arm Katharine Hamer Contributing Writer BRENT Pontoa wants you to imagine you're on a secluded beach at sunset, watching the waves gently undulating and the sky turning scarlet. Penton, who's from Victoria, is on a meditative mis- sion with his Karma Cleansing Kit. The kit consists of a fold- Out panoramic picture (options include a Costa Rican sunset; a tropical forest; and Yukon Mountain scenes); a tealight candle and an instruction booklet. The idea is to place the C energy candle in tront of the photo- graph and imagine oneself transported to the location pic- tured. “J never thought such a simple idea could sell so weil,” says Panton, who has been ser- ting up display stands of the kit in stores across Vancouver Island. Zellers, who carry the displays at the front entrance of their Island stores, have given Ponton permission to con- struct. a stand in their Lynn Valley branch. Porton is hoping that other retail outlets in the region will give him a chance to enlighten customers too, and is looking for more esoteric outlets in which to stock the kit — although he says Capers on the Island threw him out “because ivs Christmas — thev're just too busy.” Ponton first began making the Kits at home on a small scale, but the success of his product in) nearby — stores prompted him to look further afield tor stockists, distributors, and investors. An ad ren by Ponton in the News this fall attracted the attention of North Vancouver businessman) Harry Bristman, who obtained a sample kit from Ponton, Bristman brought the kit home for his wife Valentia, a practitioner of yoga and Qi Gong, to try. The results were quite spec- tacular: Valentia loved the kit se much that she has decided to write a book about her medita- NEWS photo Torry Peters BRENT Ponton and Valeniia Bristman show the Karma Cleansing Kit. Ponton said . the device can bring its users peace, happiness and relaxation. Westcoast @ Tutoring Grand Opening North Vancouver Office Tutorials available for all grades MATH PHYSICS ENGLISH GRAMMAR LITERATURE POETRY READING AND WRITING CHEMISTRY SOCIALS GEOGRAPHY TOEFL FRENCH HOW TO STUDY ont iie—— ef: Register now to reserve a space at Westcoast Tutoring, call 987-0008 tocated at #208-132 W. 15th Street is a candle tive experiences — and her hus- band has decided to invest in Ponton’s company, Karmatic Enterprises. “IT never expected that a seemingly simple arrangement would lead me to as profound insights into the infinite poten- tial of meditation as this has done,” savs Valentia Bristman. “The uny flame (of the can- die) was all I needed tor delving into the secrets of movement of vital energy.” Bristman says that if the per- son meditating concentrates hard enough, they can move this vital energy trom place to place within their body. “[ don’t need as much sleep now,” she says, “only about six hours — meditating this way cleanses the immune system and makes it stronger.” Bristman plans to write a book about the transcendental possibilities of the Karma Cleansing Kit, with instructions for the optimal usage of the product. “I want to send (the book) to the World Health Organization,” = she says. “There are people all over the werld who are not eating enough and getting poor. I think the kit could really help them.” Bristman, who is originally from Russia, thinks that the struggling middle classes of Eastern Furope, as well as resi- dents of third-world countrics, could benefit fram meditating with the kit. Lack of space is no barrier to usage of — the Karma Cleansing Kit. “Luckily, the kit Wednesday, January 6, 1999 — North Shore News - 13 is very small,” Bristman adds. “Its portability ensures that you can take along your mental landscape and untold it every- where you go.” At present there’s only one North Shore retail outlet (Capilano Malls | Messages From the Heart) stocking the Karma Cleansing Kir, although with Harry Bristman on board and distnbution plans mapped out, Ponton thinks mass avail- ability of his invention won’r be HunterDougias mecativeee Original Duette Honeycomb Blinds Sale ends January 31/S2 in the wi na | far off. 7 In the meantime, contem- plative types can contact Karmatic Enterprises directly at (250) 744 9677, or ck their website at . “Tam hoping that this web- site will become widely used to cheer people up,” says Ponton. “A sort of happy place, where one can read about all the good that is done by people for people and the planet.” Day job keeping _ you out Of school? 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