Held is partnering with Anita Nicholson, FNP-BC, APRN, one of the region’s leading integrative medicine providers and menopause experts specializing in women’s health, sexual health, and healthy aging, and Abbie Gross, an herbalist, postpartum doula, and holistic natural foods chef. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of how hormonal changes can impact multiple aspects of a woman’s well-being, what causes those changes besides age, how to detect the signs and symptoms, and the type of nourishment and treatments needed to help regulate them.
This event is for women of all ages and at any stage of their health journey!
“I feel there is something unexplored about woman that only a woman can explore.”
- Georgia O’Keeffe
Grey Lines with Black, Blue and Yellow by Georgia O’Keeffe, Courtesy of The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Details
Date: October 10, 2024
Time: 6 - 8 pm, please arrive by 6 pm
Location: The Public Works, 52 Alder St, Portland, ME
Fee: $50* per person for drinks, bites, herbal teas, and an educational tutorial/discussion
*As we develop different types of events, we are working on prices to make these events sustainable. If cost is a factor, we want to help. For each event, we set aside tickets for this purpose. Please email us at hello@heldportland.com.
Cancellation policy: All sales are final and non-refundable. However, your tickets are transferable to an individual. If transferred to someone, please email us their name and email address at hello@heldportland.com.
What to expect
The topic - Human connection is at the heart of each held gathering. Our goals are always twofold: to spark meaningful connections that ultimately foster a deeply rooted community and to inspire women with a specific topic. For our October event, we’re learning more about hormones and hormonal imbalance and how that impacts multiple aspects of our well-being: mood, physical, sleep, and metabolism. During the event, Anita and Abbie will lead a discussion about the hormonal changes a woman experiences over time, what causes those changes besides age, the signs and symptoms, and the different foods and teas that can help regulate the imbalance. During the gathering, time will be devoted to self-reflection on our bodies and how the changes have impacted us physiologically, emotionally, and mentally. This gathering is meant to be empowering, uplifting, therapeutic, and open to all ages.
Meet and greet - Mary Beth and Tenaya will welcome everyone, share the event’s concept, and give an overview of the night’s event. They’ll introduce Abbie Gross and Anita Nicholson, who will share their backgrounds, why they are passionate about educating women on becoming more aware of their hormonal changes, the impact of those changes, and how diet, stress regulation, and in some cases, hormonal treatments can not only help women be more hormonally balanced but also improve their overall well-being.
Tutorial on hormonal and physiological changes, nourishment, and a tea meditation - Abbie and Anita will hand out a curated booklet for this event and break down the different hormonal stages of our lives, what is happening to our bodies, and the signs and symptoms. Anita will provide an overview of hormone basics and the changes that happen in your body through your menstrual cycle, PMS, perimenopause, and menopause. She will provide information on hormone replacement options, as well as lifestyle changes that can combat lack of sleep, weight gain, loss of muscle, and brain fog as women age. Abbie will then discuss holistic approaches to these life cycle changes, and with each hormonal stage discussed, cups of tea will be handed out. Folks will be asked to smell and meditate on the taste of the tea. Abbie will share each component's ingredients and importance to help regulate the body. In addition to teas, she will discuss different types of foods that will help mitigate and ameliorate hormonal imbalance.
Closing remarks - Tenaya and Mary Beth will provide closing remarks and ask attendees to provide feedback in a survey. Those who want to stay for a bit are welcome to mingle and or chat with Abbie and Anita.
Anita Nicholson
Anita Nicholson is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a robust 30-year background in healthcare. She specializes in women's hormone health. Her extensive experience includes hospital medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, and integrative medicine. She focuses on understanding the complexities of hormonal changes that women experience throughout their lives.
Anita is dedicated to empowering women to take control of their hormonal health through education and personalized care. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and completed the Critical Care Nurse Academy at Dalhousie University in Canada. Anita also holds a Master’s in Science Nursing and a Certificate of Graduate Study in Nursing Education from the University of Southern Maine. She has advanced certifications in Integrative Medicine and Hormone Health.
Anita’s passion lies in improving women's health span and quality of life by promoting informed decisions around hormone health, sexual well-being, and overall wellness. Through her work, Anita fosters a culture of respect and excellence in healthcare, advocating for women's health issues and providing compassionate, evidence-based care
Abbie Gross
Abbie Gross is an herbalist, postpartum doula, holistic natural foods chef, and creator of Illustrious Herbal Wellness. Abbie has been cooking professionally for over 12 years, offering health-supportive and nutritious meals to families and individuals. The path to her interest in herbal medicine began with utilizing plants for natural dye. She began to see that the plant world around her had many secrets and magic. From this deep curiosity, the path of herbal medicine began to unfold. She has been studying clinical herbalism for over five years and offers herbal consultations virtually and in person. After the birth of her daughter, Abbie felt passionate about becoming a postpartum doula to help support others during the fourth trimester. Abbie brings her unique background to her doula work, as she is passionate about using food and herbal elements as a tool to heal during the postpartum period. The common thread throughout all the pillars of Abbie’s offerings is that she is passionate about supporting women in all phases of their lives and helping them achieve their specific wellness goals.