UNIITE - Understanding the Need for
Interfaith / Intercultural Togetherness & Education

 

Cultural Healing Festival

LIST OF PRESENTERS

Joaquin Alves
Richard Chandler
Dana Spates
Frank Sowada
Diane Calabria
Ana Maria Studer
Master Di Ma (aka Deema) Chen
Chandra Prakash
Frank Chartrand
Barb Hanska

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Joaquin Alves
Joaquin Alves has been a student of the drum for eleven years. During this time, he has learned about the role of drums in indigenous cultures around the world as well as become a drummer himself. He is particularly interested in the way drums can bring balance and alignment to individuals, connect them with the heartbeat of Mother Earth, and uplift human spirit through community drumming.

Joaquin has been an artist for the past 37 years and is known for his versatility and expertise. He has developed his own technique for displaying an astonishing array of artful items for use as functional art. Drawing inspiration from our natural environment, Joaquin's collection contains a large variety of lamps, rattles, indigenous drums, rawhide sculptures, leather work, patio furniture, stepping stones, and Genesa crystals.

He is co-founder of a spirituality center in Avon which has a labyrinth, a teepee, an herbal garden, a studio, and much, much more.

Contact Joaquin at 320/746-2568 Joaquin Alves, 39414, County Road 151, Avon, MN 56310

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Richard Chandler
Richard Chandler, RPP, CA, LMT along with his wife, Bonnett Chandler are the founders of AcuPolarity Wellness Center & AgeLess Yoga. They are in their 15th year of serving clients for 15 years. Richard is a Registered Polarity Practitioner, Certified Acupressurist and Licensed Massage Therapist. He has studied yoga with over nine internationally known yoga teachers and he conducts classes & workshops on natural health, stress reduction and creating the life you desire. Both Richard & Bonnett are master’s level Reiki practitioners. They also write, edit & publish in the fields of natural health & psychology.

Visit them at www.rjchandler.com
E-mail: mail@rjchandler.com
Call (320) 253-8029

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Dana Spates
Dana Spates is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour level. Her 200-hour training was done at Yoga Loft, Willmar, MN, with Mary Beth Nehl. Dana has taken additional training in Ashtanga Yoga with Beryl Bender Birch, Yin Yoga with Paul Grilley. She has also trained with Doug Swenson.

Dana currently teaches at the Center for Health and Wellness, affiliated with the Paynesville Area Health Care System in Paynesville, MN. There she also teaches Stress Reduction classes.

Dana has been practicing yoga for about six years and teaching for about five years. Dana gears her classes to the level of her students and teaches a vinyasa flow style yoga. Her session will be an introduction to yoga including basic hatha yoga poses; breathing; and final relaxation

Dana is also a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner. She practices out of her home. Besides, she is a Certified Personal Trainer, an IET practitioner, and has a Master's in Natural Health through Clayton College of Natural Health.

She can be contacted at kcspat@lakedalelink.net
Phone: 320-266-5476
Center for Health and Wellness
http://www.pahcs.com/wellness/wellness.html

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Frank Sowada
Frank Sowada is a practicing energy healer. His practice began with the training of energy healing through the use of the Pranic Healing energy method. GrandMaster Choa Kok Sui is the founder of Pranic Healing and author of several books. Pranic Healing is a highly developed and tested system of energy based healing techniques that utilizes "prana" to balance, harmonize and transform the body's energy processes.

Pranic Healing is a simple yet powerful and effective no-touch energy healing. It is based on the fundamental principle that the body is a "self-repairing" living entity that possesses the innate ability to heal itself. Pranic Healing works on the principle that the healing process is accelerated by increasing the life force or vital energy on the affected part of the physical body.

Pranic Healing influences this natural life force to bring about a healthier physical body. Pranic Healing is applied on the bio-electromagnetic field known as the aura, which contains the mold and blueprint of the physical body. This bioplasmic body absorbs life energy and distributes it to the organs and glands. Diseases first appear as energetic disruptions in the energy field before manifesting as ailments in the physical body.

Frank is a Master Reiki practitioner as well and studied Reiki taught by Kay Rundquist. Kay is an active practitioner and teacher of Reiki and Integrated Energy Therapy. Frank has also studied Integrated Energy Therapy taught by Kay. Frank is well known among healers within the central Minnesota area and beyond. Frank’s broad range of abilities include remote viewing, projection, and psychometry. Frank is also a member of the psychic panel. The psychic panel is a group of 6 psychics that will each give their individual reading for a question asked of them. The schedule of the group may be found on www.psychicpanel.com as they do perform regularly on a monthly basis and by appointment.

Disclaimer: The Pranic Healing® system is not meant to replace orthodox medicine but merely to complement it. Pranic Healing® practitioners DO NOT physically touch the recipient’s body, diagnose diseases, prescribe any drugs/substances or make any health claims or promises.

Good websites for pranic healing:
http://www.pranichealing.com.
http://www.integratedenergytherapy.net

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Diane Calabria
Diane Calabria began an independent study of yoga in 1982, and completed teacher certification in Ananda Yoga in November 2004. Ananda Yoga is a gentle, meditative style of yoga that emphasizes good alignment, safety, and a balance between effort and relaxation. Her breakout session at the Cultural Healing Festival will feature a sequence of asanas (postures and stretches) designed to relieve shoulder and neck tension, which will be helpful for people seeking relief from headaches. Contact info: hansayoga@yahoo.com

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Ana Maria Studer
Ana Maria Studer, Medical Doctor from Venezuela, with a degree in Family Practice. She moved to the United State in 1991, and got involved in holistic medicine while studying Acupuncture at the Texas Institute of Chinese Medicine.

Ana Maria started practicing Yoga in 1998, and has trained with yoga masters from different yoga styles, Power Vinyasa Yoga with Baron Baptiste from the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute in Boston, Anusara Yoga with John Friend, Iyengar Yoga with Mary Dunn from the Iyengar Yoga Institute in New York.

Ana Maria has been teaching Flow Yoga in the St. Cloud area since 2002, a form of Vinyasa Yoga that focuses on the synchronization of breath with the continuous flow of movement, and had led classes at the Spirituality Center in St. Joseph, St. John’s University in Collegeville, YMCA St. Cloud, Yoga Studio in St. Cloud, St. John’s Prep School, and Annandale.

At the present time she works as a Women’s Advocate at Anna Marie’s Alliance, and her Flow Yoga classes are currently limited to Gold’s Gym North and the Sartell Community Education Program.

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Master Di Ma (aka Deema) Chen

Master Deema Chen graduated from Beijing Institute of Physical Education with a degree in Wushu (Martial Arts). She had nine years of special Kung-Fu training as a professional athlete in the Professional Wushu Institute of Xian, China. Deema is a certified national Kung-Fu 1st Class referee. She won many awards in regional and national Kung Fu tournaments. She once represented the Shaanxi state team and played against Jet Li ‘s team during national competitions in 1970s. Master Deema is also an expert instructor of various Tai Chi forms.

In the last 12 years, Deema Chen has devoted her to the study of Chinese Chi Kung (aka “Qigong”), a soft form of Chinese martial arts that combines meditation, breathing exercise, and vital energy reviving routine. Chi Kung is deeply rooted in Chinese traditional medicine and philosophy.

From 1981-89, Deema taught Wushu in China. In 1990, she taught Tai Chi in Dekalb, IL. From 1994 through 1998 she taught Tai Chi and Chi Kung in Lincoln, NB, and Laredo TX. From 1999 to the present she teaches Tai Chi and Chi Kung in Sauk Rapids-Rice Community Education.

Chi Kung (aka “Qigong”)

  • Chi-Kung is a system of Energy Exercise from China that has multiple health benefits.
  • It is used in China for preventive health care and also for healing.
  • A simple discipline that enables you to cultivate Vital Energy.
  • It is a complete risk-free Mind-Body exercise that has gentle movements and leaves you energized instead of exhausted.
  • Chi-Kung enhances natural healing

Tai Chi

  • Tai Chi is a set of slow and flowing movements that promote the flow of energy and blood through your body.
  • The flowing movements harmonize breathing with mental concentration to promote a very peaceful and relaxed state.
  • Tai Chi promotes the integration of body, mind, and energy.
  • Tai Chi helps release the tension created by a hard day at work.
  • Tai Chi improve your balance and coordination.

Kung Fu

Chinese Kung Fu originated several thousands of years ago, and it has continued to flourish throughout its long history as many of its styles have passed down from generation to generation. Today, Kung Fu is practiced by millions of students throughout the world and continues to gain international popularity. Kung Fu movies played by movie stars such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Bruce Lee have created another wave of learning for Chinese Kung Fu.

Beyond the glamorized images of the choreographed fight scenes of Kung Fu movies, we can all experience the benefits of studying and practicing Kung Fu for ourselves. The benefits of practicing Chinese Kung Fu include the following:

  • Techniques of self defense
  • Sense of accomplishment and personal fulfillment
  • Mental discipline and spiritual attainment
  • Improved health and vitality
  • Cultivation of physical strength and internal power

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Chandra Prakash

Mr. Prakash, a retired chemist, has been living in St. Cloud from 1988 with his wife Dr. Shashi Prakash (practicing psychiatrist at the St. Cloud V.A. Medical Center) and three sons (who now live out of state with their respective families). Chandra is fond of playing bridge.

From 1993, he has been a speaker on the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu scripture) at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN. In January-February 2000, he conducted sessions on the Geeta for the Center for Interfaith Encounter, St. Cloud, and, in the fall of 2005, on Hindu scriptures for UNIITE during the “Hindus-Dialogues-Beliefs” series.

UNIITE is happy to have Chandra Prakash do the opening presentation on “Raj Yoga in Sage Patanjali’s Yogasutra” during the Cultural Healing Festival.

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Frank Chartrand

Frank Chartrand, 37 years of age, has been participating in gatherings and ceremonies since he was 16. His is Dakota-Ojibwe from Canada. He has been leading Purification (Sweat) Lodges since 1997. He was called to lead such Lodges by Dakota Energy World. He has pierced during Sun Dance, which is one of the oldest cermemonies in his tradition.

Frank is an active Native American community person for people of all nations. He moves freely among peoples of different cultural understandings. Thanks to elders who have taken time to share with him, he has acquired knowledge and uses of herbs and plant medicines.

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Barb Hanska

Barb Hanska is from the Dakota Nation. She is fourth generation born and raised in Manitoba, Canada. She has lived in St. Cloud, MN, since 1993. She speaks Dakota fluently. She is a consultant and Immersion Teacher working in Minneapolis.

Barb has had 7 children (two of them deceased), 18 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Her household today consists of Frank Chartrand, her partner, and her grandson Tate Mani whom she and Frank are raising.

Barb was personally healed from alcoholism with Sweat Lodge ceremonies. She will speak about the healing effects of plantain on her foot. She will also speak about Health Realization, which is an ancient way of living of the Indigenous Peoples of North America.

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