Around Station Place

Text By Ruth Melville
Photo Courtesy of The Healing Nest

In the two years since Dianna Hofer took a leap and opened the Healing Nest in Station Place, she’s faced several challenges in running her fledgling business. The pandemic was a major one, of course, but also life intervened. She decided to accept a full-time teaching position at Barkhamsted Elementary School for the 2021/22 school year, and she had family obligations that required her time and attention. Nonetheless, she says, she’s loved being in her new space and the opportunities it gives her to connect with like-minded people. Now she’s eager to reenergize her business with a series of new classes, workshops and therapy sessions.

Hofer’s particular practice is in hypnotherapy, shamanism and past life regression, but since opening her studio, she has steadily gathered a group of practitioners who work in complementary disciplines. Nancy Monk is a medical Reiki Master (reiki is a hands-on, energy healing technique) who works in hospitals with pre- and postsurgical patients. Amy Wolff is also a Reiki Master, specializing in animal reiki. Karen Henry is trained in both reiki and reflexology, a system of massage to relieve tension and promote healing; and Tim Mayock offers personalized yoga instruction. Hofer is currently looking for a good massage therapist to add to her team, and sound therapy is another area she’d like to explore.

As part of her effort to increase awareness about the programs available at the Healing Nest, Hofer took part in this winter’s Weekend in Norfolk. She did 10-minute, three-card Tarot readings, using her favorite Vision Quest deck, which uses images based on Native American themes, while Monk and Henry did 15-minute reiki sessions. “It was very successful,” Hofer says. “We were busy the whole time, and people loved it.”

Also, in early April Monk and four of her graduating reiki students offered half-hour reiki sessions at the Hub. The sessions were free, but participants were encouraged to give donations to the Norfolk Food Pantry.

Hofer has a lot more activities planned for the spring and summer:

On Thursday, May 4, Monk is teaching beginner meditation and reflection, from 6 to 7 p.m. And on Saturday, May 6, she will conduct a Level 1 Reiki Training class from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are no prerequisites to take this class. To find out about fees and registration, contact her at nancyamonk@gmail.com or 203-685-2104.

On Saturday, May 13, Hofer will be leading a group past life regression session from 4 to 6 p.m. at Be Well Community Yoga in North Canaan, with donations going to the Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry. Register at bewellcommunityyoga.com/workshops, or contact the Healing Nest at 413-441-5324 or healingnestnorfolk@gmail.com.

On May 21, Sunday, from 2 to 5 p.m., Hofer is planning a Healing Nest Fair with psychic Lynn Krauss, from Granby. Events will include Hofer’s 10-card Tarot readings, and Monk’s chair reiki sessions. There will be a fee to attend the fair. To schedule an appointment with Krauss, Hofer or Monk, call or email the Healing Nest.

More possibilities down the line include free demonstrations of reflexology and animal reiki at the Hub, and perhaps some sound events, such as a gong bath. Monk’s group guided meditation that had to be canceled because of the March snowstorm has been rescheduled for Thursday, May 4, at the Healing Nest. Information about all upcoming Hub events will be available on the Hub and the town websites.

“It’s been an enjoyable journey,” Hofer says about the past two years, “and I’ve learned so much.” As a special promotion, she is offering 20 percent off all booked services until the end of May. The Healing Nest has Sunday open house hours from 2 to 5 p.m.