Wellness Blog
Health Inspired
Our health and wellness blog is a great way to stay informed and be inspired when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. Blog posts are added regularly.
Working Through Grief
There’s no prescription for moving through grief, but Ampersand’s Grief Counselor, Lori Kuhn is here to share her tips on working through it, which is something many of us struggle with on a daily basis. Whether your loss (of any kind) is recent or happened long ago,...
A Strategy for Change: Adding More Movement
Why Move More? There are many things a person can do to implement more movement into their life. More movement can be warranted if someone: has a sedentary job wants to burn more calories or wishes to build some strength and stability. Start Slowly Whatever...
Why Celebrate?
CELEBRATE THE DAILY VICTORIES As I get older, I realize how important it is to celebrate. Personally, I'm good at being hard on myself when I do not live up to my own expectations. For example, eating a very clean diet is very difficult for me to adhere to...
Listen to the Voice of Play
LET GO AND LISTEN I used to have this postcard, framed, and hanging on my wall. It’s an early 20th-century black and white photo with a bunch of kids rejoicing at the arrival of snow. They have a palpable sense of abandon, their faces and movement sparkling with the...
Accountability and Fitness
Accountability Accountability may mean different things to different people. A synonym of accountability is responsibility. So what does it mean to be accountable or responsible for your body? I’m going to speak for myself here. If I am responsible for my body,...
Give Yourself a Mental Refresh
Starting over isn’t easy, especially when it is being forced upon you. But the good thing to know is that you can create new beginnings of your own free will anytime you need to. Your mental health is much like clay, it is resilient and malleable to a fresh start at...
The Influence of Social Connection on our Health
Social Connection Social connection is a pillar of health. It is a core psychological need, essential to feeling satisfied with your life. Humans connect by vocal tone, facial expressions, and touch. They connect through word and discussions. They connect through...
The Impact of Meaningful Connection
As an owner of Ampersand Integrative Wellness I am tasked with a blog every month. This month our options were Valentine's Day or human connection. As a single man, who recently just got out of a relationship, I chose to write about human connections. Authentic...
The Joy of New Beginnings
Opening Up to Infinite Possibilities New Beginnings can be full of uncertainty, but they are also filled with joy and possibility. Think about a new career, new baby, new house, a new relationship, or getting married. These are all very exciting moments that open up a...
A Healthy New Year Plan
How many people start a new fitness routine every January? I think a lot of people would answer this question in a similar fashion. As a personal trainer who has worked in many different places, I remember the influx of new members at the beginning of every year. This...
Navigating BIG Emotions
There are so many different aspects that play into our well-being. When learning that this month's theme for Ampersand’s blog posts was going to be “mental health & well-being” I felt excited to write about this topic. This past year has been quite a roller...
Mental Health and the Holidays
Tis' the season Here we are again, another year has passed us by and we have reached back around to the holiday season. Last November, I focused on the holiday season during a pandemic. And while some things may not have changed with regards to COVID-19, this year I...
“I met Jesse in 2014 when he was teaching speed and agility at Body Zone to my girls when they were 9 and 13. He was so in tune with their form and making sure they were doing the drills properly. When he left and started personal training it was a no brainer that we would follow him wherever he went. For the past 5 years my girls have been with him and he has truly become part of our family. My husband and I are so blessed to have him in our lives. We know that when our girls are performing at their best, that he has had a major role in that. Jesse supports our girls at soccer games and track and cross country meets. I even use him to stretch my girls for cross country at Wyomissing High School. We appreciate all Jesse has done with our girls and will continue to follow him in his next adventure.”
"Jesse Hershey is so knowledgeable about how our bodies work. He is a pleasure to work with and my sessions are so effective."
"Whitney was more than helpful in helping me prepare for my first half and full Ironman. She first pointed out issues to address that would allow me to properly absorb nutrients, and then helped me to make those specific changes to my diet. As a result I had more energy for training and gained more lean muscle mass than I ever have in the past. I was successful in both events (including placing 5th in my AG in my first half Iron and 18th in my first full). The help she has continued to provide allows me to be much more aware of how my body responds to what I consume, allowing me to fuel in the best ways that I can. Overall I can’t say enough about what working with her has helped me to do both performance-wise and on an everyday nutrition level."
“I have worked with Jesse for two years and am amazed at my improved strength and overall feeling of wellness and enhanced energy. He inspires me to do more but also encourages rest and recuperation. My golf game has improved as my overall strength and endurance have
increased. I consider Jesse a friend, and am grateful to have found such a knowledgeable and compassionate trainer.”
"As we all know...COVID put a damper on a lot of people's physical / mental health, and both Ariel and I fell right into that category. After we got engaged in April, we made a pact that we were going to get back in shape and be our best selves for the wedding. I heard about Ampersand through a family friend and immediately signed us up for a preliminary meeting with Whitney, where she did a deep dive into who we are as an individual and where we would like to see growth. From there, she built a separate plan for both of us to follow and then scheduled regular check-ins to see how we are doing. Whitney is beyond passionate about her occupation and does an amazing job coaching you through the journey. We couldn't recommend Whitney and the rest of the Ampersand team more!!"
“I met Whitney about four years ago. I had GI issues that were not resolving after seeing a gastroenterologist for about 2 years. I was diagnosed with irritable bowel with constipation. My doctor had prescribed two different medications which were ineffective. There was little nutritional counseling at this practice and I was instructed to avoid broccoli and beans and possibly take an enzyme if I wanted to eat these foods. My symptoms persisted and I was uncomfortable daily. I felt that some of my issues were from food because it seemed to correlate with eating. I just couldn’t figure it out.
A colleague recommended Whitney to me. He said his wife had worked with her and she was feeling much better.
I had a consult with Whitney. She was extremely thorough. We broke down my food intake and then made a plan. She suggested an elimination diet. At first I wasn’t sure I could do it! After 2 weeks I was feeling so much better! At 6 weeks my issues were more improved. I had intolerances that were unknown to me. Once we figured out what was best for my gut, my symptoms went away. I had been on Prilosec for 20 years for reflux and did not need it anymore. I was having regular bowel movements and GI pain and bloating were gone. I learned what was good for me and have felt well ever since. It took work and commitment on my part but with Whitney’s help I felt so much better! It is a daily commitment to eat what is right for me but the reward of a pain free, healthy gut is worth it! I could not have not done this on my own. Whitney’s counseling helped me immensely. I am so grateful I met her and know her!”
“I started to have gastric issues in March of 2020. After a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and a lot of useless tests I was diagnosed with a mild inflammation of the stomach lining. The doctors did not provide a solution. Luckily for me, Whitney George was recommended to me as a nutritionist. With her expertise, knowledge, compassion, and devotion she got me back from 95 lbs. to my normal weight of 108lbs. It has been the biggest challenge of my life. Whitney and I meet on Zoom, she is in PA and I am in NC. She provided me with a wonderful website called Cronometer. There I can enter daily what I eat and do. Cronometer breaks down my food letting me know if I need more or less of something. Based on her recommendations with supplements I got rid of some bacteria the medical systems only treat with antibiotics. Whitney has been holding my hand since May 24th, when I first met her on Zoom. When I panic, she is right there for me via phone or email, late at night or even on the weekend. I am extremely lucky to have her as I have no idea where I would today without her help.
Thank you, Whitney, for being such a caring human being.”
“I have been working with Laural Miller for a few years now. First as a life coach, where she helped immensely in my healing from marriage and continued healing from childhood trauma. She is now my trauma touch practitioner, and has created such a safe space for me to bring even more healing.
If you are local to Berks County and are looking for trauma informed healing, reach out to Ampersand and get in touch with Laural. God truly has gifted her in many ways.”
"The level of experience spread among the practitioners of this building is incredible. I'm able to get my physical therapy, personal training, massage, cupping, nutrition, and my career and goal orientation planning in one place. The best thing about this is that this place is truly the model of integrative health where every practitioner speaks with every other practitioner to give you the best chance for success in ever evolving goals.
I assure you you can't go wrong working with any or all of these individuals! Truly a gift to Berks county and surrounding areas."
Get In Touch
Visit Us
1008 Stinson Drive Leesport, PA. 19533
Phone
Coming Soon
Hours
Appointment Only
Please contact your practitioner