2/28/2010
By GARY DEMUTH Salina Journal

Working at Natural Connections is not just a job for Leia Brooks -- it's a crusade.

While she has to promote vitamins, herbs and wellness services to help the store stay in business, Brooks says she's not there to sell customers a bill of goods.

"I care about people's health," she said. "I'm interested in helping them feel better."

The store, owned by Betty and Frank Russell, offers a large selection of vitamins, minerals, herbs and oils, as well as alternative health and wellness services that include iridology (the study of the iris of the eye to gather information about a person's health), aromatherapy, magnetic therapy, ear candling, foot spa therapy, reflexology and massage therapy.

Among her many jobs at the store, Brooks sells vitamins and other health products, writes and mails promotional materials, and does foot spa therapy.

Often, customers don't know exactly what kind of supplements they want to purchase when they come in the store, Brooks said. It's up to her to talk with them, find out their symptoms and help lead them to the best treatment.

"A person will come in and say, 'I have trouble sleeping -- what can I take naturally without a prescription?' " she said. "I'll listen to them, let them talk about what's going on in their lives, and then I can direct them to what may benefit them the most."

Brooks, a graduate of Glasco High School, has had a long history with Natural Connections.

She first worked at the store from 1997 to 2000, then left to become a full-time student at Brown Mackie College. She graduated from Brown Mackie in 2002 with a business management degree.

It was illness that brought Brooks back to Natural Connections in November 2008.

"I had gotten fibromyalgia and a heart condition, so I came to talk to Betty about things I could do to get better," Brooks said. "They needed extra help at the store, and they knew I had the experience."

Although she had been away from the store for eight years, Brooks felt like she was returning home.

"I truly believe in what we do here," she said. "I was so excited to feel better after being ill but doing it with all natural ingredients. I wanted to share that with others."

Those others also included her three daughters, son and three grandsons, all of whom take vitamin supplements, Brooks said.

"We have a whole children's line here," she said. "It's never too early to start being healthy."

Brooks said she learned a great deal about health and holistic treatments from Betty Russell, who gives lectures and seminars on alternative health throughout the U.S. and has a radio show each Sunday morning on KSAL Radio.

"Betty has taken me to health seminars, so it's just constant training," she said. "There's a lot to learn out there."

Brooks hopes to follow her mentor's footsteps and give seminars on the subject she feels most passionate about -- natural health.

"More and more people are turning to natural health alternatives to feel better -- I see it every day," she said.

nReporter Gary Demuth can be reached at 822-1405 or by e-mail at gdemuth@salina.com.

NAME: Leia Brooks

AGE: 39

OCCUPATION: Employee at Natural Connections, 1217 S. Santa Fe

YEARS ON JOB: 4 during a 13-year period

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