Artist in Residence: Ben Hotchkiss

The Center is proud to feature the unique work of Ben Hotchkiss, curated by the Ricco Maresca Gallery. Ben's work has an imaginative and playful quality that is reflected through his skillful technique. His vibrant artwork is displayed throughout The Center, giving our visitors a feeling of happiness that his artwork exudes. All of the Artwork is for sale through the Ricco Maresca Gallery. Visit The Center for Integrative Practices website for more information.

Fall is Delicious

It's hard to remember that New York City is part of a state abound with farms, but it is, and fortunately all city dwellers can take advantage of it. Right now happens to be the best time of the year to do just that as the fall harvest reveals some of the healthiest and most versatile produce of the year:  beans, squash, apples, herbs, tomatoes, beets and greens. As the weather get's colder, as it inevitably does in New York, it is easy to start eating more comforting and less healthy foods. Fortunately, fall foods are so versatile, they can become your comfort food. Squash is a great example of this. Squash contains essential vitamins and minerals that maintain cellular structure to keep your bones and ligaments healthy. It also happens to be delicious baked with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and some rosemary. Take advantage of these foods while they are in season. The Center for Integrative Practices encourages everyone to find there local famers markets for the freshest produce  in New York City. There are markets all over Manhattan that you can find here.

Next week, we will be featuring our newest practitioner, Social worker and Psychotherapist Jennifer Warner. Have a happy and healthy week and stay tuned!

Make Your Week Stress Free

Relaxation is an important part of keeping your body and mind healthy. It can be hard to remember to take the time to relax, especially in the city that never sleeps. At The Center for Integrative Practices, our practitioners support a healthy amount of relaxation everyday. For some relaxation tips, we asked our practitioners what they do to unwind. Micheal  Grego said: 

'Confucius said, "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I get the best stress relief by doing what I love, helping people with massage and other techniques that help restore them to their maximum potential. After that I enjoy being outdoors, meditation and contemplation.' 

It can be difficult to find  meditative spaces in New York City, so here are a list of five public spaces that we find relaxing in Manhattan:

1) Sheep Meadow in Central Park 

2) Bryant Park and The New York Public Library

3) Riverside Park

4) Stuyvesant Cove

5) Battery Park 

For more information on The Center for Integrative Practices, check out our website or facebook page. 

Have a stress-free week!

Interview with Michael Grego

More website updates! Michael Grego, LMT, Massage, Manual and Neuromuscular therapist at The Center for Integrative Practices talks about the versatility of his practice and what inspired him to get into integrative health in this new interview featured on The Center for Integrative Practices' website: 

"Michael’s empathy gives him a unique approach to therapy and he understands that a patient needs more than a massage to get back on their feet. His practice is two-fold: 'Traditional massage is the best choice for stress relief or to get more from your Chiropractic adjustment.  For those that have pain, structural or functional problems and want results as fast as possible, patients have the option of an Integrative Manual Therapy approach.'" Read more here

Look for more interviews from our other practitioners coming soon!

Helpful Links to Kick Start September!

Hope you had a great Labor day! As the summer winds down, here are some good websites to look at to kick start your September:

Dr. Amanda Baten has recommended you check out Dr. Andrew Weil's take on the Glycemic Index. The Glycemic Index is a way of ranking carbohydrates based on the rise in circulating blood sugar a carbohydrate triggers. Monitoring which kinds of carbohydrates you eat is an important step in helping you achieve good physical and mental health. Dr. Weil's website gives you an overview of what the Glycemic Index is and how to effectively use it. 

If you're in a lot of pain after a summer of working out and walking the city streets (like me),  Licensed Massage Therapist Michael Gregor who practices massage and manual therapy at The Center for Integrative Practices recommends you check out NMT Center. Here you can learn about the benefits of neuromuscular therapy on your sore muscles and on your nervous system. Neuromuscular therapy also examines nutrition and emotional well being, making it a holistic take on massage. 

Keep checking in with The Center for Integrative Practices for more updates and helpful tips on improving your body, mind and soul!