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Those planning Christmas and New Year's celebrations should take a step back as they plan and shift their focus away from food, said Sister Karan Lee, CSJ, the recently appointed assistant director of The Priory Retreat House in Chestertown.

"For any occasion you should focus on the primary nourishment," she said. "Our primary nourishment is our relationships. Try to enjoy these relationships. Be gentle with yourself." 

Sister Karan is a trained spiritual director with an interest in healing through food. While on staff at Our Lady of Grace Center in Manhasset, NY she worked with a holistic health practitioner. She hopes to bring some of her knowledge about holistic health to the programs at the Priory. 

Healing touch
She is also an expert in Reiki, which the Priory's website describes as "a natural, wonderfully healing and relaxing use of energy available to us all for our health and well-being." 

The Priory's director, Sister Connie Messitt, CSJ, said that her new colleague will be training students in the method, which was developed in Japan in the early 20th century. In this widely popular alternative medicine, "healing energy" is moved through the practitioner's palms. 

Sister Karan joined the staff in September. 

Food groups 
Although relationships should be the focus of holiday celebrations, Sister Karan said food is important as well.

"The food we eat supports the way we work," she said. "It supports us as spiritual beings."

She advises serving whole foods. For example instead of serving canned yams serve baked sweet potatoes, as the less a food is processed the healthier it is.

Growing, preparing, serving and eating food can all be spiritual endeavors, she said.
"As Catholic Christians we understand our oneness with God," she said. "We're all interrelated. The way we grow our food shows our care for the environment and leads to healthier people."

She said the staff of the Priory is planning a winter getaway week during February break to help people become healthier spiritually, physically and nutritionally.

Earned appetites
The week will focus on balanced living. Along with spiritual workshops and activities, participants will be able to enjoy outdoor activities like snow shoeing, cross-country skiing and skating. 

There will also be cooking classes that will feature wholesome food. Other workshops will help participants learn to fit dessert into healthy diets, balance cravings and eat seasonally. 

Sister Karan has found that more people are becoming interested in the relationship between food and health. 

"It's becoming more mainstream," she said. "People are becoming more knowledgeable."

She is concerned by the increase in food allergies and food intolerances and conditions like Celiac disease. "We're seeing more food allergies," she said. "These are caused by what we're doing to our food supplies."

The Priory offers numerous retreats, workshops and seminars throughout the year. Examples and topics include Creativity and Spirituality, Wholesome Living, Assisi: A Journey into Nature and Healing the Human Condition.

(For more information on the Priory's offerings visit their website at www. prioryretreat house.org or call (518) 494-3733.)

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