You’re busy, right? If you’re nodding your head, then the answer is yes and we have something in common: not enough time. And perhaps the sense that large things can’t be created or conquered because we don’t have the big time they require.

I offer a simple solution: Make intentional ten-minute efforts every day.

This idea was born out of necessity in my life. During a recent summer, I was still in the labor-intensive phase of raising my young son. I longed to put in a flower garden, but as a single parent with neither partner nor family nearby, time for such endeavors did not exist. Still, I wanted that garden.

So one day, I bought a six-pack of impatiens and upon returning home, I got out of the car, dug one hole and planted a single flower. Then I went inside to attend to the many things that needed my attention. I left the other flowers in their container at the edge of the grass. And for the rest of the day, I could feel that one flower singing. All day long.

Something had happened: I was back in the flow of possibility. Step by step, flower by flower, and day by day, I created a garden that knocked me out with its beauty. I never spent more than ten minutes on it, because I never had more than ten minutes. Nonetheless, its magnificence was the single most sustaining element of my world that summer. Every day, its beauty soothed and inspired me. I would look down on it from the window above and feel proud, accomplished, and . . . sane.

Not only was the garden itself incredible, but every time I looked at it, I was reminded that I could make things happen, even with very small amounts of time. The flowers became my cheering squad, encouraging me to remember this new blueprint for action. I no longer felt at the mercy of my situation, and the joy I experienced inspired me to apply the technique to other corners of my life. It was a quiet, daily revolution.

And what I learned was this:

Ten Minutes a Day is
Seventy Minutes a Week,
Two Hundred Eighty Minutes a Month,
and Sixty Hours a Year.

Let me say that again. Ten Minutes a Day is Sixty Hours a Year.
Imagine spending sixty hours this year pursuing the experience you have dreamt of for so long, but never felt you had the time for.

Imagine spending sixty hours this year conquering the tasks that you constantly avoid.

Imagine spending sixty hours this year learning a new language, doing yoga, writing a novel, practicing an instrument, singing, growing your own food, or finally, finally cleaning out that cruddy basement or reorganizing those closets. Then, imagine what else you might be doing, having accomplished all of that.

Imagine.

Try inviting your life forward with this mode of action. Take ten minutes right now and write down three things you long to do but think you don’t have time for. Then choose something from the list and dive in.

For Ten Minutes.
Each Day.
For Seven Days.

After a week, check in with yourself. I guarantee you will find yourself in a new swing of activity. Something will have shifted. You will be gently mobilized in a way that makes continuing feel like a breeze.

You will have made something happen and learned you can make it happen. In ten minutes a day. 

~ Laurie McLeod (writing as Lorne Holden) is an award-winning artist and author living in the Berkshires. You can reach her at lorneholden1@hotmail.com and order her book through www.makeithappenintenminutesaday.com

elody Lea Lamb’s vibrant, detailed, lifelike miniature paintings of woodland animals and whimsical fairies (as well as a wide array of other creatures great and small) capture the vitality and essence of her subjects. Working mainly with a combination of rich-toned colored pencils, India ink, and acrylic, Melody’s love of art, animals, and nature is evident (see our cover art this issue below).

This talented artist grew up in Bakersfield, CA, went to college at Sonoma State University, and then continued art training at Maine College of Art. Melody is married, has two teenage kids, and currently lives and works from her home in North Egremont, MA. She has been painting collectible, diminutive, 3.5 inch x 2.5 inch works of art, known as ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions, and Originals) for more than eight years. 

In addition to the ACEOs, Melody has illustrated the children’s book Moonlight Memoirs, written by teen author Maggie Mei Lewis (which has won multiple awards and is now in its second printing) and is currently working on her second book, Thomas and Autumn, written by Jana Laiz. She also creates unique collectible art gifts including holiday card sets, pendants, ornaments, tiles, beaded art, magnets, and bookmarks. There is even a pocket gallery of Melody’s art for your iPhone – this app reached the #20 most popular spot out of 4,334 the very first week it launched! 

An avid runner, Melody regularly supports worthwhile animal charities by racing in the annual Memorial Day 10K Race, Run for the Critters, in Lenox, MA. The next race, on May 26, 2013, will benefit Old Dog Haven, www.olddoghaven.com. Become a sponsor at www.MelodyLeaLamb.com/critters.html.
                                    

Come meet Melody, celebrate the holidays, and collect her miniature art at The Magic Fluke Company, 292 South Main Street, Sheffield, MA, on December 8 and 15, at 10am-3pm. Also see her work on Etsy, Art Fire, Zazzle, and at www.MelodyLeaLamb.com.                                         

“When I begin a painting of a particular animal (or landscape) I find myself becoming slowly and completely enamored with God’s perfect creation. With each stroke I am more in awe of this spirit and throw myself into capturing what inspires me. It’s a process  filled with heart and my hope is that I can convey at least some of this feeling.”  ~ Melody Lea Lamb    

Hydro Health of Western Massachusetts
Colon Hydrotherapy & Sauna Therapy

The Healing Power of Detoxification

The Secret - If you are serious about healing, regenerating,  and revitalizing your body, starting a detoxification program will be the most important paradigm shift of your life. 

The Reality - On a daily basis, we are exposed to and steadily accumulate disease-producing toxins through the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Even negative emotions can add to our toxic load. In this age of environmental stressors, these toxins must be removed on a regular basis or we set ourselves up for chronic illness. 

The Answer - Connie and her husband, Bruce, both I-ACT Certified Colon Hydrotherapists, own Hydro Health of Western Massachusetts. They can help you reduce your “toxic body burden” in their highly personalized, private, clean facility, using state-of-the-art FDA-approved equipment. The body uses many pathways to eliminate toxins. The pathways that Hydro Health taps into are the gastrointestinal tract, the lymphatic system, and the integumentary system (skin). The experience is relaxing and restorative.

How It Began - After many years of suffering with gut issues including colitis, constipation, IBS, fatigue, and severe diarrhea (which at times left Connie unable to work), she consulted with numerous Boston doctors with no hope. She finally opened the doorway to healing by adopting a grain-free diet and was introduced to colon hydrotherapy by a therapist in Kansas who had also regained her health after being chronically ill.  

What We Offer 
- Colon Hydrotherapy (Colonic-Lymphatic Enhanced Detoxification). Many people are unaware that more than half of the detoxification and immune system for the entire body occurs in the gut. Colon Hydrotherapy (colonics) access both the gastrointestinal tract and the lymphatic system. Colonics help remove impacted feces, parasites, intestinal flatus, and cellular debris, and they cleanse and rejuvenate the portion of the immune system that resides in the intestinal tract. As a result, this therapy becomes a whole body tissue cleansing on a cellular level. During colonics the muscles of the colon are exercised by peristalsis (muscular contraction) so in many cases it can restore the client’s natural and optimal bowel function. Colonics can also help release the tension caused by emotional repression. The transverse colon passes through the emotional center of the body where many “undigested” emotions are stored. In fact 60 percent of the body’s neurotransmitters are found not in the brain but rather in the gastrointestinal tract. Many renowned physicians and practitioners place great value on the therapeutic benefits of this modality and use it themselves. One example is the famous Norman Walker, MD (a pioneer in the raw foods, juicing, and vegetarian movements), who died at about 100 years old and was still researching and in vibrant health until his death. Matt Monarch, of The Raw Food World, says “Colon Hydrotherapy is one of the most effective detox methods in the world.”

- Ozone Steam Sauna. Oxygen is a basic element of life, and 
ozone provides one of the best methods of supplying it to the 
body. Ozone acts as a nonspecific antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal agent. Health benefits include stimulating the immune system, enhancing circulation, and purifying the skin. It is natural and relaxing, and does not have side effects. Ozone steam sauna therapy is a powerful method for increasing tissue and cell oxygenation, thus bringing about improvement in health and increasing longevity. 

- Far Infrared Sauna. Far infrared saunas remove toxins from the body unlike any other method of detoxification because of resonant absorption. Combining it with another heavy metal protocol, such as a chelating agent, produces remarkable results. Sweat produced under normal conditions contains 97 percent water and 3 percent toxins on average. Sweat produced under normal conditions contains 97 percent water and 3 percent toxins on average.

Sweat produced from a quality far infrared sauna is 80 to 85 percent water and 15 to 20 percent toxins. These toxins will also be expelled by the kidneys, liver, and hair due to resonant absorption. Toxins excreted due to far infrared wave’s penetration include heavy metals, pesticides, and other petroleum-based chemicals, as well as fat itself. The additional health benefits are endless, including immune system enhancement, cardiovascular conditioning, pain relief, and stress relief by triggering the production of endorphin, combating toxic overload, and more.  

- IonCleanse Foot Bath. IonCleanse detoxifies and neutralizes tissue acid wastes inside the body. 


Testimonial 
“I just finished a visit to Concettina Collingwood’s Colon Hydrotherapy Spa. In addition to my self-directed colon cleanse, in which I had full control over the flow of the water, I also experienced the ozone sauna. I got a LOT out 
of both treatments and I can’t wait to go back. My body loved it! This is a clean and professional operation and everyone in the region should take advantage of this special place.” ~ Team at Sproutman, Steve Meyerowitz, Sproutman

Contact Information

Concettina Collingwood & Bruce Collingwood
I-ACT Certified Colon Hydrotherapists
51 Stearns Avenue
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
413-445-7470, ccollingwood@nycap.rr.com

Ginger is a herbaceous, perennial plant native to southeastern Asia. It is commonly called ginger root but it's actually a rhizome, or a horizontal underground stem that gives rise to shoots above the ground.

This gift of nature can be used internally or externally with similar effects of warming the body and improving circulation. It also helps digestive problems resulting from the consumption of too much fat, protein, or oily foods.

Twelve separate antiviral agents have been identified in ginger proving its powerful antiviral action. It is a great remedy for colds and flu as it stimulates the circulation and lymph system. Additionally, its gentle sedative effects help patients rest, while its pain-relieving action helps to alleviate symptoms like sore throats and headaches.

Ginger tea can help with nausea and vomiting from motion sickness, pregnancy, and postoperative nausea. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, easing symptoms of arthritis and other joint conditions.

An ancient Japanese healing modality, hot ginger compresses can be used externally to relieve tension and stagnation in different areas of the body. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to strengthen and tonify the internal organs. 

The heat activity, combined with the powerful therapeutic effect of ginger, regenerates the blood and tissue circulation in the area being treated, facilitating the dispersion of toxins and blocked energy in the body. 

Many types of acute or chronic pains can be relieved with ginger compresses such as rheumatism, arthritis, asthma, backaches, intestinal and menstrual cramps, stiff neck, and similar problems. Ginger compresses can speed up the improvement of a variety of inflammatory conditions such as bronchitis, liver, bladder, and intestinal inflammation. 

Ginger compresses are also very useful in drawing toxins out of the kidney area, increasing the blood circulation and helping to dissolve hardened masses such as kidney and gallbladder stones as well as cysts, uterine fibroids, and  benign tumors. Release of these toxins and blocked energy can bring a deep and soothing feeling to the body as a result of endorphin release. Ginger is truly an amazing gift from nature!

~ Born in Paris, France, Veronique moved to the United States 30 years ago to study the Chinese and Japanese approach to healing. She has been practicing the “Healing Art of Ginger Compresses” for the last 18 years in Boston and at various yoga retreats around the world. She recently extended her practice to the Berkshire area. www.ragasha.com/naitea. 

Rebecca Guay’s (pronounced “Gay”) paintings and illustrations have been called romantic, vivid, rich and elegant in color, and powerful in design and line. She has a strikingly classical, feminine style that favors the use of acryla-gouache and oil.

Born and raised in eastern Massachusetts, Rebecca began her art career in 1992 after graduating from Pratt Institute in New York City with a degree in illustration. Since then she has established a broad career in art/illustration. Her clients include DC, Vertigo, Marvel, and Dark Horse Comics, Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro (MtG), MTV Animation, Lucas Film, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin, Barefoot Books, and more. Additionally, Rebecca’s illustrations and personal paintings are in museums and private collections around the world, including the American Museum of Illustration at the Society of Illustrators in NYC.

Rebecca’s illustrations have graced various trading card series and she is also well known for her work in the very popular collectable card game Magic: The Gathering. In 2003 her first children’s book, Goddesses: A World of Myth and Magic, was published by Barefoot Books and received critical praise,  and her painted illustrations have frequently appeared in the well-adored children’s publication, Cricket Magazine.

Recent projects include two graphic novels, A Flight of Angels with Holly Black (Vertigo Comics) and The Last Dragon with Jane Yolen (Dark Horse Comics). Praise for her recent books includes “Occasionally someone executes a standard storytelling device with such dazzling skill that it reminds you why that device became standard in the first place. Rebecca Guay is that someone with A Flight of Angels  (Scripps Howard News Service) and “If Superman is the Strength of Comics, A Flight of Angels is the Soul” (Ain’t It Cool News).

Currently, Rebecca divides her time among illustration, gallery work, and running her professional art/illustration intensive mentorship programs The Illustration Master Class, and SmArt School. She now resides in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her artist-husband, Matthew Mitchell, and daughter, Vivian.

Rebecca can be contacted at rebeccaguay@yahoo.com, and you can purchase archival quality prints through her websites smarter artschool.com and illustrationmasterclass .com. Inquiries about original art sales can be made through her gallery, the R. Michelson, in Northampton, MA, rm@rmichelson.com.

~ You can see more of Rebecca’s work in this issue on the cover and on pages 15 and 24 of Our BerkshireTimes Magazine August-September issue.

Buying the right insurance is a crucial part of running a business well, or taking good care of one's family, but most people don't look forward to the process. Not so for the customers of a fast-growing and independent agency in this area called GoodWorks Insurance.
       GoodWorks is making a name for itself in the Berkshires and beyond with a refreshing, new approach to insurance that powers an engine of generous donations to local charities. Moreover, customers say the firm has a winning formula for taking the pain out of the process by helping people navigate the daunting complexities of risk management with confidence and clarity. 

       
       “GoodWorks has provided our company outstanding service and consistent due diligence,” said Mark Bram, president of Eljen Corporation, a manufacturer of prefabricated drainage systems for foundation drainage and erosion control applications used by contractors nationwide. “They have worked closely with Eljen in cost containment, policies, and procedures and because of this I would highly recommend them as an independent insurance agency.”

       GoodWorks has five locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut staffed by a team of seasoned, dedicated professionals with a wide-range of expertise in covering all kinds of risks facing businesses large and small - as well as individuals and families. And as one of the strongest independent agencies in the Northeast, its agents directly represent over 40 of the nation’s leading insurance companies, giving them a free hand to offer the best coverages available at extremely competitive prices.
       According to Mike Clemens, owner of Mike's Auto Repair in Orange, Conn., his GoodWorks agent has gone above and beyond expectations in servicing his account. 

            “She made the transition very easy for me and continues to be prompt in servicing my account,” said Clemens. “I have had to call her quite a few times for various changes, etc. and she takes care of it immediately and if needed, drives down to my shop. At my renewal she is right here making sure that my insurance needs are the same.”

       In addition to commercial lines, GoodWorks offers a full spectrum of personal insurance solutions as well for everyone from the new homeowner and car purchaser to high-net worth individuals with multiple vacation homes and extensive art collections.
       As for the charitable donations, GoodWorks has set a new standard in the insurance and financial world by pledging to give back half its operating profits every year to local non-profit organizations that are tackling important issues like education, healthcare and public safety. In an era when many of the world's leading financial institutions have sullied their reputations by shirking their responsibility to serve the public interest, GoodWorks is shaking up the industry with a bold commitment that its competition has not been able to match.
       “We understand that people in this economic environment are tired of watching the financial industry suck up outsized profits without really contributing to the betterment of society,” said GoodWorks Chairman Chad Yonker, a resident of Litchfield, Conn. “At GoodWorks, we believe that giving back is not only the right thing to do—it's also good business.  Our business strategy is designed to create a common purpose between GoodWorks, members of the community, and the non-profits that serve the community. The model demonstrates how a business can achieve strong growth and profitability while also committing to the strengthening of society in a real and tangible way.” 
       The concept gives community members an added reason to do business with GoodWorks rather than the agency around the corner or the corporate behemoth from outside community.  
        “We're a fiercely competitive company when it comes to offering customers best-in-class service and competitive prices, but we're not interested in keeping all the fruits of our success to ourselves,” said Yonker. “When we grow, our communities win, and this gives our firm and its employees a larger sense of purpose and pride in their work. It's what drives us.”
       In the last several years, GoodWorks has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to dozens of local charities and non-profits, including the likes of Berkshire Community College, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Community Health Programs, and first responder teams throughout the region such as the Otis Rescue Squad, Sheffield Fire Department and South Berkshire Ambulance. At the same time, sales volume at its office on Main Street in the center of Great Barrington has increased by 20% to 30% every year, which is much faster growth than most insurance agencies are able to enjoy. This has pushed its customer base to over 10,000 customers throughout the Northeast and beyond.
       Yonker, who took over the reins at the company last year, is investing more capital with ambitions to accelerate that growth—possibly through acquisitions of other insurance agencies, but also by expanding the firm's roster of insurance and investment professionals and adding to its suite of products and its range of expertise.
       “We're hiring people with a mix of unconventional backgrounds—everything from business strategy consulting to wealth management to journalism,” said Yonker. “We believe we already directly represent more insurance carriers than any other agency in the Berkshires, and we're continually expanding and broadening the suite of services available to our clients. At the end of the day, we're about helping businesses and individuals lower their costs and manage their risks, and that service includes insurance but it also can expand far beyond that as well.”
       At a time when the U.S. is facing an employment crisis and a protracted economic malaise, GoodWorks has been hailed by officials in its various markets as being a much-needed engine of economic growth and community support. Yonker has been asked to sit on the board of such entities as the New Milford Economic Development Corporation, where he serves as its Vice Chairman.
       Yonker left a high-powered career on Wall Street to seek an entrepreneurial path that would bring him closer to Main Street America and the everyday struggles of small and medium sized business owners and their workers. He first invested in GoodWorks in 2008 after being impressed by its innovative approach to serving communities, and he became so enamored with the business that he eventually became the sole owner of the company and its Chairman last year. 
       “I think we've figured out a new paradigm for insurance that could transform the industry nationwide and beyond,” he said. Visit www.goodworksinsurance.com for more information.

The “ZLT Zandwich”

Blue Ribbon Prize Winning Recipe from the 2011 Zucchini Festival 
created by David Sotnick 

Zucchini is among the most popular, plentiful, and versatile of the summer squashes. Just like the tomato, the zucchini is technically a fruit. It’s low in calories and a very good source of potassium, and vitamins A, C, and B complex. It can be eaten raw to retain its health-giving enzymes, or cooked in an endless variety of ways in savory dishes as well as desserts. Even the delicate flower of young zucchini may be consumed and is considered a delicacy. 

“Z”andwich Ingredients:

Zucchini “bacon” 
4 medium zucchinis thinly sliced lengthwise
       Sea salt
Crunchy “zuked” curried mayo 
2 T mayonnaise of choice
½ small zucchini, chopped and drained
3 cloves garlic, chopped or thinly sliced
1 T olive oil
Curry to taste
Ripe local tomatoes and Boston lettuce
Sandwich bread of choice

First, make Zucchini “Bacon” by using a vegetable peeler to slice 4 medium zucchinis thinly lengthwise. Lightly dust zucchini slices with sea salt and sauté in olive oil until crispy. Set aside. 

Next, create Crunchy “Zuked” Curried Mayo by sautéing 3 cloves of chopped or thinly sliced garlic and ½ of a small, chopped, drained zucchini. Add this mixture to 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise of choice, and add curry to taste. Mix well. 

To make the “ZLT Zandwich”, toast your favorite sandwich bread. Spread the Crunchy “Zuked” Curried Mayo on both sides of the toasted bread and adorn with Zucchini “Bacon”, lettuce, and tomato. Enjoy!

Golden Moments
Somehow the picture of a child lying in a hammock looking up through leaves at blue sky . . . daydreaming her way towards her next burst of playful creativity . . . doesn’t quite mesh with the other picture, of a child hunched up indoors in a darkened room, with an electronic gadget in her hand, staring at a screen.

Parental Resolve
Most of us would love for our children to have a whole inner treasure box full of Golden Moments (as Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting, calls them), as a source for peace of mind and enjoyment. In this media-saturated culture, it will take some parental resolve to make sure that our children have lots of media-free time for Golden Moments of creativity and connection to be born. We may even have to wriggle out of its addictive clutches ourselves!

Screens in Summer
Some aspects of summer are a challenge for parents – children in different routines and rhythms, while parents are still busy. It is tempting to use screens as babysitters, isn’t it?
The trouble with these particular Mrs. Doubtfires is that they are often wanting to sell things to us and our children . . . and too often they seem to take our children away from us. 

How do we find the resolve to protect our children – and our families – from this pressure, especially in summer when there are golden days beckoning outside? Perhaps we have to want Golden Moments for our kids more than we want alone time for ourselves, or to get something done . . . perhaps we have to be willing to give our own agendas up every now and again to make sure we have family time, connection time, down time, media-free time: childhood is short and precious!

The Five Rs
Here are some tips that work for many parents who are striving to manage the influence of media in their families. They won’t work for all families all of the time – but perhaps they will help you think again about how you could simplify screens and media devices in your home:

1. Remove
This is the simple option! “We decided to see what it’s like to have no TV or movies for this summer. There are so many other things to do.” Removal can be an experiment . . . often with beneficial results! 

2. Reform
Is it time to sit with your spouse or co-parent and have a conversation about the influence of media in your home? Is “media creep” happening in your family? Would you like to be more in charge? Is media a crutch or an escape in your family, or is it a tool you use in a deliberate and safe way, that promotes connection and shared values?

3. Replace
Replace screens so that they are not in family space. Replace screen time with unstructured play time, crafts time, family time, a hike, helping in the kitchen, ball practice, gardening, “boring” time. No phones on for at least one family meal a week? No screens one evening a week for games night in summer? Radio off in the car so we can talk or sing?

4. Reduce
If eliminating media time for your children seems too much for your family right now, you can reduce the amount of screen time you allow, and be in charge of the content of what is watched, seen, done.

5. Remember
Remember that the age of your children will help you decide how to introduce your reforms! We need to adjust our parenting style to meet our changing children.

For children ages 1-7, you will be able to introduce your parenting style as the sovereign King and/or Queen of your home.

Children in middle childhood will respond better to the parenting style of “farmer” parents concerned about the health and safety of their “crop.”

Teens will doubtless be the most challenging . . . sometimes a way to begin will be to watch or play with them, without commenting or questioning, with a genuine interest in this activity, and see if any moments for connection and conversation arise, to counter the isolation that screen-watching can bring. With teens, we are parent-shepherds, guiding them, minding they don’t go astray, and consulting them so that they are a part of the solution, not automatically opposed to it.

Check out www.simplicityparenting.com for more ideas about simplifying your family life to make room for more love, laughter, and connection. Recommended summer reading on your hammock: Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne, Ballantine/Random House, 2009.

~ Davina Muse, LMHC (NM), is an experienced family therapist and Family Life Coach with a practice in Great Barrington, MA. She is also Director of Group Leader Trainings for Simplicity Parenting. 
musewrite7@gmail.com, (413) 528-4219. 

What We Offer
The Starving Artist Café & Creperie is located in downtown Lee, Massachusetts. Our philosophy is Always Organic & Local When Possible. We are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the summer, and serve savory and sweet crepes along with delicious sandwiches, fresh salads, homemade soups, organic baked goods, fresh organic juices, smoothies, Barrington coffee, and much more. There is something for everyone, including buckwheat gluten-free and vegan crepes, vegan and gluten-free baked goods, and organic meat options. Eat in, outside, or takeout are all available.
We are located next door to the Good Purpose Gallery. Our name pays homage to the many “Starving Artists” of the area with local artists’ paintings hung on the walls and a live musical brunch every Sunday, combining the art of food with our beautiful crepes.  

What Makes Us Different
We are a family-run organic café with a focus on creating healthy delicious food. We have many options for vegans, people with gluten allergies, and other dietary needs. We also feature local artists at our musical brunch every Sunday, serving breakfast all day with live music from 10am-1pm. 
Come join us anytime during the month of April 2012, mention Our BerkshireGreen, and we will give you half off the price of any dessert crepe!

We Are Community-Minded
One of our main goals at The Starving Artist Cafe is to limit the impact we have on the earth in every way. We support local and organic farms in the Berkshires as much as we can. This benefits local businesses and ensures you are getting the freshest products and ingredients in your food. Being avid recyclers in order to be kind to our environment, we use corn-based biodegradable plastic products and our paper products are made from recycled paper. Our website is hosted by 100 percent wind energy and our faithful customers receive a paperless newsletter each month. 

How to Find Us
We are located at 40 Main Street in downtown Lee. Open Monday through Saturday from 7:30am-5pm and Sundays from 8am-3pm for our musical brunch. On Fridays & Saturdays in the summer we are open until 8pm with live music. See www.starvingartistcreperie.com or follow us on Facebook for daily specials and updates. www.starvingartistcreperie.com  

The room is quiet, and I am swathed in a sheet and blanket, my face and décolleté covered with a rich layer of organic herbal creams that give off a faint pine-like scent. My feet, which have just been similarly massaged and moisturized, are enveloped in cozy booties. I hear faint strains of music and the esthetician preparing her next potion in a corner of the room, but the sounds seem far distant. In fact, I could be lying next to a train track with a freighter clattering past and not much care: I am that blissed out.  
     Though I think of myself as a low-maintenance person, I am no stranger to facials and massages, and I’ve been coming to Seven salon.spa, at Seven South Street, Stockbridge, for my hair since it opened six years ago. But this is the first time that I have ascended to its spa – several generously sized, well-appointed, and immaculate treatment rooms on Seven’s second floor. Ascended seems the right word: this facial and the massage that follows it make me feel as though I’m floating on a cloud.

From the beginning, Seven’s spa has been a vital part of the business – the brainchild of Mark Johnson, who embarked on a career as a hairstylist 23 years ago, and his long-time partner and husband of two years, Maurice Peterson, who is Seven’s co-owner and business manager. The couple began their Berkshire residence as second-home owners, fell in love with the area, and moved here full time when they launched the salon/spa.
     Au courant with the latest trends in healthful hair, skin, and spa products, Seven offers organic single-process hair coloring with Herbatint, products by John Masters and others, skin care products by Pangea and Comfort Zone, and Jane Iredale makeup, the purest mineral cosmetics on the planet. It also offers manicures, including long-lasting shellac solutions, and a range of skin and body treatments, including facials, massages, peels, waxing, makeup application and lessons, complimentary private steam baths for spa clients, and myotonolgy (described as a nonsurgical facelift – note to self: mark for future reference), even tarot and readings by intuitive Sheilaa Hite.
“We have a gamut of clients – women, men, kids, actresses, and elderly ladies, and try to serve all of them with a good range of prices for services,” Johnson says. “We respect our employees, and they have their own creative control over what they do. Good quality people always look for that. We’re lucky to have the staff that we have.”
     Johnson still works in New York City two days a week at Space, the first high-end salon established in SoHo. Having trained with Vidal Sassoon, he spent four years doing magazine and runway work before deciding to work in the real world as a cutter and colorist. “It’s just much more fulfilling,” he explains. “What we do for our clients makes a lasting impact on their looks, and they’re living with the results of what we do day and night.” A great stylist combines mastery of technique with a high level of taste, and Johnson has both. The one thing that is missing at Seven is a diva-esque attitude among its employees and its clientele, and that’s a breath of fresh Berkshire air.
     Today, I am breathing deep, as esthetician Nicole Troiano slathers my face with gentle exfoliating, deep cleansing, and rich moisturizing masks from Comfort Zone’s botanical, bio-organic Sacred Nature line. While the second mask penetrates, she treats my feet and calves to a massage and moisturizing treatment. Fifty minutes later, the facialist’s ministrations, a succession of eucalyptus-scented hot towels, and sybaritic potions of borage oil, ylang ylang, sandalwood, and jojoba oil have left my skin feeling luscious and looking radiant. “How often can I do this?” this formerly low-maintenance client asks Troinano. She recommends once every four to six weeks, the length of time it takes normal skin cells to replace themselves. In time, she explains, with these bioorganic treatments, the skin will become noticeably better in quality and tone.                            A few days later, I return to one of Seven’s massage rooms, where masseuse Lori Meek personalizes her treatments to the preferences of the client, from deep tissue work with lots of strong pressure to the more rhythmic and flowing motions of the Swedish massage. I opt for the latter, relaxing into a meditative zone while my neuromuscular and lymphatic systems bask in satisfied waves of contentment. Soothing percussive chords play quietly in the background, as the therapist kneads my back with an all-organic scentless, non-oily blend of jojoba and shea butter. “The more relaxed the client is, the deeper the massage can go,” Meek explains. With nine years under her fingertips, she and Alex Vinogradov, the other lead member of Seven’s massage team, offer a total of 34 years of experience, way above the industry’s three-year norm. In addition to individual treatments, they team up for couples massages. “Massages break up adhesions, move fluid in the tissue, and bring blood into the muscles, so over time, the body becomes more supple,” Meek says. “People move differently and look younger.”
     I certainly feel that way. My complexion is radiant without makeup, my stride is somehow longer and looser, and my shoulders and back feel amazing. Deconstruct the word “treatment,” and what you get is “treat,” something we all deserve. 
Seven salon.spa, 7 South Street, Stockbridge, MA 01262, (413) 298-0117, www.sevensalonspa.com.

~ A full-time real estate agent with The Kinderhook Group, based in Stockbridge, Gladys Montgomery specializes in architecturally significant properties, including historic ones in all price ranges. She is an award-winning writer and editor who was founding editor of Berkshire Living Home & Garden and is the author of five books and hundreds of magazine feature articles in the shelter and lifestyle field.