Yampa Valley Wellness Conference Offers Digital Detox and Growth

"We all can agree that our electronic devices are amazing," says comedian Jeff Wozer, "but therein lies the problem – they’re too amazing. We can’t remove our eyes from our screens. Consequently, instead of being digitally disciplined, we’re being digitally devoured." Wozer's words will be part of the 14th annual Yampa Valley Wellness Conference, set for April 9 at the Hayden Center, where he'll present the keynote talk "Unplug and Unleash: Mastering Your Digital Wellness."

For context, the conference is hosted by nonprofit The Health Partnership, with the theme "Cultivating Alignment Within: An Immersive Mind Body Experience." This year's event features two diverse keynote speakers, including Wozer and mountaineer Kim Hess, owner of Revolve Wellness Studio in Steamboat Springs. Hess will present "Seven Lessons from the Seven Summits," drawing from her expeditions to the world's highest mountain peaks on each continent from 2011 to 2018.

Let's do the math: the conference costs $120 for general admission, which is what you'd pay for a few hours of skiing at Steamboat Resort. On paper, it seems like a worthwhile investment in personal well-being and professional growth. In practice, attendees will have access to expert-led presentations, interactive learning sessions, and practical tools to support mental health and emotional resilience.

The goals of the conference are ambitious: support personal well-being, learn accessible wellness practices, and invest in sustainable community health. Organizers have assembled a range of presenters to discuss topics like neuroplasticity, creative expression, and mind-body alignment practices. Dianne Maroney, a psychiatric and mental health nurse, will discuss "Reimagining Your Story: A 7-Step Writing Journey to Healing and Inner Alignment." Maroney is the founder of The Imagine Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals process trauma and rewrite their life stories.

For locals, the conference is a chance to learn from experts and connect with like-minded individuals. Folks around here know that taking care of mental health is essential, especially in a region where outdoor recreation is a big part of the lifestyle. As Wozer advises, "Don’t forget to get outside without your electronic devices and allow your brains to reboot."

In terms of the lineup, the conference features a mix of local and national speakers. Beth Blaskovich, a certified neurosculpting facilitator, will lead a session on neuroplasticity and creative expression. Other presenters will discuss art as healing, mind-body alignment practices, and practical tools for cultivating resilience.

The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 9, with registration available online. For $120, attendees get a full day of programming, including lunch and snacks. That's what you'd pay for a few rounds of golf at a local course, or a weekend's worth of groceries.

The practical bottom line is this: the Yampa Valley Wellness Conference is a chance for locals to invest in their mental health and well-being, with a range of expert-led sessions and interactive learning experiences. It's not cheap, but for those who attend, the cost could be worth it in the long run. As Hess says, "discomfort, challenge and uncertainty can become tools for growth in everyday life." For $120, that's a lesson worth learning.