The Soboba Sports Complex opened its gymnasium to a variety of vendors who shared their expertise in different areas at the 2024 Health + Wellness Fair on August 8. Services and goods ran the gamut of promoting physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health to those who attended the community event.
Soboba’s Cultural Resource Department shared a huge bin of fresh organic produce from its Cultural Garden along with starter plants of basil, Japanese Chile and bell peppers. They also promoted “Gardening for Wellness” and explained some of the known benefits from the activity.
It can help reduce stress as the sights, smells and sounds of the garden are said to promote relaxation. Direct exposure to dirt and plants can help boost the immune system and reduce the likelihood of allergies and some illnesses. Those who grow their own fruits and vegetables are more conscious of maintaining a healthy diet. The gentle physical exercise experienced while gardening often can aid a disability or rehabilitation from an injury or illness. Working in a garden can increase all-around levels of physical activity which can possibly reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and other medical conditions. It can also improve mental health by reducing depression, anxiety and stress. A study revealed that regular gardening can reduce the risk of developing dementia by 36 percent.
Melissa Campos, representing MARs Whealthness, provided mini-meditation sessions using a sound bath. She also taught some of the younger visitors how to use effective breathing techniques by making a fun game out of it. The goal of the company is to create a positive community, optimize healing, connection and growth to inspire and cultivate the best version of one’s self. A co-founder, with three other partners, Campos is an education consultant, sound bath practitioner and a yoga teacher.
Campos got interested in pursuing this vocation because growing up she endured many health problems that affected her mind, body and spirit. When traditional medical professionals could not offer a diagnosis or solution, her mother took her to a holistic practitioner that changed her world. She began her whealthness journey through nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and other healing practices. Now she teaches others how to do the same. For more information on services, events, education wellness, retreats and more, please visit www.marswhealthness.com.
Sarah E. Vazquez is an artist who creates amazing linocut prints of her own designs. “I started doing ink illustrations and then found this other way,” she said. She posts and sells on Instagram @sevy-arte. She displayed many of her monochromatic art pieces which were thought provoking and detail oriented and elicited many positive comments from visitors to her table.
Around-Birth Collective was available to share resources and their mission of working towards improving perinatal health outcomes in the Inland Empire and North San Diego through collaboration, education and advocacy. They also offered free blood pressure screenings. Co-founders Tristen Orosco, Leslie McFarlane and Yuli Smith all have strong reasons for wanting to re-educate and re-introduce midwifery to today’s women.
“We created the collective together to improve perinatal outcomes in our communities,” Orosco said, adding that midwifery has increased since the pandemic. “We have great outcomes when it comes to out-of-hospital births.”
Orosco is a Payómkawish mother of two and a basket weaver. She lives in part of her traditional Payómkawichum homelands, now known as Temecula, where she raises her children with her husband, Rob. She has sought to increase midwifery access to Indigenous families through the Indian Health Clinics. She believes that continuity of care, especially during the postpartum period, can deeply impact families’ experiences and outcomes. With a physical presence in Temecula at Orosco’s Teméeku Midwifery, more information on the Collective can be found at https://aroundbirthcollective.podia.com.
Stephanie Sadaka, who owns Nutrishop with her husband John, shared with visitors how to make the most of nutrition, whether it is to achieve sports fitness, weight loss or overall wellness. Their Hemet store offers an Evolt 360 body scan which provides detailed data about the body through more than 40 measurements in just 60 seconds. The scan’s reading determines the difference between muscle, fat mass, water and more. This information is valuable in setting up a proper meal plan, which they can customize to help clients get to their goals faster. “We are more than a wellness store,” Sadaka said. “Some of our customers already know what they want but most want to be healthier and don’t know where to start.”
She said most people are lacking in protein so having a high-protein diet helps. Experts at Nutrishop can help devise a meal plan to show how to eat because one’s diet is where it all begins. More details can be found at www.NutrishopUSA.com/Hemet or @Nutrishop_Hemet.
Crystal Aguilar had a display with all types of bee products. From fresh honey to royal jelly, beeswax candles, body and lip balms and even honey lollipops, she was eager to share the benefits of bee pollen with all guests who stopped by her table. Bee pollen contains many vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, making it incredibly beneficial to one’s health. It is known to decrease inflammation, alleviate allergies, reduce stress, speed up wound healing, improve immunity and aid in digestion.
Her husband, Gus Chavez, has been a beekeeper for 23 years. “I do the honey part,” Aguilar said. The mother of three said Crystal Pure Honey is sold online and at farmer’s markets and small community events. “Our little gift sets are very popular,” she said. For more information or to shop online, please visit www.crystalpurehoney.com.
The Cahuilla Consortium has been in operation since 2010 in Anza and recently opened a second office in Hemet. Offering crime victim advocacy and a crisis center, the consortium also has started its “Shelf Care Book Club” which welcomes Tribal members to discuss stories highlighting MMIP awareness and historic/generational trauma that are written by Indigenous voices.
Formed through the joint efforts of the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians, the Cahuilla Band of Indians and the Santa Rosa Band of Indians, the Consortium’s objective is to promote the safety and wellbeing of all Native communities. They work to end all victimization against Tribal people through advocacy and education efforts that include prevention, intervention and the fostering of resiliency. More information can be found at www.cahuillaconsortium.org.
Inter-Tribal Sports, or ITS, is in the process of softball signups with opening day scheduled for Sept. 7. Representatives also shared they are proud to be able to offer free access to those interested in receiving CPR and First Aid certification and training. For more information, call 619-594-4619 or visit www.intertribalsports.org. There was also information on how to pursue a career as an athletic training through https://CAATE.net.
Included among several other vendors was Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc.’s Behavioral Health specialists, offering resources and information on their many valuable programs.
