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Macrobiotic Community of

Berkshires, MA

Community Description
Area Description	The Berkshire area consists of several small towns, the most important of which is Becket, the home of the Kushi Institute (KI) It is located in Western Massachusetts, not far from the New York State border. Nearly all the macrobiotic practitioners in the area were connected for various time periods with the KI as staff or students.
Municipalities With Macrobiotic Services Or Activities	Becket, Great Barrington, Hinsdale, Housatonic, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Worthington
Summary and Impressions of the Community	The Berkshire area macrobiotic community was created following the establishment of the Kushi Institute (KI) that has operated at full scale since 1986. It is the premiere center for macrobiotic education. The KI itself provides Americans and foreigners alike an opportunity for macrobiotic education and for personal healing in an idyllic setting for residential courses. KI provides a focal point for people in the area and meals can be purchased by non-residents. Many of the early macrobiotic leaders such as Michael Joutras, Jeremy and Susan Higa, and Ed Esko remain in the area although no longer officially associated with the KI. All the people we spoke to outside the KI have been macrobiotic for ten years or more, and are or have parented a second generation of macrobiotic practitioners. Macrobiotics seems to be firmly rooted in the Berkshires.
Macrobiotic Community Assessment	Abundant Services: Kushi Institute; 5 resident counselors & 3 cooking teachers. Abundant Activities: Kushi Institute macro school; lectures/seminars; KI started full time in 1986.

Professional Services
Resident Counselors	From the KI: Charles Millman, John Kozinski, Michael Joutras, Jeremy Higa and Edward Esko.
Resident Cooking Teachers	Carry Wolf, Bettina Zumbdick from the KI; Susan Higa from Great Barrington
Visiting Counselors and Cooking Teachers	None
Professional Cooks or Caterers	None

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Interviewed Macrobiotic Practitioners
Edward Esko
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	36 Years
Community Functions	Ed is a senior counselor at home, and lectures in many communities. Recent seminars include Austin, TX, Cape Cod, Providence/Newport, and New England in the spring and fall. He has given a series of lectures at the Preventive Medicine Center in Hartford, CT. Ed created the formulas for a natural body care line that he distributes. He is no longer associated with the Kushi Institute (KI) in Becket where he taught and lectured for many years.
Macrobiotic Study	Studied with Michio and Aveline Kushi before the KI moved to Becket. He attended many seminars, lectures, macrobiotic conferences during the course of his long practice.
Alternative Healing Modes	Shiatsu, Acupuncture, Moxibustion.
Jeremy and Susan Higa
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	Jeremy: 18 years; Susan: 15 years.
Community Functions	Susan gives cooking classes 2-3 times a month at home to 5-15 people. Jeremy publishes a Nine Star Ki almanac every year, and lectures. They have a study group with subjects that include Nine Star Ki, macrobiotic philosophy or cooking. Susan and Jeremy are members of the Strengthening Health program staff by Denny Waxman in Philadelphia.
Macrobiotic Study	Susan and Jeremy lived and worked at the KI for four years and completed Levels I, II, and III, and both completed the two year Strengthening Health Program in Philadelphia. Jeremy also studied in Hawaii.
Alternative Healing Modes	None
John Kozinski
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	30 Years
Community Functions	Counselor; teaches at the Kushi Institute. Counsels monthly in Chicago, IL. Also, he counsels consistently in Middletown, CT and is starting a program in North Hampton, MA.
Macrobiotic Study	Studied in a study house on Long Island. Then he began studying with Michio Kushi in New York City. Attended his first conference with Michio in Amherst, MA. Afterwards, he moved to Kittery, ME with Will Berliner--Bill Spear's brother in law--and began teaching and counseling. Afterwards, he returned to Boston and worked with Jonas Skardis as a counselor, shiatsu, exercise and yoga; studied with Bo In Lee for several years. Following this experience, he moved to Middletown, CT as manager, counselor, shiatsu of the Macro Center there. Following that, he lived in Vermont for a year and worked with Blake Gould. Then he lived in a study house and ran the CT macro center for 7 years. In 1995, he moved to Becket.
Alternative Healing Modes	None
Michael Joutras
Length of Macrobiotic Practice	20 years
Community Functions	Counselor. Also, offers Shiatsu massages. Lectures and occasionally offers classes.
Macrobiotic Study	Studied with Michio Kushi and completed all the levels in 1983. Shiatsu graduate from Shizuko Yamamoto's International Macrobiotic Shiatsu Society (IMSS) Masters Program. Certified counselor by MEA. Nationally Board Certified by NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Certified practitioner from AOBTA (American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia). Diplomate in ABT.
Alternative Healing Modes	Shiatsu, Lifestyle and Wellness Counseling.

Support System
Paid or Potluck Dinners	Periodically at a local café. They used to be monthly and attracted between 25 and 40 people. There are no regularly scheduled potluck dinners.
Education Centers	The KI is undoubtedly one of the best macrobiotic schools in the country.
Seminars	Aside from KI events, Jeremy Higa lectures about every 2 months at the periodic dinners.
Newsletter	None
Support Groups	Only as part of the occasional dinner-lecture.
Work Study Program	At the KI; Way to Health and four Levels of study. Jeremy Higa conducts lectures periodically.
Publications, Books, Cassettes	One of the finest collection of books, cassette tapes and videos are available at the Kushi Institute office in Becket.
Web Sites	http://www.macrobiotics.org/; http://www.amberwaves.org/; www.kushiinstitute.org

Natural Food Sources
Macrobiotic Restaurants	Kushi Institute; the dining room is open to the public; 4 restaurants with vegan options.
Natural Food Chain Stores	Wild Oats in Williamstown, MA.
Independent Natural Food Stores	Clearwater Natural Foods in Lenox, MA; Guido's Fresh Marketplace in Pittsfield and Great Barrington, MA; Locke Stock and Barrel in Great Barrington, MA.
Natural Food Coops	Berkshire Co-Op Market in Great Barrington, MA
Mail Order Buying Clubs	None
Cottage Industries	Berkshire Mountain Bakery: organic sourdough breads.

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