“10 Years Younger in 60 Days”

Wraps Up with Wellness Tips & Celebration

Our “10 Years Younger in 60 Days” program took a short hiatus in late winter due to family obligations of some of our participants, but we were back on track this week for our last presenter in the wellness series organized by Innkeeper Ilja. The series has been a great hit among the Adair Country Inn & Restaurant employees, who set goals in early December to help them become fit and healthier through making good food choices, exercising more, reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and getting medical and dental check-ups.

Cindy Noyes, RMT, of Thyme to Learn Wellness, welcomed our group at a healing circle at the Inner Truth Massage & Healing Arts Studio on Cottage Street in Littleton, along with Inner Truth’s owner Tamar Smookler.

At the center of our circle was a large crystal and candle, surrounded by smaller crystals in the colors of the rainbow – red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, which are also the colors associated with the major chakras – or energy points – of the body. Cindy uses crystals and gemstones, along with essential oils in her meditation and Reiki practice to help her clients feel refreshed, renewed and rejuvenated.

Our evening began with a short meditation in which we paid attention to our breathing and consciously relaxed our bodies. Cindy encouraged each of us to set aside 15-20 minutes each day to take time for ourselves, practice conscious breathing, and let go of our monkey minds that distract us from being in touch with our true selves. “Practicing meditation, even for a short time,” said Cindy, “can change the focus of your day. It’s about going within and feeling the energy you have and realizing that we don’t need to let stress control us.”

Cindy explained the concept behind Reiki, which calls on the universal life force energy that exists in everything around us, including plants, animals and humans. During Reiki, the practitioner helps to move that energy through the person’s body by placing her hands on the seven major chakra points and the many minor chakras. Chakra is the Sanskrit word for wheel, and the chakras act like small wheels within the body; when the wheels are moving freely, the person is healthy and in balance. Blockages within the wheels can eventually lead to physical, spiritual and emotional illness. During a hands-on session, Reiki helps clear out the “stuff” that is stuck, leading a person back to wellness.

Crystals and essential oils can be used in conjunction with Reiki to help enhance a session. For instance, when the throat chakra is in balance, we communicate freely and speak clearly, and allow our self-expression – drawing, writing, dancing – full range. To treat throat problems, Cindy might employ turquoise or chalcedony by placing a small stone on the throat or apply the essential oils, thyme, rosemary or chamomile, to help open up that chakra. Cindy offers a Thyme to Align session that uses a combination of Reiki, meditation, crystals and essential oils to help her clients release what is not needed in their lives and bodies, and leave them refreshed and balanced. To learn more, contact Cindy at (603) 616-8827 or http://www.thymetolearnwellness.com/.

As this was our final evening as a group focused on living healthier lives, we celebrated the occasion and our commitment to “10 Years Younger in 60 Days” with a small party that included healthy food – a wonderful couscous dish – and a treat -- decadent chicken wings – some hot, some sweet and some rubbed -- provided by Innkeepers Ilja and Brad.

We’ll wrap up the program in next week’s blog, with a look at how we all did. Did we meet our goals? What did we learn? Stay tuned.

‘Weekly Party of Four’ Catch up with Friends for FREE on Fridays

A fun and relaxing evening dining out with friends is just the antidote to a busy week of work and family obligations, and every Friday, now through the end of May, Adair Country Inn & Restaurant in Bethlehem, is making it easier than ever to enjoy some special time together. Catch up with friends for free on Fridays: when you make a dinner reservation for four, your two friends receive a 2-course dinner for FREE! Fine New England-style cuisine at a reasonable price prepared by Chef Orlo and excellent service from a staff that wants each guest to walk away with a unique experience is only a phone call away.

Unwind with a glass of wine in our comfortable dining room while you order from the menu that features dishes lovingly prepared by Chef Orlo using in-season, locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy the ambience and warmth of the fireplace on cool evenings, or the alpenglow of the mountains as winter gives way to spring. Ask the innkeeper about Adair’s unique history. Did you know that the Inn was originally a private home — a wedding gift from famous Washington, DC trial attorney John Hogan to his only daughter, Dorothy Adair Hogan, upon the occasion of her marriage to lawyer and WMTW television founder John Guider? Or that Mrs. Guider maintained a lifelong friendship with her childhood friend, the famous actress Helen Hayes? See if you can find the photograph of Mrs. Guider and Muhammad Ali, taken when he visited Franconia College (Hint: it’s in the telephone booth!).

 Once you’ve had a taste of Adair Country Inn & Restaurant’s hospitality, we know you’ll want to return again and again. Call today and reserve your “Weekly Party of Four” table, and enjoy an evening (Fridays 5:30-8:30) of good food, good friends, and a wonderful restaurant experience.

 Adair Country Inn & Restaurant is located right off exit 40 of I-93.  On Route 302 heading towards Bethlehem, take the first turn on the left onto Guider Lane. Prices excluding beverages, gratuity and NH tax. Not valid in conjunction with other specials, discounts, gift certificates or coupons. Call to make your reservation or for more information at (603) 444-2600.   80 Guider Lane | Bethlehem, New Hampshire 03574 | innkeeper@adairinn.com

FULL MOON SNOWSHOE EVENINGS PROMISE FOOD, FUN AND EDUCATION

BETHLEHEM — There’s nothing prettier than a full moon casting its glow on the snowy landscape. What better time to be outdoors breathing in the crisp air and taking in the sights and sounds of winter’s woods and fields? Combine the full moon and a beautiful setting with excellent food and a walk in the woods and you have the Full Moon Snowshoe Evenings offered by Adair Country Inn & Restaurant in Bethlehem, in collaboration with The Rocks Estate, a Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests-owned property.

The full moon evenings begin at 5:30 p.m. with a New England-style buffet in the fire-placed Granite Room at Adair, followed by a moderate guided snowshoe walk on some of the trails of the 200-acre property, with a finale of s’mores and hot drinks around the fire pit. 

“It all started as an idea to have a romantic moonlit snowshoe and snowballed into an eco-experience using the forest,” says Ilja Chapman, innkeeper at Adair Country Inn & Restaurant. “Guests really enjoyed learning about the natural world around them.” 

Rocks Estate Manager Nigel Manley is the interpretive guide for the evening, helping guests learn about forest management and the American Tree Farm System that The Rocks and Adair are part of. The Tree Farm System promotes forest management with an emphasis on water, woods, recreation and wildlife.  

“The combination of good food, a mixture of guests, and an outdoor classroom really makes for a great experience,” says Manley. 

Highlights of the evening include discovering the tracks of fisher, fox, snowshoe hare, deer, squirrels and mice. Guests receive a tracking guide from the Forest Society to take home to use in their own tracking adventures. 

The cost for the evening is $29.95 per person (Forest Society members, $26.95), and reservations can be made by contacting Adair Country Inn & Restaurant at (603) 444-2600. For more information please visit www.AdairInn.com or www.therocks.org.