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Feel, Believe, Become at the 2015 Body Mind Spirit Expo

Jan 27, 2015 ● By Carrie Jackson

The Body Mind Spirit Expo (BMSE), in Northlake, February 28 and March 1, is a one-stop shop for people looking for alternative and holistic resources. The Expo started in Oregon in 1987 and has been held in Chicago since 2002. This year’s theme is “Feel, Believe, Become,” and Producer Megan Mitchell says that it’s a great place for people to explore the metaphysics. “BMSE showcases people from all over the country and highlights what’s new in holistic healing and alternative health.”
 

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Megan Mitchell
Megan Mitchell
ith 72 presentations over the weekend—15 more than last year—attendees can sample what interests them. “We have a wide range of subjects, including relationships, meditation, yoga, aromatherapy and pets. There’s a new focus on holistic treatments for animals, which is exciting,” adds Mitchell.

She notes there will also be a large display of crystals, gems and crafts. “Often people come to the BMSE not knowing what they’re looking for, but it’s all here, and we encourage people to explore.” All of the presenters and vendors are listed on the Expo website (Bmse.net), but here is a sample of what attendees can expect.

Dianne Bischoff James (LiveYourEverything.com) is a life reboot specialist who conducts workshops and presentations around the country designed to give people the tools needed to fulfill their greatest potential. The Chicago area resident’s highly interactive sessions enable participants to identify their true areas of passion

Dianne Bischoff James
Dianne Bischoff James
and to eliminate the blocks that stand in the way of achieving their critical goals. She uses her book, The Real Brass Ring: Change Your Life Course Now, as a starting point to share her 14 Rules for Happy Living, which include listening to your emotional radar, speaking your peace and leveraging your personal alignment to create a life that you love. “Your path might not be clear at the beginning,” she says, “but it’s incredibly rewarding to clarify your life’s work, confront your fears and get started on achieving goals that will bring true life satisfaction and joy.”

Leslie Fonteyne (LeslieFonteyne.com) is a life transformation teacher, intuitive energy healer and spiritual guide who has published

Leslie Fonteyne
Leslie Fonteyne
audio teachings, meditations, and a bimonthly blog on how to step into abundance. Her workshop at BMSE, Blowing the Lid Off: Abundance Now! will help people identify and remove the energetic blocks that interfere with their ability to manage their finances, relationships, work life and adventures. “I intend for participants to step boldly into their own abundance and transformation, based upon the combination of my teaching and their willingness to allow me to work with them to clear their blocks and shift into all they are meant to be,” she says.

Vincent Genna (VincentGenna.com), MSW, is an author, spiritual teacher and psychic medium who believes that love and relationships are the two most important aspects in life.

Vincent Genna
Vincent Genna
He sees not just his clients’ blockages, but also the solutions to empower them to move through them. He advises people to realize that they are fully responsible for the all of the relationships in their lives, from friends and lovers to bosses and neighbors and that the relationships we have in our outer world mirror the relationships we have with ourselves. “Research has shown that humans, young and old, will not thrive and can actually die when deprived of love and healthy relationships,” he says. “And people in healthy relationships live longer, are happier, and are healthier.”

Jen Heine
Jen Heine
Jen Heine has been a practitioner of Max Christensen’s Kunlun System (PrimordialAlchemist.com) for about eight years and shares these teachings from the Chicagoland area as an apprentice in the Chicagoland. The system is named after the Kunlun Mountain Range, in Tibet, reflecting the nature of this tradition. Heine will be sharing the teachings and offering assistance on finding one’s own path.

“Kunlun is for those who are looking for something different that is not New Age, but grounded in the root, providing results of self-awakening, self-healing and self-knowing,” she says. “In considering this path, people should know there are many paths to enlightenment, and they are not all the same in form or result.”

Heather Shannon
Heather Shannon
Heather Shannon is a holistic psychotherapist, health coach and practicing Buddhist who incorporates awareness of mind, body and spirit in all of her work with her clients. She founded the Health and Wellness Counseling Associates of Chicago (HwcaOfChicago.com) in 2011 to provide clients with a holistic approach to mental health. Her presentation at BMSE, Three Secrets to an Exciting Life, will look at ways to use mindfulness techniques to feel more present and alive in our daily routines.

“People can be gentler with themselves and enjoy their lives more at the same time,” she says. “Most of our efforts in life, misguided or not, are directed towards attempts to protect ourselves from painful emotions and experience more positive ones.” Shannon encourages people to focus on their sleep quality, nutrition, relaxation, variety of exercise, healthy relationships, career choices and spiritual practices and not to forget to have fun.


Admission is $12 for both days, and parking is free. For information and to purchase tickets, call 541-482-3722, ext. 1 or 2, or visit Bmse.net and download a $1 off coupon. Enter to win a free ticket at NAChicagoNorth.com/CHI/Contests.

Carrie Jackson is an Evanston-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings Magazine. Connect with her at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.