Spring 2008 page # 1

Meet Rod Payne-Meyer; the Heart , Mind & Hands behind Sojourns’ Gardens

The gardens at Sojourns offer more than just seasonal loveliness; they are a corner-stone of the healing journey that the Clinic offers to clients. Walk up any path and you’ll often find that you feel better as you approach, knowing that you’re entering into a deeply healing space. Rod Payne-Meyer is the man who not only designed but also built the gracious,

inviting gardens that welcome clients to the Clinic from early spring into late fall. He applied his extensive knowledge of plants, his graceful sensibility and his keen intuition to the Sojourns project, and the result is noth-ing short of magical. Maybe you’ve noticed the young Yellowwood tree to the left of the sloping walkway that’s covered in fragrant white flowers in spring, or the deli-cate Lady’s Mantle that graces the first walkway with it’s frilly chartreuse flowers in summer, or the purple Monkshood that boldly blooms to the left of the front door in late October, long after most flowers have faded. All of these are the result of his good hand.Rod was a perfect match for the Sojourns project, as he prefers to work with exist-ing structures and landscapes. He likes to honor what’s already growing on the site, rather than leveling the ground and starting new. In the case of Sojourns’ gardens, he started with Justis Hatch’s elegant stone wall and steps and the enormous Maples on the property. continued on page 2

Dear Friends,Welcome to the Spring issue of Sojourns’ newsletter. I hope this issue gives you a variety of insights and inspirations as we all transistion from this long winter into this new season of growth and expansion. It seems fitting that we are featuring Rod Payne-Meyer’s work, as this is the time of year when nearly everyone entering our doors remarks on the beauty of the gardens and their part in creating the healing environment that is Sojourns. As Sojourns continues to thrive, our gratitude for the support of our community, clients, board, staff, donors, friends and founders continues to expand; we couldn’t do it without each and every one of you. On behalf of the Board of Directors & Staff, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has responded to our Annual Appeal, and of course, remind those of you who haven’t that it’s never too late to show your support with an annual gift. I’d also like to invite anyone who is interested in increasing their connection to Sojourns to contact me to explore volunteer and Board service possibilites. As always, we look forward to working with you to meet your goals for health and wellness, and we are grateful for your support and participation in helping Sojourns achieve it’s mission of being a model for change in healthcare.- Cynthia N. Moore, MS, Executive Director

4923 US Route 5Westminster, VT 05158(802) 722-4023

www.sojourns.orgHolistic Care for Whole People

Spring 2008

page # 2 Spring 2008

Rather than losing the trees, Rod made them central to the design. They became the canopy that offers shade and protection to the entrance. From there he worked in flowing lines, similar to what you might find in nature, to design and build gardens that both invite and welcome visitors from all directions.

It was important to Rod to honor the spirit of Sojourns by including a wide variety of medicinal plants in his design. For example, he chose Coneflower, Yarrow, Elecampane and Pokeweed for the sunny garden that stretches along the long southwest wall of the building. Burdock and Stinging Nettle, herbs used for their healing properties, were both already growing on the property, and so he in-sisted on keeping them. He imagined that in time the practitioners might be able to make use of the herbs grown on the Sojourns grounds.

Rod came to the garden project through Linda Haltinner, who he met years ago when his family was a part of her Saxton’s River practice. A long-time diabetic, Rod now comes to Sojourns for support in maintaining his quality of life. “It’s how I stay healthy. I feel better now than I felt approaching 40.” I asked him if he himself uses any of the herbs that grow on the property. “Oh yes,” he said, “Definitely. I can tell you what they all taste like.” In particular, he takes burdock and dandelion for their liver support, as they help to ameliorate the cumulative effect of taking insulin for so many years.

So keep your eyes open for Rod’s work as spring unfurls throughout Sojourns’ gardens this year. You’ll no doubt be delighted all throughout the spring and summer, and right to the end of fall.Rod Payne-Meyer can be reached through his business, Creative Landscapes at 802-254-5103.

Gardens continued

What to look for in the spring:

Lungwort (Pulminaria): You’ll spy this low-growing broad-leafed plant to the left of the ramp as you are entering the building. Long used as a remedy for respiratoryailments, it produces two-toned pink and purple blooms.

Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica): This shrub offers white, pendulous, fragrant flowers in early spring. Look for it on both sides of the entrance ramp.

PJM Rhododendron: In front of the long, sunny southwest wall of the Clinic you’ll find these evergreens tucked behind the small sugar maples. Between the deep chocolate purple leaves and the purply-pink blooms, they offer a great show each spring.

Unique to Sojourns’ property:

According to Rod, the enormous sugar maple in the front of the building near the road might just be “state champion quality” due to the massivediameter of its trunk, the height of the tree, and it’s huge canopy. He’s seen many of the trees in the “Big Trees of Vermont” registry, and he thinks this tree tops them all.

The stone post to the right of the first walkway was originally in the front of the property toward the road. Rod describes it having been a hitching post where visitors to the house from the road (now Route 5) could tie their horses.

Spring 2008 page # 3

Meet Leah Mutz, Sojourns’ Apothecary Coordinator

Since December 2006, Leah Mutz has been gracefully managing Sojourns’ ever-growing Apothecary. She is the public face of the Apothecary, while also overseeing the details of inventory and ordering, scheduling and communications. As you may already know, she is always welcoming and very knowledgeable in the arena of herbs and supplements.

Leah grew up on a commune in Southern Minnesota, and spent her teenage years in Eastern Europe with her father. She is a dancer; her partner Kirk is a puppeteer. They were drawn from college at Antioch in Ohio to Sandglass Theater in Putney, VT. Concurrently with her work at Sojourns, Leah teaches dances to children and adults, performs, and helps to manage the new Luminz Studio in Brattleboro. She has lived in Westminster West, VT for three years.

What do you like best about your work here?Being the face of the apothecary is so gratifying for me because I get to engage with so many different kids of people. To be there for them, to be supportive in whatever way I can, to learn about their lives. That’s like cake for me. That’s what I was built for. I really care about my relationships with the clients and the people who work here.

Tell me about your experience working at Sojourns.I find if you’re in a place where you’re seeking healing, it’s a really open and vulnerable space to be in. When you’ve hit bottom and you just crack open, different things are illuminated and you see the world in a different way. And you start that ascent up and start feeling hopeful. Emotions are so much closer to the surface.

There are clients that come in, and I’m so delighted to see them and watch as hope enters their sphere and they can see the light. That’s my favorite part: being able to engage with people from that space. You get a real and tangible sense of who they are and where they’re coming from and what they want with their healing. And it’s wonderful.

Turning Your Medicine Chest into a Treasure ChestLinda Haltinner, DC

When I was in my 20’s, I apprenticed with an herbalist/healer named Eva Graf. Eva had favorite herbal formulas. Our medicine cabinet is never without them.

People Paste is a 50:50 mixture of slippery elm and golden seal. One of Eva’s kids named it ‘people paste’ because Eva used it for ‘pasting people back together’. The slippery elm is soothing; the golden seal is antiseptic and supports healing of the mucus membranes; the combination is wonderful for cuts, scrapes or anything bleeding (a little—lots of blood obviously needs a different intervention) or oozing on the skin. You can moisten the powder with water or olive or coconut oil depending on the desired consistency, or you can sprinkle the powder straight in the wound. It will darken and get crusty (looking ugly, but providing some barrier to infection), and you will need to soak it out with water or, better, with sage tea (which also has antiseptic properties). It is usually wise to soak and reapply daily. Of course, it is important to ascertain that the wound does not need medical intervention.

Toothpowder is a 3:2:1 mixture of golden seal, myrrh and cayenne. The cayenne stimulates local circulation; the golden seal nourishes the membranes of the mouth, and the golden seal and myrrh are both strongly antimicrobial. It was originally formulated for dental issues—gum disease or chronic inflammations—and I have seen it make a remarkable difference for many people. It is extraordinary for sore throats and laryngitis (of course, after potential pathology has been ruled out), too. Dosage is dependent on the person and the condition.

Not-Quent Spray is an isopathic remedy that is designed for use in sinus infections. It supports the body in changing the environment in the sinuses so that the microbes can’t thrive. It has no reported side effects, and is often very effective.

page # 4 Spring 2008

The warming air and melting snow bring anticipation of green grass, warm days, and daffodils. For many people, those joys are accompanied by sneezes, watery eyes, sinus congestion, headache and/or fatigue; all common symptoms of seasonal allergies. If you have resigned yourself to living with allergies, be confident that this spring can be different.

Allergies are often an outer manifestation of internal imbalances. Your immune system does recognize and reject specific allergens, but with better overall health your response to those allergens will be more appropriate and less hyperactive. Additionally, if you can reduce the total load of stressors (toxins, chronic illness, dietary indiscretions, emotional turmoil) that your body has to process, your body will be more able to deal with the things that are difficult to avoid (dust, pollen, pet dander).

It is nearly impossible to avoid the onslaught of pollen that greets you when you step out of your door, but you can lighten the load on your immune system by taking the following steps to reduce exposure in your home:

Vacuum frequently with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter.•Purchase and use a high quality HEPA air filter for your bedroom (at least 1/3 of your day is spent in that room). •Evaluate and eliminate dampness in the house.•Frequently wash all of your bedding & keep pets off of your bed.•

The foods that you eat during your allergy season can affect the severity of your allergy symptoms. Eating an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables provides your body with vitamin C and flavonoids, which act as natural antihisthamines. Some foods, on the other hand, can make your symptoms worse by causing your membranes to produce more and thicker mucus, which contributes to congestion, sinus infections, and other symptoms. Dairy products (especially milk and cheese), sweets, and orange juice are the biggest mucus producers in the kitchen. Avoiding or minimizing these will go a long way toward easing your symptoms.

Many herbs, supplements, and therapies have proven safe and effective in taking allergy reduction a step further. Herbs, such as goldenrod, elder flower, and eyebright have been used for centuries to reduce sinus congestion and mucus production. Bromelain is an enzyme from pineapple that can help to break up sinus congestion. Nettles can act as a short-term natural anti-histamine. Craniosacral therapy or chiropractic can help to improve sinus drainage. NAET is a Chinese medicine-based therapy that can retrain your body to stop reacting to specific allergens. Countless therapies exist; finding the one that is right for you is part of our role in your care.

At Sojourns we have a great deal of experience working with many people in addressing their allergies. We offer a variety of options that we can customize to fit individual needs and preferences.

Dr. Greg Burkland is a graduate of Bastyr University and is a Primary Care Provider at Sojourns. He is looking forward to hearing from you if you’d like help addressing your allergies or any other health condition!

Do Spring Flowers Make You Glower? Here are some Suggestions for Managing Seasonal Allergies

Greg Burkland, N.D.

Our bodies are ecosystems, not chemistry sets. In all ecosystems, balance is essential for health.Allergy symptoms are an example of our body’s efforts to restore the balance of our internal ecosystem by eliminating offending toxins.When our bodies are healthy, clear and well-nourished, we can adapt more effectively to the environment around us.Join Diana in Sojourns’ month-long cleansing program this spring. It could make a huge difference in how you feel!

-Dr. Linda Haltinner

Spring 2008 page # 5

SPRINGTIME CLEANSING and REJUVENATION PROGRAM with Diana VenmanApril 19 –May 13 This class will meet twice a week: on Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Participants are invited to attend one or both of these sessions. Cost: $175

This gentle, 28-day guided cleanse is designed to assist the body’s own natural processes at the changing of the seasons. Group support often makes it possible to do what might be challenging to accomplish on one’s own.This cleanse is defined as eating a modified diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices, broths and teas. Diana will address individual needs in a one-to-one pre-cleanse appointment, included in the cost of the program.The sessions will include time for personal sharing and reflection, questions and answers, information on the cleansing process, and guided experiences such as yoga and breath work specific for supporting the detoxification process. The first week’s sessions will be 2 hours, sessions after that will be 90 minutes.Participants in this program will receive a 10% discount on bodywork and related apothecary purchases during the month of the cleanse.Diana Venman is our patient advocate at Sojourns. She has co-directed the “Raw Juice Fast Purification” program at Kripalu and at the Omega Center for Holistic Studies. She has also led fasting programs here at Sojourns.

EATING WELL: A WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM with Stacey London-Oshkello, MS, Registered DieticianApril 23 – June 25, Wednesday Evenings, 7-8:30 pm. Cost: $150The cost for this class may be reimbursable to attendees by their insurance company. However, full payment is required in advance as individual policies vary.

Are you seeking weight loss or weight management? Would you like to renovate your relationship to food? This 10-week workshop will walk you through seven simple steps toward a healthier, more active lifestyle without feeling deprived or hungry. Come learn a balanced approach to healthy eating, be encouraged in weekly fitness activities, and gain support for eliminating emotional eating.Each week the class will focus on a different topic. Each class will include practical suggestions, time for personal sharing and reflection, and time for questions and answers. Stacey London-Oshkello, MS, RD is a graduate of Bastyr University. She has taught successful weight loss classes at the Center for Health Promotion in Concord, NH and at Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough, NH. Stacey counsels people at Sojourns on diet and nutrition.

AN AWARENESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION & RELAXATION PROGRAM with Brett Avelin, Lic AcMay 14 – June 18, Wednesday Evenings, 5:45-7:15 pm. Cost: $150 & includes a guided meditation CD.

Do you feel like your life is just too busy? Does it seem out of control? This six-week class is for anyone wanting to effectively deal with the harmful impacts of stress, anxiety, and depression. Come and explore the root causes of stress and learn about living a more skillful, intentional, joyous life in body, mind, and self. Participants will be given practical ideas for establishing a life that is more aware, more relaxed, and most importantly, is not based in feeling driven or overwhelmed by stress! Participants will leave with a solid foundation for a daily meditation practice.Brett Avelin is a practicing Acupuncturist at Sojourns and a Yoga Teacher in the Southern Vermont area. He brings compassion, humor and insight into all aspects of his work.

All classes will be held at the clinic. Class sizes are limited so call soon to reserve your place!

Sojourns’ Spring Educational Programs

page # 6 Spring 2008

Interview with Bruce Souza, Massage Therapist

Bruce Souza has been bringing his warmth, his generosity and his skills as a Massage Therapist to Sojourns since 2004. Bruce and his wife Marieanne live in Londonderry, Vermont with their two children, Tobias (5) and Ainerose (2 ½).

Bruce’s life before Sojourns was rich with experience. Before he came to massage therapy, he lived as a monk, worked as a farmer and trained as a landscape designer. His path has taken him across the country and back. Here he talks a about massage therapy and Sojourns:

What drew you to massage therapy?

“I felt like there’s something profound in healing touch. There was a spiritual draw for me. People need to be touched in a therapeutic, wholesome way, and through that process healing does happen.”

What do you like most about being at Sojourns?

“I feel like I’m supported as a practitioner. I’m supported as a family man. I’m supported as a human being. That is a precious gift.”

What do you enjoy about the day-to-day of practicing massage therapy?

“I love . . . to be a part of the break-through experience, to be invited into somebody’s pain or somebody’s joy. Through that experience, when people embrace their wholeness, on the other side of that, is always a revelation of light.”

What are your gifts? What’s your special sauce?

“I love people very deeply. I love them in the space that they’re in. I try to create an environment of safety. And that allows people to open up, sometimes unexpectedly.”

“Sojourns proves that compassion, openness and

acceptance are ultimately the best medicine of all. “

-Jason McGill, Providence RI

This winter has brought two beautiful new arrivals to the Sojourns community. With love we welcome:

Oprea Gray Littlefield, born February 10, 8 lbs, 13 oz, 20 ½ inches long, to Dr. Amy Voishan Littlefield and Thatcher Littlefield.

Eamonn Philip Avelin, born January 5, 7lbs, 4oz, 19 inches long, with red hair to Brett and Juliet Avelin. Brett, Juliet and Eamonn have all taken the surname Avelin as a way of expressing who they are as people and as a family.

And bid one very fond farewell. Marion Aiken will bring a close to her seven years of volunteerism at Sojourns when she relocates to New Hampshire this month. We are so grateful for her unwavering support and gentle presence and are still scheming ways to keep her visiting us as of this writing.

Announcements & Updates

Spring 2008 page # 7

Practitioners: Our team is comprised of some of the most talented, experienced practitioners in the region.

Dr. Linda Haltinner, DC, Medical Director Chiropractic, Biological Medicine & Functional Medicine•Dr. Gary Clay, MD Holistic Family Medicine•Dr. Chris Hastings, DC Chiropractic & Functional Medicine•Dr. Jill Marquess, DC Chiropractic & Physical Medicine•Dr. Amy Voishan Littlefield, ND, Lic Ac Naturopathic Medicine & Acupuncture•Dr. Gregory Burkland, ND Naturopathic Medicine •Gaelen Ewald, RN Nursing Support/ IV Program•Margaret Barletta RN Nursing Support•Pam Bolduc, RN Computerized Regulation Thermography•Doug McCorkle, PT Physical Therapy & Zero Balancing•George Connell, PT Physical Therapy & Craniosacral Therapy•Carolyn Ingraham, PT Physical Therapy & Craniosacral Therapy•Angelique Priscilla, PT Physical Therapy & Craniosacral Therapy•Elizabeth Blum, OT Occupational Therapy & Lymphatic Drainage •Martha Hennessy, OT* Occupational Therapy & Sensory Integration•Cynthia Moore, MS, Lic Ac Acupuncture & Homeopathy•Brett Avelin, Lic Ac Acupuncture & NAET •April Brumson, Nurse Practitioner, Lic Ac Primary Care, Biological Medicine & Acupuncture•Bonnie Bloom, Herbalist Jin Shin Jyutsu, Herbal & Cleansing Support•Kathy Daigle, Bodywork Therapist Massage, Craniosacral Therapy & Lymphatic Drainage•Zoë Scott, Bodywork Therapist Massage & Myofascial Release•Bruce Souza, Bodywork Therapist Massage & Myofascial Release•Jeanne Marion, Medical Lab Tech Nutritional Microscropy•Stacey London-Oshkello, MS, RD, CD Nutritional Counseling•Miss Bee Registered Therapy Dog•

Executive Director: Cynthia Moore Patient Advocate: Diana Venman Client Services: Wanda West (coordinator), Seth Phoenix, Chelsea Berry, Jenny Swing, Diane Provost Patient Accounts: Amanda Jordon (coordinator), Kathy Gelineau, Crystal FurtadoApothecary: Leah Mutz (coordinator), Bonnie BloomHR: Regina Rockefeller Outreach & PR: Lisabeth Sewell McCaan The Plant Guy: Kirk MurphyBuilding & Grounds: Kyra Michaud, Tim Brownell

Sojourns’ mission is to be a model for change in healthcare.

Staff: Our staff is small but diverse and dedicated to making your experience throughout Sojourns as healing and supportive as it is inside the treatment room.

*After successfully dodging most of the Vermont winter by spending 5 months in Hawaii studying Geriatric Occupational Therapy, Martha Hennessy has returned to Sojourns to revitalize our SensoryIntegration & OT practice for adults & children. Welcome back Martha. We missed you !

Extra thanks to Seth Phoenix for photos of Leah & the gardens !

Spring 2008 Newsletter

4923 US Route 5Westminster, VT 05158

In this issue:

• Beginningyourhealingjourneywithatourofourgardens

• Reducingseasonalallergiestoincreaseenjoymentofspring

• NewWeight-Loss,Cleansing&StressReductionPrograms

• AglimpseintoLinda’smedicinecabinet

• Discoverhowanex-monk&adancerbring their specials gifts to Sojourns

Sojourns’Board of Directors

April Brumson, NPPatricia Dooley

Linda Haltinner, DCSusie Hastings

Carolyn PartridgeDiane Provost

Tracy Sloan, CPAKate Tarlow-Morgan

Jim TullyAngela Walton

Meredith Young-Sowers, D.Div.

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPUTNEY, VTPERMIT # 1

Insurance Update

Did You Know that visits with a Naturopathic Physician are now covered by most Vermont-based Insurance Companies?

Visits with Dr. Burkland & Dr. Littlefield are billable to: Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of VT, Catamount, Cigna, MVP & CBA. Pending changes to VHAP & Dr. Dynasaur will include coverage for Naturopathic care & increased Chiropractic coverage in the near future. Medicare, Anthem and other non-Vermont based plans do not cover Naturopathic care at this time.