Natural Awakenings Atlanta - February 2014 by Natural Awakenings Atlanta

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How to Attract A Soul Mate

February 2014 | Atlanta-Edition | naAtlanta.com natural awakenings

February 2014

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February 2014

We’ve changed our name ... Atlanta Laser Dentistry is now known as Dentistry at Sugarloaf.

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contents 10 6 newsbriefs 10 livingfoods 11 localinsights

12 RETHINKING

16 healingways

Pioneering Doctors and Patients Reinvent Cardio Care

18 greenliving

20 healthykids

22 24

22 consciouseating

24 wisewords 26 calendar 27 classifieds 28 resourceguides

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 404-474-2423 or email ads@naAtlanta.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month. Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to editor@naAtlanta.com. Deadline for editorial is the 5th of the month. Please visit naAtlanta.com for editorial submission guidelines. calendar submissions Submit your calendar items to calendar@naAtlanta.com. Deadline for calendar items is the 10th of the month. regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

HEART HEALTH

by Linda Sechrist

16 SIMPLE STRESS

BUSTERS Natural Ways to Slide into

a State of Calmness by Kathleen Barnes

18 HOME SAFE HOME

Practical Pillars of Well-Being

by Christa Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leary

20 QUIET KIDS IN

A NOISY WORLD

Bringing Out the Best in Introverts by Meredith Montgomery

22 CHOCOLATE AS HEALTH FOOD

Boosting Diets and Heart Health by Judith Fertig

24 LOVE MAGNET

Katherine Woodward Thomas on Drawing True Love Our Way by Debra Melani

read more @ naAtlanta.com n

CYCLES OF SPIN

Returning to its Heart-Healthy Origins by Janet Osen

HEALING HURT

CARDIAC CARE FOR PETS

A Hawaiian Mantra Lets Love Back In

How to Keep Little Hearts Humming

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

natural awakenings

February 2014

newsbriefs Experience Chakra Dancing

contact us Publishers Michael Graff & Larissa Stewart Editors Martin Miron Sarah F. Berkowitz Theresa Archer Design & Production Larissa Stewart Megan Kilinski Advertising 404-474-2423 or ads@naAtlanta.com Distribution Donna Abbott Printing Web Offset Printing WebOffsetPrinting.com Natural Awakenings Atlanta: 1402 Dancing Fox Road Decatur, GA 30032 Production: 404-474-2423 Fax: 404-602-0004 Website: naAtlanta.com Email: info@naAtlanta.com © 2013 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback. All article submissions will be edited for format and style and are subject to publisher’s final approval. The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your medical professional.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

Atlanta Edition

hakra Dance, led by Stephanie Colletti, is being offered from 1 to 2:15 p.m., February 1 and 15 and March 1, 15 and 20, at the Marietta Center for Yoga and Well Being. Chakra Dance is based on sacred dances found throughout the world. Focusing on the chakra system (energy centers of the body), this fun and soulfully inspired dance experience rejuvenates and rebalances body, mind and spirit. Colletti is an empathic Reiki master, holistic lifestyle writer, published author and founder of Sacred Circle Healing & Dance. Her love of dance began at 3 years old, when she was introduced to ballet and jazz. As an adult, she trained in Oriental, folkloric, tribal and hip-hop fusion dance under the direction of world renowned instructors. Colletti’s love of energy healing prompted her to become a certified Usui Reiki master. Cost is $15 per session. Location: 317 Alexander St., Marietta. For more information, call 770-425-4488 or visit MariettaYoga.com.

All-Day Sound Therapy Celebration

he International Sound Therapy Association will present the 2014 Temple of Sound experience from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., February 22, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta. Participants will learn ancient healing techniques and tomorrow’s technology and experience the Power of Sound. There will also be educational sound classes, healthy exhibits, a silent auction and mandala blessing. The International Sound Therapy Association’s purpose is to promote the benefits of therapeutic sound by providing an educational forum and activities for sound therapists, musicians, healing arts practitioners and the general public. Cost is $95 (8 CEU for massage therapists). Location: 1911 Cliff Valley Way, Atlanta. For more information and registration, call Mandara Cromwell at 404-307-0593 or visit PowerOfSounds.org/2014-temple-of-sound.

ChantLanta Sacred Music Festival Brings Peace, Love and Kirtan

hantLanta, to be held March 7 and 8, at Druid Hills Baptist Church, is a showcase for the diverse and rich culture of chant music, yoga and sacred sound experiences that are available in and around our community, featuring seven bands, 13 workshops, a vendor market with a silent auction and freshlyprepared Indian food. The annual event has raised more than $15,000 in donations to help some of the world’s most poverty-stricken people. Donations go to support The Learning Tea and The Sacred Cows Sanctuary; all of the artists, organizers and staff are volunteering their time for these wonderful causes. In 2010, a group of volunteers banded together to create the first ChantLanta Sacred Music Festival as a way to build public awareness of the benefits of chanting and to channel that awareness to aid struggling charity causes. Since then, the festival has attained national recognition, hosted huge crowds and become an Atlanta tradition. Admission is free. Location: 1085 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE. For more information, visit ChantLanta.org.

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East West Farms Sponsors Chicken CSA

tart planning for fresh, organic-fed, soy-free, pasture-raised chicken for 2014 with the Chicken CSA (community supported agriculture) at East West Farms, in Marietta. The chickens will be $5.30/ pound with a deposit of $12 per bird. In order to subscribe to the Chicken CSA, individuals must be a farm member with a $35 membership fee. Those that purchased farm shares from the East West Locally Grown Market will be at the front of the line (a full share includes farm/market membership). CSA subscribers must commit to at least one bird per month from May to October. More volunteers to use their home as a pickup point in Douglasville, Smyrna, Midtown, Buckhead, Roswell, Alpharetta, Woodstock and East Cobb are needed.

You don’t have to live with pain.

Pay in person or mail a check payable to Daniel Seedorf to 3842 Barrett Pkwy, Marietta, GA 30064. PayPal (+4%) is accepted. Sign up to be a Farm/Market member at Marietta.LocallyGrown.net.

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iving Foods Institute has been selected for the fourth consecutive year in 2013 Best of Atlanta Award in the Health & Fitness Program category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA). The USLBA Best of Local Business Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category and enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. Nationwide, only 1 in 500 2013 recipients qualified as four-time award winners. Director Jane Holmes, who manages and directs the Institute’s Raw and Living Foods Healthy Lifestyle Center, says, “Students come from all over the world to learn how to reverse and slow aging, heal and maintain optimum health with mental, emotional, spiritual and physical healing. Students learn hands-on how to prepare organic raw and living foods recipes and how to cleanse and detoxify the body so it can regenerate and restore.” Living Foods Institute is located at 1700 Commerce Dr. NW, Atlanta. For more information, call 404-524-4488 or visit LivingFoodsInstitute.com.

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February 2014

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Modern-Day Shaman to Visit Atlanta

weden’s Bart Smyth, a world-renowned master shamanic healer and teacher of the wisdom arts, has blended an array of highly energetic modalities in helping more than 30,000 people since 1995 heal chronic and life-threatening conditions, and trained more than 400 therapists. He will be in Atlanta from February 18 to 28 to hold workshops, healing circles and private healing appointments. Smyth works remotely and in person. In Sweden, he helps children with drug and addiction problems and has an academy, Jarbo Akademi, where he teaches tai chi, qigong, nutrition, yuen method, life coaching and energetics. Workshops include Health and Healing on February 21 and Energetic Mastery on February 22. Healing Circles will be conducted on February 21 and 25. Each event includes group healings. Private healing sessions can be scheduled from February 18 to 28. For more information to register, call 310-466-7600 or visit AModernDayShaman.net.

Compassionate Cities Launches in Atlanta

artnering with the Faiths Against Hate initiative of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, three Atlanta interfaith organizations; Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, Interfaith Community Initiatives and Neshama Interfaith Center, are collaborating to invite selected cities in metro Atlanta to embrace the Charter for Compassion and declare that they are “compassionate cities”. Once a city government signs on to the Charter for Compassion, citizens will partner with government officials to develop their city’s Plan for Compassionate Action. A metro Atlanta gathering (World Cafe format) will explore questions such as: If metro Atlanta was a more compassionate ring of cities, what would change? What would change if compassionate action was to become a commonly used term in our personal and public discourse? from 2 to 5 p.m., February, 2, at the Carter Center. Participants will be invited to take action over the next two months to generate engagement and support for the initiative. For more information, call 678-705-2843, email rvthompson@mindspring.com or visit CompassionateATL.com/attend.html.

Calling Contributors to Goddesspell Musical oots Productions presents Goddess of Love: Ignite Your Passion Workshop for Women Who Want to Ignite Their Passion, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the third Saturday of nine consecutive months, beginning February 15. Each workshop will focus on a different aspect of the goddess or goddess archetype, facilitated by different members of the Goddesspell core ensemble. The primary objective is to birth/awaken the goddess within participants. There will be ritual, journaling, visual art, movement, dance, song, storytelling, creative writing and meditating in an inspired way. Ensemble members will also contribute to the creation of Goddesspell, a musical review to be created in from goddess mythology worldwide. It celebrates a world that recognizes the power of affirming the feminine spirit, with less suffering and more joy as a result of balanced energies.

Artwork by Olga Shevchenko

Cost is $50/$55 for each workshop for the first year. For more information and to register, visit RootsProductions.org/retreats.html. 8

Atlanta Edition

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You Are Love Gloria di Simone Artist Gloria di Simone’s featured cover painting, You Are Love, reflects her long-held passion for color. She refers to her paintings as “axquarelli”, her unique variation on the Italian word for watercolor, saying, “They are tempera—a rather diluted paint on watercolor paper.” In many of her paintings, she also adds diamond water and gold for unusual effects. “My images are focused on vibration and energy,” explains di Simone. She leads workshops in creative painting that focus on freeing the inner child in everyone. “My creativity and passion for color has been my life focus and it brings me great joy to share that,” says di Simone. She describes her axquarelli paintings as intuitive and heartwarming: “I hope they bring peace and exude a balancing of environmental energies.” Through her innate abilities, she blends colors to embed her paintings with healing vibrations. A native of Naples, Italy, di Simone currently makes her home there after spending 28 years in Rome. In addition to being an artist, she has also worked as an architect, graphic designer, art director, furniture designer and teacher. View the artist’s portfolio at GloriaDiSimone.com.

then anytime in his life. This man later used his God-given breath and willpower to wean himself off the Xanax and back into by Qigong Practitioner Jeff Primack his natural state. Qigong is best in the morning as a Jeff Primack has studied with many qigong masters practice to extend life and beauty For days from all over the world and has trained 50,000 when time is short, I recommend cleansing your body with oxygen and energy people in live qigong seminars since 2003. first thing in the morning. My practice is igong is the art of harnessing qi, which with smaller movements of the abdomen to wake up, brush my teeth and hair, drink directly affects the blood flow and is an to circulate qi and more precise movesome hot tea outside and do the 9-Breath exercise that makes your blood pulse. This ments of the hands, rooting into the Earth Method five times, absorbing/retaining pulsing occurs by moving qi using specific and opening up pathways of energy. Yoga large amounts of oxygen in my bloodbreathing techniques, along with postures works with energy, but to a lesser degree, stream. Gentle power breathing awakand slow, graceful movements. Qigong also and although we practice and love yoga, ens the cellular vibration and stimulates encompasses using healing foods, herbs, qigong does what yoga cannot. We train metabolism. As I wake up slowly for 10 acupressure and yogic stretches, all of which many thousands of yoga teachers and they minutes each morning, my senses become energize the body, increase vitality and ac- are always blown away by the tangibility heightened and I watch the birds in my garof qi experienced. celerate metabolism. den. This is a quick and powerful method, Qigong is circulation; the term “blood which we spend hours thoroughly teaching flow” is synonymous with “moving qi”. at the Qi Revolution conference. Many studies confirm practicing qigong Qigong uses food, herbs and mushrooms reduces drug withdraw in heroin addicts to reverse many types of illness. A big part by 50 percent. Several qigong instructors of what we teach is how “Specific foods we’ve certified are teaching with huge sucreverse specific diseases.” Many foods, cess at Florida drug rehab clinics. Studies like kiwi, have helped hundreds of our also reveal that qigong boosts the immune qigong students reverse asthma. Our food system and is beneficial for those fighting protocols laid out in the Conquering Any cancer. Dr. Oz has said, “I you want to live Disease book have been tested with tens to be 100, do qigong.” These techniques of thousands of real live people all over originated more than 3,000 years ago with the country. I have seen dozens of people mountain wonderers, people that were actiI’ve met whom had cancer and reversed it Within 10 minutes of qi-breathing, many vated by qi. Most acupuncturists are strong within a few months following strict dietary feel electricity in their hands. The “buzz,” believers in qigong and some actually preand qigong practice guidelines. Adding in scribe exercises to their patients in-between as we call it in the qigong family, is a reacthe avocado seed to a delicious fruit and tion caused by increased levels of oxygen treatments. vegetable smoothie is a great way to maxiand ions, which I believe accelerates the viQigong is different from yoga primarily mize your phytochemical intake, along with bration of our mitochondria. Many describe because it requires slower, more gracious blending the seeds and skins of the apple. movements to harness your electromagnetic the inner buzzing or vibrational feeling as Sunlight, breathing techniques and high a natural high, and it has the obvious effect field. Some qigong exercises build muscle vibration foods are God’s natural medicine. of stimulating endorphins. Many people or speed, but most are a pulsation of qi through the body. Qigong is the “sensation describe “perma-grin”, where the gratitude Qi Revolution comes to the Atlanta Georgia is so overwhelming and the joy so potent of energy” and is highly tangible. A few World Congress Center from April 12 to 15. advanced systems of yoga, like kriya yoga, that they can’t stop smiling for a short Jeff Primack, Kai Van Bodhi and dozens time. One qigong student taking Xanax have striking similarities to qigong. Howof instructors will host four days of qigong bars from his doctor several times a day ever, compared to most systems of yoga, training for $149. To reserve tickets and for to stay functional reported after the Breath more information, call 1-800-298-8970 or qigong has a much greater emphasis on precise breathing techniques. Qigong deals Empowerment that he was more relaxed visit QiRevolution.com.

What is Qigong Really About?

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February 2014

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Conventional or Natural Medicine: It’s Your Choice by Brenda Cobb

he United States medical system excels in the management of medical emergencies, certain bacterial infections, trauma care and complex surgical techniques. Yet at the same time, it seems to have failed in disease prevention and managing the chronic illnesses that fill doctor’s offices, health clinics and hospitals. Patients are waiting until their illnesses become unbearable, and then spending huge sums on surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and prescription and overthe-counter medications, while ignoring the underlying lifestyle-related cause of the problem. Antibiotics, which were thought to be a panacea for a host of infections, are so overused that the body has become resistant to their curative properties. Society has come to accept chronic disease as normal, even though most of it is preventable through lifestyle modification. Adults and children suffering

mild to severe medical problems, from allergies and low energy to more serious conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, that can be cured by returning to a natural and wholesome diet full or organic, nutritious foods. A healthy diet should be accompanied by daily exercise, fresh air and sunlight, cleansing and detoxing the body and learning how to decrease stress. The human body is an incredibly designed machine that can repair itself when cared for properly. Even when conventional medicine claims that an illness is incurable, committing to and maintaining a healthier lifestyle can change that diagnosis and literally save your life. Here are some things you can do to create the good health you deserve. Focus on becoming empowered. Accept responsibility for your recovery and health maintenance and learn exactly what to do to help yourself.

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Emphasize sound nutrition as a core requirement for health. Practice a balanced lifestyle with adequate and appropriate exercise, rest, sleep and most importantly, mental and emotional healing. Detoxify to help restore the efficiency of the organs and systems of the body. Recognize the importance of the musculoskeletal system as a potential source of interference with nerve transmission and the body’s energy pathways, and as a reflection of the internal physical and emotional state. Most importantly, treat the individual self, instead of the symptoms Freedom is at the heart of American society. We have freedom of speech, freedom of worship and the freedom of the press. We also have the freedom to choose our own way of health and healing. The more educated we become about what our bodies truly need and the more concentrated efforts we make in this direction, the closer we will come to achieving the ultimate goal of great health and a disease-free existence.

Healthy Vegetable Salad Ingredients: 1 cup avocado 1 cup cucumbers 1 cup tomatoes 1 cup broccoli ¼ cup onion ½ cup fresh lemon juice 2 Tbsp pumpkin seed oil 1 tsp Himalayan salt Directions: Chop all the vegetables and toss them together with the salt, oil and lemon juice. It’s easy, delicious and very nutritious. Brenda Cobb is author of The Living Foods Lifestyle and founder of The Living Foods Institute, an educational center and therapy spa in Atlanta, offering healthy lifestyle courses on nutrition, cleansing, healing, anti-aging, detoxification, relaxation and cleansing therapies. For more information, call 404-524-4488 or 1-800-844-9876 and visit LivingFoodsInstitute.com See ad, inside front cover.

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gifts with pride. To made a bath scrub for a friend that eschews baths in favor of showers, fill a four-ounce jar about three-quarters full of turbinado sugar, and then add pure essential oils and mix. Fill each jar with almond carrier oil until the oil is flowing over the sugar. Two plastic baggies of salts and one jarred scrub translates into 15 crafty gifts for family and friends. Just buy canning jars and add some decoration. Do not think the projects too humble just because they were easy to make. Remember, some wise men once felt frankincense and myrrh to be gifts fit for a king.

Make Healthy Bath Salts at Home

Roz’s Deep Relaxation Bath Salt Recipe Yields approximately six, four-ounce canning jars of salts. Photo by Sarah A. Buehrle

by Sarah A. Buehrle

he Heal Center Atlanta’s aromatherapy certification class is a good resource for people that want to make gifts with their aromatherapy knowledge. Roz Zollinger, founder of the Heal Center, is well aware of this and has built a class on aromatherapy gift-making into her curriculum. A bath salt is mostly one part salt of your choice, such as Himalayan salt or refined sea salt and one part baking soda, with the addition of dendritic salt

and a little bit of carrier oil, plus pure essential oils. A large stainless steel bowl and scoop is best for long-term bath salt making, but plastic bowls are fine, too. To start, pour salt and baking soda into a bowl and mix well, breaking any clumps. Then make a small well in the middle and add the dendritic salt (for longer shelf life), essential oils and a tablespoon or so of carrier oil. All that is left to do is put the mixtures into decorative containers and present the

Mix 1 cup salt with 1 cup baking soda. Make a well, add a half teaspoon of dendritic salt. Add 12 drops lavender, 8 tangerine, 8 ylang ylang, 6 vetiver and 3 Roman chamomile on top of the dendritic salt. Cover with one to two tablespoons of carrier oil and mix. Sarah A. Buehrle is a former newspaper editor turned aromatherapy student who now lives in the trees with her family and cat named Ginger. For more information about aromatherapy, visit HealCenterAtlanta.com.

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February 2014

RETHINKING HEART HEALTH Pioneering Doctors and Patients Reinvent Cardio Care by Linda Sechrist

n 1977, Dr. Dean Ornish began to think beyond an allopathic medicine paradigm that defined the reversal of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and the hypertensive diseases such as heart failure and stroke, as physiologically implausible. Undaunted by the challenge of funding his research, he pushed forward. Results of his foundational 1986 to 1992 Lifestyle Heart Trial, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, proved that individuals with preexisting coronary atherosclerosis that make intensive, integrated lifestyle changes can begin to experience improvements in their condition after as little as one year without using lipid-lowering drugs. Based on his 30-plus years of clinical research, Ornish and his colleagues further showed that five years of following proper nutrition, fitness and stress management—which must include love

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and support—can reduce symptoms of CHD and other chronic conditions. He remarks in Love & Survival: 8 Pathways to Intimacy and Health that despite numerous studies showing a medical basis for its occurrence, the reason why CHD is reversible is still the subject of debate. Ornish’s work has paved the way for a growing corps of pioneering integrative physicians successfully collaborating with patients to reduce the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

Plaque the Culprit

The cause of cardiovascular disease is arterial plaque, a fine layer of fatty material that forms within the arteries and blocks blood flow. It is largely the result of food and activity choices, plus the degree of inflammation in the arteries. Dr. Steven Masley’s three keys to improving heart health highlighted in his book, The 30-Day Heart Tune-Up, and

an upcoming PBS special, concern lifestyle factors capable of shrinking plaque, improving circulation and strengthening the heartbeat. “Abnormal plaque growth is preventable 90 percent of the time,” states the president of Masley Optimal Health Center, in St. Petersburg, Florida. While conducting research on the heart health of nearly 1,000 patients over a period of 20 years, Masley suspected that the traditional assessment approach of measuring cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure didn’t effectively address the biochemistry within arteries. Testing intima-media thickness (IMT) using a simple 10-minute external ultrasound confirmed it. The test bounces high-frequency sound waves to measure the thickness of the cartoid arteries’ innermost two layers on either side of the neck. “This valuable tool allows for an estimate of arterial age. A healthy, young cardiovascular system has less plaque and an unhealthy, old one has more,” advises Masley. IMT, a useful tool for preventing future heart attacks and strokes, differs from standard carotid Doppler ultrasound, which looks for artery obstructions suggesting surgery. A practitioner of functional medicine, Masley explains heart-related diagnoses differently than his allopathic counterparts. “Rather than diagnosing high blood pressure as hypertension, I categorize it as not enough exercise, not enough fruits and vegetables, high emotional stress and excessive body fat.” To optimize heart health, Masley employs a broad, holistic matrix of options that enhance the cardiovascular system—the interactions among diet, activity level, weight, environmental toxins, hormones, stress and biochemical factors such as blood sugar control and inflammation levels. He prescribes heart-healing foods that simultaneously help to manage the aging process, following a customized, heart-friendly supplement plan; engaging in exercise that strengthens the heart and arteries; and learning how to better manage stress. He contends that cardiovascular events remain the top cause of death because individuals are largely unaware of treatment options before they get into trouble. More, “Most people

Love and intimacy are at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, what causes sadness and what brings happiness, what makes us suffer and what leads to healing. ~ Dr. Dean Ornish, Love & Survival falsely assume that their condition has been fixed with a medical procedure and/or drugs, and that a lifestyle change isn’t necessary.”

Cholesterol’s Bad Rap

Dr. Stephen Sinatra, an integrative cardiologist, anti-aging specialist and bioenergetics psychotherapist in Manchester, Connecticut, has also shifted his heart health paradigm. He now prescribes a combination of conventional medicine, food, supplements, mind/body strategies and natural healing methods. His book, Heartbreak and Heart Disease: A Mind/Body Prescription for Healing the Heart, relates many inspiring case histories that address the psycho-emotional component of heart health and illustrate how to repair and reopen a broken heart by releasing long-repressed emotions. Following two years of Gestalt psychotherapy training and seven years of bioenergetics training, Sinatra likewise realized that heartbreak was one of the major causes of heart disease. An expert in the field of natural cardiology, he had once believed that cholesterol

and fat were the primary causes before 40 years of treatment research taught him otherwise. “Cholesterol is not the reason for heart disease,” advises Sinatra, founder of HeartMDInstitute.com and author of The Great Cholesterol Myth. “The body produces and needs cholesterol to convert sunlight to vitamin D, to make sex hormones, vital semipermeable membranes for the body’s trillions of cells, plus bile salts for digestion. Even your brain makes and uses cholesterol to build connections between the neurons that facilitate learning and memory.”

Real Perpetrators

Sinatra names the real perpetrators of heart disease—stress, inflammation and overeating sugar and processed foods containing saturated fat. He counsels that the heart benefits less from a lowfat, high-carbohydrate diet than one low in carbohydrates and higher in healthy fats, overturning widespread medical mantras. Also, a high-fructose, high-grain carbohydrate diet raises triglycer-

ides, increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and contributes to insulin resistance, causing the liver to produce more cholesterol, as well as more inflammatory, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) particles, all of which increase the risk for CHD, diabetes and stroke. The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that metabolic syndrome, which affects nearly 35 percent of American adults, may overtake smoking as the leading risk factor for CHD. The AHA currently is focused on increasing awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of women. Its Go Red for Women campaign emphasizes the vital need to take preventive basic actions, including adopting an exercise routine, healthier diet and doctor visits for appropriate non-invasive tests.

Essential Spirit

Dr. James Forleo, a chiropractor in Durango, Colorado, with 30-plus years of clinical experience, maintains that health is simple, disease is complicated (also the title of his book). He counsels patients, “If mental stress is present in your life, you owe it to your cardiovascular system to change to a healthier lifestyle. Your life may depend on it.” Forleo has recognized that an individual’s state of mind can be a big help or hindrance in maintaining a healthy heart. “The heart represents a different realm of experience entirely, one

natural awakenings

February 2014

It is no coincidence that we address our physical and emotional heart by the same name. Our physical heart usually reflects the state of our emotional heart, and vice versa. ~ Dr. James Forleo that cannot be explained by logic and reason,” comments Forleo. He champions the link between maintaining normal spinal function and healthy heart function, along with supporting the inner presence of Spirit, which he calls the healthy heart’s ultimate elixir. “Its essence relaxes the heart, opens the mind to possibilities greater than itself and provides the perspective that the heart and the mind are complementary,” he observes. He explains that when our emotions get bottled up, something in our heart or circulation has to give. “If you or someone you know experiences heart problems, chances are that unresolved emotions lie directly below the surface,” he says. “There are exceptions, and genetic problems can explain many heart defects, but heart problems don’t usually show up unless emotions are involved.” Forleo’s concept is supported by the work of Rollin McCraty, Ph.D., executive vice president and director of research at California’s Institute

of HeartMath. His research papers include The Energetic Heart: Bioelectromagnetic Interactions Within and Between People. “Today, evidence suggests that the heart may play a particularly important role in emotional experience. Research in the relatively new discipline of neurocardiology has confirmed that the heart is a sensory organ and acts as a sophisticated information encoding and processing center that learns, remembers and makes independent functional decisions that don’t involve the cerebral cortex,” advises McCraty.

To Happy Hearts

Pioneering integrative medical doctors Masley, Sinatra, Forleo and Mona Lisa Schultz, who also holds a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience, agree that in matters of heart disease, emotions take center stage. Schultz, who recently co-authored All is Well: Heal Your Body with Medicine, Affirmations and Intuition, with Louise L. Hay, a leading founder of the self-help movement,

applies her 25 years of experience as a medical intuitive with the best of Western clinical science, brain research and energy medicine. Shultz observes, “Every illness has an emotional component, which tells us intuitively that something or someone in our life or environment is out of balance and needs to be addressed. Our use of language—such as frustration makes our heart race, anger boils our blood—and our common sense are telling us what we don’t need more studies to confirm. If we can’t deal with our anger in a timely fashion, name our feelings, respond effectively and release them, we increase our chance of illness, ranging from hypertension to cardiovascular events.” According to the American Journal of Cardiology, the U.S. spends 10 percent of all healthcare dollars for cardiovascular disease prevention and medical management versus 90 percent on medical treatment procedures and hospital care. For individuals interested in taking charge of their heart health, working with a physician that embraces the emerging paradigm of integrative lifestyle changes and prevention can be a drug-free, lifesaving decision. Linda Sechrist is the senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Visit ItsAllAboutWe.com for full interviews.

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Simple Stress Busters Natural Ways to Slide into a State of Calmness by Kathleen Barnes

e all encounter everyday stressors and usually find our own ways of defusing them. However, when chronic stress remains unresolved, it extracts a toll on health that may range from heart disease and stroke to obesity, gastrointestinal problems and depression. Thankfully, Natural Awakenings has uncovered inviting ways to regularly de-stress that naturally make us feel good. Here are some refreshing ideas for immediate rest and relaxation. Eat Mindfully. Chocolate can be an excellent antidote to stress-related binge eating, advises Dr. Susan Lord, an integrative physician in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, who leads

mind-body medicine programs at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, in Stockbridge. “We rarely eat mindfully,” comments Lord. “We’re usually gulping down our food while watching TV, arguing with the kids or reading a book.” She often leads a meditation in which participants are allotted one small piece of chocolate that they must eat slowly and consciously. “Most people discover they have never really tasted their food,” she says. “They are pleasantly surprised to discover that they feel satiated and satisfied on every level.” Lord’s teaching is supported by a study from an Oregon Research Institute affiliate in Albuquerque, New Mexico, showing that people lost

significant amounts of weight by eating slowly and mindfully. Accordingly, Kripalu has encouraged eating in silence for nearly 40 years, a practice Lord heartily recommends to her patients for one meal a day. Walk a labyrinth. A meditative walk on a labyrinth may be just what the doctor ordered, says physician Esther Sternberg, professor of medicine and research director at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. “A labyrinth differs from a maze, which has high walls and many dead ends,” notes Sternberg. “Walking a maze is inevitably stressful; a labyrinth has the exact opposite effect. There is only one path in and one path out. You go to the middle, meditate and walk back out. It’s a perfectly calming walking meditation.” In physiological terms, Sternberg explains, the deep breathing induced by labyrinth walking activates the vagus nerve, which prompts relaxation. It does this by interrupting the brain’s stress response and halting the release of adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol from the adrenal glands. Our ancestors built labyrinths as early as 4,000 BCE. They exist today in churches, healing centers and backyards all over the world. Finger labyrinths, even as simple as an outline printed on a piece of paper, also have proved to be effective relaxation tools, says Neal Harris, a licensed clinical professional counselor in Barrington, Illinois. His study confirming its relaxing effects was published in the Annals of Psychothera-

Music Soothes the Soul Dozens of studies from leading institutions like Brandeis University, in Waltham, Massachusetts, the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, in Yonkers, New York, and Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, show that music can offset stress, relieve pain, lower blood pressure, improve immune function and support restful sleep. So play a tune or two of much-loved music and let the calming effects induce a state of relaxation. According to research from the American Society of Hypertension, classical music, the blues and other soothing music work best because they cause the body to release endorphins and slow breathing rates. It’s better yet if our favorite music inspires stressreleasing body movement. Source: GreenMedInfo.com

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py & Integrative Health. Shake (or laugh) it off. Anyone that has ever felt like exploding from tight shoulders, indigestion, headaches or other conditions caused by accumulated stress can benefit from Lord’s recommendation to experience a whole-body shake. “Just stand with your feet firmly planted and start shaking—first your feet, then your legs, arms, head and neck and eventually, your whole body—for at least two or three minutes,” she counsels. “You’ll shake off all of that tension, energize every cell and probably start laughing, another great stress reliever.” A good belly laugh is likewise a powerful stress reliever, according to a study by researchers at Indiana State University, in Terra Haute, published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine. Results also showed that laughter increased production of the protective cells that boost immune function. Create a memory garden. For Sternberg, her personal place of peace is an unconscious re-creation combining the sights and smells of her grandmother’s garden with the comfortable “at home” feeling of her parents’ deck

and mementos from a happy time in Crete. At the center of Sternberg’s happy memories are fragrant jasmine and gardenia trees, lavender and basil, all reminders of happy times in her life. She recalls, “It wasn’t until I was finished that I realized what I had done.” A review of relevant science reported in Neural Plasticity explains that the brain’s hippocampus region, a seat of memory, especially related to place, also normally regulates the production of cortisol. But an excess of cortisol due to stress can impair its memory functions. “When we are in a place that brings happy memories to mind, we let go of stress and stop the release of cortisol,” says Sternberg. “It helps to just think of a place where we have been happy.” She recommends creating a home space with some plants on a windowsill, photos of happy family gatherings, fabrics or paint in beloved colors and perhaps inherited items that trigger fond memories. Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous natural health books, including 10 Best Ways to Manage Stress. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

Breathe Deeply Perform this subtle de-stressor while in line at the market or driving. It slows heart rate, oxygenates the body, improves mental clarity and has a relaxing effect on the nervous system. n Sit or stand straight. n Put the tip of the tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind the upper front teeth, and keep it there throughout the entire exercise. n Inhale through the nose for a count of four. n Hold each breath for a count of seven. n Exhale completely through the mouth with a whoosh sound for a count of eight. n Repeat three more times. Source: DrWeil.com

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February 2014

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Creating an inspired and healthy home environment soothes the soul and recharges our proverbial batteries. Making healthful choices in the products we use and consume helps ensure we retain a healthy body and vibrant living in an era when we are inundated with disease-producing toxins in our homes, food, air and water. Applying simple solutions to slow down helps us maintain a calm mind amidst the frenetic pace of daily life. Periodically unplugging from the instant demands of technology is a good first step. Tuning into our life purpose and sharing it with others allows us to shine. We naturally radiate our inner light in ever-expanding ways.

Mindful Strategies

A study published by the International Academy for Design and Health shows that because our home influences us on many levels, the setting is continually either supporting or depleting its occupants. Consciously creating and sustaining a nurturing environment fortifies the roots from which family members evolve and grow. Experience shows us how improving our immediate surroundings, ranging from our wardrobe to household furnishings, helps to manifest positive internal transformations. The activity likewise reflects our inner landscape, allowing us to take a step back and observe how we are changing and hope to change. 18

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That’s why we periodically feel impelled to clear unsettling clutter from our private spaces. It’s an irritant that disrupts order and our sense of beauty; even when it’s stashed in drawers and closets, we still know it’s there. It competes for attention and distracts our focus. A recently relocated design client felt that her new house was beautiful, but didn’t feel like a home. The woman explained that when she was there, she was short-tempered with her kids, a sharp contrast to her usual demeanor. She yearned to love her home, enjoy her kids and live vibrantly. A key part of the solution was tackling the home’s mudroom entrance that was cluttered with the kids’ detritus, a condition that irritated her the minute she walked through the door. Many of the home products we buy contain disquieting, hidden elements. Understanding which ingredients are hazardous is imperative to maintaining a safe home environment. Key decisions range from the choice of carpets, couches and bedding to cleaning products, laundry solutions and air fresheners. Knowing the products we use are healthful enhances peace of mind. As one homeowner said, “I am so relieved to have a better understanding of what products I shouldn’t bring home. I was so scared before that I just ignored the idea that chemicals could be harmful.” Being informed and alert to the composition of the items we bring into our home—including food—is vital. More than 80,000 chemicals make up the ingredients in commonly available products that end up in the typical American home, and a large portion of them are toxic. Nearly 20 percent of the chemicals are not divulged, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA also reports that the average person holds more than 700 toxic chemicals in their body. We inhale myriad chemical byproducts that fill the air both indoors and out, plus ingest numerous toxins in the foods and beverages we consume. Once absorbed, they remain in the body unless flushed out, throwing it out of balance and, as widespread research shows, causing a broad range of diseases. WebMD.com reports that the psychological impacts of feeling stressed, helpless and overwhelmed by the fear of lurking poisons can directly influence our physical health. Making informed choices can alleviate such feelings. It only requires taking a series of small and manageable, progressive steps to create our own style of a healthy and harmonious home life. On a spiritual level, we can rest assured that such caring for our inner temple and larger environment supports a greater good and fosters a deeper connection to life’s Source. We feel more physically, psychologically and spiritually vibrant. Our home becomes a vital wellspring that, cleaned and furnished with holistic awareness, continually refreshes us. Christa O’Leary is founder and CEO of Home in Harmony, Inc., combining expertise in marriage and family therapy, interior design and green living. Her book, Home in Harmony Lifestyle: Designing an Inspired Life, will be released in November. Connect at ChristaOLeary.com/FreeKit.

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by Meredith Montgomery

abrielle Perillo’s daughter, A’ngel, 11, is a deep thinker, compassionate for all beings (human and not), a defender of justice, spiritual and extremely creative. She pursues any subject she studies with focus and passion. Although other children are naturally drawn to her, A’ngel, a born introvert, generally prefers to play quietly on her own. At first, her mother worried that her daughter was being insensitive to others and not paying attention to her surroundings. But once Mom released her own emotional projections, she recognized how happy her daughter is in her own space and began to appreciate the benefits of this independence. At least a third of Americans are introverts, yet many parents are prone to mischaracterize their more private children as antisocial, selfcentered and lonely. Susan Cain, a former corporate attorney and author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, explains, “Introverts are not antisocial, they just prefer socializing in lower-key ways.” They usually form a few deep and intimate

relationships compared to extroverts that often cultivate many friends. Christine Fonseca, an educational psychologist and author of Quiet Kids, notes the danger in misunderstanding a child’s hesitancy or reserved nature. “Kids can benefit from understanding who they are and what it means to be an introvert. Otherwise, they may compare themselves to their extrovert friends and feel deficient.” Introverts own many exceptional qualities. They tend to be deep thinkers able to work independently in highly creative and innovative ways. They may prefer to learn a lot about a few topics instead of a little about many different areas. Often described as empathetic, conscientious and self-aware, introverts make authentic leaders and effective managers as adults. Introvert and extrovert temperaments are distinguished by how individuals generate energy. Introverts process the world and recharge through solitude; many can flourish in social situations as long as they can rejuvenate by being on their own. Fonseca notes a defining difference in physiol-

ogy. “Introverts use part of the nervous system that has a long pathway from point A to point B, so it takes them longer to process information.” Cain adds, “Introverts also usually have a longer runway than others, so it takes them longer to take off and fly. It’s crucial that the message they’re receiving from parents and teachers is, ‘That’s okay.’” It’s important that parents balance how they honor a child’s preferences with teaching them skills to thrive. “Don’t expect them to follow the gang,” says Cain. “Instead, encourage them to follow their passions.” Parents can empower children with tools to increase their comfort zone. If youngsters have difficulty speaking up in class, it helps to prepare them with what they want to say beforehand. Cain notes that this lessens anxiety and when they are able to speak up, they’ll feel like part of the class. Simple tips can offer relief in uncomfortable social situations. Perillo reinforces social manners before she and A’ngel arrive at an event. She focuses on the greetings, reminding her to extend her hand first, speak clearly, make eye contact and smile. Also, because self-promotion doesn’t come naturally to introverts, they often need coaching to highlight their own assets when applying for a club, college or job. Fonseca encourages families to embrace digital technology. She observes, “Most introverts are extroverts

online. While face-to-face communication tends to drain them, that doesn’t happen as much online, plus it’s easier to feel more adept socially there.” They’ll still need to disconnect and renew after socializing online, so it’s important to set usage boundaries. Fonseca, who has one introverted and one extroverted child, facilitates dialogue that teaches each of them to communicate with their peers about their needs. “My introvert tells her extrovert friends not to take offense if she needs to take quiet time alone. They offer each other a perspective that makes their own point of view more well-rounded.” From a neuropsychological perspective, introverts and extroverts can learn from each other, as well. According to Fonseca, extroverts that habitually activate their sympathetic nervous system (“fight-or-flight”) can experience burnout if they don’t learn how to slow down and be calm. However, introverts, relying mostly on their parasympathetic system (“rest and digest”), can be overly calm and slow to respond to situations. Fonseca notes, “It’s not about one temperament being more positive than the other; it’s about understanding who everyone is, their authentic self and finding balance.”

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CHOCOLATE AS HEALTH FOOD Boosting Diets and Heart Health by Judith Fertig

“

esearch tells us that 14 out of any 10 individuals like chocolate,” quips cartoonist Sandra Boynton. American chocolate lovers buy 58 million-plus pounds around Valentine’s Day, according to Nielsen Research. Ideally, the dark treat would be as healthy as a salad or an apple. Fortunately, accumulating research is on the way to giving plant-based chocolate superfood status. All chocolate starts with cacao beans, seeds from the pods of the tropical cacao tree that thrives only in hot, rainy climates in Africa, Indonesia and South America. Local soil and climate conditions determine flavor characteristics, much as with grapes. Harvested beans are fermented to create the chocolate taste and then dried. Afterwards, chocolate makers add brand-specific ingredients to the cacao solids. “The percentage number on a bar’s wrapper represents the weight that actually comes from the cacao bean content,” says Robert L. Wolke, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh and author of

What Einstein Told His Cook: Kitchen Science Explained. “The higher the number, the lower the percentage of sugar and the less sweet, more bitter and complex the flavor.” This is significant because dark chocolate contains higher levels of antioxidants which can help reduce cell damage, according to the Integrative Medicine Department at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Alex Whitmore, founder of Taza Chocolate, in Somerville, Massachusetts, recently had one of its bars lab tested for antioxidant levels, called ORAC, or oxygen radical absorption capacity; the higher the value, the more antioxidants. Taza Chocolate’s 80% Dark Bar had a 65 percent higher ORAC than Himalayan goji berries, famed for being a superfood. “This is very high for a chocolate bar,” notes Whitmore. Cocoa also serves as a superfood for cardiovascular and metabolic health, report two recent studies from separate teams of Harvard School of Public Health researchers. A 2012 meta-analysis of clinical trials published in the American Journal of Clini-

cal Nutrition concluded that consuming dark, unsweetened cocoa powder and dark chocolate can improve blood pressure, vascular dilation and cholesterol levels, plus reduce metabolic precursors like diabetes that can lead to heart disease. In 2011, Eric Ding, Ph.D., a Harvard School of Public Health epidemiologist and nutrition scientist, reviewed short-term trials of subjects ingesting 400 to 500 mg per day of flavonoid-rich cocoa, which he equates to 33 bars of milk chocolate or eight bars of dark chocolate. While Ding feels this is an unreasonable amount to eat because of the extra calories from sugar and fat, he states, “Supplements with concentrated cocoa flavonoids may perhaps be helpful for garnering the benefits discovered. The key is getting the benefits for heart disease while avoiding the calories, and for that, chocolate bars are not likely the best solution.” Another observational study published in Nutrition shows that eating dark chocolate might help keep the pounds off for teenagers. Researchers with the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence program at the University of Zaragoza, in Spain, knew that chocolate consumption in adults already had been linked to lower body mass index. They found that chocolate consumption was also associated with lower total and midsection fat in European adolescents, reports Sayer Ji, founder of GreenMedInfo.com, a natural health research database. “The quality and cocoa content they used in their research is probably much higher than in America,” says Ji. “From my perspective, it appears that even when researchers don’t control for type, the results across the board are rather startling. Even American subjects, presumably eating common milk chocolate bars, see benefits.” So, this Valentine’s Day—and every day—we can happily relish that one-ounce piece of artisan dark chocolate melting slowly in our mouth and know we’re doing it for pleasure and for health. Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

Chocolate Cookery Vegan Chocolate Pie

Serve this with fresh raspberries and enjoy a little romance. Yields 8 servings Chocolate Wafer Crust 6½ oz dairy-free chocolate wafer cookies, crushed into fine crumbs 1 Tbsp maple or date sugar 3 oz vegan buttery stick (such as Earth Balance), melted and slightly cooled Chocolate Filling 13 oz dairy-free semisweet chocolate chips (such as Ghirardelli) 1 /3 cup strong brewed coffee 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 lb silken tofu, drained 1 Tbsp agave 1 (9-in) prepared chocolate wafer crust Preheat the oven to 350° F. For the crust, combine the cookie crumbs, sugar and melted vegan buttery stick. Press this mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom, up the sides and just over the lip of a 9-inch metal pie pan. Bake on the middle rack of the oven until the crust is set and appears dry, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely, about 1 hour.

For the filling, melt the chocolate chips with the coffee and vanilla in a medium metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring often with a spatula. Combine the tofu, melted chocolate mixture and agave in a blender or food processor until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour the filling into the crust and refrigerate for 2 hours or until the filling becomes firm.

Vegan Hot Chocolate

A comforting way to enjoy the benefits of chocolate on a cold day. Yields 4 servings 2½ cups plain rice milk 3 Tbsp maple or date sugar 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder ½ tsp salt ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 pinch ground cinnamon 1 pinch cayenne pepper Bring the rice milk, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, cinnamon and cayenne pepper to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and whisk until frothy. Serve immediately. Source: Recipes courtesy of Judith Fertig

Chocolate Artistry Small-batch, artisan chocolate makers strive to make delicious chocolate in the purest, most ethical and sustainable ways possible. They often travel to meet the growers to source the best cacao beans (organic preferred), use fair trade principles and take a personal interest in making fine chocolate without filler ingredients. Here is a partial list of conscientious members of Craft Chocolate Makers of America: Amano Artisan Chocolate, AmanoChocolate.com Askinosie Chocolate, Askinosie.com DeVries Chocolate, DeVriesChocolate.com Patric Chocolate, Patric-Chocolate.com Taza Chocolate, TazaChocolate.com natural awakenings

February 2014

wisewords

LOVE MAGNET

Katherine Woodward Thomas on Drawing True Love Our Way by Debra Melani

fter years of experiencing love going sour, Katherine Woodward Thomas set a goal: She would marry her soul mate within a year. Her quest inspired a surprising awakening that spurred her to look deep inside for the key that would unblock love. Thomas realized the transformation that enabled her success involved clear steps that could help anyone. Today, the licensed psychotherapist and relationship expert has guided thousands toward successful relationships via her national bestseller, Calling in “The One”: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life, and subsequent books and seminars.

What catalyzed your Calling in “The One” professional journey? I was 41, a card-carrying member of one of America’s largest-growing groups—the never-marrieds. I had bought into the cultural belief that a woman my age had little chance of finding a great husband. I felt anxious and resigned, trying to come to terms with it, but sad inside.

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Fortunately, at the time, I was part of a small group supportive of each other’s intentions. So I set the outrageous intention that I would be engaged by my next birthday. I also recognized my longstanding pattern of attracting unavailable men who were engaged, married or alcoholics. A woman in the group said, “Katherine, I will hold that intention with you if you permit me to hold you accountable to be the woman you would need to be in order to fulfill it.” Her wake-up call turned my focus from running out to find love to going within to discover the barriers I had against it. Thus I began what became the Calling in “The One” process.

How does it differ from other approaches to finding love? Many approaches focus on the external reasons love is elusive, such as all the good men are taken, men don’t like powerful women or just not having met the right person. This approach focuses more on the internal reasons—going within to discover and release one’s own conscious and unconscious barriers. For

most of us, a gap exists between how much we think we want love and how much we are actually open and ready to receive it. Until we bridge that gap, we will covertly keep love at bay, and won’t even realize we are doing it.

What are the most common hidden barriers to love? One hidden barrier is resentment. We only resent people to the extent that we’ve given our power away to them. Uncover your role in what happened. Even if it was 97 percent their fault and 3 percent yours, zero in on that 3 percent, because you’ll only be able to trust yourself to love again once you’ve taken that responsibility. If you still feel resentful, you have not yet evolved beyond the person you were before. Another centers on old agreements—the spoken and unspoken, agreements we make, usually in an emotional time—such as “I’m never going to let myself get hurt again” or “I’ll never love anyone the way I love you.” Such agreements live in our lives as intentions. They may no longer be conscious, yet still set our course. Another has to do with toxic relational dynamics. To find the best partnership, you need to be your best self. Maintaining a toxic dynamic drains personal power, making it hard to move forward in life. It’s vital to evolve out of this debilitating dynamic so you are in the center of your power everywhere in life. The fourth area, and probably the most important, revolves around the

core beliefs you hold about both yourself and others. You might have a reasonably clear sense of yourself around money, career and friendship, but your core love identity might cause you to believe yourself unworthy of a quality partner. Identifying and challenging these beliefs is critical in learning how to break free from them, helping to raise your value in your own eyes and thus in others.

You believe the best way to find a needle in a haystack is to become magnetic and allow that needle to find you. How does one become magnetic to love? Being centered in the truth of your own value and the real possibilities you hold for true love is wildly attractive. Love yearns to embrace us, but can’t come to us if it can’t come through us. When we shift into this place of possibility, we can become profoundly magnetic to love. Learn more at CallingInTheOne.net, ConsciousUncoupling.com or KatherineWoodwardThomas.com. Explore the qualities possible in an enlightened mate at NaturalAwakenings Singles.com. Freelance journalist Debra Melani is from Lyons, CO. Connect at DebraMelani.com.

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natural awakenings

February 2014

calendarofevents SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1

Earth Retreat – Feb 1-2. Divine Time Retreats presents 2014 Elemental Retreats. We celebrate the first signs of a reawakening Earth. Learn about sustainability, plant identification, herbal wisdom and some DIY pampering with a gentle footprint. To register: DivineTimeRetreats.com. S.T.A.R. Circles Global Book Discussion Groups – 10am Eastern Time at NinaBrown33.com/ Community-Star.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions – 2-5pm. Three Atlanta interfaith organizations (Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta, Interfaith Community Initiatives and Neshama Interfaith Center) collaborating to invite selected cities in metro Atlanta to embrace the Charter for Compassion and declare that they are “compassionate cities.” Participants invited to take action over the next 2 months to generate engagement and support for the initiative. Carter Center, Freedom Pkwy, Atlanta. More info: CompassionateAtl.com/ Events.html.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

Simply Delicious: Sassy Citrus Explosion – 7-9pm. Sample the various citrus fruits available, and make a variety of dishes featuring these fruits including salads, salad dressings and preserved lemons. $30/ member, $35/nonmember. Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St, Decatur. Registration required: WyldeCenter.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Green Wednesday – 11:45am-1pm. Join us for lunch, a presentation and networking. 5 Seasons Brewery, 1000 Marietta St, Atlanta. More info & register: GreenCS.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6

Living Foods Institute Healthy Lifestyle Programs – Feb 6-20. 8am-6pm. 5-, 10-, 15- & 30-day program options available. Hands-on training in the raw and living foods recipe preparation, emotional/mental healing, cleansing and detoxification and more. Fee according to package selected. Living Foods Institute, 1700 Commerce Dr, Atlanta. 404-524-4488. LivingFoodsInstitute.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable – 7:30-9am (doors open 7am for networking). Discuss the region’s cur-

A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. ~Thomas Carlyle

rent environmental issues, from water to energy, urban planning to policy and much more. Ask questions, make comments, network and learn about Atlanta’s current and future opportunities for sustainable development. All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Ellis Hall, 634 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta. Southface.org/SART.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Partner Yoga/Thai Massage – 5:30-8pm. With Elizabeth Yates and Marti Yura. $70/couple. Vista Yoga, 2836 Lavista Rd, Ste D, Decatur. 404-9299642. VistaYoga.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9

Reiki Master Certification Training – 9-6pm. With Michal Spiegelman, nationally recognized Reiki Master and teacher. Open to Level 2 graduates. Gain the knowledge, skills and an increased level of vibration to deepen your connection and understanding of Reiki. CE credits approved. $650 including manual and certification; payment plans available. The Atlanta School of Massage, 2 Dunwoody Park South, Atlanta. Info@BalancedMoments.com. Info & register: BalancedMoments.com. S.T.A.R. Circles Global Book Discussion Groups – 12pm Eastern Time at NinaBrown33.com/ Community-Star. Fairy Tale Tea – 1-3pm. Join Callanwolde Dance Ensemble for a beautiful afternoon of tea and sandwiches, and little fairy tale magic, too. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, 980 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta. 404-872-5338. Callanwolde.org. Fundamentals of Flow – 1-3pm. With Sarah Kleiner. Are you ready to “Flow” in 2014, but not sure where to start? Join me on the mat and learn the building blocks for a safe and fun practice. Done correctly vinyasa-style yoga will strengthen the body, increase flexibility, and bring overall balance and better health to the body. $30/person. Vista Yoga, 2836 Lavista Rd, Ste D, Decatur. 404-929-9642. VistaYoga.com. Hands-On Winter Pruning Workshop – 1-5pm. With Jamie Blackburn. Please bring own tools. Registration required. $25/GPPA members, $35/ nonmembers. Historic Oakland Cemetery. Info & registration: GeorgiaPerennial.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Peace Core Yoga Boot Camp – Feb 10-Mar 7. Mon, Wed, Fri. With Tra Kirkpatrick. $165/person. Vista Yoga, 2836 Lavista Rd, Ste D, Decatur. 404-9299642. VistaYoga.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11

S.T.A.R. Circles Global Book Discussion Groups – 4pm Eastern Time. With Nina Brown, Ja-lene Clark and Kristy Sweetland. “S.T.A.R. Circle: I Am Worthy… Be The Love” broadcast, public, recorded. Register: NinaBrown33.com/Community-Star. Sierra Club Meeting – 7pm, refreshments; 7:30pm, program. Neill Herring and Mark Woodall talk about what the Georgia General Assembly is up to. Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 2089 Ponce de Leon Ave, Atlanta. More info: Georgia.SierraClub.org/Atlanta.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Creating Enamel Jewelry – This Artist Information course presented by acclaimed Russian jeweler Evelyn Sadovsky. Hands-on instruction. All materials provided. Space limited; RSVP & pre-payment

Atlanta Edition

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required. $20/person. Decatur Market & Gallery, 153 Ponce de Leon Pl, Decatur. To register: 404377-0755.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Great Backyard Bird Count – Feb 14-16. Participate in this nation-wide bird hunt to count all the birds in North America. No bird watching experience necessary and we will even provide the binoculars. All ages. CNC, 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell. 770-992-2055. More info: ChattNatureCenter.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15

I Love Nature – 11am-1pm. Show Mother Nature some love during this fun-filled family event. Variety of activities throughout the day. All ages. Free/CNC Members and included with Admission. CNC, 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell. 770-992-2055. For schedule: ChattNatureCenter.org. Edible Garden Design – 2-5pm. Learn basic principles of integrating edibles into landscapes. Learn about zones for edible annuals, edible perennials, and shrubs/trees and how to identify the right plants for the right place in a landscape. $25/member, $30/ nonmember. Wylde Center, 435 Oakview Rd, Decatur. Registration required: 404-371-1920. Andrea. Zoppo@yahoo.com. WyldeCenter.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Raw & Living Foods Banquet Feast & Graduation Party – 3:30pm. Delicious organic raw and living foods buffet and testimonies from students who have completed the Healthy Lifestyle Course. Open to the public. $5-$10 donation appreciated. Living Foods Institute, 1700 Commerce Dr, Atlanta. For reservations: 404-524-4488. LivingFoodsInstitute.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Raw & Living Foods Educational Seminar & Recipe Demonstration – 7pm. Learn how to reverse and slow aging, heal disease, increase energy, reach ideal weight and more. Enjoy recipe demo and taste delicious recipes. Open to the public. $5-$10 donation appreciated. Living Foods Institute, 1700 Commerce Dr, Atlanta. Call & leave name & number for reservations: 404-524-4488. LivingFoodsInstitute.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

The Inspired Gardener Symposium – Presented by the Georgia Perennial Plant Association and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. More info: GeorgiaPerennial.org. 2014 Temple of Sound – 9am-9pm. Learn ancient healing techniques and tomorrow’s technology. Educational sound classes. Wander healthy exhibits, free, featuring massage therapists, reflexologists, angel/card readings, vibrational technology, healthy snacks, natural beauty and silent auction. Special event: Mandala Blessing! A Sound Healing Journey. Walk the Sound Labyrinth of Blessings, 7:309pm, $10. Open to the public. Massage therapists receive 8 CEs. $95. UUCA, 1911 Cliff Valley Way, Atlanta. Register, volunteer, exhibit & more info: PowerOfSounds.org or 404.307.0593. S.T.A.R. Circles Global Book Discussion Groups – 12pm Eastern Time at NinaBrown33.com/ Community-Star.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Reiki Level 2 Class – 9am-6pm. With Michal Spiegelman, nationally recognized Reiki Master & teacher. Reiki level 1 practitioners expand their Reiki practice using distance Reiki. Approved for CE credits. $250 includes manual & certification; payment plan available. The Atlanta School of Massage, 2 Dunwoody Park South, Atlanta. Info@BalancedMoments.com. Info & register: BalancedMoments.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Simply Delicious: Baking Gluten-, Dairy- & EggFree – 7-9pm. Lean to modify recipes from regular to gluten-, dairy- and egg-free. Learn to substitute and when to just pick a new recipe. Go home with recipes. $35/member, $40/nonmember. Decatur Recreation Center, 231 Sycamore St, Decatur. Registration required: WyldeCenter.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26

S.T.A.R. Circles Global Book Discussion Groups – 2pm Eastern Time at NinaBrown33.com/Community-Star.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27

The Nature Club – 7-9pm. Georgia River Network volunteers, Alicia Evans (CNC Outreach Coordinator) and Joey Giunta (CNC Canoe Guide) share their experiences with Paddle Georgia and the youth program. $10/general public, $5/CNC Members. CNC, 9135 Willeo Rd, Roswell. 770-992-2055. More info: ChattNatureCenter.org.

plan ahead FRIDAY, MARCH 7

ChantLanta 2014 Sacred Music Festival – Mar 7 & 8. Two days of chanting, music, dancing, yoga, sacred sound, peace, love and conscious community. Free and open for everybody. Druid Hills Baptist Church, 1085 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta. More info: ChantLanta.org. Sustainable Atlanta Roundtable – 7:30-9am (doors open 7am for networking). Discuss the region’s current environmental issues, from water to energy, urban planning to policy and much more. Ask questions, make comments, network and learn about Atlanta’s current and future opportunities for sustainable development. All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Ellis Hall, 634 W Peachtree St NW, Atlanta. Southface.org/SART.

MONDAY, March 16

Reiki Level 1 Class – 11am-5pm. With Michal Spiegelman, nationally recognized Reiki Master and teacher. Includes: Reiki ideals and history, hand positions for self treatment and treating others, Reiki attunement. 6 CEUs. $150 including manual and certification; payment plans available. The Atlanta School of Massage, 2 Dunwoody Park South, Atlanta. Info@BalancedMoments.com. Info & register: BalancedMoments.com.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19

Intensive Life Coaching Training – Mar 19-23. 5 days. Guide clients to discover their life purpose, or provide business, career, relationship, health or spiritual coaching with intensive training through the Life Purpose Institute. Proven process. Atlanta. RSVP: 858-484-3400 or LifePurposeInstitute.com.

Reading Service – 11am. See website for a complete list of services and events. Atlanta Meditation Center of Self-Realization Fellowship, 4000 King Springs Rd SE, Smyrna. 770-434-7200. SRFAtlanta.org.

390-0012. MH@Millennium-Healthcare.com. Millennium-Healthcare.com.

Prayers for World Peace – 11am-12:30pm. To achieve world peace, we must first create peace within our own minds. Includes teaching, meditation, and prayers. Everyone welcome. Free. Kadampa Meditation Center GA, 6860 Peachtree-Dunwoody Rd, Sandy Springs. 770-913-0260. MeditationForEveryone.org.

Raw Wednesdays – 2-4pm. Sevananda working member, Tassili Ma’at of Tassili’s Raw Reality will demo her yummy food. 5-8pm, Chef Laura of Living Foods Institute offers delicious raw food samples. Sevananda Natural Foods Market, 467 Moreland Ave NE, Atlanta. 404-681-2831. Sevananda.coop. Meditation and Gentle Yoga Stretch – 10am. For anyone new to yoga and meditation, or for those who wish to refine their skills. Vista Yoga, 2836 Lavista Rd, Ste D, Decatur. 404-929-9642. VistaYoga.com.

savethedate Weekly Meditations Sundays 11am. Free.

thursday

1st Sun–Basics of Meditation by Geshe Lobsang Tenzin. Other Sun– Meditation with Tibetan monk. Free. Drepung Loseling Monastery, Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Practice and Culture. 1781 Dresden Drive, Atlanta. 404-982-0051. For complete calendar & info, visit Drepung.org.

Stress Release Yoga – 6pm. By donation,$5 minimum. You Yoga, Me Yoga & More, 8745 Dunwoody Pl, Sandy Springs. 404-654-3336. YouYogaMeYoga.com. Noetic Sciences Meeting – 7:30pm. 3rd Thurs each month. Topic changes monthly. Free. Millen nium Healthcare, 4370 Georgetown Sq, Atlanta. 770-390-0012. MH@Millennium-Healthcare.com. Millennium-Healthcare.com.

monday Yin Yoga – Begins Jan 7. 7:30pm. With Elizabeth Henderson. Vista Yoga, 2836 Lavista Rd, Ste D, Decatur. 404-929-9642. VistaYoga.com. Grounded Yoga For Kids – 4:45pm. Ages 5-10. Cafe of Life Grant Park, 1030 Grant St, Atlanta. 404-917-4992. ComeThriveWithMe.com. Reiki Clinic for Usui Reiki Practitioners of All Levels – 6-9pm. Next clinic meets 1/6. Join with others for an evening of meditation, education, connection and fun. Learn how to include Reiki in all areas of life. Give and receive Reiki. 1st Mon each month. $20; $25 at door. Heal Center Atlanta, 180 Allen Rd, Ste 101, Atlanta. Info@BalancedMoments.com. BalancedMoments.com/Reiki-Clinic.

tuesday Core Restore – 6:15pm. Opening muscles of the hips and legs while strengthening core muscles! Café of Life Grant Park, 1030 Grant St, Atlanta. ComeThriveWithMe.com.

freepresentation Meditation & Public Talk Tuesdays 7:30pm. Free.

Join us for weekly meditation and public talks. Medicine Buddha meditation practice prior to talks. Free. Drepung Loseling Monastery, Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Practice and Culture. 1781 Dresden Drive, Atlanta. 404-982-0051. For topics, calendar & info, visit Drepung.org.

Stress Release Yoga – 6pm. By donation,$5 minimum. You Yoga, Me Yoga & More, 8745 Dunwoody Pl, Sandy Springs. 404-654-3336. YouYogaMeYoga.com. Meditation Service – 10am. See website for complete list of services and events. Atlanta Meditation Center of Self-Realization Fellowship, 4000 King Springs Rd SE, Smyrna. 770-434-7200. SRFAtlanta.org.

Millennium Healthcare Wellness Events – 7:30pm. 2nd Tues each month. Hosted by Dr. Gould. New topic each month. Free. Millennium Healthcare, 4370 Georgetown Sq, Atlanta. 770-

sunday

friday Environmental Sustainability Board Meeting – 8-10am. Decatur City Hall, Conference Rm, 509 N McDonough St, Decatur. Lena Stevens: 404-3704102 or Lena.Stevens@DecaturGA.com. Monthly Gathering for Inspiration and Networking – 11am-12:30pm. 2nd Fri. World Peace Café, 220 Hammond Dr NE, Atlanta. Meetup.com/ SpiritualEntrepreneursAtlanta.

saturday Yoga for Stiff Guys – 12-1:30pm. Vista Yoga, 2836 Lavista Rd, Ste D, Decatur. 404-929-9642. VistaYoga.com.

classifieds EDUCATION

Basic/Intermediate Mat Class – 6pm. Escape for an hour with Instructor Peggy Brown for a high energy Pilates Mat Workout. $15/class; $13.50/10-class package. Body Awareness Studio, 5549 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta. 404-252-7550. Info@BodyAwarenessStudio.com. BodyAwarenessStudio.com. Introductory Presentation on Meditation and Positive Living – 7-9pm. Come and enjoy this most inspiring of topics to reach your highest potential as soul. Free. Life Enrichment Center, 1340 McConnell Dr, Decatur. To register, Dhana: 404-273-5704. Santmat.net.

ongoingevents

wednesday

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN IMPROVING PEOPLE’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS? – Earn your Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs at Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine, Gainesville, FL; the leading college for Chinese diagnosis. 800-606-6685. DragonRises.edu.

NETWORKING POWERFUL YOU! WOMEN’S NETWORK – Gather women for business, personal and spiritual growth. It’s Networking with a Heart. Start a chapter. PowerfulYou.com.

RESALE / RECYCLE Turn Your Small Electronics into CA$H – We buy: • iPODS • iPHONES • Smartphones • Electronics • and more. Call or text now, 773-931-0389.

SPACE AVAILABLE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR RENT IN SANDY SPRINGS, GA – Looking for Practitioners of Natural/Alternative Health. Contact Innovest Properties at 770-331-9944 or Innovest@gmail.com.

natural awakenings

February 2014

communityresourceguide

ENERGY THERAPY THE ARIELA GROUP Anne Merkel Ph.D.

acupuncture Larissa Stewart, L.Ac.

Buckhead/Decatur • 404-803-3573 PainFreeAndHappy.com

Offering Traditional Five-Element Acupuncture, Dr. Tan’s Balance Method for pain relief, and NADA auricular detox, along with a variety of nonneedle techniques including Ohashi-style shiatsu, guasha, moxibustion and hands-on energy healing. Nationally board certified Diplomate of Acupuncture (NCCAOM). Certified Matrix Energetics Practitioner. See ad, page 7.

WHOLECARE MEDICAL GROUP Brandon Lee, L.Ac. 5390 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Norcross • 770-686-3100 WholecareMedical.org

CHIROPRACTIC CAFÉ OF LIFE HEALING CENTER GRANT PARK 1030 Grant Street, Atlanta 404-917-4992 • ComeThriveWithMe.com See events in calendar.

Coach - Health ASCENDING NATURE

Katrina R. Walker, Doctor of Pharmacy, Certified Health Coach 678-661-1317 • AscendingNature.com AscendingNature@gmail.com

Health, business and money. Raw vegan certifications, private sessions, blood typing, ear candling and more.

WONJE ACUPUNCTURE CLINIC Dr. Won W. Suh, L.Ac. 1455 Pleasant Hill Rd. Lawrenceville • 770-717-9899 WonjeAcupunctureClinic.org See ad, page 10.

AROMATIC REFLEXOLOGY The Heal Center

Roz Zollinger Sandy Springs • 404-303-0007 HealCenterAtlanta.com

Aromatherapy, reflexology and therapeutic products and gift packages. Certification courses and classes. Private sessions. See ad, page 11.

Energy Psychologist • Trainer 706-374-6460 • 877-262-2276 (toll free) ArielaGroup.com • MyEFTCoach.com Phone & In-person sessions

Offering individual life and meridian energy asessments; health and nutritional coaching; energy therapy support; and energy therapy practitioner certification and mastermind programs. A seasoned Energy Therapist and doctoral student of Naturopathy, she utilizes numerous modalities depending on your needs. She can guide in your conscious transformation, wellness, and release of trauma. With specialties in clearing autoimmune disorders and recurring negative cycles, Anne regularly trains and supports other health and wellness practitioners, coaches, therapists to integrate energy therapy into their practices. See ad, page 25.

HEALTH FOOD SEVANANDA NATURAL FOODS 467 Moreland Avenue, Atlanta 404-681-2831 • Sevananda.coop

COLON HYDROTHERAPY CLEAR PATH WELLNESS CENTER 275 Carpenter Dr, Ste 202, Sandy Springs 404-497-9268 • ClearPathWellness.com

Providing colon hydrotherapy, nutritional consulting, ion cleanse foot bath, far infrared sauna, reflexology, massage and raindrop therapy, bio-energetic evaluation and life-enhancement processing services for the greater Atlanta metro area. See ad, page 25.

See ad, page 22.

Life Grocery and Cafe

1453 Roswell Road, Marietta 1/2 mile east of the Big Chicken 770-977-9583 • LifeGrocery.com

A natural foods market featuring organic produce. Extensive selection of nutritional supplements. Vegetarian cafe, organic foods including salad bar, hot bar, fresh juices, smoothies. See ad, page 28.

HOLISTIC DENTISTRY DENTISTRY at SUGARLOAF

Al Norton, D.D.S. 6600 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Ste 600-700, Duluth 770-513-1312 • DentistryAtSugarloaf.com

Formerly Atlanta Laser Dentistry. Only the name has changed. The same great dentist and staff remain. See ad, page 4.

Cann Dentistry

Roberta D. Cann, D.M.D. Piedmont Center, 3525 Piedmont Road Building Five, Ste 408, Atlanta 404-233-1102 • CannDentistry.com See ad, page 3.

HOLISTIC HEALTHCARE Millennium Healthcare

4370 Georgetown Square, Atlanta 770-390-0012 (ph) • 770-457-4428 (fax) mh@millennium-healthcare.com Millennium-Healthcare.com

A cutting edge facility for alternative and holistic healthcare based on traditional medicine and alternative medicine working hand-in-hand to provide patients with an integrative model of care combining the best of Western, Eastern and emergine medical treatments from science. Visit our website for a complete listing of services. See ad, page 15.

Atlanta Edition

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natural awakenings

February 2014

HYPNOTHERAPY Lorri Heller, C.Ht.

Marietta • Lorrizh@aol.com 678 909-5110 • 205-862-6888 (cell) Marietta-Hypnosis.com

LIVING/RAW FOODS

Technology Meets Spirituality

echnology is now connecting star seeds, around the planet in creative ways, to dream the new earth into being. Join an international community, in a sacred virtual space, to explore a simple yet profound philosophy, S.T.A.R. (Surrender, Trust, Allow, Receive). FREE online discussion groups are using the philosophy of S.T.A.R. as a foundation for coherent conversations. On the calls, one can explore how to be the fascinated observer of life’s experiences, according to awardwinning author Nina Brown, a cum laude graduate of Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. Each session presents 10 video participants, including guide Brown, and an unlimited number of virtual viewers and audio listeners who can listen in. It’s a safe, nonjudgmental space free of personal promotion focused on graceful speaking and listening that provides room for new, like- minded friendships and communities to form. Users can register to be either a video participant or listener/observer. “S.T.A.R. is so beautiful. Simple but very effective.” Anonymous Brown, author of the books Return of Love to Planet Earth: Memoir of a Reluctant Visionary and S.T.A.R.: A Now State of Being, is currently co-authoring with Kristy Sweetland the forthcoming S.T.A.R.: The Fascinated Observer’s Guide. This monthly, Brown will be joined by her co-author and publisher, Ja-lene Clark, in a S.T.A.R. Circle broadcast to discuss “S.T.A.R. Wisdom: I Am Worthy... Be The Love” to celebrate in February, Saint Valentine. Sweetland, a certified professional coach, has a master’s degree in transpersonal psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, renamed Sofia University, in Palo Alto, California. Clark helped develop both S.T.A.R. books through her publishing company, Gather Insight. Users can also view past recorded video gatherings, participate in book discussion groups and receive newsletters at ninabrown33.com/community-star. Advertisement

Atlanta Edition

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Living Foods Institute

1700 Commerce Drive, NE, Atlanta 800-844-9876 • 404-524-4488 LivingFoodsInstitute.com See ad on page 2.

INTEGRATIVE PEDIATRICS ALL WORLDS PEDIATRICS

900 Old Roswell Lakes Pkwy, Ste 220 Roswell • 678-629-3988 AllWorldsPediatrics.com See ad, page 20.

ATLANTA MEDITATION CENTER OF SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP 4000 King Springs Rd SE, Atlanta 770-434-7200 • SrfAtlanta.org

Realize your true Self by direct perception of the divine through Kriya Yoga. Self-Realization Fellowship is a world wide organization founded in 1920 by P a r a m a h a n s a Yo g a n a n d a (Autobiography of a Yogi). Sundays: Meditation Service @ 10:00AM; Reading Service @ 11:00AM. See our website for a complete list of services and events. See calendar for local events.

OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY Felecia L. Dawson, MD

Board Certified Obstetrics & Gynecology One Baltimore Place, Ste. 350, Atlanta 404-733-6334 • wmn4wmn.com See ad page 20.

THERMOGRAPHY

MASSAGE THERAPY MICHAEL ZOLLINGER

The Heal Center Wellness Collective 180 Allen Rd, Ste. 101 N., Sandy Springs 404-303-0007 • HCWellnessAtlanta.com See ad, page 11.

MEDICAL Qigong The RISING LOTUS QIGONG

5390 Peachtree Ind’l Blvd, Ste 200, Norcross TheRisingLotus.com • 404-721-2326

Offering Medical Qigong Therapy. Specializing in chronic conditions and difficult cases. Weekly Qigong & Tai Chi classes. Certification courses. See ad, page 18.

THE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT CO. David George, Oriental Medical

Practitioner and Medical Qigong Therapist

Ansley Square Atlanta • 404-216-7008 david@tcmbetterhealth.com TCMBetterHealth.com

Offering medical qigong, reflexology and acupoint therapy, an energetic approach to managing chronic symptoms, targetting the root cause of symptoms, and bringing balance to the entire being.

MEDITATION Sant MAT MEDITATION

Sant Baljit Singh, Spiritual Master info@KnowThyselfAsSoul.org 877-MEDITATE • SantMat.net

Meditation on the Inner Light and Sound: Learn how to live in alignment with the soul’s purpose and to experience greater harmony within, with others, and with the environment. Always free, never a charge. See calendar for local meditation groups, classes and events.

Mobile Thermographic Imaging Over 15 locations • 678-852-8548 Atlanta-Breast-Thermography.com

Thermography is a completely non-invasive clinical imaging procedure for detecting and monitoring a number of diseases and injuries by showing thermal abnormalities present in the body. Some studies show thermography may detect subtle changes indicating breast disease 3-5 years earlier than other forms of breast testing. The screening is done without any pain, radiation, or compression. See ad, page 19.

YOGA / PILATES BODY AWARENESS STUDIO 5549 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta BodyAwarenessStudio.com 404-252-7550

ONI FITNESS STUDIOS 2810 Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta OniFitness.com • 770-433-3515

MARIETTA CENTER FOR YOGA & WELL BEING 317 Alexander St., Marietta MariettaYoga.com • 770-425-4488

STILLNESS YOGA & Meditation Center 3115 Rosewell Rd., Marietta StillnessYoga.com • 770-337-9335

VISTA YOGA 2836 Lavista Rd., Ste D, Decatur (next to Fellini’s, in back) VistaYoga.com • 404-929-YOGA (9642)

You Yoga Me Yoga 8745 Dunwoody Place, Sandy Spring YouYogaMeYoga.com • 404-654-3336

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natural awakenings

February 2014

Atlanta Edition

naAtlanta.com