WELCOME

Join our annual Online Macrobiotic Summer Conference, bringing together friends from around the world, learn and get inspired.

Connecting with like-hearted people is made easy by joining the free discussion sessions as well as getting answers to health and food related questions. This connection helps us to center in Love versus Fear. So, let's join together in order to raise our frequency and joy!

We share our knowledge so you can manage your health and get ahead.

Connect & be inspired

More than 25 events:

• over 20 popular teachers will share their latest insights

•  4 days of sharing tips, stories, laughter & interacting with like-minded people

•  learn new recipes to delight your family and boost your energy

•  interact with experienced counselors & medical authorities

•  ask what you like in discussions in between the sessions

•  try new exercises to feel an immediate energetic shift

•  watch a preview of the Spirit of Rice documentary

• And much more…

The conference features cooking classes by excellent international macrobiotic chefs, lectures and forums on a variety of topics.

All sessions will be recorded and available for viewing at your leisure after the conference.

Enjoy the camaraderie, inspiration, exercise and more!

Faculty:

Denny Waxman

Bill Spear

Christina von Dreien (Switzerland)

Dawn Ludwig

Bob Carr (Czech Republic)

Flor Marques (Brazil)

Sonia Jordao (Portugal)

John D. Liu (California)

Susan Krieger

Sheri DeMaris

Amber Maisano

Danka Jack

Alex Jack

Bettina Zumdick and more...

• 20 informative & inspiring events:

  • international cooking classes

  • keynote lectures

  • exercise classes

  • auction and skit

  • twice daily open discussions on any topics you'd like to bring up

  • Michio Kushi Peace Prize Awards

Incorporating suggestions from last year's event, we have simplified and created a more relaxing format: after the Welcome and Orientation Session on Wednesday evening, 7/20, classes do not begin before 11 am, ET, on 7/21, 7/22, 7/23 & 7/24.

Please check out our schedule here!

Get a sense where the world is moving:

• Author and teacher Alex Jack will show you how the health of world leaders impacts their decisions

•  Discover how we can overcome the climate change naturally and pose your questions to leading ecologist John D. Liu

•  Find out how to calm down instantly: learn your Ghost & Spirit Points from an internationally recognized acupuncturist Susan Krieger

• Become inspired about Menu Planning with Bettina Zumdick, a teacher with over 30 years’ experience

• Get a sense of where the world is at today and where it is moving with the interview of an extraordinary young woman, who is always conscious of her multidimensional awareness and her true essential being: Christina von Dreien. She belongs to a new generation who have come here to help move humanity into a new era.

Alex Jack, host, co-director and presenter

In 9 Star Ki, 5 Soil governs war and peace, and World War I and II broke out in years dominated by this energy. 2022 is another such year. As a companion to his Summer Conference presentation on a visual diagnosis of Putin, Biden, Xi, Zelensky, and other world leaders, Alex will look at how the Ki flow will impact global crises in the months to come.

Bettina Zumdick, host, co-director and presenter

Bettina will be sharing a new perspective on the 12 body systems (the reproductive system, the muscles, respiratory, lymphatic, digestive, skin, etc.) during the opening session of our conference on Wednesday, July 20th at 7 pm, EST.

Bob Carr

Advanced Palm Reading

Thursday, July 21st at 1:30 pm, EST

Join Bob in learning about advanced fundamentals of Palm Diagnosis: for example how it relates to the various ecto/meso/ and endo derm layers and why the hand has the form it has. He will also be drawing on information of Palm Reading from the Ayurvedic perspective and Herman Aihara’s in depth teachings and insights.

Bob Carr, currently residing in the Czech Republic, is a long-time macrobiotic teacher, counselor, and shiatsu practitioner. He directed the East West Macrobiotic Center of Cleveland and was a founding director of the Kushi Institute of Germany. He has lectured on most continents and has been actively promoting vibrant health and one peaceful world.

Dawn Ludwig

Cooking Class for Metabolic Health after 40  

Thursday, July 21st at 2:45 pm, EST

As we age, our bodies, mind, and emotions experience subtle changes. In this class, Dawn Ludwig, founder and director of an acclaimed macrobiotic culinary academy, will show you how to adjust our daily menus and recipes as the years unfold.

Dawn Ludwig (the U.S.) is a devoted chef, teacher, and author with a special focus on nutrition and metabolic health. For 15 years, she owned and directed the Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas, which was recognized as a one of the top “Cutting Edge Cuisine” cooking schools in the U.S. Her 25 years of experience working with culinary students, teachers, patients and health care practitioners has taught her what works, what doesn’t, and how to practically introduce tasty, natural food to families.

Bettina Zumdick

Menu Planning

Thursday, July 21st at 4:30 pm, EST

By popular request, Bettina will also be teaching a class on Menu Planning.

What are the basic pillars for creating healthy, tasty and balanced meals?

Aside from the basic structure of Menu Planning, listening to our bodies and beginning to cook and eat more intuitively is another aspect that is very important in upgrading the communication between our body and mind and staying more youthful.

Denny Waxman

I'm a Tinfoil Hat Bona Fide Conspiracy Theorist—or Am I?

Thursday, July 21st at 7 pm, EST

Have you been wondering about the validity of medical studies presented in magazines, television, or online articles? Denny will share experiences from his counseling career on trends in science and medicine that have been questioned or even dis-proven over time, as well as practices based upon traditional healing that have passed the test of time and been verified scientifically.

Denny Waxman, owner and director of the Strengthening Health Institute, is one of the nation’s leading macrobiotic counselors, speakers, and teachers. He is author of several notable books including The Ultimate Guide to Eating for Longevity: The Macrobiotic Way to Live a Long, Healthy, and Happy Life, which he co-wrote with his wife Susan. 

Danka Jack

Cooking Class: Festive Summer Dishes

Friday, July 22nd at 11 am, EST

Are you always looking for inspiration on what to prepare for a special occasion or how to please your conventionally eating friends and relatives? In her class, Danka will show you a few tried and tested recipes to delight your guests, as well as family members, whatever their dietary persuasion.

Danka Jack (the U.S.) is a macrobiotic teacher from Slovakia. Coming from a macrobiotic family in middle Europe, she will present some of her favorite dishes such as mock potato salad that tastes and looks like real potato salad but is made without any potatoes, eggs, and mayonnaise. Try it to see and taste yourself!

Susan Krieger

Chinese Medicine “Ghost” and “Spirit“ Points

Friday, July 22nd at 1:30 pm, EST

Ghost and Spirit Points are acupressure points used to assist in the treatment of mental and emotional conditions. By massaging these points, you can regain the clarity to move forward in new, revitalizing ways. Join in as Susan demonstrates easy-to-treat Self Shiatsu upper body points for releasing old stresses, and memories and pains of body and mind, while awakening your Shen, or enlightened spirit, within! 

Susan Krieger, L.AC. (the U.S.) is an internationally recognized acupuncture practitioner, teacher, and counselor of macrobiotics, Chinese medicine, shiatsu, and other healing arts. She was a pioneer in spreading holistic health and Asian medicine, holistic nutrition, and shiatsu throughout the USA and Europe beginning in the 1970’s. During her more than 40 years of clinical and teaching experience, Susan has helped countless numbers of people strengthen and regain their health.

Amber Maisano

Cooking Class: Roots and Wings

Friday, July 22nd at 2:45 pm, EST

In order to develop our wings to fly and flow in life, we need to be properly rooted. Amber will share recipes to help with grounding ourselves and taking off!

Amber Maisano served as kitchen manager at Kushi Institute for several years and taught cooking and shiatsu in the Macrobiotic Leadership Training program. She was head chef for the 2017 and 2020 Macrobiotic Summer Conference.

Alex Jack, host, co-director and presenter

Friday, July 22nd at 4:30 pm, EST

Diagnosing Putin, Biden, Xi, Zelensky, and Other World Leaders

Applying visual diagnosis, Alex Jack will explore how the health and consciousness of presidents and prime ministers are impacting current events, including the global pandemic, social and economic justice, and war and peace.

Alex Jack (the U.S.) is a world-renowned macrobiotic teacher, counselor, former director of Kushi Institute in Becket and author of many books and publications, including a fascinating series on Oriental Diagnosis and the evolution of history (Spiral of History). Thanks to his in-depth knowledge of Far Eastern diagnosis and penetrating observation skills, he reveals how the constitution, condition, and dietary patterns influenced prominent figures in world history. 

John D. Liu

Restoring the Earth: The Great Work of Our Time

Friday, July 22nd at 7 pm, EST

Is it possible to reverse increasing pollution, mitigate extreme weather, destructive fires, floods, and climate change, and create more abundant food and economic sustainability? Leading ecologist John D. Liu will present you his amazing projects that have been successfully recreating naturally abundant and biologically diverse land in the most devastated areas of the world.

John D. Liu is an internationally recognized ecologist, researcher, and filmmaker, producing films for the BBC, National Geographic, Discovery, and other major studios. John has devoted his life to understanding and communicating about the potential and responsibility to restore degraded landscapes on a planetary scale. 

Over 40 restoration camps, which he founded, work to replace severely damaged lands with rich natural areas and create diverse agricultural enterprises worldwide and a better future for humanity. Use this opportunity to ask him a question!

Mariya Ivanov

Russian Macrobiotic Cooking

Saturday, July 23rd at 11 am, EST

Learn how to make Sorrel Soup, Beet and Carrot Salad, Varnishkes (Bow-Tie Pasta with Buckwheat), and other nutritious and tasty dishes based upon Russian traditional cuisine.

Mariya Ivanov (currently residing in Russia) is an excellent macrobiotic cook. She has worked at the Kushi Institute and served as a pastry chef at the Macrobiotic Summer Conference. She lives with her family on an organic homestead in Russia and is author of Our Daily Soup. Her new book, Russian Macrobiotic Cooking, will be published this summer.

Christina von Dreien

Interview with Christina von Dreien (Switzerland)

Saturday, July 23rd at 1:30 pm, EST

Christina is an extraordinary young woman, in our world today, who is always aware of her multidimensional existence and she has never forgotten her awareness of her true being.

Christina belongs to a new generation who have come here to help move humanity into a new era. And from my perspective, she exudes a tremendous amount of love. Being in her presence is incredibly uplifting.

She convinces with the energy of her true being: love, a high ethic and authenticity, simplicity and at the same time a humorous wisdom that extends far beyond her earthly years of life.

Nicola Good, her personal assistant and co-worker, will translate for her.

Flor Marquez

Colorful Tropical Rice 

Saturday, July 23rd at 2:45 pm, EST

Find out a new enjoyable way from South America how to prepare brown rice, one of the world’s most healing foods.

Energetic Shift Exercises

Thursday - Saturday, July 21st - 23rd at 5:30 pm, EST

Flor’s special combination of Yoga, Qigong, and Reiki movements will allow you to make an immediate energetic shift. In 30 minutes, you will feel relaxed and focused and enthused to enjoy a great day.

Flor Marques (Brazil) is a Kushi Institute graduate, Yoga & Meditation teacher, and renowned Reiki Master, helping people around the globe to heal physically, emotionally, mentally, and energetically. She grew up in a strictly macrobiotic household, drawing upon traditional medicine, knowledge, and philosophy of natural healing through food and lifestyle habits. Her experiences led her to write a popular book on holistic way to treating whole being Unlock the Secrets—Overcome and Rise Above Anxiety and Depression. She is also a dentist and macrobiotic chef.

Abraham Oort

Living on Earth: Recollection of a Macrobiotic Meteorologist

Saturday, July 23rd at 4:30 pm, EST

In this inspiring and heart-warming presentation, a pioneer climatologist, now in his late 80s, will reminisce about his long scientific career and macrobiotic and holistic retirement. Abraham taught at Princeton University and the Kushi Institute and wrote several books, including his new autobiography Living on Earth.

Abraham Oort is a climate scientist and shiatsu teacher. As a scientist at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J., he was one of the first to describe the Earth’s climate and its unexpected, rapid recent changes. In 1999, Bram turned from science to holistic health. He taught shiatsu at the Kushi Institute, studied Buddhist mindfulness and meditation with Thich Nhat Hanh, and continued his quest for personal freedom and a solution to the global climate crisis.

William Spear

Making Lemonade

Saturday, July 23rd at 7 pm, EST

The talk “Making Lemonade” reviews how facing even the most extreme challenges can become exceptional opportunities for personal transformation, growth and enduring resilience.

William Spear is an international macrobiotic teacher and counselor whose clarity, knowledge, humor, and insights continue to introduce international readers and audiences to a wide range of topics including macrobiotics, 9 Star Ki, Feng Shui, the I Ching, personal transformation, end-of-life care, and sustainability. He has successfully guided thousands of people from all walks of life, greeting each with compassion and expertise.

Sonia Jordao

Cooking from Portugal

Sunday, July 24th at 11 am, EST

Soup: Caldo Verde

Dish: Pastéis de bicalhau

Dessert: Leite Creme

Sonia studied at the Macrobiotic Institute of Portugal (IMP) and adopted this transformative way of life that is Macrobiotics. She traded a job of 13 years working as a technical trainer in the insurance area, to dedicate her life exclusively to the study and teaching of Macrobiotics. She also studied with Joshua Rosenthal at the Institute of Nutrition (NYC).

Currently she teaches at the IMP during the Annual and Intensive Macrobiotics Cooking Courses, as well as Nós Escola, a project, that focuses on Wellness, Health and sustainability as well as other cutting edge institutes in Europe.

The practice of Meditation and Yoga has been a fundamental tool in her journey of self-knowledge, and she is motivated to inspire others in their own transformation.

Planetary Health Forum

Sunday, July 24th at 1:30 pm

Planetary Health Forum with recipients of previous Michio Kushi Peace Prize winners: Bill Tara, Neal Barnard, MD, FACC and Lino and Jane Stanchich

2022 Michio Kushi Peace Prize Keynotes

Motivational and inspiring speeches by the most prominent ambassadors of macrobiotic lifestyle and philosophy.

Sunday, July 24th at 2:45 pm

Michio Kushi Peace Prize Recipients:

Milenka Dobic and William Spear

Join in this event of awarding Milenka Dobic and William Spear with the Peace Prize and allow yourself to be inspired by their life, practices, and ideas.

Milenka (Mina) Dobic (the U.S.) is an internationally renowned macrobiotic teacher and nutritional counselor. Her life changed in 1987, when living in Yugoslavia and working as a journalist and broadcaster, she was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer that had metastasized to her liver, bones, and lymph system. Her doctors pronounced her terminal and gave her only two months to live. She decided to adopt the macrobiotic way of life and six and a half months later, Mina healed entirely. After her miraculous healing, she became a macrobiotic teacher and counselor and helped hundreds of people recover from various diseases. She eloquently described her struggles, journey, and dietary and lifestyle changes in her book My Beautiful Life, which continues to inspire thousands of people around the world.

William Spear (the U.S.) is an international macrobiotic teacher and counselor whose clarity, knowledge, humor, and insights continue to introduce international readers and audiences to a wide range of topics including macrobiotics, 9 Star Ki, Feng Shui, the I Ching, personal transformation, end-of-life care, and sustainability. He has successfully guided thousands of people from all walks of life, greeting each with compassion and expertise.
His talk, “Gratitude”, celebrates how embracing this powerful virtue impacts every aspect of our lives, from eating habits to restful sleep. We will look at our perceptions of "how things are" and examine attitudes and behaviors that actually improve our health and well being.

Both of the recipients will present keynote lectures!

Auction and Skit

Sunday, July 24th at 4:30 pm

Auction

Would you like to treat yourself with

·       a unique collectors’ item,

·       consultation for a special price,

·       vintage photograph,

·       historic macrobiotic publications,

·       new health food to enrich your meals,

·       new course for a discounted price,

·       or other exclusive items,

and support our activities?

Your donation may be tax-deductible according to the applicable law.

Join our annual fundraising auction for macrobiotic education and get valuable study and learning materials that you can use during the rest of the year.

Sherry Demaris

The Spirit of Rice Documentary Preview

Sunday, July 24th at 5:30 pm

The future of our health and well-being depends on our continuing relationship to our food from the ground up. As the new decade unfolds, we are proud to present a preview of new compelling documentary The Spirit of Rice. The film will present a captivating narrative of a central food on our planet and its key role in shaping and influencing communities and personal and planetary health.

Plants have so much to offer us, not only in better physical health, but also for the medicinal energies and higher frequencies they bring to our evolving consciousness.

Sheri-Lynn DeMaris (U.S.) is a macrobiotic teacher and cookbook author who has taught at restaurants and cooking schools throughout the United States and Europe. She has consulted with chefs at top-rated restaurants, including the Ritz Carlton and the Williamsburg Inn, and has shared her knowledge with medical professionals at cutting-edge health programs including the University of California San Diego School of Integrative Medicine, and Hahnemann University. She is the host of a TV show on macrobiotic cooking and producer, director, and narrator of Planetary Health’s The Spirit of Rice.