Yay, spring arrives this month. What an excellent time to revitalize, find balance, reconnect with our community and celebrate life! The Earth will start to reawaken; daylight hours will begin to lengthen; and the air will be filled with that fresh, sweet smell. Ah, spring—it’s a favorite season of mine, plus my birthday is in March. I also love this time of year because I get to meet numerous new wellness practitioners; feature many of our ongoing community partners; and reconnect with even more local healthy-lifestyle businesses that tend to join us for this annual Natural Living Directory edition. This year marks our 12th year publishing what has become a cherished health and wellness go-to resource. So be sure to keep it handy all year long!

We’ve connected with dozens of local professionals to ask them to share what they have planned for 2023, what ignites their passion for helping their clients heal, and what sets them apart from others. I am happy to inform you that these educated and dedicated practitioners are truly passionate about helping our communities get healthier. These wellness profiles start on page 12.

We also welcomed more than 70 health and wellness providers into our Natural Living Directory. They offer acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, psychotherapy, kitchen garden installations, to yoga retreats and everything in between. Plus, we have included tips on de-stressing, as well as some incredibly informative articles about our main theme—food and nutrition. The Natural Living Directory listings start on page 56. I encourage you to curate your very own wellness team to support and help you live a healthier, happier you.

Our local yoga community has been growing and transforming recently, so I had my editorial team catch up with dozens of studio owners to offer updates on recent openings, changes and what’s trending in the world of yoga here in Hudson Valley. We were pleasantly surprised and thrilled to report how people of all ages are enjoying this ancient practice. Read more on page 37, and check out our vibrant Yoga, Pilates, Fitness network on page 39.

So much is happening in the region, and I am pleased to announce that Natural Awakenings is the media sponsor of the following fun-filled events: the Re-Awaken Wellness Fair, in Tarrytown, on March 19; the second annual Health Vibes Only! Expo on March 25; and A Cup of the Valley, in Poughkeepsie, on April 16, which promises to be a delicious day of sipping locally brewed beverages. We hope to see you there! These are just a few of the many magnificent upcoming happenings in our area. For more events, see our calendar section, starting on page 47, and you can also find more terrific events on our website at WakeUpNaturally.com.

Heading into my 64th year, I can honestly say that I am feeling happier, healthier and wiser than ever. My journey has been blessed with many lessons, adventures, challenges, obstacles and achievements. I am truly grateful for each day I awake and can continue to be the architect of my life. As American architect Frank Lloyd Wright said, “The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.”

Thank you for reading Natural Awakenings. We love our readers and our health and wellness community partners! Our mission is to empower, educate and connect you with local resources and events inspiring you to lead more balanced and healthy lives. I hope you find this directory edition helpful and that it is a valuable reference for you going forward into a healthier year.

With gratitude,

Dana Boulanger, Publisher