Women Rock!!

PACE Awards recipients 2009

The PACE Awards night on June 25th was truly inspirational.  All these women, more than 50 of them, who are small business entrepreneurs, working hard to make their dreams come true.  There were over 25 exhibition booths set up at the Music Center, with the women exhibiting their services, products, and ideas  --  floral designers, organic juice producers, solar energy contractors, jewelry and clothes designers, hair care suppliers, photographers, scrapbooking services, personal trainers, and the list goes on.

The highlight of the evening came when the five of us were called to the stage to get recognized for our hard-working efforts.  What was really neat was that the prior-year recipients of the Awards came on stage to introduce this year's top three prize winners.  The MC introduced  these prior-year awardees and updated the audience with their accomplishments since receiving the awards.  The top winner from last year was Hakika Keith,  the owner of Gorilla Life, Inc., the company that produces the namesake chlorophyll health drink, sold, among other places, at Whole Foods.  Gorilla Life came to fruition thanks to PACE's support and guidance.  Wow!

This year's first prize went to Deborah Stern, who runs her own organic, hand-made tamales business, La Guera Tamalera.  She learned to make the tamales from scratch from a family in Mexico.  With the money she received from PACE Women & Co. Microenterprise Boost Equity Awards, she hired additional help and can now pay for a commercial kitchen, which'll allow her to distribute her tamales wholesale.  Since receiving the award, she has secured five new wholesale accounts.   Go Guera!

Second prize went to two recipients.  One recipient, Karen Marcus, is an artist and prints and sells original artwork and greeting cards made from her original artwork.  The award money gave Karen the opportunity to have an office space where she can focus on creating her artwork as well as to store her cards.  Gotta love her business name: You're Not the Boss of Me!  The second recipient, Shannon Bizzy, is the owner of Bizzy Bee's Landscape Maintenance.  The award money allowed her to purchase more equipment for her full service landscaping company as well as to hire additional crew members.  

Myself and the fifth awardee received the "Entrepreneur Spirit Awards."  You know what I do. :-)  With my award money, I have been able to create more marketing materials to help me with visibility, like rack cards, update my website, and am currently in the process of creating new, custom business cards.  

The fifth awardee, Rossana Ruey, runs her own electronic waste recycling company, e-Recycling Stewards, Inc.  With her award money, she plans to take her company to the next level by creating a website and corporate identity.

Listening to all of these women's struggles, challenges and accomplishments made my heart burst with pride and also humbled me at what we women can achieve when we set our minds to do something.  We just need a little help from time to time to stay on track.  We small business entrepreneurs are so vital to the American economy.  As Ms. Kim Tachiki-Chin (Senior Advisor, Office of Congrresswomen Roybal-Allard, U.S. House of Representatives, 34th District) aptly remarked during the ceremony: "I'm sorry to corporate executives in the room, but it is the small businesses that are backbone of the American economy."   Amen.  

On the left is my super-awesome business advisor, Jackie Jones, from PACE. The woman on the right, Vivienne Lee, is from Citibank, the main sponsor of the Women & Co. Boost Equity Awards.

Pretty proud of the recognition and award I received

Luriko Ozeki, L.Ac. being recognized at the PACE Women Business Center

I am proud to announce that I was one of 5 recipients to receive an award money from the PACE Women's Business Center (WBC). The award money was distributed to 5 underserved female business entrepreneurs.

To celebrate, PACE WBC will be hosting an awards ceremony - Celebrating Women in Business - at the Music Center, tomorrow, June 25th from 5:30p - 8:30p.

As part of the celebration, there will also be about 50 business booths of women-run enterprises. Iyashi Wellness will be there. Appetizers and foods will also be provided by PACE WBC.

So come join the festivities and network with dynamic female entrepreneurs, community members, local community politicians, and bankers.

To read about more about this award and the five recipients, click here

Iyashi Wellness Happy Hour

Today's Happy Hour has been cancelled.  I will resume july 1st.  

The July 8th Happy Hour will also be cancelled due to the host restaurant, Casa de Tree, being closed for a week.

Regular scheduling will resume Wed. July 15th.

Thank you!

Iyashi Wellness Happy Hour

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be doing Happy Hour every Wednesday afternoons starting in June! I'm doing this in collaboration with a wonderful, family-owned cafe in Culver City called Casa De Tree. I'll be doing 20-minute ear acupuncture - or for those uncomfortable with the idea of acupuncture - ear acupressure as well at the cafe. While you feel the balancing effects of the session, you can also enjoy Casa de Tree's delicious organic, vegan foods and teas.

It's a great way to relieve stress during the middle of the week, as well as to recharge for the rest of the week.

Please come by and experience the balancing effects of ear acupuncture/acupressure in a welcoming environment with delicious food! No reservations are required. Just show up.

· Where: Casa De Tree – 3741 Motor Avenue, L.A., CA 90034 (just north of Venice)

· When: Every Wednesdays starting June ‘09

· Time: 3:30pm - 5:30pm

· Price: $20 for 20-min session (food and drinks additional)

· Who should come: anyone feeling stressed out and wants to relax naturally

and become part of a friendly community of like-minded people

· For more info, please call 310.770.9560

Iyashi Vacation

My husband and I recently came back from a 10-day trip to Northeastern Spain. What a beautiful country. So vibrant, rich with history, and a gastronomic tour de force.

One thing that really struck me about the Spaniards and their culture - and this is often noted by Europeans and Americans alike - was that the Spaniards (and the rest of Europe) have a real passion for the joie de vivre. It was very palpable. From the 2 hour lunches and 3 hour dinners, to meals enjoyed in large groups of friends and family, to the resistance to forego siesta time in order to join the rest of the modern world. I observed people sitting out in the cafes, drinking their coffees and thick chocolate drinks, engrossed in deep conversation with one another, not having a care that time was ticking away. And this wasn't relegated just to the young. Senior citizens, both men and women, donning their polished suits, would join their fellow friends to enjoy one another's company in local cafes and bars. Kids would also accompany their parents and grandparents, but they never made scenes. They were happily interacting with their parents and adult friends. When do you see these examples in the United States? Rarely.

At first, I have to be honest, I was annoyed that so many places were shut down during siesta time. How am I supposed to enjoy my trip if so much is closed down, I thought frustratedly. But as the days passed and I started to shed the American stressed mentality, I actually began to enjoy the quiet time that came about when many things shut down. My husband and I would ourselves go to cafes to have a break, snack, and people watch, or go back to our hotel room to just rest.

And that's when it occurred to me. Americans work practically 24-7, especially now that so much can be done on the computer and from home. We just work work work , sacrificing quality of life. And yet our economy is at its worst since the Great Depression. All that working for what? The Spanish economy is in the pits, too, but at least they aren't working themselves to the bones like us Americans. Instead, they are still enjoying life. They see the big picture. It's about Family. Friends. Relaxing. Eating. Drinking. Laughing. Being part of a community.

I left Spain iyashi'd and very importantly, committed anew to living a Wellness life. Watching so many Spaniards bike around for their daily errands, I'm now bicycling to my teaching job or to the market. That way I get my exercise in and get my errands done in one swoop. I'm also incorporating public transportation as part of my commute. I'm now also more conscientious about enjoying what I eat even when I'm alone, chewing everything slowly - and not multitasking while I eat. Spain really left an impression on me. That's what I love about travels - both local and abroad - because it brings new life into your crotchety old mind. It changes you.

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Soaring Dramatically

The need for Wellness-focused medicine is growing!  The interest in and use of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM), as well as other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) systems grew by 50% in 2007 since 2002.  How exciting!  Read the article to learn how - and why - Americans across the country are using AOM and CAM - and join the new revolution for Wellness healthcare!!

AOM Integrates Wellness in Capitol Hill

I really hope our president will get a Wellness health care system under way.  Check out the interview (click on the title) on the state of wellness health care here in the States.  Please support alternative medicine by getting to know your local acupuncturist, chiropractor, naturopath, etc., and let your support be known to your local congressperson.