Donald Teuma-Castelletti
SHAWVILLE Dec. 15, 2018
With new services coming to the Pontiac Wellness Centre, there was plenty more than just the holidays to celebrate this year at the business’ first Christmas party.
Inviting customers, their families and friends, the party served up a variety of sweets and treats, music and dancing, plus the chance to learn about reiki healing, as the centre welcomed Tiziana Fortin-Rompelberg to their fold.
Business owner Bermalva Porter said the party was meant to be a casual community gathering, allowing clients, many who may simply pass each other as they’re coming and going, a chance to mingle.
As well, it let her have the chance to thank those same customers, as she celebrates just over a year in the space.
Having recently returned from a trip to India, many of the offerings at the snack bar featured a bit of enhancement or were straight out of the country itself. Serving Indian sweets, homemade idli (a flattened rice cake of sorts, to be dipped in a variety of sauces), as well as coconut milk egg nog, guests enjoyed a widening of their palettes as they enjoyed the evening out.
Meanwhile, in what is usually the treatment room, Bermalva’s son Ariad McNab put his sale skills to the test. The young entrepreneur had a wide selection of gently used toys and games on display, looking to sell off the items he no longer used.
Finally, the evening also presented the chance to learn about the new service debuted at the centre this month – reiki healing. Fortin-Rompelberg, a reiki practitioner, explained that her work can apply to a wide variety of issues, usually when patients have exhausted all of the traditional methods.
The form of alternative healing is associated with positive energy transferred through the hands.
Having traditionally worked from home, she said that the opportunity to work out of the Pontiac Wellness Centre has been a dream come true. Within the new space, she’s able to leave her parental role at the door, undistracted by her kids causing commotion in another room.
“Here, I’m completely focused on the healing,” said Fortin-Rompelberg.
As well, in the new year, she’ll be offering both kids’ and chair yoga out of the space. Kids yoga will focus on teaching the poses and breathing techniques through stories and play, often involving favourite cartoon or movie characters.
Chair yoga will be directed towards those with limited mobility, offering the stretches all from the comfort of sitting. Fortin-Rompelberg has taught both forms of yoga in the past and is excited to continue doing so in 2019.
