Breathe in the beauty and bliss of Spa Ojai—the valley’s only Forbes Five-Star spa. Rebalance in our 31,000-square-foot luxury oasis with access to two pools, a fully equipped gym, Mind & Body classes, Spa Boutique, Artist Cottage & Apothecary, and Spa Café offering fresh indulgences. Relish Ojai signature experiences, spiritual wellness, nature walks, and power hikes amidst ancient oaks, lavender, and idyllic mountain vistas.
(844) 571-5227 OjaiValleyInn.com
The Ojai Valley rests on land stewarded for millennia by the Chumash people, whose presence here stretches back at least 12,000 years—and likely far longer. As Chumash elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie notes in Episode 64 for the Ojai Talk of the Town podcast the full span of that history remains unknown, but its depth is unmistakable. This is not just backdrop. It is living ground, shaped by generations who understood its rhythms, honored its resources, and recognized its capacity to heal. To move through Ojai with awareness is to feel that continuity. Respect the land — walk it, breathe it, listen to it — and the reason becomes clear: long before it was a destination, this valley was known as a place of restoration.
Cover: Tara Saylor, Photo by Jeremy Francis
NO WONDER OJAI’S REPUTATION AS A PLACE OF HEALING AND HEALTH RUNS SO WIDE AND DEEP. HEALING ISN’T AN OVERLAY HERE. IT IS OUR ORIGIN STORY
The valley took shape as a health destination long before it became a cultural one. In 1872, writer Charles Nordhoff praised California’s restorative climate in “California for Health, Pleasure and Residence.”
Though he never set foot in Ojai at the time, his words set something in motion. Health seekers — many suffering from tuberculosis, asthma, and the lingering toll of Eastern winters — followed the promise west.
They landed first in Santa Barbara. Then they kept moving.
The fog hung low there. The air stayed damp. Eight miles inland, the Ojai Valley offered something different: dry heat, open sky, clean air that filled the lungs and stayed there. People felt the difference immediately — and word spread just as quickly.
Entrepreneurs and believers moved in behind them. R.M. Brown cut a road into Matilija Canyon, built a hotel, and marketed the hot springs as “the Saratoga of the West.” Farmer W.S. McKee converted his land into a working sanitarium. Abram Blumberg raised the Nordhoff Hotel on what is now Libbey Park, anchoring a growing network of retreats, cottages, and convalescent homes.
Within three years, hundreds wintered here. Not tourists — patients, seekers, survivors.
When Nordhoff finally arrived
in 1881, he found a place already living out the promise he had only imagined. In the next edition of his book, he named Ojai one of Southern California’s finest winter health resorts.
The foundation held.
Glass magnate Edward Drummond Libbey didn’t just visit—he built. He commissioned the Post Office Tower, the Arcade, and the Ojai Country Club — now the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa — giving the valley both structure and identity. His investments turned a scattering of health retreats into a cohesive town shaped around well-being. Then came the seekers.
In 1922, Jiddu Krishnamurti arrived, drawn by the valley’s quiet and clarity. He stayed. His presence seeded schools, ideas, and a steady stream of visitors searching not
just for physical healing, but for meaning. Ojai became more than a place to recover. It became a place to reckon, to reflect, to rebuild.
That current never left.
Today, the lineage is visible everywhere you look — and everywhere you step. In treatment rooms and yoga studios. On hiking trails and in farmers’ markets. In conversations with bodyworkers, therapists, trainers, and physicians who practice here not by accident, but by design.
This is not a collection of services. It is an ecosystem.
Ojai sustains a dense network of practitioners — massage therapists, chiropractors,
acupuncturists, counselors, energy healers, fitness experts — working in proximity, often in collaboration. The land supports it. The culture reinforces it. The results speak for themselves.
Even the infrastructure tells the story. While many towns of this size lose medical access, Ojai expanded it. The Ojai Valley Community Hospital continues to grow, strengthening local care with new facilities and services. It remains what it has always been: a community-built institution grounded in responsibility and trust.
Ojai’s influence has traveled far beyond the valley floor. The modern movement for active aging took root here, when Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus and her colleagues gathered
at the Ojai Valley Inn and laid the groundwork for the American Association of Retired Persons — now one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the world.
That kind of impact does not happen by accident. It grows out of place, culture, and continuity.
Ojai has always drawn people in search of something better—cleaner air, stronger bodies, clearer minds, longer lives. What they found, and continue to find, is a community built around that pursuit.
If you are here—whether for a day or a lifetime — you are part of that tradition.
We hope this guide helps you make the most of it.
Let’s be honest — most gatherings follow the same script: charcuterie, small talk, and that one friend who’s ready to pop the bubbly. (We love her. We’ve been her.)
But what if your gathering didn’t just look good — it felt good? What if your guests left feeling grounded, connected, and soulfully seen?
That’s where a sacred circle comes in.
Before you imagine everyone chanting in Sanskrit while wearing matching goddess robes — hold up. A circle doesn’t have to be mystical or overly “woo.” It’s simply a moment of presence — a pause before the party. A way to help people land, connect, and remember why they came.
As a ceremonialist and intuitive guide, I’ve led circles for bridal showers, birthdays, retreats, and wedding weekends — and I’ve seen how just a little intention can transform the whole vibe. Especially here in Ojai, where people come to feel something, a circle adds depth most gatherings miss.
Last fall, I held a circle for a bride and her friends at a hotel in Ojai. They came from different corners of her life — college friends,
By Carrie DeVaney
family, coworkers — and most had never met, let alone sat in a circle together.
At first, the vibe was polite and a little nervous. But then something beautiful happened.
Each woman shared a memory, a blessing, or a piece of her heart. There was laughter. There were tears. And by the end, what began as strangers in a circle became a group of soul-connected women. The bride told me later it was the best decision she made for her wedding.
That’s the power of starting with spirit.
You don’t need a ceremonial background — just some intention. Here’s a quick guide:
Set the Space – Blankets, cushions, or chairs arranged in a circle. Add flowers or a candle in the center. Keep it cozy, not fancy
Start with Presence – A toast, a poem, or a few grounding breaths. Invite everyone to take a moment and arrive.
Offer a Theme – It can be light (“What are you celebrating?”) or
deep (“What do you want to bless the bride with?”). Just let people know what to expect.
Invite Sharing – Use a talking piece so one person speaks at a time. Keep it short and sacred. Listening is just as important as speaking.
Close with Gratitude – A word from each guest, a breath together, or a group hug. End with love.
At a time when everything moves fast and looks perfect on Instagram, a sacred circle offers something deeper: real connection. You don’t have to make it mystical. Just make it meaningful. Because what people remember isn’t the playlist or the party favors—it’s how they felt. And a circle makes sure they feel something beautiful.
Carrie DeVaney is an intuitive guide, ceremonialist, and Wayfinder Life Coach based in Ojai, California. Through soul-aligned coaching, women’s circles, and energy work, she helps clients reconnect with their inner wisdom, access deep clarity, and live more meaningful, spirit-led lives. Learn more at www.carriedevaney.com.
“I’VE SEEN HOW JUST A LITTLE INTENTION CAN TRANSFORM THE WHOLE VIBE. ESPECIALLY HERE IN OJAI ...”
Dr. Maria Halvorson
Dr. Helen Petroff
Dr. Natalie Horn
Michelle Griffith, NP
Cathy Estill, NP
Dr. Kristyna Fong
Dr. Wallace Baker
Dr. Nicole Kehoe
Dr. Andrew Mace
In 1996, Lauren Artress of San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral founded Veriditas, Inc., with a bold and deceptively simple aim: to “pepper the planet with labyrinths.” At Grace Cathedral, she installed a replica of the early-thirteenth-century labyrinth at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, helping to spark a modern revival of this ancient walking practice.
That revival has spread with remarkable reach. Today, according to the World-Wide Labyrinth Locator—maintained by Veriditas in partnership with the The Labyrinth Society—more than 4,200 labyrinths span 80 countries. What began over five millennia ago as a symbolic path of pilgrimage and reflection now serves as a widely practiced tool for personal, psychological, and spiritual transformation.
The Ojai Valley stands firmly within that lineage. Local examples can be found at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, The Ojai Foundation, Rivendell Aromatics Lavender Farm, the Krotona Institute of Theosophy, and beyond—each one contributing to a living, global network rooted in a single, continuous path.
A labyrinth is not a maze. It does not confuse. It clarifies.
Where a maze fractures into choices, false turns, and dead ends, a labyrinth offers a single, continuous path. One entrance. One route. One center. You step in, you follow the line, and — if you stay with it — you arrive. There is no solving required. Only attention.
The distinction matters. Mazes test logic. Labyrinths invite presence.
The form is ancient, and its purpose has remained remarkably consistent. In the medieval world, labyrinths were embedded in cathedral floors as substitutes for pilgrimage. For those unable to travel to Jerusalem, the walk itself became the journey. At Chartres and elsewhere, pilgrims moved slowly — often on their knees — through looping, deliberate paths that carried them inward to a symbolic center, then outward again, returning them to the world altered, or at least steadied.
At Chartres, the geometry is precise: four quadrants, each unfolding in measured loops, drawing the walker toward a rosette center that represents the Kingdom of Heaven. The return path retraces the journey, but never feels the same. The body has moved. The mind has shifted. The world waits just outside the threshold.
That pattern endures. And in Ojai, it takes root across the valley in distinct, lived forms.
At St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, a Chartres-style labyrinth anchors an open patio — intentionally visible, intentionally accessible. Installed in 2009 through the support of Bishop Jon Bruno and his wife Mary, the design mirrors its medieval predecessor: a winding, measured path that gathers the walker inward, then releases them outward again.
It is not decorative. It is used.
Office manager Lindsay Thomson describes the intent clearly: the labyrinth sits in open space so that anyone — parishioner or passerby — can step onto it without hesitation. Some arrive with purpose: prayer, grief, decision. Others come out of curiosity, tracing the pattern once and discovering, almost by accident, that something has shifted.
The church spent years considering its placement, construction, and cost before the project took form. When the Brunos provided funding, St. Andrew’s secured a Chartres pattern through Reverend Lauren Artress’s Veriditas organization and commissioned a specialist in trompe l’oeil painting to give the flat surface a sense of depth and movement.
The result is quiet but persistent: an open invitation, available at any hour, asking only that you walk.
Across the valley, at the Krotona Institute of Theosophy, the experience shifts in tone but not in intent. Here, a Classical-style labyrinth — seven circuits coiling toward a central point — rests in a meadow framed by the Topa Topa Mountains.
Constructed in 1997 during a workshop led by John Algeo, the labyrinth reflects both Theosophical philosophy and the surrounding land. Walkers enter from the west, facing the setting sun — long associated with endings, dissolution, and the material world. The path turns them gradually eastward, toward the rising sun, toward illumination and transformation.
Over time, the original chalk lines have disappeared beneath stones placed by those who have walked before. Each step leaves no mark, but the path itself accumulates memory.
The labyrinth becomes less a design than a record.
At The Ojai Foundation, another Classical labyrinth carries yet a different weight. Built in the late 1970s by geomancer Nigel Pennick, it occupies the site of a former kiln—an intentional transformation from fire to contemplation.
Constructed from stones gathered on-site, the labyrinth feels embedded rather than installed. It belongs to the land.
Here, the structure integrates into a broader field of practice. Students in rite-of-passage programs begin with a “land walk,” orienting themselves to the terrain before stepping into the labyrinth. Many return to it later, alone. They walk inward in silence, pause at the center, and retrace their steps outward — not as repetition, but as completion.
In group settings, the experience deepens. Participants gather along the perimeter, their voices low — singing, toning, or simply holding space —
while each person enters in turn. Objects accumulate at the center: rings, poems, coins, fragments of intention. Some remain. Some are reclaimed. All mark a moment.
Further west, at Rivendell Aromatics Lavender Farm, the labyrinth shifts again — from stone to living plant.
Rows of lavender define the path. The air carries their scent. Owner Sandy Messori designed what she calls a “Lavyrinth,” measuring each ring so walkers pass directly between the plants. The structure follows a Three-Ring Chartres pattern — simple, balanced, and quietly compelling.
Here, the walk becomes sensory. Color, fragrance, and movement converge.
Messori brings long familiarity to the form. Years earlier, she created a labyrinth at the Ojai Valley Inn
spa garden, planting its paths with thyme as part of the resort’s mind-body programming. At Rivendell, she expanded the concept, cultivating more than 60 varieties of lavender within the design.
In peak bloom — May and June — the experience reaches its fullest expression. The path hums with bees. The air thickens with scent. Messori herself walks it each morning, returning to the same pattern, finding something different each time.
The core patterns — Greek, Roman, medieval —
remain intact, but the form continues to evolve.
Roman labyrinths introduced square and rectangular layouts, often arranged in meandering or serpentine designs. Contemporary builders have extended the vocabulary further: turf labyrinths cut into grass, mosaics set in tile, canvas labyrinths unrolled for temporary use, light-projected paths that appear and disappear.
Some reduce the form to its essence — just a few turns and a center point. Others expand into intricate geometry, symbolic figures, even three-
dimensional paths that climb hillsides.
Materials change. Context changes. The experience holds.
You enter. You follow. You arrive.
The Work of the Walk
The meaning of the walk has expanded alongside the form.
Traditionally, the labyrinth mapped a spiritual progression. The inward path marked release — letting go of distraction, noise, and the accumulated weight of thought. The center offered stillness — clarity, insight, or simply pause. The outward path carried that clarity back into the world, integrating it into daily life.
Some describe this as a three-part movement: purgation, illumination, union. Others leave it unnamed.
In Ojai, both approaches coexist.
At St. Andrew’s, parishioners incorporate the labyrinth into prayer services and Taizé gatherings, where music, silence, and movement interweave. Workshops introduce newcomers to the practice, offering structure without prescription.
At the Ojai Foundation, facilitators use the labyrinth in ceremony, blending voice, movement, and intention. Participants step into the path one by one, held by the group yet moving alone.
At Rivendell, the labyrinth hosts full moon and
seasonal ceremonies, sometimes guided by Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, sometimes by practitioners of Japanese ritual traditions. The forms differ. The underlying gesture remains the same: attention directed inward, then carried outward.
And beyond these settings, people simply walk.
Before work. After loss. Between conversations. At moments when something needs to settle, or shift, or release.
What distinguishes Ojai is not the presence of labyrinths, but their density — and their continued use.
These are not static installations or historical
curiosities. They are working structures, embedded in a broader culture of reflection, healing, and inquiry. They connect churches, retreat centers, farms, and open land into a quiet but persistent network of practice.
Ojai does not preserve the labyrinth as artifact. It lives it as process.
And like much in this valley, the invitation arrives without insistence and without explanation:
Step in. Follow the path. See what meets you at the center.
(This is a revised version of a story by Sarah Howery Hart from the Fall 2013 issue of Ojai Quarterly magazine.)
206 North Signal St., Ste M
SoulBodyOjai.com (805) 717-9900
Wellness and community space offering acupuncture, energy healing, massage therapy, sound healing, and yoga, Soul Body Ojai specializes in personal and group healing experiences.
NATE’S PLACE
3840 Channel Islands Blvd, Oxnard (805) 628-2552
Nate’s Place is a recovery center named after Ojai resident Nate Rhoades, who died tragically in a car accident. Nate was known for counseling for local youth dealing with addiction and substance abuse after his own recovery, inspiring others.
THE ARTESIAN OF OJAI
203 E. El Roblar Dr. (805) 798-9305
The Artesian of Ojai is Ojai’s premier senior living facility, with 64 units, providing 24/7 care and many additional services, including promoting intellectual and physical wellness with memory care, nutrition counseling and a wide range of classes and activities.
ANASTASIA ‘SARADA’ VON SONN
AnastasiasRemedies.com 805-826-3232
Certified Ayurvedic Doctor, Registered Herbalist, Board Certified Massage Therapist and formulated over 60 botanical products. Studied and practiced Ayurveda in India and U.S. for more than 30 years. Consults Abhyanga, PanchaKarma.
‘You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.’— David Foster Wallace
BetweenWorldsWellness.com (805) 602-0259
Baleigh Bender is an Ojai local who is a Licensed Holistic Esthetician for 13 years. She graduated as an Ayurvedic Practitioner this year and specializes in Ayurvedic and Organic Facials.
DR. CHARISSE BALANCE, PT, DPT, RYT
305 E. Matilija St., Ste K
Dr. Balance specializes in perinatal support and holistic pelvic health. Also includes sexual health education & counseling, pelvic physical therapy, birth preparation & healing, prenatal bodywork, myofascial release and birth education classes.
DR. NANCY DOREO
376 N. Ventura Ave., Oak View (805) 777-7184
Dr. Nancy Doreo is a naturopathic doctor and chiropractor specializing in Applied Kinesiology. Modalities include: IV therapy, Prolozone, PRP, UBI / Biophotonic Therapy, EBOO Therapy, Homeopathy / UNDAs, Flower Essences, CranialFacial Release, Laser LLT, Gentle Manipulation, Activator, Acupuncture Meridians, Neurovascular, Neu-rolymphatic, Stem-Cell Therapy and Peptide therapy. Grand opening specials on Nutrient IVs for a limited time.
AubrieWoodsCoaching.com
A Licensed & Certified Trauma-Informed Spiritual Intimacy Coach, who’s distilled 25 years of training and practice into powerful programs that transform your challenges into your pleasures. Offerings include: Trauma Healing & Spiritual Awakening, Intimacy, Ecstatic Birthing, Pleasurable Parenting, Conscious Uncoupling & Coparenting, Special Needs/Medical Trauma, and ACIM.
CarrieDeVaney.com (314) 604-5237
Carrie DeVaney is an Intuitive Psychic Medium, certified Wayfinder Life Coach, and ceremonialist who blends coaching, energy work, and spirit-led insight to help clients live with clarity, alignment, and purpose. Her offerings include one-on-one coaching, soul readings, and sacred circles that bridge the spiritual and the practical — empowering clients to reconnect with their inner wisdom and step fully into the life they’re meant to live.
JodyKaylor.com (512) 809-8929
Clairvoyant Energy Healer and Hendricks-trained Coach invites your essence forward bridging the practical and the intangible with play and wisdom. Your choices, consciousness and frequency create the foundation for your navigation; let’s ease the way by moving stuck energies, interrupting unhelpful patterns and welcoming flow.
Hendricks.com (800) 688-0772
The Hendricks Institute is an International Learning Center that teaches core skills for conscious living and conscious loving. Foundation for Conscious Living is a charitable organization committed to a shift out of the fear trance toward choice, connection and collaboration.
OF OJAI
Boyd Center, 501 Park Rd. (805) 646-5581 ext. 390
The Recreation Department offers an array of programs and activities for our community to enjoy. We strive to build a special sense of community through Recreation by providing many ways to learn, grow, and engage with friends, family, and neighbors.
10340 Reeves Rd. (717) 443-5481
Meditation Mount is a non-profit non-denominational Sanctuary for the Soul. Our mission is to promote the building of an enlightened and compassionate world through the power of Creative Meditation, inspirational educational programs, community-based events, and global meditations. Founded in 1971 by Florence Garrigue.
316 East Matilija St. (805) 646-6000
Located in the heart of downtown Ojai, SANE LIVING is a beautiful event space available for rent. Suitable for Community, Lifestyle and Wellness Events, Film Screenings, Artistic Performances, Conferences, Dance, Weddings, Special Occasions. Featuring state-of-the-art AV technology.
WildQi.com (805) 272-8097
Wild Qi is an integrative wellness center and community offering offering a full integrative healthcare team: acupuncture, medical doctors, physical therapy, nutrition and social services. Classes, events and retreats are offered on site and can be booked through our website. Join our newsletter for events and membership promotions today!
HENDRICKS INSTITUTE
Hendricks.com 226 W. Ojai Ave., Ste. 101 (800) 688-0772
The Hendricks Institute is an International Learning Center that teaches core skills for conscious living and conscious loving. Foundation for Conscious Living is a charitable organization committed to a shift out of the fear trance toward choice, connection and collaboration.
376 N. Ventura Ave., Oak View (805) 777-7184
Dr. Nancy Doreo is a naturopathic doctor and chiropractor specializing in Applied Kinesiology. Modalities include: IV therapy, Prolozone, PRP, UBI / Biophotonic Therapy, EBOO Therapy, Homeopathy / UNDAs, Flower Essences, CranialFacial Release, Laser LLT, Gentle Manipulation, Activator, Acupuncture Meridians, Neurovascular, Neu-rolymphatic, Stem-Cell Therapy and Peptide therapy. Grand opening specials on Nutrient IVs for a limited time.
307 E. Ojai Ave. Ste 203 (805) 798-1289
We are a collective of bodyworkers and massage therapists doing what we love. For over 20 years we’ve served the Ojai Valley with truly talented practitioners in our rooms. Offerings include Flow massage, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, Reflexology, Reiki, Rolfing, Zenthai Shiatsu, and 4-Handed Work. Available for outcalls and retreats 7 days a week. The world needs more touch and we want to give it.
OJAI + FOX
OjaiFoxSpa.com
501 East Ojai Ave. (805) 746-6476
Ojai + Fox is the crème de la crème of the Ojai Valley for massages, facials, couples treatments and now, Ojai’s only cryotherapy chamber.
OJAI MASSAGE
307 E. Ojai Ave. Ste. 203 (805) 798-1289
We are a collective of bodyworkers and massage therapists doing what we love. For over 20 years we’ve served the Ojai Valley with truly talented practitioners in our rooms. Offerings include Flow massage, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, Reflexology, Reiki, Rolfing, Zenthai Shiatsu, and 4-Handed Work. Available for outcalls and retreats 7 days a week. The world needs more touch and we want to give it.
DR. ANDREW EGGEBRATEN
110 Portal St., Oak View DrewEggebratendds.com (805) 649-1137
Ojai’s biomimetic specialist, reconstructing teeth to emulate their natural form and function, services include bonded composite and porcelain restorations, implant restorations and rehabilitations, digital x-rays, crowns and bridges, X-rays, cleanings and comprehensive exams and treatment plans.
1202 Maricopa Hwy., Ste E
DavidFacerDDS.com (805) 646-1777
Your local Ojai dentist that practices conservative and gentle dentistry. We use a biomemetic approach to restore teeth to their natural form and help patients keep their oral health in top shape. Call Jenn at the front desk to schedule and come see us for your dental needs.
408-G Bryant Circle, Ojai (805) 640-6465
Established in 2010 as a co-operative. Ojai Cannabis Company, formerly named Shangri-La Care Centers, continues to operate today as a recreational and medical marijuana dispensary in Ojai, California. Our retail storefront is one of the largest in the county and our budtenders are well trained to help guide you along the way!”
When asked what surprised him the most, His Holiness the Dalai Lama replied: “Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
WILSON
206 North Signal St. 805-798-1908
Amyris offers transformational sessions that release deeply held tensions in the body/mind and increase the flow of joyful, natural life force energy. Many feel lighter, more peaceful, and centered. She has 20+ years experience as a Reiki Master, Intuitive Healer, and Kundalini Practitioner.
BodyMindUnwind.com
115 Pirie St., Ste B (805) 263-3535
Guiding women and empaths into deep relaxation and embodied ease. Session can include Massage Therapy, Reiki, Energy-flow Craniosacral unwinding, Silicone cupping or the soothing warmth of jade stone therapy.
CARON TATE & DEVO CUTLER
Healing Hands
323 E. Matilija St. #202 (310) 498-8619
Rooted in their Healing In America training and expanded through years of medical and other intuitive practices, Caron Tate and Devo Cutler offer non-invasive Energy Healing sessions both in person and remotely. Their approach encourages clients to reconnect with the body’s own wisdom and capacity for self-healing, guiding many toward greater balance, resilience, and optimum health.
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - OJAI
1306 Maricopa Hwy. (805) 948-1401
Ojai campus is a designated critical access 100-bed hospital that provides essential access to high-quality healthcare in a rural area. With 6 beds, a 24-hour lab, and imaging capabilities, our Emergency Department is able to promptly diagnose and treat most patients.
OJAI VALLEY FAMILY MEDICINE GROUP
117 Pirie Road, Ste. D (805) 646-7246
A long-established clinic in Ojai with six physicians adjacent to Community Memorial Hospital-Ojai, specializing in Family Medicine and Primary Care.
1202 Maricopa Hwy, Ste. C (805) 640-0068
Valley Oak Family Practice is an independent, physician-owned practice that has been serving families for more than 25 years. Our extended office hours offer patients convenience, while our patient oriented practice delivers personalized, relationship-driven service and continuity of care.
OJAI WELLNESS & GARDEN SPA
212 E. Matilija St. OjaiWellness.Com
In the sacred heart of Ojai Wellness, our close-knit team of passionate holistic healers welcomes you into a deep sanctuary. Guided by Kali’s 20+ years of energy alignment, polarity & regenerative bodywork wisdom, and Aubrey’s nurturing sculptural facial massage at Roam Skin Wellness — intuitive touch, lymphatic flow & nervous system support — we invite you to breathe, release held emotions, and remember your truest self.
OJAI CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKET
300 East Matilija St. ojaicertifiedfarmersmarket.com
Certified Farmers’ Market specializing in organic and locally grown produce. Since 1991. Sundays, 9 am to 1 pm
OJAI COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET
414 E. Ojai Ave.
OjaiCommunityFarmersMarket.com Nonprofit Community Farmers Market supporting local farmers, food artisans and makers. We offer weekly kids activities, educational workshops and live music. Thursdays, 3-7 pm
TheGirlsEmpowerment Workshop.org
Established in 2005, The Empowerment Workshop’s mission is educating, empowering and inspiring youth by elevating awareness, building life skills, and cultivating confidence. Workshops include Empowerment, Teen Mentorship, Mountain Biking, Art Hub, and Wilderness Immersion.
BryantStGym.com
406-Q Bryant St. (805) 646-2233
The only full service 24-hr fitness facility in Ojai. We offer classes from Yoga to Spin. Additional offerings: Personal training, Nutritional counseling, Watsu, and Water therapy. Sign-up online, download our app, and get instant access! Day passes available.
Boyd Center, 501 Park Rd. (805) 646-5581 ext. 390
The Recreation Department offers an array of programs and activities for our community to enjoy. We strive to build a special sense of community through Recreation by providing many ways to learn, grow, and engage with friends, family, and neighbors, fostering connection, wellness, creativity, and lifelong participation for all ages.
LMVNA.com
202-A Cañada St. (805) 642-0239
RainbowBridgeOjai.com 211 East Matilija St. (805) 646-4017
Dedicated to bringing the best food and curated goods to the Ojai Valley, with one mission: to offer healthy, wholesome food and sustainable, ethically produced goods to the Ojai community. Shop, browse, eat and gather at this innovative fusion of the ever-evolving natural food industry with high-quality, local, organic products.
OJAI VALLEY INN OjaiValleyInn.com
905 Country Club Rd. (855) 697-8780
The Inn’s restaurants offer a wide variety of food for all palates, all informed by using fresh, original cuisine with deep connections to local culture and seasonal offerings.
AGENCY LLC
1211 Maricopa Hwy., Ste 106 (805) 646-6409
We specialize in Medicare health insurance and offer a wide range of options from many carriers to help you find the best fit. It’s important to understand the choices you have in plans and how those choices can affect your health and budget. Especially with a local agent who will return your calls.
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - OJAI
Visiting nurse association for home health and caregiving. Livingston remains Ventura County’s only nonprofit provider of comprehensive home healthcare, medical hospice, and in-home support.
1306 Maricopa Hwy. (805) 646-1401
Built in 1960, residents of the Ojai Valley count on the 100-bed hospital for both inpatient and outpatient care, including general and orthopedic surgery. Since 2005, it’s been part of the Community Memorial Hospital system.
LIVINGSTON MEMORIAL
LMVNA.com
211 East Matilija St. (805) 642-0239
Visiting nurse association for home health, caregiving, palliative and hospice care. Livingston remains Ventura County’s only nonprofit provider of comprehensive home healthcare, medical hospice, and in-home support.
LESLIE BOUCHE, C.HT. LeslieBouche.com (805) 796-1616
Hypnotherapy is a safe and loving method for rapid change. Replace negative habits, thoughts, reactivity, anxiety and fears with positive feelings and behaviors. Let go of the past and discover the inner strength, calm, and wisdom that live within you.
OF OJAI
203 East El Roblar Dr. (805) 798-9305
The Artesian of Ojai is a brand-new, 64-room assisted living facility that specializes in memory support, exercise and nutrition education, activities and recreation.
OJAI DIGESTIVE HEALTH
115 Pirie Rd Suite B OjaiDigestiveHealth.com (805) 901-3000
With more than 22 years as a colon hydrotherapist, Jacalyn Booth brings a deep level of care, presence, and experience to the art of colon hydrotherapy. She is I-ACT certified colon hydrotherapist and enjoys sharing information about the body and digestive system.
TAHI COMMUNITY HEALING (310) 985-2899
Karina J. Duffy, a Celtic healer from Dublin, Ireland, blends intuitive guidance, Reiki, sound healing and ancestral trauma release. She channels the wisdom of her Celtic lineage of intuitive healers and psychics to bring clarity for your life. She connects immediately with your spirit guides to release ancestral blockages — helping you find your most authentic path with compassion and depth.
ALICIA MORRIS SOTO
OjaiLymph.com (805) 814-1123
Specializing in Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Myofascial Release with an Ayurvedic lens. Boost immune function, stimulate natural detox, improve circulation, relieve pain, increase mobility and release tissue trauma.
Angella Winspear (805) 890-9813
Lymphatic Therapy is one of the most relaxing, satisfying types of bodywork available and has been around for a long time. It has shown positive clinical and therapeutic results with digestive problems, chronic pain, sleep deprivation.
AA RELAXING STATION 323 E. Matilija St. (805) 302-1166
Chinese Massage — Reduce stress and unwanted knots with a full body massage at wallet-friendly prices! Walk-in service available 7 days a week for Chair, Body, and Foot Massage.
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” — Buddha
MASSAGE & BODYWORK - CONT.
BAMBOO CREEK SPA
1002 E. Ojai Ave. Ste. B (805) 299-5899
Massage is not a luxury but essential for a healthy life. At Bamboo Creek Spa, enjoy the benefits of massage without a high price tag. We offer Oriental Oil Massage, Reflexology, and Hot Stone Therapy Massage.
BRYANT STREET GYM
BryantStGym.com
406-Q Bryant St. (805) 646-2233
The only full service 24hr fitness facility in Ojai. We Offer classes from Yoga to Spin. Additional offerings: Personal training, Nutritional counseling, Watsu, and Water therapy. Sign-up online, Download our app, and get instant access! Day Passes available.
BODY MIND UNWIND
BodyMindUnwind.com
115 Pirie St., Ste B (805) 263-3535
Guiding women and empaths into deep relaxation and embodied ease. Session can include Massage Therapy, Reiki, Energy-flow Craniosacral unwinding, Silicone cupping or the soothing warmth of jade stone therapy.
FAITH ROSE MASSAGE
FaithRoseMassage.com
206 North Signal St., Ste M (805) 450-1642
Faith is not your ordinary massage therapist. She feels, senses, and releases. From deep relaxation massage to deep tissue, Faith will find your knots hidden in your body. She will support and help you gain a better understanding of what is going on within your body.
“People who laugh actually live longer than those who don’t laugh. Few persons realize that health actually varies according to the amount of laughter.”
— James J. Walsh
MASSAGE & BODYWORK - CONT.
307 E. Ojai Ave. Ste. 203 (805) 798-1289
We are a collective of bodyworkers and massage therapists doing what we love. For over 20 years we’ve served the Ojai Valley with truly talented practitioners in our rooms. Offerings include Flow massage, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, Reflexology, Reiki, Rolfing, Zenthai Shiatsu, and 4-Handed Work. Available for outcalls and retreats 7 days a week. The world needs more touch and we want to give it.
OJAI VALLEY INN
OjaiValleyInn.com
905 Country Club Rd. (855) 697-8780
Our 31,000 square foot luxury spa is the heart of our serene Spa Village. A visit to Spa Ojai unlocks access to two pools, a fully-equipped gym, Mind & Body classes, Spa Boutique, Artist Cottage & Apothecary, and Spa Café. Massage treatments include Ojai specialties such as Ojai Body Polishes and Flower and CBD Scrub & Massage.
Private In-Home Sessions
(916) 204-9691
We bring a specialized massage that takes a holistic approach to treating stress in the body, all from the comfort of your home or office. With skillful hands & intuitive heart each session will provide you with deep relaxation to unlock your inner “Vibrant Wellness.”
1320 Maricopa Hwy, Ste. H (805) 646-5695
Quest offers broad access to clinical testing services for Covid19, STDs, heart health, physical exams and much more. Quest is discovering new ways to identify and treat disease, and making it faster and easier for patients, doctors, and hospitals to access lab tests and data when they need it.
MEDICINE SHOPPE OJAI
960 East Ojai Ave. (805) 646-0106
Our pharmacy offers an extensive variety of medical equipment and supplies. Our medical equipment includes, but is not limited to: wheelchairs, assistive devices such as canes and walkers, bathroom equipment such as benches, orthopedic supplies such as back support belts and compression stockings.
203 E. El Roblar Dr. (805) 798-9305
The Artesian of Ojai is Ojai’s premier senior living facility, with 64 units, providing 24/7 care and many additional services, including promoting intellectual and physical wellness with memory care, nutrition counseling and a wide range of classes and activities.
376 N. Ventura Ave., Oak View (805) 777-7184
Dr. Nancy Doreo is a naturopathic doctor and chiropractor specializing in Applied Kinesiology. Modalities include: IV therapy, Prolozone, PRP, UBI / Biophotonic Therapy, EBOO Therapy, Homeopathy / UNDAs, Flower Essences, CranialFacial Release, Laser LLT, Gentle Manipulation, Activator, Acupuncture Meridians, Neurovascular, Neu-rolymphatic, Stem-Cell Therapy and Peptide therapy. Grand opening specials on Nutrient IVs for a limited time.
BRYANT STREET GYM
BryantStGym.com
406-Q Bryant St. (805) 646-2233
The only full service 24hr fitness facility in Ojai. We Offer classes from Yoga to Spin. Additional offerings: Personal training, Nutritional counseling, Watsu, and Water therapy. Sign-up online, Download our app, and get instant access! Day Passes available.
Sacred Space Studio & In-Home
307-H E. Matilija St. (805) 321-0617
40+ years helping people eliminate pain through therapeutic strength and mobility. How you move today determines how you feel for life. Everything I teach translates to any activity you want to keep enjoying.
206 N. Signal St., Ste. M (805) 798-1908
Amyris offers transformational sessions that release deeply held tensions in the body/mind and increase the flow of joyful, natural life force energy. Many feel lighter, more peaceful and centered. She has 20+ years experience as a Reiki master, intuitive healer and Kundalini practitioner.
SHOPPE OJAI
960 East Ojai Ave. 805-646-0106
At The Medicine Shoppe® Pharmacy, we’re committed to the idea that quality pharmacy care means that you get the prescriptions and medications you need, and the care and attention you deserve. We are dedicated to the well-being of your family and community. We can also meet your needs for medical equipment and supplies.
“Health is not merely the absence of illness, but a dynamic state of balance in the body. Wellness, however, is a conscious pursuit—an active process of becoming aware, making choices, and living in alignment with a fuller sense of vitality and purpose. It calls for an ongoing commitment to growth, self-responsibility, and the thoughtful integration of mind, body, and spirit in the unfolding of a more meaningful life — Halbert Dunn
409 Fox St.
(805) 646-7213
Ojai Valley Athletic Club features a beautiful five acre tennis, swim and fitness facility. Our caring staff welcomes couples, families, singles and seniors alike to our club. Our Yoga, Pilates, Stretch and Qi Gong classes offer a chance to relax and refresh the mind and body. Discover a special place to energize, enrich and relax your body and soul. Contact us to inquire about membership.
FaithRoseMassage.com
206 North Signal St., Ste. M (805) 450-1642
Faith Rose has been an intuitive healer all her life. She started working with the public on connecting to the spirit realm when she was 13. Faith is clairvoyant but also a channeler. She will connect you to those who have passed on who you might need some clarity with. Unlike many mediums, Faith physically sees the spirit world and will share, word for word, what the spirit is saying to you. This will help you heal what you didn’t think possible.
TAHI COMMUNITY HEALING
(310) 985-2899
Karina J. Duffy, a Celtic healer from Dublin, Ireland, blends intuitive guidance, Reiki, sound healing, and ancestral trauma release. She channels the wisdom of her Celtic lineage of intuitive healers and psychics to bring clarity for your life. She connects immediately with your spirit guides to release ancestral blockages—both physical and emotional—helping you find your most authentic path with compassion and depth. With a lifelong gift for animal communication and a deeply healing presence, Karina’s sessions leave you feeling empowered, peaceful, and aligned in heart, body, and spirit.
CarrieDeVaney.com (314) 604-5237
Carrie DeVaney is an Intuitive Psychic Medium, certified Wayfinder Life Coach, and ceremonialist who blends coaching, energy work, and spirit-led insight to help clients live with clarity, alignment, and purpose. Her offerings include one-onone coaching, soul readings, and sacred circles that bridge the spiritual and the practical — empowering clients to reconnect with their inner wisdom and step fully into the life they’re meant to live.
AA RELAXING STATION
323 E. Matilija St. (805) 302-1166
Chinese Massage — Reduce stress and unwanted knots with a full body massage at wallet-friendly prices! Walk-in service available 7 days a week for Chair, Body, and Foot Massage.
1002 E. Ojai Ave. Ste. B (805) 299-5899
Massage is not a luxury but essential for a healthy life. At Bamboo Creek Spa, enjoy the benefits of massage without a high price tag. We offer Oriental Oil Massage, Reflexology, and Hot Stone Therapy Massage.
1306 Maricopa Hwy. (805) 646-1401
Built in 1960, residents of the Ojai Valley count on the 100-bed hospital for both inpatient and outpatient care, including general and orthopedic surgery. Since 2005, it’s been part of the Community Memorial Hospital system.
Sacred Space Studio & In-Home
307-H E. Matilija St. (805) 321-0617
40+ years helping people eliminate pain through therapeutic strength and mobility. How you move today determines how you feel for life. Everything I teach translates to any activity you want to keep enjoying.
DR. NANCY DOREO
376 N. Ventura Ave., Oak View (805) 777-7184
Dr. Nancy Doreo is a naturopathic doctor and chiropractor specializing in Applied Kinesiology. Modalities include: IV therapy, Prolozone, PRP, UBI / Biophotonic Therapy, EBOO Therapy, Homeopathy / UNDAs, Flower Essences, CranialFacial Release, Laser LLT, Gentle Manipulation, Activator, Acupuncture Meridians, Neurovascular, Neu-rolymphatic, Stem-Cell Therapy and Peptide therapy. Grand opening specials on Nutrient IVs for a limited time.
BODY MIND UNWIND
BodyMindUnwind.com
115 Pirie Street, Ste. B (805) 263-3535
Guiding women and empaths into deep relaxation and embodied ease. Session can include Massage Therapy, Reiki, Energy-flow Craniosacral unwinding, Silicone cupping or the soothing warmth of jade stone therapy. Each experience is thoughtfully tailored, blending intuitive touch with restorative techniques to calm the nervous system, release stored tension, and support emotional clarity, leaving clients feeling replenished, centered, and more fully at home within themselves.
‘You will become way less concerned with what other people think of you when you realize how seldom they do.’
— David Foster Wallace
SHARMILA MALI
OjaiReiki.com
206 N Signal St, Ste. M (805) 669-7299
For more than 20 years, Sharmila Mali has been helping women with their break-ups, psychologists and mental health counselors with burnout and helping people with their spiritual awakenings. She is a Reiki Master Teacher, Akashic Records reader and Sound Healer. She trains healers through her Confident Healer Reiki Training, a 9-month online program that develops their intuitive healing gifts.
206 North Signal St., Ste. M (805) 717-9900
Wellness and community space offering acupuncture, energy healing, massage therapy, sound healing, and yoga, Soul Body Ojai specializes in personal and group healing experiences.
1002 E. Ojai Ave. Ste. B (805) 299-5899
Massage is not a luxury but essential for a healthy life. At Bamboo Creek Spa, enjoy the benefits of massage without a high price tag. We offer Oriental Oil Massage, Reflexology, and Hot Stone Therapy Massage.
905 Country Club Rd. (855) 697-8780
Our 31,000 square foot luxury spa is the heart of our serene Spa Village. A visit to Spa Ojai unlocks access to two pools, a fully-equipped gym, Mind & Body classes, Spa Boutique, Artist Cottage & Apothecary, and Spa Café. Massage treatments include Ojai specialties such as Ojai Body Polishes and Flower and CBD Scrub & Massage.
206 N. Signal St., Ste. M (818) 679-4613
Shamanic Massage, Medical Massage, Zero Balancing, Craniosacral Therapy, Bodytalk, and Gong. Transformational bodywork that balances, grounds and allows for integration. Dani has over 20 years experience and offers a practice that is sure to harmonize your body, mind, and spirit. Each session is intuitively guided, weaving ancient modalities with modern understanding to release tension, restore energetic flow, and cultivate a deeper sense of presence, resilience, and well-being.
1002 E. Ojai Ave. Ste. B (805) 299-5899
Massage is not a luxury but essential for a healthy life. At Bamboo Creek Spa, enjoy the benefits of massage without a high price tag. We offer Oriental Oil Massage, Reflexology, and Hot Stone Therapy Massage.
905 Country Club Rd. (855) 697-8780
LESLIE BOUCHE, C.HT.
LeslieBouche.com (805) 796-1616
Hypnotherapy is a safe and loving method for rapid change. Replace negative habits, thoughts, reactivity, anxiety and fears with positive feelings and behaviors. Let go of the past and discover the inner strength, calm, and wisdom that live within you.
Hendricks.com
(800) 688-0772
The Hendricks Institute is an International Learning Center that teaches core skills for conscious living and conscious loving. Foundation for Conscious Living is a charitable organization committed to a shift out of the fear trance toward choice, connection and collaboration.
406-Q Bryant St. (805) 646-2233
Our 31,000 square foot luxury spa is the heart of our serene Spa Village. A visit to Spa Ojai unlocks access to two pools, a fully-equipped gym, Mind & Body classes, Spa Boutique, Artist Cottage & Apothecary, and Spa Café. Massage treatments include Ojai specialties such as Ojai Body Polishes and Flower and CBD Scrub & Massage.
OJAI WELLNESS & GARDEN SPA
212 E. Matilija St.
OjaiWellness.Com
In the sacred heart of Ojai Wellness, our close-knit team of passionate holistic healers welcomes you into a deep sanctuary. Guided by Kali’s 20+ years of energy alignment, polarity & regenerative bodywork wisdom, and Aubrey’s nurturing sculptural facial massage at Roam Skin Wellness — intuitive touch, lymphatic flow & nervous system support — we invite you to breathe, release held emotions, and remember your truest self.
The only full service 24hr fitness facility in Ojai. We Offer classes from Yoga to Spin. Additional offerings: Personal training, Nutritional counseling, Watsu, and Water therapy. Sign-up online, Download our app, and get instant access! Day Passes available.
BryantStGym.com
406-Q Bryant St. (805) 646-2233
The only full service 24hr fitness facility in Ojai. We offer classes from Yoga to Spin. Additional offerings: Personal training, Nutritional counseling, Watsu, and Water therapy. Sign-up online, download our app, and get instant access! Day passes available.
MEDITATION MOUNT
10340 Reeves Rd. (717) 443-5481
Meditation Mount is a non-profit non-denominational Sanctuary for the Soul. Our mission is to promote the building of an enlightened and compassionate world through the power of Creative Meditation, inspirational educational programs, community-based events, and global meditations. Founded in 1971 by Florence Garrigue.
206 North Signal St., Ste. M SoulBodyOjai.com (805) 717-9900
Wellness Center, Yoga, Soundhealing and Community Space specializing in personal and group healing experiences.
206 N. Signal St., Ste. M (818) 679-4613
Shamanic Massage, Medical Massage, Zero Balancing, Craniosacral Therapy, Bodytalk, and Gong. Transformational bodywork that balances, grounds and allows for integration. Dani has over 20 years experience and offers a practice that is sure to harmonize your body, mind, and spirit.
1320 Maricopa Hwy, Suite H 805-646-5695
Quest offers broad access to clinical testing services for Covid19, STDs, heart health, physical exams and much more. Quest is discovering new ways to identify and treat disease, and making it faster and easier for patients, doctors, and hospitals to access lab tests and data when they need it.
Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being. — J. Stanford
To the incredible healers, teachers, and practitioners who bring their gifts to the Ojai Valley every day — and to our readers and advertisers for supporting this shared journey of wellness and community.
We are honored to share your stories and services.
— The Ojai Quarterly & Ojai Monthly Team
With 70 to 80 percent of our lifespan determined by behavioral and environmental influences ... Ojai provides one of the best environments for healthy living.
Do you know your biological age — your cellular age? More specifically, do you know the length of your telomeres, the protective caps of DNA at the ends of every chromosome in every cell of your body? Telomeres shorten over time, and the rate at which they erode appears to set the pace of aging itself.
Each time a cell divides, a small fragment of its telomeres is lost. Over time, this loss accumulates until a critical threshold is reached, at which point the cell either dies (apoptosis) or enters a non-functioning, senescent state. At conception, human telomeres measure roughly 15,000 base pairs in length. By birth, that number has already declined to about 10,000 base pairs — imagine each base pair as a rung on a DNA ladder. From there, telomeres
shorten at an average rate of approximately 25 to 28 base pairs per year.
When telomeres reach a length of about 5,000 base pairs, cells lose their ability to function effectively, and the organism typically succumbs to the effects of aging.
Telomere length, then, acts as a biological clock — marking not only the lifespan of individual cells, but the organism as a whole. The enzyme telomerase can rebuild these protective ends by adding telomeric repeats to chromosomes. However, after birth, telomerase remains active primarily in germline (reproductive) cells. In most other cells, the gene responsible for producing telomerase is switched off.
Some species operate differently.
Lobsters, for example, maintain active telomerase in most of their cells and exhibit no clear signs of aging, cancer, or chronic disease. Humans, unfortunately, do not share that advantage.
To date, scientists have not found a reliable way to reactivate telomerase in human cells to reverse telomere shortening. For now, the most practical approach is not reversal, but preservation — slowing the rate at which telomeres shorten and maintaining their function as long as possible.
The encouraging news is that telomere attrition appears to respond directly to lifestyle choices. In other words, behavior matters— and it matters at the cellular level.
A landmark 2013 study by Dean Ornish demonstrated that men with prostate cancer who adopted
comprehensive lifestyle changes — including stress reduction, exercise, yoga, meditation, breathing practices, improved sleep, and a plant-based diet — actually increased their telomere length over a five-year period.
For those who live in or spend time in Ojai, these lifestyle factors are not theoretical — they are readily available. When you take in the landscape, move your body on local trails, connect with neighbors, attend a yoga or meditation class, or choose fresh, nutrient-rich food from our farmers’ markets, you may be doing more than improving your mood. You may be influencing your biology — altering processes at the level of your DNA.
The most important modifiable factors for preserving telomere length and slowing the biological clock include the following:
Smoking — Tobacco use accelerates telomere shortening. Studies show that female smokers lose an additional five base pairs of DNA per year for every pack of cigarettes smoked daily— equivalent to roughly 7.4 years of life lost over four decades.
Obesity — Elevated body mass index (BMI) correlates with increased oxidative stress and DNA damage. In one study of women, this translated to an estimated reduction in lifespan of nearly nine years.
Psychological stress — Chronic stress exerts a measurable effect on telomere length. In one study, women experiencing high levels of daily stress showed telomere shortening equivalent to approximately a decade of additional aging compared to lowstress controls.
Sleep — Both the duration and quality of sleep are strongly associated with telomere maintenance. Consistent, restorative sleep supports cellular repair processes that help preserve telomere integrity.
Diet — Nutritional patterns matter. Higher intake of dietary fiber and antioxidants correlates with longer telomeres, while higher consumption of saturated fats correlates with shorter ones. The 2014 Austrian Stroke Prevention Study found that levels of antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin C were
positively associated with telomere length—nutrients abundant in leafy greens, citrus fruits, and other colorful plant foods.
For those curious about their own cellular aging, several companies now offer at-home testing. Services such as TeloYears provide an estimate of “TeloYears”—a measure of biological age relative to chronological age—based on a small blood sample. For some, the results serve as a wake-up call; for others, they affirm that existing lifestyle choices are already making a measurable impact.
Research suggests that as much as 70 to 80 percent of lifespan is shaped not by genetics, but by behavior and environment. By that measure, place matters—and few places offer the combination of natural beauty, community, and health-oriented living found in Ojai.
In that sense, the conclusion is both simple and profound: Ojai is not just a beautiful place to live. It is, quite literally, good for your health.
Article by Beth Prinz, M.D., reprinted from the Ojai Quarterly.
It may seem as if various healing practices are at odds or exclusive of each other. But according to a recent report from the National Cancer Institute, it’s not so. Traditional approaches are often enhanced and amplified by ancient and unorthodox treatments. While this article refers mostly to cancer, the same approach can be useful to a wide range of maladies.
This is not news to Ojai residents, where the village has long been a destination for seekers of health and wellness. In fact, Ojai has been a health and wellness destination at least since the 1870s, quite possibly for thousands of years prior for Chumash seeking the healing hot springs.
The NCI defines CAM, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, as including massage, acupuncture, tai chi, and drinking green tea and nutritional supplements and diets. These are often described by terms such as “natural,” “holistic,” “home remedy,” or “Eastern medicine.”
“People with cancer may use CAM to help cope with the side effects of cancer treatments, such as nausea, pain, and fatigue, comfort themselves and ease the worries of cancer treatment and related stress, feel that they are doing something to help with their own care, to try to treat or cure their cancer,” according to NCI, which has been around since 1937 and is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Integrative medicine is an approach to medical care that combines conventional medicine with CAM practices that have shown through science to be safe and effective. This approach often stresses the patient’s preferences, and it attempts to address the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of health,” the NCI article continues.
They define the dual approach as such: “Conventional medicine is a system in which health professionals who
hold an M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degree treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery. It is also practiced by other health professionals, such as nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, and therapists. It may also be called allopathic medicine, biomedicine, Western, mainstream, or orthodox medicine. Some conventional medical practitioners are also practitioners of CAM.
“Standard medical care is treatment that is accepted by medical experts as a proper treatment for a certain type of disease and that is widely used by healthcare professionals. It is also called best practice, standard of care, and standard therapy,” the article explains.
While for difficult diseases such as cancer with many causes, both genetic and environmental, these alternatives approaches may seem unconventional, “Complementary medicine is meant to work alongside the more traditional approaches,” the NCI notes: For example, using “acupuncture to help lessen some side effects of cancer treatment.”
Part of the reluctance to advocate for these alternative approaches is that less research has been done, and
they are often relegated to “folk medicine” or having originated in ancient Eastern practices. The divide between “Eastern” and “Western” medicine often leads to an “either or” approach, neglecting the ways in which each can enhance the effectiveness of the other.
The National Cancer Institute has been working to remedy the research gap. According to their press release, the NCI and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) are currently sponsoring or cosponsoring clinical trials that test CAM treatments and therapies in people. You can find the list of current trials at www.cancer. gov/about-cancer/treatment/clinical-trials/cam-procedures
One example of a combined approach is using a special diet to treat cancer instead of cancer drugs that are prescribed by an oncologist.
NCI provides evidence-based Physician Data Query (PDQ) information for many CAM therapies in versions for both the patient and health professional.
Here’s a brief rundown of Complementary and Alternative Medicine methods, through five general approaches, with examples of each. Check out the listings in this Health & Wellness Guide for local practitioners.
These combine mental focus, breathing, and body movements to help relax the body and mind. Some examples are:
Meditation: focused breathing or repetition of words or phrases to quiet the mind and lessen stressful thoughts and feelings; Biofeedback, by using special machines, the patient learns how to control certain body functions that are normally out of one’s awareness (such as heart rate and blood pressure); Hypnosis: a trance-like state in which a person becomes more aware and focused on certain feelings, thoughts, images, sensations or behaviors. A person may feel more calm and open to suggestion in order to aid in healing.
Yoga: An ancient system of practices used to balance the mind and body through stretches and poses, meditation, and controlled breathing:
Tai Chi: a form of gentle exercise and meditation that uses slow sets of body movements and controlled breathing imagery; Focusing on Positive Images in the mind, such as imagining scenes, pictures, or experiences to help the body heal; Creative Outlets: interests such as art, music, or dance.
This type of CAM uses things found in nature. Some examples are vitamins: nutrients the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy; dietary supplements: Products added to the diet that may contain ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, and herbs, to name a few botanicals: plants or parts of plants. One type is cannabis, which was first approved for medical use in California in 1996, and Ojai has long been a forerunner in cannabis healing; Herbs and Spices such as turmeric or cinnamon.
These are based on working with one or more parts of the body. Some examples are massage therapy: a therapy where the soft tissues of the body are kneaded, rubbed, tapped, and stroked; Chiropractic Therapy: A type of manipulation of the spine, joints, and skeletal system; Reflexology: a type of massage in which pressure is applied to specific points on the feet or hands, which are believed to match up with certain parts of the body.
Energy healing is based on the belief that a vital energy flows through the body. The goal is to balance the energy flow in the patient. Some examples are Reiki: placing hands lightly on or just above the person with the goal of guiding energy to help a person’s own healing response; Therapeutic Touch: Moving hands over energy fields of the body or gently touching a person’s body
These are healing systems and beliefs that have evolved over time in different cultures and parts of the world.
Some examples are Ayurvedic Medicine: a system from India in which the goal is to cleanse the body and restore balance to the body, mind, and spirit. It uses diet, herbal medicines, exercise, meditation, breathing, physical therapy, and other methods.
Traditional Chinese Medicine: based on the belief that qi (the body’s vital energy) flows along meridians (channels) in the body and keeps a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health in balance. It aims to restore the body’s balance between two forces called yin and yang. Acupuncture is a common practice in Chinese medicine that involves stimulating certain points on the body to promote health, or to lessen disease symptoms and treatment side effects.
Naturopathic Medicine: a system that avoids drugs and surgery. It is based on the use of natural agents such as air, water, light, heat and massage to help the body heal itself. It may also use herbal products, nutrition, acupuncture, and aromatherapy.
them at the
A Curated Guide to Ojai’s Leading Wellness Practitioners
Massage Therapy & Deep Relaxation
With two locations serving the Ojai Valley, Bamboo Creek Spa and AA Relaxing Station offer accessible, high-quality bodywork in a calm, restorative setting. Their team focuses on relieving tension, improving circulation, and helping clients reset both physically and mentally.
Known For: Deep tissue massage, reflexology, couples massage, stress relief therapies
Contact - two locations: 323 E. Matilija Street • 805-302-1166 | 1002 E. Ojai Avenue Ste B • 805-299-5899
Advanced Esthetics & Skin Health
Ojai Skin Revision blends clinical-grade treatments with Ojai’s restorative ethos. Led by award-winning esthetician Kelli Loughman, the studio focuses on visible, lasting results.
Known for: Paramedical skin revision, acne programs, age-management treatments, and advanced facials including HydraFacial and oxygen therapies.
Contact: 236 W Ojai Ave #101 • ojaiskinrevision.com • 805-646-7600
Luxury Spa & Resort Wellness
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa offers one of Southern California’s premier wellness destinations, blending luxury, nature and restorative treatments.
Known for: Spa Ojai, signature massages, body treatments, wellness, classes and instruction.
Contact: 905 Country Club Road • ojaivalleyinn.com • 805-646-1111
By Caron Tate and Devo Cutler
If you’ve ever seen anyone do Energy Healing or its kissing cousin, Reiki, it may have looked like a little mumbo and a whole lot of jumbo. The practitioner would likely wave their hand around the client’s body in ritualistic patterns that wouldn’t mean anything to the uninitiated. And even using that word “uninitiated” evokes the specter of some mystical coven.
It would be hard for most people to imagine this odd practice as a possible adjunct to Western medicine, but Energy Healing can be as natural and normal as singing or drawing, or doing math. Like those disciplines/ talents/skills, anyone can be taught this skill, and it can go seamlessly hand in hand with other healing modalities. But of course, like any other skill, some may be better at it than others.
Those of us who’ve learned a little science certainly know that everything is energy, as quantum physics reminds us. And on that energy level, all things are connected. We and that tree and the mountains and the stars in the heavens are connected. We are one unified organism. So one
can at least imagine that one part of that organism can affect another part, even when we can’t see that change happen.
Through training at Ojai’s own Healing in America (HIA), along with our natural abilities, the authors of this article have been able to help with the healing process of many people — and some animals! Roger Ford at HIA taught us to see our clients as healed and healthy. The process, put simply, is a combination of focus, visualization, will, and the ability to accept, to know that our “real, three-dimensional” world is not all there is. That allows us to work either in person or remotely, since energy isn’t contained by space and time.
Many prestigious universities and hospitals are adding alternative methods of healing to their offerings, or at least researching how they may benefit patients. Successful Energy Healing may appear to be magic or a miracle — or, as some may insist, a coincidence — but it is a natural, noninvasive, easily accessible adjunct to traditional medicine. We say try it; you might like it very much!
Story by Beth Prinz, M.D.
It all feels so random and out of control. But lifestyle changes are all about the things we CAN control, for ourselves. This is empowering.
We’ve seen more people than usual at the clinic requesting to get back on their medications, get their diabetes under control, get help with stopping smoking, update their asthma medications. This is a good thing to do.
Lifestyle measures are equally if not more important. We don’t yet know all the variables as to why people respond differently to the coronavirus and other viruses and ailments.
Until more is known, it makes sense to take care of ourselves the best we can. Stress management, not smoking, adequate sleep, exercise, fresh air, sunshine, and a healthy diet are the things we can choose as individuals that may protect and fortify us if we do find ourselves battling this virus.
As a reminder, here are 10 everyday superfoods. Keep these on hand. Consume daily.
1. Leafy Greens: The healthiest foods on the planet. No food offers more nutrition per calorie. Think of greens as a daily medicine, best eaten at least 3 times a day.
2. Steel Cut Oats: People who eat more whole grains tend to live significantly longer lives. Whole grains reduce risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and stroke. Oatmeal suppresses inflammation and is a great source of fiber, zinc, selenium, magnesium, iron, and protein.
3. Blueberries: Throw them on your morning oatmeal with cinnamon. Berries are the healthiest of all the fruits. Packed with cancer-preventing antioxidants anthocyanin. Boosts the immune system and protects against liver, brain, and heart disease.
4. Potato With Skins: Excellent source of fiber, potassium, starch, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, choline, B vitamins, iron, and calcium! Sweet, white, or purple, potatoes
when consumed with skins and without excess oil, are an underrated champion.
5. Spices & Herbs: Turmeric, cumin, pepper, paprika, saffron. You name it. Add spices to your food daily for the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Capsaicin found in chili peppers is noteworthy.
6. Mushrooms: Lending a meaty umami flavor to foods, the ordinary white button mushroom stimulates the immune system, activating the gut to produce IgA and IgG. Mushrooms also increase the diversity of our microbiome.
7. Black beans: Loaded with protein, iron, zinc, fiber, folate, potassium and calcium. Free of cholesterol and low in fat. Protects against cancer. Eat beans or whole grains with every meal.
8. Chia Seeds: People who added chia seeds to their breakfast yogurt consumed 300 fewer calories at
lunch in one study. A good source of omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, selenium, vitamin K, chia seeds contain lignans which help repair damaged heart tissue after a heart attack. Soak chia seeds in almond milk overnight with a natural sweetener such as maple or coconut syrup and vanilla for a healthy delicious daily pudding.
9. Quinoa: The quintessential “mother of all grains” (technically a seed) that is a complete protein. Boil then
simmer in vegetable broth until tender. Use as a base for plant-based veggie bowls.
10. Garlic & Onion: Garlic increases the number and potency of our immune T cells and natural killer (NK) cells resulting in fewer colds and flu symptoms amongst research subjects consuming garlic extract. Onion is a kitchen staple, the base of soups, stir fries, and sauces.
Comprehensive, connected healthcare, right here in Ojai.
Community Memorial Healthcare is a nonprofit, independent health system dedicated to providing the community with convenient, comprehensive care. Our Ojai hospital has been a trusted resource since 1960, offering convenient emergency services, inpatient care, imaging, and laboratory services. We offer expert primary and specialty care in three convenient Health Centers right here in Ojai. We also provide skilled nursing, rehabilitation services, and long-term residential care at our 75-bed Continuing Care Center. Should additional care be needed, you can count on more resources in Ventura, through our specialty Health Centers and our flagship facility, Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura.
Learn more at mycmh.org
Community Memorial Services in Ojai
Hospital 1306 Maricopa Highway 805-948-1401
Health Centers
117 North Pirie Road, Suite E 805-948-6650
1320 Maricopa Highway, Suite D 805-948-6730
1202 Maricopa Highway, Suite A 805-948-2323
Continuing Care Center
1306 Maricopa Highway 805-948-2000