The Rice House Home Page
Macrobiotic Community of
New Orleans, LA
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Community Description |
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Area Description |
New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana and one of the
world's busiest ports. It is
also a leading business, cultural and industrial center of the Southern
United States. New Orleans
lies along the Mississippi River about 100 miles north of where the river
flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Many
people call it America's Most
Interesting City, and it is visited by several million tourists a
year. Its metropolitan area
population is 1,285,300. |
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Municipalities With Macrobiotic Services Or Activities |
Lacombe, Metaire, New Orleans. |
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Summary and Impressions of the Community |
Wendy LeBlanc brought macrobiotics to New Orleans after she graduated from the Kushi Institute in 1982. Macrobiotics flourished for 10 years until Wendy moved to Boulder, CO. The strong macrobiotic community slowly dissipated afterwards. New Orleans' macrobiotic activity now centers around Phyllis Parun, an experienced teacher and cook. The community activities continue at a relatively slow pace. |
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Macrobiotic Community Assessment |
Moderate Services: 2 counselors & 1
cooking teacher; also 1 occasional visiting counselor.
Macro services started in 1982, but not as a center.
Dormant Activity: Annual
pot luck dinner. Used to be
stronger community |
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Interviewed Macrobiotic Practitioners |
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Phyllis Parun |
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Length of Macrobiotic Practice |
23 Years |
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Community Functions |
Teaching
shiatsu, theory, cooking.
Health counseling. |
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Macrobiotic Study |
Studied
shiatsu with Shizuko Yamamoto, and macrobiotics with Wendy LeBlanc
who preceded her in New Orleans. |
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Alternative Healing Modes |
Shiatsu, Chi Gong, Meditation. |
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Support System |
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Paid or Potluck Dinners |
No. Once a year Phyllis Parun and Claire Renov arrange a potluck dinner. |
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Education Centers |
Phyllis has been
teaching macrobiotics for ten years at the Catholic Church for people over
50--called People's Program--and offers a five lesson series of lectures
called How to Create Disease, at a local coffee house. |
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Seminars |
Teaches macrobiotics at a yoga center at every opportunity. Phyllis finds it more effective to teach one on one than in
groups. |
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Newsletter |
None |
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Support Groups |
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Work Study Program |
Phyllis accepts someone if requested |
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Publications, Books, Cassettes |
Public library has a
good selection of books because Phyllis Parun has requested them. |
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Web Sites |
Phyllis Parun has
a website to promote her needs |
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Natural Food Sources |
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Macrobiotic Restaurants |
Several restaurants have added brown rice to their menu following the publication of Sugar Busters, a book written by two naturopathic doctors. All Natural Foods and Deli offers a macrobiotic dish. There are 5 restaurants with vegan options. |
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Natural Food Chain Stores |
Whole Foods. |
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Independent Natural Food Stores |
Eve's Market, All Natural, Family Health |
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Natural Food Coops |
Phyllis ran one for five years; before she was macrobiotic, Phyllis Parun ran 36 co-ops in her life. |
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Mail Order Buying Clubs |
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Cottage Industries |
None |