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 Why Colorado needs the Chillax Om Foundation Wellness Hour Program

Colorado has ranked among the two worst states in the nation for prevalence of mental illness for two consecutive years, and ranks 50th worst for adult substance abuse of alcohol and drugs (Mental Health America, 2025). Despite ranking comparatively better for access to care, residents consistently report that confusing insurance coverage and the high out-of-pocket cost of traditional therapy — ranging from $0 to $150 per session — cause many to delay treatment until they reach a crisis point.

The Chillax Om Foundation’s Wellness Hour program directly addresses this access gap by offering free, walk-in group auricular acupuncture using the NADA protocol — a treatment method recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense as having “good quality” evidence for treating PTSD, anxiety, depression, and addiction-related symptoms, and used in formal psychiatric training at institutions including Yale School of Medicine.

Since relocating to Evergreen, Colorado in October 2023, the Foundation has delivered over 250 free treatments annually to local residents, with particular demand from Veterans, First Responders, and community members managing chronic stress, anxiety, and trauma — confirmed by direct community engagement data showing educational content on these specific conditions receiving 300% higher engagement than other outreach material.

By removing the cost and insurance barriers that the data identifies as the leading cause of delayed care in Colorado, the Wellness Hour program offers a scalable, evidence-informed model for addressing the state’s mental health and substance use crisis at the community level.

Every donated dollar adds up and provides the gift of wellness to those in need.

A community acupuncture treatment can be provided for a Veteran for just a $15 donation.

Together all of our dollars help more people find health and wholeness at our FREE Ear Auricular Acupuncture with Ear Seeds Acupressure and Low-Cost Sliding Scale $30-$50 Community acupuncture clinic sessions.

Walk-Ins are welcome:

• Free Auricular Ear Community Acupuncture & Body customized community acupuncture $30-50 sliding scale suggested donation
• Available weekly Sat 1p-5p at Chillax Om Clinic in Downtown Evergreen at Evergreen Lake, 4600 Plettner Ln, 1C, Evergreen, CO 80439. 
• Provided by our 501c3 Charity Chillax Om Foundation and all donations fund this program to our community. 
• Attendees also enjoy 20% all of our self care tools, natural skin care, bath and teas. 

Our Mission — The work of Chillax Om Foundation, Inc., 501c(3) Non-Profit

Chillax Om Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to making integrative, natural healthcare accessible to everyone — regardless of ability to pay. Founded in 2021 by Dr. Andrea Renee, DACM, LAc., a licensed Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, our Foundation provides free weekly group acupuncture, breathwork, guided meditation, and self-care training through our signature Wellness Hour program.

We serve Veterans and First Responders managing PTSD and chronic stress, teachers and healthcare workers facing burnout, seniors seeking relief from chronic pain, and any community member who cannot otherwise afford care. Every $15 donated funds one full treatment for a neighbor in need.

Since our founding, we have delivered over 1,000 free treatments, including 250 in Evergreen, Colorado in 2025 alone. In response to the EHS shooting in our community, we also launched a dedicated weekly healing circle for those affected by trauma and grief.

We believe healing should never be a luxury. Through donor support and community partnership, Chillax Om Foundation is building a future where natural, evidence-informed healthcare is within reach for all.

Why the Wellness Hour Works — The Science

The four practices in every Wellness Hour — NADA auricular acupuncture, yoga, mindfulness-based breathwork and meditation, and medical qigong — are each supported by peer-reviewed clinical research published in respected medical journals including JAMA Internal Medicine, Psychiatry Research, Frontiers in Neuroscience, and BMC Complementary Medicine.

Key findings from the research:

• NADA auricular acupuncture has been shown in a randomized controlled trial to reduce anxiety, depression, and substance use while improving quality of life and employment outcomes — with the greatest benefits for high-risk participants including those with trauma and criminal justice involvement. (Carter et al., 2017, Behavioral Sciences)
• Yoga (Kundalini, Hatha, and trauma-sensitive styles) significantly improved PTSD and depression symptoms across 20 randomized controlled trials in a 2024 meta-analysis. (Nejadghaderi et al., 2024, Psychiatry Research)
• Mindfulness meditation produced clinically significant reductions in anxiety, depression, pain, and stress across 47 randomized controlled trials and 3,515 participants. (Goyal et al., 2014, JAMA Internal Medicine)
• Medical qigong significantly reduced anxiety (SMD = -0.75) and stress (SMD = -0.88) compared to wait-list controls across seven randomized controlled trials. (Wang et al., 2014, BMC Complementary Medicine)

These practices work through a shared biological pathway: activating the parasympathetic nervous system — the body’s natural rest-and-recovery state — which reduces cortisol, decreases craving and pain responses, and restores emotional regulation. This is the same physiological mechanism disrupted by trauma and chronic stress, and restored by each of the four practices in the Wellness Hour. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CLINICAL RESEARCH