Year-Long Journey Culminates In Musical Performance

A festive atmosphere at marked the culmination of a year-long journey into holistic medicine on Thursday night. The journey was called .

A lot of work went into the planning of the past year. Upper St. Clair Library director Helen Palascak and South Park Library director Sharon Bruni began this quest years ago.

Around 2009 when the financial crisis hit, more and more library patrons were requesting information on health issues, economic woes and other basic challenges of life.

It wasn't long after grant applications were submitted funds became available a year ago for the two libraries to stage their Harmony: Mind, Body and Spirit theme.

One gentleman from the West End drove to the Upper St. Clair Library asking who started the program.

"The guy said he had to meet the person who brought in all these life changing materials. I'm completely pain free, you've changed my life," Palascak said the man told her.

Whether you are a believer in holistic medicine or not, you cannot deny the help it gave the man, thanks to materials brought in by a government grant the two library directors worked hard to receive.

"We're hardwired to be in harmony. Our egos...it's what gets us out of whack," musician for Life In Balance, Ami Sciulli, said before her performance with her brother, Steve.

The Sciullis believe in the art of meditation and the overall well-being it helps provide. Just talking to Ami Sciulli is a soothing experience. She has an intentional calming voice, just hearing it begins the relaxation process.

Their music uses different variations of the flute and vibrations from bowls made with Quartz combined with leading-edge computer technology to create long vibrating sounds.

Life in Balance, the musical group comprised of Steve and Ami Sciulli, marked an end to year-long harmony program. It was the 25th event held over the past twelve months between the two libraries. Fortunately, the materials obtained by the grant will remain at both libraries and can be viewed at any time.

More than 1,000 items have been added to each library since the program started. Books, DVDs, music CDs and audio books have all circulated more then 6,000 times.

Topics included in the circulation are reflexology, acupuncture, crystal healing, essential oils, numerology and yoga. 

If you have real need for stress management. A holistic approach to your problem may just be a trip to your local library away. According to the library, it has proven to be a successful approach for quite a few residents during the past year.