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publisher’s page
To find your inner glow,
you must have an
open mind.
In my Jan/Feb Pub Page, I explained how happy I
was to be back in the saddle. I’m a workout junkie
again and thankfully, I hauled my lame ass back in
the gym and got reacquainted with cardio and muscle-building
equipment. Whew, that was close.
Would hate to be a fraud, putting out this magazine.
Not sure I’d have the same readership numbers if I
called this magazine Cankles Monthly, or worse
yet, PhillyFAT – your local connection to junk food.
This time around though, I’ve added a few tricks. Maybe I don’t have
to go at it alone, my old-school way of doing things. I have an
accomplice and her name is Luisa Rasiej, an "energy healer" (Now
wait, don’t judge) who is doing some work on me. Work, what the
heck does that mean Well, she’s concocted a custom amalgamation
of essential oils, some psychology recipes, but primarily, an ability to
feel the energy within me, and help me move it around and clear out
the weighty, meaningless clutter – optimizing it, or should I say, me!
This has me dancin’ in the aisles, I must admit! I’m not jazzed about
how strict I have to be with my scheduling, adding yet another
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appointment in my daily grind, but I am super psyched about how
good it makes me feel, so I do. Seriously, if I described the first
experience where she literally pulled me (Well, my energy) back
“into” my body - you’d all write me off as a whacko, for sure. Let
me just tease you with the fact that I had no clue what she was
doing. Her hands never touched me. She just used the energy
within her own hands and hovered them under my feet, when all
of a sudden I felt that feeling we’ve all experienced when driving
your car over a high bump/hill too fast – and your stomach goes
“whooooop” at the unexpected sensation of losing your lunch. Just
then, I sat up and said, “Oh my Gosh, did you just pull my feet,
pull something, move me” I knew she didn’t, but I was so
shocked I actually felt something; I just had to ask! Her reply was
a quiet smile along with, “No, Jami, I have not touched you, as
you know. I had to pull your energy that was hovering above you,
back ‘into’ your shell. Back into, you.”
Let me explain. Luisa is the proud founder of “THE INNER
CONTESSA.” She’s a certified energy worker/natural healer and
she’s actually helping me move past my emotional blockages. I
can’t help but wonder if I was born with these darned ‘things’, or
if they are acquired through life’s ups and downs. You know, I’m
in demolition mode with life’s road blocks, and I have a feeling
many of you can relate. For the first time, in a long time, I’m
uncovering a certain visceral clarity that lets me live life as a
whole, complete being again, rather than a discombobulated
creature, sort of fragmented and all over the place, just tryin’
to get through Friday. Sort of explains that high-energy, balls-inthe-air
way about me. Who would’a thought
Luisa gingerly pointed out that because my life (during the past
few years in particular) has been so, um…choppy, so erratic and
all-consuming, I have, by default, elected to mentally vacate my
own body. “It all starts from a root” though, Luisa reminded me,
many moons ago. I can’t blame issues of recent times totally; it’s
an accumulation of sorts. After spending some time with me, she
discovered that it actually started when I was about five years old.
She could see I had “moved around a lot as a child” (which is
totally accurate, and no I did not tell her anything about me at this
point.) “You didn’t, and still don’t, know where you belong!”
Hmm, interesting. According to Luisa, perhaps this is the start of
what has been a long, sometimes amazing and sometimes almost
unbelievable, rocky road.
So back to that “energy hovering around above my body” stuff for
a sec. I essentially “checked out” to some degree, to enable me to
deal with all the emotional garbage I had subconsciously decided I
couldn’t handle anymore. I (my inner energy, my being) was living
a life outside my physical structure, outside my own intuition
and beliefs, outside my spirituality. Essentially, I was having an
out-of-body experience because my mind, body and soul were not
on the same plane. She said I was living in my “spiritual plane,
which hovers above my head, because that is where I find trust
and comfort. I have too much “pain” that has caused me to flee
my own living physical self/shell. I found a safe haven in this
place – and I don’t seem to want to come back inside of this hard
earned, somewhat physically fit “shell” I have worked so hard to
keep strong! Sigh. What on earth was I doing vacating the very
thing that keeps me alive—my body!
People look at me and probably think something like, “Boy, she’s
really got this workout thing licked.” I only say this because I hear
it from all kinds of folks having simple conversations with me,
often asking what I do to keep fit. I have to remind myself it
would be inappropriate to shout, “NO, no really, don’t give me so
much credit, my parents deserve the credit for decent DNA. I am a
ping pong match with fitness just like the rest of America!” But I
remember to smile and instead graciously say, “Thank-you for
noticing, this is what I do.” I admit to feeling embarrassed that
someone is seeing something that I am not feeling about myself. I
question my own genuine nature. For the most part, I am trying
hard to keep up good habits and be good to my body. I plan on living
in it for a long time, no matter if Luisa says I prefer to be “out
hovering above it” or not. I know she is right, that I am choosing
to do that, but I am trying to convince myself that I’m not. I
wouldn’t. I couldn’t.
It’s never been more obvious to me that I need to balance
being tone, with peace of mind. I need to connect my inner
bicep with my inner chi.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I know what you’re thinking. Jami has gone off the deep end big
time. But those who know me well understand that I’ll try just
about anything once, especially if it’s a stop on potential journey
to my ultimate happy place. Healers get a bad rap.
They’re actually not charlatans or quacks, but real people, passionate
about balance and living a whole life. Basically, they just want
to help others find comfort. That’s the most simplistic way to put
it.
When I walked into Luisa's natural healing studio, I didn’t know
what to expect at all. Everything looked normal. Phew. I’ve
always had a fear of the unknown (I guess we all do). But honestly,
I wasn’t sure if we were going to do voo-doo or mu-shoo and I
had to go poo poo. Were we going to burn incense and chant
Were we going to hold down dog for forty minutes Were we
going to play the flute Drink detox tea and pray What Was she
going to hypnotize me Make me look at crystals Would I have
to take a strange purification bath Perform rituals and customs
from a strange underground third world country Would we hold
hands, bang drums Would I have to eat nasty herbs or take a
strong, non-FDA approved herbal tincture under my tongue
Would she try to break me down Would I cry in front of a complete
stranger Was all this just hocus-pocus or legit panacea
To make matters worse, I had no clue what I was feeling on the
inside, let alone what I was going to be feeling once our hour session
headed towards its final act. I was vulnerable and miles away
from my comfort zone. Was my life going to drastically change
Or, what if nothing happened all Was I even capable of being
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“healed” or was I destined to remain hanging, damaged
beyond repair on the clearance rack of irregular people
I just wasn’t sure if my expectations were realistic and more worrisome
was the idea of unveiling my tattered soul to someone I didn’t
know. It’s no secret I have trust issues. I would be perfectly
fine to trust no one except myself for the rest of my time on
earth— but that’s a lonely existence and not really who I am at the
core. And, I am exaggerating a bit too – I am one of those “too
trusting people” who always gets herself in a jam. I think what I
am trying to say is I admit I need to learn just when, and when
not, to trust. That would be more accurate.
So, there I was, sitting across from a woman known as “The
Contessa" (and not from Housewives from NY). I did research her
online to make sure that she wasn’t an axe murderer. Still, I had
my reservations. Did I want to 'let her in' or maybe just chill for a
bit, and open up next time There's always a next time I rationalized.
I just wasn’t sure if my insecurities were Open For Business
per se.
Luisa initially asked me, "So tell me, why are you here, Jami"
Man, she was so angelic looking. She had a sparkle to her eyes
that sort of made her glow. Sheesh, was she some kind of seraph
right in front of my very own eyes I have never seen this before –
except when I look at my own children of course – the perfect
cherubs they are. Her tone and cadence were comforting and her
non-verbals were calming from the get-go.
“Ah yes, that’s the $25,000 question Luisa," I replied.
I'm cool and in control, I told myself. She didn't flinch, nor
respond. She wasn't buying my stall tactics for a nanosecond. Her
eyes pierced mine. She forced me to look at her and not down at
my shoes, where I was happy hiding behind a door in my mind
with three deadbolts.
Just then, a few irreverent words leaped out of my mouth. I couldn't
hold them back no matter how I tried! I felt like a can of Diet
Coke that had just been shaken up. Pandora’s box was ready to
explode into millions of particles. I knew that if I opened it, it
would be impossible to get it back, sort of like when uncooked
pasta falls out of the box onto the floor.
"It's time Luisa. It's 'just time, " I choked.
A small, telling tear dropped from my eye, then one from the other
eye. I was silenced by my own ill attempt at keeping it together.
That was all I said! She looked at me, I could almost see myself in
her eyes, like a mirror - and I looked well, pathetic. I was having a
crisis moment with my own identity—shattered dreams and tattered
relationships. I began to unwind and not in a good way.
“Time for what Jami”
(Gulp.) I really didn’t know, not sure why I said that, but in my
head I managed to come up with an answer that question. But
nothing would come out of my lips. I wanted to say that I had
never felt so alone. I wanted to say that I didn’t really know
myself, and so unlike the ME I’ve always known. I wanted to tell
her what and who I wanted to be when I grew up. But there I sat
in complete bewilderment in the realization that I had already
grown up and that time had in evaded me. I wanted to know how I
got here, to her studio, and why.
“I want to believe in myself and trust myself again. It’s time to get
MY life back.” Geez did that sound stupid.
“I am at the crossroads so to speak, Luisa. I am looking for a traffic
light, but there is none. I’m looking for the dotted white line on
the road, but there is none. I’m looking for windshield wipers to
clear the way, but they’re not working. I fill my tank with premium
gas over and over, yet it always seems to be on empty.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
After four weeks of intense, life-changing energy work sessions
with Luisa, I realized that I needed to become whole again, trust
myself and it wasn’t going to be quick, easy nor was she able to
do it for me. She explained that life’s hurdles were put there to
make people realize that they need to trust themselves…trust their
instincts. She was there to give me someone to trust, to guide me
and to move my roadblocks out of the way so I could sense within
myself how my life was to be from now on. My journey of trust
commenced with her. I was off to a good start.
My first lesson learned about healing began with an understanding
that just because I couldn’t, or chose not to trust someone, didn’t
mean that I couldn’t trust others, let alone myself and my choices.
Which sort of echoes a favorite quote of mine: “To the world,
you’re just one person, but to one person, you may be
the world.”
So, I tipped my toe into the healer arena, sue me. I dared to go
there. Now what I needed more. I needed a 360-degree approach
to healing. Ping-pong, semi-sappy conversations about broken
hearts and mending hearts wasn’t going to do the trick. I knew
that. I sought out to add to my bag of tricks other people, and
experiences, which could help me become whole again, head to
toe, inside and out, this time ‘round. The trendy life coach thing
was the perfect start for me a couple years back. It was the first
time I admitted I needed someone’s help, as I didn’t believe in my
own decisions anymore. But I needed a team to put humptydumpty
back together again (eh, yeah, that would be me). I now
needed a program that was powerful, transformative and aweinspiring.
Simply put, I knew it was time to believe in ME again.
Maybe I am not quite the fool I have been thinking I was. I am
now one hundred percent committed to trusting myself, listening
to my conscious, and paying attention to all the signs my angels
leave for me daily, to help guide me through good times and bad.
Take one healer, one trainer, one herbalist and mix with a damn
good nutritionist I thought. Hmmmm This was going to be way
harder than bench-presses. Why wasn’t I happy just reading EAT
10 I PhillyFIT
March/April I 215-396-0268 I www.phillyfitmagazine.com

PRAY LOVE like every other woman that I knew
Thank goodness for eight years of building (PhillyFIT) connections.
I whipped out my address book and bingo: Susie Beiler -
she is my ongoing “oils gal” now. She’s from Spectrum Health
Consulting and is a walking/talking gorgeous essential oil within
herself. Then added my new herbalists helping me out from
Bunn's Health Food store in Southampton, PA. Man, can someone
just lock me in that store overnight, and let me play What a magical
place for finding every health and healing need in the world!
My new sandbox! Then my PhillyFIT Chef, John Fairchild, continues
to feed me amazing recipes and nutrition tips, along with
the redheaded beauty and Vegan chef/TV star Christina Pirello.
She too provides me with the utmost in healthy recipes and
insights that I like to think I am ready to embrace whole-heartedly.
Not a shabby team to make my health and healing goals my reality!
And, I can share them with my entire family; all seven of them
are on board with me! I’m not nearly as alone as I had
thought I was.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Think today’s essential oils are nothing but snake oils Think
again! Today’s products are custom tailored to soothe, calm and
nourish. I personally use the following popular oils, but this will
change from month to month according to my needs.
“Thieves” – I am using Young Living Oils: highly effective in supporting
the immune system.
“Valor” – great for balance and to align the body.
“Harmony” – well, for what the word says a more harmonious
life, physical and mental well being.
“Joy” – for more happiness in my life (the dishwashing liquid didn’t
cut it. Ha!) This oil creates magnetic energy and joy to the
heart.
“Breathe” – an amazing concoction that allowed me to ditch the
rescue inhaler (totally helps my breathing as I have asthma).
“Lemon/Orange Jolt” – It gives me a spirited lift and is very
cleansing.
I truly believe in splendid aromatics and mystical powers of
pheromones. I think the power of smell goes along way – it’s
almost like listening to a song – a mood changer. It’s like acupuncture
for wussies. Again, it may be a placebo affect, but I really
don’t care. The point is that I’m doing it for me and it’s working. I
rub the oils on my feet... so nice!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And now onto the nutrition component.
I am very happy with the veggie protein powders I’ve found at
Bunns and also at Whole Foods, this one in particular has a gazillion
fruits and veggies. It’s called "RAW Meal" and contains
twenty-six Superfoods, RAW Organic Sprouts, Seeds and Greens,
and thirty-four grams of protein. It totally helps satisfy my relentless
hunger. I mostly take it as a breakfast before my workouts so
I get through an active day without starving and losing concentration.
And, I don’t eat much meat, so this is a great protein source
for me. It’s really the gasoline that makes this car run. It gives me
the zing that I need, especially when that 3:00pm hour hits and
I’m jonesing for a Snicker’s Bar. It fills me up and makes me feel
like Wonder Woman!
Next, I swear by the "B" vitamins for energy and a women’s mega
multi-vitamin. And Omega 3’s, I know there’s no such thing as a
miracle pills, but when I take these nutrients I feel turbocharged.
This is a good thing because I’ve been working out three times a
week on average. Once I got back to regular exercise.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
So, I’ve got the healer, the oils and some darn good nutritional
habits going on but there are still some healing things I want to
incorporate as the weather gets warmer and the clothes show more
skin. Ugh. Here are few things on my healing bucket list:
Yoga
Massage
Zumba
Chi Gong breathing exercises
Spend quality time with my children
Retail Therapy (yes, I’m a sucker for a nice new sundress and
strappy sandals. Whatever!)
Going to church on Sunday (don’t laugh)
I came across this quote recently and it really resonated with me
so I thought I’d share it with my loyal PhillyFIT readers. Enjoy.
I want to really, really live. I want to laugh til my stomach tightens
so much that it aches and my legs hurt from my slapping them.
I want to cry from my gut and let the tears wash me to where I need
to go. I want to hear the singing of my heart. and let the sounds
echo inside me and I want to dance to that music.
I want to fill with compassion and touch someone's face so gently
that they can feel the caring in my fingertips. I want to love so
deeply that my cells vibrate with it and just standing near me you
can feel the buzz of the vibrations.
I want to know that I'm worthy and good and
I want to leave self doubt on the highway.
I want to touch the sky and recognize my soul in it.
I want to walk in the rain and drop to my knees in gratitude for this
gift of life
I have been given.
MayI never ever forget what a gift it truly is.
— Teresa St. Cloud
This spring, dance to that music and heal! Write me and tell me
what you do to heal - I’d love to know!
Best,
March/April I 215-396-0268 I www.phillyfitmagazine.com
PhillyFIT I 11

letterstothepublisher
Jami,
I'm new to the area and just discovered
your magazine. Wow,
it's got such a friendly "voice"
and high energy content.
Fantastic! Thank you for your
efforts, and all the best of
health, wealth and love in
2012!
Spencer L Baker
LCDR, SC, USN
Crossfit L1 Trainer
Hello,
I stumbled across your magazine
a few months ago and I was
very impressed. I just wanted to
say, keep up the great work.
I constantly use to try to
always stay focused on my
exercising, it’s often hard to fit
in dedication to exercising with
my demanding schedule. Your
magazine allows me to remember
everyone goes threw the
same struggles and just keep
trying. I'm a choreographer and
I struggle with eating the wrong
things even my job demands me
to stay fit. Food is tempting and
I am blessed to dance as a profession,
otherwise I wouldn't be
fit. When I work out with my
clients I let them know my
struggles to let them know that
it's just as hard for me as it is
for them. I want them to know I
know their struggles equally and
we will get this done together.
Please keep it coming. I love
your articles, discounts and
deals. And what I love best is
that everyone is local. I just feel
that I can relate to them more
than the world fitness magazine.
Thanks for keeping me Fit!
Sprite' Choreographer
Hi Jami,
You absolutely inspire me each
issue. I still remember the publisher
pages you wrote not long
after your daughter was born
12 I PhillyFIT
(four and a half years ago!) I’ve
been reading since then! Even
then, you seemed to be in tune
with something I was going
through. Thank you so much for
publishing your magazine! I love
it. How do you do it ALL
Jennifer Ritorto
Membership & Marketing
Director
Lower Bucks Family YMCA
Jami,
I just read your Publisher’s Page
article while sitting at CHOP
waiting for my son’s appointment.
GOOD JOB, again I love
your “matter of fact, no bullshit”
style of writing! I just sat
there smiling as I was reading
it, nodding my head…as if I was
in a conversation with you. My
son would look over at me
(while he was in the middle of
his physical therapy exercise)
and say “Why are you smiling”
I replied, “Oh, it’s just Jami….”
Lisa Davis
Jami,
You and your team always write
such interesting and inspiring
articles in PhillyFIT...I always
look forward to reading them. I
am often inspired by the young
people who get involved and are
inspired by fitness!
Karin Maitin
Jami,
I really respect you, your publishing,
your drive, your personal
fitness and beauty, your business
sense, etc. You have a big
fan here. Keep up the great
work sister!
George Bruno
Published by:
Jalynn Concepts, LLC
Publisher: Jami Appenzeller
Assistant to the Publisher:
Melissa Granneman
Art Design: Buxmont Media:
Jessica Lorah
Copy Editors: Heather Hoehn,
Bev Appenzeller
Cover Photography:
Photography of couple by Sean
Gomes. Stephanie Keenan
photo by John Atherton.
Publishers Page:
Photo by Joe Chielli, Church
Street Studios
Calendar Of Events:
John Beeler
Ad Sales:
Jami Appenzeller
jami@phillyfitmagazine.com
Rita Henry
ritahenry@phillyfitmagazine.com
Distribution Manager:
R.I.P. Jim Appenzeller
All inquires are welcome...
Call us NOW! 215-396-0268
Fax: 215-396-0288
March/April I 215-396-0268 I www.phillyfitmagazine.com
SATURDAY, MAY 20TH • 11-3PM
For more details see page 4
PHILLYFITfamily
www.phillyfitmagazine.com
Jami@phillyfitmagazine.com
Advertising Deadlines:
Reservations for the
May/June 2012 issue:
Ad Copy Due By: Apr 5, 2012
Payment Due By: Apr 10, 2012
PhillyFIT Magazine is a news magazine with emphasis
on health, fitness and leisure. PhillyFIT Magazine is printed
bi-monthly, distributing 50,000 magazines to more
than 1,000 locations in the Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester,
Delaware and Montgomery Counties. Address all submissions
of advertising, calendar entries, photos,
inquiries and letters to the above address. PhillyFIT
Magazine does not assume responsibility for unsolicited
materials. PhillyFIT Magazine will assume that all unsolicited
materials are being submitted for possible publication
and should the material be published, no fee is due
to the submitting party. It is our understanding that the
submitting party holds models' releases on photographs
submitted. Physicians' Pages are paid advertisements.
PhillyFIT Magazine does not knowingly accept false or
misleading advertising or editorial content, nor does the
Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising
or editorial appear. PhillyFIT Magazine reserves the right
to edit letters to the editor and other submissions for
clarity and space availability, and to determine suitability
of all materials submitted for publication. Before implementing
any exercise or diet modification mentioned in
PhillyFIT Magazine, readers are advised to consult with
their physicians. No reproductions of printed material are
permitted without the consent of the Publisher.
All rights reserved.