It has been a stressful year for business owners, families and individuals trying to survive the harsh economic climate of a recession.
"Men are under stress because of the economy and being out of work," said Midge Patzer, a life coach. "People all across the board from professionals to housewives are stressed out."
Understanding that men and women need to be refreshed, Patzer—along with licensed clinical professional counselor and somatic experiencing practitioner Melissa Boley—are offering wellness classes to do just that.
Patzer and Boley's wellness group teaches its participants tools for personal power and responsibility and tools to go forward in a positive way and take responsibility for one's life. The meetings include meditation, movement, art, music, storytelling and activities to explore wellness. They call their class a banquet for the psyche because it's about having the stamina to keep one's soul intact.
"We help people see the self," Boley said. "When the body has demands placed upon it, one's heart rate rises, heavy breathing ensues, one becomes agitated, they will pace and one can overheat."
Boley said observing the self is to notice whether a person is off or on center. Using oneself as a resource allows a person to tap into his or her breathing and slow down when stressed out.
"We teach people how to be quiet and balance the heart, the mind and the body," Patzer said. "This type of personal power is a skill to be learned."
For the first time, Patzer and Boley are offering a men's wellness group in addition to their women's wellness group. They will conduct an eight-week women's wellness group on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 5, and an eight-week men's wellness group on Thursdays beginning Jan. 7.
The meetings will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. and the cost is $350 for the eight-week program. The class is limited to 10 participants and will take place at Boley's office, Suite 104, 333 S. Main St. in Ketchum.
For details, call Patzer at 720-7071 or Boley at 726-7584.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
