Health event set to guide participants through plant-based diet
Health, Healing & Happiness, a health and wellness event planned for June 12-14, began four years ago. About 150 people attended the event at the Springs Preserve. The event has grown steadily, and for the fourth event, organizer Ina Mohan hopes to have around 1,000 attendees, which has necessitated a move to the Tuscany, 255 E. Flamingo Road.
“We’ve just outgrown the venue,” Mohan said. “I was looking for a place with a ballroom, and the Tuscany has a great one. They’re also going to create a completely plant-based buffet for us.”
Mohan began her career as a chef and was in Las Vegas working with hospitality software during the launch of Wynn Las Vegas when her parents were diagnosed with cancer. This caused her to reflect on health more seriously than she had before.
“I never made the connection of food and health before because, as a chef, you are always concerned with the taste and look,” Mohan said.
Her studies on the many issues surrounding health led to her organizing the annual event, which is set to have 18 speakers this year.
“There will be speakers on health and fitness but also on spirituality and personal development,” Mohan said. “We want to cover every aspect of health — not just the physical but also the emotional healing component.”
Vanessa Chamberlin Houssels is one of the speakers, and she will also be doing the first book signing of “The Fire-Driven Life: How To Ignite The Fire To Self Worth, Health, And Happiness with a Plant-Based Diet.”
Her journey began while she was recovering from a personal tragedy. Things began to turn around for her when she shifted her view and began looking at the issue of self worth and began to ponder her diet.
“When I cared enough about what I put into my body, everything changed,” Houssels said.“Eating right touches on everything in your life, from energy to relationships, from your waistline to your skin, to your hair to your passion for life. It’s the foundation of everything.”
She discovered the book “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell, who became her mentor. She looked at the concept of a healthy diet from multiple angles.
“There are plenty of people who can show you the how and the what, but if you don’t get your mind straight, the best diet in the world isn’t going to do anything for you,” Houssels said. “You’ve really got to get strong with your ‘why’ to be effective.”
Admission is $139 for the full conference with the plant-based buffet and $69 for a basic day pass. The conference is scheduled to begin with a welcome reception from 6 to 8 p.m. June 12. The conference meeting, seminars and vendor room are open June 13 and 14. A full schedule and ticket information is at health-healing-happiness.com.
To reach East Valley View reporter F. Andrew Taylor, email ataylor@viewnews.com or call 702-380-4532.
