WOMEN’S HEALTH SUMMIT

Basic steps women can take to improve their own health outcomes will be the topic of the day as two women thought leaders lead a lively morning discussion and set of activities Saturday, Nov. 4 at Trinity Spiritual Center, 651 Pequot Ave., Southport, Connecticut and Livestream via Zoom from 9 to 11 a.m.

Together, spiritual leader Hillary Raining and wellness coach and culinary expert Lisa Parrelli will encourage women to do a better job of making their own health a priority, as far too often they put their own needs last on their “to-do” list.  “Women are so often the primary caretakers, fixers and advocates for others that they regularly forget to take care of themselves. That’s what we’ll be addressing on Nov. 4th,” said Raining. She will explore the sacred feminine wisdom of indigenous and Christian faith traditions that modern medicine has long neglected. As a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Native American Chippewa and an Episcopal priest, she will share practices that enable women to align and optimize their physical and spiritual health according to life cycles and the seasons. This discussion will include ancient understandings of menstruation, menopause and other health concerns specific to women.  It will feature easy-to-execute action that women can integrate into their routines.

Parrelli’s presentation is entitled, “Heal Our Bodies through Food.”  She will discuss the impact that various foods have on our bodies, minds and souls at different stages of life. Her goal is to help people make the best food choices in order to enjoy optimal health.  “Wellness is a set of behaviors and a mindset that should be experienced by everyone,” said Parrelli. 

Interspersed throughout the morning there will be activities that offer tips or action steps that women can take to improve their health and daily lives.  The center will offer childcare so that younger moms may attend.

The goal of the morning is to facilitate the kinds of conversations that women need to have among themselves but seldom do. Mary Lauren Factora, director of marketing at Bigelow Tea, and one of the 15 women hosting this event, said, “Trinity Spiritual Center creates  space where people feel comfortable discussing topics that are important but never surface in other settings.  We hope that this will become the first of a series of convenings for women at the center.”

Parrelli is a thought leader in the culinary, health and wellness space. She is a professionally trained chef and uses her experience and training to educate and teach clients to heal themselves through food. Parrelli is passionate about using food as medicine to complement a client’s wellness, partnering with physicians and nutritionists to empower clients to be a part of their health-care journey. Until recently, she was the executive chef and director of culinary and hospitality at nOURish Bridgeport, a food-centered, volunteer-powered, community-anchored not-for-profit, bringing hope to Bridgeport residents through direct service programs.