Natural Awakenings Washington DC June 2016

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

FREE

BE HAPPY Daily Practices for a Happier Life

Dad Matters How to be the Father Kids Need

Inflammation Is Your Diet to Blame?

Hot Days Are Hard on Pets How to Prevent, Detect and Treat Heatstroke

June 2016 | Washington, D.C. Edition | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com natural awakenings June 2016

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Barnard MEDICAL CENTER

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letterfrompublisher Dear Friends, contact us Publisher, Editor in Chief Robin Fillmore Contributing Editors Jessica Bradshaw Randy Kambic Grace Ogden Design & Production Irene Sankey Marketing Director Beverly Nickerson Sales Directors Laina Poulakos Outreach Director Samantha Hudgins

Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-505-4835 Fax: 202-827-7955 4938 Hampden Lane, #214 Bethesda, MD 20814 Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com NaturalAwakeningsDC.com ©2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe online to receive FREE monthly digital magazine at NaturalAwakeningsDC.com.

As I was reviewing the articles for this month’s magazine, I re-read the feature on happiness.

Now I have an ear worm (that sometimes little annoying tune that can’t seem to get out of your head) with the Pharrell Williams’ song, Happy. It is not surprising that the song made such an imprint on our lives. You just can’t sit still when that song pops up on your playlist. Even the esteemed Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) had a YouTube video of him dancing to the song.

Happiness has been a hot topic of late, with a wealth of research being conducted and published. I am quite certain that every generation feels that they are in the midst of a transitional period, but this moment that we are now in may be offering the most profound fractures in generations.

Spend time on any of the news channels with wall-to-wall coverage of the 2016 election and you will hear that a revolt is taking place among the disaffected (in other words, unhappy) public. Without getting too political here, the analysis from every point of view reveals that there is angst and lowered expectations for much of the middle class. We are making less and working more. Young people can’t find jobs that pay a living wage and quite likely will have a shorter life span than their parents. Neither government nor business seem capable of solving the great problems of the day. So what is there to be happy about? Plenty.

The science of happiness, with reams of research to back it up, shows that creating and recognizing happiness in our lives is vital to our health and to those closest to us. This is not manufactured happiness but real happiness that is cultivated by rising above the swirling negative thoughts in our brains. By simply focusing on what is good, fresh, clean, lovely—we can add more happiness to our lives and be healthier for it.

Another thing that makes me happy is fathers. We also spend a bit of time this month honoring the men who have shaped our lives in so many ways. I lost my father when he was quite young, only 56, but the happy memories are permanently etched in my memory. Fathering is an important job and one to be cultivated.

Enjoy the feature this month on “Dad Matters: How to be the Father Kids Need.”

Finally, we are thrilled to present an exclusive interview with Grammy-nominated kirtan artist, Krishna Das. He has stopped touring for the moment except for headlining at the LoveLight Yoga and Arts Festival the last weekend in August, which is taking place in Darlington, Maryland (near the Pennsylvania state line).

I had the great fortune to spend some time with KD as he shared his wisdom on how to weather the storms of life (or to be happy).

Have a happy month and plan for a wonderful summer. Don’t forget to be happy and “clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do!” Not only will it bring a smile to your face, it will make you feel better every time.

Peace-

Natural Awakenings practices environmental sustainability by using post-consumer recycled paper and soy-based ink on uncoated stock, avoiding the toxic chemicals and huge energy costs of producing shiny, coated paper that is harder to recycle.

neverglossy.alwaysgreen 6

Washington, D.C.

Robin Fillmore, Publisher

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contents 8 newsbriefs 13 healthbriefs 16 globalbriefs 13 1 9 ecotip 27 inspiration 28 fitbody 30 healthykids 3 1 personalcare 33 consciouseating 16 34 leadingedge 35 garden

spotlight 19 36 business

spotlight 39 naturalpet 40 calendar 46 resourceguide

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 202-505-4835 or email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com.

Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

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CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online: NaturalAwakeningsDC.com within the advertising section.

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

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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.

20 HAPPY ALL DAY

Simple Daily Practices for a Happier Life

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by Judith Fertig

23 KRISHNA DAS

PERFORMS AT

AUGUST LOVELIGHT

FESTIVAL

an Interview with Publisher Robin Fillmore

24 TRESS STRESS

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Natural Ways to Prevent Hair Loss

by Jody McCutcheon

26 FIND THE RIGHT

DRUG, SUPPLEMENT

AND DOSE

Using this Important New Test

by Charles Gant, MD

28 BUFF AND BALANCED Bodybuilders Turn to Yoga

by Aimee Hughes

30 DAD MATTERS

How to be the Father Kids Need

by Armin Brot

33 INFLAMMATION

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Is Your Diet Causing It?

by Elizabeth McMillan

37 EMOTIONAL SMARTS

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How to Raise Your Quotient

by Harvey Deutschendorf

39 HOT DAYS ARE HARD ON PETS

How to Prevent, Detect and Treat Heatstroke

by Shawn Messonnier

natural awakenings June 2016

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Photo Credit OMA + OLIN

newsbriefs Healthy Living Day with Natural Awakenings and Dawson’s Market

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atural Awakenings DC and Dawson’s Market, in Rockville, are teaming up again, to bring the opportunity to engage, learn and get healthy at our Healthy Living Day. The event will be held at Dawson’s Market, located in Rockville Town Square, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 4. The event is free and open to all.

Our goal for this event is to help the growing community of wellnessseekers by bringing together those who seek knowledge about their own health with those who provide the best of conventional medicine and complementary therapies, treating the whole person: mind, body and spirit. We are providing this information in a way that educates and brings joy.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and greet many local health practitioners and health-related business owners, who are all devoted to sharing their passions, their expertise and their products with you. Some will have samples to share as well. There will be opportunities to learn the latest about CBD, a compound in cannabis that has medical effects for a whole range of conditions, including depression and thyroid disorders, as well as learn the latest about medical access to marijuana through area physicians in Washington, D.C. and Maryland. There are amazing producers of green, organic and healthy products and snacks, many of them local entrepreneurs, who are making a national name for themselves.

There will be speakers throughout the day, sharing their wisdom through talks and workshops on a variety of topics including journaling, essential oils and learning about the medical cannabis laws in our area. All the talks are free and open to all but seating will be limited.

Dawson’s Market is a wonderful partner to Natural Awakenings. They are known for “celebrating community through local and organic food” as well as serving as a hub for the residents Montgomery County and beyond, to find the best food and products to nourish the body and spirit.

Location: 225 N. Washington St., Rockville. Free parking for two hours and metrofriendly. For more information, visit HealthyLivingExpoDC.com. See ad, page 5.

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Ward Eight Develops an Exciting New Park

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he 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of Ward 8-based nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River at THEARC will be Washington, D.C.’s first elevated public park located on the piers of the old 11th Street Bridge, spanning the Anacostia River: a new venue for healthy recreation; environmental education; and the arts.

Bringing transformative new investment to a neighborhood can be a community developer’s dream. A “big enough” project can have an immediate impact on the surrounding environment and build momentum for change, but often, big opportunities also carry the risk of the displacement of longtime neighborhood residents once market forces take over. In an effort to create an anchor for inclusive economic development, over the course of 2015 an Equitable Development Plan (EDP) was shaped by community stakeholders who developed 19 actionable recommendations in the areas of workforce development, small business enterprise and affordable housing.

To further these efforts, Local Initiatives Support Corporation DC (LISC DC) has invested $50 million into the neighborhoods surrounding the future Bridge Park to help foster equity and inclusiveness and to support residents living within the Bridge Park Impact Area. They will work through their nonprofit partners to provide loans, grants, equity, in-kind services and technical support which will go toward affordable housing, early childhood education, medical care, food support, arts education and other services, and supports their mission to help neighborhood residents create healthy and sustainable places of choice and opportunity.

Follow developments on this project at BridgePark.org.

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Mindful Healthy Life Expands Online Commemorate, Educate and Celebrate Animal Rights Day: Resources for Metro D.C. Parents he website MindfulHealthyLife.

Our Planet, Theirs Too

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com is metro D.C.’s online lifestyle magazine for natural-minded parents. Launched two years ago on Earth Day, the site features an event calendar, a resource directory and a blog of news and tips of interest to parents pursuing family wellness. Mindful Healthy Life aims to increase the visibility of holistic family living in the metro D.C. area and to connect parents to the resources they need. The site was created by Northern Virginia writer and mother of two, Jessica Claire Haney.

Since becoming a parent 10 years ago, Haney wished for a local website for parents pursuing a natural lifestyle, especially for those new to D.C. or to holistic approaches. Mindful Healthy Life became that site. The event calendar is free for anyone to add relevant events.

Haney is also working on the Guide to Holistic Family Living in Metro DC to be released this fall as an e-book to subscribers of Mindful Healthy Life. Subscribe for free at eepurl.com/S39H1.

The site’s online resource directory has more than 250 entries of local businesses and organizations and will provide the basis of the e-book. Through June 15, listings may be added for free. After that, new listings will incur a small one-time fee. Resources that serve natural-minded families can enter themselves in the directory by going to MindfulHealthyLife.com/Resource -Directory/ and clicking “Submit a Listing.”

Mindful Healthy Life offers additional opportunities for event promotion and business exposure, including sponsored posts, giveaways and partnerships. For details, visit MindfulHealthyLife.com/ About/Work-With-Me/ or email Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com.

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ationally observed annually in the U.S. and Canada for the purpose of giving a voice to the trillions of animals who suffer or are killed by humans, Animal Rights Day will be commemorated in Washington, D.C. from noon to 4 p.m. on June 5 at the Ellipse, near the White House. All are invited to join the event and raise awareness for the plight of animals and their right to live free from human harm. The tagline for the event “Our Planet, Theirs Too,” notes that we humans share our planet Earth with many other living creatures. The goal is to champion animal rights until all are free from enslavement and all forms of violence, and their rights are established and protected by law.

The program for this special celebration includes a requiem ceremony, a reading the Declaration of Animal Rights and speakers such as Alex Hershaft of the Farm Animal Rights Movement, Will Tuttle, known for the World Peace Diet, Karen Davis of United Poultry Concerns, Mary Finelli of Fish Feel, Dr. Ruby Lathon of Roadmap to Holistic Health and Naijha Wright-Brown from the Land of Kush (café).

For more information, visit Facebook.com/groups/ 1475357589457309/.

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newsbriefs

Happy, Joyous and Freewheeling: Empowering Underserved Communities Through Safe Cycling

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arnard Medical Center invites all to join their 2016 Summer Speaker Series where attendees will meet and mingle with acclaimed national experts in plant-based nutrition. Delicious plant-based light fare and beverages will be served. The events take place in the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine office in NW D.C.

From 6:30 to 8 p.m. on June 8, Dr. Ana Negrón will speak on Nourishing the Body and Recovering Health. In her one-of-a-kind 2015 book, Negrón redefines health care as the practice of nourishing ourselves to support a lifelong partnership with our body. Board-certified in family medicine, Negrón owns a solo nutrition practice where she facilitates individuals’ healthy transition to a plant-based diet to lose weight and reduce the need for many medications.

Her book, with the same title as her talk, will be available for purchase.

Dr. Michael Greger will speak from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on July 13. Greger invites attendees to examine the 15 top causes of premature death in America and how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can free any person to live a healthier life. Greger is a physician, New York Times bestselling author and internationally recognized speaker on a number of important public health issues. He is also the physician behind the wildly popular website NutritionFacts. org. His 2015 book, How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, will be available for purchase.

he personal and environmental benefits of riding a bike are numerous, and many people take the ability to ride for granted. Bike enthusiast David Nam, however, does not.

“You remember the first time you got a bike or the first time you learned to ride a bike. There is nothing else like it.” That feeling of freedom and empowerment and a desire to give that gift to others led Nam to create his biking nonprofit organization Happy, Joyous and Freewheeling (HJF).

HJF provides bikes, helmets, bike locks and bike education to D.C. area youth, free of charge, through after-school programs and workshops. Younger children are taught how to ride bikes and proper bike safety, while teenagers and young adults learn how to fix and maintain them. HJF also helps their graduates find internships and employment within their organization or at local bike shops.

HJF has been funded solely through personal contributions thus far. While donated bikes do not seem hard for the organization to come by, financial contributions and volunteers are needed. HJF is looking for enthusiastic bike riders to volunteer their time as mentors and fundraisers. Sharing the joy of bike riding within one’s community or encouraging the neighborhood kids to get off their smartphones and on their bikes furthers HJF’s goals. “We want to make sure the community is involved in this, and ultimately, we want to see that the kids have the opportunity to enjoy exercise in nature,” says Nam.

The events are free for Barnard Medical Center patients and $15 for the general public. RSVPs are required at PCRM. org/About/About/Upcoming-Events. Location: 5100 Wisconsin Ave., NW, 4th Fl. For more information, call 202-7178662 or email AVastano@PCRM.org. See ad, page 2.

For more information on how to be part of Happy, Joyous and Freewheeling, or if you are a teacher interested in bringing their bike programs to your school, visit Happy JoyousAndFreewheeling.org.

The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters. ~Audrey Hepburn

If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun. ~Katharine Hepburn

Drs. Negrón and Greger at Barnard Medical Center for Speaker Series

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Jump Start

Spring Cleaning Dr. Sushma Hiranit Event Tell Size A+ Better Business Bureau rating

Celebrating Yoga, Community and Wholeness

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ome to Reston Town Center for the eighth annual Love Your Body Yoga Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 12.

The day will be filled with activities for the whole family, including live music, complimentary massages, energy healing demonstrations, healthy food and drink samples.

The event is hosted by Beloved Yoga and brings together yoga studios and wellness centers from all over Northern Virginia.

The event also launches the official start of the Virginia Yoga Week, recognized June 12 to 19, when yoga studios and independent teachers will be offering free, five-dollar and karma classes throughout the Commonwealth.

Attendees can learn about therapeutic healing practices such as reiki, chiropractic adjustments, massage and yoga therapy. Under the Bhakti Yoga tents, there will be enchanting tunes and melodious musical stylings of local artisans.

Newly expanded this year is the Kidasana area, wherein children of all ages are welcome to enjoy free classes and activities all day, including face painting, henna art and more.

At the new Farm to Table tent, local farmers, distributors and food artisans who provide quality food that will affirm our personal health and the health of our planet will be celebrated.

Throughout the day, there will be drawings for yoga classes, massages, health products and other services.

Participation is free for the classes and services, but they encourage donations to the Beloved Yoga Mind Body Fund which benefits Cornerstones (formerly Reston Interfaith). Location: 11900 Market St, Reston. For more information, visit LoveYour BodyYogaFestival.com. See ad, page 15.

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Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. ~Omar Khayyám natural awakenings June 2016

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newsbriefs

Breast Enlargement Formula Sets Holistic Standards

A he Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, in Boulder, Colorado, is offering two new tuition scholarships, along with Veterans Administration and Title IV financial aid for students interested in becoming a Certified Rolfer. The assistance can help those looking toward becoming practitioners skilled in manipulating fascia—the connective tissue that surrounds all body organs—to improve the body’s structure, providing easier breathing and overall flexibility.

The Jim Jones Tuition Scholarship, honoring the Institute’s late Director of Education, covers the full tuition, valued at more than $18,000, for the Basic Rolfing Training program; the application deadline is December 1. Research professionals and college students in graduate programs that are researching and publishing in peer-reviewed journals can apply now for the Research Tuition Scholarship that provides 50 percent coverage of tuition.

Structural Integration was pioneered by Dr. Ida P. Rolf in the early 1970s. The Institute was the first of its kind to establish and require substantive training and certification. Executive Director Christina Howe states that the financial support will assist students seeking a career in a complementary health profession such as Rolfing Structural Integration.

nyone thinking responsibly about the cosmetic and safety risks involved in surgical breast augmentation, would be interested to know that there is now an unprecedented natural alternative which your surgeon would not want you to know about. Developers of time-tested Natural Woman “plant-vs-implants” formula, attest that breast implants and fat transfer (lipo-augmentation) are needlessly injurious in light of the dramatic, perennial results that can be organically achieved with this product.

It is well publicized that with lipo, the fat grafts reabsorb 40 to 60 percent, requiring multiple surgeries, provided the patient even has enough fat. Plus, as the company explains, the results are strictly fat without holistic regard for the matrix glandular tissue.

They also avow that all other formulas are comprised of just an aggregate of women’s medicinal herbs (further made drug-like by extraction), which treat various female health conditions, whether you need them or not. This means they possess compounds that stimulate the endocrine and reproductive systems, causing hormonal side-effects like swelling, fluid retention and enlargement of fat cells, which falsely present as results. Their product, Natural Woman, works at the breast receptor level via “true” phytoestrogens, as measured by their ability to bind with affinity to breast receptors and stimulate actual breast tissue growth.

The holistically formulated ingredients and wholesomeness of results (which, according to the testimonials, are very impressive), as well as their personalized support and focus on women’s health issues, places Natural Woman in a category entirely by itself.

Location: 5055 Chapparral Ct., Ste. 103. For more information or to apply, call 303-449-5903 or visit Rolf.org/Scholarships.php.

See ad, page 11.

For more information, call Beauty Vantage, LLC at 207-338-2177, email BeautyVantage@MyFairPoint.net or visit BeautyVantage. com. See ad, page 40.

New Scholarships at Rolf Institute of Structural Integration

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The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are, and not who people think you are. ~Goldie Hawn

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healthbriefs

Live Comedy Evokes Trust and Empathy

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esearch from the UK University of Surrey has found that witnessing live comedy increases emotional interaction and bonding between the spectators and performer and enhances a general feeling of trust and intimacy among participants through the shared experience.

Published in the journal Comedy Studies, the study was conducted by doctoral candidate Tim Miles, who analyzed surveys and interviews of audience members, as well as comedians, including some well-known performers. Miles found that comics and audiences connected through sharing of admiration and empathy.

Bonds also formed as the audience began to identify with the observations and experiences of the comic.

“Comedy has often been seen to be a bit frivolous, but it’s actually something really important. My work looking at comedians and comedy audiences has shown how live, stand-up comedy fulfills a need for feelings of truth, trust, empathy and intimacy between people, which is really important in a society where many people often complain about feeling isolated,” says Miles.

Omega-3s May Increase Risk of Prostate Cancer

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esearch published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has confirmed that high blood levels of DHA, EPA and DPA—three omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil supplements—are linked to prostate cancer.

The study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center tested 834 men with prostate cancer and 1,393 healthy men; they found that such high concentrations were associated with a 71 percent increased risk of more serious prostate cancer and a 44 percent increase in the risk of less serious prostate cancer. The overall increased risk in all prostate cancers was 43 percent.

The findings of this study confirm similar research in 2011 and another large European study. “What’s important is that we have been able to replicate our findings from 2011,” says one of the more recent study’s authors, Theodore Brasky, Ph.D.

Awe and Wonder Prime Physical Health

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wo related studies from the University of California, Berkeley, suggest that the act of admiring the beauty of nature with awe and wonder can decrease inflammation in the body.

More than 200 adults

Ashwagandha Pumps Up Testosterone

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ow testosterone levels can be problematic for men as they age. Fortunately, Mother Nature produces her own form of testosterone booster: the herb ashwagandha. Research published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tested 57 men between the ages of 18 and 50. They were divided into two groups—one was given 300 milligrams of the herbal extract twice a day for eight weeks; the other ingested a placebo for the same period. Both groups underwent supervised muscle training programs for the duration of the study.

The men that took the ashwagandha had significantly higher levels of circulating testosterone compared to the placebo group. The ashwagandha group also experienced an increase in muscle mass in the chest and arms, yielding an average arm muscle size of 8.6 centimeters, compared to the placebo group’s 5.3 centimeters.

Those men in the ashwagandha group also exhibited faster reductions of creatine kinase, a marker for the type of muscle fiber injury that occurs during strenuous exercise, following workouts.

reported their experiences of emotions on a particular day, including amusement, awe, compassion, joy, contentment and pride. Samples of the subjects’ gum and cheek tissues were analyzed for cytokines, and the researchers found those that cited emotions of awe, wonder and amazement had the lowest levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6).

UC Berkeley professor and co-author of the research Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., says, “That awe, wonder and beauty promote healthier levels of cytokines suggests that the things we do to experience these emotions—a walk in nature, losing oneself in music, beholding art—have a direct influence upon health and life expectancy.” natural awakenings June 2016

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healthbriefs

Pumpkin Seeds: A Powerhouse for Men

by Laina Poulakos

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he delicious seed hidden inside the bright orange pumpkin is full of healthy properties. This small white seed is brimming with nutrients like iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, fiber and protein. These important nutrients are present in both raw and roasted pumpkin seeds.

Pumpkin seeds have long been valued as an important food for men’s health. Their high zinc content is beneficial to prostate health. Their oils can also benefit men’s health by helping with enlarged prostates.

Recent animal studies have shown that pumpkin seeds may also improve insulin regulation. Pumpkin seeds may also help in providing a restful night’s sleep, too. The tryptophan they contain is an amino acid that the body converts into melatonin. Eating a handful of pumpkin seeds with a piece of fruit before bed can help promote a good night’s sleep for men and women.

PTSD and CBD

by Diane Cohen augh if you’ve ever done laughter yoga! (ha ha ha) “What is laughter yoga?” you might be wondering. Created in 1995 by Dr. Madan Kataria, M.D., in Mumbai, India who researched the impact of laughter on health, laughter yoga lowers your cortisol levels, increases your oxytocin, releases endorphins, lowers your stress levels and creates other health benefits.

Each session includes the four elements of laughter yoga: clapping and chanting; childlike playfulness; pranayama breathing, which is the yoga piece and laughter exercises, such as laughing for no reason and gibberish; throwing our problems into the middle of the room, which can include stomping on them and laughing with delight and laughing at what stresses us out—traffic, work, being late, having too much work; plus other fun and wacky exercises.

Laughter yoga is non-political, non-religious, non-competitive and non-judgmental. Using the theme that “laughter is the best medicine”, it’s about connecting, making eye contact and building community. It’s about laughing at oneself; not at others. After a laughter yoga session, participants have said they “felt joy, stopped taking themselves seriously, relaxed, moved out of their comfort zone, gave themselves permission to be silly, and were able to let go.”

by Katherine Leo hen people think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), most often they associate it with a veteran that has gone through some traumatic experience. However, there are many people who suffer from PTSD just from everyday life. Anxiety, depression and PTSD are pathologies that affect an individuals social life, productivity and health. CBD, a compound in cannabis that has medical effects but does not make people feel “stoned”, is currently being used as a treatment for PTSD because it naturally has antidepressant- and anxiolyticlike compounds.

CBD oil helps feed the endocannabinoid system, which we all have. Our endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulation of immune system functions, pain management and appetite, and is involved in the regulation of mood and memory. It also controls several metabolic functions including, but not limited to, energy storage and nutrient transport.

Studies have shown that some of the veterans that use marijuana to relieve symptoms of PTSD are getting the reverse effect. Marijuana actually causes anxiety and nervousness for some people, whereas CBD has been shown to decrease anxiety, making it a better choice for those suffering from PTSD, an anxiety disorder or depression. With CBD, they also get the benefits without the high.

Everyone from the ages of 5-to-85 (and beyond) is invited to the free monthly laughter yoga sessions at the Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St. The next session is Monday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

Katherine Leo helps others find full health by using CBD. For more information, call 202-730-9443 or visit RevolutionUS.com. See ad, page 38.

Laina Poulakos is the founder of Mother’s Nature Store and a certified aromatherapist and herbalist. For a consultation, call 703-851-0087 or visit MothersNature Store.com. See ad, page 16.

The Benefits of Laughter Yoga

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Medicinal Mushroom Heals HPV

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E-Cigarettes Produce Free Radicals

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lectronic cigarette use, or vaping, is on the rise as many consider it a healthier alternative to smoking. However, in a study published in the American Chemical Society journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, researchers from the Penn State University College of Medicine report that e-cigarettes produce considerable levels of reactive free radicals created by the high-temperature heating coils that warm up the nicotine solution.

Dr. John Richie, a professor at Penn State and senior author of the research, says, “The identification of these radicals in the aerosols means that we can’t just say e-cigarettes are safe because they don’t contain tobacco. They are potentially harmful.”

The researchers found that levels of free radicals in e-cigarettes are between 100 to 1,000 times less than the levels produced by tobacco cigarettes, still making them a better choice than traditional cigarettes although they still carry risk. Richie explains, “The levels of radicals that we’re seeing are more than what you might get from a heavily air-polluted area, but less than what you might find in cigarette smoke.”

Previous research has found that e-cigarette smoke also contains aldehydes that can potentially cause cellular and tissue damage.

esearch from the University of Texas Medical School and Health Science Center has found that a medicinal mushroom extract may be able to eradicate human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted disease.

Presented last fall at the 11th International Conference of the Society for Integrative Oncology, in Houston, the clinical study treated 10 women that tested positive for HPV with the mushroom mycelia extract called active hexose correlated compound (AHCC).

The patients were given three grams of the AHCC once a day for six months or longer. Eight of them tested negative for HPV after the period, including three that were confirmed HPV-eradicated after stopping the AHCC treatment. The two other patients continued receiving the extract.

A phase II clinical trial led by Dr. Judith Smith, a professor at the UT Medical School, will be conducted.

US JOIN IS TH FOR E

FRE T! N

EVE

Yoga Festival

2016

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

JOIN US TO LAUNCH VIRGINIA YOGA WEEK

GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITY:

proceeds from this event will benefit CORNERSTONES

Major sponsors for the 2016 Love Your Body Yoga Festival:

10 am ~ 5 pm Reston Town Center ~ Pavilion Visit www.loveyourbodyyogafestival.com to view the schedule.

natural awakenings June 2016

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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Well Well

Pema Choepel Mallu, DVM, CVA, MAc,LAc

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7/16/1

New Healthy Building Standard The WELL Building Standard, administered by the International WELL Building Institute, is the world’s first development criterion to focus exclusively on human health and wellness. It marries best practices in design and construction with evidence-based medical and scientific research, harnessing the built environment as a vehicle to support human health and well-being.

Pioneered by the Delos company and the culmination of seven years of research in partnership with leading scientists, doctors, architects and wellness thought leaders, WELL is grounded in a body of medical research that explores the connection between the buildings where people spend more than 90 percent of their time and the health and wellness impacts on occupants. It sets performance requirements in seven categories: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and state of mind.

WELL-certified spaces can help foster improvements in the nutrition, fitness, moods, sleep patterns and performance of occupants. WELL is independently certified by Green Business Certification Inc., which administers the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program and associated professional credentialing program.

Source: Delos.com

Municipal Pioneers

More U.S. Cities Leaving the Grid Nassau, New York, a town of 5,000 outside Albany, plans to ramp up a combination of rooftop- and ground-mounted solar, wind turbine and landfill methane-capture technologies to generate 100 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020. “If all goes as planned, within the next four years, all six of the town buildings will be disconnected from the grid,” says Nassau Supervisor Dave Fleming.

The New York Department of Public Services wants this trend to grow through its Reforming Energy Vision (REV) initiative. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration is actively working to help municipalities, especially core towns and schools, move toward getting a significant portion of their power from renewable resources. Smaller, cleaner, power systems are less costly and cleaner alternatives to the traditional larger electrical stations.

San Diego, California, recently committed to securing 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2035. It’s the largest American city to do so. Already, at least 13 U.S. cities, including San Francisco; Burlington, Vermont; and Aspen, Colorado, have committed to 100 percent clean energy. Las Vegas is among other major cities aiming to follow suit. Hawaii has pledged the same by 2045, the most ambitious standard set by a U.S. state to date.

Source: EcoWatch.com 16

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Buzz Benefactors

More Retailers Ban Bee-Toxic Products Amidst the growing pollinator crisis and due to public pressure, Aldi Süd, the German supermarket chain with stores in the U.S., has become the first major European retailer to ban pesticides toxic to bees, including the neonicotinoids imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam, from fruits and vegetables produced for their stores. Starting in January, Aldi produce suppliers have had to ensure their cultivation practices exclude eight pesticides identified as toxic to bees. Other retailers in the U.S. and Europe are also beginning to shun bee-toxic pesticides.

Home Depot will no longer use the class of pesticides known as neonics on 80 percent of its flowering plants; completing the phase-out in 2018. Lowe’s is ending the sale of products containing neonicotinoid pesticides within 48 months.

Smaller retailers are also working on removing neonics and other toxic pesticides from their shelves.

The science has become increasingly clear that pesticides, working individually or synergistically, play a critical role in the ongoing decline of honeybees and other pollinators. Bees in the U.S. and Europe have seen unprecedented losses over the last decade, and bee-toxic pesticides like neonicotinoids have consistently been implicated as a major contributing factor.

Source: BeyondPesticides.org

Nature’s Metric

Rethinking All Aspects of Society The International Living Future Institute’s Living Future Challenge presents a bold new framework for rethinking how systems, products, buildings and communities are designed. Based on the elegant and profound architecture of its recent Living Building Challenge that cites nature as the ultimate metric for success, the Living Future Challenge is now branching out to influence aspects of society.

The Living Community Challenge applies Living Building concepts to entire communities or cities; the Living Product Challenge asks designers and manufacturers to create net positive products; Net Zero Energy Building certification rates successful energy conservation in both new and existing buildings; Just becomes the social justice label for appropriately certified organizations; Declare confirms the merit of nutrition labels; and Reveal affirms a building’s energy efficiency status.

Source: Living-Future.org

yoga with nya ∙ private instruction ∙ specialty workshops ∙ sunday community classes at Union Market ∙ workplace yoga

yogawithnya.com nya@yogawithnya.com washington, dc ∙ 202.212.9304

Bye-Bye Dye

Mars and Others Abandoning Artificial Colors Mars Inc., the maker of many candies, chewing gum flavors and other food products, is phasing out artificial food dyes over the next five years. The decision came as a response to growing customer demand, says CEO Grant F. Reid. Nestlé, General Mills, Kraft and Kellogg’s have also started eliminating artificial dyes from their products due to calls for more natural ingredients.

Common shades of red 40 and yellow 5 are presently ubiquitous, as per capita production of artificial coloring approved for use in food has increased more than five-fold since the 1950s. According to a study of supermarket labels by the Center for Science in Public Interest, an estimated 90 percent of childoriented candies, fruit snacks, drink mixes and powders contain artificial colors, and many parents are concerned about their potential impact on developing brains.

Several studies have scrutinized dyes’ possible link to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other effects on children’s behavior.

When a study by a group of British scientists suggested a link between the consumption of certain food dyes and hyperactivity in kids, Europe and the UK began requiring food with artificial dyes to carry warning labels.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to maintain that no causal relationship exists between color additives and hyperactivity in children, and doesn’t require warning labels. natural awakenings June 2016

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globalbriefs Unsafe Playfields

where healthy food comes naturally

Artificial Surfaces Pose Risks

Animal Nutrition Experts Since 2005 WE’RE DIFFERENT from national chain stores.

ALL of our foods and treats are natural and nutritious.

As of January, there have been 200 nationwide cases of cancers in young athletes that played on synthetic turf—many of them lymphoma, which is uncommon in the age group. In 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency withdrew earlier safety assurances and called for new, more comprehensive studies.

A majority of professional and college athletes strongly prefer natural turf because those playing on synthetic turf suffer about 50 percent more knee and ankle injuries.

Other playfields use “crumb rubber” infill made of ground-up used tires formerly considered hazardous waste. Thus, sports players may be exposed to dozens of chemical compounds, most of which have never been tested for health impact; some of those tested are believed to cause cancer, birth defects, developmental and reproductive disorders and infertility.

Primary source: epa.gov

ROCKVILLE • ASHBURN • HERNDON

Swedes’ Solution

www.wholepetcentral.com

Six-Hour Workday Reaps Benefits Many Americans work 50 hours a week or more because they think they’ll get more done and reap the benefits later. However, according to a metastudy published in The Lancet, people that clock a 55-hour week have a 33 percent greater risk of stroke and 13 percent higher risk of developing coronary heart disease than those that maintain a 35- to 40-hour work week. Data from 25 studies that monitored the health of 600,000 people from the U.S., Europe and Australia for up to 8.5 years were analyzed.

Paul Kelley, of Oxford University’s Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute, notes that even a traditional nine-to-five workday is at odds with peoples’ internal body clocks, contributing to sleep deprivation.

Now Sweden is moving toward a standard six-hour workday, with some businesses having already implemented the change. Linus Feldt, CEO of Stockholm app developer Filimundus, reports that the shift has maintained productivity while decreasing staff conflicts, because people are happier and better rested. Several Toyota service centers in Gothenburg that switched to a six-hour day 13 years ago also report happier staff, a lower turnover rate and increased ease in enticing new hires. A Swedish retirement home has embarked on a yearlong experiment to compare the costs and benefits of a shorter working day.

Source: ScienceAlert.com

Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. ~Omar Khayyám 18

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INTERNATIONAL PRECISION MEDICINE ASSOCIATES

Banish Bugs

Safely Keep Winged Visitors Away from Outdoor Events Warding off summertime mosquitoes and flies to maintain outdoor fun is especially important given the new disease potential of the mosquito-borne Zika and West Nile viruses. Here are some naturally protective measures.

Remove stale, standing water outside the home—including swimming pool covers, clogged rain gutters and buckets—and turn over clay pots and plastic containers, as they all can be prime mosquito-breeding spots, suggests the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Alternatively, a toxin-free backyard pond or water garden can be stocked with mosquito fish like gambusia that feed on and consume large quantities of insect larvae.

Avoid applying potent perfumes, soaps and lotions prior to an outdoor event, because such scents attract insects.

It always helps to wear light, long-sleeve shirts and pants to protect more skin.

Grow plants with odors mosquitoes don’t like. EarthEasy.com suggests citronella, horsemint (aka bee balm), marigolds, ageratum (floss flowers) and catnip. WellnessMama.com also likes lavender, thyme, lemongrass, anything in the mint family and even basil; rub fresh or dried leaves on the skin or apply lavender flowers or oil, especially on hot spots (neck, underarms or behind ears).

Use a non-toxic, plastic-free insect-repelling band for kids.

Avoid conventional insect repellents, as many contain diethyltoluamide (DEET), one of the top five contaminants of U.S. waterways.

Chemicals rinse off into shower and bath drains during later wash-ups.

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HAPPY ALL DAY Simple Daily Practices for a Happier Life

by Judith Fertig

in the mind, he says, conscious selfobservation introduces a space between our perceptions and responses, allowing us to view our thoughts as separate from the person we really are.

Complementary methods may include breathing techniques or body awareness that help shift us away from anxious, “What if?” speculations into the ever-present now. With just a few minutes of mindfulness a day—the first thing in the morning or at night before retiring—according to Verni, “We can shift our relationship to ourselves and our life experiences in a way that allows for greater spaciousness, acceptance and compassion, and in doing so, can dramatically improve the quality of our lives.”

Daily Joy at Home

T

hroughout the past decade, success researchers and positive psychologists have sketched out in broad strokes the big picture of our elemental yearning for happiness. According to Martin Seligman, Ph.D., and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, inner happiness derives from four basic elements: positive emotion, relationships, meaning in life and accomplishment. What we want to know now is how to instill happiness into daily practices.

In her latest book, Better Than Before: Mastering The Habits Of Our Everyday Lives, happiness expert Gretchen Rubin fleshes out the needed details. She maintains that the shift into a happier way of being can be as simple as changing our habits, which she terms the invisible architecture of daily life. Rubin found, “We repeat about 40 percent of our behavior almost daily, so our habits shape our existence and our future. If we change our habits, we change our lives.”

We can start small in sometimes surprising ways that encourage personal, family, workplace and community well-being.

Simplify—Exercise—Meditate Israeli-born Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., a former Harvard lecturer and author of the bestselling Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment, had 20

Washington, D.C.

854 students enroll in one of his pioneering classes on happiness in 2006, the highest enrollment for any class at the time. “Students explored ways to apply these ideas to their life experiences and communities,” he says. Today, he lectures and consults worldwide on the science of happiness, or “optimal being and functioning”.

Ben-Shahar suggests we cultivate three personal habits. The first one is to simplify, saying, “We need to turn off our phones, email and other distractions at home, so we can fully be with the people we care about and that care about us. Time affluence—time to enjoy and appreciate—is a predictor of happiness.” The second is to exercise. “We were not meant to be sedentary,” he says. The third is to meditate. “Meditating helps us to develop extreme resilience to negative emotion.”

Ken A.Verni, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist in Highland Park, New Jersey, endorses the importance of a mindfulness habit. In his new book, Happiness the Mindful Way: A Practical Guide, Verni outlines easy, step-by-step actions to form a new happiness habit that concurrently reduces stress and increases enlightenment. He starts with what he calls “compassionate attention”; being fully awake or present in our lives without judging what we’re thinking.

When we view our thoughts as events

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Another way to improve the quality of our life is to reverse one habit. Shonda Rhimes, creator of TV dramas that include Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, admits that she’s a driven, Type-A person in her new book, Year of Yes. A busy career in Los Angeles, three children and little leisure left her feeling unhappy, so instead of reciting her habitual, “No” to anything extraneous—like parties, eating chocolate chip cookies or spending a lazy afternoon chatting with an old friend—she decided to change that habit to, “Yes.”

One of Rhimes’ most profound revelations occurred after she responded positively when her children asked her to play. She observes that kids don’t want that much from us and playtime rarely involves more than 15 minutes; when we give them access and attention, it makes everyone feel good.

Rubin agrees that it’s the little things that can contribute to family happiness. As a New York City mother of two, she decided that she’d be happier if she knew she was creating family memories. She started regularly preparing “special occasion” family breakfasts, a relatively easy meal to customize. She says, “Studies show that family traditions support children’s social development and strengthen family cohesiveness. They provide the connection and predictability that people crave. I know that I enjoy a holiday more when I know exactly what we’re going to do and when we’re going to do it.”

Take the Secret Society of Happy People’s personal happiness inventory at Tinyurl.com/HappinessCheck. Tinyurl.com/ DefiningOurHappiness provides an introduction.

Home for Matthieu Ricard, a biochemist turned Buddhist monk, could be a Nepalese monastery or a seat at scientific conferences around the world. As the author of Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill, he defines happiness as a deep sense of flourishing that arises from an exceptionally healthy mind.

“It’s not a mere pleasurable feeling, a fleeting emotion or a mood, but an optimal state of being,” he says.

In order to nurture it, Ricard recommends taking some time each day for quiet reflection, noting, “The contemplative approach consists of rising above the whirlpool of our thoughts for a moment and looking calmly within, as if at an interior landscape, to find the embodiment of our deepest aspirations.” By cultivating attention and mindfulness, the cares of everyday life

become less burdensome. Such a spiritual practice of just sitting quietly for 10 minutes a day, observing the thoughts that randomly cross our minds, and then gently shooing them away, can be enormously beneficial, he says, as it helps us put things in perspective and aim for continuous calm.

Flipping the Switch

Changing thought habits to focus on the good things in life is an approach that works for clients of Mary Lynn Ziemer, a life coach in Estero, Florida. Ziemer suggests we “flip the switch” from negative thinking and make a habit of starting our day being positive and grateful for 10 minutes. She recommends we start by doing deep breathing—four seconds breathing in, hold for seven seconds, eight seconds breathing out— repeated four times. Next, we ask our-

selves how we feel in the moment and identify the emotion, and then ask what thoughts we can think to feel better.

The last step of the exercise is to frame a positive outlook in an affirmation, such as, “I am so grateful that I know I am doing the best I can and everything will work out. Everything is fine.” Ziemer adds, “Remember that happiness comes from love and takes you to a place of peace and calm. It is such emotions that beget success in relationships, health, supply, and clear purpose. Plus, it benefits everyone around you.”

Happiness Habits at Work

Dallas happiness researcher Shawn Achor, founder of Goodthink, Inc., and author of The Happiness Advantage, applies the science of happiness to the workplace. His research echoes the personal positivity of Ziemer, Verni and Ben-Shahar’s approaches to nurturing happiness. “Happiness is such an incredible advantage in our lives,” says Achor.

“When the human brain is positive, our intelligence rises and we stop diverting resources to think about anxiety.” The Harvard Business Review published his

1 0 HABITS OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE

by Kristi Ling

H

appy people don’t find happiness like you’d find a penny on the ground; they make it happen, with action. Cultivating happiness habits can make a marked difference in your life.

4 Be deliberately optimistic. Optimism is imperative to emotional wellness.

4 Prioritize mindfully. Consistently align choices, intentions and actions with the top priorities of love, happiness and health.

4 Keep uplifting resources on hand.

A few surefire mood-lifters may include a green smoothie, mani-pedi and solo dance party to at least one get-your-feetmoving song by a favorite artist.

4 Put yourself first. It’s the best way to bring your A game to everyone else.

4 Be a prolific seeker. Seek beauty, joy, adventure, pleasure, growth and power-

ful meaning in all areas of life. Let life move you to possibility, opportunity and gratitude.

4 Don’t make things personal. Absolutely nothing others say or do is about you, ever.

4 Examine the worst that can happen.

Many of the limitations you’re placing on yourself aren’t real—they’re illusions.

4 Practice loving-kindness. Making this a habit changes the vibration of your life and the lives of those around you. Plus it feels great.

4 Be aware of your energy. Tune in to surrounding energy, as well as the energy you’re emitting and notice what needs to be adjusted or abandoned.

4 Be wary of media consumption.

Limit messages in everything from email and news to books and music that take you away from the calm, open space within that revels in joy and wonder. Conversations count, too.

Kristi Ling is the author of Operation Happiness: The 3-Step Plan to Creating a Life of Lasting Joy, Abundant Energy, and Radical Bliss. The life and business coach shares more at KristiLing.com/ operationhappinessresources. natural awakenings June 2016

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I have chosen to be happy because it is good for my health. ~Voltaire research results: “Creativity triples and productive energy rises by 31 percent.

Sales rise by 37 percent and the likelihood of promotion rises by 40 percent.”

Achor’s method is helping people rewrite the way they think by first looking for positives at work. Workers write down three highly specific, positive things about their workday for 21 consecutive days. Rather than just, “I love my job,” acknowledge, “I love my job because I get to help people every day.”

Or, “I love my morning tea because it gets me going.” Achor reports that at the end of the period, “Their brain starts to retain a pattern of scanning the world not for the negative, but for the positive first.”

Taking a work break for two minutes of mindfulness is also effective. “We did this at Google,” he says.

“We had employees take their hands off their keyboards for two minutes a

day to go from multitasking to simply focusing on their breathing. This drops their stress levels and raises accuracy rates. It improves levels of happiness and it takes just minutes.”

Happiness in the Community We can foster happiness habits at home, at work and in the community.

Rubin suggests starting such a group, akin to a self-help book club or bridge group, but with extra benefits. She even offers a free starter kit for those that want to try it, available via Gretchen Rubin.com/habits/start-a-habits-group.

In addition to the happy exchange of ideas and success stories, happiness habits group members also have the benefit of being accountable to each other.

Others can help us continue to color in the details supporting and forwarding the broad brushstrokes of positive emotions, relationships, meaning in life and accomplishments in a down-to-earth, fun way.

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

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22

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HAPPIER IN JUST MINUTES n Journaling for two minutes about one positive experience we’ve had over the past 24 hours allows our brain to relive it. n Exercising, including 15 minutes of cardiovascular action a day, teaches our brain that our behavior matters and improves our mood. n Meditating for even a few minutes at a time relieves an overloaded brain and allows it to focus on one thing at a time. n Writing one quick email in the morning praising or thanking someone we work with or just to make them happy will make us feel a sense of social support, a great predictor of happiness.

Source: The Happiness Advantage,

by Shawn Achor

oneonone

Krishna Das Performs at August Lovelight Festival an Interview with Publisher, Robin Fillmore

I

nfluential spiritual leader Ram Dass described Krishna Das as “an example of someone whose heartsongs open the channels to God.” The Grammy-nominated kirtan artist, also known as “yoga’s rock star”, has consistently played to sold-out crowds in the greater D.C. area and around the world. This summer, KD will be headlining the Lovelight Yoga and Arts Festival, founded by world music artist, Wynne Paris and co-produced by iconic Woodstock producer, Michael Lang.

In addition to Krishna Das, Trevor Hall, Desert Dwellers and GuruGanesha, with a who’s who of the leading kirtan artists and DJs, along with yoga headliner, the legendary Dharma Mittra, will be a part of the three-day event. Close to D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia, the festival will be held from August 26 to 28 at the 300-acre retreat, Camp Ramblewood, in Darlington, Maryland.

Robin Fillmore, the publisher of Natural Awakenings DC, had the rare opportunity to spend some time with KD as he shared his wisdom on music, life, love and finding joy.

Your music blends the spirituality of India with modern, electronic influences, bringing traditional Hindu chanting into new and unexpected places.

For those new to kirtan and to you, how would you introduce yourself and your music?

For me, kirtan is all about the music.

The more practices I do for sustainable health, balance, love and music, the more I immerse myself in what you might call spiritual life —which I just call life—the more I realize that it’s very simple. All issues distill to simple facts.

Everybody wants to be happy. Everybody wants to avoid suffering. Everybody wants love.

Why is attending a kirtan event is a transcendent experience beyond the music itself?

There are two things. There’s the music and where the music is carrying us. In this case, it’s the names of god, of divinity. The names that are inside us, that is real. We can call that anything we want

and aim in that direction, according to how we identify with it.

All day long, every day and night, all we do is think about ourselves.

We react to what is in our minds and bounce this way and that way. We never get out of that flow of obsessive thinking and it is in that flow of crazy thinking—all the stuff we tell ourselves and other people—that we don’t like.

So, it all comes down to—how do we get out of that and release that flow of insane, obsessive thinking with all our pain comes from that.

If we want peace in the world, then every individual needs to find peace within. You can’t create peace or happiness with anger and selfishness. We can release ourselves from this storyline—whatever it is—and touch a deeper place for a few minutes, or an hour or a couple of hours.

Then, when we return to our day, we are standing on slightly different ground because we have trained ourselves to let go a little bit.

It is a gradual process that takes time and effort, but it’s also a joyful practice. It’s not like all our problems are going to be solved or will disappear, but the way we approach situations will be less and less reactive and hurtful for ourselves and others. We wake up one heart at a time.

You inspire so many people; what inspires you?

Experiences in everyday life inspire me and the times I spend with my guru and the people I continue to meet that have conquered this world and own the kind of love that holds everything in the wideness of their hearts—the joy, sorrow, negative and positive, the highs and the lows. That’s what I aspire to.

About the Lovelight Yoga and Arts Festival: In addition to the amazing music, the festival will be packed with yoga classes, “playshops“ as well as high-vibrational food to feed your body, workshops to feed your mind as well as the incredible music to feed your soul. To see the full lineup or to purchase tickets, visit Lovelight Festival.com. See ad, page 3.

To read the full interview with Krishna Das, visit NaturalAwakeningsDC.com. natural awakenings June 2016

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Washington, D.C.

TRESS STRESS Natural Ways to Prevent Hair Loss

by Jody McCutcheon

A

ncient Egyptians sought to stem hair loss and stimulate hair growth with a cocktail of iron oxide, red lead, onions, alabaster, animal fats and honey. Today, we’re still deploying creative approaches. Men’s hair loss, specifically, is a billion-dollar industry, touting solutions ranging from chemically laced topical treatments and drugs to transplants and wigs. Yet hairloss science is imperfect; it’s riddled with misinformation that allows companies to sell products of varying efficacy.

The average head holds about 120,000 to 150,000 strands of hair, and it’s normal for both men and women to lose 50 to 100 strands daily. We lose hair for several reasons. Chiefly, aging weakens hair and makes it more brittle; it also decreases hormone production, slowing hair growth. According to a study published in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, anything that interrupts the normal hair cycle can trigger diffuse hair loss. Triggers include physiologic trauma and emotional stresses, nutritional deficiencies, endocrine imbalances and illness, as well as genetics, including pattern baldness. Even air and water pollutants and sunlight’s phototoxic aging effects may facilitate alopecia (sudden hair loss).

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While it’s impossible to completely stop natural hair loss catalyzed by aging and genes, the rate can be controlled and abnormal loss may be reversed while stimulating growth.

Dietary Changes. The typical North American fat-, protein- and salt-rich diet fosters an acidic environment in the body which can lead to premature hair loss. Iron-rich foods like lean red meats and dark green veggies contribute to ferritin levels sufficient to increase the hair’s growth cycle. Iron also delivers oxygen to hair follicles, further inciting growth. In a review of related research, the journal Clinical and Experimental Dermatology reports that double-blind data confirmed the findings of a study in women with increased hair shedding in which a significant proportion responded to llysine and iron therapy.

Because hair is made mostly of protein, and protein deficiency is thought to cause hair loss, it would seem that consuming more protein would stimulate growth, although moderation is the key. Too much protein may result in baldness, according to Dr. Michael Eades, who owns ProteinPower. com. The American Heart Association recommends against high-protein diets

because most Americans already eat more protein than they need.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, shellfish, nuts and seeds and their oils can facilitate the production and action of hormones and oily lubricants that effect a healthy scalp and follicles and bouncy, shiny hair.

A-complex and B-complex vitamins also are said to promote vibrant, shiny hair; B12 to neutralize premature hair loss; vitamin C and zinc to help strengthen hair; biotin to avoid hair loss and premature graying; vitamin D to facilitate healthy follicular growth; and vitamin E to maintain a healthy, moisturized scalp.

Eating whole foods like organic eggs, lentils, spinach, red meat, pumpkin seeds and salmon is ideal, including plenty of fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals. Most vegetable skins are also rich in silica, which helps strengthen hair.

Drink More Tea. Green tea, saw palmetto (or its extract) and stinging nettle tea contain ingredients that

inhibit the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a compound that’s been linked to thinning hair and pattern baldness, according to Medical News Today. These products are used in battling some forms of alopecia and concentrated ingredients of these teas are available in pill form.

Detox. Eliminating alcohol, tobacco and coffee can help. Excessive booze and caffeine lead to dehydration, which makes hair dry and brittle, and also dramatically depletes the body’s iron and zinc levels. Cigarette smoke contains toxins that accelerate hair loss, as well as premature graying.

Chill Out. Stress is a widely known factor in hair loss, specifically of a condition called telogen effluvium (Principles of Dermatology, by James Marks and Jeffrey Miller). Meditation and exercise can relieve stress and create a better hormonal balance, thereby helping to prevent alopecia.

Massage of body and scalp also may be beneficial. Adding oils such

as almond or coconut infuses the scalp with essential vitamins and minerals. A study by the Journal of Dermatology shows that applying onion juice can lead to hair growth.

Treat hair gently, air-drying rather than rubbing it with a towel.

Don’t Fake It. Using extensions and weaves or wearing tight wigs or hairpieces daily may damage hair follicles by stressing their anchor to the scalp, accelerating hair loss. Also, hair straighteners, tight pony tails, blow dryers and heated rollers may damage or break off follicles.

Consider natural hair dyes.

Eschew Shampoo. Most commercial shampoos contain sodium laurel sulphate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulphate because it’s inexpensive, lathers well and typically thickens hair via salt. SLS also corrodes follicles and impairs their ability to grow hair.

Consider switching to organic shampoos and conditioners.

Jody McCutcheon is a freelance editor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

natural awakenings June 2016

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Washington, D.C.

Using this Important New Test

by Charles Gant, MD

A

n important new test is now available which is fully covered

by Medicare and insurance plans. It’s called a pharmacogenetic test, which uses genetic makeup to help the doctor determine what medications, supplements and dosages will work best for each patient.

Since an individual’s genes do not change, each person needs to be tested only once in order to have this valuable, potentially lifesaving information on hand for the rest of the individual’s life.

The simple DNA test is quick and non-invasive, requiring only a cheek swab to capture a sample of saliva. The results will be available to the prescribing doctor within days, and can help each tested patient avoid uncomfortable and dangerous side effects and adverse drug reactions. This test can also predict if a medication will work at all.

Why should each person be tested?

Every individual responds differently to medications and supplements. Many drugs that are currently available are “one size fits all”, but they don’t work the same way for everyone because we are genetically unique. How much is too much?

How much is too little?

Approximately 50 percent of all patients undergoing pain management will not receive adequate relief at first dosing. They may also be at a higher risk of experiencing adverse, potentially lifethreatening events. This quandary includes non-prescribed drugs, such as aspirin or Tylenol, and herbs like ginseng, as well as common medications like statins, Coumadin, antidepressants and psychiatric drugs.

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It can be difficult to predict who will benefit from a medication, who will not respond at all and who will experience negative side effects.

Adverse drug reactions are a significant cause of hospitalizations and deaths in the United States.

Deaths due to prescribed drugs may be the third leading cause of death (cardiovascular is the highest, cancer is second). Simple, inexpensive, pharmacogenetic testing can change all this.

Where can an individual get tested?

Each individual should start with their doctor. A few doctors have begun to offer testing to their patients, but since many are not yet familiar with it, the patient may have to show their doctor this article.

The technology is so new that there are currently only a few sources providing the test, and even fewer are covered by insurance Plans and Medicare.

A directory of options is available at PrecisionMedicineResources.com to help the patient and the doctor decide how to proceed. It has been predicted that within the next two to five years, all doctors will routinely include pharmacogenetic testing for every patient because of the critically important information it can provide.

Dr. Charles Gant, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally known author and integrative/ functional medicine physician, addresses the root causes of chronic medical and psychiatric disorders, unique to each patient. For more information, call 888727-6910 or visit InternationalPrecision MedicineAssociates.com. See ad, page 19.

inspiration

CONNECTION A Foundation of Healing Presence

by Tyme Gigliotti

C

onnect with the patient’s spirit so the body will heal. The importance of this simple concept was once highly valued among physicians, but has become understated or omitted entirely in much of medical education to make room for additional science courses. Yet, today the value of relationship-centered care is becoming more appreciated in all areas of health care.

One of Maryland University of Integrative Health’s (MUIH) founding beliefs is the power of relationships to heal. Faculty and students commit to embodying what is called a healing presence. Beyond substantial techni-

cal training, students develop and demonstrate qualities that include empathy, respect, service, self-reflection, compassion and mindfulness; they learn to recognize and experience the powerful impact of their words and actions.

Manifesting first between professors and their students, healing presence coursework is woven throughout all levels of the academic and clinical experience. When instructors model healing presence it becomes clear that it benefits everyone involved in an interaction, not just patients. “I observed moments where the healing that occurred in the classroom spilled

over into interactions with patients where students were able to be present with them in new ways,” says Leah Turner, a MUIH graduate.

The ability to intentionally use words, voice tone, posture, attitude, demeanor and touch to create a healing environment is rooted in empathy and compassion. The healing rapport created between patient and practitioner enables them to establish a receptive state into which a treatment that engages the patient’s spirit is delivered.

“I love being present for the selfrealizations and transformations, big and small, which take place in my clients each time I see them. And I love the self-realizations and transformations that occur in me each time I treat clients,” says MUIH alumna Liana Brooks-Rubin.

Healing presence is not simply a “good idea” or a “nice feature” for practitioners. It can also enhance business success. When patients connect deeply with their practitioner and see them as a true partner in their healing, patients develop a higher level of trust, are more compliant, more likely to commit to long-term treatment and are more likely to refer others. Many of the graduates from MUIH are highly successful and credit their ability to develop these healing relationships as something that sets them apart.

In many studies conducted over the past decade, research has shown that empathy, kindness and good bedside manner play a significant role in the healing of patients. Though it may take some time before the landscape of health care shifts to encompass these qualities, properly trained integrative health practitioners can begin transforming treatment spaces into sanctuaries for patients to heal on all levels—body, mind and spirit. Not only can practitioners offer the gift of healing presence but eventually be a healing presence.

Tyme Gigliotti, MAc, LAc, is an assistant professor, clinic supervisor and chair of the Clinical Practices department in the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine department at Maryland University of Integrative Health. He has been practicing since 1998. See ad, page 52. natural awakenings June 2016

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fitbody

Buff and Balanced Bodybuilders Turn to Yoga

by Aimee Hughes

W

e don’t typically envision iron-pumping bodybuilders also flowing and breathing through yoga postures, yet many are combining these complementary disciplines to realize huge benefits.

Competitive Edge

Nicolina Sandstedt, a yoga teacher trainer and anatomy expert with the Yandara Yoga Institute, in Baja, Mexico, observes, “The body awareness and alignment focus that the practice of yoga asanas [positions] offers helps bodybuilders find correct posture. Yoga also teaches elegance in transitions that improve competitive posing.”

Peter Nielsen, a bodybuilder, yoga practitioner and world-class fitness guru in Detroit, observes, “Most bodybuilders haven’t fine-tuned their presentation. They often grimace and look uncomfortable, with their veins popping out.” He points out, “Yoga helps teach bodybuilders how to slow down, breathe into each posture and ultimately win posing competitions because of the grace, elegance and body awareness that yoga provides.”

Injury Prevention

Joseph Grassadonia, bodybuilder, yoga enthusiast and founder of On Fitness magazine, in Kahuku, Hawaii, cites 28

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

additional benefits: “Incorporating yoga into your workout routine improves your core, giving you overall body strength in specific targeted muscle groups. It also increases flexibility, stability and mobility, allowing greater range of motion. Most importantly, it will keep you from being sidelined with injuries.”

“Stretching a muscle can make it more aesthetically pleasing,” remarks Sandstedt. “In yoga, we often hold postures for a relatively long period of time, in a more isometric endurance workout, than the short, repetitive movements performed in bodybuilding. Bodybuilding develops fast-twitch muscle fibers for power and speed, while yoga develops slow-twitch muscle fibers for endurance. Both are important for tissues to stay healthy while building muscle mass.”

Nielsen notes, “Bodybuilding makes me feel stronger; I look better and have loads of endurance. Yoga makes me feel more centered; it softens me so I can hear and surrender to what my body is telling me rather than me just telling it what to do.” Such listening is essential to preventing injuries that periodically plague bodybuilders. Slowing down into yoga’s present moment awareness teaches bodybuilders how to perform from a place of presence rather than on autopilot, which is when most injuries occur.

“Yoga works all the muscles, even the smaller, intrinsic muscles often neglected in bodybuilding,” Sandstedt says. “In addition to facilitating healthy posture, these small muscles help support balanced joint alignment.” She explains that the explosive, repetitive movements used to build muscle mass in bodybuilding make the muscles less elastic, which also inhibits range of motion. Less elastic muscles may be more prone to injury, as daily activities require both strength and mobility.”

Beginning Yogis

For bodybuilders that want to give yoga a shot, Nielsen advises trying a structured, 30-day yoga challenge. He sees how after the first month with his clients, the positive effects become apparent and most bodybuilders don’t want to go back to life before yoga.

Sandstedt offers, “I advise newcomers to incorporate a light yoga routine into the beginning and end of each bodybuilding training session. Ending training sessions with a few yoga postures will help balance the body, bringing a sense of calm and equanimity to the workout experience.”

“In my fitness career, I’ve found that yoga perfectly complements any strength training program as a form of stretching, flexibility and de-stressing,” says Nielsen.

“Yoga focuses me, and helps me to isolate whatever muscle I choose. It helps me reach my fullest potential and simply makes me a better version of myself.”

Aimee Hughes is a doctor of naturopathy and freelance writer in Kansas City, MO. Connect at ChezAimee@

COMPARING BENEFITS Yoga

Bodybuilding

Stretches and lengthens muscles while relieving tension

Shortens and builds muscles while building tension

Moves prana (life force energy) throughout the body, boosting energy levels and mental sharpness after a session

Expends energy, sometimes ending in muscle fatigue and mental exhaustion

Improves oxygenation of the circulatory system, providing energy and invigoration

Improves muscle oxygenation, which helps growth and repair functions

Tones muscles gradually

Builds muscle strength rapidly and enhances the toning aspect of yoga

Involves the body, mind and spirit

Primarily involves the physical body

Accessible to every age group

Not accessible for the very young and very old

Promotes body confidence through self-acceptance

Promotes body confidence through a fixed physical aesthetic

Prevents injuries through body awareness and helps heal injuries through yoga therapeutics

Can cause injury absent preventive awareness

Life isn’t about finding yourself.

Life is about creating yourself. ~George Bernard Shaw

Sources: Nicolina Sandstedt; Peter Nielsen; Joseph Grassadonia natural awakenings June 2016

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healthykids

DAD MATTERS

How to be the Father Kids Need

by Armin Brott

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merican fatherhood has evolved considerably in the last 50 years.

While dads used to be kept out of the delivery room, today, more than 90 percent of new fathers are present for their children’s birth, reflected in MenCare Advocacy’s State of the Worlds’ Fathers. However, being there early on does not necessarily define the scope of future involvement. Overcoming obstacles that might keep men from being the “high-five” dads they and their family need them to be is key.

Involved fathers benefit children.

Most research on child development has focused on how mothers influence their children, but in recent decades, society has “discovered” fathers. In many studies, pioneering Psychologist Ross Parke, Ph.D., professor emeritus of University of California, Riverside, and others have conclusively shown that children of more-involved dads are better at solving puzzles, score higher on cognitive skills tests, do better in school, are more likely to go to college, are more empathetic, manage their emotions better, have fewer behavior problems, are less likely to suffer from depression or mental illness and are less likely to break laws or become teen parents.

Fathering tip: Never miss an opportunity to change a diaper, play with the kids, read stories together or simply ask them about their day.

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Equal workplace policies matter.

The U.S. is the only economically advanced country that has no nationally mandated paid maternity leave policy and is absent a national paternity leave policy, paid or unpaid. When men don’t get time off to learn basic parenting skills, it’s harder for them to stay engaged later.

In 1977, 41 percent of women and 35 percent of men in dual-earner couples reported work-family life conflicts. Today, the figures are 47 percent and 60 percent, respectively, according to the Families and Work Institute’s ongoing National Study of the Changing Workforce.

Parenting tip: Advocate for national, paid parenting leave policies for men and women starting with local employers. It benefits both families and companies. Studies by Stanford University, the Families and Work Institute, Gallup, Inc. and others have found that companies with family-friendly benefits enjoy more loyal employees, better morale, lower turnover, fewer arbitrary sick days, higher levels of customer service and higher shareholder returns—all of which contribute to their bottom line.

Both genders can be naturally nurturing. Certainly, women are biologically adapted for giving birth and breastfeeding, but Parke found that caring new dads typically cuddle, coo, giggle, rock and feed their babies just as much as new mothers. One hurdle men

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face is that they usually have to return to work sooner, and their natural nurturing skills can get rusty, while moms’ get sharper. Opportunity and practice are the biggest predictors of meaningful connections with children.

Fathering tip: Don’t assume that a partner knows more. Whatever a mother knows, she learned by making mistakes, and that’s the best way for fathers to learn, too.

Be open to complementary expertise. A dad with a mate that praises and supports him will be far more confident and engaged with his child than one with a partner that criticizes him.

Parenting tip: No one likes to feel incompetent, so when offering dad advice, do it in a nonthreatening way that supports and compliments his improving skills over time. It may mean adjusting personal standards a bit. Dad should take pride in practicing his unique rapport with offspring. Instead of letting mom pluck a crying or smelly baby from his arms, he can try, “Honey, I’ve got this.”

End-running the legal system after divorce. For some 30 years, the default decision in divorce cases has been to award the mother primary physical custody, with limited visitation for the father.

More states are now moving toward a presumption of 50-50 physical custody, but it’s not the norm. Therefore, many divorced dads may feel disconnected from their children and suppressed in their parenting role moving forward.

Fathering tip: Never give up.

Children need their dad in their life and vice-versa. It’s critical to stay in touch. In person is best; phone, email and Skype are decent fallbacks. Make time together feel meaningful as well as normal, instead of falling into a “Disneyland dad” syndrome of trying to make every moment a party. Practice harmonious communications with the ex. The biggest known predictor of children’s future mental and emotional health is how well their parents get along. Separated parents don’t have to be friends, but they do need to acknowledge both parents’ importance to the children and treat each other respectfully.

Armin Brott is the author of eight bestselling books on fatherhood, including The Expectant Father and The New Father. Learn more at MrDad.com.

DEAR DEPLOYED DAD

personalcare

Which Supplements Should You Take?

by Armin Brott

F

or parents serving in the military, some of the biggest barriers to involvement are inevitable and often repeated deployments.

Dads returning home often struggle to reestablish both their family role—which changed while they were away—and their relationships with children they haven’t seen for months and who may not even recognize them. Here are practical tips to counter any estrangement.

Talk to your children before you leave and tell them, in age-appropriate terms, what’s happening and why. Record yourself reading a child’s favorite book and ask mom to play it every night. Their hearing your voice while you’re gone will make it easier for them to get used to having you home again.

During deployment, communicate with home as much as possible by phone, Skype and email, taking into account time zone differences and military security. Don’t underestimate the power of snail mail. Little things—a dried leaf from a tree near the barracks, a film canister full of sand—let a child know Dad is thinking of them and provides tangible signs that he’s in a real place somewhere.

Upon returning home, take it easy and don’t expect to be able to simply pick up where you were when you left.

Everyone in the family has changed, and likely become stronger via the experience. Some things may never return to the pre-deployment normal, but the new normal can be just as good—or better.

Source: The Military Father: A Hands-on Guide for Deployed Dads, by Armin Brott

The Value of Micronutrient Testing

by Dr. Isabel Sharkar

E

very day we are flooded with health information on the latest super-food and vitamin supplement that we should be taking because it’s good for us. How do you know for sure if the supplements you are taking are right for you? This is complicated by the fact that taking more of one nutrient may cause imbalances and actually induce deficiencies in other nutrients. Many medications deplete nutrients and intense exercise may increase nutrient requirements.

Nutritional balance is very important in optimal wellness, chronic disease prevention and managing the aging process. There is a micronutrient test that offers the most accurate, scientifically proven method for assessing nutritional deficiencies.

The micronutrient test measures the function of 35 nutritional components, including vitamins A, all the B vitamins, C, D, E and K, minerals such as calcium, magnesium and zinc, amino acids like glutamine and serine and antioxidants like Coenzyme Q10, glutathione and lipoic acid, to name a few.

These are measured within the white blood cells. Scientific evidence shows that analyzing the white blood cells gives the most accurate analysis of a body’s deficiencies.

By assessing the intracellular requirements of micronutrients, we are able to assess the body’s needs for these micronutrients that enable the body to produce enzymes, hormones, and other substances essential for proper growth,

development and good health.

Nutritional deficiencies have been shown to affect the function of the immune system, which in the long run, can contribute to degenerative processes.

A micronutrient test provides the basis of a personalized, functional approach in addressing a broad variety of clinical conditions including arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular risk, diabetes, various immunological disorders, metabolic disorders and micronutrient deficiencies.

Sometimes eating a balanced diet, exercising and taking a multivitamin is not enough for complete health optimization. Many diseases have, at their root cause, a nutrient deficiency.

Micronutrient testing is preventative care. When seeking a higher level of wellness, it is important to have a personalized blueprint to supplement one’s schedule with targeted nutrient repletion recommendations for the deficiencies identified.

Through micronutrient testing, you get a window into your body that you normally wouldn’t have.

This provides important information on nutrient deficiencies which you otherwise wouldn’t know exist. This testing can be conducted in many naturopathic clinics.

Isabel Sharkar, ND, is a licensed naturopathic physician and co-owner of Indigo Integrative Health Clinic, in Georgetown. For more information, call 202-298-9131 or visit Indigo HealthClinic.com. See ad, page 4. natural awakenings June 2016

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consciouseating

Inflammation Is Your Diet Causing It?

digestive tract, and this will not present the same signs as a cut on your finger.

While focusing on what causes inflammation is important, focusing on what we can do to decrease inflammation is key. In general, create a diet that has variety with as much fresh produce as possible. This could be labeled as a paleo diet, which consists of limited simple carbohydrates like breads and pastas, no processed foods, high vegetable intake, moderate protein intake and filled with healthy fats. By focusing on a clean and wholesome diet one can dramatically decrease the amount of inflammation throughout the body.

Creating dietary and lifestyle changes in order to decrease chronic inflammation will result in long life without relying heavily on painkillers. A diet that decreases inflammation might look something like this:

■ Breakfast - Green smoothie made of

a handful of spinach, almond milk, 1 Tbsp of chia seeds, 1 tsp turmeric, 1/4 cup blueberries and a 1/4 avocado

■ Lunch - Large salad with grilled

chicken, a variety of extra veggies, a sprinkle of sunflower seeds with an oil and vinegar dressing

by Elizabeth McMillan

I

nflammation is an immune reaction that is triggered in response to an infection or laceration. For instance, if there is a cut on your finger, the body sends out an alert to the immune system. This draws inflammatory cytokines to the area and the sight becomes red, tender and produces heat.

This is an acute inflammation reaction and its beneficial for the healing process.

However, what happens when the body is constantly inflamed? This may present itself as chronic pain, puffiness, weight gain at the midsection, digestive disturbances and depression. Research is now saying that inflammation may be the root cause of almost all chronic diseases.

The more inflamed we are throughout the body, the more likely we will suffer from poor health conditions. Almost every chronic disease will list inflammation as a symptom. The good news is that if we can decrease our inflammation, we can dramatically improve our overall wellness.

This includes brain and cognitive function, the ability to fight off the common cold, decrease occurrence of degenerative diseases, and improve our energy and stamina.

There are many things that contribute to a pro-inflammatory lifestyle including:

■ Snack - small green apple with almond butter

■ High sugary foods and processed

■

■ Insufficient water intake ■ Food allergens ■ Leaky gut and small bacteria over-

■ Water - half your body weight in

foods

growth

■ Vitamin D deficiency ■ Insufficient exercise ■ Insufficient amount of phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables

■ Fatty acid imbalances between omega-6’s and omega-3’s

■ Emotional stress and toxic relationships

Many of these instances are serious stressors, and if they exist throughout your daily life, they will cause chronic inflammation. Unfortunately, most of us do not realize that we are inflamed. The inflammation might be located in your

Dinner - lean meatballs with zucchini pasta ounces throughout the day

Partnering with a certified nutritionist to create an individualized dietary plan can take a lot of the pressure off yourself to achieve optimal wellness. A classically trained nutritionist is able to look at health history and any signs and symptoms in order to develop a personalized nutritional plan that fits into a busy lifestyle.

Elizabeth McMillan, MS, CNS, practices integrative nutrition therapy at Rose Wellness Center, in Oakton, VA. She specializes in digestive health, chronic inflammation, energy optimization and weight problems and will work with your physician and your personal goals in order to create energizing wellness for a lifetime to come. For more information, visit RoseWellness.com. See ad, page 22. natural awakenings June 2016

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leadingedge

HAPPY

It’s The New Sexy

D

By Deepa Karthik (Menon)

arwin’s theory did not bring with it just evolution; it also changed the way men and women across the world looked at the laws of attraction forever. Suddenly, we realized that we were subconsciously picking out partners who were the “healthiest”, or the Darwinian “survivors”. Without doubt, healthy is in.

But, in the pursuit of physical health, did we miss the boat on the equally important mental health? Could the brooding Shakespearean protagonist, no matter how beautiful, be the antithesis of what we are looking for? Could happy be the new sexy?

Psychologist Dr. Emma Seppala believes it is. She says, “Happiness makes us more charismatic, more open, approachable and strengthens our feelings of connection to others—even strangers.”

The roadblock? Experts across the

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world agree that stress is the primary happiness buster, not to mention the source of many a physical and mental ailment. And, while cardiovascular activity and changes in diet might help calm the stressed mind, it may not relax it completely.

Yoga and meditation are being increasingly considered the missing links to the happiness puzzle. Dr. Seppala agrees.

She says, “A really strong reason to meditate is its impact on your perspective.

You’re more likely to see the big picture rather than sweating the small stuff—as a result, you feel more grateful for what you have. And grateful people are more satisfied in their relationships and feel closer to one another.”

Meditation might, however, be more challenging than we think. Closed eyes often bring with them the office calendar and chore list, and the realization that

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

sitting still with no sensory stimulation is alien to our lifestyles.

Yoga and meditation instructor Bhushan Deodhar believes that, while meditation is key to relieving stress the natural way, “We miss out on its true potential because we have inadvertently discarded its foundation—the breath. The breath is the key to sustainable happiness.”

Spiritual master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Sudarshan Kriya is considered a trailblazer in the world of yogic breathing. Offered as part of the Art of Living Foundation’s aptly titled Get Happy program, the Sudarshan Kriya is a unique rhythmic breathing exercise that participants swear by. The Foundation estimates that 300 million participants across 162 countries, in addition to government and corporate entities, have benefited from the program.

Sri Sri says, “Our breath is linked to our emotions. For every emotion, there is a particular rhythm in the breath. If we understand the rhythm of our breath, we are able to have a say over our mind, and smile more from our heart.”

Also, if the pictures on dating websites are anything to go by, a smile is exactly the sexy we are all looking for. Turns out—the only thing we need to do is breathe.

The Get Happy program is coming to the D.C. metro area on June 24 and 25, in Bethesda, as part of Sri Sri’s national tour.

For more details, visit ArtOfLiving.org/ GetHappyDC. See ad, page 43.

Deepa Karthik (Menon) is a stress management instructor, government contracts lawyer and freelance writer who lives in Northern Virginia. Twitter: @Deepa_Karthik

“No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.”

– Barbara DeAngelis

gardenspotlight

Inspiring Backyard Organic Gardens Throughout NOVA Spotlight on Prior Unity Garden

by Sam Hudgins

I

n 2008, Debby Ward was ready for a life change. She was trying to determine her next career move when her friends suggested she offer her expertise in gardening. “You should do for everybody else what you’ve always done for us—you can grow anything. Why don’t you help people put in gardens and grow their own food?” they asked her. Ward agreed that the idea had potential and, in 2009, she launched Prior Unity Garden.

The inspiration behind Prior Unity Garden’s name comes from the book Prior Unity by World Friend Adi Da. Prior unity, as discussed in the book, is the recognition of the inherent unity of existence, always already connected. Prior unity is how Ward views gardens and thus, the name was born.

Ward makes it clear that Prior Unity

Garden is not a landscaping or lawn maintenance company. “We help people grow organic food at home, so they can realize their organic garden dreams.” Prior Unity Garden also differs from landscapers and lawn maintenance in their focus on permaculture, ecological restoration and sustainable water practices.

Prior Unity Garden achieves organic gardening dreams through several avenues, including classes, courses, coaching, consultations, design, installation and maintenance. Ward’s favorite aspect is teaching garden courses because she enjoys “helping grow other gardeners.”

Prior Unity Garden’s banner course is The Foundations of Organic Gardening.

The Foundations of Organic Gardening is a hands-on, interactive, six-session course spread over six months, beginning

in September. Ward describes the course as an “intense download of everything my partner and I know [about gardening].”

Students are given all materials required, including a binder full of handouts and worksheets. Each session consists of multimedia instruction, a demonstration, a hands-on workshop, with time for questions spread throughout. The course is timed so students can take their knowledge and immediately apply it to their own garden plan, and are ready to plant when spring comes. Optional add-on workshops are now available to extend the course through June and are also available to past Foundations students.

An added benefit of Prior Unity Garden’s courses is the sense of community they foster. Ward notes that she has found several friends in her teaching and even jokes how students from past Foundations courses ask her when there will be a reunion class.

Dates for the 2016/2017 course, The Foundations of Organic Gardening, have been set and registration is open at Prior UnityGarden.com/FoundationsCourse.

For those who already have an idea of what they want, Prior Unity Garden sells gardening essentials such as their own locally grown plants, seed starter kits, specialty soil mixes and garden guides (all developed in-house). The most popular product is rock dust, which is used to re-mineralize soil. Prior Unity Garden also offers resources to fellow gardeners through their website, PriorUnityGarden. com, including a list of safe seed companies. They post gardening videos and information on social media a, including GardenCoachDeb.com, blogs, YouTube and Facebook.

Currently, Prior Unity Garden is run almost entirely by Ward, with part-time help from her partner, Russell Furbush. Ideally, Ward would like to pass her knowledge and some of her workload on to someone eager to learn and grow with the company while she remains at the helm, allowing her to serve more people on her expanding client list.

To contact Prior Unity Garden or sign up for their Foundations of Organic Gardening Course, call 703-281-7743 or visit PriorUnityGarden.com. Be on the lookout for a fall/winter gardening course in June. See ad, page 29. natural awakenings June 2016

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businessspotlight

Four Corners Center

for Counseling and Well-Being Offering Mind-Body-Spirit-Relationship Support

by Robin Fillmore

kind of like a mutiny. When you learn the tools to be self-led, you still feel the feelings and you are still going to struggle, but you will get through it.”

Irmer established her solo practice on a part-time basis in Silver Spring initially, but over the years, grew the business organically by offering more services that resonated strongly with her clients, who visit her for both individual counseling as well as for groups and workshops.

By 2014, she was working fulltime in her own practice and added more therapists to her staff. The following year, her standing grew even further when she won the grand prize in the StartRight! Business Plan Competition sponsored by the Maryland Women’s Business Center which awarded the honor (and the grant) for her innovative business plan and pitch. In addition to her extraordinary skills as a psychotherapist, becoming a business owner helped Irmer discover that she also has an entrepreneurial spirit.

F

our Corners thoughts, feeling, Center for beliefs—that make Counseling us human and and Well-Being has define our personfound an important ality. The process but underserved in this therapy niche among wellis to develop ness centers in the self-leadership. A greater D.C. area. helpful metaphor Founded by Hetty that Irmer offers is Irmer in 2008, with contained in quote a stated mission to

by Louisa May provide support for Alcott. “I’m not mind-body-spiritafraid of storms for relationships at I’m learning how the four corners of to sail my ship.” life, her team helps According to Silver Spring and Irmer, this orientNW D.C. residents ing quote offers Hetty Irmer, LCSW-C (and beyond) find bal“the idea that we ance and wholeness are learning to be in their lives. the captain of our own ship. We will

Irmer has a deep background in have storms—whether it is internal, helping others find their way through diffi- emotional storms or external situacult and sometimes devastating situations tions. It is about feeling confident in using the therapy model Internal Family navigating through that. It’s not that Systems Therapy (IFST), which is based on you aren’t going to feel things but the flowing process of integrating self and you are going to get through it. All parts. The working assumption is that we of our parts are like our crew, with all have a core self—the spirit or soul— our core self as the captain. Our and we also have parts of ourselves— anxiety might take over—which is

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Heidi Vanderwerff, LCSW-C

Early this month, she will be opening her second location in the Manor Park neighborhood, south of Takoma. In this new location, Heidi Vanderwerff, LCSW-C, will be working primarily with new mothers, both individually and in groups—helping them keep balanced and healthy as they manage their pregnancies and move into their new role as mothers.

She also works with young adults who are dealing with major life changes.

wisewords

Emotional Smarts How to Raise Your Quotient Candice Peggs, LICSW, LCSW-C, RYT

Candice Peggs, LICSW, LCSW-C, RYT, brings mindfulness and meditation using yoga-based movements to help her clients focus on the “here and now” as they deal with pain and chronic fatigue.

The three therapists will soon be joined by additional staff, including another therapist, an acupuncturist and a nutritionist, which will help the center round out its capacity to provide holistic wellness to their clients.

As they expand into this new location, a whole new series of groups on a variety of topics will be offered for young mothers, for unpartnered professionals who are considering motherhood, for those experiencing chronic pain as well as more traditional therapy groups.

Irmer, whose professional moniker is “The Thinking Woman’s Therapist”, notes that while she offers a great deal to her work with couples, her main focus and real joy comes from “working with women who are achievement-oriented.”

These are women who are successful but want to grow emotionally.

As they deal with the emotional and the professional, they are dedicated to doing the personal work and building their skills. There is courage involved.”

Locations: 10000 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring and 6230 3rd St., NW, D.C. For more information about Four Corners Center for Counseling and Well-Being, visit HettyIrmer.com. See ad, page 12.

by Harvey Deutschendorf

T

he role of emotional intelligence (EI) in helping to facilitate success and happiness in individual lives has become well accepted. People with high EI tend to share seven habits.

Focus on the positive. While not ignoring bad news, EI people have made a conscious decision to not spend much time and energy focusing on problems.

Rather, they look at what’s positive in a situation and seek solutions. They focus on what can be done and what’s within their control.

Associate only with positive people.

High EI people regard complainers and negative people as energy drains. They tend to avoid them to maintain their own vitality. Instead, they spend time with those that look on the bright side of life.

They tend to smile and laugh and attract other positive people. Their warmth, openness and caring attitude leads others to regard them as more trustworthy.

Set boundaries and assert a position.

Although their friendly, open nature may make them appear as pushovers to some, people with high EI are able to set boundaries and assert themselves when necessary; they demonstrate politeness and consideration, yet stay firm. High EI people guard their time and commitments and know when they need to say no.

They don’t make needless enemies.

Their response to potentially volatile situations is measured, not inflated, and managed appropriately. They think before speaking, allowing themselves time to calm down if their emotions start to feel overwhelming.

Practice forward thinking and willingness to let go of the past. People with high EI are too busy thinking of future possibilities to dwell upon things that didn’t work out in the past. They apply lessons learned from past missteps in taking future actions. They never see failure as permanent or a personal reflection of themselves.

Look for ways to make life more fun, happy and interesting. At work, at home and with friends, high EI people know what makes them happy and look for opportunities to expand the enjoyment.

They receive pleasure and satisfaction from seeing others happy and fulfilled, and do whatever they can to brighten someone else’s day.

Expend energy wisely. High EI folks don’t hold onto anger over how others have treated them, but use the incident to create awareness of how to not let it happen again. While they move on and forgive, they don’t forget, and are unlikely to be taken advantage of again in the same set of circumstances.

Always learn and grow. High EI people are lifelong learners, constantly growing and evolving. Being critical thinkers, they are open to changing their minds if someone presents a better idea. They trust themselves and their own judgment to make the best decision for themselves.

Harvey Deutschendorf is an emotional intelligence expert, speaker and author of The Other Kind of Smart. Take the EI Quiz at TheOtherKindOfSmart.com/ ei-quiz. natural awakenings June 2016

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www.CBDRevolutionUS.com~Katherine~202-730-9443

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naturalpet

Hot Days Are Hard on Pets How to Prevent, Detect and Treat Heatstroke

by Shawn Messonnier

A

s outdoor temperatures heat up, pets may suffer from the effects of increased ambient temperatures. While problems such as squamous cell carcinoma and moist dermatitis (skin hot spots) increase along with temperatures and amount of sun exposure, the most serious heat-related health issue is heatstroke. Holistic vets recommend some simple, commonsense steps that will help and also possibly save a pet’s life.

Heat stroke in both people and pets develops when core body temperature rises and stays above a certain level. In dogs and cats, the tipping point tends to be a body temperature higher than 106 degrees Fahrenheit. This can happen more quickly in overheated dogs and cats because they don’t have the ability to sweat in order to cool off like people do; this is due to a lack of eccrine sweat glands over most of their body surface.

Panting can reduce body temperature, but is inefficient and easily

overwhelmed if their temperature rises quickly and a pet can’t remove itself from the surrounding warm environment. Dogs such as pugs and bulldogs that have a short, broad skull are especially at risk due to genetically impaired breathing structures; they can easily overheat even in mildly warm weather.

Ferrets and rabbits are especially prone to heatstroke because they typically dwell in cooler temperatures.

As a result, these small mammals do best when housed indoors rather than outside; outdoor time should be limited and supervised.

Heatstroke in pets is usually easy to detect for a pet with a history of being in a hot environment from which it cannot escape to cool itself in shade or water or take a refreshing drink.

Excess panting, dark red gums and a “hot feel” to the ears and hairless skin of the abdomen are clues.

First-aid involves quickly cooling the animal and notifying the veterinarian that a pet suffering from heatstroke

is on the way. Wetting it will begin the process. Applying either ice packs or ice cubes in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel to avoid freezing the skin also helps. Recommended spots for the packs are on the back of the neck, armpits and groin, as these areas have large arteries and veins close to the surface.

If possible, don’t spend much time on these actions, because getting the pet to the doctor quickly is the overriding goal. Administering homeopathic drops of arnica and hypericum via the mouth from a natural home first-aid kit while en route to the vet may assist healing.

Treatment at the veterinary hospital involves continued cooling, including intravenous fluids and cool water enemas.

Cooling the pet must be done quickly in order to restore enzyme systems to normal functioning. Hospitalization will likely be required to evaluate the patient for potential serious complications, including cardiac arrest, shock, septicemia, bloody diarrhea, and disseminated intravascular coagulation to ensure against a usually fatal disorder involving the pet’s blood-clotting mechanisms. With prompt assistance, most pets with heatstroke will recover, but treatment can be extensive and expensive. The most important aspect is initiating it early to prevent permanent organ and brain damage.

Prevention is ideal and preferred over the need for treatment. Guard against leaving furred pets outdoors for extended periods of time during hot weather. Pets that must be outside need protection from the heat and sun in shaded areas with access to plenty of fresh cool water; provide several water bowls.

Opinion is divided about whether longer-haired pets seem more comfortable and have fewer weather-related problems if their hair is cut short, but don’t cut it down to the skin, as that removes their protective coat and predisposes them to sunburn. A good rule of thumb is that if it’s too hot for the pet’s person, it’s too hot for the pet.

Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. For more information, visit PetCareNaturally.com. natural awakenings June 2016

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calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2 Writing Your Truth – 12:30-2pm. Experience the powerful, mysterious and often surprising gifts that emerge as you listen to poetry, participate in simple exercises to get the juices flowing and then begin to write. $15 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3 Community Lecture Series: Rising Strong – 6:307:30pm. With Richard Warren. Learn how to Rise Strong. Based on the research and writings of Brene Brown. Come learn more. All are welcome. Bring your family and friends; we provide the munchies.

A great start to a night out. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

Three-Day Rocket Yoga Immersion – 6:308:30pm. Through June 5. This three-day immersion is designed to build a solid foundation in the Rocket Vinyasa Yoga system.

Please note: This is not a rocket-certifiable training, but this weekend is a prerequisite for anyone who is interested in taking the 100hour Rocket Yoga teacher training with David C. Kyle. The three-day immersion will cover: Rocket 1, 2, 3 basic sequence and theory. $300.Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline.com/Classic/ ws?studioid=2070&stype=-8&sView=Day& sLoc=0&sTrn=100000492&Date=06/03/16.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Healthy Living Day – 11am-4pm. Join Natural Awakenings at Dawson’s for a healthy living expo featuring great local, natural and holistic practitioners and green organic products. There will be a full schedule of free talks on topics related to restoring and maintaining your health. Everything you need to live a healthy and balanced life. More than 40 exhibitors. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-428-1386 or HealthyLivingExpoDC.com.

Stress Reducing – 4-5:30pm. With Swami. Swami

Anubhavananda, the Be Happy Swami, shares his insight on meditation and yoga and the powerful impact on our daily lives. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5 Health Care Provider CPR – 10am-5pm. Please note: New regulations in Maryland for LMTs state the Health Care Provider CPR is required prior to re-licensing this fall. $120. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

Touch of Massage – 10am-5pm. In just one day, our faculty will share with you how massage relaxes, heals and rejuvenates. You will focus on increasing awareness of self and others during the energetic exchange that occurs through massage. Using techniques from Swedish massage, you will work on the feet, hands, face, neck and back. $85. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

MONDAY, JUNE 6 Group Meditation – 7:30-8:15pm. With Dolly Lee. Join us in contemplation and meditation. Sitting with a community is a potent experience. Get to know the thoughts that fuel the way the world unfolds for us in the company of like-minded practitioners. All levels. Cash donation. Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8 Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Meditation and Daily Life – 5:45-7:15pm. Deepen your experience of meditation and what it means to apply it in daily life. Explore your self-development with personalized guidance from an experienced facilitator. $280. Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine, 6829 Elm St, Ste 300, McLean, VA. Register: 703-532-4892. Info: Bit.ly/1QS7hbR. Healing Circles – 7-9pm. Join Smith Center CoFounder Michael Lerner in a powerful discussion on forming healing circles. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

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the best kept secret

®, Lipo-augmentation is strictly fat. Moreover, the transferred fat reabsorbs 40-60%. All other formulas target the endocrine system, causing hormonal side-effects (swelling), presenting as false results. Natural Woman® works at the breast receptor level via “true” phytoestrogens, as measured by their ability to bind with of affinity and trigger actual breast tissue growth. the

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 9 Reiki II - Enhanced Level – 9:30am-5:30pm. With Mary Jane Pagan. Students are asked to bring their Reiki II booklets to class. Additional handouts will be provided. 7 CEUs. $175. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

Reiki III – 9:30am-5:30pm. Through June 12. With Mary Jane Pagan. The Reiki II-Enhanced Level is required prerequisite for this training and is included within the cost. Reiki is one of many tools supporting physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Reiki training is a transformative experience. 28 CEUs. $725. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training – 6-9pm.

Through June 12. This program is perfect for the avid yoga student who wants to become a yoga teacher or anyone that wants to deepen their personal practice. Scholarships available. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: 301-986-1090 or Roxanne@The MindfulnessCenter.org.

Natural Vision Improvement and Self-Healing Through Movement – 6:30-9pm. Join Meir Schneider, PhD, LMT, to find out how easy-toperform movement and vision exercises can work together to heal your body and eyes. $30/person or $50 for two people. The School for Self-Healing and WPFW at Busboys and Poets Takoma, 235 Carroll St, NW. Register: OfficeManager@ Self-Healing.org. Info: 415-665-9574.

FRIDAY, JUNE 10 Neuromuscular Therapy: Torso/Pelvis – 12:306pm. Through June 12. Judith DeLaney or Don Kelley. The weekend class will present foundational principals of NMT and trigger point formation theories, anatomy, physiology, functions and dysfunctions, common pain syndromes, surgical approaches and a step-by-step therapy routine of the thoracic and lumbar areas, pelvic muscles, diaphragm and deep abdomen. 20 CEUs. $545. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

Training to Teach Yoga to Kids and Teens - 20hour Yoga Alliance Certification – 6:30-9:30pm.

Through June 12. This 20-hour certification will equip participants to teach kids and teens yoga and mindfulness tools in all environments. This training will cover philosophical foundations of yoga and offer concrete curriculum for age’s K-teens. Registration is available for individual days. $115/Friday, $215/Saturday and $215/Sunday (scholarships available). YoKid... stretch your limits at Baltimore

Yoga Village. Register: YoKid.org/20-hr-BasicCourses-Registration. Info: Ltashjian@YoKid.org.

Friday Night Candlelight Yoga – 8-9:30pm.

Through gently energetic and continuous flow we release tension and balance energy, while soft candlelight sets an ambiance to calm the mind and explore inner depths. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: 301-9861090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 Family Cooking Adventure – 10am. Learn how to create yummy meals and snacks. You get to eat what you make. $5. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-4281386 or Info@DawsonsMarket.com.

Shenandoah Valley Herbal Gathering – 10am.

Come enjoy a full day of herbal and permaculture based classes for newbies to seasoned herbalists, plant lovers, healers and Earth lovn’ folks of every kind. Plus plant walks, local artisan vendors, community land art and a live performance

by Bele Bele Rhythm Collective. Sacred Roots Herbal Sanctuary, Shepherdstown, WV. Register: SacredRootsWV.com.

specialevent Women’s Better Living Expo of Frederick

The expo is focused on empowering women and encouraging them to live a healthy and more balanced lifestyle. The event will feature interactive activities, seminars, product demonstrations and much more.

Don’t miss this awesome event. $5/person and under 12 years admitted free.

Saturday, June 11

JHB Productions, LLC at The Great Frederick Fairgrounds, Null Building, 797 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD. Info: 443-438-7624 or JHBProductionsLLC@ gmail.com or WomensBetterLivingExpo.com.

Two-Day Self-Healing Workshop – 10am5:30pm. Through June 12. Natural Vision Improvement and Self-Healing Through Movement Two Day Intensive Workshop with Meir Schneider, PhD, LMT. Learn how to use your muscles more efficiently – with ease, balance and flexibility

and enhance physical and mental relaxation. The School for Self-Healing and WPFW at WPFW Studio, 1990 K St, NW. Register: OfficeManager@ Self-Healing.com. Info: 415-665-9574.

Women and Aging, the Incontinence Issue – 10:30am-12:30pm. Physical therapist Jeanne Scheele will discuss many common urological problems women face as they age and offer self-help exercises and advice.

Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine, 6829 Elm St, Ste 300, McLean, VA. Register: RSVP@KaplanClinic. com. Info: 703-532-4892 or Bit.ly/1Oe8Zo5.

Doggie Dip and Yappy Hour – 11am-4pm. Get ready for the dog days of summer with a clean canine. Bring your furry friend to Dawson’s for a dip.

We provide the fun, shampoo and water. You do the washing. We will have doggy samples plus local vendors your dogs are sure to enjoy. This is an outdoor event. Weather permitting. Free. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-428-1386 or Info@DawsonsMarket.com.

On the Inner Axis: Health, Transformation, Empowerment (Lecture and Movement) – 1-3pm.

With Max Strom. This workshop will focus on how Max’s breath-initiated yoga (Inner Axis) can transform long-term anxiety into a calm strength, bringing meaningful change to our lives. Lecture, yoga and qi gong movement, breath-work and guided meditation. All levels. $60. Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com.

Cool and Calm: a Restorative Yoga Workshop for Sailing into Summer with Ease – 3-5pm. According to ayurvedic teachings our bodies and minds mirror the tendencies of the season. In the summer, our bodies are easily over heated, our minds can go into overdrive, and our emotions can get hot triggering feelings like anger, frustration and jealousy. Enjoy two wonderful hours of opening and relaxation and take away an increased sense of peaceful ease. Hands-on healing and aromatherapy available. $22.69. Yoga District, 1830 1st St, NW. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline. com/Classic/ws?Studioid=2070&stype=-8&sView= Day&sLoc=0&Date=06/11/16.

Open Fireside Chat Awakening Circle – 7:309:30pm. With Bennett Crawford and Cullen Kowalski. Share our direct experiences with meditation in the context of awakening, open heart mutuality, deep healing and shadow work ingredients which appear to be essential for igniting a whole new way of life of ultimate liberation, freedom and explosive radical love. Ayurvedic/organic tea and conscious snacks served. $5. Samsara House 2023, 36 R St, NW, Bloomingdale. RSVP: WakeUp@ SamsaraHouse.org. Info: SamsaraHouse.org.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 Sri Dharma Mittra Workshops – 9am-6pm.

Join Sri Dharma Mittra, founder of Dharma Yoga and internationally renowned yoga teacher, for a day of workshops at the Washington Convention Center. Sri Dharma will lead a Master Class, Yoga Nidra and an All Levels Practice. Sliding scale for those in need, email YogaDC@YogaDistrict.com.

Josephine Butler Parks Center, 2437 15th St, NW. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline.com/Classic/ ws?Studioid=2070&stype=-8&sTG=11&sVT=60 &sView=Day&sTrn=100000666&Date=06/12/16.

Love Your Body Yoga Festival – 10am-5pm. Visit Neck, Back and Beyond and their interactive booth at the Love Your Body Yoga Festival in Reston, VA. Neck, Back and Beyond at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market St, Reston, VA. Info: NeckBackAndBeyond.com.

Make Your Own Natural Perfume – 3:30-5pm.

Learn to mix pure essential oils and absolutes to make your own custom natural perfume. $70. Offered by Herban Lifestyle at BeClean Studio, 52 O St, NW. Register: VerLocal.com/Event/DC-DIYNaturalPerfume. Info: Info@HerbanLifestyle.com.

Loving Your Body includes Growing Your Health – 4pm. You’ll see how and why growing your own food and sourcing your food from local sustainable farmers completes your total health practice. By Prior Unity Garden and Grow Your Health, Speakeasy Tent at Love Your Body Yoga Festival. Free. LoveYourBodyYogaFestival.com.

MONDAY, JUNE 13 MUIH Herb Walk – 5-7pm. Join us for a relaxing and informative tour of the herb garden before the Graduate Open House. Learn to recognize herbs and how they are used for healing and wellness. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

MUIH Graduate Open House – 7-9pm. Distinct from other schools, MUIH delivers academic excellence with a focus on the interconnection of mind, body and spirit. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

Acupuncture and Pain Relief Lecture – 7:308:30pm. Join Acupuncturist Jonathon Gilbert in a discussion about relieving Neuropathic Pain (NP) using ancient Chinese treatments. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 14

SUNDAY, JUNE 19

Sky Above Clouds Author Reading – 6:30-8pm.

Expressive arts therapist and writer Dr. Wendy Miller shares a story from the intersection of medical science and life’s meaning and the healing power of creativity through illness and adversity.

Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Spiritual Education and Enrichment Week 2016: Tools for the Oneness Journey – 7-9pm.

Also June 20-24 9:30am-9pm. Accelerate your conscious journey with courses in meditation, metaphysics and scripture. A SEE in the Field event. $99/course (volunteer discounts are available).

Unity of Gaithersburg, 111 Central Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: UnityOfGaithersburg.org/ see.html. Info: 301-947-3626 or Communications @UnityOfGaithersburg.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 16 Bacon and Brews Happy Hour – 5:30-7:30pm. Just in time for Father’s Day. A special evening featuring 3 tasting stations perfectly pairing beer with a bacon-inspired dish. Live music by Joseph Monasterial. $5. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-428-1386 or Info@DawsonsMarket.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17 Weekend Meditation Retreat (Advanced Meditation Seminar M200 - 8hrs) – 6:30-9:30pm. Through June 18. Be guided deep into the realms of personal awareness and integration. As the practitioner, learn to deepen your practice and learn to guide others to do the same. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

SATURDAY, JUNE 18

MONDAY, JUNE 20 MUIH Webinar: Careers in Herbal Medicine – 7-8pm. This webinar will introduce you to the various careers available for herbalists now and into the future. You’ll hear about the exciting work of some of our alumni as well as the industry and consumer trends that are fueling the need for experts. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21 Mommy and Me and Daddy Too – 10am12pm. Join Dawson’s Market on the Rockville Town Square for Earth-friendly crafts and yummy snacks. Live entertainment and tons of fun.

Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-428-1386 or Info@Dawsons Market.com.

Fall and Winter Gardening – 9am-3pm. Eat from your garden year round. Fall and winter are the easiest times to garden. Come create your cool season food production plan. Worksheets included. $108. Prior Unity Garden, a short walk to WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 the Vienna Metro, James St, Fairfax, VA. Register: PriorUnityGarden.com/FallAndWinter.htm. Info: 703- Illuminating Herbs in Watercolors – 5:307:30pm. Join cookbook author Marcella Kriebel 281-7743 or Gardeners@PriorUnityGarden.com.

Acupressure for Self-Care and Others: The Seva and Common Good City Farm herbalist Tricia Stress Release (parts 1 and 2) – 10am-5:30pm. Alison McCauley for a relaxing evening of exploring Babil. The Seva Stress Release is a sequence of acu- herbs through art and medicine. $45. Common pressure points that is designed to ease the human stress Good City Farm, V St, between 2nd and 4th response and support overall well-being. Anyone can St, NW. Register: CommonGoodCityFarm.org. learn this simple yet effective acupressure sequence (no Info: 202-559-7513 or Josephine@Common previous bodywork training required). $150. Register: GoodCityFarm.org.

Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

Jivamukti Satsang – 11am-12:30pm. With Beth Watson. Join Jivamukti teachers and students in satsang to discuss the Jivamukti Focus of the Month. Satsang is a virtuous gathering of likeminded individuals who inspire, encourage and reflect your true nature. Let the seeds of compassion ripen in satsang. All are welcome. Free. Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com.

A Radical Introduction to the Leading-Edge of Meditation – 2-5:30pm. Learn how to practice traditional meditation and mindfulness being done everywhere, learn why waking up is such an important evolutionary next step for humanity and then go beyond traditional practices to experience the leading-edge of meditation. $45. Samsara House 2023, 36 R St, NW, Bloomingdale. Register: Bit. ly/IntroMed. Info: WakeUp@SamsaraHouse.org.

Yoga for Spine Flexibility – 2-4pm. This workshop is a wonderful way to experience Kundalini yoga. Learn powerful breath linked movements, meditation, mantra and relaxation designed to promote flexibility and mobility of the spine. Open to all levels and great for beginners. Love Grow Yoga Studio, 9124 Bay Ave, North Beach, MD. Register: LoveGrowYoga.com.

Info: 443-646-5701 or Info@LoveGrowYoga.com.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24 Community Lecture Series: Exploring Shamanism – 6:30-7:30pm. With Diana Goroff. Join us as we venture to the realm of the Great Spirit. Find your power animal. Come learn more. All are welcome. Bring your family and friends; we provide the munchies. A great start to a night out. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

specialevent Get Happy

A two-day immersive experience.

Learn the Art of Living Foundation’s powerful Sudarshan Kriya Breathing Technique and a plethora of other breathing and meditation techniques. Featuring special sessions led by founder and world-renowned master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

June 24 and June 25 • 8-9:30pm $29-$109.

Falun Dafa Association of DC at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St, NW. Register: Ticketing@FalunDafa-DC.org.

Info: Shenyun.com/Symphony.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

specialevent WineDown Yoga Presents FlowJam 3

Join for this 3-day camping festival with live music, yoga, vendors, food trucks, sweat lodge and massage therapy in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains on a 17-acre farm, located in Bluemont, VA (75 minutes from D.C.)

June 24 through June 26 Info and Register: WineDownWithYoga.com/events

SATURDAY, JUNE 25 200-Hour Teacher Training Summer Extended Session – 7am-9pm. Sat and Sun through Aug 14. Hands-on modules focus on various yoga traditions including Vinyasa flow, alignment, power, dharma, astanga, sivananda, restorative, prenatal, seniors, chair yoga and trauma-sensitive yoga. With an understanding of these diverse yoga traditions, this training guides you to personally find what the best path in yoga is for you. $2500. Yoga District, 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com/ The-Teacher-Training.

Healing Touch - Level 1 – 8:30am-6pm.With Lucrezia Mangione. A Healing Touch class is for the person who wants to enhance wellness in themselves and the lives of people they care about by using the gift of energetic touch. You will possess a life-changing gift that you can give over and over again, once you have mastered simple, easy-to-learn steps and techniques that support health and facilitate the healing process. $365. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

Richmond Vegetarian Festival – 12-6pm.

Now in its 14th year, the festival continues to grow each year and has become a favorite family outing for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.

Come join us for the best RVA Veggie Fest ever.

Azalea Gardens at Bryan Park, 4308 Hermitage Rd, Richmond, VA. Info: VeggieFest.org.

Ripple Music and Arts Festival – 12pm. Visit the Neck, Back & Beyond interactive booth at this fundraiser for the Alex Gioeli Memorial Fund, which supports the Next Generation of Unity (NGU). Stillwater Studio, 4279 Janes Ln, Marshall, VA. Info: NeckBackAnd Beyond.com.

Celebrating Summer Foods – 1-4pm. Chef Cathryn Pethick provides a hands-on cooking class honoring seasonal foods to aid in healing. $20 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

MUIH Webinar: Coaching Simulation Workshop – 7-8pm. In this webinar, you’ll actually observe one of our coaching faculty members, a highly experienced coach, conduct a simulated coaching session with a client. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

DC METRO A TWO-DAY

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE SUDARSHAN KRIYA & MEDITATION

JUNE 24 - 25 session 1 : June 24 : 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM session 2 : June 25 : 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM BETHESDA NORTH MARRIOTT HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER

5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852

Discover “the how” of lasting happiness, and watch stress and frustration melt away. You’ll learn from expert Art of Living teachers and renowned master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Plus, experience the powerful Sudarshan Kriya breathing exercise that effortlessly draws you into a deep state of meditation, health & happiness.

UNPLUG, TUNE IN, GET REAL, GET HAPPY!

Sign up at: ArtofLiving.org/GetHappyDC (202) 332-5433 / GETHAPPYDC@US.ARTOFLIVING.ORG

Dalai Lama Awakening - Conscious Film Night June 2016 – 7:30-10pm. Ayurvedic/ organic tea and conscious snacks served. $5. Samsara House 2023, 36 R St, NW, Bloomingdale. Info: SamsaraHouse. org. RSVP: WakeUp@SamsaraHouse.org.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26 Living with a Happy, Healthy Cat – 9am-2:30pm.

From holistic veterinarians and practitioners, learn more about your cat’s health, constitution, diet and environment to optimize their wellness and happiness. $50. Veterinary Holistic Center, 7950 Woodruff Ct, Ste 1, Springfield, VA. Register: Itty Bittyurl.com/Ya9. Info: VHCNoVa.com.

The Ethical Therapist – 9:30am-12:30pm.

Massage therapist and educator, communications professional, award-winning author and certified in plant-based nutrition, Kelly teaches ethics classes at PMTI in the professional program. Her class is lively and fun—explore real world solutions to your current or potential ethical dilemmas. 3 CEUs. $95. Register: 202-6867046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

is required for Maryland licensure renewals.

Massage Therapist and Educator, Communications Professional, Award-winning Author and certified in plant based nutrition, Kelly teaches ethics classes at PMTI in the professional program. Her class is lively and fun, explore real world solutions to your current or potential ethical dilemmas. 1 CEU. $35. Register: 202686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

Couples Massage – 2-5:30pm. This 3-hour class will focus on increasing awareness of self and your significant other during the energetic exchange that occurs through using Swedish massage. You will learn to apply specific strokes and how to adjust your body and your pressure so your body doesn’t hurt after giving a massage. $99/couple. Register: 202-686-7046 or RSVP@PMTI.org.

Young Adult Cancer Meet Up and Support Group – 5-6:30pm. Enjoy a light dinner and facilitated group session. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

vesting without Breaking your Back – 5:307:30pm. Learn from the farm manager tools and techniques that you can use in the garden to reduce your back strain and be more productive in the garden. Common Good City Farm, V St, between 2nd and 4th St, NW. Register: CommonGoodCityFarm.org. Info: 202-559-7513 or Josephine@CommonGoodCityFarm.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 30 Movie Night – 7pm. We will be screening Merchants of Doubt. Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the curtain on pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities, yet have the contrary aim of spreading confusion about well-studied threats. Organic snacks provided; cost goes to a local charity. $5. Neck Back and Beyond, 10560 Main St, Ste 204, Fairfax VA. Register: 703-865-5690 or NeckBackAnd Beyond@gmail.com.

plan ahead

MONDAY, JUNE 27

Jazz Brunch – 11am-2pm. All you can eat brunch buffet that includes an extended breakfast hot bar, salad bar, a locally-made bagel and lox station, a made to order omelet station and a waffle station, dessert and mimosa tasting. $16.99/adult, $6.99/child ages 4-10 and kids 3 and under are free. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-4281386 or Info@DawsonsMarket.com.

Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

Diversity Training for Massage Therapists – 1:30-2:30pm. With Kelly Madrone. This class

Tools and Techniques for Weeding and Har-

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29

THURSDAY, JULY 14 200-Hour Teacher Training Summer Extended Session – 7am-9pm. Through July 26.

Hands-on modules focus on various yoga traditions including vinyasa flow, alignment, power, dharma, astanga, Sivananda, restorative, prenatal, seniors, chair yoga and trauma-sensitive yoga. With an understanding of these diverse yoga traditions, this training guides you to personally find what the best path in yoga is for

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you. $2,000 early bird registration until June 14 or $2,500. Yoga District, 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com/The-Teacher-Training.

ongoingevents

SATURDAY, JULY 16

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

Connect to Your Core – 2-4pm. Explore your inner strength and connect to your navel center. This workshop will lead your through movements and meditation taught to give you a good physical workout while strengthening your nervous system and core. Love Grow Yoga Studio, 9124 Bay Ave, North Beach, MD. Register: LoveGrowYoga. com. Info: 443-646-5701 or Info@LoveGrowYoga.com.

MONDAY, JULY 25 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 Yoga for Balance – 2-4pm. Tune- up and balance the entire glandular system with Kundalini Yoga.

Learn the principle elements of the body through movement, meditation and breath. Open to all levels. Love Grow Yoga Studio, 124 Bay Ave, North Beach, MD. Register: LoveGrowYoga.com.

Info: 443-646-5701 or Info@LoveGrowYoga.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 22 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

specialevent

monday

wednesday

Therapeutic Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. Enjoy a greater sense of well-being and enhanced energy in our gentle yoga classes. Learn various yoga postures and techniques in progressive relaxation, breathing practices and mediation. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Register: 202-483-8600. Info: SmithCenter.org/Calendar.

Outside the Lines: A Creative Art Studio – 10:30am-12:30pm. 1st and 3rd Wed. Facilitators will help reclaim art-making as a healing tool through guided creative projects. $10/session (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Register: 202-483-8600.

Info: SmithCenter.org/Calendar.

Awareness Through Movement – 12:15-1:15pm.

This Feldenkrais Method is a unique approach to fitness for those who are injured or in chronic pain.

Simple floor exercises have profound effects on your posture, breathing and movement capabilities. $10/ session or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

tuesday Chair Yoga – 12-1pm. You are invited to relax deeply as we move through a series of gentle seated and supported poses that promote self-care. $10/ class or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Meet the Locals – 4-7pm. 2nd Tues. Come sample products from our favorite local vendors while you enjoy a glass of beer or wine. Free. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-428-1386 or Info@DawsonsMarket.com.

Food for Life: Foods for Cancer Prevention Cooking and Nutrition Course – 6-8pm. Barnard Medical Center’s five-class cooking and nutrition course, gives attendees all they need to create nutrient-dense meals around cancer-fighting foods.

Barnard Medical Center, 5100 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: 202-527-7314. Info: BarnardMedical.org.

Farmers’ Market – 11am-2pm. Instead of giving your money to large corporations, support our local farmers and small business owners and shop Dawson’s Farmers Market. Enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers and great food from our BBQ tent. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-428-1386 or Info@ DawsonsMarket.com.

Therapeutic Yoga – 6-7:15pm. See Mon for details. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation).

Smith Center for Healing the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Register: 202-483-8600. Info: SmithCenter.org/ Calendar.

thursday Flow Yoga Level 1 – 10-11:15am. Review yoga essentials such as alignment, and breathe, while flowing through class. Build confidence in your practice or review the basics, something for everyone. Drop in rates available. Washington Yoga Center, 4000 Albemarle St, NW. Register: WashingtonYogaCenter.com.

Therapeutic Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. See Mon for details. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Register: 202-483-8600. Info: SmithCenter.org/Calendar.

Thirsty Thursdays – 5-7 pm. Stop in Dawson’s and quench that thirst. Enjoy a different local beer tast-

Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra, the world’s only orchestra with Chinese instruments as its permanent members, demonstrates why the Chinese word “medicine” comes from the Chinese word “music”.

If You Are Reading This, So Are Your Potential Customers.

Wednesday, October 26 • 8-9:30pm $29-$109 Falun Dafa Association of DC at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St, NW. Register: Ticketing@FalunDafa-DC.org.

Info: Shenyun.com/Symphony.

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Contact us today for limited, one-time ad rates.

202-505-4835

ing each week. This event is free. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240428-1386 or Info@DawsonsMarket.com.

Breath, Mind and Meditation – 7:30-8pm. Free half-hour session led by expert meditation instructors from the Art of Living Foundation. Refresh, rejuvenate and destress after a long week and prepare for the weekend with a quick session where you can experience the power of the breath and a guided meditation. Register: Tinyurl.com/ ThursdayMeditations.

friday Move, Learn, Create – 11am-12:15pm. Stretch your creative capacity, feel good and connect with fellow participants. Featuring a variety of dance styles, the class is a well-paced and refreshing experience for all. $10/session or $25/month (suggested donation).

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Friday Wine Tastings Taste the Vine – 5-7pm.

Join us in our Indulge Dept for a free wine tasting featuring a different vineyard each week. Dawson’s Market, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: 240-428-1386 or Info@DawsonsMarket.com.

Tai Chi & Qigong – 5pm. Aligning breath, movement, and awareness to affect energy flow, Qigong is rooted in Chinese medicine, martial arts and philosophy. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

Yoga Nidra – 7:45-9pm. 1st Fri. Yoga Nidra is a form of meditation in a laying down on the back position. Students are guided through a body scan leading them to a deep state of relaxation in which the body is asleep, but the mind is awake and receptive to suggestions. $20/early registration for members and $25/early registration for nonmembers or $30 at the door. Washington Yoga Center, 4000 Albemarle St, NW. Register: 202-244-9642 or WashingtonYogaCenter.com.

saturday Cannabis Cooking and Growing Classes – 122pm or 4-6pm. CannX is presenting a class to teach how to cook nutritious meals and baked goods with cannabis. We will also teach a cannabis growing class which will teach growers about lighting systems, grow techniques and what nutrients to use to grow plants. $55/person. CANNX, DC. Register: MyCANNX.com..

The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty. ~Zig Ziglar

WANT TO CONNECT WITH OUR READERS? THR EE- MO NT H EDI TO R I AL CALENDA R AND MAR K ET I NG P LANNER

J U L Y

Summer’s Harvest plus: The Importance of Independent Media Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Healthy Foods & Gardening

A U G

Empowering Youth plus: Creativity

Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Children’s Health & Well-being

S E P T

The Yoga Issue plus: Healing Music Our Readers Are Seeking Providers & Services for Yoga Classes/Equipment & Healing Music

Contact us to learn about marketing opportunities and become a member of the Natural Awakenings community at:

202-505-4835 or email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com natural awakenings June 2016

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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

.

AROMATHERAPY

MOTHER NATURE’S STORE

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 28.

SHAWNA SNYDER

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Shawna Snyder is a licensed acupuncturist specializing in pain management. She effectively relieves pain by custom tailoring a comprehensive treatment plan to achieve optimal results. See ad, page 22.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE NOVA CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

4635 Chain Bridge Rd, Ste 100, McLean, VA 703-229-3106 NOVAAlternativeMed.com Our holistic approach gets to the nexus of your pain and treats your pain’s cause, not just your symptoms. Dr. Craig Sanford’s approach and treatment will greatly improve your quality of life. Specializing in peripheral neuropathy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, nutrition, physical therapy and functional medicine. See ad, page 9.

703-851-0087 Laina_Poulakos@hotmail.com MothersNatureStore.com

C e r t i f i e d aromatherapist and herbalist offering lifestyle consultations and handmade products, including soaps, balms and beard oils. Reach a better state of body and mind.

See ad, page 16.

BEDROOM FURNITURE SAVVY REST NATURAL BEDROOM

258 Maple Ave East, Vienna, VA and 12242 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 703-255-7040 (VA) or 301-770-7040 (MD) Maddie@SavvyRest.com • SRNB.com Savvy Rest Natural Bedroom is the premier retailer of Savvy Rest organic mattresses and bedding, a Virginia manufacturer and retailer of fine bedroom furniture. See ad, page 5.

BOTANICAL GARDENS MEADOWLARK BOTANICAL GARDENS 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, VA 703-255-3631 KTomlinson@Nvrpa.org • Nvrpa.org

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, a public garden for all the senses, a place of peace and reflection.

Near Wolf Trap in Vienna.

CANNABIS PRODUCTS CBD REVOLUTION US

202-730-9443 CBDRevolutionUS@gmail.com CBDRevolutionUS.com We increase public awareness of hemp health /CBD that enables the mind and body to work at their optimal state thereby promoting ultimate health, wellness and longevity.

We are an innovative community, passionate about empowering individuals to balance their health and wealth while becoming leaders in the cannabis movement. We spread the truth about the benefits of an amazing plant in our modern culture, teaching people how to get healthy without the high. See ad, page 38.

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CHIROPRACTOR ASHDALE CHIROPRACTIC AND PHYSICAL THERAPY

Dr. Craig Sanford, DC 12801 Darby Brooke Ct, Ste 120, Woodbridge, VA 703-583-1222 • AshdaleChiropractic.com Ashdale Chiropractic and Physical Therapy offers chiropractic care, acupuncture, peripheral neuropathy and physical medicine. See ad, page 9.

NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 28.

CLEANING MAID BRIGADE CAPITAL REGION

4813-A Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA 800-515-6243 Marketing@Maid-Brigade.com MaidBrigade.com

We are Green Clean Certified so you can have peace of mind that your home will be healthier for you, your pets, and the environment. See ad, page 11.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACY GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

46950 Community Plaza, Ste 112, Sterling, VA 703-430-8883 ElsaLam@GoldenHealthPharmacy GoldenHealthPharmacy.com Prescriptions with personal attention (We accept all insurance). Compounding pharmacy for special medications and your pet’s special need. Integrating pharmacy services with nutritional support. Juice Bar, holistic health and wellness workshops, cooking classes for disease management and an infrared sauna with acoustic sound therapy. See ad, page 22.

CONSULTING GRACE PRODUCTIONS

Grace Ogden, Principal 301-445-6771 • GraceProductions.co Grace Ogden leads this consulting and event production firm that supports progressive social change with an awareness of why spiritual principles and practices matter.

See ad, page 26.

COUNSELING FOUR CORNERS COUNSELING, LLC Hetty Irmer, LCSW-C, The Thinking Woman’s Counselor 10000 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 301-960-8960 HettyIrmer.com

Tap into your deeper wisdom and sense of purpose. Understand your moods and manage them better.

Hetty works with women, couples and offers groups to learn and practice skills of self-understanding and leadership. See ad, page 12.

DENTISTRY-CERAMIC IMPLANTS MILES OF SMILES IMPLANT DENTISTRY

801 Wayne Ave, Ste G200, Silver Spring, MD 301-588-0768 PureImplants@MilesOfSmilesDental.net Our integrative approach addresses your body’s readiness for dental implants, we systematically test and optimize your immune system prior to implant placement. With 18 years’ experience in implant dentistry, Dr Noumbissi developed the Natural and Keramik Koncept, a safe protocol for teeth replacement with metal free ceramic implants coupled with naturally optimized and accelerated bone and gum healing to enhance your smile and improve your quality of life. See ad, page 25.

HEALTHY PETS WHOLE PET CENTRAL

Info@WholePetCentral.com WholePetCentral.com We are your one-stop destination for all things natural regarding your pet’s nutritional and grooming needs. Shop online or visit one of our stores locations in Rockville, MD, Herndon, VA or Ashburn, VA. See ad, page 18.

GARDENING PRIOR UNITY GARDEN

Fairfax, VA 703-281-7743 Gardeners@PriorUnityGarden.com PriorUnityGarden.com From containers to whole home-sites we help you create organic, abundant and beautiful gardens. Classes, courses, workshops, presentations, consultations, coaching, designs, installations, maintenance, work-study, products See ad, page 29.

HERBS MOTHER NATURE’S STORE 703-851-0087 Laina_Poulakos@hotmail.com MothersNatureStore.com

MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE

571-358-8645 Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com MindfulHealthyLife.com Online lifestyle magazine for DC-area naturalminded families. Event calendar, resource directory, blog. News, events, giveaways, profiles, tips for holistic healthy living and mindful parenting.

MindfulHealthyLife.com.

HOLISTIC PROMOTIONS EARTHLIGHT PROMOTIONS 703-401-9663 BeverlyNickerson@comcast.net EarthLightPromotions.com

Bringing back the indigenous wisdom to our modern world. Organizing sacred retreat, reconnect with nature and sacred sites travel. Promoting holistic healers, traditional ancient medicine and wellness workshops. See ad, page 18.

C e r t i f i e d aromatherapist and herbalist offering l i f e s t y l e consultations and handmade products, including soaps, balms and beard oils. Reach a better state of body and mind.

See ad, page 16.

HOLISTIC HEALTH COUNSELING GREEN GLOW GIRL

Sara McCoy Integrative Nutrition Health Coach GreenGlowGirl@gmail.com Providing one-on-one coaching to feeling inner vibrancy and awareness through healthy eating and self-care. See ad, page 28.

HOLISTIC PARENTING

HOMEOPATHY MICHAEL LISS

Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 RoseWellness.com Michael Liss is a Doctor of Classical Homeopathy and an integrative health practitioner. He specializes in using homeopathy to help you find relief from various emotional and physical health problems including addictions, s u b s t a n c e a b u s e , a n x i e t y, depression, allergies, asthma, childhood ailments, migraines, hair and skin disorders, immune deficiencies and sinus disorders.

See ad, page 22.

HOLISTIC MOMS NETWORK ARLINGTON/ALEXANDRIA CHAPTER HolisticMomsArlAlex@gmail.com HolisticMomsArlAlex.blogspot.com

National non-profit organization supporting parents in their natural lifestyle choices.

Local chapters: Arlington/Alexandria, Burke/ Springfield, Loudoun, NoVA/Fairfax, Montgomery County and Harford County. National: HolisticMoms.org. Local: Bit.ly/1rHHgaT.

The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty. ~Zig Ziglar

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INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE CHARLES GANT, MD, PHD

International Precision Medicine Associates 2200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, 4th Fl., E Washington, DC 20037 888-727-6910 InternationalPrecisionMedicineAssociates.com With over 30 years of integrative clinical experience, Dr. Gant is passionate about providing the level of personalized care offered by Precision Medicine. He offers advanced diagnostic, genetic, and functional laboratory testing to define the root causes of symptoms, which can then be targeted to reverse chronic disorders and diseases, optimize physical wellness and brain health, as well as overcome addictions. He brings together the best of holistic and conventional medicine options, and is an active educator of healthcare practitioners and an internationally recognized author and speaker. See ad, page 19.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

INTERNATIONAL PRECISION MEDICINE ASSOCIATES

Suffering from chronic pain, fatigue, allergies, stress? Whatever your health challenges, Rose Wellness Center can help you get on the path to real wellness. We help identify hormone, metabolic, digestive, nutritional and food sensitivity issues to get to the root cause of your health problems, where true healing begins. Our services include digestive and women’s health programs, hormone balancing, acupuncture, Lyme treatment, homeopathy and thyroid management. See ad, page 22.

Deep bodywork that uses rhythmic, wavelike movement to ease pain, joint and muscle tension, and release long-held uncomfortable movement and postural patterns. See ad, page 19.

SULTANA AFROOZ, DO

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Dr. Sultana Afrooz specializes in diagnosing and treating patients who have been chronically ill from effects of tick borne infection, mold toxicity and environmental toxicity. See ad, page 22.

SUSHMA HIRANI, MD

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Dr. Sushma Hirani uses an integrative approach to wellness, utilizing conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies. She strives to treat the whole person and emphasizes nutrition, preventive care and lifestyle changes. Dr. Hirani specializes in the treatment of chronic issues such as hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, menopause and women’s health issues. Patients love her compassionate care and personalized attention.

See ad, page 22.

INDIGO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CLINIC 1010 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 660, DC 202-298-9131 IndigoHealthClinic.com

The body has an innate ability to heal itself and achieve balance from everyday stressors through non-toxic, non-aggressive and highly effective modalities. See ad, page 4.

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MEDICAL

2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com

2200 Pennsylvania Ave, 4th Floor East, NW 888-727-6910 InternationalPrecision MedicineAssociates.com

BARNARD MEDICAL CENTER 5100 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 401, NW 202-527-7500 BarnardMedical.org

The Barnard Medical Center partners medical care with the latest advances in prevention and nutrition to create a health care plan designed just for you. If you need to treat and reverse diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, we will help you revolutionize your health. Better eating habits are often the key to better health. See ad, page 2.

PERSCRIPTIONS INSTITUTE OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL MEDICINE, PLLC

GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

2311 M St NW, Ste. 301, Washington, D.C. 202-429-3783 TIMMed.com

46950 Community Plaza, Ste 112, Sterling, VA 703-430-8883 ElsaLam@GoldenHealthPharmacy GoldenHealthPharmacy.com

Our patients are treated holistically as we assess your individual needs and listen to your concerns and goals for well-being. Our practitioners are trained in both conventional and complementary therapies and offer a professionally guided wholeperson approach to your health care. Offering a whole range of integrative services, including thermography, midwifery and medical marijuana.

Prescriptions with personal attention (We accept all insurance). Compounding pharmacy for special medications and your pet’s special need. Integrating pharmacy services with nutritional support. Juice Bar, holistic health and wellness workshops, cooking classes for disease management and an infrared sauna with acoustic sound therapy. See ad, page 22.

INTEGRATIVE NUTRITIONIST

POLARITY THERAPY

ELIZABETH MCMILLAN, MS, CNS Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 RoseWellness.com

Elizabeth McMillan is a board certified clinical nutritionist specializing in functional nutrition.

She believes in finding the root cause of aliments and creating a personalized dietary plan to restore optimal wellness. Elizabeth specializes in diabetes, food sensitivities, gastrointestinal health, autoimmunity and metabolic syndrome issues. Call today to see how she can help. See ad, page 22. .

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Janice M Johnson 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Allow me to join you in creating your own individualized treatment program, which provides a safe and supportive experience for your healing process, with Polarity Therapy and Swiss Bionic Solutions MRS 2000 (Magnetic Resonance Stimulation) pulsed electro magnetic fields (PEMF).

See ad, page 28.

SHIATSU THERAPIST NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Natalie Depastas 10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Nathalie Depastas is a highly skilled acupuncturist and Shiatsu therapist with 30 years of experience in Chinese medicine, including medical qigong. See ad, page 28.

SKINCARE - ORGANIC

THERMOGRAPHY NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page #r adults and families with older children. See ad, page 28.

VETERINARIAN - HOLISTIC

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Go organic. NYR Organic is the way to go. Awardwinning products, fair trade, ethical and transparent. Many holistic practitioners, massage therapist and estheticians use the products in their practice. See ad, page 41.

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571-277-1480 RandiOrganic@gmail.com US.NYROrganic.com/Shop RandiCohenCoblenz

SOLAR SOLAR CITY

678-525-1595 Brittany Watts BWatts1@SolarCity.com Since 2006, Solar City has been working to bring solar energy to as many homes as possible. They work in 19 states, including Maryland and D.C. Contact them today to get a free consultation as a first step to joining the solar movement. See ad, page 38.

Pema Choepel Mallu, DVM, CVA, M.Ac. L.Ac 12627 Wisteria Dr, Ste C/D, Germantown, MD 240-715-6570 HolVetHealing@gmail.com HolisticVeterinaryHealing.com

VETERINARY HOLISTIC CENTER

7950 Woodruff Ct, Ste 1, Springfield, VA 703-662-4494 Info@VHCNoVa.com VHCNoVa.com Dr. Jordan Kocen and his associates provide a full range of integrative veterinary care services, including: acupuncture, homeopathy, Chinese Herbal Medicine, massage, chiropractic and physical therapy.

See ad, page 15.

WOMEN’SHEALTH BEAUTY VANTAGE, LLC

207-338-2177 BeautyVantage@MyFairPoint.net BeautyVantage.com We say, stay natural and stand out in a plastic world. In spite of the widespread acceptance of cosmetic surgical procedures, the drawbacks remain at cross-purposes. Breast implants and fat transfer are needlessly injurious in light of the dramatic results that can be organically achieved with Natural Woman® plant-vs-implants formula. It can both spare you the knife and have everyone wondering who your surgeon was. Indeed, it’s the best kept secret of the well-endowed. See ad, page 40.

VETERINARY HOLISTIC CARE 4820 Moorland Ln, Bethesda, MD 301-656-2882 Info@VHCDoc.com VHCdoc.com

A holistic veterinary clinic focused on keeping your pet healthy by promoting quality of life while providing excellent integrative medical care in an exceptional environment. See ad, page 25.

YOGA YOGA WITH NYA

Nya@YogaWithNya.com YogaWithNya.com

yoga with

Nya Alemayhu is a yoga instructor in Washington, D.C., dedicated to building community through sharing the practice of yoga. Nya∙ private ∙ specialty offers private instruction and ∙ sunday commu workplace yoga. See ad, page 17. at Un ∙ wor

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UNITY OF FAIRFAX

2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 703-281-1767 • UnityOfFairfax.org Admin@UnityOfFairfax.org

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At Unity of Fairfax, we offer a welcoming, safe environment to explore one’s own relationship with God in a community of like-

UNITY OF GAITHERSBURG

111 Central Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 301-947-3626 Admin@UnityofGaithersburg.org UnityOfGaithersburg.org

The purpose of our lives is to be happy. ~Dalai Lama

We are a vibrant spiritual community awakening love, joy and abundance in all. We honor all people and inspire them to live out their potential.

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