Caledon entrepreneurs had an opportunity to step away from business pressures and focus on their mental health at the Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Rise and Thrive Meditation and Wellness event on May 12.
Caledon Citizen reported that more than 30 people registered for the morning at Mount Alverno Luxury Resorts, where the program combined a keynote address with breakout sessions in Qi Gong, meditation and sound therapy.
Chamber president Marion Upshall said the organization placed particular emphasis on mental health this year, with the event taking place during Mental Health Awareness Month. She described hearing uncertainty, frustration and anxiety from members, and said the morning was intended to give entrepreneurs time to pause and regain focus.
Upshall said she uses meditation herself when dealing with high-stress situations. She also stressed the importance of business owners looking after themselves so they can continue supporting their businesses, families and other people.
For Danielle Gomes of Crown Commons Landscape Design, attending meant making wellness a priority despite the difficulty of finding time. Gomes told the Citizen she had enjoyed last year’s event and returned for its second edition.
Qi Gong practitioner Brigitte Li led one of the breakout sessions. Li, who has practised for almost nine years and also teaches Qi Gong for the Town of Caledon, described it as a combination of slow movement, stretching and breathing that encourages participants to pay attention to the present.
“Any company, no matter how big or small they are, their assets are people, and if they take care of the wellness of their people, I think that’s the foundation,” Li told the Caledon Citizen.
Meditation practitioner Layla Roche guided participants through breathwork and mindful meditation. She has spent more than five years teaching yoga, fitness coaching, sound healing, breathwork and meditation, with a particular focus on entrepreneurs and people in demanding positions.
Roche said business owners can have their operations well managed while giving less attention to their mental, physical and emotional well-being. She described the practices in her session as accessible to everyone.
Keynote speaker Dr. Rupa Salwan, a naturopathic doctor, discussed ways entrepreneurs and business owners can support their mental health. She emphasized that different approaches may suit different people.
Salwan said the event’s format gave participants a chance to try wellness practices rather than only hear about them. She described setting aside time before daily responsibilities begin as a way to approach the day more mindfully, without changing the pressures themselves.
Sound bath practitioner Raizelle Aspilla led the other breakout session. Certified in Nepal, she uses instruments made there and said their origins matter to her commitment to supporting the community and respecting the practice’s roots.
Aspilla said opportunities to focus on personal wellness are important before people reach burnout, helping them preserve energy for themselves and their communities.
