'Let's Talk' about holistic healing at Storrs Library

Date: 1/12/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



Eleven years ago, Peggy Hoime would begin her days stressed, not because of her work to teach rambunctious elementary school students or her monthly bills, but because when she went to get dressed in the morning her clothes wouldn't fit.

"I was eating so much that nothing fit," she said in an interview with Reminder Publications, adding that she knew she needed to make a change. "I was just so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I made a conscious decision that I needed to look at me and make choices that I needed to love myself and believe in me as much as I believed in my students."

Over a decade later, Hoime has lost 130 pounds by committing herself to alternative health philosophies. She also began a new career as a life coach and cofounder of Alternative Health Inc. in Southwick.

On Jan. 20 at 7 p.m., she and her brother John Hoime, Alternative Health Inc. CEO, cofounder and certified holistic health counselor, will be hosting a free seminar at Storrs Library, 693 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, to share her experiences and promote a new wellness program, "Let's Talk: A Program Designed for Lifelong Wellness."

Peggy explained that this program will help to offer clients an understanding of their "core problem" preventing them from maintaining overall health, help them to develop a plan of action and make them accountable for their actions. "Let's Talk" is an affordable three-month program, which meets twice per month and gives clients unlimited access to the support system at Alternative Health.

"Being well, whether physically or emotionally, it's hard. In order to be well and stay well, we have to take back responsibility for our lives," she said.

John explained that this program helps to keep people motivated to stay healthy long-term. He noted that he once suffered from chronic illnesses for which he took a slew of medications prior to choosing alternative healing methods. John said the program will focus on a variety of aspects to achieve wellness such as stress control, exercise, detoxification, enzyme-active food and water intake.

"We love to see people's lives change when they get well, but, just as important, we give people the tools they need to stay healthy," he said.

Peggy said she believes that "natural living" helped her to become cancer-free after a stage three colon cancer diagnosis. She noted that she also work with doctors to receive chemotherapy and other Western medicine.

"We do not take the place of doctors but we work along with what they do to help people help their bodies to heal," she said.

Those who attend the Jan. 20 seminar at Storrs Library will also be offered a free health assessment at one of Alternative Health's three area locations: 208 College Highway, Southwick; 243 King St., Northampton; or 17 S. Highland St., West Hartford, Conn.

Reservations are required in order to attend the seminar and can be made by calling 569-1155 or 1-800-322-6855.

For more information about Alternative Health Inc. visit www.alternativehealthspas.info.