Natural Awakenings Washington DC August 2015

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

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Conscious Parenting

Tips for Raising Confident, Happy Kids

Kids in the Kitchen

Healthy Foods They Make Themselves

Think Before You Ink How to Make Body Art Safe

August 2015 | Washington, D.C. Edition

Natural Remedies

Ensure Smooth Sailing on Vacation | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

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August 2015

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Your Path to Healing Starts Here a n i n t e g r at i v e a p p r o a c h t o yo u r h e a lt h GeorGe WashinGton Center for inteGrative MediCine offers you a unique health care program principled in science and tradition where the patient is treated as a whole person and respected as an individual. With your visit to the Center, a highly-trained practitioner—licensed, certified and credentialed in his or her specialty—will develop with you a care plan tailored to fit your needs and honors your personal healing process. natural & inteGrative health ChoiCes W e prov i de C a r e f o r …

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letterfrompublisher Dear friends and fellow parents,

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

In our blended family, my husband, John, and I have five children with five significant others, four grandchildren and one more due at the end of this month. Hallelujah! Even though our children are grown and living somewhere other than home, I am blessed that I usually have interaction with at least one child each day. Weekends tend to involve visits—at our place or theirs. Both John and I start to feel a little antsy when we haven’t had time with our kids—to be a presence in their lives in some way.

When they were younger, being present was even more crucial. I was able to be home with Robin, with her children my two children a great deal before I went back Aaron and Lara when they to work full time. I served as room mother and were younger was the coach of my children’s Odyssey of the Mind teams for several years while they were in primary school. I enjoyed those years immensely although at the time, I don’t know if I savored sitting on the floor, playing with Legos, quite as much as I should. There are many sweet memories of times past, with many more to come.

The notion of presence is important but just as important is the troubling research in a number of studies that show that children of “helicopter” parents tend to be more depressed and have higher rates of suicide attempts. Getting right the balance between nurture and overbearing, obviously, is crucial. Our feature theme this month is enlightened parenting. Our goal is to provide guidance to support parents in the toughest job they will ever love.

We also have a series of articles about ways that parents can be in control of their children’s health. Dr. Chas Gant’s article on epigenetics overturns the prevailing notion that good parenting, alone, can affect a child’s path to adulthood and provides the latest medical research on what parents can do to change the track of their children’s lives toward health and good behavior.

There are local resource people, like Anne Maitrepierre, profiled this month, who work with parents of children with autism. She helps these parents and caregivers deal with a new diagnosis and shares her wisdom of making lifestyle changes that can greatly improve and enhance the child’s quality of life and the family’s ability to deal with it. Also, Laina Poulakos is in the spotlight. Her work with aromatherapy and herbs has changed the lives of her children and led her to a career in helping other parents discover healthier options for dealing with everyday concerns.

There are a few more weeks of summer to enjoy—with your children, with your spouse and with your friends. I hope you get to make the most of these days and be present in those times to make memories that you will savor for a lifetime.

Peace,

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 Director Malika Hook Muhammad Outreach Director Samantha Hudgins Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-505-4835 Fax: 202-827-7955 5230 Tuckerman Lane, #408 North Bethesda, MD 20852 Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com NaturalAwakeningsDC.com ©2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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 4

Washington, D.C.

Robin Fillmore, Publisher

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

contents 6 newsbriefs 10 healthbriefs 1 3 ecotip 10 1 4 globalbriefs 24 leadingedge 13 26 meditation

spotlight

27 community

spotlight

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.

1 6 ENLIGHTENED PARENTING

Tips for Raising Confident and Loving Kids

by Meredith Montgomery

20 CHANGING

36 nonprofit

EPIGENETIC

EXPRESSION

38 practitioner

Empowering Parents to Be Sure Their Children Turn Out Well

spotlight

spotlight 14 40 wisewords 42 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.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com. Deadline for editorial, news briefs and health briefs are due by the 10th.

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

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

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by Dr. Chas Gant

22 WHY YOUR LITTLE

20

ONES MAY BE

DRIVING YOU MAD Food Sensitivities and Children’s Behavior

by Dr. Isabel Sharkar

24 DIABETES REVERSAL Is It Possible?

by John Vargas Eddy

28 KID COOKERY

They Love Healthy Food They Make Themselves

by Judith Fertig

30 NATURAL REMEDIES Ensure Smooth Sailing on Your Next Vacation

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by Dr. Ilana Seidel

32 CHILDREN

30

AND PETS

A Challenging but Joyful Combination

by Daneille Areco

34 THINK BEFORE YOU INK How to Make Body Art Safe and Reversible

by April Thompson

natural awakenings

August 2015

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newsbriefs Drishti Fest In October

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en worldrenowned yoga teachers and more than 40 local and regional instructors will convene from October 8 through 11 for the inaugural Drishti Fest.

Drishti Fest is a four-day festival that includes music, film and art, centered around yoga, in Virginia Beach. The founders’ intention is to offer an event in which participants can use yoga and mindfulness to enhance their lives.

Participants will practice and interact with yoga instructors and teachers in over 90 practices and educational sessions. The festival has something for all interests, including new and experienced yogis. Sessions include asana, vinyasa, pranayama, meditation, slackline yoga, yoga photography and a 5,000 square foot practice area on the beach. In addition to paid classes, a variety of free practice and lecture sessions are offered to the public from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. each day of the event.

Other activities include film screenings, a farm-to-table-style dinner and wine pairing on the beach. The Mindful Market will offer a wide spectrum of goods, services and information, emphasizing local Hampton Roads businesses and locally sourced goods as well as organizations from outside of the region that positively contribute to the festival’s mission and focus.

Notable teachers and presenters include: Beryl Bender Birch, Steve Ross, Liz Arch, Mas Vidal, Nicki Doane, Matt Pesendian, Bobby Clennell, Jules Febre, Robert Sturman, Dr. Eden Goldman and many local and regional teachers.

Location: Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel. Festival registration is now open at DrishtiFest.com. See ad, page 33.

New Cat Café Opens Downtown

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ancy a cappuccino with a side of catnip?

Crumbs & Whiskers, Washington, D.C.’s first cat cafe, opened its doors on June 20.

Owner Kanchan Singh hopes her new business will help frazzled residents unwind, as well as improve the cats’ chances at adoption.

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s most recent survey reports that D.C. has the lowest pet ownership numbers in the country. The area’s long workweeks and high cost of living may help explain why barely one in five residents own a pet.

Crumbs & Whiskers’ mission echoes this idea, pointing out that both pet ownership and a volunteer position at a shelter require a serious commitment.

“Where’s the option that equals fun?” Singh asked on her Kickstarter campaign. No-strings-attached cat cuddling apparently resonated with D.C. residents. The campaign raised double the requested funds. With decades of research linking petting animals with anxiety and stress relief benefits, the cafe seems poised to offer a welcome dose of relaxation.

The cats benefit too. Crumbs & Whiskers partners with the Washington Humane Society to foster shelter cats. The eight felines on the current roster have more space and socialization time with people than they receive at the shelter, which improves their adoption chances.

Cost: A 55-minute visit costs $10 on weekdays/$12 on weekends, with an option to extend the time if availability permits. Location: 3211 O St., NW. Visitors must be at least 13 and are strongly encouraged to book a reservation at CrumbsAndWhiskers.com.

A Spiritual Healing & Yoga Center

• Initiation Yoga • Hatha & Tibetan Yoga Classes • Spiritual Conferences • Meditation & Initiation into Higher Consciousness • Yoga Training Certification 200-500 Hours • Monthly Day of the Goddess Gatherings Private Healings Include: Massage, Shiatsu, Acupressure, Subtle Energy Healing, Reflexology www.newfuturesocietycenter.com Savitri@newfuturesociety.com Savitri Bach, Director

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301-460-1417

Rockville, MD

Stop thinking. Start becoming.

ROCKVILLE MEDITATION

www.rockvillemeditation.org

Registration for Chesapeake Herb Gathering is Open

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oin Centro Ashé for the Chesapeake Herb Gathering, an annual event for the herbal and plant community on September 26 and 27. The two-day event will be held in Nanjemoy, Maryland.

Enjoy a day of workshops, local vendors, youth activities and networking with local medicine makers, teachers, clinical herbalists, healers, botanists, farmers, birthkeepers, plant people, artists, homesteaders and more. This year they will be raising funds for Sign of Jonah Partnership in Healing, a nonprofit organization that has offered affordable acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbs, holistic lifestyle coaching and other wellness services to underserved populations in downtown Washington, D.C. since 1993.

Throughout the weekend, more than 20 workshops will be offered—all led by herbalists from the Chesapeake region.

These workshops include: Youth Plant Walks; Mimosa Medicine; Ember and Smoke: Plant Devotions in Incense; Suburban Homesteading Basics: How to Start Where you Are; Herbs for Birth and Postpartum; Sacred Ayurvedic Cooking: Chai and Spices; Herbal and Nutritional Support for Recovery; DIY Herbal Cheese; African Spirituality and Herbalism and Drying Herbs Legally for Sale in Maryland, among others.

The event is made possible through the support of their sponsors: Mountain Rose Herbs, Ecohermanas, Marble Arch Gardens, Owlcraft Healing Ways, Wild Grace, Purple Mountain Organics and Chesapeake’s Bounty.

Tel: (301) 770-7778 11601 Nebel St. Rockville, MD 20852 -Gain focus and patience -Emotional and physical wellbeing -Unlimited guided meditation daily -Freedom from stress, anxiety, worry, anger, insomnia, depression, resentment, loneliness, boredom Ellicott City Center (410) 730-6604

Arlington Center (703) 354-8071

Centreville Center (703) 657-0550

Cost: $70 (until 8/1)/ $85 (after 8/1) with group discounts available. Includes camping. Youth registration is $35 and free for ages 4 and under. Location: Melwood Recreation Center, 9035 Ironside Rd., Nanjemoy, MD. For the full schedule and registration, visit CentroAshe.org/Chesapeake-Herb-Gathering.html.

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August 2015

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newsbriefs

Takoma Park Competing in National Energy Prize

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National Spotlight on the Mall for Climate Justice

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he Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall will be the backdrop for the Moral March for Climate Justice at 10 a.m. on September 24 and all are encouraged to join.

Please note that this is a new date.

As Pope Francis is calling on the U.S. Congress to take action to save the planet, thousands will be converging on the Mall to show support for his visit and his recent statement on climate change. The Pope will be in Washington, D.C. as part of his upcoming U.S. tour.

The organizers are a coalition of social justice, faith and environmental organizations and individuals. Their goal is to unite, by common purpose, the strength that is their diversity. All are welcome and encouraged to join in this work, which, they consider, to be the defining moral issue of our time.

The event has been endorsed by many of the nation’s leading organizations committed to bring progress in the area of climate change, including groups such as Mom’s Clean Air Force, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, the Hip Hop Caucus, EcoSikh, the Washington Peace Center, Church World Service and the Franciscan Action Network.

Location: 900 Ohio Dr., SW. For more information and to register (to get updates), visit MoralActionOnClimate.org.

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Washington, D.C.

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akoma Park is among an elite group of 50 communities competing for the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a national competition for communities leading the way in energy efficiency and conservation. The $5 million prize will be awarded to the community that has the largest reductions in municipal and residential energy use, using the most innovative and replicable methods.

To encourage residents to support the competition, the organizers have offered a list of things each homeowner can do. For example, they are encouraging that residents get green home certified. By working with the city’s sustainability manager, homeowners can receive coaching on how to reduce energy use and saving money.

By completing actions, residents will get either a light green, medium green or dark green certification to earn awards and points for the Neighborhood Energy Challenge. The darker green that is achieved, the more points earned for the team.

A $2,000 prize is being offered for the neighborhood team that has the most homes green home certified with the biggest reductions in energy use. The prize may be used for a project to benefit the winning neighborhood­—such as new community gardens, recycling toters, benches or helping neighbors in need.

The city is also working to lower its energy usage in a number of ways. They are currently completing energy audits in all city-owned or operated buildings, completing lighting retrofits in all city-owned or operated buildings, upgrading heating and cooling systems at Heffner Park, Recreation Center and the Community Center and converting streetlights to LEDs, with the first ones to be completed this month on Flower Avenue.

For more information and to get involved, visit TakomaParkMD.gov/Sustainability/guep.

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Meditation on the National Mall

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Yogathon For Children in India To Be Held in Bethesda

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ince its inception in 2012, people all over the world have saluted the sun and raised approximately $60,000 to educate children in rural areas of India. This year, the fourth annual Global Yogathon: 108 Sun Salutation Challenge will be offered locally as well from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on August 22, in Bethesda. This will be the first time the event will take place in the greater Washington, D.C. area.

Yogathon is a charity fundraiser being held across the world to support Care for Children (CareForChildren.ca), a program that provides education and educational infrastructure for children in India.

Yogathon is open to all levels of yoga practitioners —from beginners to the experienced. Anyone who accepts the challenge and wants to support a good cause is welcome to join.

Cost: $25. Location: The Plaza at Bethesda Metro with easy access to Metro and parking. For information, visit Yogathon.org.

ore and more Washingtonians are participating in a daily practice of meditation as a way to promote clear thinking, reduce stress and generate higher levels of happiness. The greater D.C. area is known throughout the country as having one of the most robust and thriving communities of meditators and meditation teachers. All are invited— longtime meditators and those new to the practice (including those who have never meditated)—to a time of meditation on the National Mall, at the Sylvan Theater from 4 to 6 p.m. on August 29.

The event is co-sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW), BuddhaFest, the Mindfulness Center and Natural Awakenings. Over the course of the two-hour event, there will be teachings and a meditation, led by Hugh Byrne, Ph.D., an internationally known instructor who is based in D.C., and Debbie Norris, Ph.D., founder of the Mindfulness Center. Norris is a health scientist who has trained extensively in mind-body therapies and teaches meditation and trains new meditation teachers in Bethesda.

The intention of the meditations at the event is to bring healing to a world of violence.

Following the teachings and meditation practice, there will be time for the community to gather together with music, supplied by Lea, a soulfolk songwriter and singer, who is making a big mark on the D.C. music scene. Refreshments will also be provided.

All are encouraged to come, bring a mat and a friend, to this great day of community building.

Location: The Sylvan Theater is located next to the Washington Monument at the corner of 15th NW and Independence Ave. For information visit DCMeditates.com

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August 2015

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healthbriefs

Call for Worldwide Protection from Wi-Fi Radiation

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n May, 190 scientists from 39 nations appealed to the World Health Organization (WHO) to “exert strong leadership in fostering the development of more protective EMF guidelines…” The letter was developed by a committee that included professors from Columbia University, Trent University, the University of Washington and the University of California, Berkeley. It was then signed by a host of university professors and researchers from around the world.

The directive cited several key studies that have shown that radiation from electromagnetic fields—even low-frequency radiation—is a possible cause of cancer. The WHO adopted a classification for extremely low-frequency electromagnetic radiation in 2002 and in 2011 classified radiofrequency (RF) radiation within its Group 2B—a “possible human carcinogen.”

The letter points out that while WHO has accepted these classifications, there have been no guidelines or standards created by the agency or in conjunction with other agencies. It recommends a convening of the United Nations Environmental Programme and the funding of an independent committee to explore practical means of regulating the widespread and uncontrolled expansion of wireless technologies throughout our environment. The appeal also calls for the protection specifically of children and pregnant women and a strengthening of regulations placed on technology manufacturers.

Berkeley, California, set a precedent on May 12 by acknowledging the health risk posed by RF radiation and adopting the Right to Know Ordinance, requiring electronics retailers to warn customers about the potential health risks associated with it. It reads, “If you carry or use your phone in a pants or shirt pocket or tucked into a bra when the phone is on and connected to a wireless network, you may exceed the federal guidelines for exposure to RF radiation.” The ordinance requires that the notice be displayed in stores that sell mobile phones.

CONSTIPATED KIDS HELPED

BY TUMMY MASSAGE

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esearch from the University of Washington has determined that chronic constipation in children may be relieved with abdominal massage. The research involved 25 parents and their children with learning needs and physical disabilities. The parents were trained by specialists in abdominal massage. Following the training, the parents massaged the abdomens of their children for 20 minutes per day.

The study found that abdominal massage relieved constipation in 87.5 percent of the children and reduced laxative use. In addition, the therapy resulted in better diets for 41 percent of the children and improved the parent-child relationship in many cases.

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Glyphosate Self-Testing Now Available

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he Feed the World Project has partnered with the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) to offer public testing for a chemical that is now ubiquitous in conventional food production: glyphosate. At $119, the test can check levels of this chemical in tap water, urine and soon, breast milk.

“For decades now, the public has been exposed, unknowingly and against their will, to glyphosate, despite mounting evidence that this key active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide is harmful to human health and the environment,” says OCA International Director Ronnie Cummins.

“Monsanto has been given a free pass to expose the public to this dangerous chemical because individuals, until now, have been unable to go to their doctor’s office or local water-testing company to find out if the chemical has accumulated in their bodies or is present in their drinking water.”

The testing comes on the heels of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) announcement in March that glyphosate is a possible carcinogen and questions the validity of the industry claims from laboratory animal testing that the acceptable daily intake of glyphosate is .3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. The WHO report notes, “The socalled safe levels of glyphosate exposure have never been tested directly to determine if indeed they are really safe to consume over the long term. Instead, the ‘safe’ levels are extrapolated from higher doses tested in industry studies.”

The test is available at FeedTheWorld. info/glyphosate-testing-test-yourself.

Pistachio Nuts Help Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and Artery Health

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new study published in the journal Nutrition found that eating pistachio nuts may improve cholesterol parameters, increase glycemic (blood sugar) control, decrease artery stiffness and improve overall blood vessel health.

The study tested 60 adults with poor cholesterol lipid levels. They were randomly split into two groups—one (control) was given lifestyle modifications (LSM) while the other was given LSM and consumed 40 grams (about 1.5 ounces) of shelled pistachios per day for three months.

Compared to the control group, the pistachio group’s levels of high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol) increased significantly, while their low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) levels went down significantly. Along with lower fasting blood sugar, the pistachio group showed better artery health, established by measuring vasodilation (the flexibility of the arteries to expand and contract).

This, together with pulse-wave velocity testing, can indicate artery stiffness, which has been linked to hypertension and an increased risk of heart disease in general.

Produce Produces Heftier Newborns

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review of research from the Center for Chemical Regulation and Food Safety finds that the quantity of food consumed by pregnant women for increasing a baby’s birth weight is less important than what types of foods she eats.

After systematically analyzing 11 relevant studies, the researchers found that higher birth weights—associated with better brain development during later years—are linked with the amount of fruits and vegetables a mother eats during pregnancy.

Using seven studies, researchers found that low vegetable consumption during pregnancy resulted in more than three times the risk of giving birth to a child with low gestational weight. Other studies found a correlation between higher fruit consumption by expectant mothers and a higher birth weight of babies. Much of the research showing these relationships occurred in developed countries where a conventional Western diet is prevalent.

Sad Music Can Lift Our Mood

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Happy Couples Sleep Closer Together

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esearchers from the UK’s University of Hertfordshire conducted a study that measured the relative relationship satisfaction between couples and their sleeping proximity. More than 1,000 people were surveyed for the study.

The researchers found that 55 percent of couples that typically faced each other but did not touch while sleeping were satisfied with their relationship. Of those that slept back-to-back but didn’t touch, 74 percent were satisfied with their relationship and those that slept in the same direction, but didn’t touch, had a 76 percent satisfaction rate. Even better, 94 percent of those that touched while sleeping, regardless of their relative positions, reported being satisfied.

The closer the couples slept, the happier their relationships were reported to be.

It is easier to build

study from Free University, in Berlin, has determined that listening to sad music may actually lift our mood. The researchers conducted a survey of 772 people, 44 percent of which were musicians, asking each subject about their emotional responses after listening to sad music. While 76 percent felt nostalgic, more than 57 percent of the respondents indicated peacefulness, more than 51 percent felt tenderness, almost 39 percent had feelings of wonder and 37 percent experienced a sense of transcendence.

Fewer than half—45 percent—said they experienced sadness when listening to the morose melodies. The researchers pointed out that people often tend to listen to sad music as a source of consolation, and the music often provides a means for improving moods and emotions.

strong children than to repair broken men. ~Frederick Douglass

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August 2015

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Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia

by Laina Poulakos hia seeds—we are all familiar with the jingle, and the ceramic pet that grows a lush body of hair from chia seeds. There is so much more to chia seeds than that.

They are one of the healthiest and nutrient-rich foods available. This tiny seed, no bigger than a poppy seed, holds an abundant resource of protein and fiber. One ounce holds four grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber. They are also loaded with powerful antioxidants to fight free radicals and fatty acids for brain health and joint health.

The chia seed is native to South America. The ancient Aztecs and Mayans would consume chia seeds regularly in their diets. The ancient word for strength is “chia”.

Chia seeds are so easy to add to anyone’s diet. They can be added to baking in breads, muffins and cookies. Because of the gel-type texture when mixed with water, they can be used as an egg substitute in recipes. Mix them with yogurt and cereal or add them on top of a salad as a tasty topping. Chia seeds can be mixed with juice or water and they will form a gel-like beverage. Their high fiber and protein content will keep you full longer and can aid in weight loss.

There are so many wonderful benefits to adding tiny chia seeds to your diet.

It is very easy to do, and they taste great too. So don’t just grow a chia pet, eat your ch-ch-ch-chia seeds.

C

Laina Poulakos is a mother of five children and has certifications in aromatherapy and herbology. To schedule a consultation or find out more, call 703-851-0087 or visit MothersNatureStore.com. See ad, page 34.

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More Americans Hop on Buses and Trains More people today are embracing the many benefits of commuting by public transit. Beyond the good feelings of reducing their carbon footprint and avoiding the stress of traffic, they are meeting and conversing with fellow passengers, reading, working via mobile devices or simply relaxing.

Total U.S. mass transit trips topped 2.7 billion in the third quarter of 2014, a 1.8 percent rise from the same period in 2013, according to the American Public Transportation Association.

This represents “a dramatic change in public opinion as more people are demanding public transportation services,” according to President and CEO Michael Melaniphy.

Many communities are responding by improving the operations and scope of their mass transit systems. Oklahoma City’s bus and metro system was acquired

by Embark (EmbarkOK.com) in 2013. In April 2014, it launched the first phase of changes, including increased frequency of bus routes to reduce both passenger waiting and travel times. Since then, ridership has increased 8 percent. Beginning last January, two crosstown bus routes began operating until midnight.

For Andre Small, late-night service means he can ride to and from his home and the restaurant where he works. “I would take the afternoon bus to work, but then have to walk four miles home when my shift ended at 11 p.m.,” says Small. “Carrying my tips in cash late at night didn’t feel safe. Bus service until midnight is a lifesaver.”

Bus ridership in Indianapolis reached a 23-year peak last year, totaling nearly 10.3 million passenger trips, and a new downtown transportation center is expected to open this year. IndyGo, the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo.net), plans to offer the nation’s largest electric bus fleet, rolling out the first vehicles by fall, with a fleet of 21 by year’s end.

Capitol Metro launched two special MetroRapid bus routes in Austin, Texas, in 2014, and new bus and rail transportation centers opened last year in Denver and Anaheim, California. New streetcar projects are underway in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, Tucson and Washington, D.C.

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

Air Raid

Carbon Dioxide Levels Go Through the Roof The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notes that as of March, the global monthly average for carbon dioxide, the most prevalent heat-trapping gas, crossed a threshold of more than 400 parts per million (ppm), the highest in about 2 million years. “It’s both disturbing and daunting from the standpoint of how hard it is to slow this down,” says NOAA chief greenhouse gas scientist Pieter Tans.

“Carbon dioxide isn’t just higher, it’s increasing at a record pace, 100 times faster than natural rises in the past.”

In pre-human times, it took about 6,000 years for carbon dioxide to rise 80 ppm, versus 61 ppm in the last 35 years, Tans says. Global carbon dioxide is now 18 percent higher than it was in 1980, when NOAA first calculated a worldwide average.

Crayon Kicks

Not Just for Kids Any More Secret Garden and Enchanted Forest, by Johanna Basford, are two of the most popular titles on sale at Amazon.com—and both are coloring books for adults.

Featuring detailed black-and-white drawings of the flora and fauna that surround illustrator Basford’s Scottish home, Secret Garden has sold nearly 1.5 million copies.

Fans include Hollywood celebrities such as Zooey Deschanel, and when National Public Radio asked listeners for feedback, many indicated, “I thought I was alone.” The consensus is that adults are seeking to get in touch with their inner child. Beyond the nostalgic charm of coloring books, it’s also a good way for grownups to unwind and reflect.

“So many people have told me that they used to do secret coloring when their kids were in bed,” says Basford. “Now it is socially acceptable, it’s a category of its own.”

For a sample coloring gallery, visit JohannaBasford.com.

Diaper Discovery Mushrooms Grow on Disposables

Disposable diapers are mostly indestructible, but a group of researchers led by Rosa María Espinosa Valdemar, at Mexico’s Autonomous Metropolitan University, Azcapotzalco, has found a way to degrade the soiled garments by growing mushrooms on them.

Disposable diapers can last for hundreds of years in landfills because they contain not only the plant-based material cellulose that mushrooms consume, but also non-biodegradable materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene and the superabsorbent gel sodium polyacrylate.

The scientists grew the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, on a substance made from used diapers and were able to reduce the diaper’s weight and volume by up to 80 percent. For the experiment, the researchers only used diapers containing liquid waste. They sterilized and ground up the garments; mixed them with lignin from the remains of pressed grapes, coffee or pineapple tops; covered the mixture with commercially available fungus spores; and kept it in a plastic bag for three weeks.

The resulting mushrooms had similar amounts of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals as in commercial yeast. They’re not intended for human consumption, but could be used as a supplement in cattle feed.

Source: ScienceDaily.com

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Solar Timeshare

Buying Kilowatts from Each Other Yeloha, a new, Boston-based, peer-to-peer solar startup, allows anyone to go solar, even if they live in a rented apartment, have a roof blocked by a shady tree or don’t have the funds to buy panels. Customers can sign up for the service either as a “sun host” or “sun partner”.

Potential sun host homeowners have a roof suitable for solar, but can’t afford panels. Yeloha will install the panels for free in exchange for access to the solar power the panels create. Sun hosts also get about a third of the electricity created by the panels for free, translating to lower monthly power bills.

The remaining power is distributed to the sun partners—customers that want to go solar, but don’t have a proper roof or own their home. Sun partners can buy as many solar credits as they’d like from Yeloha at a price that’s less than what they’d normally pay to their utility. The service is currently operating in Massachusetts only, but has plans for expansion across the country.

For more information, visit Yeloha.com/sunhost.

Crab Crisis

Valuable Horseshoe Species Going Extinct The horseshoe crab, which is not really a crab, but belongs to the taxonomical class Merostomata among arthropods, is about to join the long list of endangered species. Their potential extinction poses a major threat to pharmaceutical, clinical and food industries seeking the secrets to the species’ survival over more than 250 million years with minimal evolution, enduring extreme temperature conditions and salinity.

Individuals are able to go without eating for a year.

Commonly found living in warm, shallow coastal waters on the sea floor, horseshoe crabs play an important ecological role. A continuing decrease in their population will affect other species, especially shorebirds that feed on the eggs, destabilizing the food chain. Sea turtles also feed on adult horseshoe crabs.

Scientists worldwide want to include the invertebrate in schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1974, labeling them as an endangered species. Enforcement will include monitoring for improper uses of horseshoe crabs.

Pistachio Power The Nuttiest Biogas Around

Turkey, one of the world’s largest producers of pistachios, has begun using tons of the shells to produce biogas (methane) as an alternative energy source instead of dumping them in landfills. The country even plans to power its first eco-city using this unconventional fuel.

The planned 7,900-acre metropolis is expected to house 200,000 people in Gaziantep Province. This southern region near the Syrian border is the heart of Turkey’s pistachio production, yielding more than 50 percent of the country’s nuts. “When you plan such environmentally friendly systems, you take a look at the natural resources you have,” explains Seda Muftuoglu Gulec, a Turkish green building expert. “If the region was abundant in wind power, we would use wind energy.”

If the project goes forward, construction will start within two years and be completed within two decades. A pilot phase will focus on a 135-acre piece of land and, if successful, expand into the entire city. It may inspire other agricultural regions to look at what they typically consider waste as an energy source.

For more information, visit Tinyurl.com/ PistachioPoweredCity.

Source: EndangeredSpeciesInternational.org

Childhood is a

Fracking Halt

Earthquakes Derail Dutch Gas Production Gas production by fracking in the Loppersum, Netherlands, area of the Groningen natural gas field, Europe’s largest, was suspended by a Dutch court after a home was damaged by earthquakes linked to the operation. Nette Kruzenga, co-founder of Groningen Centraal, one of two groups seeking an immediate halt in Groningen gas production, says, “It is clear the judge said that the situation around Loppersum is dangerous.”

The actions of Dutch officials are different than in the U.S., where many people acknowledge the same problem while others deny its existence. States that tend to cite the danger are those that have experienced damaging earthquakes, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Ohio and Virginia. Deniers include big-fracking states such as California, Colorado and Texas.

In states that have reduced new injections and scaled back current operations, earthquakes have abated.

short season. ~Helen Hayes

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ENLIGHTENED PARENTING Tips for Raising Confident and Loving Kids

by Meredith Montgomery

F

seen firsthand, “If you have a connection with your kids, you can have a lot more influence on them.”

Noting that sometimes children feel like their parents love them, but don’t necessarily like them, Martin Establishing Values emphasizes finding ways Shelly Lefkoe, co-author My dad always to identify with their inof Chicken Soup for the told me it was my terests. “I love cars, and Soul: Guide to Effective Parenting, believes that school, my choice, my dad used to invite me on test drives when children learn what we my grades, my life. I was a kid. Both of my model as important values. She tells her daughIt made me want to parents took time to connect with me, which ters they should treat her take responsibility. had a huge impact on with dignity and respect our relationship.” both because she’s their ~Casey Martin Christine Carter, mother and, “That’s how Ph.D., a sociologist with the University you treat people and that’s how I treat of California Greater Good Science them.” Honesty is also a high priority in Center, recognizes the importance of their household.

Minneapolis college student Casey talking explicitly about values. When we see kids doing something we value, Martin often joins his father, Kirk, in presenting Calm Parenting workshops ask them how it made them feel, she for parents, teachers and students advises. “Teens don’t necessarily know around the country. In growing up, he’s that their parents value character over ueled by unconditional love, parenting with presence embraces all potential connections between parents and their children.

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

grades,” Carter says, “particularly if parents tend to monitor grades more than aspects of a child’s character. What do you talk about more—their achievements or their character? If it’s the former, consider that you unintentionally might be sending the wrong message.”

Hummingbird Parenting

Overprotection of children by what’s termed helicopter parenting, can cause a disabling sense of entitlement where kids begin to believe, possibly unconsciously, that they are entitled to a difficulty-free life, Carter observes. “There’s an epidemic of cheating because students don’t want to try hard, and they expect to be rescued,” she says.

“Although it’s terrifying to let our kids fail, when we don’t let them experience difficulty, they see mistakes as being so awful they must be avoided at any cost. To gain mastery in any arena, we must challenge ourselves, even if that means making mistakes.”

“We lose sight that we’re not raising children, we’re raising adults,” says Malibu, California, marriage, family and child therapist Susan Stiffelman, author of Parenting with Presence: Practices for Raising Conscious, Confident, Caring Kids. “Empower them to cope with ups and downs. Help them know and trust themselves by not legislating their opinions and by allowing them to experiment.”

Children often struggle with transitions, especially when things don’t go as planned. Martin recommends, “When kids throw tantrums or argue to get out of a challenging situation that’s causing them anxiety, help them work through it. Tell them that you know they’re feeling anxious, that you’ve felt that way before, too, and then help by giving them something specific to do or focus on.”

Independent outdoor play has been proven to help kids learn to exert self-control. America’s children aren’t allowed to roam freely outside to experience nature as previous generations did. In Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv cautions against being limited by modern factors such as restrictive subdivision covenants and media-induced fear. “There are risks outdoors, but there are huge psychological, physical and spiritual risks in

raising future generations If you can’t explain “Children need under protective house affection, attention, something to a arrest,” he says. acknowledgment

Louv prefers what’s and unconditional love, 5-year-old, you called a hummingbird not discipline. When don’t really approach: “Hummingyou punish kids, they bird parents don’t hover feel absolved: ‘I did understand it; over their kids with something bad, I got they make you nature flash cards; they punished, now we’re stand back and make even,’” says Lefkoe. think about space for exploration When they get caught what you know. and problem solving doing something they through independent shouldn’t be doing, she ~Armin Brott play, while remaining recommends (with chilnearby, ready to zoom in dren as young as 5) askat a moment’s notice if safety becomes ing them, “What are the consequences an issue.” of your actions? Do you want to live

Armin Brott, host of San Francisco’s with them? Your goal with this converPositive Parenting radio program, resation should be that your child walks minds parents to increase opportunities away feeling like they made a mistake, for independence as youngsters grow. but it was a great learning opportunity.”

“Test a child’s ability to handle more

As kids mature and are faced with freedom by providing the opportunity potentially dangerous scenarios, “You to prove that they can. If they succeed, don’t want them worrying about what it’s a confidence builder. If not, it allows their friends will think; you want them them to see for themselves that they’re thinking about the consequences,” not ready yet.” says Lefkoe.

Disciplined Communication Navigating the Teen Years The first eight years of a child’s life are the most formative, effecting personal beliefs that will shape the adult that they’ll become, including impediments to fruitful self-expression. A healthy conversational relationship can foster connection and security while respectfully teaching children right from wrong.

Lefkoe suggests managing parental expectations while considering what serves the child best in the moment.

When a child tries to tell Mom something when she’s distracted, the child may conclude that what they say is unimportant. Instead, the mother can acknowledge the importance of what the child has to say and how she looks forward to listening once she’s freed up before eventually giving the child her full attention.

Parents can serve as a safe haven for kids. Stiffelman says, “Allow them to speak the truth without being corrected or shamed. If they tell you they’d like to do something you don’t approve of, resist the urge to react with immediate advice and talk to them about their decision-making process. Be present enough for them to let them hear themselves think out loud.”

The intense journey of adolescence is about discovering oneself and how to reach full potential. Carter says, “I had to constantly remind myself that this is their journey, not mine, and that it’s going to sometimes be dark and difficult.”

“The more power you give kids, the less they feel the need to test the universe,” says Lefkoe, who reminds parents that while it’s relatively easy to control young children, rebellious teenagers are harder to handle when they feel they have something to prove to an overbearing parent. Offering calculated risk-taking opportunities that don’t involve drugs and alcohol is beneficial in the teen years.

“You want them to know how to handle freedom and be responsible once they are on their own,” she says.

“When I got my driver’s license, I always came home before curfew,” says Martin. “I learned that if I could control myself, my parents didn’t feel the need to control me, which gave me a ton of power in my life.”

Brott observes that as the parenting role changes, “We can offer to help, but it’s equally important to learn to let go and admire the young adults they’re becoming.”

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Teens desperately want to not feel like a kid, adds Stiffelman. “They may tell you to back off, but stay present and engaged—like wallpaper. The more you ask their opinion or invite them to teach you something, the more they’ll feel your support.”

With sex education, the authors of The New Puberty, Pediatric Endocrinologist Dr. Louise Greenspan and Adolescent Psychologist Julianna Deardorff, Ph.D., emphasize the importance of being approachable from a young age, so kids naturally turn to their parents when sensitive questions arise.

“It shouldn’t be about having ‘the talk’; it’s about maintaining an ongoing conversation,” says Greenspan. “Body odor is a good starting point in talking about body issues because it’s not intimidating and can be comfortably addressed by either parent.” Avoid rushing into subjects they’re not ready for by focusing on answering the questions that are posed, while offering a glimpse into the near future.

Deardorff says, “Pubertal changes happen over time, so be patient. Parents have a lot of anxiety and anticipation about puberty. When you start to see the first signs, you don’t have to communicate everything all at once.”

Consider throwing a puberty party or a health workshop for a son or daughter and their friends. Invite a parent that is comfortable with the subject matter—a nurse, physician or teacher— to get the conversation started. “Fight the urge to emotionally or physically

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The Care and Keeping of You: the Body Book for Younger Girls

by Valorie Schaefer The Care and Keeping of You 2: The Body Book for Older Girls

by Cara Natterson Father for Life: A Journey of Joy, Challenge and Change

by Armin Brott Holistic Mom’s Network HolisticMoms.org

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Kids as Teachers

“By paying attention, we can learn a lot of skills from our kids,” says Brott.

Generally, youngsters have a greater tolerance for other people’s mistakes and opinions than adults, and tend to be more laid back. They regularly teach spiritual lessons about giving and receiving love and happiness in ways we never imagined.

Through all the inevitable challenges, Stiffelman notes, “When parenting with presence, we orient ourselves with whatever good, bad or difficult moment is unfolding and bring more of our self—our heart, consciousness, understanding and compassion—to hold steady as the seas get rocky. Children offer us opportunities to confront the dark and dusty corners of our minds and hearts, creating conditions to call forth the kind of learning that can liberate us from old paradigms.”

It all allows us to lead more expansive and fulfilling lives as we open ourselves to more of the love, learning and joy that the adventure of parenting can bring. When we embrace the healing and transformation that is being offered through parenting with presence, the rewards can be limitless.

Meredith Montgomery publishes Natural Awakenings of Mobile/Baldwin, AL (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

Conscious Parenting Resources The Body Book for Boys

by Rebecca Paley, Grace Norwich and Jonathan Mar

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withdraw,” counsels Deardorff. “Sharing activities is a form of communication, too.”

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Last Child in the Woods

by Richard Louv The New Puberty

by Louise Greenspan, M.D., and Julianna Deardorff, Ph.D. Parenting the Lefkoe Way TheLefkoeWay.com Parenting with Presence

by Susan Stiffelman Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents

by Christine Carter

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appier kids are more likely to become successful, accomplished adults. Looking at the science can show what works in raising naturally healthy, happy kids.

feelings are okay, even though bad behavior isn’t.

Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First.

How happy parents are dramatically affects how happy and successful their kids are.

Teach Self-Discipline. Self-discipline in kids is more predictive of future success than intelligence or most anything else good. Start teaching it by helping kids learn ways to distract themselves from temptation.

Build a Village. The breadth and depth of our positive relationships with other people is the strongest predictor of human happiness.

Expect Effort and Enjoyment, Not Perfection. Parents that overemphasize achievement are more likely to have kids with higher levels of depression, anxiety and substance abuse compared to others. Praise effort, not natural ability.

Choose Gratitude, Forgiveness and Optimism. Optimism is so closely related to happiness that the two are practically interchangeable. Teach preteens to look on the bright side.

Raise their Emotional Intelligence. It’s a skill, not an inborn trait. Parents can help by empathizing with children facing difficult emotions and helping them identify and label what they are feeling. Let them know that all

Form Happiness Habits. Turn these happiness skills, plus the positive skills parents already have, into habits.

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Enjoy the Present Moment. We can be super-busy and deeply happy at the same time by deeply experiencing the present moment.

Rig their Environment for Happiness.

Monitor a child’s surroundings so that the family’s deliberate happiness efforts have maximum effect.

Eat Dinner Together. This simple tradition helps mold better kids and makes them happier, too.

Christine Carter, Ph.D., is the author of Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents and The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and Work. She is a senior fellow at the University of California, Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. Learn more at ChristineCarter.com. natural awakenings

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healthykids

Changing Epigenetic Expression Empowering Parents to Be Sure Their Children Turn Out Well

by Dr. Chas Gant

T

he bestselling book by Judith Rich Harris, The Nurture Assumption: Why Children Turn Out the Way They Do, has been published in at least 20 languages and was a 1999 Pulitzer Prize finalist. This landmark book challenges the assumption that parenting matters very much, as long as overt emotional, sexual or physical abuse does not occur.

Studies summarized in this book suggest that the influence of peers matters significantly more than parenting, so parents are advised to focus 20

Washington, D.C.

on their children’s peer relationships if they desire to have their children mature into responsible, loving adults.

However, studies which scrutinize outcomes on identical twins who are separated at birth suggest that the most important predetermining factor, by far, in how children turn out, is their “nature” or genetic makeup.

The arguments for and against the “nature vs. nurture” conflict can be solved by this simple article. Harris makes a convincing argument, based on legitimate peer-reviewed studies that the adult personality does not de-

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

pend much on parenting influences.

Most parents with multiple children recognize that, from the beginning of life, their children can be quite different, and that those personality traits persist regardless of their parenting skills or their children’s experiences.

If aggressive parents seem to produce aggressive children, it’s likely not due to “role modeling”, because if those children are adopted by nonaggressive adoptive parents, they remain just as aggressive as their siblings who are raised by their biological parents.

Adopted children show little personality correlation to their adoptive parents and correlate strongly with their biological parents.

Many notable social scientists and psychologists promote a far less science-backed notion which suggests that parents do matter, and so the “nature vs. nurture” argument rages on. Rather than take sides in argument, perhaps it is better to propose a synthesis—that is, the solution.

Beginning with the assumption that the amassed research suggesting that genes matter the most in how children turn out is correct—this begs a simple question; how can parents take control of their children’s genetic expression? Genetic, or properly called, epigenetic expression, can now be altered significantly. For more than a decade, patients and healthcare professionals alike have learned about the importance of testing one’s unique genetic makeup and proceeding to modify it in a positive way.

It is been proven true so many times that if the doctor didn’t test, he or she has guessed. Parents (and physicians) need to make a decision—do they want to guess about how their children turn out or take control of it?

What steps can be taken? First, a significant number of the quirky, common, important substitutions in each person’s genetic makeup, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), are modifiable through nutritional and lifestyle changes. For instance, the hypomethylation SNPs are very common as they confer some advantages (like assertiveness/ aggressiveness) in certain situations, yet are modifiable by taking various

nutritional supplements. Furthermore, the degree to which a change in genetic expression is achieved can be measured through functional medicine testing. Measuring the positive outcomes of genetic modification, or the lack thereof, with psychological testing, should be a routine practice.

Besides formal and, now very inexpensive, genetic testing and interventions that should be routinely performed in every doctor’s office, studies have overwhelmingly proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that parents can change the epigenetic expression of their children by simple changes in lifestyle and diet.

Each child’s brain’s epigenetic expression is benefited by: clearing out processed foods, especially carbohydrates and sweets from the diet; eliminating pesticide-laden foods which are not organically grown; incorporating regular exercise; drinking enough purified water; getting enough sleep and beginning some spirituality training which teaches self-responsibility for one’s thoughts, feelings and behavior and civic responsibility for others.

In fact, everything that is experienced, even the reading of this article, changes one’s adaptive epigenetic expression. That expression is even more profoundly altered when an emotional charge accompanies experience. A parent may be excited, and therefore epigenetically altered, to learn that the conclusions of The Nurture Assumption are both right and wrong. Yes, genetic expression is very likely to be, far and away, the most important issue in how a child turns out and no, it’s no longer about hopelessly waiting to see how this deterministic process plays out.

Welcome to the age of genomic medicine. Parent should now feel empowered to change the genetic expression of their children in ways that only a few years ago were thought to be impossible.

Dr. Chas Gant, M.D., Ph.D., is an author, physician and educator, specializing in functional medicine, molecular health and healing. For more information, call 202-237-7000 or visit DoctorChas.com. See ad, page 41.

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Why Your Little Ones May Be Driving You Mad

B

elieve it or not, what we feed our little ones may be the root cause of many disorders. Diet affects both our neurotransmitters and brain. Food is the building block that becomes our foundation. Food sensitivities may be the culprit to why your little ones are experiencing behavioral problems like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), increased hyperactivity, impulsivity, lack of concentration or cooperation, outbursts, stomachaches, rashes and

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

headaches. Eliminating certain foods from the diet may significantly help some children.

According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6.4 million American children have been labeled with the medical diagnosis. Of which, 4.3 million children receive powerful mind-altering stimulant medications.

Some things parents can try at home before placing your child on a heavy prescription drug includes

testing for and eliminating food sensitivities. The following have been linked to behavioral problems and eliminating these from the diet is a great place to start: gluten, processed sugar, artificial sweeteners like aspartame, dairy, eggs, soy, preservatives, pesticides, MSG, genetically modified food and artificial food dyes such as FD&C blue (1, 2), yellow (5, 6), green (3), red (3, 40), citrus red 2 and orange B.

If a child is consuming something he or she is sensitive to resulting in inflammation in the brain, this can lead to meltdowns, irritability, anxiety, depression and brain fog.

Unaddressed food sensitivities can also lead to leaky gut, which will further impact behavior and may lead to malabsorption of vital nutrients needed for growth and development.

A noticeable negative behavioral reaction from food can last anywhere from 24 hours to three days.

In order for children to stay focused and energized, they should start their days with balanced blood sugar. Protein helps to do this and stabilizes healthy growth. However, cereals filled with processed sugars, artificial colors and preservatives promote energy peaks and crashes that can lead to temper tantrums and loss of focus. Add an omega-3 fatty acid DHA supplement, check vitamin D levels, add a wide spectrum probiotic and increase dietary fat such as olive oil, coconut oil, flax oil, nuts, seeds and avocado.

Buy organic and become familiar with the “Dirty Dozen”—the foods noted for a higher level of pesticides (see box below). Read food labels. If you don’t recognize an ingredient, don’t buy the food product and give it to your child to consume.

By taking time to prepare healthy food you are showing your children the importance of healthy eating and living.

Dr. 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 3.

Organic Please Each year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tests and then identifies the produce with the highest pesticide loads, and identifies them as the “Dirty Dozen”. They identify the following foods as those you should eat organic as often as possible: Apples Spinach Peaches Sweet bell peppers Nectarines Cucumbers Strawberries Cherry tomatoes Grapes Imported snap peas Celery Potatoes For more information on the Dirty Dozen (and the Clean Fifteen), visit EWG.org.

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August 2015

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leadingedge

Loma Linda University, I heard a visiting world-renowned expert in diabetes presenting peer-reviewed medical studies showing diabetes was reversible. I thought, this is amazing—it’s not just possible to prevent diabetes, you can actually reverse diabetes. Yet here we are in 2015, and much of the world, still, does not appreciate the fact that diabetes is often times reversible. But, and this is the big caveat, you have to understand all the factors that are contributing to the disease. And so that was my initial exposure to this great potential that we have to reverse Type 2 diabetes much of the time.

JVE: Indeed, Dr. Youngberg, it just boggles my mind that decades later this information is not in the mainstream.

Dr. Wes Youngberg

Diabetes Reversal Is It Possible?

by John Vargas Eddy

R

ecently, John Vargas Eddy, founder of E4 Health & Wellness, had the opportunity to interview one of the nation’s top specialists on diabetes, Dr. Wes Youngberg. The point of their conversation was to explore the latest research on the question of whether it is possible to reverse diabetes.

Youngberg trained at Loma Linda University earning a doctorate in clinical preventive care and a master’s degree in nutrition. He is on the clinical faculty of Loma Linda University, is a board-certified nutrition specialist and is a founding director 24

Washington, D.C.

and fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Youngberg spent 14 years in Guam, researching the diabetes epidemic and directing the Wellness Center at the Guam Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic. He returned to California in 2008 to develop lifestyle medicine programs for a large family practice group. He now operates the Youngberg Lifestyle Medicine Clinic.

JVE: Dr. Youngberg, how did you become interested in diabetes?

Back in 1985 when I was training at

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Yes, it is in the mainstream medical journals—it has been published for many years—yet there’s not been a will to apply it clinically. That is what we are doing here. We are seeking to apply this information, get it to the people and to give them a whole new paradigm of understanding, to remove despondency and in its place, put hope.

JVE: Hope seems so foreign, so many people hear the diagnosis diabetes and they are worried and sometimes go into despair.

Why hope?

Yes, again, it’s all about perception.

I have practiced, I have spoken all around the world and I have encountered this everywhere. I frequently tell people when they are diagnosed with diabetes, this is good news.

They look at me like I am some type of sadist and say, ‘What’s wrong with you, how could this be good news, I have seen what diabetes can do to my own family members, I would not wish this on anybody.’

And I say, ‘yes, but we will teach you, how you can either reverse the condition or if not fully reverse it, prevent its complications.’ And ultimately, that is the bottom line, right? There is a certain percentage of people with diabetes that may have had it for so long that they won’t be able to completely reverse the

We will teach you, how you can either reverse the condition or if not fully reverse it, prevent its complications. condition, but the point is they can prevent the progression of complications.

And so, regarding hope, my desire is that people start having this little ray of hope, building up within their heart and mind and get them to thinking— wow, is this really possible? And by following this quote from Norman Cousins, ‘Don’t deny the diagnosis, embrace the diagnosis and defy the verdict’, they can go on to reverse the problem by treating the cause.

To hear the full 50-minute interview and learn more about E4Health & Wellness programs and free August workshops, call 301-250-1445 or visit e4ba.org/ts1. See ad, page 17.

Upcoming Free Diabetes Workshops Learn the three big myths about Type 2 diabetes and natural strategies you can do today to stop its progression.

Registration required due to limited space, address sent after registration.

All locations have access to metro and parking.

Wednesday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Friendship Heights / Tenlytown Saturday, August 29 at 10:30 a.m.

Silver Spring Sunday, August 30 online event Wednesday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Arlington/Falls Church

Type II Diabetes For more informaion or to register, visit e4ba.org/t2wkdc1

is a progressive disease

you can slow it down or

stop it 夀漀甀ᤠ氀氀 猀氀攀攀瀀 椀渀 挀漀洀昀漀爀琀 漀渀 愀 匀愀瘀瘀礀 刀攀猀琀ᐠ眀椀琀栀漀甀琀 眀漀爀爀礀 愀戀漀甀琀 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最 椀渀 眀栀愀琀攀瘀攀爀 礀漀甀爀 洀愀琀琀爀攀猀猀 椀猀 戀爀攀愀琀栀椀渀最 漀甀琀⸀ 圀栀攀琀栀攀爀 圀栀攀琀栀攀爀 礀漀甀 渀攀攀搀 愀 猀甀瀀攀爀ⴀ猀漀昀琀 琀漀瀀 漀爀 攀砀琀爀愀ⴀⴀ爀洀 猀甀瀀瀀漀爀琀Ⰰ 礀漀甀爀 匀愀瘀瘀礀 刀攀猀琀 漀爀最愀渀椀挀 洀愀琀琀爀攀猀猀 眀椀氀氀 戀攀 洀愀搀攀 樀甀猀琀 昀漀爀 礀漀甀⸀

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natural awakenings

August 2015

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meditationspotlight

Meditation Camp for Students and Training for Adults

by Eunice Lee

R

ockville Meditation is part of a family of meditation centers around the world, with the main center located in South Korea. In addition to the location in Rockville, there is another Maryland center, in Ellicott City and two in Virginia, located in Centerville and Arlington.

Each offers a fundamental program that is open to everyone, to reach the ultimate goal of one’s life—to become complete. The entire program consists of seven levels and the center holds guided sessions every day.

The meditation program is open to the public, and everyone regardless of age, gender, occupation, ethnic and cultural background can practice this method of subtraction.

Participants note that they leave behind their stress after these guided sessions and come to a place where they live in the true world of everlasting happiness.

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In addition to the daily guided meditations at the local centers, special programs such as a youth camp, a teachers training course and a university students’ camp are offered.

The youth camp is specially designed for elementary, junior high and high school students and takes place each summer and winter vacation for a period of three weeks in the main center in Korea. Meditation youth camp can be an amazing personality development program. More than 16,000 students have participated in the program since 1999. A total of 30 camps have taken place over the years with more and more students from abroad joining the camp.

As a part of the youth camp, a variety of programs are offered, including meditation activities, field trips, club activities and experiential activities, which create the best conditions for the participant’s mind

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to concentrate on the main feature of this type of meditation—subtraction.

Through the youth camp, many children have found a true purpose for their life by recovering their original nature. With this knowledge, they come to appreciate the world and others, and improve their self-esteem, confidence and relationships with family members, teachers and friends.

Also held in the main center in Korea, the meditation teachers’ training course is essential to educators who play a leading role in guiding students. This course is held every summer and winter vacation for a period of one week. Since beginning in July 2002, more than 2,000 teachers have participated in the training course.

The meditation teachers’ training course is a practical program which equips the teacher to provide guidance. One important element in this training brings teachers to understand that all students as equally valuable.

With this training, they are able to lead a class more harmoniously and peacefully. The training is good for the teacher as well as the students and many new trainers report that they become happier, more open-minded and more responsible individuals, which in turn positively affects the general class environment and learning capacity for their students.

As for university students, the first camp was held in July 2004 and still continues as a one-week course for undergraduate and postgraduate students. It covers the first level of the meditation program, which enables the students to continue with their meditation afterward upon their discretion. University students, who often have worries and insecurities about their futures, learn to become free from such concerns as they learn the meditation method of discarding.

Now it’s your turn to self-reflect by knocking on the door of the center near you.

Eunice Lee is the director of Rockville Meditation, located at 11601 Nebel St., Rockville. For more information, email RockvilleMeditation@gmail.com or visit RockvilleMeditation.org. See ad, page 7.

communityspotlight

Mother’s Nature Store

The Healing Journey of Laina Poulakos

by Sam Hudgins

C

ertified aromatherapist and herbalist, Laina Poulakos found the inspiration for her online store and consulting business, Mother’s Nature Store, through her children. Her journey into aromatherapy and herbal healing began when her son, Ben, was born premature with a chromosomal deletion causing him to be prescribed several medications.

By age 2, Ben was on 12 different medications, and his doctor wanted to add more. Seeing the strain put on her young son and his heart, Poulakos refused the medications, thinking, “there has to be something different, I can’t keep doing this.” She began to look for alternative solutions.

Her search began in a bookstore where Poulakos happened upon the book Healing Remedies by Lydia and Joan Wilen. The book was easy to read, and its suggestions were easy to implement. Instead of an inhaler for asthma,

Poulakos used aromatherapy to open her son’s nose and lungs. To fight off constant infections, she pumped up his immune system with garlic, roots and B vitamins. Eventually, Ben was able to come off all his medications.

Poulakos’ final pregnancy provided additional proof that the aromatherapy and herbs were working. Doctors were convinced that there was no hope for the baby to survive, and she should terminate.

Instead Poulakos put herself on bed rest and, with a combination of a high protein diet, herbs and aromatherapy, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Poulakos’ interest in herbs and aromatherapy was catapulted into a career when divorce left her a single mother of five children. She earned her certification as an aromatherapist and herbalist from the Didactic and Scientific Professional Clinical Certification and Training Program at Heart of Herbs Herbal School in

June 2014. The following September, she opened Mother’s Nature Store, named by her son Ben.

Mother’s Nature Store is an online store featuring products that are entirely handmade by Poulakos. The three types of products sold are soaps, beard oils and aromatherapy balms. The aromatherapy balms can be inhaled directly from the container or rubbed on pulse points to achieve the desired effect. While only the Glow and Zit Zapper balms are made specifically to improve skin complexion, some of the other balms can be used beyond aromatherapy as well. For example, Poulakos explains “the chamomile and lavender used in the Moonbeam balm repair skin irritations, rashes and bruising” as well as encouraging relaxation.

In addition to the products sold online, Poulakos offers consultations and custom aromatherapy blends.

The first step for a customer who is interested in consultation is to answer a list of questions via email. Poulakos then arranges for a phone call to discuss the answers and get an understanding of what the customer is looking to improve and their comfort level with herbology and aromatherapy. She will then research and make recommendations on herbs to use or create a custom aromatherapy balm for her customer.

Poulakos also keeps records of the specific research she has done for her customers’ cases, so that any follow-up requests will not cost as much as the initial consult.

In the future, Poulakos hopes to add diet and nutrition to her consultations.

Inspired by her own loss of 30 pounds, she is working toward her nutrition certification.

She says she “wants to help others reach their goals with weight loss and see that it’s not too scary and not too hard.”

To set up a consultation or shop, visit MothersNatureStore.com. The store is currently running a summer sale with prices reduced up to 30 percent off. To learn more about herbology, aromatherapy and Laina Poulakos, visit her blog PowerOfFlowers Blog.wordpress.com. See ad, page 34.

Sam Hudgins is a writing enthusiast and outreach director for several Natural Awakenings publications.

natural awakenings

August 2015

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consciouseating

Kids like simple, elemental tastes and embrace the magic of the three-ingredient approach to cooking. ~Rozanne Gold, Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs

KID COOKERY

They Love Healthy Food They Make Themselves

by Judith Fertig

I

n less than a generation, childhood obesity has risen substantially, most notably in the United States, according to the article “Child and Adolescent Obesity: Part of a Bigger Picture,” in a recent issue of The Lancet. The authors attest that modern culture’s promotion of junk food encourages weight gain and can exacerbate risk factors for chronic disease in our kids.

When concerned parents have a picky child bent on eating only French fries, they could enroll them in healthy cooking classes that offer tastings and related hands-on experiences for youths from preschoolers through teens. Here, children are encouraged to try more foods, eat healthier and learn about meal preparation, plus sharpen some math, geography and social skills.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Leah Smith, the mother of two elementary school children, founded Kids Kitchen and Chefs Club, in Austin, Texas, in 2011. She offers classes for chefs (ages 3 to 6), junior chefs (5 to 11) and senior chefs (11 to 14). Kids learn how to make dishes such as yogurt parfait popsicles with healthy grains clusters or roasted

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tomato soup with homemade croutons.

“I’m a firm believer that teaching kids about which foods are good for us, and why, will positively influence their lifelong eating habits,” says Smith. “Start right, stay right.”

Elena Marre, also the mother of two elementary school children, faced the challenge of a picky eater in her family. In 2007, she started The Kids’ Table, in Chicago, and solved her own problem along the way. Says Marre, “It’s amazing how often I hear a child complain about not liking red peppers, dark leafy greens or onions at the beginning of a class. It’s so rewarding when that same child is devouring a dish made with those three ingredients at the end.”

Healthy kids cooking classes provide a fresh way to combat poverty, according to the Children’s Aid Society, in New York City. The group started Go!Chefs in 2006 at community schools and centers throughout the city and knows how to make it fun with Iron Chef-style competitions.

“When offered a choice between an apple and a candy on two consecutive occasions and with most having chosen

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

the candy the first time, 57 percent of students in the Go!Kids health and fitness program chose the apple the second time, compared to 33 percent in the control group,” says Stefania Patinella, director of the society’s food and nutrition programs.

In Minnesota’s Twin Cities region, “We do a lot of outreach with Head Start, community schools and organizations like scout troops,” says Chef Ani Loizzo, Whole Foods Market’s culinary instructor at the Whole Kids Club Kitchen Camp, in Lake Calhoun. “We have many kids that know about organic and biodynamic farming and we talk about that in class.

We might focus on a healthy ingredient like tomatoes in a one-hour class or explore the culture of Greece or Mexico through food in a longer session.”

Loizzo loves the natural curiosity that kids bring to cooking classes.

“Sparking an interest in exploring ingredients and flavors can also lead to learning how to grow a garden and interest in the environment,” she says.

For children in areas where such cooking classes aren’t yet offered, there are still fun ways to involve them in healthy meal preparation. Maggie LaBarbera of San Mateo, California, started her Web-based company NourishInteractive.com in 2005 after witnessing the harmful effects of teenage obesity when she was an intensive care nurse. It offers educational articles for parents and free downloadable activities that engage children with healthy foods.

“Every positive change, no matter how small, is a step to creating a healthier child,” says LaBarbera. “Together, we can give children the knowledge, facts and skills to develop healthy habits for a lifetime.”

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

Starter Recipes for Kids

Yogurt Parfait Ice Pops with Healthy Grains Clusters Yields: 4 servings

4 ice pop molds 1 cup granola (use non-GMO, gluten-free Kind bars) in small pieces 1 cup organic fresh fruit such as raspberries, kiwi, mango and strawberries cut into small pieces 2 (6-oz) cartons organic dairy or non-dairy yogurt

Put dates into a medium bowl, cover with lukewarm purified water and set aside to soak for 10 minutes. Drain dates and reserve soaking liquid. In a food processor, purée dates with 3 to 4 tablespoons of the soaking liquid, honey, oil, vanilla and cinnamon until smooth. (Discard the remaining liquid.) Add bananas and purée again until almost smooth.

Transfer to a stainless steel bowl and stir in peanuts and cacao nibs. Cover and freeze, stirring occasionally, until almost solid—4 to 6 hours. Let ice cream soften a bit at room temperature before serving.

Adapted from a recipe by Leah Smith for Kids Kitchen and Chefs Club, in Austin, Texas

Raw Banana Ice Cream Yields: about 1 quart

20 pitted dates, roughly chopped 2 Tbsp raw honey 2 Tbsp extra-virgin coconut oil 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 /8 tsp ground cinnamon 4 cups sliced very ripe organic bananas ½ cup raw peanuts, coarsely chopped, optional 2 Tbsp cacao nibs

Cheesy Lasagna Rolls Yields: 4 to 6 servings

Adapted from a recipe from Whole Foods Market, Lake Calhoun, Minnesota

photo by Stephen Blancett

Layer ingredients in each ice pop mold like a parfait. Put a sprinkle of granola in first, and then layer yogurt and fresh cut fruit. Add another spoonful of granola to top it all off and freeze the pops for at least 4 to 6 hours.

Nut Butter Granola Bars Yields: 8 bars

2¼ cups rolled oats ¼ cup shredded coconut (without added sugar) ½ cup applesauce 1 /3 cup nut butter (almond or peanut) ¼ tsp baking soda ½ cup raw honey or maple syrup 1 Tbsp milk or almond milk 3 Tbsp chocolate chips Preheat the oven to 350° F. Mix all dry ingredients in one bowl. Mix wet ingredients into a separate bowl; it may help to heat the nut butter a little first.

Combine the wet and dry contents.

Adapted from a recipe by Kensey Goebel for Kids Kitchen and Chefs Club, in Austin, Texas

photo by Stephen Blancett

Courtesy of TxKidsKitchen.com

ere’s a sampling of healthy snack food recipes that kids love to make—and eat—in class and at home.

photo by Stephen Blancett

H

Line a 9-by-13-inch pan with parchment paper. Bake for about 25 minutes.

Let them cool completely before cutting. Store in a plastic container separated by parchment paper. They should keep for about two weeks and may be refrigerated.

Sea salt ½ lb (8 to 10) uncooked lasagna noodles Organic olive or coconut oil 1 cup ricotta cheese 1½ cups prepared marinara sauce 1½ cups packed baby spinach ½ cup shredded mozzarella Preheat oven to 400° F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add noodles and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain well and gently transfer to a clean surface.

Oil the inside of a small roasting pan or casserole dish and set it aside. Working with one noodle at a time, spread with about 2 tablespoons each of the ricotta and marinara, then top with spinach.

Starting at one end, roll up the noodle snugly, and then arrange it in the pan either seam-side down or with the rolls close enough to hold each other closed.

Pour the remaining marinara over assembled rolls, sprinkle with mozzarella and bake until golden and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

Adapted from a recipe from Whole Foods Market

natural awakenings

August 2015

29

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Natural Remedies Ensure Smooth Sailing on Your Next Vacation

At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents. ~Jane D. Hull

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Washington, D.C.

by Dr. Ilana Seidel

A

re you looking forward to a vacation? A small amount of preparation in advance of summer travel plans can save time and help maintain health when away from home. Once a destination is selected, take a tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at CDC.gov/Travel/ Destinations/List to assess vaccination needs. You may need specific vaccinations before you can be granted entry into a given country.

With that step completed, it is time to determine the mode of transportation. Plane rides are known for their low humidity and can cause dehydration, which often leads to fatigue and headaches. Therefore, water consumption is of the utmost importance. Adding a few drops of lemon oil to water will actually make you want to drink more water. Make sure to use a high

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quality therapeutic grade essential oil.

If embarking on a cruise, remember to bring along your fingers. The acupressure point, Nei Guan (P6 or PC6), is used to help relieve nausea and motion sickness. Nei Guan is located three finger breadths below the wrist on the inner forearm in between the two tendons. Turn your hands over so that the palm is facing up and then massage the area between the two tendons with the fingers on your other hand for about four to five seconds using downward pressure. Nausea can also be managed by adding a couple of drops of peppermint oil to the water.

If the travel involves a change in time zones and jet lag is your foe, consider taking one to three milligrams of Melatonin the night before the trip and up to three days after landing in your new destination. Always start low and titrate up.

Before going to sleep, it is helpful to massage lavender oil on the bottoms of your feet or place a few drops on your pillow to improve sleep quality. Once you are sleeping well, enjoy and explore the new surroundings.

It is important to remember that with new location comes new germs.

Probiotics with a minimum of 10 billion colonies of Saccharomyces boulardii and Lactobacillus GG can support the immune system and help prevent the dreaded traveler’s diarrhea.

Remember to wash fully vegetables and fruit, and to cook meat completely before consumption.

What to do when the natural elements overcome prevention? Rub one to two drops of lavender or cedarwood oil on bug bites to help alleviate itching. Placing pure lavender oil or aloe on sunburns helps heal the skin. Arnica ointment comes to the rescue after falls and bruises. Should you get a cold while traveling, try inhaling peppermint oil in order to relieve congestion.

How to maintain a positive attitude when the kids run wild, the plane is delayed, the hotel reservations fall through and miscommunications prevail? Try this experiment—attempt to frown as much as you can while thinking a positive thought.

Now smile so that your teeth are showing and think of something upsetting. Was this easy or difficult for you? Most people find this very difficult because the mind is actually unable to multitask. People will feel more positive when they smile and more negative when they frown.

So with a smile on your face and your hands holding bags, take some advice from Dr. Seuss, “You’re off to great places—today is your day. Your mountain is waiting so get on your way.”

Ilana Seidel, M.D., is an integrative medicine family medicine physician currently working with AIM Health Institute and collaborating with the George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine. Dr. Seidel’s approach with her patients focuses on their whole health while incorporating her background in functional medicine, Heartmath, osteopathy, Reiki and integrative medicine. Dr. Seidel speaks Hebrew fluently. See ad, page 2.

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 natural awakenings

August 2015

31

healthypet

Children and Pets A Challenging but Joyful Combination

by Daneille Areco

R

aising children and pets is not easy, but if you are up for the challenge, there are a few tips to consider. Parents and children should be involved on this decision. While all kinds of pets can bring a child pleasure, it is important to choose a pet that is right for your family, your home and your lifestyle—and one that your child can help care for.

Exotic and unusual animals may be difficult to care for and should be considered very carefully. Choose an animal that you have cared for before.

Getting a new pet should not be an experiment. Failure can cause a traumatic experience to your child and suffering to the animal.

Animals, large and small, will teach, delight and offer a very special kind of companionship. A child who learns to care for an animal and treat it kindly and patiently is learning to treat people the same way. Careless treatment of animals is unhealthy for both the pet and the child involved.

The parent must set the limits for

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the child and the new pet and serve as role model. Children will learn responsible pet ownership by observing their parents’ behavior. Having animals can help children develop social skills among many other benefits, but parents must teach them the rules and layout guidelines.

Growing up with animals helps the child in a number of ways: n Contributes to child’s self-esteem and self-confidence. n Aids in development of compassion, empathy and trusting relationships with others. n Provides a confidant. Children talk to their pets and they can be safe recipients of secrets and private thoughts.

Other physical and emotional needs fulfilled by pet ownership might include: n Physical activity n Comfort contact n Love, loyalty and affection n Life lessons about reproduction, birth, illnesses, death and bereavement.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

But with responsibility also come a few ground rules that should always be followed.

Children under four do not have the maturity to control their aggressive and angry impulses. They should be monitored with pets at all times. Children under 10 are unable to care for an animal on their own. Parents must supervise the pet’s care, even if they believe their child is old enough to care for a pet. It is the parent’s responsibility to take care of that animal, and remind the child that animals, like people, need food, water and exercise.

Parents need to explain the difference between playing and teasing to children. Most children have a hard time with this concept and don’t understand that the pets can feel this type of emotion. Demonstrate the difference between playing and teasing with a toy that the child feels strongly about.

Another concern is that many children can be harsh with animals.

They are not intentionally cruel but are more curious. The parent’s job is to set boundaries and teach the child that animals have feelings, can hurt, feel pain and cry. Teach your children to feel compassion, love and understanding toward those who are helpless. It is never funny to hurt an animal, even if by accident. Your child should be held responsible. No more cruel bullies are needed in this world.

Although most children are gentle and appropriate with pets, some may be overly rough or even abusive. If such behavior persists, it may be a sign of significant emotional problems. Any child who abuses, tortures or kills animals should be referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist for a comprehensive evaluation. If a child continues to neglect a pet, a new home may have to be found for the animal.

Pets are not toys, and when the honeymoon phase has lapsed, the glamor will certainly fade away. However, if parents can bring the children to the idea that caring for an animal is not a chore but an act of love, everyone will enjoy all the rewards of parenting with pets.

Daneille Areco is the owner of Chico’s Natural Pet Depot, in Falls Church. To learn more, visit ChicosPetDepot.com.

See ad, page 9.

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August 2015

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healthykids

Think Before You Ink How to Make Body Art Safe and Reversible

by April Thompson

F 90 Day Journey To Inner Peace

Dr. Piamas Puatrakul

Health Empowerment Coach & Pharmacist

First Steps to Inner Peace Free consultation

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Washington, D.C.

ew things in life are more permanent than a tattoo. Yet those most likely to change their life course—in careers, relationships or fashion styles—are also most inclined to get inked. Nearly 40 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 have at least one tattoo, according to a Pew Research Center poll.

“If you change your hairstyle or look often, you probably aren’t a good candidate for a tattoo, because of the limited flexibility to change that decision,” says Dr. Gregory Hall, a primary care physician in Cleveland, Ohio. Hall created the website ShouldITattoo.com to help inform others after seeing so many patients that regretted the tattoos of their youth.

Hall has also authored Teens, Tattoos, & Piercings to try to reach school-aged kids before they even consider body art.

Career Concerns

The Millennial generation, which is getting inked in record numbers, is also the leading demographic for ink removal. More than half the tattoos removed by medical professionals in 2013 were for people between 19 and 34 years old. Removal often costs many times more than being tattooed, sometimes requiring a dozen or more sessions over several months.

Beyond the likelihood of changing one’s mind about a tattoo, Hall cites

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employment, discrimination and health concerns in urging teens to decline getting inked or pierced. Employers have the legal right to reject a job candidate because of a tattoo—a challenging fact of life for young people to reconcile when they’re still undecided on a career path.

Different branches of the military have their own restrictions on body art, which can include the tattoo’s size, placement and subject, while some companies ban tattoos and piercings altogether.

The commitment of a tattoo never interested Lauren Waaland-Kreutzer, 25, of Richmond, Virginia. “I don’t know how I’m going to age and who I’ll be in five years,” she says. Two days after turning 18, however, she got her nose pierced, a decision she hasn’t regretted, even though it’s affected her employment. “While I was working my way through college, I gave up slightly better paying jobs in order to keep my piercing,” she says.

Her current employer, a local nonprofit in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is piercing-friendly, but she has friends that have to cover their tattoos and piercings at work; a former classmateturned-lawyer even had to remove a small star tattoo from her wrist.

While piercings are more reversible than tattoos, they are also more prone to certain health risks. Tongue and cheek piercings can accelerate tooth decay, according to Hall, and the risk of infection can be high, especially if it impacts cartilage. “Some skin

rejects piercings, and you can end up with permanent scars,” he adds.

Healthier Alternatives

The good news is there are more natural, less permanent alternatives for young adults to adorn and express themselves, including custom-made temporary tattoos, plus magnetic and clip-on jewelry that are indistinguishable from a permanent piercing. Temporary tattoos work to try out the look before possibly committing.

Henna tattoos, an import from India, are another popular alternative, although Hall has seen many patients develop allergic reactions to this plant-based ink, so it’s always best to test on a small spot first.

Permanent organic inks fade more over time, a downside for someone that keeps a tattoo for life, but “come off beautifully” in a removal process compared to the standard heavy metal inks, reports Hall. Also, “We just don’t know yet what impact the heavy metals may have on people’s immune systems down the road,” he says. “Organic inks are much safer.”

Helpful Facts

State laws vary regarding age criteria, some allowing tattoos at any age with parental consent. Hall’s tattoo website has a downloadable contract to encourage kids to talk with their parents before making a decision, regardless of the need for consent.

Name tattoos, even those of loved ones, are among the tattoos most likely to be removed later in life. Hall saw this with a young man that had the names of the grandparents that raised him tattooed on his hands. He said, “I still love them, but I’m tired of looking at them and I have got to get them off me.”

A Harris Interactive poll revealed that a third of company managers would think twice about promoting someone with tattoos or piercings—a more critical factor than how tidy their workspace is kept or the appropriateness of their attire.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

The Toxic Truth About Tattoos

by Anya Vien

T

he spike in popularity of tattooing that began a couple of decades ago in America and Europe continues to spread worldwide. Those considering getting one will do well to carefully review the options and the health dangers related to traditional tattoos.

Tattoo inks contain heavy metals, and red inks often contain mercury.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any tattoo pigments for injection into the skin. Tattoo parlors are regulated by states and municipalities, but the FDA doesn’t require manufacturers to release ink ingredients. The lack of regulation is unsettling, as some 45 million Americans have been inked.

Many tattoo ink pigments are industrial-grade colors suitable for printer ink or automobile paint, and the FDA warns that it may possibly cause infections, allergic reactions, keloids (fibrous scar tissue), granulomas (response to inflammation, infection or a foreign substance) and potential

complications connected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The carrier solution used in tattoo inks also contains harmful substances such as denatured alcohol, methanol, antifreeze, detergents, formaldehyde and other toxic aldehydes.

A study in the journal Medicine by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, in Dallas, links commercial tattoos to the spread of hepatitis C. Dr. Robert Haley, a preventative medicine specialist and former U.S. Centers for Disease Control infection control official, comments, “We found that commercially acquired tattoos accounted for more than twice as many hepatitis C infections as injection-drug use. This means it may have been the largest single contributor to the nationwide epidemic of this form of hepatitis.”

Anya Vien is the owner of Living Traditionally.com, focusing on naturally healthy and sustainable living.

Teach clients how to defy age and illness through medical yoga.

Advertise in Natural Awakenings’

September Yoga Issue

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

202-505-4835

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August 2015

35

nonprofitspotlight

Building Life Skills and Having Fun at the Boys & Girls Club at Culmore

by Robin Fillmore

T

hough school may still be out for the summer, there is some serious learning and growing taking place at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW).

There are clubs in Alexandria, the District, Fairfax, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Prince William counties, serving thousands of area children, with the goal of teaching valuable life lessons while providing a safe place for the kids to play.

Recently, Natural Awakenings publisher, Robin Fillmore, had the opportunity to meet with a group of

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inspired young people who will be sharing their own editorial, design and sales skills to produce a magazine out of the Culmore Club, in Fairfax County. The goal of this new quarterly magazine, aptly named Life in Culmore, is due to come out in September. Club volunteer, Tracy Ricken, is leading the magazine and notes that it offers the kids real experience in writing the stories, designing the pages and making sales pitches for advertisements to businesses and organizations that already support the club.

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Yered Kebede, known to his friends as Jared, not only attends but also serves as a junior counselor. A lot of responsibility for a 14-year old, he sets up breakfast for the club members and provides a watchful eye over the younger children at certain points of the day. There is a range of classes that are offered throughout the week from which the club members chose. The magazine is one of those classes managed by Ricken. Another offering that Kedege likes is Leadership Empowerment where the children are learning to meditate to music.

Brenda Delgado Perez is in the magazine class as well and is looking forward to sharing her writing and newly discovered design skills. This soon-to-be 11-year old (Happy Birthday, Brenda!) is a first-time summer camper and enjoys all that the club has to offer. Ricken is offering a writing competition as a way to inspire the children to get some words to paper for the new magazine. Perez is planning her submission—a piece on writing. She, like most of the kids, is excited to learn about 3-D printing and also has fun in cooking class. With a menu like smoothies and s’mores, what is not to love?

Yassie Fuentes is looking forward to the chance to show her creative side when they start production of the magazine—particularly working with the pictures. This 10-year old has been coming to the club for three years, enjoying the opportunity to ride bikes and

play sports like basketball and kickball, with her friends. She, and all the girls at the club, take part in Smart Girls, a class that is devoted to sharing how great it is to be a girl and how to be smart about caring for themselves.

The idea for the magazine came to Ricken in a dream but others, like Branch Director Dr. Wonhee Kang, saw the vision and have supported it enthusiastically. Ricken had been coming to Culmore initially as part of a group called Human Activation, which brings innovative meditation and music classes to the club. Eventually, Ricken started volunteering on her own so that she could be more involved and even brings her own children. She recently began serving on the Next Generation Committe, so that

the vision of the BGCGW can discover new ways that the clubs can serve the needs of the children with fresh eyes and a renewed passion for service.

In addition to the writings of the children, the magazine, which will be distributed throughout the Falls Church community, will share information about the events to be held at the club such as volunteer service day on September 26 and a monthly program offered by the local police to sit down over a meal with parents and children.

And of course, there will be great pictures of all their smiling faces.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, visit BGCGW.org.

natural awakenings

August 2015

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practitionerspotlight

Helping Parents Support Children with Autism Anne Maitrepierre Provides New Consulting Service

by Robin Fillmore

A

nne Maitrepierre has a very improgress can be made at any stage of portant teacher—her son. He was diagnosis, to engage in this early interdiagnosed with autism at the age vention phase provides the best hope of of 3, and since then, she has devoted her progress for the child. adult life to finding the best possible treat- This wisdom, gathered over the ments and lifestyle choices that give him past 11 years, is available from Maitrepithe opportunity to be healthy erre to parents and caregivers and to reach his potential. who are struggling with a new Armed with this knowledge, diagnosis or attempting to learn Maitrepierre is now on a jourwhat treatments, diets and other ney to help other parents and steps can be taken to provide full-time caregivers of children for the child with autism. She with autism in the greater D.C. offers her services as a consulmetro area. tant, with the capacity to work

There were warning signs with parents who speak French, that something was amiss English or Spanish and is now soon after her son was born in Anne Maitrepierre working with a leading provider the UK. After a year of seeing in the region for holistic medidoctors and neurologists, the diagnosis cal treatments. Specifically, Maitrepierre was confirmed. She recalls that while helps parents develop a plan of attack the news was traumatic, it also provided to evaluate and change, where needed, definition of what was happening and the medical, nutritional, emotional and signaled that it was time to go into “battle environment elements that are necessary mode” for her only child. for a family with an autistic child.

She gave up her career as a finan She has studied the role of diet and cial news and political reporter and learned that certain foods (and water) copy editor both in Washington, D.C. can cause undesirable behavior on and Tokyo, and set aside her master’s particular children with autism. She has degree in journalism, earned from worked with some of the leading mediNorthwestern University. As she learned, cal doctors, neurologists and nutritionists it is important to start confronting autism throughout the United States and Europe as soon as a child is diagnosed. While to acquire this information for her own

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

son and has seen the benefits.

Maitrepierre can guide parents to the appropriate medical testing and help formulate a diet that will allow the child to be calm. For examples, she notes that “many autistic children, due to an enzymatic dysfunction, cannot process antioxidants or superfoods. While these can be healthy options for most other people, for children who don’t have the enzymes break it down—the food becomes a toxic compound and creates inflammation—which is the root cause of illness.”

Helping parents to create a safe home environment is another important aspect of Maitrepierre’s research and work. The level of toxicity and mold in a home has the potential of creating undesirable behaviors from an autistic child. Likewise, our modern lifestyle of 24-hour Wi-Fi access also can have significant deleterious effects on most human beings, but particularly affect autistic children. Maitrepierre uses her knowledge and understanding to help parents create a sleep sanctuary so the child’s brain has the capacity to repair itself during sleep. This creates less stress for the whole family.

In addition to diet and the home, there are a host of lifestyle changes, many which cost nothing to implement that can be added to the family rituals which can support the autistic family member. Maitrepierre has learned all the tricks and can share them with parents and other family members. She notes that it is important to have the whole family, even siblings and grandparents, on the same team and following the same routines and diets for the autistic child.

Finally, Maitrepierre sees her role as a supporter for parents and caregivers— whether they are new to the diagnosis or have dealt with it for years. The best advice that she got many years ago was from a doctor at a conference. He noted that parents need to de-stress because they can’t help their own child if they, themselves, are not healthy and balanced. With the assistance that Maitrepierre provides, parents can find the help they need and have a ally in their corner.

To learn more about her work and discuss a consultation, contact 301-461-2135 or email AMaitrepierreMoss@comcast.net.

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Pink Socks to End Racism

by HawaH

R

ight before the not guilty verdict was released in the Ferguson case, I was staring at a laundry basket filled with dirty clothes.

Instinctively, I wanted to separate the coloreds from the whites. Somebody a long time ago told me I shouldn’t mix them together. Is that such a bad thing or am I overanalyzing?

Should I mix the coloreds with the whites and challenge age-old conditioning which makes me believe it’s not proper, in my best interest, or, for that matter, an effective way to wash clothes?

My dilemma: One—I’m almost positive clothes don’t have feelings, although this can never be proven since we are not clothes. Two—I wondered if black on black crime was worse than white on black crime.

Three—how would the water feel if I

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added detergent?

From that, I realized a few things. One—if I washed the coloreds with the whites, I could get all of my clothes washed and dried faster than if I washed them separately. Two— I would save water, detergent and dryer sheets. Three—I am privileged to have a washing machine.

Right after the riots broke out in Baltimore, I found myself in the laundry room again. This time my glance traveled upward. I read the label on a peeling box of old detergent that said, “New and improved: protects colors from fading.” I wanted to challenge the notion. I decided to test the revolution by adding to the machine an innocent boy walking home and being murdered because of racial profiling.

Two hours later, I got a drawer full of pink socks. I’m pretty sure my

clothes got clean, so I guess it wasn’t all in vain. It’s happened before. I believe his name was Amadou Diallo. If you recall, Diallo, unarmed, was shot and killed by four NYC police officers in 1999. All four officers were charged with second-degree murder and later acquitted at trial.

There’s something both liberating and disturbing in finding out that my white socks turned pink. For a few moments, I pushed blame from the washing machine, to the detergent, to the clothes. The washing machine was the institutionalized racism, the detergent was justice and the clothes were our emotions.

So whose fault was it that I couldn’t wash all the clothes together at the same time—or, was that notion actually a lie? Did the people in Charleston really forgive the murderer who killed their loved ones? Was hatred a law of nature, or, could we create a washing machine that adjusted so it could wash everything together at once? Or, maybe it was all in our minds and pink socks were actually a good thing. So what do we do?

Do we break the washing machine (and hope it’s still under warranty) or not use detergent (in order to spare the water’s feelings) or not wash the clothes (to keep the dirt happy)?

Or, wash each article of clothing separately so each piece knows it is special and deserves personal attention and care? You see, after the colors fade—what remains?

It is possible that the fabric is both black and white—and the white people derived from those with black skin, and the black people derived from those with white skin. Perhaps before all that, we started off as a shade of pink.

If we all wore pink socks then is it possible that racism would no longer exist? Something for the detergent to ponder and the washing machine to dream.

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He is co-founder and executive director of the non-profit organization, One Common Unity.

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August 2015

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calendarofevents

Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Register: MUIH.edu.

Info: Admissions@MUIH.edu.

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.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

Yoga Workshop – 1-2:30pm. We will attend to deeply layered tension that wraps your muscles, organs and bones using breath, gentle rhythmic movements and sustained stretches. $25. Elements Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Register: FrontDesk@ElementsCenter.com. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

Release Your Inner Goddess – 12-2:30pm.

Get in touch with the energy of the divine feminine, the source of all and the center of your power and creativity. Experience Belly Dance, Transformational BreathWork and Meditation with Aurora Hutchinson and Lauren Chelec Cafritz, The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: 301-986-1090 or Info@ TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

MONDAY, AUGUST 3 30-Day Yoga Teacher Training – Through Aug 31. Expert teachers. Breathtaking views.

A transformational journey. YA-certified 200hr training at The Art of Living Center in North Carolina. $2,500 (plus room and board). The Lotus Pond Center for Yoga & Health at The Art of Living Center, 639 Whispering Hills Rd, Boone, NC. Register: 813-961-3160 or Valspies@gmail. com. Info: 30dayYogaTeacherTraining.com.

Curvy Yoga Labs: Sun Salutations – 2:303:30pm. In this yoga lab, we’ll break down each component asana, go over different modifications and how to skip parts of the sequence that don’t work for you. All levels, shapes and sizes welcome. $20. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Tenleytown. Register: Bit.ly/1IDIfel.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 Outside the Lines – 10:30am-12:30pm. Learn how to use art-making as a tool for healing through guided creative projects. $10 (suggested donation).

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

Laughter Yoga – 11-11:45am. 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. Arlington County Fair, Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 Second St South, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

MONDAY, AUGUST 10

Writing Your Truth – 6-8pm. The benefits of creative expression are well known. Join us to experience the powerful gifts that emerge as we listen to poetry and write our own truths. $15 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

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.

Food for Thought: Do’s and Don’ts for Brain Health – 7-8:30pm. Learn the importance of keeping your brain healthy by identifying both foods that support the brain and foods that negatively impact the brain. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Register: MUIH.edu. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9

Open House – 7-9pm. Explore Maryland University of Integrative Health’s academic offerings in health and wellness and learn how our programs can advance and inspire your career.

Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 Beyond Books – 12:30-1:30pm. We will share experiences, opinions, and hope in a supportive, facilitated environment that encourages input form all. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 Race Demystified – 6-9pm. Through Aug 15. A compassionate approach to understanding Race in America. $250. Inner Gems at The Sorrento, 2233 18th St, NW. Register: EventBrite.com/e/ Race-Demystified-Tickets-17079026829.

Info: 301-332-5782.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 Keeping Your Cool Workshop for Middle School-Aged Youth – We will define what anger looks like; explain what happens when you get angry; learn how to solve problems in a positive way and learn positive coping skills. Journey to Self-Understanding. Register: 240-403-4036 or SelfUnderstanding.org.

Positive Discipline and Emotion Coaching Workshop – 12-5pm. This is a workshop for parents of pre-school and school-age children where you will learn how to discipline with kindness and firmness; reduce power struggles; encourage personal responsibility and find more joy in parenting. Journey to Self-Understanding.

Register: 240-403-4036 or SelfUnderstanding.org.

Yoga Lab: Svastha – 2:30-3:30pm. Svastha: Reorganizing the breath to create more efficient postures. Svastha means light. In this small group practice, we will work with lengthening the breath to create a lighter, clearer, more efficient practice. All levels welcome. $20. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: Bit.ly/1IpkXfr. Soapmaking – 5-8:30pm. An evening of herbal soap making with Joey Pascarella of Slippery Slope Farm. This practical hands-on class will include learning the healing qualities of herbs before we make several batches of soap. $25. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Register: CentroAshe.org/Pleasure-MedicineSeries.html. Info: Info@CentroAshe.org.

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nature—her secret is patience. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

*Trilingual English - French - Spanish* Mob. 301-461-2135 amaitrepierremoss@comcast.net SKPE ID:AutismHolisticHelp1

70 Upper Rock Circle, Suite 401 Rockville MD, 20850 USA

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 Young Adult Cancer Meet Up and Support Group – 5-6:30pm. Meet other young adult cancer survivors and enjoy a light dinner facilitated group session. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

MONDAY, AUGUST 17 Super Summer Sizzler Sale – Through Aug 22.

Before the to-do lists and the school rush begins, come enjoy a full week of discounted yoga, mindfulness meditation, nutrition, sleep, Reiki and other exciting fitness classes.$10/class or workshop or $25/5 Classes or Workshops. Casey Health Institute, 800 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Info: 301-355-2030 or CaseyHealth.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19

Yogathon 2015 – 10am-1pm. Join us for the 4th annual Global Yogathon at the Plaza at Bethesda Metro charity fundraiser being held across the world to raise funds and awareness for Care for Children. $25. Art of Living Foundation at The Plaza at Bethesda Metro, 7500 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD. Register: Yogathon.org. Info: Yogathon.org/City/Maryland.

Three Keys to Inner Peace – 2-3:30pm. Learn simple daily practices to creating inner peace.

Recover from stress and anxiety. Understand how thoughts affect your health and happiness. Activate the law of attraction towards manifesting your true dreams and desires into reality. Lotus Health and Healing at Dawson’s Market, Rockville Town Square Plaza, 225 N Washington St, Rockville, MD. Info: LotusHealthandHealing.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26

Outside the Lines – 10:30am-12:30pm. See Aug 5 for details. $10 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St. NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

National Dog Day – 6pm. Funniest dog photo contest with a $50 gift certificate for first place and free giveaways to all contestants. Chico’s Pet Depot, 6349 A Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA. Register: 703-750-6675.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27

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

Through Aug 23. 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@TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

The Power of Positive Thinking – 7-9pm. We will use Louise Hay’s Power Thought Cards as a jumping off point to explore how our thinking shapes our reality and how we can approach life with joy and optimism even in the face of challenges. Holistic Moms Network Arlington/ Alexandria Chapter at Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd, (Rt 50 at S George Mason Dr), Arlington, VA. Info: HolisticMomsArlAlex.blogspot.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 Summer’s Bounty: A Vegetarian Cooking Class – 10am-1pm. Come step up to the cutting board and the fire, explore the art and joy of creating a delicious beautiful vegetarian meal. We will enjoy our culinary creations for lunch. $20 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Maryland Permaculture Design Certification Course – 10am-4:30pm. Through Aug 31 and Oct 1-5. A 10 day certification course in permaculture design with Eric Kelly of Charm City Farms. $550. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Register: CentroAshe.org/ Maryland-Permaculture-Design-Course.html.

Info: Info@CentroAshe.org.

Movie Night at Neck Back and Beyond – 7-9pm. We will be screening the documentary Food Stamped, an informative and humorous documentary film following a couple as they attempt to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet on a food stamp budget. $5. Neck, Back & Beyond, 10560 Main St, PH-1, Fairfax VA. Register: 703965-5690 or NeckBackandBeyond@gmail.com or NeckBackandBeyond.com.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

for a relaxing time with live music entertainment, Brazilian Bossa Nova trio. Refreshments will be served, free treats for pets and humans. Chico’s Pet Depot, 6349 A Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA. Info: 703-750-6675.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 National Holistic Pet Day – 2-4pm. A Whole Pet workshop will be held from 2-3pm and an Herbs for Pets workshop will be held from 3-4pm. Free samples from Apawthecary and Spirit Essences.

Free. Chico’s Pet Depot, 6349 A Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA. Register: 703-750-6675.

plan ahead FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Labor Day Yoga Retreat in the Shenandoah Valley – 5:30pm. Through Sep 7. Give yourself a marvelous gift at the end of your busy summer.

Take a weekend getaway that will leave you feeling physically rejuvenated and mentally awake and ready for the coming change of seasons. $410. Yoga District, Luray, VA. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline.com/Classic/ ws?Studioid=2070&stype=-8&sTG=11&sVT=60 &sView=day&sTrn=100000910&date=09/04/15.

Info: YogaDistrict.com/Labor-Day Retreat-in-theShenandoah-Valley-Sept-4-7.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 The Art of Coffee Roasting – 5-8:30pm. With Jose Castillo. Join us for an evening learning all about coffee, and we’ll actually go through the process of roasting here onsite with Jose’s antique coffee roaster. $25. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Register: CentroAshe. org/Pleasure-Medicine-Series.html. Info: Info@ CentroAshe.org.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 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.

D.C. Meditates – 12-7pm. Join us on the National Mall for meditation, mindfulness, music, food, community. Whether you are a long-time meditator or are wondering what it’s all about, enjoy an afternoon practicing, mingling and learning.

Register: 301-986-1090 or DCMeditates.com or Info@TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Yappy hour – 5-8pm. Bring your furry friend

Conversations on Healing – 12-1pm. Learn how

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Chesapeake Herb Gathering – 12:30pm.

Through Sept 27. An annual gathering of our herbal and plant community. Enjoy a day of workshops, local vendors and networking with local medicine makers, teachers, clinical herbalists, botanists, farmers, birth keepers, plant people, artists and more. $85. Centro Ashé at Melwood Recreation Center, 9035 Ironside Rd, Nanjemoy, MD. Register: CentroAshe.org/Chesapeake-HerbGathering.html. Info: Info@CentroAshe.org.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8.

savethedate Drishti Fest

to access and amplify our innate ability to heal after taking steps to find the best in advanced medicine. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Register: 202-483-8600. Info: SmithCenter.org/Calendar.

A four-day festival of music, film and art centered around yoga. Master yoga instructors and local teachers will lead 90-plus practices and educational sessions.

Oct. 8 through 11 5:30am-6:30pm. $207-$549. Drishti Fest LLC at Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel, 3501 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, VA. Register: DrishtiFest.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Herbs for Women’s Health – 10am-5pm. With Joan Greeley. Practical techniques for self-care to help your goddess self-flow gracefully through the everyday demands and occasional health challenges at any age. $50. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Register: CentroAshe.org/Herbs-for-Womens-Health.html.

Info: Info@CentroAshe.org.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Moral Action on Climate – On this day, the Pope will be calling on Congress to take action to save our planet ­– and we will be right there to show him, Congress and the rest of the world that we agree. (More details will be emerging as we know them, including the time and the program.) Lincoln Memorial, National Mall. Info: MoralActiononClimate.org.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 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.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 7th Positive Aging: Tools for Creative Aging – 8:30am-3pm. Fair attendees are offered the opportunity to participate in interactive and informative workshops promoting active aging through healthy lifestyles. The fair

Yoga Benefits the Mind, Body and Spirit Help consumers reap the rewards. Advertise your yoga services and products in Natural Awakenings’

September Yoga Issue To advertise or participate in our next issue, call 202-505-4835 44

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

is geared for adults 50-plus and includes a Laughter Yoga session. $25. Northern Virginia Jewish Community Center, 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA. Info: http: JCCNV.org/Events/2015/10/29/UpcomingEvents/7th-Positive-Aging-Fair-Tools-forCreative-Aging.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9 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, DECEMBER 21 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.

ongoingevents

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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.

Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

sunday

tuesday

Sunday Morning Meditation Class – 10:30am12:30pm. With Hugh Byrne. An oasis in a busy week, including 30-minute guided meditations, a 10-minute walking meditation and 30-minute discussion. A mini-retreat. Drop-ins welcome. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Grow Sprouts and Micro Greens in Your Home Year Round – 2:30-5:30pm. 5th Sun. Indoor growing: wheatgrass, sunflower, broccoli and more. $50 (includes handouts and kit). Raw Living D’Light, Fairfax, VA. Register: Luzy@RawLivingDLight.com.

Sailing to Wellness Cruise – 4-7:30pm. Free sailing cruise in Annapolis when you enroll in the 90 Day Journey to Inner Peace program. Uncover and heal the root cause of stress and anxiety.

Create harmony at the body, mind and spirit level.

Discover inner peace and a renewed zest of life.

Lotus Health & Healing at Port Annapolis Marina, 7074 Bembe Beach Rd, Annapolis, MD. Info: 301760-6924 or LotusHealthandHealing.org/90-dayJourney-Inner-Peace.

monday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. A beautiful way to start your day, with a 30-minute meditation and optional 15-minute discussion following. Drop-ins welcome. A project of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW).

The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living Mindfully.org.

Therapeutic Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. Gentle yoga classes to help reduce stress and balance the mind, body and spirit. All experience levels welcome. $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.

Chair Yoga – 11am-12pm. 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.

wednesday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org. aCHIeve Weight Loss 4 Life – 5:30-6:30pm.

Our Naturopathic Doctor, Nutritionist, and Health Coaches will educate, guide and support you to ensure long-lasting weight loss is maintained through lifestyle change. Casey Health Institute, 800 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-355-2030 or CaseyHealth.org.

Therapeutic Yoga – 6-7:15pm. Gentle yoga classes to help reduce stress and balance the mind, body and spirit. All experience levels welcome. $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.

Introduction to Transcendental Meditation – 6:30-8pm. Learn about the benefits of the TM program, it is effortless to practice, requires no concentration or beliefs. It is well documented and develops the full potential of mind and body.

Transcendental Meditation Center of Bethesda, 11300 Rockville Pike, Ste 408, Rockville, MD. Register: 301 770-5690 or Bethesda@TM.org or TM.org/Bethesda.

thursday

Therapeutic Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. See Mon for details. $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.

friday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. See Mon for details. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Move, Learn, Create – 10:30-11:45am. Stretch your creative capacity, feel good and connect with fellow participants. $10/session or $25/month (Suggested donation). Featuring a variety of dance styles, the class is a well-paced and refreshing experience for all. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Meditation – 6pm. The instructors guide participants through an introduction to meditation.

These practices invite calmness and stability to our experience of each moment and promote feelings of well-being, clarity, relaxation and balance. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: 301-986-1090 or Info@TheMindfulnessCenter.org .

saturday

Grow Sprouts and Micro Greens in Your Home Year Round – 9:30am-12:30pm. 5th Sat. See Sun for details. $50 (includes handouts and kit). Raw Living D’Light, Fairfax, VA. Register: Luzy@ RawLivingDLight.com.

Introduction to Transcendental Meditation – 12:30-2pm. See Wed for details. Transcendental Meditation Center of Bethesda, 11300 Rockville Pike, Ste 408, Rockville, MD. Register: 301 7705690 or Bethesda@TM.org or TM.org/Bethesda.

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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 10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. lasting change to heal the mind, body and soul. Fitness, educational consultant and hypnotist. See ad, page 19.

SHAWNA SNYDER Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA Info@RoseWellness.com • RoseWellness.com 571-529-6699

4200 A Technology Ct, Chantilly, VA 703-357-3808 • PeggyFran@gmail.com NovaBirthCenter.com

Beautiful, Intimate, Childbirth the way it was designed, Naturally. See ad, page 18.

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

Certified 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 34.

ANNE MAITREPIERRE

301-461-2135 AMaitrepierreMoss@comcast.net Autism consultation and holistic wellness coaching from a veteran autism mom. Provides support for parents of children with autism, including those who have been newly diagnosed. See ad, page 43.

BARRE BARRE TONE

DEBRITT EALEY

370 Maple Avenue West Unit 1, Vienna, VA 703-242-TONE (8663) Barre-Tone.com

DeBritt Ealey specializes in the treatment of all forms of symptoms associated with allergies and sensitivities with the Advanced Allergy Therapeutics (AAT) therapy. See ad, page 33.

Jazz up your routine and experience the latest trend in full body workout. Barre Tone is ideal for those who want to sculpt, strengthen and increase flexibility, while enjoying the infusion of dance, aerobics with the benefits of the ballet barre at its core. Leave with renewed energy, a calmer spirit and a new passion for life.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

BEDROOM FURNITURE

ALLERGY MANAGEMENT Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com • RoseWellness.com

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. Sanford’s approach and treatment will greatly improve your quality of life. Specializing i n p e r i p h e r a l n e u r o p a t h y, chiropractic care, acupuncture, nutrition, physical therapy and functional medicine.

BIRTH SUPPORT PEACEFUL EARTH, GRACEFUL BIRTH

202-297-2722 PeacefulEarthGracefulBirth@gmail.com PeacefulEarthGracefulBirth.com

AUTISM CONSULTING

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 33.

Washington, D.C.

NOVA NATURAL BIRTH CENTER

MOTHER’S NATURE STORE

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

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BIRTH CENTER

SAVVY REST NATURAL BEDROOM

258 Maple Ave East, Vienna and 12242 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 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 25.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

our office or your home.

We offer birth and postpartum labor support services. Personal and group childbirth education classes as well as vaginal steaming in

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.

CHIROPRACTOR NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. lasting change to heal the mind, body and soul. Fitness, educational consultant and hypnotist. See ad, page 19.

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 12.

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 22.

HEALING GATEWAY

DOULA

877-534-5534 HealingGateway.com

THE DC DOULA

202-630-HOOK (4665) TheDCDoula@gmail.com • TheDCDoula.com Picture Plan for your future.

Birth and postpartum doula offering a variety of women’s wellness services.

We support birth with great confidence and help you welcome your new baby. See ad, page 18.

MARY KENDELL, MS, NP

Individual and Couples Therapy GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • GWICM.com YourSexualHealthMatters@gmail.com Evaluation, treatment, counseling, and education for all sexual health concerns. See ad, page 2.

EMPOWERED LEARNING TRANSFORMATIONAL CENTER

8120 Woodmont Ave, Ste 150, Bethesda, MD 301-654-5919 Bethesda@ELTCenters.com ELTCenters.com Empowered Learning Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n Centers (ELTC) help people of all ages and ability achieve peak performance levels in the areas of learning, focus and attention. See ad, page 33.

WASHINGTON WALDORF SCHOOL NATALIE X. KORYTNYK, PHD

Individual & Couples Therapy GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • Gwcim.com With over 20 years of experience, D r. N a t a l i e K o r y t n y k i s a psychologist with an expertise in relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, work stress, eating disorders and self-esteem. See ad, page 2.

DENTISTRY NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES

5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 ext 118 NIHADC.com

Leaders in integrative medicine and biological dentistry at National Integrated Health Associates, NIHA, our team of integrative doctors blends the best of Western medicine and safe, proven complementary and alternative therapies to help the body heal. See ad, page 39.

GARENING, ORGANIC LOVE & CARROTS

202-957-5683 Garden@LoveandCarrots.com LoveandCarrots.com

EDUCATION COUNSELING

Sherry Lynn Dmytrewycz invites you to enter into a healthier, unlimited life with an energy clearing for you, your space or your animals. Handson or distance sessions.

4800 Sangamore Rd, Bethesda, MD 301-229-6107 SSmith@WashingtonWaldorf.com WashingtonWaldorf.org

Washington Waldorf offers a holistic education that blends arts, movement, and practical skills with academics at every step. Pre-K-12. Imagine a better way to learn.

See ad, page 41.

ENERGY HEALING LIZETTE AYALA Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com • RoseWellness.co Lizette Ayala, Energy Health Coach, specializes in teaching the art of self-healing and mind-body health, breaking energy draining patterns and reducing unproductive stress. See ad, page 33.

ETHEREAL HEALING

Angel Barkley 312-618-4881 Love-LetGo-Live@hotmail.com

Love & Carrots transforms outdoor spaces into beautiful and productive edible organic landscapes and gardens. We do it all—design, install, maintain and coach.

HEALTH COACH BETH LINDLEY CONSULTANCY 202-285-8191 Beth@BethLindley.com BethLindley.com

Corporate Wellness Consultant Beth Lindley is fiercely committed to working with forward-thinking companies that are looking to make a big impact but that have escalating health care costs and unhealthy kitchens to transform their company kitchens into health conscious havens and increase their revenue and the impact they can create with their business. She offers personalized kitchen makeovers for COOs, CFOs and employees as well. See ad, page 41.

LOTUS HEALTH AND HEALING

301-760-6924 EmpoweredHealth@LotusHealthAndHealing.org LotusHealthAndHealing.org Piamas Puatrakul is a health empowerment coach and pharmacist. She believes in the body’s ability to heal through self-awareness, diet change, emotional healing, meditation, and spiritual practice. Combining her background in both Eastern and Western healing practices, Pia helps clients suffering from chronic illness, stress and anxiety to reduce prescription medication and reawaken their natural ability to heal. See ad, page 34.

The highest creation of man is to UNCONDITIONALLY LOVE everyone as his divine loves him.

Follow, believe, hold faith and journey with me to healing. See ad, page 7.

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HEALTH EVENT PLANNING PAM SNYDER EVENTS, LLC 703-402-7223 PamSnyderEvents@gmail.com PamSnyderEvents.com

With over 25 years experience event planning, our concentration is in the area of Health and Wellness.

Whether you are interested in a high-energy full-scale conference or a small meeting/workshop, let us help plan your next health and wellness event.

HEALTHY PETS CHICO’S NATURAL PET DEPOT

6349 A Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 703-750-6675 Chicos@PetDepot.net • ChicosPetDepot.com

Chico’s Pet Depot Holistic Pet Care is your neighborhood all natural, organic and holistic pet food, supplements and alternative remedies for all your pet needs. Unique and customized supplies catering to your special needs companion. Pet adoption, grooming, pet events and more. See ad, page 9.

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 40.

HOLISTIC HEALING YOUR LIFE ENERGY HOLISTIC CENTER

CASEY HEALTH INSTITUTE

We integrate fitness, wellness and holistic modalities for the care of the body, mind and soul.

Bringing renewal, harmony and balance in your life. Our services: yoga, Zumba, massages nutrition and health coaching, meditation. Reiki, animal Reiki, EFT, Emotion Code Therapy, crystal healing and tuning forks.

Casey Health offers primary care, acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, yoga therapy, massage, behavioral health, wellness classes, and health coaching all aimed at getting people healthy. See ad, page 3.

311 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 571-319-0093 • YourLifeEnergy.com Maricela@YourLifeEnergy.com

HOLISTIC PARENTING HOLISTIC MOMS NETWORK ARLINGTON/ALEXANDRIA CHAPTER 571-451-8273 HolisticMomsArlAlex@gmail.com HolisticMomsArlAlex.blogspot.com

A nonprofit resource for parents seeking support in their natural lifestyle choices. All chapters hold monthly meetings and most offer supplemental activities.

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 30.

HERBS GREEN COMFORT SCHOOL OF HERBAL MEDICINE

540-937-4283 • Green.Comfort@gmail.com Green Comfort School of Herbal Medicine offers a variety of learning opportunities for the beginning and more advanced student of holistic life practice.

MOTHER’S NATURE STORE

HOME ENVIRONMENT MIKHAIL SOGONOV, PH.D.

InSitu EcoTesting LLC GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • Sogonov@InSitu-ET.com

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

Certified 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 34.

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Washington, D.C.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Consulting company inspecting indoor environment for biological agents negatively affecting human health. Mainly focused on mold, also includes sewage contamination and pet and pest allergens.

See ad, page 2.

800 South Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg 301-664-6464 KGill@CaseyHealth.org CaseyHealth.org

ANGELA GABRIEL, MSOM, LAC, CH GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055, 202-300-4981 Gwcim.com

Classical Chinese medicine, Japanese-style acupuncture, pain and stress management, chronic issues, family care, women’s health, pregnancy, children, Kiiko Matsumoto-style acupuncture, moxibustion, integrative medicine.

See ad, page 2.

CHAS GANT, MD, PHD

National Integrative Health Associates 5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW, DC 202-237-7000 DoctorChas.com Dr. Gant, an internationally known author and integrative/functional medicine physician, addresses the root causes of chronic medical and psychiatric disorders, unique to each patient in all age ranges. See ad, page 41.

GW CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 908 New Hampshire Ave, NW, DC 202-833-5055 • Gwcim.com

A clinic that effectively combines use of traditional and conventional evidence-based medical practices through a variety of complementary and alternative therapies and has many years of close collaboration with George Washington University Medical Center and a variety of physicians in most subspecialties. See ad, page 2.

SUSHMA HIRANI, MD

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Sushma Hirani, MD, specializes in functional and integrative medicine to treat chronic diseases.

She has a special interest in women’s health care, natural hormone balancing, and detoxification. See ad, page 33.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com • RoseWellness.com At Rose Wellness Center, we practice an integrative approach to medicine by combining the best of conventional and alternative medicine. Services include hormone balancing, acupuncture, allergy management (AAT), energy healing, specialty testing, and detoxification. See ad, page 33. .

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 3.

ILANA SEIDEL, MD

GW Center for Integrative Medicine 908 New Hampshire Ave, Ste 200 202-833-5055 IlanaSeidelmd@gmail.com GWCIM.com Dr. Ilana Seidel’s approach with her patients focuses on their whole health while incorporating her background in functional medicine, Heartmath, osteopathy, Reiki and integrative medicine. See ad, page 2.

MIKHAIL KOGAN, MD

GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • Gwcim.com

Dr. Kogan is Medical Director of GW Center for Integrative Medicine where he provides integrative consultations and primary care. In addition, he does geriatric consultations at GW University Hospital and makes home visits to frail patients. See ad, page 2.

NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES

5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 ext 118 NIHADC.com

Leaders in Integrative Medicine and Biological Dentistry At National Integrated Health Associates, NIHA, our team of Integrative doctors blends the best of western medicine and safe, proven complementary and alternative therapies to help the body heal. See ad, page 39.

MIDWIVES DR. KAI PARKER

The Institute of Multidimensional Medicine 202-429-3783 DrParker@timmed.com • DCMidwife.com As a licensed Homebirth Midwife, Kai Parker provides loving support and personalized care in all stages of pregnancy to women in the DC Metropolitan area. See ad, page 13.

MASSAGE

AT EASE: TRAGER AND MASSAGE

NOVA NATURAL BIRTH CENTER

Lisa Bregman 202-686-7202 LisaBregman@yahoo.com

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 2.

4200 A Technology Ct, Chantilly, VA 703-357-3808 • NovaBirthCenter.com PeggyFran@gmail.com

Beautiful, intimate, childbirth the way it was designed, naturally. See ad, page 18.

YOUR LIFE ENERGY HOLISTIC CENTER

311 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 571-319-0093 Maricela@YourLifeEnergy.com YourLifeEnergy.com/Massage

MIND-BODY THERAPY

We integrate fitness, wellness and holistic modalities for the care of the body, mind and soul. Bringing renewal, harmony and balance in your life. We offer Swedish, sport, Thai and customized massage. Thai reflexology and chair massage. We also have pet massage.

MEDITATION HUGH BYRNE, PHD

301-986-1090 TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com TheMindfulnessCenter.org Empowering people to heal.

Embracing optimal wellness.

Mindfulness classes and services offered: yoga, meditation, tai chi, Nia, acupuncture, massage, Reiki, qigong, craniosacral, hypnosis and more. See ad, page 21.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS

Hugh-Byrne.com

Mindfulness-based counseling and meditation instruction. Dr. Byrne teaches classes, retreats, and workshops on Buddhism and meditation in the Washington, D.C. area and nationwide and provides individual counseling.

ROCKVILLE MEDITATION

11601 Nebel St, Rockville, MD 301-770-7778 RockvilleMeditation@gmail.com RockvilleMeditation.org The Rockville Meditation center offers unlimited ROCKVILLE MEDITATION guided meditation sessions www.rockvillemeditation.org daily. The meditation Tel: 301-770-7778 focuses on a method of 11601 Nebel St. Rockville, MD 20852 subtraction. This logical and revolutionary method is about removing the problem of emotional pain and discomfort completely. There is also an END to the meditation. The method reaches to 340 centers worldwide and is causing a sensation in different corners of the world. Make an appointment for your free consultation today. See ad, page 7.

Stop thinking. Start becoming.

THE MINDFULNESS CENTER

DR. KAI PARKER

The Institute of Multidimensional Medicine 202-429-3783 DrParker@timmed.com • DCMidwife.com With advanced training in Eastern and Western Medicine, Dr. Parker combines scientific knowledge with ancient wisdom to provide comprehensive care for all of her patients. See ad, page 13.

MARIANNA LEDENAC, ND

Adult & Pediatric Naturopathic Medicine GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • Gwcim.com Dr. Ledenac is a Naturopathic Physician in family medicine caring for adults and children. She has a special focus in weight management (body composition improvement), nutritional assessments, pediatrics and women’s health including fertility care. See ad, page 2.

natural awakenings

August 2015

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NUTRITION RAW LIVING D-LIGHT

571-471-2891 • Luzy@RawLivingDLight RawLivingDLight.com Alkaline foods to restore your health and nourish your body.

Microgreens and sprouts, foods for superior health. Classes, workshops and private consultation. Available for lectures and home growing consultations.

See ad, page 12.

NUTRITION EDUCATION JULIE WENDT

JWendt@GWCIM.com GWCIM.com

My work as a Nutrition Educator is focused on working in partnership with individuals who want or need to implement changes to their diet and lifestyle in order to achieve optimal health See ad, page 2.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY ASK BABETTE AT NECK, BACK AND BEYOND

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-862-4612 • Info@AskBabette.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Babette Lamarre, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, offers individualized recommendations for what to eat/how to live for maximum health and happiness given your particular life situation.

See ad, page 19.

SPIRITUAL LIVING UNITY OF FAIRFAX

2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 703-281-1767 • Admin@UnityOfFairfax.org UnityOfFairfax.org Unity of Fairfax offers a welcoming, environment to explore one’s own relationship with God in a community of like-minded individuals.

STEAM MEDICINE THE WOMB SAUNA

888-576-WOMB Info@TheWombSauna.com TheWombSauna.com The Womb Sauna is empowering women world-wide through their unique method of vaginal steaming, all-natural products and online university. Step into your power today.amilies with older children.

THERAPEUTIC YOGA LINDA LANG

WINTERGREEN ORGANICS

ZanaZ@WintergreenOrganics.com WintergreenOrganics.com We are your gateway to local, organic and natural farmers. We are your online grocery store. Sign up, click on your food to add to your cart, get delivered. It’s that easy. Life is good and healthy.

See ad, page 7.

We offer integrative compassionate veterinary c a r e . We v i e w y o u r animal as a whole focusing on the root cause of dis-harmony for long term healing. See ad, page 19.

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

A holisticveterinary 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 31.

YOGA

A highly experienced practitioner, certified in the medical, therapeutic arena of Cardiac Yoga. Specializing in chronic conditions and degenerative disease. Therapeutic yoga for special conditions and m e d i t a t i o n a r e o ff e r e d b y appointment with GW Center for Integrative Medicine. See ad, page 2.

Experience a place of refuge and a spiritual center where all are welcome! A Vegan Vinyasa yoga studio and JivaMukti Yoga Center Affiliate. Open 7 days a week and offering over 55 classes a week, including 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training. See ad, page 8.

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com

LUANN JACOBS, SLP/RMT

Reiki-Biofeedback Practitioner GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • Gwcim.com Luann provides treatments and trainings in the use of Reiki hands-on and biofeedback for self-care, and Reiki care of others. See ad, page 2.

Washington, D.C.

Pema Choepel Mallu, DVM, CVA, M.Ac, L.Ac Kitty Raichura DVM, CVA 12627 Wisteria Dr, Ste C & D, Germantown 240-715-6570 HolisticVeterinaryHealing.com

BUDDHA B YOGA

REIKI

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HOLISTIC VETERINARY HEALING

GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • TherapeuticYogaDC.com

THERMOGRAPHY ORGANIC FOOD DELIVERY

VETERINARIAN - HOLISTIC

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage, and thermography clinics. See ad, page 19.

1115 U St NW, DC, Ste 202 202-588-5885 • BuddhaBYoga.com

YOGA WITH NYA

Nya@YogaWithNya.com YogaWithNya.com Nya Alemayhu is a yoga instructor in Washington, D.C., dedicated to building community through sharing the practice of yoga. Nya offers private instruction and workplace yoga. See ad, page 31.

Y’S ELEMENTS

202-246-9592 YaelFlusberg@gmail.com • YaelFlusberg.com Experienced yoga therapist/coach available for group and individual sessions drawing from a deep well of creative, somatic and reflective methods to help you flourish. See ad, page 2.

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“I am impressed by the range of support provided to franchisees; it seems all the bases are more than covered to provide an owner the ability to be successful. Together with my experience, drive and desire to make a difference, it feels like a good fit.” ~ Holly Baker, Tucson, AZ “Each month, the content is enriching, beneficial and very often profound. We are a source of true enrichment and nourishment for so many. We are bringing light and understanding to millions of people.” ~ Craig Heim, Upstate NY “There’s such strength in this business model: exceptional content from the corporation paired with eyes and ears on the ground here locally. We rock!“ ~ Tracy Garland, Virginia’s Blue Ridge

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Natural Awakenings recently won the prestigious FBR50 Franchise Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review. To learn more, visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com awakenings August 2015 51

Visit muih.edu to register for free upcoming events and webinars

Degrees with Meaning for Careers with Purpose Nutrition & Integrative Health Program Enrolling for September 2015 and January 2016 Maryland University of Integrative Health is one of the nation’s only accredited graduate schools with an academic and clinical focus on health and wellness. Here, the ability to be self-reflective and cultivate a healing presence is as critical to your academic success as competence in your chosen field.

MUIH offers graduate programs in: Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine | Herbal Medicine Health & Wellness Coaching | Health Promotion Nutrition and Integrative Health | Yoga Therapy

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Washington, D.C.

Online, on campus, and weekend options available No GREs required muih.edu 800-735-2968 NaturalAwakeningsDC.com