OXNARD : Conference Addresses Women’s Concerns

When Sheila Cluff gained 50 pounds in college, she turned to exercise as a weight-loss plan. When her son died years later, she turned to exercise as a tranquilizer for her grief.

On Saturday, Cluff urged women at a daylong conference in Oxnard to use exercise as a tool to take control of their lives.

“I intend to have you walk out of here today saying I can do that,” Cluff said to a crowded auditorium. “Minor lifestyle changes can make a great change in your life.”

Cluff, the creator and owner of two spas--The Oaks in Ojai and The Palms in Palm Springs--was the wrap-up speaker for the eighth annual Women Celebration Conference at Oxnard College.

About 250 women attended the conference, which featured a fashion show and 24 workshops with topics ranging from parenting practices and self-esteem to makeup and finances.

While some women heard gynecologist Allen Lawrence speaking on the subject of women’s reproductive organs, others listened to Damira Volic, a Bosnian refugee who fled army tanks and snipers to make Ventura her home.

“Bosnia is like another planet,” said Volic during a workshop titled “Starting From Zero Again.”

“When I think about what happened in my life in Bosnia, I feel like an old oak tree that was removed from its place and put somewhere where it wasn’t suppose to be.”

Carpinteria resident Marilyn Breland said she was glad she had driven to Oxnard to attend the program.

“I’ve learned some things that I can use in my personal life,” Breland said. “It has been an uplifting event.”