By JUDITH KELLIHER
Gazette Contributing Writer

NORTHAMPTON - When Valley Ayurveda exhibited for the first time at last April's Whole Health Expo, owner Ann Podlozny said her shop had not even officially opened for business.

"It was a smart move on our part. Exhibiting helped generate a lot of buzz around our new business," said Podlozny of her 98 Main St., Northampton, shop, which subsequently opened this past July. "This year we hope to see old faces, and it will be a great way to meet new customers."

For some area businesses, the expo is a chance to network with like-minded establishments and make a pitch to attendees who might not otherwise know about their products and services.

The 26th annual expo will be held April 16 to 17 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center. Events for April 16 run from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. while the next day's activities go from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Valley Ayurveda features a three-tiered approach to wellness: diet and lifestyle management, therapeutic bodywork and yoga or other form of exercise. Its booth will offer mini-consultations and provide a questionnaire for people to get an understanding of themselves in regard to Ayurveda, a natural system of health and healing native to India, Podlozny said.

"This was so successful for us last year. It's not only the people who attend the expo, it's a great networking opportunity for a small business" she said.

When Jennifer Goodheart, shopkeeper at Acadia Herbals, at 2 Conz St., heard about the expo, she said, "We have to be there."

"This is a good chance to network and a way to strengthen our ties to the community," said Goodheart. "We can make more connections in the spiritual use of herbs."

Acadia Herbals sells certified organic herbs and herbal products, teas and herbal blends, supplies to make healthy body products, including locally grown and crafted wares.

At the booth, Goodheart said she plans to offer samples of her products and showcase some of their gift baskets.

Mary Welch, owner of Four Elements Salon & Spa in Southwick, had gone to the expo for years as an attendee, but this is the first year her business will be exhibiting.

"We were lucky to get in this year and are very excited about it," Welch said. "We are hoping to bring organics to people as an alternative to chemicals."

Four Elements is an environmentally friendly salon and spa that uses organic products in all areas of the business. At the expo, its booth will offer consultations, massages, reiki, makeup applications, and will have samples on hand of some of the organic products used at the salon.

Jonathon Podolsky, producer of the expo, said the reasons businesses exhibit are as varied as the kinds of companies exhibiting.

"Gem and mineral dealers, for example, depend almost exclusively on sales at the show. On the other end of the spectrum are some of the health and wellness centers that don't sell anything at the show ... they are growing their practice," he said.

Most businesses get a combination of benefits, varying from driving traffic to their stores or websites, testing the market, building relationships and their client base, gaining exposure and collecting leads, Podolsky said.

The expo will feature more than 100 speakers, presentations, workshops and exhibits on the topics of body, mind and spirit.

"It's a great way to meet a lot of interesting alternative health practitioners, learn about classes and retreats, get psychic readings, find beauty products with no toxic chemicals, environmentally friendly products, home improvement services, herbs and essential oils, and experience Native American healing and Tibetan healing to name just a sampling," Podolsky said. "There are also great talks, many of which are by people who do not speak in the area often."

The expo's keynote speaker will be Dr. Bernie Siegel, a world-renowned author and speaker. His talk, "Reflections on the Art of Living and Healing," will take place April 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Karuna Center, 25 Main St. A pre-event drumming circle and storytelling with Native American healer Michael Redsky will be April 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Clarion.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $12 a day or $18 for the weekend, or by going to www.WholeHealthExpo.com/Tickets.

[Published on C-1 of the Daily Hampshire Gazette for April 4, 2011. Reprinted by permission.]