New Holistic Wellness Program in Ellicottville
New Holistic Wellness Program in Ellicottville
365 Days of Wellness Program Offers Techniques for Everyone at Mountainview Massage
Photo / Mountainview Massage
As a full-time student, I’ll be the first to say that life gets hard. Balancing classes, having a good social life, and navigating being away from home for the first time in my life can get stressful. And being stressed is absolutely not fun. Not only do I not feel good, but I see it in my work and relationships as well. That’s why resetting is so important, and the 365 Days of Wellness program is here to help!
The 365 Days of Wellness program holds sessions every Monday night at Mountainview Massage, part of Warrior Fitness & Wellness, which you can find at 5 Park Avenue in Ellicottville. Each session is devoted to bringing guests a space to learn about and practice holistic wellness techniques, both for relaxation and to give guests the tools to practice mindfulness in moments of stress and beyond.
One of the minds behind the 365-day program is Charlotte Orth, owner of Char’s Soul Charm (who operates out of Mountainview), known by friends and clients as Char. Char is a holistic consultant certified in Reiki techniques, Shaman techniques, and much more.
Char is committed to finding natural techniques to help people, notably those with disabilities. “Our body heals itself. Our environment is a healing place," said Char. Her own experiences are what ignited her passion for alternative healing. “It all started because I’ve always had ADHD.” Navigating the world with this learning difference and without the benefit of modern medicine, Char thought to the future, and about her family. “As I went on to have children and grandchildren that had it, I thought: How can we give that additional assistance to them the natural way?”
Char was “given the gift of healing hands," much like her friend and colleague Regina Ryan, leader of Mountainview Massage. Char and Regina both noticed the need to deliver healing tools to the community in Ellicottville and Cattaraugus County at large. Much like Char, Regina found her passion for healing by bringing massage to friends and family. When her operation got a little too big for her parent’s house, Regina began Mountainview Massage with Warrior Fitness & Wellness.
“I didn’t like anything that I went for in college; nothing really did it for me," said Regina. “I started massage school at 23, and I loved it!” Char came to work with Regina to take both of their approaches to holistic wellness to the next level. Now, the duo is committed to improving the well-being of their community, and hopefully soon, that of the world! To them, individual wellness is the first step to a community functioning as positively and effectively as possible. “Wellness is important for mind, body and soul,” said Char. It all connects. When they’re all working properly, you can get through anything in life that comes up.”
Everybody being able to bring their ‘A-game’ to everyday life is the kind of mentality that will lead to a thriving community. And especially for Cattaraugus County, that has always been so important.
“There are more kids with autism in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties than any other county in New York State," said Regina. Navigating the world with sensory issues can be extremely challenging, and giving children tools at an early age so they can both carry out happy childhoods as well as successful and fulfilling adulthoods is very important. Char’s practices are dialed in to regulate sensory overload, so you’ll leave with many tools geared toward that, should you attend a Monday session of their 365 Days of Wellness program.
Char and Regina have big plans for their program and hope to expand their outreach with a potential online option for the weekly class for people who can’t make it in person, people from anywhere in the world, or even people like me - college students who don’t have access to wellness in this style in their communities. “We want something that anybody could do from anywhere in the world," commented Regina.
The 365 Days of Wellness program is also looking to make connections in the social work industry so that they can offer classes to individuals with Social Workers as a resource. But for now, Char and Regina’s 365 Days of Wellness is sure to bring bliss, positivity, and peace to the Cattaraugus County community.
If you’re on the fence about alternative wellness, Char says to “just try it once, give it a chance!” If you’re interested in checking out an event, like the sound bath workshop from a few weeks ago or if you’d like to enroll in the upcoming EFT Tapping Workshop (a powerful technique that includes acupressure and psychology) slated for February 26th from 6:30-7:30pm, you can learn more on Mountainview Massage Facebook page, or Char's Soul Charm Facebook page. You’re sure to leave grounded, or at the very least, relaxed with time spent alongside friends and neighbors!