Open to the Public:
Friday, June 27, 2025
Michael Gest and Tad Hanna present:
Natural Light, Biology and Health – Managing Our Light Environment for Optimal Well-Being
LOCATION: Avalon, 6185 Arapahoe Rd., Boulder, Colorado 80303
TIME: Noon – 2:30 pm (doors open at 11:30 am)
COST: $20 cash/check at door
Bring a “brown bag lunch” if you like, and drinks are provided.
NOTE: When you submit your RSVP, you will not receive an email confirmation, but you will see a pop up that says “Thanks, we received your RSVP!”
Abstract:
The evolution of life on Earth was powered by sunlight – and sunlight is still the ultimate source of the energy our bodies use every second. Our daily sleep and wake cycles are regulated by light. Since the advent of electric lighting in the late 1800s, humanity now lives almost exclusively in indoor environments, constantly exposed to wavelengths of light that are mismatched to the way our bodies evolved. Could light environments be a more important factor in health than is currently understood?
In this talk, we will explore the importance of the natural mix of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light, and how this natural light spectrum regulates our skin, eyes, hormones and mitochondria. We discuss the health impact of chronic exposure to modern, narrow-band, artificial light sources. We give pragmatic suggestions for ways to safely be outdoors and absorb more of the sun’s health-giving rays. We question conventional ophthalmology and dermatology recommendations for sunglasses and sunscreen. We suggest lighting strategies for our homes to more closely mimic ancestral environments. We will learn how to improve our “light diet” to minimize the negative impacts of artificial light and maximize our health. We also discuss the cosmological significance of the sun within several esoteric systems.
Bios:
Michael Gest is a lifelong explorer of alternative health, spiritual traditions, and altered states of consciousness. As a “citizen scientist,” he has experimented extensively with the use of biohacking devices and holistic approaches to resolving health issues. He enjoys researching complex cutting-edge topics and translating them into practical lifestyle recommendations, and is now researching optimal aging strategies. He has worked professionally in the horticultural industry and attended Johns Hopkins University.
Tad Hanna has experimented with alternative lifestyles and spiritual systems her whole life. She is especially interested in the Gurdjieff system and the work of Rupert Sheldrake. Her personal health issues led her to study ancestral health and the work of Dr. Jack Kruse, which she continues to explore and practice. She studied Cognitive Science at Brown University to understand how the human brain processes information via neural networks. She is a graphic designer, and uses deep listening and creative brainstorming to help her clients manifest their content online. Tad is also an artist and a writer.