About Dharma Spirit & Katherine Labonte

 

Katherine Labonte

The journey to becoming an Alternative Health Care Provider is one that is individual, but at the same time, not particularly unique.  It is my understanding that most of us in this field, have come here from a place of illness or imbalance.  I was no exception.  ‘It was the worst of times, it was the best of times.’ This quote gives a small image of the depth of despair illness can bring, and a hint of the wonders that can come from the journey to health.

My youth was plagued with measles, pneumonia, ear infections, staff infections, bronchitis, sinus infections and extremely debilitating menstrual cycles.  The oddity being, between these bouts of illness (every 2-4 months), my constitution appeared strong and above average. 

In 1993, while riding my touring bike, my head hit the pavement at a speed in excess of 45 km/h.  My helmet split in two, and my bike became a mangled knot of metal.  I was so worried about my bike and whether or not I would be able to race in the up-coming half-ironman triathlon, that I did not even consider that I might be hurt.  Even though I had to manually lift my head off the pillow for the next two weeks, the thought did not cross my mind to go see a medical doctor.  A few short months later, things were starting to go wrong.  I was developing restless leg syndrome, I was not sleeping, my legs were becoming painful, my mind was becoming foggy and I was beginning to lack the ability to make clear decisions.  I first gave up swimming, then running, then my work, then biking.  I was eventually  let go of a new part time job.  I was unable to handle any form of stress.

Gradually, I was bed ridden.  My list of symptoms were huge:  migraines (only to be relieved through injections), dry eyes, inability to sleep, severe muscle pain, rheumatism, hypoglycaemia, hypothyroidism, IBS, rest-less leg syndrome, palindromic rheumatism, legs collapsing, hands randomly opening, to name a few.  I did not cook, clean, grocery shop nor could I provide any quality of care for my 5 year old son.  I became very depressed.  I was a type A personality that could not work, could not exercise, was fired from a job and could not even care for her family.  My entire identity was stripped from me.  I no longer knew who I was and wandered what could possibly be my purpose here.

I went to many medical appointments looking for answers.  I was repeatedly told that this was ‘in my head’ and that I was ‘just’ depressed.  It was true, I did become depressed, but it was not the cause it was the result.  Initially I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and then Lupus.  Gradually, after about a year, I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.  It turned into Fibromyalgia after a while.  There were many other subsidiary health challenges that went along with this as well.  A specialist in Edmonton explained to me that my symptomology was similar to someone dying of Cancer or Aids in their last weeks of life.  This was not encouraging.  He also said to me to put my things in order, that I would most likely never work again.  I was 28 years old.  I also went to a research scientist in Edmonton whom I received a report from.   My brain was in fact ‘ab-normal’ (My husband says this is no surprise!) and that the chemistry was different than someone who was healthy.  This was helpful to my sanity, as I would often stand up and forget why I stood up.  My hands would open while holding things, only to watch them fall to the ground.  Knowing that I was not ‘crazy’ gave me a little more inspiration to keep going.  My prayers were only to be well enough to raise my son.

I tried every western treatment for symptoms that was available.  Every drug I tried I had a reaction to.  I could no longer drive and was going to physiotherapy, acupuncture and chiropractic almost every day of the week just to keep my body moving enough to do basic functions such as shower, dress, eat and go to the bathroom.

At this point, I was losing all desire to live.  My son was not eating or sleeping.  He was throwing up and telling other children at school his mom was dying.  It was devastating to watch the life flow out of my son.  Worse, I had no patience.  I was in such pain I laid on the couch all day and cried until no more tears came.  If he asked me a question, or needed my time, I would lose my temper.  At this point, I truly made a pact with God.  I believe it was my first REAL prayer.  “God, you have two months.   If I do not find any relief for my symptoms, then I am going to end my life.  I don’t expect a cure, just for my son to have some kind of mom to care for him.”

Most days, the thought of my son growing up with a mother was enough to keep me going.  However, there were two days during this illness that the pain was so great, I did not feel I could continue.  On those two days my husband at the time brought me hand made clay candle holders when he came home from work.  Finances were in a critical state for us, so this was a big deal.  On those same two days, my dog Jasper stood up ALL DAY so he could rest his head and touch me.  Even walking to the bathroom, he would make sure his body stayed in contact with mine.  To this day, I feel that those two things on both of those days (and they never happened any other day) were meant to keep me going just a little longer.

Then, the first miracle.  I walked into Safeway two days after my ‘pact with God’.  All of a sudden I stopped, made a 90 degree turn and looked at the bulletin board.  This was not something I regularly did.  Right in front of my eyes was a poster for yoga.  It was for beginners.  What was interesting about this is that yoga had never been taught in Fort McMurray for 10 years.  The lady who was teaching had never taught before and had no teaching qualifications other than a desire to share yoga.  Interestingly, I had bought a yoga book one year prior.  I had also spent hours as a teen ager doing yoga poses in the back yard.  At the time I was unaware of what I was actually doing.  She put up the poster the same week I made my prayer!  The very first class I new I had found something.  The movements felt impossible at first, but my pain started decreasing, sleep improved and I was able to cook a meal and fold laundry soon after. 

The second miracle occurred when a woman) that worked with my husband stopped by one day (less than two weeks after my ‘pact’).  She asked me if I was willing to fly to Penticton, stay with her mom (whom I never met) and get colon therapy treatments.  She asked me what I had to lose.  There was no internet.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  I was spending the last of my savings blindly.  After my first treatment I started really sleeping, from 2 hours per night to 4, then 6, then eight.  After one or two more treatments, my restless leg syndrome started to diminish.  My bowels were becoming normalized.  I observed very interesting items come from my colon!  The results from this were unbelievable.  Without these treatments, I do not believe I would be here today.

The third miracle that happened within the first two weeks of my ‘pact’ came from a neighbour.  We had been friendly, but did not know each other well.  He walked over, mentioned that he did hypnotherapy.  He said, ‘I don’t know if it will help, but you are welcome to some free treatments if you wish.’  We had one session, and it was life changing.  I ended up journeying, something that was completely new and foreign to me (or so I thought).  We both heard sounds of drumming in the room, and I had some amazing visions that came to me.  I had no idea this could even occur, so I knew it was not ‘created’ by my mind.  Ultimately, the messages that I received from this were:  1) That I was but a child of the universe, 2) That there was help for me in the spirit world, and that 3) Life was more than I could explain with my analytical mind.  The understanding of these concepts would deepen as I began getting healthier, and began my study of Self.  However, this gave me hope of life not being mundane but amazing, and that maybe the struggle would be worth it.

Through the practice of colon health and yoga, in 8 months I went from not knowing if I could remain alive, to being completely pain free.  Even a health challenge such as dry eye, which is not suppose to be able to heal, is no longer a problem for me.  There was no choice to be made.  I knew I had to learn as much as possible about holistic health care and share it to the world to the best of my ability.  GRACE is the only word that can explain this, and the many ‘little’ miracles and experiences that have happened along the way, that are just too numerous to discuss here.  The process of health to illness and back to health again was a gift.  It was a gift that brought me to a deep understanding of the interconnections of the mind, the body and the spirit. That in order to have full and complete health, one must look at all parts of a person to help them come to a place of wholeness.

Life now is full and complete.  I work full days, back pack, run for hours in the mountains and so much more.  Family life could not possibly be any more rewarding or loving.  I do not believe that many of the ‘miracles’ in my life were accidental.  I no longer survive life, but I am life.  I am home!

[Back to top]

 

 

Katherine's Credentials

Colon Hydrotherapy

  • I-ACT - Member
  • I-ACT – Foundation Level
  • I-ACT – Intermediate Level
  • I-ACT – Advanced Level
  • I-ACT – Teacher Level
  • I-ACT – Ambassador Training
  • NBCHT – National Board of Colon Hydrotherapy Certification
  • Western Canada Regional Representative

Mind / Body / Spirit Work

  • Usui Reiki Master
  • Karuna Reiki Master
  • Certified Master Hypnotherapist
  • Registered Jin Shin Do Acupressurist
  • Certified Advanced Foot Reflexology
  • Certified Hand Reflexology
  • Certified Advanced Aromatherapist

Nutrition

  • Certified Applied Holistic Nutrition – Edison Institute of Nutrition
  • Certified NCP – Nutritional Consultant Practitioner
  • IONC member – International Organization of Nutritional Consultants
  • Certified Iridologist - IIPA
  • Sclerologist  - Advanced Training, Dr. Leonard Mehlmauer
  • Certified Applied Live-Cell Nutritional Microscopist

Yoga

  • YAA Certified – Yoga Association of Alberta (2 year)
  • SOYA Certified – South Okanogan Yoga Association (2 year)
  • IYTA Certified – International Yoga Teacher Association (2 year)
  • SIV Certified – Sivananda (1 month residential)
  • SIVA Certified – Sivananda Advanced (1 month residential)
  • ERYT500 – Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, Yoga Alliance
  • Teacher Trainer – SOYA and Yoga Alliance
  • Ashtanga Primary Series Teacher Training – Rockne White
  • Ashtanga Primary Series Teacher Training – David Swensen
  • Ashtanga Second Series Teacher Training – David Swensen
  • Restorative Yoga Certification - Evenlyn Neaman
  • Maternity Yoga Certification -Janice Clarfield
  • SOYA Yoga Philosophy Studies (18 months)
  • SOYA Advanced Yoga Philosophy Studies (8 months)
  • Ayurvedic Study – Dr. David Frawley (200 hours)
  • Vedic Astrology – American Institute of Vedic Studies (200 hours)
  • Trained with Richard Miller, Mukunda Styles, Donna Farhi, Donna Holeman, Manju Jois, David Swensen, Rockne White, Margo Balog.

Post Secondary

  • B.Ed. – Mathematics Major, Physics/Chemistry Minor

[Back to top]

 

 

Dharma Spirit

Dharma Spirit has been in operation since 1994.  It initially offered weekly Yoga classes and Aromatherapy massage.  However, with Katherine’s renewal of health, came a strong passion and desire to learn.  Over the next few years, she continued certification in the following:  Advanced Foot Reflexology, Hand Reflexology, Master Reiki, Master Karuna Reiki, Yoga Philosophy, Vedic Astrology, Ayurveda, Yoga Teacher Trainer, Colon Hydrotherapy, Angel Therapy, Jin Shin Do Acupressure, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Iridology, Sclerology and Nutrition.   The numerous trainings provided Katherine with a focus and mission.

Above: The Dharma Spirit School of Holistic Health.

Dharma Spirit’s mission is to provide the best possible up to date Holistic Health Care for all people.  Whether you want to optimize your health and energy, be pro-active towards family hereditary markers or deal with a pre-existing chronic health challenge, this is the place for you.  Holistic Health Care can help you regain lost energy.  It can help you make sound nutritional, cleansing and life-style choices to decrease the chance suffering from the same health challenges as family members.  Lastly, if you are suffering from a chronic stubborn health that you have not had success defeating, perhaps now is the time to try a whole new approach.  Katherine did, and it not only saved her life, but gave her a quality of life she did not even deem possible!

At Dharma Spirit, the first step is to determine any current nutritional imbalances in the body.  This can be done through: 

  1. Nutritional Analysis
  2. Live-Blood Microscopy
  3. Iridology
  4. Sclerology

Each form of analysis tells the client and the practitioner something unique.  The Nutritional Analysis is good for determining if there are any specific nutritional needs that are not being met in the body at this time.  The Live-Blood Microscopy lets us know the immediate condition of the terrain in the body, specifically the blood.  The can help determine life-style and dietary changes, and will also help determine some of the supplements required.  Iridology can determine our genetic markers.  Sclerology can show if there are any current happenings in the body such as neoplasm, even before any symptoms have begun.  Thus, we have a whole picture of what is required for optimal health.  Once we determine genetics, current nutritional needs and current status of the body, the next item is to start a detoxification program for the body.  A person can skip this step, and just go right to step three, supplementation, diet and lifestyle.  However, if the body is not cleansed, the supplements will not be completely absorbed.  And, instead of nutrients entering the blood stream, toxins are.  Thus, all the cleansing organs:  skin, liver, lungs and kidneys are being over worked.  This leaves the possibility of dis-ease.  In conclusion, the second step, detoxification is critical to complete success.

Dharma Spirit also recognizes the roll of emotions, the mind and spirit in relation to health.  With Katherine’s experience in acurpressure, Reiki, yoga teacher training, clinical hypnotherapy, and personal recovery she can help guide one towards tools that may help one forgive, release, and create room for joy.  This completes the picture of complete and total health.

In addition, Katherine Labonte has personal experience with colon therapy for 15 years.  She has been working full time in this field for over 7 years.  She has earned all levels of certification from IACT (International Association of Colon Therapists) – Foundation, Intermediate, Advanced, Teacher, National Board and is Regional Representative for Western Canada.  Click here for more information on Colon Hydrotherapy.

[Back to top]

An Andrew Johnstone Design