. I’d strongly recommend that you visit her website, even if only for the delight of visiting!

  • THE PENNSYLVANIA CENTER
    FOR INTUITIVE STUDIES
    www.intuitivestudies.com
    Susan R. Drey and the rest of the staff of the Pennsylvania Institute are a wonderful group of supportive practitioners—I strongly recommend anyone on the staff. The Center teaches individuals and classes in disciplines from reiki to hypnotherapy to bodywork. And what their experts don’t know, they can find out. The Center is located, by choice, in the city of Reading—they wanted to be where there were people who needed them, so you can find them on North Fifth Street, between Douglass and Windsor. Susan, in particular, is a catalyst for growth in the holistic movement in Berks County.

  • JASON RAMBO
    Rolfing: Structural Integration
    www.rolf.org | e-mail ramborolfing@yahoo.com
    Rolfing is a form of bodywork that emphasizes posture. It’s astonishing how many of our aches and pains are the result of poor posture! By helping to correct the misalignment of their bodies, rolfing can produce greater wellbeing. Jason is very honest about the limits of his techniques, which aren’t appropriate for people with certain structural problems—those who have spina bifida, for example, or (like me) herniated discs. But for those who just need help realigning their bodies, a visit with Jason can be the beginning of greater general health.

  • GREG SCHWEITZER, MBA
    Stress Reduction Resources
    www.StressReductionResources.com
    I once took a yoga class Greg taught, and it benefited me very much. To this day, I still use many of the relaxation techniques he taught me. Greg specializes in working with professionals and businesspeople.