Every month Oxford residents Jerry and Tracy Neale promote the virtues of cleaner, better living that starts in the body and extends to the globe.
‘People need to stay healthy,? Jerry Neale said. ‘We can show them ways to do that that are affordable.?
Since April 2004, the Neales have locally published Natural Awakenings, a monthly magazine that centers around healthy living in all of its forms.
Based in Naples, Florida, Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. The free publications are available in more than 40 communities nationwide and read by approximately 1.5 million people.
Health, fitness, nutrition, organics, green living, natural pet care, personal growth, creative expression ? these are the topics the Neales? two monthly editions of Natural Awakenings bring to 81,200 health-conscious readers in the northern Detroit suburbs and the counties of Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair, Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer and Shiawassee.
‘People will learn new ways to lead a healthier life-style by reading our magazine,? Neale said. ‘In a nutshell, that’s what we’re all about.?
The magazine can be found free of charge at 1,030 distribution points. Locally, you can pick up a copy at Oxford Bank, Paul’s Barber Shop, the Oxford Post Office, Head to Toes and various chiropractors? offices.
Neale, who’s lived in Oxford since 1979, said their magazine helps ‘bridge the gap? between conventional medicine and other forms of health care, which are often called natural, alternative or complementary.
‘Up until we came along there really was no publication dedicated to that niche,? he said.
Complementary health care is becoming ‘very popular? as many conventional practitioners are now utilizing what were once considered ‘alternative modalities? like massage, hyperbarics, acupuncture and reiki, according to Neale.
‘Five years ago, things like that were considered way out there,? he said. ‘Now, it’s really being accepted and used in places like hospitals and cancer care centers.?
Blending these types of treatments with conventional medicine’s ‘unbelievable diagnostic capabilities? only benefits patients in Neale’s opinion.
Prior to Natural Awakenings, Neale had absolutely no experience in the magazine business.
‘I spent 15 years with Art Van furniture. I was a manager there,? he said. ‘Publishing wasn’t something I was looking to do.?
It was Neale’s interest in martial arts that eventually led him to Natural Awakenings.
‘About 10 years ago I started training in martial arts,? said Neale, who’s now a third-degree black belt. ‘I got very healthy and fit, and I loved sharing how I did it with people. I decided that’s more in line with what I wanted to do with my life.?
But when he started looking at career options, he didn’t find much that would allow him to promote healthy living on a full-time basis, yet still pay the bills. That’s when he and his wife ‘stumbled across? Natural Awakenings and the rest is history.
Today, the magazine is truly a family affair. Neale oversees sales, his wife Tracy (an Oxford resident since the late 1960s) handles all the bookkeeping and administration, and their daughter, Meagan, does the layout while studying graphic design at Mott Community College.
The Neale’s also have working for them two sales representatives, an editor and ad designer and five people who distribute the two editions.
In terms of content, the magazine is about 70 percent local and 30 percent national, according to Neale.
Each month readers will find a variety of articles and features, news briefs (local and global), a calender of community events and advertising.
With so much information available on the internet, Neale said it can be overwhelming for the average person to sort through it all and figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Natural Awakenings tries to ‘boil down? this mountain of information and ‘make it easily accessible? for people ‘to help them make better decisions about their life-style.?
When they’re not publishing their magazine, the Neales run their own company, Michigan Healthy Living Enterprises, which puts on four healthy living expos a year in Oakland, Macomb, Genesee and Lapeer.
‘We’re looking at doing a fifth in Brighton,? Neale said.
Depending on the size and location, these healthy living expos can feature anywhere from 30 to 100 exhibitors and welcome between 300 to 1,400 visitors a day.
‘Some come and stay all day,? Neale said.
Neale admitted ‘being in business for yourself is challenging at times and not for the faint of heart,? but enjoys being in charge of his own destiny.
For more information about Natural Awakenings magazine visit (locally) www.michiganhealthyliving.com or (nationally) www.naturalawakeningsmag.com.