Beginning in May, Zen Garden is offering a four-week program designed to help women reduce or reverse a chronic autoimmune condition. According to Edit Babboni, owner of Zen Garden, autoimmune diseases are the third most common diseases in the United States, and 78 percent of the sufferers are women.

Babboni, who suffered from an autoimmune disease for years after giving birth to her children, says she cured herself by taking her healing into her own hands. “I’ve been a certified health coach for four years now, and I am offering women the tools they need to take the destiny of their health into their own hands, and make changes for life.”

Conventional medicine can usually treat the symptoms of autoimmune disease, but it rarely addresses the causes, she notes. “While inflammation often parallels autoimmunity, a lot of times these treatments are with NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs), which are known to deteriorate the gut lining. Interestingly, the gut lining and our gut flora are our first line of defense, since 80 percent of our immune system resides in our gut.”

Zen Garden’s unique women's circle program puts participants on the right path to reduce, stop or reverse their disease, she says. The program includes weekly meeting circles, meditation and yoga classes, a four-week recipe booklet, an online support group and tips for self-care. The program takes place May 21 to June 17. The program fee is $400 for four weeks.

For more info, contact Babboni at 917.721.2529 or [email protected], or visit ZenGardenYoga.net. Zen Garden is located at 61 Lakeview Dr., Yorktown Heights, NY.