By Jodi Miller Gruhn, CAA’s Wholesome Minnesota Program Director
March 31, 2025
As animal lovers who’ve chosen a vegan lifestyle, we pour our hearts into avoiding harm to animals in every way possible. We meticulously check labels, choose cruelty-free products, and celebrate every new vegan option that hits the market. But in our dedication to animal welfare, we can sometimes forget something very important — taking care of ourselves.
Taking care of yourself includes attending events that support your lifestyle choices and help you connect with others and learn about improving your health. You can discover how to bring balance to your choices and learn the power of your health at the Community of Wellness Symposium coming up April 17-18 in Rochester at the Mayo Civic Center. There is both an in person and virtual attendance option, as well as a Gala dinner!
We at Compassionate Action for Animals and its Wholesome Minnesota program, believe in the importance of this topic and have a history of supporting this event. This year, we will once again be tabling at it. We hope to see you there as an attendee or to assist with the tabling. Just contact me at info@caa.mn to let me know if your interest.
Compassion Meets Balance at the Symposium
If you choose veganism because you love animals — this ethical foundation is important. But if you’re surviving on vegan convenience foods, you may be neglecting your health and might not be experiencing the full benefits of your compassionate choices.
Many of us find ourselves reaching for ultra-processed vegan foods, choosing anything labeled “vegan” without considering nutrition. The truth is, our bodies need whole, nutrient-rich foods to function optimally, regardless of how strictly we adhere to vegan principles. It’s common to put our own health last on the priority list, especially when we’re so focused on making ethical choices. But it’s possible to both keep your principles and eat healthy foods.
Your Health Is a Powerful Tool for Activism
The Lotus Health Foundation understands that compassion for animals is at the heart of your vegan journey. This year’s Community of Wellness Symposium bridges the gap between ethical living and optimal well-being, showing that the two naturally complement each other. When you’re thriving on a plant-based diet, you become living proof that choosing compassion doesn’t mean compromising well-being. In fact, your energy and vitality can become one of the most powerful advertisements for the lifestyle you already believe in. Every time someone notices how well you’re doing on a plant-based diet, you’re silently advocating for the animals you love.
What Is the Community of Wellness Symposium?
The Community of Wellness Symposium is a transformative two-day conference that brings together leading experts in lifestyle medicine. This intimate gathering offers evidence-based education and practical strategies rooted in the six pillars of lifestyle medicine. The Lotus Health Foundation calls these pillars, the “petals of health”. They include nutrition, movement, stress management, sleep, social connections, and passion.
Throughout this two-day conference, you’ll learn from renowned speakers like Dr. Neal Barnard, who brings decades of research on plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine, Brenda Davis, an expert in child nutrition, and many other medical experts from renowned institutions like the Mayo Clinic. These experts bridge the gap between scientific research and everyday living, showing you how simple lifestyle changes can dramatically impact your health.
The symposium combines inspiring keynote talks with interactive sessions where you’ll learn practical lifestyle medicine approaches like stress management techniques and sustainable healthy habits. You’ll connect with a supportive community while gaining the tools and knowledge to feel your best.
Learn From Expert Speakers
This year’s symposium features speakers who truly understand the balance between ethical choices and personal health (you can check out the full line up here). Names you’ll probably recognize include Dr. Neal Barnard, MD, Chuck Carroll from the “Exam Room Podcast”, and Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai aka “The Brain Docs” who will share their expertise on how whole plant foods can transform your health. Other sessions include information about hormonal health, brain health, diabetes, improving your mental health and much, much more!
What to Expect When You Attend the Community of Wellness Symposium
Imagine spending a day that could transform your health journey—not through fad diets or quick fixes, but through proven lifestyle medicine approaches that actually work. At the Community of Wellness Symposium, you’ll learn directly from world-renowned experts like Dr. Neal Barnard and Dr. Ayesha Sherzai, who have helped thousands of people prevent and reverse chronic disease through lifestyle changes.
This isn’t just another health conference where you’ll sit passively and take notes. Each session is thoughtfully designed to engage and inspire you with practical tools for daily life. You’ll discover evidence-based approaches to nutrition, stress management, movement, and sleep—all key pillars of lifestyle medicine that work together to help you thrive.
Experience unique offerings like Sound Healing with Alchemy Crystal Bowls led by Dr. Gail Van Kanegan, where you’ll undergo an experiential transformation from stress to deep relaxation through vibrational sound therapy. Join our Walk With A Doc program, followed by refreshments and an enlightening Healthy Minds Initiative Panel Discussion, where lifestyle medicine experts explore building sustainable, brain-healthy communities using collective resources.
Between sessions, you’ll experience what makes this symposium truly special—the power of community. Over delicious plant-based meals, you’ll connect with others who share your wellness goals and visit with mission-driven organizations like Wholesome Minnesota, a program of Compassionate Action for Animals, who will be sharing resources and information throughout the day. These moments of connection often become the highlight of the symposium, as conversations spark new friendships and support networks that last well beyond the event.
The energy is different when you’re surrounded by people who understand and support your health journey. Whether you’re sharing experiences with fellow attendees or learning about local wellness initiatives, you’ll feel part of a larger community committed to better health.
Choose to attend one or both days (April 17 and 18) in person to fully experience this supportive environment. Can’t make it in person? The new virtual ticket option lets you access all the incredible content from home—either in real-time or at your convenience. Tickets range for $69 for the virtual ticket to $299 for the professional ticket. Pick the option that works best for you. You can also choose to attend their Gala dinner to celebrate together and hear inspiring talks! Either way, participating in the Community of Wellness Symposium, you’ll leave not just with new knowledge, but with renewed motivation and access to a network of support to help you live your best life.
Your Health Is Part of Your Impact
The symposium offers practical solutions for those wanting to feel their best while living compassionately. When you’re energetic, strong, and healthy on a vegan diet, you naturally inspire others. Your vitality becomes a powerful testament to the benefits of compassionate living. People notice when someone is truly thriving and your example can help others see that ethical choices and personal health go hand in hand.
The Community of Wellness Symposium: A Community That Gets You
At the Community of Wellness Symposium, you’ll connect with others who share your values. These are people who understand that animal welfare matters deeply, and that taking care of ourselves helps us enjoy life more fully. The support and friendship you’ll find at this event make the journey easier and more enjoyable.
Your Next Step: Register Now for the Community of Wellness Symposium!
You’ve already made the compassionate choice to go vegan — let’s make sure you feel your absolute best while living according to your values. The Community of Wellness Symposium will show you how to increase your energy naturally and create sustainable self-care practices while staying true to your ethics.
Remember: Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish — it’s an extension of the compassion you already show to animals. The healthier you are, the better example you set for plant-based living.
Ready to feel your best while maintaining your commitment to animals? Register for the Community of Wellness Symposium today. Your future self will thank you (and so will the animals!).
