Feed your mind and expand your world at the Mind Stage. Nestled under the open sky with relaxed outdoor seating, this is your space to sit, listen, and learn from some of the most inspiring voices in the wellness and conscious living community. With a full lineup of talks covering everything from acupuncture and muscle testing to veganism, microgreens, recycling, the breath body connection, and even the art of the labyrinth — there is something here to spark curiosity in everyone. Drop in anytime throughout the day and stay as long as you like. You just might leave seeing the world a little differently.
Melissa Karasek
Rooted Balance Massage & Esthetics
12:00 pm – Demo and Q&A Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Join us for a deep dive into the lymphatic system—your body’s natural detox and repair network. We’ll explore what affects lymph flow, from modern lifestyles to surgery and injury, and how Dr. Vodder’s Manual Lymphatic Drainage was developed to support healing. You’ll learn how MLD works, when it’s helpful, and when it should be avoided, plus practical tips for keeping your lymph moving day‑to‑day. Includes a live demo of a general full‑body drainage sequence. Q&A to follow!
Dr. Kevin L. Ladd
12:30 pm – All About Labyrinths
The Mind~Body~Spirit Festival welcomes Professor Kevin Ladd for his 2nd year, sharing about “All Things Labyrinths”. Professor Ladd, a Chancellor’s Professor of Psychology at Indiana University South Bend, earned his PhD from the University of Denver and was awarded a degree of Doctor honoris causa from the University of Lausanne for contributions to the psychology of religion. With an MDiv degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, he has served as pastor of both United Methodist and Presbyterian congregations.
Research interests include the interface of science & religion, prayer, wisdom, music, ritual, health, coping, prejudice, psychometrics, physiology, neuroimaging, synesthesia, spiritual transformation, character development, personality, clergy & congregational performance/satisfaction, magic.
In 2024, Professor Ladd and Professor Daniel N. McIntosh (University of Denver) received a $500,000 grant to research the psychological and physiological aspects of labyrinths. The aim of this project is to better understand how walking inside, or finger tracing, labyrinth shapes may serve as relatively simple activities that can promote mental health, along with personal growth.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this grant and Professor Ladd.
Kayla Sweet, MA, SHRM-CP
internally guided
3:00 | Waking Up, Growing Up, Showing Up: An Integrative Path to Real Transformation
Many of us have experienced powerful insights, emotional breakthroughs, or moments of awakening… yet still find ourselves repeating the same patterns. Why? Because awareness alone does not create lasting change.
In this session, you’ll explore the difference between waking up (awareness), growing up (development), and showing up (action). Through an integrative, real-world approach, you’ll learn how to turn inner work into meaningful shifts in your identity, behaviors, and daily life so transformation doesn’t just stay in your head, but becomes something you live.
Robert Easterling
Mystic Microgreens
3:30 | OXIDATIVE STRESS, MICROGREENS & YOU!
I’m sure by now you have heard of microgreens from one source or another. You’ve probably also heard how healthy they are for you and how much nutrition is packed in them. You may have even heard some of the medicinal purposes for them. Certainly you’ve heard about how great they taste and all of the different uses that people have come up for them, but what you haven’t heard is what is the number one negative effect that impacts your body’s every single day. Oxidative stress. We’re going to get into that during this talk.
LeAnna Alwine MSN-Ed, CTBP
Aspasia
4:30 | The Breath–Body Connection: Fascia, the Vagus Nerve, and the Science of Feeling Safe
In this experiential session, we’ll explore the science behind how the body creates a sense of safety… the biological foundation for how we feel, respond, and experience ourselves. You’ll learn how fascia, the vagus nerve, and your breath work together to shape how calm, connected, and regulated you feel.
Through simple, guided practices, you’ll experience how small shifts in breath and body awareness can support greater ease, presence, and stability in everyday life.
This session is for anyone curious about the mind-body connection and looking for practical tools to feel more grounded, present, and in control in everyday life.
