Various healing practices under one roof
By Renae Counter Big Sky Weekly Editorial Assistant
BIG SKY – Wellness and healing are essential to maintaining a life balance, especially in Big Sky, where many live an active and fast-paced lifestyle.
Callie Stolz is opening a new wellness center in Big Sky to address this need. Located above Gallatin Alpine Sports, Santosha Wellness Center will offer acupuncture, chiropractic, Ayurvedic healing, massage therapy and various classes such as yoga, dance, platies and a drum circle.
Santosha will be a place for “like-minded practitioners who are geared toward some aspect of healing to practice under one roof,” Stolz said.
Stolz, who has lived in Montana for 16 years, found her passion for yoga and holistic healing after a snowboarding accident and winning a battle with cancer. She has since studied yoga, massage and other healing methods around the world, including in Thailand and India. Most recently she became certified as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist at the California College of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda is the oldest form of written natural medicine, Stolz said. A holistic healing process, it focuses on an individual’s specific needs through small lifestyle changes, diet and herb medicines that can result in a big shift in overall health.
To approach this type of healing, Stolz said, “someone would come in [to Santosha] for a two-hour initial consultation. History, [daily] activity, how they sleep, what they eat, how their body functions on a day-to-day basis would all be discussed to create a report of findings to illustrate where their imbalanced are originating and try to correct those imbalances.”
Stolz would give then give recommendations about natural medicines, herbal supplements, vitamins and lifestyle changes to help make a patient healthier and “make the changes stick.”
Along with Ayurveda, Stolz will also provide yoga classes and massage therapy, including Thai Massage, which is a combination of yoga and massage that encourages energy movement throughout the body.
Several other health professionals will also work at Santosha. Carissa Hill is a licensed acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist and licenses massage therapist. She uses a Japanese technique utilizing smaller needles to clear the body and get energy moving, combined with a more aggressive approach targeted toward people with orthopedic problems, Stolz said. Chiropractor Mark Nimmo, a third generation chiropractor with 10 years of experience, uses many different modalities to work on an individual’s specific needs. Linda Wilton is a licensed massage therapist uses a variety of techniques and especially enjoys working with athletes.
Locals Jill Jackson, Jolene Budeski, Anna Holder, Linda Wilkens, Callie Stolz, and Hannah Johansson will all teach a variety of classes including a wide selection of yoga classes. More teachers and classes are yet to be announced. There will also be a variety of workshops on subjects such as meditation, yoga and nutrition.
Stolz also plans to sell herbs, supplements, books, vitamins and local artisan products.
Santosha Wellness Center will be open for business Aug. 27, and a grand opening on Sept. 9, with an open house, yoga classes, and a taste of the center’s offerings for the public. Find more information at santoshabigsky.com.
