Mackinac Island offers Women's Wellness & A Wee Bit 'O Wine Weekend

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. - Sept. 10, 2013 - PRLog -- Mackinac's newest festival celebrates women and offers the tools and education necessary to learn how to make true and lasting behavior changes that can last a life time. This weekend is designed with events especially for women and includes wellness seminars, yoga, hiking, biking, shopping and concerts as well as culinary and wine tasting events Island-wide.

Mary McGuire Slevin, executive director for the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau shares “the idea for this weekend/seminar was created out of a conversation on wellness by many like-minded women on Mackinac Island. They felt it was time to offer a getaway that was relaxing and educational at the same time.” As the ideas began to flow over the winter and the committee thought it wise to bring in a variety of speakers to touch on topics including health, nutrition, exercise, aging and more these themes along with the ways in which to incorporate them to achieve a balanced life. McGuire Slevin adds, “we are very excited for this Women, Wellness and a Wee Bit ‘O Wine Weekend to occur on the Island, it is a perfect fit for Mackinac to promote wellness and as a resort destination, well yes, wine should definitely be included.”

Opening the weekend is a wine reception/registration at the Center for the Arts at Mission Point Resort. After a relaxing evening, attendees will be able to choose between yoga or a morning hike in Mackinac Island State Park. Afterwards, the seminar goes into full swing at Grand Hotel, which was named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as One of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Keynote speaker Jennifer Zumbrink and her seminar titled Food First Nutrition will discuss health issues that compromise one’s quality of life. After graduating from Michigan State University in 2002 with a Bachelors of Arts degree, Jennifer had a continuum of health issues, when repeated prescriptions didn’t help her condition and ended up doing more harm than good, she searched for natural healing modalities outside traditional western methods. In 2013, Jennifer received her Doctorate of Naturopathy. Afterwards, she spent two years working as a nutritional counselor at the Bio Energy Medical Center in Ann Arbor, MI. To date she has given over 50 health and wellness presentations to businesses and associations around the state of Michigan.  Jennifer is also trained as a Nutrition Response Test practitioner, specializing in women's health. It wasn’t until she took a natural approach that her health dramatically improved. When Jennifer took charge of her health to eat right and feel better, she decided to make it her career and help others do the same.

Following a heart healthy lunch available at Mackinac Island’s finest restaurants, attendees will have a choice of two more breakout seminars of their choosing. Topics include Mindfulness –The Art of Happy Living with Kim Aikens M.D., Energize Your Eating with Peggy Sczepanski RD, Acupuncture with Sarah Proctor, CMT, Dipl.Ac, The Conversation Project with Leslie Sosebee, M.Ed., MBA, Chiropractic: Engaging Your Body with Julie Moskal, RT(R), DC, The Power of Flowers & Herbs with Grand Hotel’s Jan Cunningham, Lifestyle Discussions with Dr. Shaney Sangster, Hormone Replacement Therapy with Terri L. Glenn, R.N., M.S.N., F.N.P., Good Food, Good Choices, Good Life with Marielle Calcaterra, RD, Personal Life Legacy with Dena Pflieger, MS, MBA, Dermatology with Deanna L Geisler PA-C, Women’s Gynecologic Health with Dr. Dan Verburg OBGYN and US Healthcare: What is Happening with it? With Catherine Baase, MD.

Arnold Transit Company’s Cruise for a Cause will raise funds for the newly created Mackinac Island Community Cancer Fund. Guests will be treated to a fabulous cruise on the straits of Mackinac along with a cocktail party and a gorgeous Michigan sunset on Lake Huron.

To support the women’s theme, the Mackinac Island Music Festival will also be taking place over the weekend and features Michigan's best women in folk, rock, country and blues www.mackinacislandmusicfestival.org. Presented by Spartan Foods and Radio Mackinac, headlining the music festival will be Barbara Payton and the Instigators (www.barbarapayton.com). Payton is known for her sultry blues voice and is a three time Detroit Music Award winner for best blues/rock vocalist. Her day job finds her working for her boss Bob Seger as a vocalist with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and she has toured and recorded with both Seger and Kid Rock.

To register for the weekend, please click on https://mackinacislandwomenswellness.eventbrite.com/

About Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is a National Historic Landmark located between Michigan’s upper and lower peninsulas and covers 2,200 acres of land. The Island banned private motor vehicle use during the last century and today relies on the services of more than 600 horses to provide residents and visitors transportation around the Island.

Mackinac hosts nearly a million visitors each year and is home to the Annual Lilac Festival, Chicago & Bay View Yacht Clubs’ Race to Mackinac, Fudge Festival, Grand Hotel Labor Day Jazz Festival, Restaurant Week, Girlfriend’s Shopping & Spa Weekend, Mackinac Island Music Festival and Halloween Bash & Great Turtle Half Marathon.