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During the period of August 09 to 18, 2011 I had participated in 10-Day Advanced Whole Body Detox Program organized by Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers in Oyster Bay, British Columbia. Little did I know that this program would indeed become a fresh start in my life. However, lets back up a little. I am a 47 years old, professional accountant, who leads a very intense, deadline oriented, fast paced life. Non stop stress and pressure, long working hours (I am a true workaholic) and love of good food and wine has unfortunately brought serious deterioration to my health. Even an active involvement in martial arts (karate training since 1998) and passion for hiking could not stop my progressing weight gain and associated deceases. I have been diabetic since I turned 40, on insulin for the last 2 and half years. High blood pressure and on going stomach problems were additional health problems in my life. Finally, in 2011, at 243 pounds, things got so bad that I knew I had to do something different. The medications had me going but I was not getting any better, only bigger if anything. In spring of 2011 while listening to Toni Robbins program “Get the Edge” I first learned about acid alkaline balance and wheat grass and detox. Thanks to my wife who found the Fresh Start program, we landed in Oyster Bay. My expectations were mostly related to weigh loss and some improvement in my health. What happened there however, was nothing short of a miracle. Yes, I achieved my target weight loss, even exceeding expectation of 12 pounds (I lost 14 pounds from 237 to 223 during the detox). But the true miracle was my health. After three days I was able to put the insulin away. You have to realize I was on 4 injections a day, 20 units before each meal and 90 units before night. Couple days later, I dropped my high blood pressure medication and cut my stomach medication (Losec) to one pill a day. Finally, on the last day of the program I was medication free, a happy and healthy individual. I could not believe my luck. I felt 20 years younger and with long healthy future ahead of me. The program changed my life completely. I have discovered a new way of eating, came back to yoga and dancing. Today, a month later, I am still medication free. My morning sugar level was 4.00 (I have never achieved that level in the morning with insulin). I can eat food which before my digestion could not process (even with Losec) and finally my blood pressure is normal. I have lots of energy and really feel like a true black belt in karate. My weight is 208 pounds (the last time I had such weight was in 1998). Everything is easier when you are healthy and without extra pounds even at 47 years of age. The program initiated all these changes. Yes, I eat different today, but it was the detox which changed my cravings, gave me the knowledge of proper nutrition and body functions. The owners and creators of the program, Vasili and Ania are truly caring, visionary individuals. They went through the program and it changed their lives and now they are sharing it with others. The program director Ray was also a great inspiring person. To make such profound changes in your life you have to be in the group environment, under proper supervision. Fresh Start program provides it all. Our group was fantastic. I have met people who I know will be in my life for long term. The location is also very inspiring – on the water, with great mountain views and with nice hikes nearby. I do not to have mention the SPA, its staff and services to encourage you to go do I? The program changes your body, your health and your mind. It is a very interesting creation with yoga, meditation, zumba, tai-chi, lectures, daily steam bath and group time and movies components. I can honestly recommend it to everybody. You will come back as a different person. It simply gives you a fresh start in your life. Respectfully submitted by Jack Kasinski, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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I arrived in a very scary state - major depression like nothing I’d ever experienced. Within just a couple of days, the love and support of both the stuff and guests had me feeling like myself again. I had been on Prozac for 2 weeks and experienced suicidal thoughts and increased depression. On day 2 I went off the Prozac. Learned how the mind and body are connected. Cleansing the colon has definitely helped bring clarity and face the challenges ahead with optimism and courage. Thank you Fresh Start Health Retreat! Peggy Machart, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaTop
When I went to Google and searched for a body detox health centre, I found several places. The format of the cleanse at “Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers” or Health Retreat.ca seemed to hit a choice of what I wanted and needed. I took the courage needed to spend the money and to travel across Canada from East coast to Lavoy, Alberta not to be disappointed. This program was very well structured; their body detox was supported with highly nutritious and delicious juices, mostly organic, and supplements for the liver, gallbladder and kidneys. A variety of herbal teas as well milk thistle, dandelion root and marshmallow root were available. Our days were full of organized necessary activities to support of physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. We finished our days with an educational video with promising new ways to maintain a healthy body and lifestyle. Our group was a great combination of humans finding their way through the joy and pains of growth. To my surprise – last but not least the “raw foods” meals that were prepared for us far exceeded my expectations. I was praising the Lord constantly. Being a mother of five, I had already had an interest in nutrition, however I did not know food could look so good, have such variety, and taste even better. Now all these amenities were complimented with a highly skilled lady who offered many services in her spa – colonics, coffee colonics, massage, facials, body detox wraps and many great words of wisdom along with years of knowledge. Of course we know how things are presented makes all the difference in the world. The couple who orchestrated this program were warm, caring, knowledgeable, well balanced people. Their ground work and research and dedication was my reward. For all of this I am so grateful; I leave here very enriched. Many blessings Germaine Flett, Miramichi City, New Brunswick, CanadaTop
My oldest sister Elizabeth last year had been diagnosed with very early stage breast cancerand had been treated with radiation. Several weeks after her return from the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers, she decided to go have a complete blood count and see what if any improvements had occurred. Her cholesterol had decreased 100 points and her thyroid was almost normal… I realized Fresh Start had to be different than the other wellness centers we had attended because she was incorporating it into her new lifestyle which had never had before. I went to the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers because and for numerous reasons in no particular order. I am a seventh generation New Orleanian had survived Hurricane Katrina by the hardest. I become a workaholic trying to tell Katrina’s story for all who perished and in the process was exposed to numerous toxins and neglected my health for three years. I have just returned from Los Angeles as a 2008 Audie Finalist...the Oscars of the CD world for my self guided tour Hurricane Katrina: Her devastation, progress, and Lessons for us all, which had been nominated for best original work. My body had taken a huge beating. My hair had begun to fall out by the handfuls and my endocrine system was in trouble according to my holistic doctor and my liver numbers were elevated and I don’t even drink. I also had red spots throughout my body. After several days there I immediately began to improve. My hair stopped falling out and I noticed that the red spots were drying up like scabs. It was amazing to watch them diminish hourly. I was on a collision course and you saved me. My body thanks me every day for taking care of it and not abusing it. In fact last night a man who had not seen me in several months asked me what I had done because I looked so different. I told him that I had attended a 10 day wellness program, de-toxed all my organs and glands, lost 10 pounds and the inflammation that existed within me… Thank you and your wonderful nurturing community for restoring me. Pamela Pipes, New Orleans, LA, USATop
"The staff at Fresh Start Health Retreat was just wonderful. They did everything they could to make my stay delightful....except put chocolates on my pillow at night!" Let someone else say how wonderful that Poultice was!@!@!! Anne Palony, Huston, Texas, USATop
I came to the wellness centre in hope that it would help me with irritation spots on my skin. Not only did my skin improve, during the 10 days of cleanse I managed to attain the long-sought for emotional balance. I am not what you call a religious person, yet despite my initial wary attitude I found worships extremely helpful in bonding with other people and coming to terms with my inner self, both proving to be integral parts of the healing process. Another important aspect of our sojourn at the centre was information about staying healthy that was presented to us in a well-organized and interesting fashion. I would definitely recommend it to anyone seeking to improve their physical or emotional health, looking for some spiritual enlightenment, and willing to learn more about staying healthy for life. Anton Rudenko, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaTop
"My experience of the 10 day program was nothing short of life changing. I was looking for a retreat that would provide a total break for my body, to cleanse and rebuild, to give my health a boost as I move into my later years. ...And that's exactly what I got!” I found the program to be carefully designed to maximize results, using time-tested cleansing and replenishing techniques from a variety of disciplines and cultures. It also provided a good balance of intellectual knowledge and sharing time to reinforce the experience. And the best news is, I got the tools/knowledge to keep going, taking new practices into my regular life that will continue to improve my health. I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to make an effective change in their health or to simply give the body a deep rest! Carey Parder, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaTop
The Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers, a place where physical and spiritual life merge. Healthy eating and knowledge of healthy alternatives is the key. Much love and dedication has made the stay enjoyable. John Bitonti, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, CanadaTop
Where to begin? Since I was 11 yrs old I would have 2 B.M. a month. For me that was normal. At the age of 14 I was getting migraines lasting up to 5 to 7 days. They were so bad that I would go into my room and would be lying down in tears until I would lose feelings in my hands and until it felt like my eyes were on fire. Then I would go to the hospital. They would give me Toradal. I had so much of it! Finally it stopped working. Then I switched to Demerol, then to Morphine. In the beginning of May 2006 I was having really bad cramps. So I went to the Hospital. They told me it was a kidney infection. I was still in pain the next day. So again I was at the hospital. The doctor did some tests, and 5 days later I was diagnosed with diverticulitis in my colon. At the end of May I was in the hospital again with cramps, which were so bad that morphine didn’t work. They admitted me to the hospital. Soon they discovered that one of the colon pouches popped, and that I got a colon infection. I stayed in the hospital from May 27 to June 20. I have four kids and I couldn't afford keeping going to the hospital. I heard about the 10-day program from a family member. I called the people and talked to them for awhile. I said that I would try it. What was it going to hurt? I came to the center not expecting much, but – wow- it was fantastic! Now I can run up and down the stairs. My skin is so soft! Sometimes I still feel small headaches come on, but they go away right away. I lost 5 lbs, and feel energetic and full of life. I wake-up totally refreshed now. I can go,go,go. I am smiling, happy and no other way to say it: “These 10 days!” I did a 180 degree turn in life and feel like I can take on the world. Thank you so much for helping me. I wake-up ready for the day, not just go with the flow till the day is done. Shirley MacDonald, Brooks, Alberta, CanadaTop
I came to Fresh Start Health Retreat in the hopes of healing a lifelong struggle with asthma that had resurfaced 4 years ago at the age of 48. Days before the retreat I was diagnosed with pneumonia which for an asthmatic or anyone with weak lungs or a weak immune system or adrenal gland fatigue is a very serious situation. I had known for several years that my adrenal gland system was, in the words of my doctor, “flat-lined” but it was my increasing inability to breathe that inspired me to make some definite changes. Only an hour and a half away from the center I very nearly had to turn back and visit a hospital my breathing had become such a struggle. But I felt so completely guided to be at this healing retreat that I pressed on, of course only after using my inhaler and making a phone call to Vasili, the Program Director at Fresh Start who gently soothed my fears (which were crippling me at this point) of being stranded out in the sticks by reassuring me if I ran into serious trouble a hospital was only 10 minutes from the center. I have never been more grateful to have trusted my intuition, knowing that this could be the opportunity to heal long time health challenges. Little did I know that the healing would take place on many levels, certainly not just physical. Every member of Fresh Start’s staff brought an expertise all their own, I’ve never experienced such a profound interest from strangers in helping patients/guests see results they would have never expected possible. Complimentary health has been a longtime interest of mine yet I opened myself up to the possibility of new information. I definitely wasn’t disappointed! Every lecture helped me to see the deeper “WHY” behind making healthy choices. I believe when we understand how our current lifestyle is harming us only then will we make the decision to change that lifestyle. Armed now with this additional knowledge and clear understanding I have been able to easily continue my healing now that I am back home and in my everyday life. It’s easy to make healthy choices in a controlled environment but to learn how to make them once you leave the safe haven of Fresh Start Health Retreat is the real key to long term healing…and that is very obviously the goal of this Center. The results and healing I experienced (to once again be able to breathe deeply and easily) has not only affected me, it has positively impacted my relationship with my husband and family. When you feel this good on the inside, for perhaps the first time in your life, how can you not radiate health, vitality and joy onto everyone in your life. Be sure to take advantage of every aspect offered at Fresh Start Health Retreat. You never know whether it will be the Sharing Time, Lectures, Videos, Live Blood Analysis, Massage/Colon Hydrotherapy, Steam or the Far Infrared Sauna that will be the icing on your Wellness Cake! Thank you to the entire team at Fresh Start Health Retreat Centres; you truly are the best of the best! With much love and gratitude, Nattacia Mentei, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
My Mom and Dad had recently passed away and this had a deep effect emotionally and physically. I was very depressed, tired and unable to function fully in my busy life. When the program first started I was dragging myself out of bed in the morning. By the end of the 10 days I was waking up earlier, feeling awake and energized. This was a new experience for me as I had suffered from chronic fatigue for many years and was always tired in the morning. I fell in love with Vasili, Ania and their family. They are great examples of living a healthy life style and supporting, in a very loving way, others to do the same. I plan on returning once a year to the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers for a tune up. Mouna Wilde, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaTop
My name is Dr. Darwin D. Zalaski. I have been a health care provider in the dental profession for the past 23 years, and in that time I have inherited many bad habits and been exposed to many toxic products. A hectic lifestyle and unhealthy diet was beginning to take a toll on our family and we needed to make significant changes. My wife, Jessica, and oldest son, Jeffrey, were the first to attend the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centres. They both came home with lots of energy and willingness to make changes in our household. It was my turn in June 2005, and since attending the cleanse I can say that I have been both fortunate and blessed for the experience. I went to the centre feeling exhausted, tired and sore throughout my muscles and joints.I would be sick for extended periods and I was having troubles with my digestive system. I would often be irritable to my family and irrational at times, probably due to the extended exposure to mercury levels from the office over the years. I was working four and a half days a week and my diet was irregular and inadequate. I was not getting enough sleep and there was no time in the day for proper exercise. While attending the cleanse, I gradually felt my body returning to normal and my mind feeling more at ease, as my body started to rid itself of the unwanted toxins. The cleanse is set up in such a way that there is a proper sequence to allow the body to heal itself. The centre also provided us with such tools as a live blood analysis to minister the body, and colon hydrotherapy to remove disease causing toxins. Daily exercise and sharing was also a must, as they were extremely helpful in the healing process. Towards the end of the cleanse I could feel hormonal levels returning to normal and my muscles not being sore anymore. Even my joints did not ache as much. I noticed an improvement in the sense of smell and I could taste the goodness of the foods during the meals. The experience of the ten day cleanse has changed the way our family of six approaches each day. We have since instituted the importance of healthy eating choices, adequate exercise, and spiritual beliefs. My life and my health has certainly changed for the better and I enjoy sharing the knowledge of what I learned with those who are interested in an alternative and progressive lifestyle. I wake up feeling energetic and inspired and in charge of my attitude. We all have choices in life, and above all, the program has taught me that my family and their health is the single most important entity in my life. Dr. Darwin D. Zalaski, Bonnyville, Alberta, CanadaTop
I came to the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centres because I had serious issues with my digestive system and for most of the 50+ years of my life had been dealing with an irritable bowel, chronic constipation and a host of other symptoms too long to list. I was basically at my wits end trying everything ‘under the sun’ to come up with a cure that would give me back the quality of life I felt I deserved. I had tried numerous diets, exercise regimes and seen many well meaning counselors, but for the most part I was basically told, ‘live with it.’ I do not accept that suggestion, as I believe that the body wants to live in perfect health and given the right tools it can and will do so, with a little faith and help along the way. I was ‘drawn’ to theFresh Start Health Retreat Centres because of the honesty and integrity of Vasili, his sincerity and passion for helping and healing and his faith and belief in the process. The center is a family runs retreat and the warm welcome you receive as you enter is like none other. I believe that it is not just the diet, the regime and the process that you follow that helps and heals but the strong spirit of unconditional love that flows throughout the environment. While you are being taken care of you will actually come to appreciate the strange combination of ingredients in those incredible drinks that you swallow!!!!! Speaking of which… Those drinks, those exercises, devotionals, colonics, blood work all contribute to a much improved digestive system, not to forget lymphatics, immune, nervous and circulatory and any other system I’ve forgotten to mention. You will get a whole host of abundant information in the lectures too and will be much better equipped to go out and help your fellowman. I am so grateful to Vasili for this experience, the pain that I lived with for so many years has gone and I know exactly what to do should I ever return to my old ways, which I have no intention of doing, but we’re all human right? I now have the knowledge to heal myself and this has empowered me in more ways than you can imagine. My skin has also taken on a new glow, my weight has stabilized, my sense of well being and a whole host of things that just generally feel like ‘they’re performing optimally.’ I would highly recommend you choose Abundant Life as ‘your place’ to retreat to. In looking for a retreat it is not only important to consider what it will do for you, but it is of equal importance to ‘know’, without reservation, that the owners have ‘your’ very best interests in mind, that ‘they’ operate from the heart. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to express my feelings. Elaine Wood, Surrey, British Columbia, CanadaTop
My time at the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centres was time and money well spent. I came because I had recently been diagnosed with a small cancer lesion on my skin, I was run down, and overwhelmed. (As perhaps only other single moms can fully appreciate!) My diet was mostly organic. I ate some fruit, whole grains, meat/beans and a lot of veggies but was not getting the results I wanted from my mostly wholesome diet. I continued to deal with migraines, acne rosacea and fatigue. Coming to the centre was a last ditch effort to try something radical. Intuitively I knew my body needed a break on all levels. The wellness centre offered that and then some! Not only did I fast from food, but I walked, rested, laughed and learned all about raw food. This perhaps was the most profound gift. I am still to this day a passionate participant in the raw food movement and I am eternally grateful for an introduction to this way of eating. At the retreat, I was treated with upmost care and respect and the benefits were many. I felt refreshed, cleaner on the inside, happier and more hopeful. I felt that my life had taken a radical turn in a better direction. In addition to the physical healing, I came away with a clearer idea about what to do to take my life to the next level. I highly recommend this centre to others, it will change your life for the better. Thank-you Vasili! Florence Christophers, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, CanadaTop
Greetings Vasili, Ania, and staff,
Good hearing from you Vasili. I replied to the petition to Bill C-51 and added a note very similar to the letter I sent to the Edmonton Journal. Previously I also sent a letter to my Member of Parliament, as I also got a note from my Chinese doctor about Bill C-51. I am not taking any medication, but I use natural health care products and professionals, such yourself, Ania, and your staff. I haven't heard lately, from any of the people who were on the health retreat with me. I hope they are doing well. Maybe like me, they are very busy. I am doing much better after the cleanse, it gave me a good jump-start. But I do know that cleansing must be an ongoing part of my life. I learned a lot at the retreat, and can now eat greens much better than before. I was amazed at all the very tasty raw food dishes that Julie prepared for us. That certainly is the way to go. I also learned a lot from Melissa, and was very impressed with how well she knew the material, and presented it in a very pleasant and effective manner. I was also very intrigued with the health movies that we watched. What an eye opener they were. The whole program was very full, and very well presented. What a power-pack of information we were dealt. It certainly expanded my horizon, and exposed me to many things that I was not aware of. While some of the information is not very pleasant, it is good to be aware of them. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, and I look forward to doing more of the same in the not too distant future. Again, a big hello to all of you, thank you, and God Bless. Sincerely, Frank Magyar, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaTop
I am so grateful for being led to the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centres. When I arrived I felt exhausted, weak and so heavy. I am type 2 diabetic and my eating was out of control as were my blood sugar levels and weight. I just dragged myself through the day and was very depressed. I knew I was heading for heart disease, stroke or worse. At the Center the cleanse allowed me to completely get rid myself of cravings for sugar, and all carbs which further helped in my being able to easily make wise food choices. The delicious healthy meals provided taught me a new way of eating and of being totally satisfied. All of this coupled with the pleasant walks in the fresh country air and sunshine made me feel light, alert and cheerful. By the time I left the Centre I was feeling better than I had in 20 yrs and continue to feel well. I was able, (with the help of my Dr.) to cut all my high blood pressure & diabetic medication in half except for the insulin which I now almost never have to take. My only goal was to get off the insulin injections but I was blessed with so much more. If you are reading this then somehow you have been led to it and perhaps are feeling sick too. I can say truly without hesitation that the time spent at the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centreshas been a life saving experience and probably the most satisfying 10 days of my life. I have been given a new lease on life and as I continue to apply the tools I learned and wealth of knowledge I received I can continue joyfully and confidently on my new journey of life, truly blessed. Your life is important and you are the only one who can control it. Blessings await you.
God bless you Vasili and Ania. Linda Egan, Sidney, British Columbia, CanadaTop
My sister asked me if I would like to go on a cleanse… she found the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers on the internet, and she booked us in for a 10 day Whole Body Cleanse. During the cleansing, they helped to cleanse my body, but also they cleansed out a lot of my old thinking. The way I eat, the way I feed my family, and the way I go about my life in general. I can’t stress enough how much valuable information they gave us. So far, I have lost 10 pounds and continue to lose more. I highly recommend going to the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers. Good luck and God Bless. Rene Green, Fort St. John, British Columbia, CanadaTop
I went to the Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers because I wanted a good change with my overall health. I found this place through the internet and after reading their web site, I knew it was the right place for me to attend, and I was right. I found everything I was looking for there, the staff are very compassionate and knowledgeable, this is one thing I must say that I enjoyed the most is the information you received while you're there, for me it is the most important thing, as they say, “knowledge is the cure". The food is to die for! I never ate raw food before, and I couldn't believe how good the food tasted, of course, it's alive food!! It wasn't hard to do their program of detoxification, they have a good guideline, easy to follow. I completed a 10 days program, and the following changes occurred, there was improvements in digestion, bowel toxicity, tissue inflammation, thyroid stress, and lost 10 pounds, and most of all, I'm a lot smarter regarding my health, I take myself more seriously now. M.L, Enderby, British Columbia, CanadaTop
To all -the gift that Fresh Start Health Retreat Centers gave to me was far more than I ever could have imagined - not only did I lose weight but the wellness that was achieved has been unbelievable- thank-you for the gift of the green smoothe that I drink almost daily! I want to thank Vasili and his entire team - I plan to return and I highly recommend this treatment to all God bless and once again thank-you -with love, Chiqui. Chiqui Woolworth-Stahl, New York, NY, USATop
Went to Abundant because had everything not right-and breast cancer the year before. 10 days and I felt on the way to being right. Clarity and inner strength and peace and new tools with raw to cleanse old habits! Incredible program, full of miracle!! Elizabeth P. Swanson, Oakville, California, USATop
I have hypothyroidism (diagnosed 14 years ago) and had been sick with colds, headaches and just not feeling well for the last 2-3 years. I slept a lot, I was overweight, I was sick at least once a month with something and when I had a cold it lasted for about twice as long as anyone else’s did. I had bronchitis a few times and pneumonia once. I was a bookkeeper, working 3 days per week and I had to call in sick, sometimes missing a week of work. Since the cleanse I have been sick with colds only a couple of times and they lasted the normal amount of time. I rarely have a headache and I’m not tired or sluggish. I feel great; I can work and play like I want to, like I used to. My life has changed. I wake up and feel awesome. Thank you for helping me. I have recommended this cleanse to anyone who wants a healthier, happier life. Gladys Neumann, Golden, British Columbia, CanadaTop |
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