Musician, storyteller brings Aloha Spirit to Tryon

Published 2:03 pm Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Kaleo Wheeler, musical storyteller, workshop leader and speaker, has just relocated to Tryon and said she couldnt be happier.

Ive been a bit of a gypsy for the last few years, looking for a place where I felt I would want to put down roots, said Wheeler.&bsp; And from my first visit to Tryon, I immediately felt the sense of community and how warm and friendly everyone is. The choice was obvious to relocate here. &bsp;

Wheeler shares the philosophy of living the Aloha Spirit, a way of life she said incorporates love, forgiveness, gratitude and blessing as a way of empowering people to live their best lives.

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She has already kicked off her performance career in Tryon with a holiday concert at Marilyns Melrose Inn in December. She will be continuing her collaboration there through a musical salon on the fourth Sunday of each month where she will be performing with a guest artist. &bsp;

Wheeler has been sharing her songs and dance since her teens and has been a professional artist and musical storyteller since the 70s. She has traveled extensively to Hawaii where she studied traditional hula and sacred chants. Although her passion is the talk story of Aloha, she also enjoys other types of music, performing everything from contemporary pop to show tunes in all different types of venues. &bsp;

Through the HeartFull Connections Center, she facilitates workshops and classes, especially to help women work through fears, struggles and vulnerabilities while better dealing with stress and real-life issues.&bsp; Through Free Your Voice Free Your Self, participants experience the uniqueness of their own voice, developing better communication skills to elicit respect and influence others.

Wheeler also teaches traditional Hawaiian Hula an ancient form of storytelling and an energy dance similar to the Chinese Tai Chi that is fun and helps to balance the body/mind/spirit. She said she is excited to be sharing both of these trainings with the Tryon community starting later this month. &bsp;

Kaleo is also a Certified Music Practitioner through the national Music for Healing and Transition Program. This is not performing. She has been trained to play live therapeutic music at the bedside and specializes in helping people who are actively dying, babies and Alzheimer/dementia patients.

Kaleo Wheeler can be reached at 828-859-8393, by e-mailing kaleowheeler@gmail.com or by visiting www.kaleowheeler.com.