Mellisa May hosts “Get Well” meet-n-greet to promote healthier habits
by S. Rotan Hale
Do you feel like you need a vacation, the first day back from vacation as you transition back into the regular routine of daily life?
Do you often feel like your body could use a morale boost?
Is your mind/body connection suffering from a lack of attention?
These few questions focus on conditions resulting from the constant flood of pressures and toxins that wreak havoc on the average individual–blocking the pathway to total physical and psychological well-being.
Any person plagued by such conditions, may want to consider a therapeutic session with Mellisa May, MBA, CPT.
May is owner/operator of Healing Helping Hands a full service massage salon designed to promote healing through reflexology, aromatherapy and other techniques that potentially contribute to total mind/body health.
Her site (www.healinghands.com) speaks of her qualifications as a certified personal trainer, massage therapist, teacher and calisthenics instructor who also coaches group dance/choreography and Zumba.
May’s exuberance alone is infectious and radiates from her energetic and genuinely personable demeanor.
She, along with a team of like-minded enthusiasts, held “Get Well” a community health and wellnes event, Saturday, June 29 at Aurora Studio (lower level) on Campbell Ave, downtown.
“This event is the kick-off of what we’re calling holistic get well community events,” May said. “There are so many young entrepreneurs here in Roanoke and it’s not just about people of color but its beautiful when we can come together as small business owners to support one another. Everybody here is representing their own business.”
“Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. We have to stop being so sedentary and be more mindful of what we put into our bodies and back off the fast food,” she added.
She also spoke about how as a society we have to get back to eating “around the table” with family.
“Getting back to the idea of family dinners feeds into so many part of wellness. Its not just the food but the socialization of being about family.”
Each of the event’s vendor/hosts provided a different component to the expo’s wellness equation. Some displayed their wares, others briefed attendees on their respective services.
Shaqueena Gamez, the high-spirited owner/operator of Queens Vegan Cafe served a mini-buffet of vegan delights. Among her selections was: a Jerk Jack Fruit dish; beans and rice; chili lime slaw and a fiesta bean salad. Also featured was her “secret sauce,” jerk sauce and a special barbecue sauce–all offered as condiments.
Other vendors included: Tim Wade of 727 Fitness and Lee Kelley of Healthy Styles–offering pure African shea butter, cocoa butter and herbs.
As the event’s herb and body butter guru, Lee had a most intriguing line of products and was extremely knowledgeable as to the health benefits of each.
“Some of these products can be very expensive so I’m just trying to offer a more affordable alternative,” said Kelley who proceeded to break down the benefits of a cell proliferating product he had–known as Sea Moss. As a superfood, the substance is rich in vegetable protein that provides a full spectrum of beta-carotene, chlorophyll, enzymes, amino acids and fiber.
If all this (healthier choices regiment) seems a little peculiar and outside of your reach–you’ve simply not met visionaries like Mellisa May and her team–who charge full-force into this extraordinary movement–fueled by the new focus on mind and body wellness.
