Buoyed by summer temperatures, the crowd at the Lake Lenore Mind, Body and Spirit Fair found vendors, practitioners and presenters galore, each with an offering tailored to supporting individual wellness. Attendees could get a tarot card reading, try Reiki and access bars treatments, and explore the healing and grounding wares.

Leanne Brinkman was one of the organizers who is set to bring a new view to wellness for people in the area. 

“We tried to pull in people (vendors and presenters) from all over the area just to showcase what we offer,” explained Brinkman. “With mental and physical wellness, it all starts with our brain, and a lot of these vendors focus on that.”

For high school student Georgia Brinkman, providing healing through stimulating access bars contributes to personal wellness of her clients. 

“Access bars are thirty two points on your head, and what it does is improve your mental health and well-being.” Brinkman says it was her own mental health that prompted her exploration and learning the practice. She says that access bar touch has led to positive benefits for her on that front. 

Karla Boulet is among the volunteers connected with the Lake Lenore Fitness Centre. She says that some new equipment set up in their centre will lead to exciting new activities for their members. 

“We have lots of the standard equipment like treadmills, but we also just purchased a new rowing machine as a power machine where you can do squats, bench, dips and weight routines. We’re also setting up a new multi-stage station with a cable machine. You can do almost every type of exercise on this thing.”

On the nutrition and plant wellness side, Mary Campbell of Annaheim’s Rooted in Nature talked about her enterprise. Gardeners and plant lovers know well the health benefits derived from their leafy compatriots. 

“I think it’s super important to have plants in your house. It brings in life and offers a lovely growing environment. You feel connected to something that is living and feel part of its growth.”

Andrea Bauer shared her knowledge of yoga and invited people to try a chair session. Bauer operates Prairie House Yoga and Wellness.

“We offer yoga classes Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday nights. We also have a lot of products related to self care like essential oils and incense.”

The Sunday nights offer an intense high energy brand of yoga, complete with a hot yoga mat that’s available through the business.

Finally, Diana Lee, author of Silently Said: A Journey Through Illness and Addiction, talked about and read from her work that chronicles her personal challenges through family struggles. 

“I started writing the book about 25 years ago. It’s my journey from newborn to 25 years old. My mom had a rare brain atrophy that was undiagnosed. It talks about growing up in an alcoholic family with my mom going into care when I was about 7.”

Much of her talk at the event centred around challenging existing beliefs and overcoming those self-imposed limitations. The book is being used in the Saskatchewan school system, she says. It’s available through most online book vendors. 

Along with a lunch and a chance to catch up with friends and neighbours, the Fair brought enlightenment about a wide range of alternative health practices and outlooks, all accessible for patrons to try.