Contributing writers

Dr. Peter Borten became interested in natural medicine at a young age, writing his first report on acupuncture at age 12, acting as counselor to his peer group in high school, and shopping the witchcraft stores of Salem for medicinal herbs as a teenager. He earned his bachelor’s degree in botany at UMass Amherst, and then he moved to Portland to embark on a healing career that would include all of his interests. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – which encompasses herbal medicine, acupuncture, nutrition, qi gong, and psychology – he found what he was looking for.

His insatiable curiosity and a strong drive to help others has kept him working hard. He returned to school to study Classical Five Element Acupuncture (a form that focuses on the psychological and spiritual origins of illness) and again to earn his doctorate in TCM. He has taught at Lewis and Clark College, Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, and the National College of Natural Medicine. He created an online database of Chinese herbs, a collection of clinical resources and videos for practitioners, and has authored hundreds of articles on all facets of health. He has developed several topical herbal products for pain, The Dragontree’s line of herbal tinctures, and, with Briana, the spa’s natural body care products and the Rituals for Living Dreambook. He has a private practice in Boulder, where he enjoys the sun, the mountains, and the company of his wife and two daughters.

Andréa Leckey is the Lead Esthetician at The Dragontree’s Northwest Portland location. Express your inner beauty with radiant skin and book a treatment or consultation with Andrea today by calling 503.221.4123 or visting thedragontree.com

Briana Borten is a wellness entrepreneur and peace engineer who inspires people to live extraordinary, healthy lives and create what they want.

Briana learned early on that she was capable of creating her own destiny. When she was 18, she broke her neck in a debilitating car accident. It derailed her college career, but she unexpectedly discovered the power of positivity and the profound rehabilitative benefits of massage. She attended massage school and established a busy private practice in Portland. But she yearned to create an environment where clients could have a more comprehensive and transcendent healing experience. This came to fruition when, at age 23, she opened The Dragontree.

Meanwhile, Briana attended California College of Ayurveda and graduated as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist. This training and the following years of treating patients stoked her deepening love affair with assisting others to reach their full potential.

Briana has continued to nourish and grow The Dragontree: opening new spas; creating The Rituals for Living Dreambook, a tool to help people achieve their life dreams; writing extensively on personal development, culminating in the launch of Well, The Dragontree Magazine; and formulating a product line that embodies The Dragontree’s principles and aesthetic. Learn more at BrianaBorten.com.

David Howitt is an accomplished entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience providing business strategy and brand counsel to thriving start-ups, small businesses and Fortune 100 companies. The author of Heed Your Call, an integrated business book for entrepreneurs,

David is an inspiring innovator and guiding mentor in the world of commerce.

Always an entrepreneur at heart, David supported his wife, Heather Howitt in the launch of an iconic tea-based product, Oregon Chai in 1994. Within six short years, the brand had spread to forty countries and across five continents.

David founded Meriwether Group, a boutique private equity, business accelerator, and advisory firm that supports some of the most disruptive and recognizable consumer brands. He and the firm are committed to transforming the way human values are expressed through business. Meriwether Group supports universal shifts in commerce by helping founders to “Fulfill their Journey,” as David and most of the team has personally done.

Jadah Sellner & Jen Hansard are two friends and moms raising their families on healthy, whole-food recipes. They’ve seen the amazing health benefits of green smoothies firsthand — from losing 27 pounds to getting more energy than a double shot of espresso. Join their rawkstar community by signing up at simplegreensmoothies.com

Marc David is the Founder of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, and a leading visionary, teacher and consultant in Nutritional Psychology. He’s the author of the classic and bestselling books Nourishing Wisdom and The Slow Down Diet, which have been translated into over 10 languages. His fresh, inspiring and innovative messages about food, body and soul appeal to a wide audience of eaters who are ready for a whole new approach. Marc’s teaching organization, The Institute of the Psychology of Eating, is the world’s only online school dedicated to a progressive, positive, holistic understanding of eating psychology and nutrition. Unique and revolutionary in its approach, the Institute teaches students and professionals how to effectively work with the most common and compelling eating challenges of our times in their internationally acclaimed Eating Psychology Coach Certification Training. The Institute also features cutting edge programs for the public. Learn more at psychologyofeating.com

Anna Doogan is a therapist, writer, dancer, and mama of three. She has a BFA in Dance, an MA in Clinical Psychology, and is a Ph.D. candidate in Psychology. Anna has a certificate in Dream Studies, and was the first Licensed Chakradance Facilitator in the state of Oregon. She has been featured on The Awakened Goddess Show, and her writing has been published at Hip Mama, Mutha Magazine, and The Literary Kitchen. Anna teaches Chakradance, deconstructs dreams, and writes lots of essays and short stories in Portland, Oregon. Learn more at soulwakening.com.

Becca Piastrelli is the woman behind  TheDabblist.com, and she believes in the practice of working with your hands.  Because, when we honor that primal desire to take raw ingredients and turn them into something beautiful, we experience a greater connection and engagement with ourselves and the world around us. You can find her mixing up potions in her little cottage in the woods.

Nisha Moodley is a Women’s Leadership Coach and the creator of Fierce Fabulous Free, The Freedom Mastermind & The Virtual Sisterhood.

Inspired by the belief that the world will be set free by women who are free & sisterhood is key to a woman’s freedom, Nisha creates communities of ambitious women to support them in redesigning their lives & businesses.
After struggling for years as a foodaholic, shopaholic and workaholic, she found her own freedom, and set out to support other women in finding theirs. Today she works with clients through private coaching, mastermind groups, retreats, and online courses.

Nisha is a featured expert on DailyWorth, and has been featured on CNN, Huffington Post and The Daily Love. She writes weekly at NishaMoodley.com.

Emily Rosen is the Director of the internationally acclaimed Institute for the Psychology of Eating where she oversees business development strategies, student affairs, marketing and public relations, and keeps a pulse on the fields of eating psychology and nutrition to ensure the Institute’s position as a leader worldwide. With an extensive and varied background in nutritional science, counseling, natural foods, the culinary arts, conscious sex education, mind body practices, business management and marketing, Emily brings a unique skill-set to her role as a consultant to corporate and professional clientele. She also teaches Dynamic Eating Psychology and Mind Body Nutrition in the Institute’s public and professional offerings. Emily’s passion for health and transformation has provided her the opportunity to speak and present internationally, and be at the forefront of the new wave of professionals who are changing the way we understand the psychology and science of eating. Learn more at psychologyofeating.com

Dr Samantha Brody is a licensed naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, owner of Evergreen Natural Health Center in Portland, OR and curator at GlutenFreePortland.org. When she’s not seeing patients, working on the site or blogging recipes and health tips at DrSamantha.com/blog you can find her educating and writing on health, gluten-free living, and integrative medicine. She’s a powerhouse speaker and has been a featured expert in numerous publications including the Wall Street Journal, Shape, Livestrong, and more. For news, resources and quick healthy recipes connect with Dr Samantha on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for her newsletter and free gluten-free breakfast e-book at www.DrSamantha.com.

Jill, Jessica and Jennifer Emich are the founders of Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place in Boulder, Colorado, where the sisters serve up plates of Paleo, vegan and vegetarian, farm-to-table comfort food made in a 100% Gluten-Free and GMO-Free kitchen.

Laura Hames Franklin is the creator of the Universal Health Principles System and founder of Wholly Shift, a trailblazing online program that helps you tune into your inner wisdom to make sure you’re in sync with your mission, intuition, and stay in the flow through all of the challenges that come up in your life, without crashing and burning. Laura uses her system to work with clients to achieve remarkable results, like tapping into infinite energy, feeling sexy in your body, creating financial abundance, working in your purpose, and living a life leading from your heart and intuition. Based out of Brooklyn and around the globe, Laura makes world class videos on LAHF TV, connecting to thousands of humans all over the planet on a daily basis. When Laura is not in sessions, she can be found in dance class, in Hawaii on a wave, cooking yummy food with friends or snowboarding down a mountain.

Sarah Jenks struggled with her weight for years until she stopped “waiting on the weight,” and finally did all the things that she had put on hold: going for her ideal job and flirting with her dream guy. Her happy lifestyle resulted in Live More Weigh Less, where she helps other women have engaging, meaningful lives full of great adventure. Sarah has been featured in Redbook, Parents, Glamour, Life&Style and Martha Stewart. Follow her on Twitter @sarahejenks and Instagram @sarahjenks.

Michelle Long has a Master’s Degree in Holistic Health Education and has been teaching yoga for 14 years. She is the founder and owner of Bloom Retreat (www.bloomretreat.com) in Walnut Creek, California, where she leads yoga classes and retreats both in person and online. Michelle is committed to teaching yoga honestly by offering small, intimate classes where women are supported to unravel into their true selves. In her signature classes she focuses on building community and connection with raw conversations, journaling, personal growth work, and passion.

Alexis Meads received her M.A. at Harvard University and is now a holistic health and life coach. She founded AlexisMeads.com and CrazyWildLove.com to inspire women to love themselves and create the life of their dreams. She lives in Boston with her fiance and two dogs. She loves to write, read, play violin, hike with her dogs and enjoy a glass of wine with friends.

IMAGES USED ON THIS PAGE: “DOUBLE TOP KNOTS” BY @INHONOROFDESIGN