PHOTOS: Viva Corrales Day 1 a success

Viva Corrales kicked off its first day April 28 with the growers' market in its usual spot and a focus on health in the recreation center.

Corrales MainStreet Executive Director Angela Gutierrez says the day was successful for everyone.

"It was a complete success. It was our first-ever health and wellness event, and it was well trafficked," Gutierrez said.

She added that it gave people a chance to see the new gym in the recreation center.

Sara Osuski from WESST spearheaded the health and wellness event. She said the turnout was better later in the day.

"It went amazing overall. We did have more people come, I would say at least 300-400, throughout the day. All the vendors were happy with the networking and business they were able to do," she said.

The health and wellness event featured several alternative practices, including Morgan Balkcom, owner of EM² Clinic.

"It's a wellness and aesthetic studio in Corrales. I'm just down the road, and we specialize in integrative, holistic and non-invasive beauty services, as well as wellness. We have something called the life vessel, which is a chamber that uses sound-light frequency and vibration to help the body relax and reset the nervous systems," she said.

She added the clinic emphasizes non-invasive procedures and minimal "down-time" during people's processes with them.

"So people can kind of go about their lives. We place an emphasis on the health of their skin and we believe that that's the most important thing," she explained.

She also says people who have come to them with high blood pressure have benefitted from the frequency treatment they offer.

"And people have had improved sleep, more mental clarity and they've had kind of an emotional release to help them process certain traumas or losses. So it's been really beautiful to kind of be part of people's life in that way," Balkcom said.

Also there with her refill business was Lauren Wenderoth, owner of The Village Refillery.

"We just opened up a business in Corrales. It's a refill shop, so we're trying to help serve single-use plastic. People can bring their own containers in and refill from our nontoxic home cleaning products. I also make a lot of the bath and body cosmetic products that are not packaged in plastic," she said.

She added that anything that is typically packaged in plastic, she has something to swap with it.

"We try to help people swap it out in their home for something that is either packageless like our bar soaps, shampoo bars, toothpaste tags, or in packaging that's compostable or truly recyclable," she said.

She also says she doesn't have trouble getting people excited about reusables because people don't consider it a "sacrifice" to get something "beautiful and luxurious."

"We had our grand opening on Earth Day, this past Monday, and it was a really great turnout," Wenderoth added.

Caroline Koons and Joseph Henderson with Village in the Village were also there to promote the senior care service.

"We do PT. We do household visits and help with simple household tasks like changing batteries or feeding the birds, and then we have a bunch of social and educational things that we do for all the members, like the men's group, and a book group, a movie club, luncheons, happy hours and a discovery series, which is really fun where you go and learn about organizations and Corrales, or somebody's trip to Morocco or just interesting things," Koons said.

Henderson says they always need volunteers and are looking for new members.

The growers' market kicked off its season that day as well, and the crowd of people with baskets were eager to get their share of crops.

Everything from corn to jams, peppers and so much more were available and were flying off of the booths and into baskets.

Viva Corrales will be going on over the next month with events and activities each weekend. This weekend will dive into seed planting and gardening.

"The Community Garden at the library was a huge part of our Viva Corrales! celebration last year! Several artists and Corrales organizations collaborated to bring this project to life! Kids were able to plant vegetables with Master Gardner's and create plant markers out of pottery made here in the village. Local businesses partnered with the Corrales Society of Artists and Main Street to make a tile mural with kids in the village, containing some of their favorite Storybook creatures. Join us with your family to help plant this year's garden and come back to enjoy the park," the website reads.