Ah-Ha

By Carol Maloney, Well and Wonder Studio Owner

It all started with a sick lizard.

My 7-year-old son had a bearded dragon lizard that suddenly stopped being active. I called the vet.

“It’s the pesticides”, she said. “All the vegetables you feed Beardie need to be pesticide-free. And make sure the crickets are getting the same thing before you feed those crickets to the lizard.”

That was this mother’s ah-ha moment; sick crickets make a sick lizard. For the first time in my life, I started shopping the organic section of the supermarket, feeling silly since it was expensive shopping for a pet lizard!

Beardie returned to his happy behaviors. I was left wondering about what I was eating. And what food was my food eating? This is when my wellness journey began.

More than a decade later, Covid hit. In 4 months, I was laid off from four jobs, a full-time radio show, and 3 side hustles. A 20-plus-year broadcast career now suddenly over. I fell into unhealthy habits. A lot of couch-sitting, wine and whine filled my days. The uncertainty of the world made it extremely difficult to even fake a smile. The news cycle I had once been a part of now gave me severe anxiety. I am sure I am not alone.

Yoga and breathwork helped me control my frayed nerves during the day, but what about those sleepless nights? I was waking up suddenly and in a panic. I had my first panic attack. I called therapists who were overbooked and couldn’t see me. My doctor and many friends suggested Xanax or Ambien. That little blue pill made it in my hands. and it was awesome… BUT while I slept thru the night, I always woke up feeling off and low. And needing more. I started to research natural sleep aids, and this is when my cannabis journey began.

Cannabis has had a bad rap. Most people mistakenly assume all cannabis describes the stereotypical marijuana plant that inspires stoner behavior: snacking, giggling fits, and couch-lock. But 17 states and DC have legalized recreational cannabis use and studies are proving those states have the lowest numbers of prescriptions written for depression, pain and anxiety. Cannabis can also rightly be described as hemp, the only difference being hemp plants have only traces of the compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which produces the psychoactive high.

Hemp has been federally legal since 2018. It’s also the hottest trend in wellness. Studies are continuing to prove many therapeutic benefits to hemp use including natural ways to destress, a natural anti-inflammatory, natural anti-anxiety, and a natural pain reliever. Calm your anxiety, elevate your chill, sleep thru the night with help from a non-addictive plant, cannabis might be the best thing ever. No wonder it’s been around for centuries. But while CBD is federally legal, it’s not regulated. So consumers need to be diligent. Proactive. Research. Homework.

Knowing where your products come from, what exactly is in them, and how much to take is the modern day trick. AND WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT?!!

I tried a CBD tincture. Within a week of daily dosing, I was sleeping thru the night with no side affects. I tried a hemp muscle rub. Took the edge right off my balky shoulder. I meditated after ingesting a stress relief gummy. GAME CHANGER!! I was shocked. No unwanted side effects!! No cravings. I could smile again. For real. I knew we could help others.

And that is when my Well & Wonder journey began.

Yoga for HEAL, HANG for connection, HEMP for natural help, leave HAPPY.

Heal, Hang, Hemp Happy. It’s a one of a kind wellness center.

Yoga, meditation, sound baths, events- all curated to calm down our nervous system- all taught by the area’s best instructors. Offer cannabis advising to help customers find the product and the perfect dose to get them thru the day and promote sleeping thru the night. Everything is third-party lab tested. At Well and Wonder, knowledge is at the core of our wellbeing. Together we can find ways to ease the mind, body, and spirit. We hope you join our journey.