Natural Awakenings DC September 2015

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

FREE

NATIONAL

YOGA MONTH

Special Edition

AGELESS YOGA AS SURF TO TURF LIVING MEDICINE How to Stay Forever Young

Research Proves Health Benefits

Seafood that’s Safe and Sustainable

September 2015 | Washington, D.C. Edition | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com natural awakenings

September 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 …

diabetes Holistic geriatric care with minimal use of medications Health coaching to overcome chronic difficulties

Cancer parkinson’s disease Thyroid problems High blood pressure and high cholesterol Women’s medical issues Chronic pain syndromes Holistic psychiatry

Medicine-free cholesterol management detoxification Healthy aging and healthy weight loss plus many other innovative therapies

this Month’s featured providers ilana seidel, Md – integrative Medicine physician

GraCe oGden – Mindfulness for Stress reduction

Julie Wendt –health and nutritional coaching

Special oFFer

for NaTUraL aWaKeNiNGS readers

Call for details on how our personalized healing programs can fit into your budget.

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CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

TOGETHER WE CARE, HEAL, EDUCATE 908 New Hampshire Avenue Suite 200 Washington DC 20037 202-833-5055

What others are sayinG about GeorGe WashinGton Center for inteGrative MediCine: “People who work here are compassionate. I feel like I am part of a big family. Very different from other doctors’ offices. Here you have a chance to spend time and talk through the issues.” – S.A. “Extremely impressed with the conversation that I had during my initial consultation. It is the holistic approach I have been searching for some time.” – B.L.

www.gWciM.com 2

Washington, D.C.

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September 2015

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letterfrompublisher Dear friends, contact us Publisher, Editor in Chief Robin Fillmore Contributing Editors Jessica Bradshaw Randy Kambic Grace Ogden Design & Production Irene Sankey Marketing Director Beverly Nickerson Sales Director Malika Hook Muhammad Outreach Director Samantha Hudgins Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-505-4835 Fax: 202-827-7955 4938 Hampden Lane Bethesda, MD 20814 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.

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

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.

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Washington, D.C.

I am writing this a few days shy of my birthday, which, for me, is a combination of joy and dismay. I love any opportunity for a party but know with the joy and laughter comes the inevitable dread that I have ticked up one more year. I don’t feel any older but I do notice a few more wrinkles when I smile and sometimes a slower recovery after a particularly rigorous workout. While there is no real fountain of youth, I appreciate the emerging research on the topic of agelessness, which happens to be our feature article for September.

As we see a greater percentage of the population living past the age of 100, it is time to rethink what it means to be “old”.

This research by Dr. Christiane Northrup and others confirms that age is really a state of mind and that if we control our thoughts to remain young, while eating the right foods, doing the right exercises and tending, with care, to our inner lives, we don’t necessarily need to see aging as a long, slow and steady decline. We can remain vigorous, healthy and alert well past the age when we thought we would be “old”.

September is also National Yoga Month and we honor this deep tradition of body and brain work with our new Yoga Directory (that runs through December) and a collection of articles that highlight studios and teachers that provide richness here to the greater D.C. area. Our Yoga Spotlight (along with our cover) showcases local yoga teacher, Nya Alemayhu, who shares her compelling story as a refugee from Ethiopia to becoming one of the most-sought-after yoga teachers in our area.

Not only has yoga found a place in every neighborhood, it has become an important component of local medical practices, such as at Casey Health Institute, which uses yoga therapy to support healing for their patients. I encourage you to read about the amazing things they are doing up at Casey Health in this month’s Community Spotlight.

The beauty of yoga is that it offers a wide variety of traditions that appeal to different tastes and styles, as well as spots in which to practice. Some like it hot and some like it calm. Some like it in the privacy of their own home with individualized attention, and some prefer to practice amid a sea of people, all sharing the same air and intention.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to practice yoga on board a cruise ship, looking out over the clear green sea and gazing into the infinite blue sky above.

The gentle rocking of the ship provided a challenge as I attempted to hold some of the more difficult poses, but it was a memory that will not be soon forgotten and always cherished—even when I get old.

Peace,

Robin Fillmore, Publisher

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

contents 6 newsbriefs 9 healthbriefs 14 globalbriefs 16 actionalert 9 1 7 yogaguide 21 teacher

spotlight 24 community

spotlight 26 yogaspotlight practitioner 14 30

spotlight 32 eventspotlight 36 greenhome 40 leadingedge 42 wisewords 45 calendar 16 50 resourceguide

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.

18 AGELESS BEING

18

Staying Vibrant in Mind, Body and Spirit

by Kathleen Barnes

22 YOGA ENTERS THE

MEDICAL MAINSTREAM Research Proves its Health Benefits

by Meredith Montgomery

27 BEAUTY

Not Just Skin Deep

22

by Isabel Sharkar

28 SURF TO TURF

U.S. Farmed Seafood That’s Safe and Sustainable

by Judith Fertig

advertising & submissions

36 ENERGY SAVING TIPS

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.

by Ted Trabue

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.

Get Your Home Ready for Fall

37 CREATE A THRIVING

LOCAL HERBAL

COMMUNITY

Ten Ways to Get Started

by Molly Meehan

38 YOUR FAVORITE

BRAND OF PET FOOD Has It Been Sold to a Conglomerate?

28

by Liora Robinson

43 THE ADVENTURE

OF COUCHSURFING Stay with Locals and Make New Friends

by Lisa Rosinky

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com NaturalAwakeningsMag.com natural awakenings

September 2015

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coverartist

newsbriefs

Fall Classes and Private Instruction for Reducing Stress Cover Photo by James Jackson with Mindfulness

J

ames Jackson is a photographer and social media content creator based in Washington, D.C. He enjoys working with local brands and creatives to help them develop and engage with the communities around them. You’ll find him on Instagram and Twitter at @thisisjamesj.

This month’s cover features Nya Alemayhu, a local yoga instructor. To read more about her, see page 21.

• Integrative and Functional Medicine • Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) • Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia & other Chronic Illnesses • Tick Borne Illnesses • Mold & Environmental Toxicity • Acupuncture • Energy Healing Therapies • Specialized testing to identify hormone, metabolic, digestive, nutritional and food sensitivity issues

WELLNESS CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

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Washington, D.C.

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he GW Center for Integrative Medicine is now accepting fall registrations for the eight-week course Reducing Stress with Mindfulness, offered on Sundays, starting September 27, and Tuesdays, starting September 29. Eight classes and an all-day retreat form the structure of the GWCIM course. The Sunday session is 1:30 to 4 p.m. on the GWU campus. The Tuesday session is 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Takoma Park. There will be no classes the week of October 18.

This experiential learning program teaches new skills for reducing stress and managing pain, with an emphasis on mindfulness meditation and body-centered practices that awaken present moment awareness. Starter sessions and private mindfulness teaching and coaching are also available from the course instructor Grace Ogden, who has practiced and trained in mindfulness for more than 25 years.

Group and individual learning occurs through guided activities and participant interaction, supported by the teacher. Participants learn a non-judgmental approach to recognizing sensations, feelings and thoughts in times of difficulty, which is the first step to healing and stress reduction. They try out and practice a range of mindfulness skills and identify how and where to apply the skills in their daily lives. Homework practice is a key dimension of the learning process.

Past participants report these benefits: A decrease in chronic physical and psychological symptoms; an improved ability to manage stress; feeling more calm; and coping with change better. They also let go of behavioral habit patterns that previously caused distress and developed more compassion and patience with themselves and others.

For course details and registration, call 202-833-5055 or visit GWCIM.com/Patient-Care/Classes. For more information, call 301-445-6771 or email Grace.GWCIM@ gmail.com. See ad, page 2.

;

Sister Eden Media Presents a Screening of the Movie Revolution

I The Biggest, Best, Most Delicious DC VegFest Ever

W

hether you are vegan, vegetarian or veg-curious, DC VegFest on October 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Yards Park is the event to attend. Now in its seventh year, the event promises to be the biggest and best yet, with more than 15,000 attendees, delicious vegan restaurants and food vendors, a larger Barking Lot sponsored by the Washington Humane Society and inspiring, informative speakers including Gene Baur, co-founder of Farm Sanctuary and author of the book, Living the Farm Sanctuary Life. The highly anticipated emcee for the day will be award-winning television journalist, bestselling author and activist, Jane Velez Mitchell.

During this daylong celebration, more than 100 exhibitors, partners and sponsors will showcase a wide range of products, services and resources to help Washington, D.C. area consumers learn more about why eating a plant-based diet and choosing vegetarian foods is one of the best ways to help protect health, the planet and animals.

VegFest attendees will have the opportunity to sample free delicious vegan cuisine; learn from expert chefs hosting cooking demos; meet adoptable animals from the Washington Humane Society; hear from nationally renowned speakers (ASL interpreters will be on the main stage); enjoy live performances from local musicians, including Steve Gellman; participate in the kids’ activity area featuring the popular “Ask a Vegan Family” panel and a kid-friendly cooking demonstration from Doron Petersan, owner of Sticky Fingers Sweets and Eats; and relax in the beer and wine garden.

Organized by Compassion Over Killing, the DC VegFest highlights the many benefits and flavors of vegetarian eating and shows how easy and delicious it is to choose healthier, more sustainable and kinder foods.

Cost: Free, plus the first 1,000 attendees get a free 2015 commemorative DC VegFest tote bag loaded with veg-friendly products and coupons. Location: 355 Water St. SE. For more information, visit DCVegfest.com. Use #DCVegFest15 to follow along on social media.

n honor of Pope Francis’ address to Congress and the Moral Action for Climate Justice Rally on the Mall, Sister Eden Media is hosting a screening of Revolution, an award-winning movie that is a call-to-action with an uplifting message. It will be shown at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring at 7 p.m. on September 20, with a discussion to follow.

The last time ocean habitat collapsed was 65 million years ago and it took almost all life with it. Experts predict that our oceans could collapse again—in just 30 years. Revolution was made to galvanize international action to save the ecosystems that keep us alive. Filmed over four years in 15 countries with breathtaking cinematography, the movie is filled with action and drama that will leave viewers of all ages inspired about how they can get involved in the fight to save our planet.

Not only does it shed light on crucial environmental topics and how we can save the planet, but also how past world events have taught us what we need to do now to save the future.

Revolution premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has already gone on to win 10 awards.

Location: 10309 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Registration required in advance.

Visit SisterEden.com for more details.

natural awakenings

September 2015

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newsbriefs

New Massage-on-Demand Service Comes to D.C.

P Yoga Featured at Emotional Eating Retreat in Virginia

I

t is believed that more than 30 million people in the U.S. of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder, including binge and emotional overeating, while it is estimated that about 43 percent of people eat to alter their mood. While yoga research is in its infancy, studies are emerging that indicate that yoga can be an integral part of a wellness program, especially for those struggling with emotional overeating. A weeklong Emotional Eating Retreat will be offered from October 24 to 31 at Shri Nivas Retreat Center in Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville in central Virginia which offers magnificent views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the James River.

The retreat will be led by Mary Irby and Kalyani Peña. Irby is an E-RYT 500 and has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 30 years. She has completed three 200-hour training programs in the U.S. and finished her 500-hour yoga therapy training through the International Yoga Academy in India, where she studied Thiramoolar’s Therapeutic Ashtanga Yoga. Peña specializes in empowering people to embrace their uniqueness through alternative methods and healing retreats. She is a holistic health coach and chef, an RYT-certified yoga instructor and wellness retreat manager.

She received her education as a holistic health coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City.

Both Irby and Peña have experienced their own struggles with food and body issues and they are passionate about helping their clients, and the attendees at this retreat, achieve health and wellness—emotionally, physically and spiritually— that they very much deserve.

For more information or to register, visit WCYRetreat.wix.com/ Emotional-Eating or email KalyaniPena@gmail.com See ad, page 33.

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

oliticians on both sides of the aisle can finally agree that Soothe massage-on-demand service delivers welcome relief to sore, aching muscles and joints. Soothe is a new mobile service and app that allows clients to book a same-day appointment in the privacy of their home, office or hotel room in the greater Washington, D.C. area. The on-demand service offers a choice of Swedish, deep tissue or sports massages to singles or couples in 60-, 90- and 120-minute sessions. Appointments are offered between the hours of 9 a.m. until midnight every day of the week, with fixed prices per person, regardless of the type of massage selected.

Soothe founder and tech entrepreneur, Merlin Kauffman, explains: “Soothe brings the spa to you, our trained and vetted therapists deliver spa-quality treatments—often within one hour’s notice. Plus, there’s no parking or traffic, and when it’s over, you are just steps away from a hot bath or your own bed.” Kauffman started Soothe after becoming disenchanted with the limited operating hours of traditional day spas and advance-notice booking requirements.

In addition to offering massage for individuals and couples, Soothe offers chair massage services for corporate and special events, where a team of therapists can be present on-site for a specific number of hours to service a group of individuals.

For more information, to book an appointment or to download the app to easily book a massage, call 800-960-7668 or visit Soothe.com.

If the whole world went vegan, there would be less war.

How you eat determines your mood and your outlook on life. ~Alexandra Paul

healthbriefs

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Hypothyroidism: The Great Masquerader

by Dr. Sushma Hirani

A

ccording to the American Thyroid Association, about 20 million Americans suffer from some kind of thyroid disease. Moreover, a large number of them are unaware of their thyroid disorder.

The thyroid gland controls the chemistry of every organ in the body. It is a walnut-sized gland that secretes the thyroid hormones necessary for energy production and functional regulation of every cell in the body.

A low thyroid condition is frequently undiagnosed and often not well understood. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, depression, cold intolerance, weight gain, hair loss, headaches, constipation, mental slowness, menstrual irregularities and elevated cholesterol. The thyroid issues may be a result of autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or other causes such as iodine deficiency, chemotherapy, pregnancy, hormonal changes, nutrient deficiencies or pituitary disorders. Stress, trauma, medications, or toxins are also known to inhibit the production of thyroid hormones.

Thyroid symptoms occur due to a multitude of reasons, even when blood tests may appear to be within the normal range. Comprehensive testing should ideally include a TSH, T4 and T3 levels and thyroid antibodies to check for autoimmune or Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. Your integrative physician can create a personalized plan to manage hypothyroidism and thyroid disorders based on your individual health, genetics, hormone levels and medical history.

Sushma Hirani, M.D., specializes in functional and integrative medicine to treat chronic diseases, such as hypothyroidism, at Rose Wellness Center in Oakton, VA. She has a special interest in women’s health care, natural hormone balancing and detoxification. See ad, page 6.

Join her for a free, live webinar, sponsored by Natural Awakenings on September 29 to learn more about this hypothyroidism.

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September 2015

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healthbriefs

Yoga Boosts Brain Gray Matter

R

esearch from the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University Medical Center has found that a regular hatha yoga practice increases gray matter within the brain, reversing the loss found among those with chronic pain. The researchers tested seven hatha yoga meditation practitioners and seven non-practitioners. Each of the subjects underwent tests for depression, anxiety, moods and cognition levels, along with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans.

The scientists found that the brains of the yoga meditation practitioners contained significantly greater gray matter by volume in key brain regions, including the frontal, temporal and occipital cortices, plus the cerebellum and the hippocampus, compared to the non-yoga subjects.

The yoga meditation practitioners also had more gray area in the prefrontal cortex regions that are involved in decision-making, reward/consequence, control and coordination.

Support Groups Keep Artery Patients Mobile

R

esearch published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has determined that when peripheral artery disease patients engage in behavioral support groups that encourage exercise, they realize increased mobility.

The researchers from Northwestern University followed 194 patients for a year, testing subjects at six months and again at 12 months. The patients were divided into two groups; one attended weekly intervention group meetings, while the control group attended weekly lectures.

After six months, the researchers found that only 6.3 percent of those that attended the support group meetings experienced mobility loss, compared to 26.5 percent of those that didn’t attend the meetings.

After one year, the support group attendees again showed positive results.

The control group had 18.5 percent loss in mobility, while only 5.2 percent of the support group attendees did.

Smog Increases Stroke Risk

R

esearch from Germany has found that the high particulate numbers in smoggy areas increase the risk of stroke. The Heinz Nixdorf Recall study followed more than 4,400 people between the ages of 45 and 74 years old.

The researchers began the study in 2000. They compared stroke and heart attacks to air pollution particulate matter (PM) levels of PM10 (particle sizes of 10 micrometers or less) and PM2.5 (2.5 micrometers or less).

The study found that stroke incidence was more than two-and-a-half times higher among people with long-term exposure to PM10, while stroke incidence increased by more than three times among people with long-term exposure to PM2.5 smog.

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Chamomile Tea Helps Us Live Longer

I

n a study of 1,677 Mexican-American men and women over the age of 65 from the Southwestern U.S., researchers have found that drinking chamomile tea decreases the risk of earlier mortality by an average of 29 percent.

Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch followed the study population for seven years.

Among those tested, 14 percent drank chamomile tea regularly. These were primarily women, and those women that drank chamomile tea experienced a 33 percent reduced mortality during the study period. The small group of men that drank the chamomile tea regularly did not register a significant difference in mortality.

Chamomile also has a long history of use in folk medicine and is primarily used to settle digestion and calm the mind. It is a leading natural herbal tea in many countries and contains no caffeine.

While various species may be used, chamomile tea is traditionally made by infusing the flowers of either German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) or Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) into hot water. In Spanish-speaking regions, chamomile tea is often referred to as manzanilla tea—consumed in Mexico and other Spanish cultures for centuries.

Daily Exercise Adds Five Years to Life

R

esearch published this year in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has determined that just 30 minutes of exercise, six days a week, can result in a reduced risk of early death by 40 percent, regardless of the intensity of the exercise.

The researchers followed nearly 15,000 men born between 1923 and 1932.

The men’s exercise and sedentary levels were measured along with the number of deaths that occurred during two 12-year study periods. In the second 12-year period, the researchers followed almost 6,000 of the surviving men. The researchers compared those men that were sedentary with those that exercised either moderately or intensely and found that moderate to intense exercise increased their average lifespan by five years. This improvement was comparable to the difference between smoking and non-smoking, according to the researchers.

The data comes from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, in Oslo. The scientists’ finding confirms that public health practices for elderly men should include efforts to increase physical activity, along with efforts to reduce smoking.

Muscle-Building Supplements Linked to Testicular Cancer

N

ew research published in the British Journal of Cancer has found that taking muscle-building supplements can increase the risk of testicular cancer by up to 65 percent. The study monitored 356 cancer patients and 513 control subjects, all from Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The case-control study was conducted by researchers from the Yale School of Public Health and the Harvard School of Public Health, and tested for testicular germ cell cancer.

About 90 percent of testicular cancers originate from germ cells.

The researchers found the subjects that used multiple musclebuilding supplements and those that began using the supplements when they were younger had the greatest risk of developing cancer.

GREEN TEA, APPLES AND COCOA PROTECT AGAINST CANCER AND ARTERIAL PLAQUE

R

esearch published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research has found a new mechanism that may provide the key to why some foods are particularly healthy. The researchers found that epigallocatechin gallates, a class of polyphenols contained in green tea, apples, cocoa and other herbs and foods, blocks vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, which is implicated in the buildup of plaque in the arteries, as well as cancer growth. Blocking VEGF helps prevent angiogenesis—when tumors form new blood vessels that help them grow.

The researchers, from the Institute of Food Research, in Norwich, in the United Kingdom, tested the polyphenols, as well as human cells, in the laboratory.

Plants Absorb Second-Hand Smoke, Too

N

on-smokers aren’t the only ones to suffer from passive smoking. New research from the Technical University of Braunschweig, in Germany, has determined that plants can also absorb nicotine from cigarette smoke, soil and pesticide sprays.

The data showed that many plants yield higher quantities of nicotine residues from periods when pesticides used contained nicotine. Plants that were mulched with tobacco leaves also absorbed nicotine into their leaves.

“Tremendously elevated nicotine levels were detected after fumigation with cigarette smoke,” says Dirk Selmar, lead author of the study.

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healthbriefs Consistent. Caring. Committed.

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Cinnamon: Not Just for Toast!

by Laina Poulakos

C

innamon with its soft, yet spicy, aroma is one of the most common spices. It is found in many pantries around the world and it has great health value.

Because it is so commonly used, we often forget about cinnamon’s health benefits. It is useful in regulating blood sugar levels, also it is great for warming and soothing tired muscles. It has antiseptic properties to help fight germs. Its rich spicy oil is an effective remedy for colds and flu when inhaled. It is also helpful in digestion and settling a nauseous stomach.

The Queen of Sheba gave cinnamon to King Solomon and it was one of the holy oils used in the Tabernacle. Cinnamon is easy to add to your daily routine. Sprinkle it on toast, cereal, oatmeal and even in your coffee, tea or milk.

Above all, enjoy the healthy benefits to such a common spice.

Laina Poulokas is founder of Mothers Nature Store and is available for private consultations about herbal medicine and aromatherapy by calling 703-851-0087 or visiting MothersNatureStore.com. See ad, page 33.

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. ~Mark Twain

Baggage? History? Diamonds?

by Sherry Dmytrewycz

W

hat you surround yourself with—even what you have stored away—has an impact on each person at the energetic level. Some of the things surrounding us are baggage, some are history and some are diamonds.

These terms reflect the relative impact the objects have on an individual’s happiness and peace of mind.

Baggage represents items that have negative energy or negative memories attached to them. History items have neutral energy and are often items that are functional—picked up to fulfill a need. Diamonds are objects that awe or inspire by their beauty or just bring a smile or a happy memory.

Those that seek to find the most happiness in life tend to deal with each of these things in a constructive manner. For example, it is helpful to remove the baggage, the negative energy items in their surroundings, and increase the diamonds, the positive energy items. Donate the baggage item—sell it or give it away, secure in the knowledge that by doing so, you are increasing the amount of positive energy and joy in your life.

Sherry Dmytrewycz is an intuitive energy healer providing both hands-on and distance healing sessions. For more information and for additional instructions on brain balancing, visit HealingGateway.com or call 877-534-5534. See ad, page 34.

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

Breeze Please

A Third of U.S. Power May Be Wind by 2050 According to a new study by the U.S. Energy Department (Tinyurl.com/EnergyDepartmentWindReport), wind power could provide more than a third of the nation’s electricity in a few decades, while posting a net savings in energy costs. Undersecretary for Technology and Energy Lynn Orr, Ph.D., states, “With continued commitment, wind can be the cheapest, cleanest option in all 50 states by 2050.”

Wind power has tripled since 2000, and now supplies nearly 5 percent of the country’s electric power. The report says that it could dramatically reduce air pollution and go a long way toward meeting the country’s goals of slowing climate change.

Meanwhile, Spanish engineers have invented the Vortex Bladeless wind turbine, a hollow straw that sticks up 40 feet from the ground and vibrates when the wind passes through it. Instead of using a propeller, the Vortex takes advantage of an aerodynamic effect called vorticity. The result is a turbine that’s 50 percent less expensive than a bladed model and is nearly silent. It’s not as efficient as conventional turbines, but more of them can be placed in the same amount of space, for a net gain of 40 percent in efficiency. Plus, with no gears or moving parts, maintenance is much easier and they are safer for bats and birds.

Source: Wired

Bottomless Well

De-Salting Water Could Help Drought-Stricken Areas A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Jain Irrigation Systems has devised a method of turning brackish water into drinking water using renewable energy. This solar-powered machine is able to pull salt out of water and disinfect it with ultraviolet rays, making it suitable for both irrigation and drinking.

Electrodialysis works by passing a stream of water between two electrodes with opposite charges. Because the salt dissolved in water consists of positive and negative ions, the electrodes pull the ions out of the water, leaving fresher water at the center of the flow. A series of membranes separate the freshwater stream from increasingly salty ones.

The photovoltaic-powered electrodialysis reversal system recently won the top $140,000 Desal Prize from the U.S. Department of Interior. “This technology has the potential to bring agriculture to vast barren lands using brackish water,” says Richard Restuccia, Jain’s vice president of landscape solutions. The prize was developed to supply catalytic funding to capture and support innovative ideas and new technologies that could have a significant impact on resolving global water demand.

Among 13 desalination projects under consideration along the California coast, the Carlsbad Desalination Project will be the largest in the Western Hemisphere once it is completed in the fall.

Source: EcoWatch.com 14

Washington, D.C.

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Embracing Invasives Rethinking the Balance of Nature

Environmental journalist Fred Pearce, author of the new book, The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature’s Salvation, traveled across six continents and ecosystems from remote Pacific islands to the United Kingdom and the Great Lakes to reveal some outdated scientific ideas about invasive species and the balance of nature.

Pearce argues that mainstream environmentalists are correct that we need a rewilding of the Earth, but they are wrong if they believe it can be achieved by reengineering ecosystems. He thinks that humans have changed the planet too much, and nature never goes backward. But a growing group of scientists is taking a fresh look at how species interact in the wild. According to these new ecologists, we should applaud the dynamism of alien species and the new ecosystems they create.

In an era of climate change and widespread ecological damage, it’s crucial that we find ways to help nature regenerate. Embracing this new ecology, Pearce proposes, is our best chance, maintaining, “To be an environmentalist in the 21st century means celebrating nature’s wildness and capacity for change.”

Source: Earthtalk.org

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old. ~George Burns

Secular Socialization

Today’s Young Adults Are the Least Religious Ever Researchers led by San Diego State University Psychology Professor Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., found that millennials are the least religious generation of the last six decades, and possibly in the nation’s history. They analyzed data from 11.2 million respondents from four nationally representative surveys of U.S. adolescents ages 13 to 18 taken between 1966 and 2014.

Results published in the journal PLOS One conclude that recent adolescents are less likely to say that religion is important in their lives, report less approval of religious organizations and find themselves feeling less spiritual and spending less time praying or meditating. “Unlike previous studies, ours is able to show that millennials’ lower religious involvement is due to cultural change, not to their being young and unsettled,” says Twenge, who is also the author of Generation Me.

“Millennial adolescents are less religious than Boomers and GenXers were at the same ages,” she notes. “We also looked at younger ages than the previous studies. More of today’s adolescents are abandoning religion before they reach adulthood, with an increasing number not raised with religion at all.”

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Spring Cleaning

Connecticut Initiates Mattress Recycling Connecticut has introduced the nation’s first-ever mattress recycling program to get old beds off the curb and into the renewable waste stream via Park City Green, a cavernous warehouse in Bridgeport where mattresses go to die and get reborn. One of only two mattress recycling facilities in the state, it employs workers that manually break down bedding parts, separating the materials into giant piles of foam, mounds of cotton and tall stacks of metal springs. All this gets shipped off to junk dealers to be recycled and reclaimed for later use in the metal industry or as backing for carpets.

The city had been paying hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to pick up mattresses on trash day and break them apart for disposal, but that figure is expected to drop to zero and create jobs at the same time. Connecticut’s program is voluntary, so municipalities don’t have to participate. But because it’s already being paid for by consumers and the mattress industry, state officials expect the program to grow.

Already, more than 60 Connecticut communities are participating.

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Fatigue Depression Cold intolerance Weight gain Hair loss Headaches Constipation Mental slowness Menstrual irregularities Elevated cholesterol

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China Tests Hydrogen-Powered Mass Transit China has started testing the world’s first hydrogen-powered tram. Although hydrogen fuel cells have been around for a while and are currently being used and tested in a variety of vehicles, including buses, the country is the first to master the technology for trams.

Hydrogen is extremely abundant and can be extracted from a variety of sources, both renewable and non-renewable. Hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles produce zero emissions, only water. One tank lasts for about 60 miles and takes three minutes to refuel.

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actionalert

Supreme Hope

Dark Act

Online Summer of Peace Program Continues Designed by The Shift Network as “the largest virtual peace event on the planet,” a free, online three-month global movement program, The Summer of Peace, continues through September 21. It promises to inspire participants by teaching ways to heal conflicts within oneself, in relationships and in the world using peace, instead of conflict, as the new baseline.

Featured thought leaders include Deepak Chopra, Ervin Laszlo, Grandmother Agnes Pilgrim, Karen Armstrong, Lisa Garr and Congressman Tim Ryan, plus messages from the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Jane Goodall. Programs include The Subtle Activism Summit: Inner Dimensions of Peace Building from September 8 to 10, and 11 Ways to Transform Your World from September 11 to 21, concluding on the United Nations International Day of Peace.

“You’ll discover more personal ease, joy and well-being with techniques to connect more profoundly to the deep peace within yourself and the latest in the science of compassion,” says Garr, host of The Aware Show and Being Aware and bestselling author of Becoming Aware. She also attests that participants will find the best practices for citizen engagement and conscious activism to help accelerate the shift to a world of peace.

For more information or to register, visit SummerOfPeace.net.

United in Utah

Parliament of World Religions Gathering The 2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions, regarded by organizers as the oldest, largest and most inclusive gathering of all faiths and traditions, will be held from October 15 to 19 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, in Salt Lake City. International spiritual leaders will come together to share wisdom and best practices in dealing with critical global issues, especially climate change and care for creation; income inequality and wasteful consumption; and war, violence and hate speech.

Leading speakers include the Dalai Lama, Karen Armstrong, Tariq Ramadan, Mairead Maguire, Jim Wallis, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Eboo Patel, Vandana Shiva and Michael Bernard Beckwith. Attendees can also participate in a Women’s Assembly and Program Initiative; training in dialogue, interfaith activism, fundraising and organizing; musical performances and film showings; breakout sessions; and networking opportunities.

Cost: $200 to $550, based on date of registration. Discounts and housing options are available for families, groups, organizations and students, along with scholarship and sponsorship opportunities. For more information or to register, email 2015@ParliamentOfReligions.org or visit ParliamentOfReligions.org.

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Washington, D.C.

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Protect Truth and Transparency in GMO Food Labeling On July 23, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of H.R. 1599, known by supporters as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act and dubbed the “Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act” by opponents.

The bill removes the requirement that foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) be labeled as such, preventing consumers from the right to know whether or not the foods they purchase contain potentially harmful ingredients. If it becomes law, H.R. 1599 will preempt state labeling requirements, including the pioneering Vermont GMO labeling law scheduled to take effect next year.

First, a companion bill will have to clear the Senate. No date is set yet for this and the time to let our senators know that we want to protect truth and transparency on food labels and encourage them to oppose the DARK Act starts now.

Make the people’s voice heard by contacting local state senators, call 202-224-3121 and visit Tinyurl.com/ ContactYourSenatorToday.

A photographer gets people to pose for him.

A yoga instructor gets people to pose for themselves. ~T. Guillemets

GUIDE TO LOCAL YOGA Be Here Now Yoga & Wellness Where yoga and healing is accessible to all­—regardless of experience, with a community of supportive people 411 8th St SE, Washington DC 20003 BeHereNowYogaDC.com 202-643-8875 Casey Health Institute Yoga Therapy in Integrative Primary Care 800 S. Frederick Ave Gaithersburg, MD 20877 CaseyHealth.org 301-355-2030 East Meets West Yoga Center An oasis of peace in the Vienna/Tysons Corner 8227 Old Courthouse Road, Ste. 310, Vienna, VA 22182 EastMeetsWestCenter.com 703-356-9642 Info@EastMeetsWestCenter.com GW Center for Integrative Medicine 908 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Ste. 200 Washington, DC 20037 GWCIM.com YFlusberg@gwcim.com

M Street Yoga Southwest DC’s Premiere Yoga Studio 300 M Street SW, #NG2 (see website for details) MStreetYoga.com MStreetYoga@gmail.com

Therapeutic Yoga of Greater Washington An integrative medical model—Serving greater Washington and Virginia’s Eastern Shore TherapeuticYogaDC.com

The Mindfulness Center Yoga and Integrative Yoga Therapeutics 4963 Elm St., Ste. 200, Bethesda, MD The MindfulnessCenter.org 301-986-1090

Vinayam Vinyasa, Hatha, Meditation, Prenatal/ Postnatal Yoga Specialist Private In-Home Yoga Instruction & Meditation in VA and MD Vinayam.com 571-488-2522

The Source Yoga Ashtanga, Heated Vinyasa, iRest Yoga Nidra, Flow, Yoga Therapy 1420 Beverly Rd., McLean, Ste. 140, McLean, VA 22101 TheSourceYoga.com 703-992-0785 Sumona Yoga Company Dedicated, passionate yogini and Indian classical dancer, also certified in Hatha Yoga and meditation. Offering private instruction in yoga for women in Falls Church yoginidancesumona.wix.com/ sumonayoga yoginidancesumona@gmail.com

Yoga with Nya Dedicated to building community through the practice of yoga in the greater D.C. area YogaWithNya.com Nya@YogaWithNya.com

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AGELESS BEING Staying Vibrant in Mind, Body and Spirit

by Kathleen Barnes

Agelessness: Engaging in and experiencing life without fear of falling, failing or falling apart.

I

n a nutshell, that’s the philosophy of visionary women’s health expert Dr. Christiane Northrup, of Yarmouth, Maine, as explored in her latest book, Goddesses Never Age.

“We’re long overdue for a paradigm shift about how we feel about growing older,” says Northrup. “You can change your future by adopting a new, ageless attitude that will help you flourish physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We don’t have to buy into modern medicine’s promotion of the idea of the pathology of aging.”

One of Northrup’s primary admonitions: “Don’t tell anyone how old you are. Another birthday means nothing.”

Maintain a Sound Mind

Our Western society fosters a belief system that we will become decrepit, frail 18

Washington, D.C.

and mentally feeble at a certain age.

“When my mother turned 50, her mailbox suddenly filled with ads for adult diapers, walkers and long-term care insurance,” Northrup quips. The point is well taken. Think vibrant, healthy, gorgeous and yes, sexy Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, Chris Rock and Brooke Shields—all 50 or older—as the targets of ads for Depend.

We’re living and working longer, and many of us are feeling, looking and staying young longer. So is 60 the new 40? Yes, say State University of New York at Stony Brook researchers, and further note that we’re generally leading longer and healthier lives.

Centenarians are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. In the 2010 census, 53,364 people had surpassed their 100th year, an increase

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of 40 percent over the 1980 census, and more than 80 percent of them are women. The National Institute on Aging projects that this number could increase tenfold or more by 2050.

What we think of as “old” has changed. Many baby boomers refuse to buy into the mythology of aging, bristle at being called senior citizens and especially dislike being called elderly.

Their position is backed by science.

Stem cell biologist Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., author of Biology of Belief and currently a visiting professor at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, in Auckland, is best known for promoting the concept that DNA can be changed by belief, for good or ill.

Lipton explains that we all have billions of stem cells designed to repair or replace damaged—and aging—tissues and organs. “[These cells] are profoundly influenced by our thoughts and perceptions about the environment,” Lipton explains. “Hence our beliefs about aging can either interfere with or enhance stem cell function, causing our physiological regeneration or decline.”

“Yes, we are destined to grow older, but decrepitude and what we call aging is an optional state,” Northrup adds.

“Our genes, nutrition and environment are under our control far more than we may have thought.” More, she says, “Words are powerful. Don’t talk yourself into believing your brain is turning to mush just because you are over 40.”

Take Control of the Body

“Manage the four horsemen of the aging apocalypse,” encourages nutrition and longevity expert Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., a Los Angeles board-certified nutritionist and author of The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer. He says the aging process, including disease, loss of physical or mental function and the general breakdown of systems, is caused by one or more of four factors: oxidative damage (literally rusty cells); inflammation; glycation (excess sugar, metabolic syndrome); and stress.

“Collectively, they damage cells and DNA, wear down organs and systems, deeply damage the vascular pathways that deliver blood and oxygen to the entire body, and even shrink brain size,” explains Bowden.

While it may seem like a tall order to make lifestyle changes that vanquish these four horsemen, Bowden says they can be broken into manageable elements by employing an arsenal of healthful weapons: whole foods, nutrients, stress-reduction techniques, exercise, detoxification and relationship improvement. “All of these actually do double duty, battling more than one of the four processes that can effectively shorten your life,” he reports, based on his 25 years of study.

Oxidative Damage

Consider what rust does to metal. That’s what free radical oxygen molecules do to cells. Over time, they damage them and cause aging from within.

“Oxidative damage plays a major role in virtually every degenerative disease of aging, from Alzheimer’s to cancer to heart disease and diabetes, even immune dysfunction,” says Bowden.

His recommended key to destroying free radicals is a diet rich in antioxidants, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy fats, nuts, grassfed meats and organic dairy products.

Avoid environmental free radicals that show up in toxic chemicals by eating as much organic food as possible and avidly avoiding residues of the poisonous pesticides and herbicides sprayed on crops eaten by people and livestock.

Inflammation

Long-term inflammation is a silent killer because it operates beneath the radar, often unnoticed, damaging blood vessel walls. Like oxidative damage, inflammation is a factor in all the degenerative diseases associated with aging, says Bowden.

His suggestion: First, get a Creactive protein (CRP) test to determine the levels of inflammation in our body.

A CRP level over 3 milligrams/liter indicates a high risk of a heart attack. Antiinflammatory foods like onions, garlic, leafy greens, tomatoes, beans, nuts and seeds have all been widely scientifically proven to reduce chronic inflammation.

Glycation

This is the result of excessive sugar that glues itself to protein or fat molecules, leaving a sticky mess that creates advanced glycation end (AGE) products that damage all body systems and are

Compute Your Real Age Lifestyle choices can make our bodies older, or younger, than our number of orbits around the sun, according to Michael Roizen, a doctor of internal medicine and author of This is Your Do-Over: The 7 Secrets of Losing Weight, Living Longer, and Getting a Second Chance at the Life You Want. “Seventy percent of aging is in the simple things you do or don’t do,” he maintains.

Here are a few sobering examples: n An unresolved major life stressor, such as a divorce, being sued, the death of a close relative or other traumatic events, can add up to 32 years to chronological age. Managing the stress adds a relatively insignificant two years. n Swap out saturated fats (cheese and meat) for monounsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts and avocados). Subtract 2.5 years from chronological age. n Get up out of the chair every 15 minutes and also take a 10-minute walk every two hours. Subtract 2.1 years from chronological age. n Have close friends. Subtract 2.1 years from chronological age.

Take the Real Age test at ShareCare.com/RealAge.

acknowledged culprits in the dreaded diseases associated with aging.

Bowden’s basic answer is to minimize intake of sugar and simple carbs; anything made with white flour or white rice. Also avoid fried dishes and any foods cooked at high temperatures that actually skip the glycation production in the body and deliver harmful AGEs directly from the food. He advises taking 1,000 mg of carnosine (available in health food stores) daily to prevent glycation.

Stress

The long-term effects of physical, mental or emotional stress are tremendously damaging to the human physiology.

Sustained exposure to the stress hormone cortisol can shrink parts of the brain, damage blood vessels, increase blood sugar levels, heart rate and blood pressure and contribute to chronic inflammation, according to wellestablished science recorded in the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Bowden warns, “Stress management is not a luxury.” In its many forms, including prayer, meditation and breathing exercises, it should be part of any agelessness program. Deep, restful sleep is as vital a component as ending toxic relationships, having a nurturing circle of friends and doing familiar, gentle exercise such as yoga or tai chi.

Overall, Bowden adds, “Rather than thinking of such endeavors as antiaging, I strive to embody the concept of age independence. I admire former Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, who resigned from the court when he reached age 90 because he wanted to play more tennis.”

Bowden recommends embracing the concept of “squaring the curve”, meaning that instead of anticipating and experiencing a long downhill slope of poor health leading to death, “I look at a long plateau of health, with a steep drop-off at the end.”

Wellness guru Dr. Michael Roizen, chair of the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute, contends that although our chronological age can’t be changed, “Your ‘real age’ [calculated from data he collected from 60 million people] is the result of a wide variety of factors that are within your control.

Dietary choices alone can make you

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13 years younger or older than your actual age.”

Roizen adds uncontrolled portion sizes, tobacco use and physical inactivity to the list of lifeshortening lifestyle options.

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“If you don’t have some kind of spiritual foundation, literally, God help you,” says Northrup. “God isn’t confined to a book or a church, mosque or synagogue. Divinity is the creative loving, vital flow of life force that we’re all part of and connected to.

Our bodies are exquisite expressions meant to embody, not deny our spirits.”

Touch, pleasure and sex can be part of it, too. Individuals that have the most fulfilling sex lives live the longest, according to researchers conducting the University of California, Riverside’s Longevity Project. “Pleasure comes in infinite forms,” says Northrup. “It can mean the exquisite taste of a pear or the sound of an angelic symphony, the kiss of sun on skin, the laughter of a child, spending time with friends or creating a pastel landscape. When you experience pleasure, God comes through and you become aware of your divine nature.

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Age-Defying Exercise

by Kathleen Barnes

S

pecially designed movements performed to music can dramatically improve memory, as well as slow the process of physical aging, according to Denise Medved, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, the founder of Ageless Grace.

Medved’s foundational physical and mental exercise classes involve 21 exercises that promote brain plasticity by activating all five functions of the brain: analytic, strategic, kinesthetic learning, memory/recall and creativity and imagination. Find videos of Ageless Grace exercises by searching YouTube, including this one:

n Add a triangular motion with the left foot.

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beverlynickerson@comcast.net

Washington, D.C.

Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous books on natural health, her latest being Food Is Medicine: 101 Prescriptions from the Garden. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

n While sitting in a chair (all exercises are taught in this position to develop core strength), make a circle with the right lower arm.

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You’ll find that joy comes in ways that are unique to you.”

Connection with the natural world is an essential element of agelessness, says Northrup. “The human body evolved to walk on the Earth, drinking its water, breathing its air and basking in its sunlight.” The bottom line is, “Agelessness is all about vitality. Taking all the right supplements and pills, or getting the right procedure isn’t the prescription for antiaging,” says this renowned physician.

“It’s ageless living that brings back a sense of vibrancy and youthfulness.”

We could live to be well over 100 years old and, as Northrup likes to paraphrase Abraham Hicks, of The Law of Attraction fame, “Wouldn’t you rather have your life end something like this: ‘Happy-healthy, happy-healthy, happy-healthy, dead.’ Isn’t that a lot better than suffering sickness, decrepitude and frailty for years?”

n Next, add a horizontal movement with the left hand. n Finally, do the entire series in reverse.

Classes are available in all 50 states and in 12 countries. To find a teacher nearby, visit AgelessGrace.com.

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Photo by James Jackson

teacherspotlight

A Journey to Yoga and Beyond

A Spotlight on Local Yoga Teacher, Nya Alemayhu

by Robin Fillmore

L

ocal yoga teacher, Nya Alemayhu, draws you in with her story as much as her connection to her students. The former student athlete, dancer and gymnast discovered yoga in 2004 while studying in Boston. From that point on, her life has become a living testament to the beauty that can unfold when one takes the time to look inward and share outward.

This journey has been a long one.

Nya was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, but in 1995, as part of a refugee resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), her family was resettled to Portland, Maine, where she attended middle and high school. She then moved to Boston to at-

tend university. After graduating, she traveled back to Ethiopia to educate young people about AIDS and to reconnect with the home she left many years before. Her work with young people continued in Ghana the following year and offered her time to travel throughout Europe and in Asia—sightseeing as well soul-searching.

Nya eventually moved to Washington, D.C., and continued her exploration of mind and soul and finding her own truth. “Washington, D.C. has been a place of creation, growth and healing.

It has unearthed the best part of me and offered me a mirror to clearly see myself and my vulnerabilities. That constant challenge keeps me here,” she notes.

It was here in the District that she

turned her interest in yoga into a way of life. In 2012, she received her 200 hours of vinyasa (breath-linked with movement) training through The Studio DC in 2012. Inspired by the energy of the teachers, she knew that she “wanted whatever it was that they were having.” As her study and practice of yoga deepened, she began to explore the teachings by the Bhagavad Gita, Sutras of Patanjali and Eckhart Tolle. “What was initially meant to be a training to deepen my own practice evolved into an overwhelming desire to share this with others.”

She credits the D.C. yoga community—her teachers, students and colleagues—as a constant source of love and inspiration. “I am grateful for them every day. I believe I have found more meaning here than anywhere else in my life. And so the desire to live here and grow here continues to guide my path.”

In January, as a doorway to experiencing the part of yoga that can be nurturing and relaxing, she completed a training to teach restorative yoga. It is important for Nya to put people at ease, particularly in this area where the stress level is very high. Her growth will continue next spring, when she will undergo a training to learn how to better teach Ashtanga yoga, which is her personal practice. This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures.

Throughout this journey, her greatest inspiration comes from her mother, Fetlework Alemayhu Zegye. In Ethiopia, her mother lived through the revolution of Haile Selassie as well as the 1984 famine, as Nya notes, “without losing an ounce of her grace, humility and strength.”

She inspires Nya to dig deeper, go farther and express her individuality. Of her mother, Nya notes, “She has paved the way for my becoming. Her sacrifices have afforded me the privilege to explore the world far and wide and in a way that she could not. But I feel that she is able to share in my adventures and experience them vicariously, if not at my side. I will be thanking her for many lifetimes.”

To learn more about Nya Alemayhu and her classes, visit YogaWithNya.com. See ad, page 25.

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Yoga Enters the Medical Mainstream Research Proves its Health Benefits

by Meredith Montgomery

A

fter practicing internal medicine for 10 years in Boston, Dr. Timothy McCall became a full-time writer, exploring the health benefits of yoga. As the medical editor of Yoga Journal and the author of Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing, he says, “In the late 90s, the conveyor belt of patient care continued to speed up and I got frustrated. There was less time to form relationships with patients, which is essential to providing quality care without excessive tests and drugs.”

Initially, McCall found that most of the documented research on yoga was from India, and notes it was low in quality from a Western perspective (though it is now excellent). In the West, the first notable scientific yoga article was published in 1973 in The Lancet on combining yoga and biofeedback to manage hypertension. According to the International Journal of Yoga, the surge in yoga’s popularity here finally gained academic interest in 2007, and there are now more than 2,000

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yoga titles in the National Institutes of Health PubMed.gov database, with 200 added annually.

Initially, yoga teacher and economist Rajan Narayanan, Ph.D., founded the nonprofit Life in Yoga Foundation and Institute to offer free teacher training. Within a couple of years, the foundation’s focus shifted to integrating yoga into the mainstream healthcare system. “We realized that to make a real difference, we needed to teach doctors about yoga and its scientifically proven effects,” he says. Medical providers can earn credits to keep their licenses current by attending courses

by Life in Yoga, the only yoga institution independently certified by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

Currently, even if physicians don’t practice yoga, it’s likely that many of their patients do. “You now see it everywhere from major medical centers to mainstream advertising,” says McCall, who notes an increase in doctors, nurses and therapists attending the Yoga as

Any physical exercise done with breath awareness Mounting Evidence becomes yoga; “Yoga may help prevent diseases across the board be- anything done cause the root cause of 70 to without the 90 percent of all disorders is stress,” says Narayanan. Yoga breath is just a increases the body’s ability to physical practice.

therapy like there are for pharmaceuticals,” remarks Narayanan, and until yoga is funded by health insurance, it will be challenging to gain full acceptance in mainstream medicine.

Another barrier is certification standards. The International Association of Yoga Therapists (iayt. org) and the Council for Yoga Accreditation Intersuccessfully respond to stress national (cyai.org) are both by activating the parasympa- ~Rajan Narayaran beginning to offer certificathetic nervous system, which tions for therapy training slows the heart and lowers blood presprograms and therapists. Narayanan is sure. That in turn suppresses sympathetic hopeful that certification could lead to activity, reducing the amount of stress yoga being covered by insurance. hormones in the body.

Medical school curricula have

Studies collected on PubMed.gov started shifting to embrace complemendemonstrate that yoga has been found to tary approaches to wellness, with many help manage hypertension, osteoporosis, textbooks now including information body weight, physical fitness, anxiety, on mind/body therapies. The Principles depression, diabetes, reproductive and Practices of Yoga in Healthcare, cofunctions and pregnancy, among other edited by Sat Bir Khalsa, Lorenzo Cohen, issues. Studies at California’s PrevenMcCall and Shirley Telles and due out tive Medicine Research Institute have in 2016, is the first professional-level, tracked amelioration of heart disease. medical textbook on yoga therapy.

A growing body of research is validat “Yoga has been proven to treat ing yoga’s benefits for cancer patients, many conditions, yet yoga teachers including at the University of Texas M.D. don’t treat conditions, we treat individAnderson Cancer Center. A small study uals,” says McCall. “Yoga therapy is not at Norway’s University of Oslo suggests a one-size-fits-all prescription because that yoga even alters gene expression, different bodies and minds, with differindicating it may induce health benefits ent abilities and weaknesses, require on a molecular level. individualized approaches.”

While medical research is working Cultural Challenges to grant yoga more legitimacy among “For yoga to be effective, a regular doctors, policymakers and the public, practice must be implemented, which McCall says, “I believe these studies is challenging in a culture where are systematically underestimating people can’t sit for long without an how powerful yoga can be. Scielectronic device. It’s more than ence may tell us that it decreases just popping pills,” says Narayanan. systolic blood pressure and corti McCall says, “Even if people sol secretion and increases lung can commit to just a few mincapacity and serotonin levels, utes of yoga practice a day, if but that doesn’t begin to they keep it up the benefits capture the totality of what can be enormous.” yoga is.”

“There are no sales reps Meredith Montgomery, a telling doctors to use yoga registered yoga teacher, publishes Natural September is Awakenings of National Yoga Mobile/Baldwin, Month AL (Healthy LivingHealthy Planet.com).

Medicine seminars he and his wife Eliana teach internationally and from their Simply Yoga Institute studio, in Summit, New Jersey.

When Yoga Can Help 4 Addictions 4 Anxiety spectrum disorders 4 Back pain 4 Cancer 4 Depression 4 Diabetes 4 Endocrine issues 4 Heart disease 4 Hypertension 4 Mental health conditions 4 Metabolic syndrome 4 Musculoskeletal and neuromuscular complaints 4 Neurological and immune disorders 4 Pregnancy issues 4 Premenstrual syndrome, perimenopausal symptoms 4 Respiratory issues 4 Weight management

Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art. ~Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

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September 2015

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Washington, D.C.

Yoga Comes to Primary Care Casey Health Offers Innovative Therapy

by Robin Fillmore

I

magine this: you have a chronic lower back problem that leaves you in pain, most of the time.

Or this: you have a gut issue that makes planning your diet—and your life—a challenge.

Or perhaps this: you suffer from paralyzing migraines and have tried just about everything to help deal with them, but nothing seems to work.

For any one of these conditions, you seek help from your primary care doctor first and at your appointment, he recommends yoga therapy. You think, “How can yoga help me heal and feel better?” Minutes later, a clinical yoga specialist enters the exam room and proceeds to consult with your doctor about a treatment plan for you. She has different yoga props with her and before you know it, she eases you into a series of yoga poses, providing you immediate relief and comfort. “Wow,” you think, “This yoga therapy thing just might work for me.”

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At Casey Health Institute, in Montgomery County, that’s exactly what is happening. They are one of the first medical facilities in the United States to have a full-time yoga therapist that works as part of a collaborative team of providers to address specific or chronic health conditions, illnesses, pain, traumas or challenging life transitions.

By adapting and modifying specific yoga poses to meet the needs of our patients, they use this ancient healing practice to promote healing and wellness. Their clinical yoga specialist works as part of our team of clinicians that include a naturopathic doctor, primary care physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractor, behavior health psychologists, nutritionists, massage therapist and Reiki master, to render personalized healing treatments.

Some days Casey Health’s clinical yoga specialist, Mary Pappas-Sandonas, can be found “floating” in their clinical practice to offer patients yoga techniques,

breathing exercises, deep relaxation and meditation, as needed. This is a bonus service that their patients receive. Other days, she works individually with patients who have been referred to her for personalized yoga therapy sessions.

Yoga therapy is employed to address specific health conditions such as low back pain and migraines, as well as Type 2 diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, obesity, and PTSD to name a few. At patient appointments, Pappas-Sandonas first conducts an initial 90-minute evaluation which is usually followed by a series of dynamic, oneon-one individualized yoga sessions that address the patient’s conditions.

This customized protocol is adjusted over time to meet the evolving condition of each patient. Poses are designed to meet the patient “where they are” with specific postures and breathing techniques designed to align with personal goals. The yoga specialist is continually consulting with the providers to create a summary of goals, progress and accomplishments. Individuals don’t need to be familiar with yoga or even experienced in the practice to reap its benefits.

Yoga therapy sessions at Casey Health are based on the principles of Iyengar Yoga, clinically proven to be highly effective in the management and treatment of many health conditions. It is appropriate for all ages, conditions and levels of fitness and is known to have preventative, restorative, palliative and curative benefits. It serves as the perfect companion to the participant’s medical care, both diagnostically and therapeutically and supports a balance of the inner state, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Casey Health Institute also offers a variety of group yoga, fitness and health classes for all levels in their Wellness Center. They incorporate yoga and other classes and workshops, provide lectures on nutrition, sleep and stress reduction and help their patients understand the factors that influence health. Classes are designed to strengthen physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, to reduce stress and promote health. For more information about yoga therapy and the different programs offered at Casey Health, call 301-664-6464 or visit CaseyHealth.org. See ad, page 3.

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September 2015

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yogaspotlight

of this tradition into all her instruction.

In addition to her dedication to yoga, Sumona is also trained in Bharata Natyam, a South-Indian classical dance that is more than 4,000 years old. It is an ancient sister practice and dance form of yoga. She is also known as a devoted, passionate international Bharata Natyam and Bollywood dancer, as well dance teacher.

It is her unique combination of international and body work practices as well as her passion of Indian dance, meditation, pranayama, mudras into her yoga asanas teachings that distinguish Sumona’s classes and instruction. She uses all kinds of music during her classes, including soft yoga, international, Indian classical or semi-classical music, as well as Bollywood-style numbers and chakra sound music, which resonates with the energy centers in the human body.

Most importantly, Sumona gives great attention to her students, teaching with love, passion, patience and compassion, while offering a space for learning and growing that is loving, serene, as well as safe.

To learn more about Sumona, visit yoginidancesumona.wix.com. sumonayoga. See ad, page 40.

A Journey of Authentic Self-Discovery Through the Practice of Yoga

by Robin Fillmore

of youth. You’re only as young as your spine is flexible. ~Bob Harper

S

umona Yoga Company, with founder Sumona Apsara Parii, offers a unique opportunity in which students experience a loving, soulful environment in which to learn yoga as they learn about themselves. Sumona encourages her students to embark on this journey of authentic self-discovery through the practice of yoga asanas (postures), 26

Yoga is the fountain

Washington, D.C.

pranayama (deep breathwork), mudras (hand gestures) and meditation.

Currently, Sumona is offering private instruction of yoga for women, including Bollywood Dance Yoga and Vinyasa Flow from her own studio in Falls Church, Virginia.

With a firm background and extensive training in hatha yoga, Sumona incorporates the foundation

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naturalbeauty

BEAUTY Not Just Skin Deep

by Dr. Isabel Sharkar

W

hen it comes to aging gracefully, get glowing from the inside out and preserve what you have. By nourishing and supporting your cells at a cellular level, you can delay the signs of aging. As we age, our bodies develop deficiencies in key nutrients and if you have not incorporated regular detoxing as a part of your lifestyle chances are your toxic burden is high. As a result, low-level chronic inflammation may occur leading to serious, age-related diseases. However, no matter where you are at, there is hope.

First, it is important to understand the factors that accelerate aging. They include a poor diet, filled with processed and refined food, sugar, overindulging in alcohol and cigarettes, poor sleep

hygiene, lack of exercise and sweating, chemicals in food and personal hygiene products, dehydration, stress, negativity, worrying, toxic buildup from our environment and lastly, blocked channels of elimination. Although all of these factors contribute to aging, you have the power to change them.

There are many things that we can do to keep our bodies young and healthy. However, the best anti-aging formula begins with the mind—the attitude you have about yourself as well as life in general. Maintain a positive outlook of innocence, wonder and awe. Stay curious with a carefree sense of adventure and take your responsibilities lightly. Happy people age well.

Next, a simple nutritional evalua-

tion will reveal your body’s exact vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Let food be thy medicine and increase your antioxidant levels. By practicing intermittent fasting and caloric restriction, you eat less to live longer. Improve your diet, digestion and bowel movements.

Stay hydrated by drinking three liters of water per day, starting with one liter of water immediately upon waking up to flush out toxins. Drinking plenty of water maintains your skin’s moisture balance, lubricates your joints and keeps your cells supple. Refrain from smoking—it causes wrinkles and increases free radical damage in the body. Instead, practice deep breathing exercises to increase oxygen.

Did you know that stress alone could make you appear up to 10 years older? Take ownership of your stress and manage it through meditation, yoga and regular massages. Get your body moving, exercise and stretch. By sweating every day you are helping your body eliminate toxins. Exercising in the morning helps you sleep better at night.

The best exercise regime is one that includes high-intensity interval training for a half-hour three times a week, with low-intensity walking, yoga and stretching on the days in between. Spend time outdoors and get some sun every day whenever possible.

Practice good sleep hygiene and stay away from electronics 90 minutes before bed. The blue light spectrum emitted from the screens decreases melatonin production and signals the brain to produce more daylight hormones, thus keeping you awake.

Get to bed before 11 p.m. The deepest and most regenerative sleep occurs between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., when the most melatonin is secreted.

See a qualified holistic health practitioner and get a personally tailored health protocol individualized for you and your needs in delaying and reversing any signs of aging. It’s never too late to start.

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.

natural awakenings

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consciouseating

SURF TO TURF U.S. Farmed Seafood That’s Safe and Sustainable

by Judith Fertig

Wild-caught fish from pure waters is the gold standard of seafood, but sustainable populations from healthy waters are shrinking. That’s one reason why fish farms are appearing in unusual places—barramundi flourish on a Nebraska cattle ranch, shrimp in chilly Massachusetts and inland tilapia in Southern California.

W

ith the demand for seafood outpacing what can safely be harvested in the wild, half the seafood we eat comes from aquaculture, says Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Yet, farmed seafood has a reputation for uneven quality and questionable farming practices. A primary reason is that much of what Americans buy comes from Asia, where aquaculture is less stringently managed. Meanwhile, domestic aquaculture provides only about 5 percent of the seafood consumed here, according to NOAA.

Safe Seafood Solutions

If we want to eat safer, sustainable, farmed seafood, there are two solutions. One is to purchase farmed fish raised in the U.S., says Sullivan. The agency’s FishWatch consumer informa28

Washington, D.C.

tion service assures: “If it’s harvested in the United States, it’s inherently sustainable as a result of the rigorous U.S. management process that ensures fisheries are continuously monitored, improved and sustainable.”

Whole Foods Markets have found that farming seafood (aquaculture) can provide a consistent, high-quality, year-round supply of healthy and delicious protein. Accordingly, “When it’s done right, aquaculture can be environmentally friendly and offer a crucial way to supplement wild-caught fish supplies. On the other hand, poor farming practices such as the overuse of chemicals and antibiotics and those that cause water pollution and other negative impacts on the environment are bad news.”

A second solution is to consult with a trusted fishmonger that has high standards for flavor, health, safety, sustainability and environmental concerns.

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The Green Fish Farmer

Chefs like Rick Moonen, who owns RM Seafood, in Las Vegas, are getting behind U.S. aquaculture farms that do it right, raising healthy, sustainable and delicious fish. Moonen recently became a brand ambassador for True North Salmon, a farm system that integrates the way nature keeps fish healthy and fresh. “They have a salmon farm near a mussel farm near a kelp farm, mimicking the way these three species interact in the wild,” says Moonen.

The best seafood farms take what geography and climate offer—ocean inlets, a natural spring and a natural depression in the land or indoor controlled freshwater tanks—and use clean feed.

With no antibiotics, non-GMO food (free of genetic modification) in the right ratio, good water quality and creative ways to use the effluent, they employ green farming practices to raise fish and shellfish that, in turn, are healthy to eat.

The Atlantic coasts of Maine and Canada are where families have been making their living from the sea for centuries, says Alan Craig, of Canada’s True North Salmon Company. “The fish are fed pellets made from all-natural, nonGMO sources with no dyes, chemicals or growth hormones added. Underwater cameras monitor the health of the fish to prevent overfeeding.”

True North Salmon follows a threebay system, similar to crop rotation on land. Each bay is designated for a particular age of fish: young salmon, market-ready fish and a fallow, or empty, bay, breaking the cycle of any naturally occurring diseases and parasites.

Robin Hills Farm, near Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers vegetable, meat, egg and fruit community supported agriculture, U-pick fruit and a pair of stocked farm ponds. Farm Manager Mitzi Koors explains that the ponds are a way to leverage natural resources, add another income stream and attract visitors.

“We first discovered a low-lying area that would become a beautiful pond with a little work,” Koors relates.

“We then expanded to two close ponds that don’t connect, to keep the older fish raised on at least six months of nonGMO organic feed separate from the newer fish. The ponds are spring fed, providing a great environment for trout.”

In northeastern Nebraska, five generations of the Garwood family have traditionally raised cattle and produced corn and tomatoes. To keep the farm thriving and sustainable, they have had to think outside the row crop. Today, they’re growing something new—barramundi, or Australian yellow perch. They built a warehouse that now holds 18, 10,000-gallon fish tanks full of growing fish. A Maryland company provides old-fashioned cow manure and leftover grain sorghum from area ethanol plants to create algae, naturally non-GMO, to use as biofuel and fish food. “People prefer to eat locally raised food, even if it’s fish in Nebraska,” says Scott Garwood.

The sophistication of closed containment systems like the Garwoods use means that chefs, too, can raise their own fish, besides growing their own herbs and vegetables. California Chef Adam Navidi, owner of the Oceans & Earth restaurant, in Yorba Linda, also runs nearby Future Foods Farms, encompassing 25 acres of herbs, lettuces, assorted vegetables and tank-raised tilapia. Baby greens, not GMO products, help feed the fish, while nitrates from the ammonia-rich fish waste fertilize the crops. The fish wastewater filters through the crops and returns to the fish tanks in an efficient, conservationdriven system that produces healthy, organic food.

“Someday, chefs will be known both by their recipes and the methods used to produce their food,” Navidi predicts.

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

10 Seafood Choices to Feel Good About

A

ccording to the nationally recognized Monterey Bay Aquarium’s SeafoodWatch.org, these farmed fish and shellfish are current Best Choices.

Under each fish or shellfish variety, check the Seafood Recommendations list for specific geographic areas, certified organic options, non-GMO feed, or other designations.

Arctic Char: The farmed variety, raised in closed-tank systems, produce little impact on local habitats in the Pacific Northwest.

Barramundi (Australian yellow perch): Look for it sourced from recirculating aquaculture systems in farms throughout the U.S.

Catfish: Pond-farmed American catfish, found mainly near the Mississippi River, are some of the most sustainable fish available.

Crawfish: Domestic production centers mainly in Louisiana, grown in ponds on existing agricultural lands.

No feeds are added, but minimal fertilizer is used to support an aquatic food web that crawfish thrive on. As a native species, the potential impacts of escape are minimal.

Mussels: Most farmed mussels for sale in the U.S. hail from New England and the Pacific Northwest, or are imported from nations with stringent environmental regulations. The nonprofit Marine Stewardship Council independently certifies some of these mussel fisheries as sustainable.

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Oysters: Nearly 95 percent of the oysters Americans eat are farmed in New England, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Northwest. Oyster farms in the U.S. and throughout the world are well managed and produce a sustainable product.

Salmon: Before ordering, Seafood Watch recommends finding out where salmon originated by asking the local grocer or restaurant manager if it’s wild caught or farmed and its source.

Shrimp: Most caught or farmed in U.S. and Canada also qualify as a Seafood Watch Good Alternative.

However, avoid shrimp caught in Louisiana with otter trawls and in the Gulf of Mexico (except Florida) with skimmer trawls. All shrimp from recirculating aquaculture systems constitute a Best Choice.

Tilapia: Tank-farmed tilapia in the U.S. and Canada has become a popular standard.

Trout: Farmed rainbow trout from the U.S. gets a nod because it’s raised in environmentally friendly ways in spring-fed ponds.

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September 2015

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practitionerspotlight

Dr. Piamas Puatrakul

Empowered Health For Her Patients

by Sam Hudgins

D

r. Piamas Puatrakul enjoys helping others as a pharmacist but wanted more interaction with her patients. As she puts it, “I like to be able to see the positive changes I’ve made in people.”

With that desire in mind, Puatrakul opened Lotus Health and Healing, a holistic health coaching practice, last July.

As a health empowerment

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coach, Puatrakul offers a variety of personalized services. The most unique of these is a medication review. Using her background in pharmacy, Puatrakul examines a patient’s medication regimen to determine if there is a more natural approach that can be taken. She will also screen for medication compatibility with herbs as well as the possibility to eliminate unnecessary medications. Patients

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Lotus Health and Healing’s main focus is health empowerment through self-love and inner peace. Focusing on those attributes can especially help those suffering from stress, anxiety and depression, which is Puatrakul’s specialty. often utilize the medication review to stop the unwanted side effects medications can have, such as mood swings and weight gain.

Lotus Health and Healing’s main focus is health empowerment through self-love and inner peace.

Focusing on those attributes can especially help those suffering from stress, anxiety and depression, which is Puatrakul’s specialty. She does see patients with physical ailments, such as high blood pressure, as well.

Her services are offered based on a patient’s medical history and preexisting conditions.

Puatrakul works with each patient to discover his or her health interests and goals, and creates a personalized plan around those desires. Though she does offer single sessions, Puatrakul prefers to work with individuals for a minimum of three months because it allows patients the necessary time to give them focus and the support to make lifelong changes. During the three-month period, Puatrakul will meet with a patient once a week but is available for support via email at any time.

Each month, Puatrakul offers a limited number of complimentary phone consultations to new patients.

To schedule a consultation, a potential patient submits a questionnaire (found under the ‘Free Session’ tab on her website LotusHealthAnd Healing.org). Individuals interested in jump-starting their journey to inner healing can also submit their email on the webpage for a free copy

LOTUS HEALTH AND HEALING

HAVE YOU BEEN LABELED?       

Low Thyroid Chronic Fatigue Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Pre-Diabetic or Diabetic Arthritic Conditions Peripheral Neuropathy

HAVE YOU BEEN MEDICATED? Without improvement or you are suffering from NEGATIVE SIDE-EFFECTS? You may also be concerned about the LONG-TERM EFFECTS.

HAVE YOU BEEN TOLD?  This is the best we can do  This is normal as we age.  Medicine doesn’t have all the answers. of Puatrakul’s report Three Keys to True Healing. Downloading a copy of the report also signs individuals up to receive bi-weekly newsletters with holistic health tips.

Lotus Health and Healing is located above Knowles Apothecary on Connecticut Avenue. During warm weather months, Puatrakul prefers to take her clients for sessions in gardens and parks, or on the water.

This summer, she offers sessions on a sailboat as a special bonus for people who enroll into the program, “90-Day Journey to Inner Peace.”

“Water is very healing, so it’s nice to be out on the boat and in the water,” Puatrakul asserts.

Puatrakul stays up-to-date on natural medical practices through online courses. She offers lessons in meditation, the mind-body connection, chakras and herbs as part of her health empowerment coaching. On September 12th, Puatrakul plans to hold a free “Inner Peace” workshop at Dawson’s Market in Rockville.

To schedule a session with Dr. Puatrakul, call 301-760-6924 or visit LotusHealthAndHealing.org. See ad, page 38.

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September 2015

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eventspotlight

Coalition Calls For Environmental Justice With Gathering on National Mall

by Robin Fillmore

T

he National Mall will be the gathering place for diverse voices rallying around environmental justice on the morning of September 24.

The Moral March for Climate Justice is a coalition of diverse groups—those who identify as green supporters, social justice organizations, family-based groups and religious organizations—coming together to raise up the message that climate is first and foremost, a moral issue.

The catalyst for this event is Pope Francis’ visit to Washington, D.C. and his address to Congress at 9:20 that morning. There will an opportunity to listen to the Pope’s message on the Mall and immediately following the speech, 32

Washington, D.C.

the rally will begin.

The night before, an all-night prayer vigil will be held, sponsored by the Franciscans Action Network, and all are invited to join for a part of the evening, or for the entire vigil. The day following the rally, September 25, will be held for advocacy actions. Groups who are interested in engaging with their members of Congress will be encouraged to set their own appointments but check MoralActionOnClimate.org for talking points and tips for effective member meetings.

Participants and organizers see this event as part of an effort to keep the focus on climate justice in the lead-up

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to and beyond the international climate negotiations in Paris this December.

According to Jamie Konopacky, one of the organizers, the success of the day will come if local and regional environmental justice efforts are given a national platform. Advocates who are working on efforts across the Eastern Seaboard, including a local group organizing around the Pepco plant in Washington, D.C., will be sharing their stories at the podium.

Similar efforts are being waged throughout the country and their organizers will be coming to D.C. for the rally. Here they will be sharing of their attempts to change local and regional decisions that impact the environmental health of their communities.

The organizers of the rally continue to seek out more stories of resistance and resilience, and encourage those with a story to contact them before the rally at MoralActionOnClimate.org.

The coalition has also been working with the Hip-Hop Caucus, a nationally acclaimed civil and human rights organization that draws together activism with the arts. One of their key issues is environmental justice and climate change and they will be part of these events.

Organizer Konopacky notes, “Like the Pope says, the moral message of environmental and climate justice is a message for everyone. It’s not just for people of faith. We want to be a part of continuing the effort to build an inclusive environmental and climate justice movement that has a hope of infiltrating what seems to be an impenetrable congress. One of the goals of the environmental and climate justice movements is to implement environmental and climate justice principles in local, state, national and international policies. Creating platforms to raise up the stories of individuals and communities is critical to bringing about this policy transformation. The gathering on September 24 is one opportunity to create a platform to raise up the environmental and climate justice message.”

Location: National Mall, between 4th and 7th. For more information, visit MoralActionOnClimate.org. See ad, page 33.

Join the Moral March for Climate Justice September 24 National Mall Between 4th & 7th Join for the Pope’s Address at 9:20 am Rally to Follow

As Pope Francis is calling on the Congress to take action on the climate, thousands will be converging on the Mall to show support for his visit and his recent statement on climate change.

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 .

Visit for Info & Updates:

MoralActionOnClimate.org

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㈀㔀㠀 䴀愀瀀氀攀 䄀瘀攀 䔀⸀

嘀椀攀渀渀愀Ⰰ 嘀䄀 ⠀㜀 ㌀⤀ ㈀㔀㔀ⴀ㜀 㐀

㄀㈀㈀㐀㈀ 刀漀挀欀瘀椀氀氀攀 倀椀欀攀

刀漀挀欀瘀椀氀氀攀Ⰰ 䴀䐀 ⠀㌀ ㄀⤀ 㜀㜀 ⴀ㜀 㐀

September 2015

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natural awakenings

September 2015

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greenhome

Energy Saving Tips Get Your Home Ready for Fall

by Ted Trabue

A

fter higher than normal temperatures over the past couple of months, it’s hard to believe the summer is almost over. Hot summers typically mean higher energy bills, so here are a few simple energy saving tips that can help you recover from the summer and get ready for the fall.

District-based contractors can perform an energy audit of your home and make recommended improvements, such as air sealing and insulation. The DCSEU offers financial incentives of up to $1,800 for qualifying home energy upgrades done with a participating contractor.

Evaluate Your Situation.

Did you know that by actively regulating your home’s temperature you can help you save as much as 10 percent on annual heating costs? In fact, lowering the heat from 72 to 65 degrees for eight hours per day can help you save two to 3 percent in energy costs for every degree you lower your thermostat over the course of day.

Try lowering the heat as everyone leaves for the day and just before going to bed. Or, automate the process by purchasing a programmable thermostat, which automatically adjusts the temperature based on the setting you choose, turning the heat down when you don’t need it and turning it on up when you do. You can even adjust the temperature for some programmable thermostats using a smartphone app.

You can purchase a programmable thermostat for as little as $20 from your local hardware store.

Do a simple walk-through to help you find where energy is being wasted and identify opportunities to save energy in your home. Making a checklist of the items you find can help you set priorities for potential upgrades. For instance, check light fixtures to see if you can replace inefficient light bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Take note of instances where you may find air leaks near windows and doors; clean the vents around the refrigerator and check your attic to ensure you have sufficient insulation and moisture barriers.

The District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) offers a number of rebates to residents of the District of Columbia that can help offset the cost of purchasing energy-efficient products.

Get a Professional Opinion.

Consider getting a professional energy audit to more clearly assess your home’s efficiency. You can save up to 30 percent on your energy bills and improve your comfort by working with a D.C. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor. These specially trained 36

Washington, D.C.

Turn Down the Thermostat.

Replace Light Bulbs.

Shorter days are approaching, which means you will be using lights in your home for a greater number of hours each day. Replace your incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluo-

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rescent light bulbs, or LEDs which use up to 75 percent less energy. The DCSEU is working with local retailers to offer discounts on highly-efficient ENERGY STAR light bulbs to D.C. residents. Visit the DCSEU.com to find a participating retailer near you.

Kill Phantom Loads.

Many of your home electronics, appliances and office equipment use power even when they’re off. These are known as “phantom loads” and you can stop wasting energy by plugging these devices into a power strip and simply turning it off when you’re not using them. You can even use a smart power strip, which helps reduce your power usage by shutting down power to products that go into standby mode.

Get your Furnace or Boiler in Shape.

It is recommended that you inspect heating and cooling equipment annually, so schedule a maintenance call for your boiler, furnace and other heating systems before you start using them in the cooler months. Also, to ensure your unit’s efficiency, check filters and replace them as needed, especially during periods of high usage.

If your unit is more than 15 years old, you should consider replacing your system with a newer, energy-efficient unit. The DCSEU provides up to $1,000 in rebates to residential homeowners for the installation of energy-saving heating systems installed by a participating contractor.

Look for the ENERGY STAR Label.

Whether you’re planning to purchase new appliances, a new heating or cooling system, or home electronics, look for the ENERGY STAR label to find the most energy-efficient models on the market.

Ted Trabue, managing director of the DCSEU, helps D.C. residents and businesses use less energy and save money.

Since 2011, the DCSEU has delivered financial incentives, technical assistance and information to tens of thousands of District residents and businesses, helping them to save millions of dollars on their energy costs. For more information, call 202-479-2222 or visit DCSEU.com.

Photo by Lacey Walker

naturalhealing

Create a Thriving Local Herbal Community Ten Ways to Get Started

by Molly Meehan

F

armers markets, CSA’s and local foods restaurants have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. Consciousness around food justice, seasonal eating and supporting our local farmers have become more common place. Yet herbalism, another a land-based profession that is central to health, has remained fringe and poorly understood.

Here are some ways to support vitality and wellness, learn more about medicinal plants and join in supporting an emerging local herbal movement:

Buy Local - Support local herbalists at the local food and farmers markets. When an herbalist is at the local farmers market with a table full of teas, herbal salves, elderberry syrups and more, ask them questions to learn more. This creates a relationship with those growing food and herbs and buyers can know that they are chemicalfree, sustainably grown and that the people growing them are earning a living wage.

Join a local Herbal CSA - Com-

munity Support Agriculture is a great way to incorporate local and seasonal foods into the diet, while supporting local farmers. There are several herbal CSAs in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Check them out and join one.

Join a Local Plant Walk or Herb Class - The best way to begin to understand the world of medicinal plants is learning more from local experts. Join in on a local class or plant walk taught in the area.

Get an Herbal Wellness Consultation - Modern allopathic medicine can be life-saving, but incorporating healthy lifestyle strategies including the use of medicinal herbs is unparalleled at preventing as well as supporting our healing from chronic disease.

Support Accessible Affordable Holistic Health Care - Support organizations providing holistic care at affordable/ free costs to those who need this access.

Engage the Youth and Honor Our Elders - The more young people are exposed to herbs and plants, the more

natural this knowledge and healthy practices will be integrated into their lives—long term. Engage elders in sharing their experiences and knowledge of herbs—they are incredible wisdom keepers.

Visit Local Apothecary and Herb Shops - The greater D.C. area has a few where you can become acquainted with herbs.

Don’t Use Over-Harvested Medicinal Plants - When using herbs to support wellness, make sure to use abundant, and better yet, bio-regional herbs. Using local herbs help cut down on the carbon footprint on shipping herbs around the world. Also, stay away herbs that are at risk of being over-harvested in the wild.

Support Regional Herbal Farming - Farming is not easy and all should be in awe of those with the perseverance to do this noble work. If there was greater understanding of the toil that farmers and herbalists sustain, they wouldn’t have to feel deflated when people complain about their prices. Regulations and policy have a long way to go to support herbal farming. Become an educated advocate for policies that can change this and support farmers with new income-opportunities through growing herbs.

Come to the Chesapeake Herb Gathering - Everyone is highly encouraged to come to come to this annual intergenerational event, bringing together all regional herbalists, ethnobotanists, farmers, homesteaders and more, to exchange and build upon this knowledge locally. There will be 25 local speakers and an entire track for youth.

Molly Meehan is passionate about community-based herbal and food systems and specifically working cooperatively to keep the knowledge of our food, herbal medicine, seeds and our healing traditions alive and vital within our communities.

Meehan coordinates programs for Centro Ashé Community Herbal Education, based in Maryland and Talamanca, Costa Rica, and also contracts with local organizations on community outreach, engagement and program design.

For more information about the herb gathering, plus the schedule of speakers, visit CentroAshe.org.

natural awakenings

September 2015

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healthypet

90 Day Journey To Inner Peace

Your Favorite Brand of Pet Food Has It Been Sold to a Conglomerate?

by Liora Robinson

O Dr. Piamas Puatrakul

Health Empowerment Coach & Pharmacist

First Steps to Inner Peace Free consultation

301-760-6924

Lotushealthandhealing.org 38

Washington, D.C.

ver the past several years, there has been an unprecedented number of pet food brand acquisitions. Most “all-natural” pet foods begin as small, independent companies. These companies strive to produce top-quality, natural foods to provide an option for the consumer who searches for the very best nutrition for their pets.

The choice to use only high-quality ingredients, reputable sourcing and minimal processing results in pet food choices that surpass the majority of the commercial options.

It’s not uncommon to see small, top-quality, pet food companies grow from being “unknown” into leaders of the pet nutrition industry. Many of these companies are family-owned and operated. They’ve earned their reputation based on their choice to use high-quality ingredients, safe and

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

responsible manufacturing processes and transparency. As these companies grow, many are unable to keep up with the demand. Those owners who are capable of keeping up with the demand eventually approach retirement, and unless their children want to continue the business, oftentimes sell to the highest bidder.

The pet food giants understand the demand for natural pet food, and since few of them currently produce it, acquiring small pet food companies can be very profitable. Keeping in mind that the pet food giants are usually publicly owned companies, they have stockholder obligations; therefore profits are a main concern. So, what happens to pet food once it has been sold to a pet food giant?

First, don’t jump to the conclusion that your pet food is going to

these may be signs that something has changed in the formula.

If you notice anything that makes you suspicious that there has been a change, call the manufacturer.

If they are reluctant to give you answers, this is another sign that this pet food brand may no longer be trustworthy.

The bottom line is allowing your pet to lead you. Most of the time you will be able to tell if something is “off” just by

monitoring your pet.

There are new, small, independent manufacturing companies sprouting every day. These smaller brands are typically found only in independent, pet retail stores. Consult your vet if you suspect your pet is having a problem with his food and then visit your local independent pet nutrition store for the highest quality pet food choices.

Liora Robinson is co-owner of Whole Pet Central, with stores in Rockville, Herndon and Asburn. For more information, visit WholePetCenter.com. See ad, page 42.

change overnight. As with any pet food manufacturer, changes are likely, but these changes take time. Most pet food brands make adjustments to their formulas. This does not mean that your pet food company is cutting corners or replacing high-quality ingredients with garbage. There is new research coming out all the time, and many of the high-quality pet food manufacturers make adjustments to their formulas to keep up with modern technology and the latest pet nutrition research.

You should take the time to properly research the new owners of your pet food brand. Don’t spend all your time looking at blogs and reviews. Some are based on rumor and prejudice. Make an informed decision based on what’s best for your pet.

The following tips can help you discern whether or not your pet food has changed.

Keep labels.

Meditation Teacher Training (160 Hours) • Yoga Teaching Training (200 Hours) The Mindfulness Center • 4963 Elm St., Ste. 100 • Bethesda, MD 301-986-1090 • TheMindfulnessCenter.org The Mindfulness Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Pet food manufacturers may change ingredients but wait until they sell through their existing inventory of labels before changing the label. Formula changes won’t become apparent until the new labels are being used.

Take photographs of the appearance of your pet food.

Pay close attention to the cues your pet gives you. If your pet suddenly stops eating the food or has some sort of disturbance to his digestive system, natural awakenings

September 2015

39

Connect with your Inner Glow!

leadingedge

Essential Oils

Celebrate physical & emotional balance at

Sumona Yoga Company

Using Them for Health

Sumona Apsara Parii is a dedicated yoga and dance teacher & Indian classical dancer.

She incorporates her passion of dance & meditation into her Hatha Yoga teachings, while encouraging her students to engage in a loving, compassionate, patient and centered relationship with their minds, bodies and spirits.

by Mary Kendell

Offering private YOGA instruction for women in Falls Church, VA

yoginidancesumona.wix.com/sumonayoga 310-809-0418

The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in. ~B.K.S. Iyengar

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Washington, D.C.

I

n recent years, there has been renewed interest in the use of essential oils. As more and more people demand safer alternatives to synthetic pharmaceuticals, scientists and medical practitioners alike are seeking to validate the numerous health benefits of essential oils.

Essential oils are the naturally occurring extracts derived from the seeds, stems, leaves, flowers or bark of plants or the rinds of citrus fruits.

The therapeutic benefits of essential oils have been known for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all reference the use of essential oils for health and wellness. In the story of the three wise men, only three gifts were considered important enough to be offered. Of those gifts, two were essential oils— frankincense and myrrh.

The use of essential oils was lost in history until 1937. A French chemist, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, redis-

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

covered their benefits when he healed a badly burned hand with pure lavender oil. During World War II, therapeutic grade essential oils such as thyme, lemon, clove and chamomile were used to disinfect wounds and sterilize surgical instruments. With the discovery of penicillin in 1942, the therapeutic benefits of essential oils were once again forgotten. Only in the past two decades as more people demand safer alternatives to current pharmaceuticals have essential oils once again gained in popularity.

Derived from the whole plant rather than from its parts, a single essential oil can have hundreds of constituents making the sum of the plant parts greater than the whole.

The therapeutic uses of a single oil range from antiviral to antibacterial to antifungal to anti-parasitic, to immune boosting and mood lifting depending on what the body needs and how the oil is used. Examples of

the multipurpose use of an individual oil include lavender, which can be used to soothe sunburn, bug bites and eczema, as well as for its calming and sleep inducing effects. Peppermint can be used to lower a fever, relieve a headache or calm indigestion. Lemon oil can be used in water for detoxification, to relieve a sore throat or for cleaning as a disinfectant.

In addition to their aromatic properties, essential oils are lipid soluable (will mix with oils) and have a low molecular weight allowing them to pass through cell membranes in a way that most prescription medications cannot. These unique characteristics allow essential oils to be used in a variety of ways.

The aromatic properties of essential oils stimulate our sense of smell.

Our sense of smell is closely tied to the memory, emotional and stress response centers of the brain. Research has validated the use of aromatherapy in the treatment of mild depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Inhalation of an essential oil can be accomplished with a diffuser or by simply placing the oil in your hand, cupping your hands over your nose and breathing deeply.

The small molecular structure and weight allows essential oils to readily penetrate the skin making them ideal for topical use. The palms of the hand, soles of the feet, forehead, scalp, behind the ears, inside the wrists and armpits are the most permeable as they are areas that have the least amount of subcutaneous fat.

With few exceptions, essential oils, if pure, can also be ingested. This however, should only be done at the recommendation of a practitioner who is knowledgeable in their use.

Mary Kendell is a board-certified Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner and ASSECT certified sexual health counselor. Specializing in sexual health in sexual health concerns, Kendell regularly utilizes aromatherapy as part of her integrative approach to health and wellness. For more information call 202-833-5055 or email MKendell@Gwcim.com. natural awakenings

September 2015

41

wisewords

Neuroplasticity Mindfulness and the Good Wolf

by Grace Ogden

I

n a recent Reply All Lite cartoon, the lead character Lizzie throws her hands in the air and says, “All I know is I had my self-esteem with me when I left the house.”

The sassy, single, public relations executive, who dates and meditates, talks about self-esteem like a wallet or sunglasses. It is an amusing take on the difficult experience of getting emotionally triggered. The cartoonist Donna A. Lewis is a former Department of Homeland Security attorney who gets readers to laugh about what she calls the downside of being awake and aware.

The latest research findings about neuroplasticity point to an opportunity these triggered moments present.

We have long known that the brain is flexible and adaptive for learning, and strengthens well-used synaptic connections of thought and memory, while weakening those in decreased use. An April 2014 report by Michelle Monje from Stanford University Medi-

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

cal School goes further to document the plasticity of myelin, which insulates the axons in the brain for efficient conductivity of neural impulses.

The NIHfunded research study showed the neural activity directly stimulated the myelin sheath to grow thicker, which speeds up the neural impulse conduction.

Remember the Cherokee legend about the grandfather who has two wolves inside him, fighting for domination of his spirit? He tells his grandson about the evil wolf’s impulsive anger, envy and greed, how powerless it is and weary it makes him feel. The good wolf is compassionate and kind, does no harm, and will only fight for a good cause and in the right way. The elder explains every person has this struggle going on inside. The boy asks him, which wolf will win? The grandfather answers, the one I feed.

Practicing mindfulness in times

of emotional reactivity gives you the chance to strengthen the neural pathways used by your good wolf. You can start by acknowledging the difficult emotion you feel and let it be there.

Then shift your focus of attention toward feeling where you are physically. Notice the sensations of pressure or warmth where your body meets the surface beneath you. Rest for a moment in that awareness. Then gently shift your attention to your breath and feeling the air flowing in and out of your nostrils or the movements of your chest or abdomen. Allow yourself to feel three or four breaths this way. If you can, place a hand on your heart and close your eyes. Then ask, how do I want to behave toward myself when I feel vulnerable and upset in this way? Wait to hear or sense the answer while continuing your awareness of breathing. Hold out for the good wolf’s ideas.

Coming into present moment awareness when stressed is, by its nature, a way of extending selfcompassion. Learning to self-soothe grows inner trust and resilience.

Renowned meditation and lovingkindness teacher Sharon Salzberg provides these phrases of lovingkindness to use, recommending an emphasis on oneself in times of inner crisis. “May I be safe. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease.” This ancient Buddhist meditation correlates with what we appreciate about the brain’s neuroplastic response to thoughts and feelings.

Working with emotional triggers and cultivating kindness to yourself is a living practice, not something to be gotten right. Yet you can be certain that strengthening the neural pathways of inner trust, safety, and contentment is worthwhile and entirely possible.

Grace Ogden teaches mindfulness for the GW Center for Integrative Medicine and by private appointment.

She is the founder of Grace Productions, which offers transformational consulting and Living Sacred events. For more information, visit GraceProductions.co. See ad, page 24.

inspiration

The Adventure of Couchsurfing

Stay with Locals and Make New Friends

by Lisa Rosinky

D

nections across cultures. aniel Sperry, a “couchsurfer” It’s easy to in his late 50s, decided a few years become a member by ago to quit his day job and creating a profile as a make a living by performing cello host and/or a traveler, music and reciting poetry in living which includes verified rooms across the country. “I didn’t know identification.

Guests it would become a catalyst for bringing don’t need to recipcommunities of local people together,” rocate by hosting he says, but his first gig, a “little shotgun or leaving gifts, shack” in Elko, Nevada, although lasting became more than friendships are a coma once in a lifetime mon result.

Hosts and experience. Years later, guests are encouraged to his Elko host remains a leave honest reviews close friend and hosts for each other, which a regular (and lucrative) helps ensure ongostop on his cross-country tours. ing safety and good

Not only does creating connecbehavior all around. tions with strangers make As a traveler, offer Meanwhile, us happier—as University of Chicago social scientists an ethnic meal, good non-members also are welcome to explore have proven—it leads to fun story or how to say couchsurfing events in travel stories. If we choose to see the world via the hello in a different their city. Fun opportunities to make new decade-old organization language.

As a host, connections include at Couchsurfing.com, we might find ourselves sleepbe open to what weekly language exchanges, skill swaps, ing on a sailboat in the Irish guests can teach. outdoor activities and Sea; meeting backpackers by solar-powered light in a Keep a travel log potlucks.

“For me, it’s cave in Petra, Jordan; sharing and guestbook to undeniably about the a room with a pet bird that community, the kind falls asleep listening to sappy record memories. of person it tends to love songs on the radio; or attract,” says Joseph jamming to old-time banjo and fiddle Abrahamson, a couchsurfer in his midtunes in a North Carolina kitchen.

20s. “A room full of couchsurfers is full

The global community of couchsurfof stories and listening and sharing and ers, now 10 million strong, considers trust. It changes a person in a positive strangers “friends you haven’t met yet.”

They currently are hosting and organizing way… people that travel like this for long enough can no longer survive more than half-a-million events in more with closed minds.” than 200,000 cities worldwide this year.

The aim is to make travel easier and more affordable, build people’s faith and trust in Lisa Rosinky is a freelance writer in Boston. one another and create meaningful connatural awakenings

September 2015

43

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The Hidden Deficiency Having the proper amount of iodine in our system at all times is critical to overall health, yet the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that iodine deficiency is increasing drastically in light of an increasingly anemic national diet of unpronounceable additives and secret, unlabeled ingredients. This deficit now affects nearly three-quarters of the population.

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

Radiation

Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation

Low-Sodium Diets

Overuse of zero-nutrient salt substitutes in foods leads to iodine depletion

Iodized Table Salt

Iodized salt may slowly lose its iodine content by exposure to air

Bromine

A toxic chemical found in baked goods overrides iodine's ability to aid thyroid

Iodine-Depleted Soil Poor farming techniques have led to declined levels of iodine in soil

A Growing Epidemic Symptoms range from extreme fatigue and weight gain to depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breasts and skin and hair problems. This lack of essential iodine can also cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke. Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers; and in children, intellectual disability, deafness, attention deficient and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impaired growth, according to studies

by Boston University and the French National Academy of Medicine.

What to Do The easy solution is taking the right kind of iodine in the right dosage to rebalance thyroid function and restore health to the whole body.

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 Mindful Self-Compassion Class Series and Daylong – 7-9:30 pm. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience allowing us to really see ourselves and acknowledge unmet needs. Come learn self-compassion in this 8-week series that includes a half-day retreat on Oct 10.

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Herb Walk – 5-7pm. Join us for a relaxing and informative tour of the herb garden. Learn to recognize herbs and how they are used for healing and wellness. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

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. Info: YogaDistrict.com/ Labor-Day-Retreat-in-the-Shenandoah-ValleySept-4-7.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Back to Basics – 2:30-4:30pm.With Jessamyn Stanley and Dana Falsetti. This workshop will focus on mindful alignment, building strength from the inside out and guidance for intermediate postures that you can translate to your own level and practice. $35 (plus tax). Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St. Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com.

IPATH® Postural Alignment – 2:30-4pm. With Denese Cavanaugh. Whether you are new to Mind /Body awareness techniques or a seasoned athlete, the Integral Postural Alignment Therapy method (IPATH®) will help create the ideal posture. $25

(plus tax). Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Itsy Bitsy Session – 1:45-2:45pm. In this 6-week session learn developmentally appropriate yoga for baby, a time to connect and support for mamas. $150/mom and baby or $225/twins. Childcare is available for this class by contacting Info@ LilOmm.com. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit.ly/1G5OMeJ. Info: LilOmm.com.

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

Through Sept 13. 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. Info: 301-986-1090 or Roxanne@ TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

A Salamander’s Tale: My Story of Regeneration - Surviving 30 Years with Prostate Cancer – 7-8:15pm. Hear Paul Steinberg, a sports psychologist, share his journey with prostate cancer at age 35 and metastatic disease at age 40.

Steinberg discusses how we, like the salamander, regenerate and redeem ourselves when our capacity for regeneration is limited. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Gluten Intolerance Group Meeting – 7pm.

This month we will demonstrate and discuss convenient and delicious gluten-free snacks for kids. $5 (donation requested). Neck, Back and Beyond, 10560 Main St, Ste 204, Fairfax VA. RSVP: NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com. Info: 703-865-5690.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Sutras, Science, and Psychology Series – 6:309:30pm. This workshop will help us understand how our practices help us as we re-shape these practices towards a recipe for more desirable

living. This will be a led discussion using the sutras of Patanjali, combined with scientific findings, our practices and life experiences. Donations welcome.

Yoga District, 1922 I St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict. com.

Singles Sangha – 7-10pm. A welcoming community of people who gather to experience a shared connection with others who are, by choice or by circumstance, single at this time in their lives. All varieties and ages of single people are encouraged to join. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Restorative Yoga – 7:45-8:45pm. Let go of the efforts of the week and surrender to deeply soothing poses, supported by props that open your hips and shoulders. $25. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit. ly/1MwKTbh. Info: LilOmm.com.

New Moon Practice – 9-10:45pm. With Marie Belle. This evening practice will offer a skillfully aligned flow aimed towards embodying and appreciating Earth energy. We will be guided through a sequence to ground us in order to help release an outdated belief, opinion or attachment. $22.69. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 200-Hour Teacher Training Fall Extended Session – 8am-7pm. Through Nov 1. With Kat K. Hands-on modules focus on various yoga traditions including Vinyasa Flow, Alignment, Power, Dharma, Astanga, Sivananda, Restorative, Prenatal, Seniors, Chair Yoga and TraumaSensitive Yoga. With an understanding of these diverse yoga traditions, this training guides you to personally find what the best path in yoga is for you. $2500. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com. Register: YogaDistrict.com/ The-Teacher-Training.

Cultivating an Intermediate Practice – 10am12pm. With Marie Belle. This practice will fluidly move through invigorating arm balances, inversions, backbends, hip openers and playful standing balancing postures to challenge your flexibility, strength, and composure. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

Register: YogaDistrict.com.

Mandalas for Managing Stress and Increasing Wellbeing – 10am-3pm. Learn how to manage

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

301-460-1417

natural awakenings

Rockville, MD

September 2015

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Anne Michele Maitrepierre, MSJ Autism Consultant/Holistic Health & Wellness Coaching

Affiliated with National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA) www.nihadc.com *Trilingual English - French - Spanish* Mob. 301-461-2135 amaitrepierremoss@comcast.net SKPE ID:AutismHolisticHelp1

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

stress and increase wellbeing through the use of mandalas, a Sanskrit word meaning containers of essence. Mandalas can be a means to focus and set attention. $45 (suggested donation) or CECs available for $55. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Seva Acupressure for Self-Care Workshop – 10am-1:30pm. Learn to apply a series of acupressure points in a particular sequence designed specifically to ease the human stress response and support overall well-being. $65.

The Spectrum Center for Natural Medicine, 8555 16th St, Ste 402, Silver Spring, MD. Register: ShiraOzSinai.com/classes. Info: 240-839-1661 or Shira@AwakenMyHeartNow.com.

Volunteer Day at Dumbarton Oaks Park – 10am-2pm. The Nature Conservancy, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy host a volunteer day at the Georgetown Park. Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy, 3058 R St, NW. Register: KArion@ tnc.org.

Arm Balances and Inversions – 1:30-3:30pm.

With Marie Belle. This is a strength building class that will provide you with techniques and homework to create the steady grace and flow of the more powerful inversions in intermediate to advanced practices. $22.69. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com. Register: YogaDistrict.com.

Saraswati Flow: Focus on Hip Opening, Fluid Low Lunge, and Backbends – 2-4pm. Also Sept 19 and 26. Join Jeanette and Angie for the 1st of a 3-part series exploring the goddesses of yoga.

In this sadhana, we will experience the creative, spontaneous movement of the body and flow toward hip opening, fluid low lunge, and backbend. $22.69/session or $55/all 3 sessions. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

Register: YogaDistrict.com.

Meditation 101: Developing a Personal Practice – 3:45-5:45pm. With Marci. Join us for a workshop to explore what meditation is, the purpose of meditation and foundations for developing a personal practice. Included will be instruction, group discussion and an exploration of different meditation practices. $22.69. Yoga District, Bloomingdale Studio, 1830 1st St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

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

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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.

Monthly Community Satsang – 8-9:30pm.

Satsang (sat = truth, sanga = the company of the highest truth) is a community gathering based on an ancient tradition of coming together for kirtan (devotional singing), a philosophical discussion on yogic texts, practices and principles, meditation and a closing ceremony to wish all beings happiness and freedom. Prasad (blessed food) is often shared afterwards. Free. Yoga District, Bloomingdale Studio, 1830 1st St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Conversations on Healing – 12-1pm. Learn how 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: 202483-8600. Info: SmithCenter.org/Calendar.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Graduate Programs Open House – 7-9pm. Distinct from other schools, MUIH delivers academic excellence with a focus on the interconnection of mind, body and spirit. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Eclipse Practice – 10:30am-12:30pm. With Marie Belle. This meditative flow will lead us through clear energetic and physical alignment to intentionally invite our full potential to shine through. We will play with the full spectrum of yoga poses, including creative variations of standing poses, inversions, hand balances, backbends, twists and forward folds. $22.69. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict. com. Register: YogaDistrict.com.

Practicing Ahimsa: Nonviolence in Our Words and Hearts – 7:45-9:30pm. Thursdays through Nov 12. Join this highly experiential 8-week series or get a taste at the intro to uncover the gems behind hurtful words, behaviors, habits and reclaim the relating you have been looking for. $35/intro alone or $300/full series. The Studio DC and the Peace Circle Center, 1710 Connecticut Ave, NW. Register: ThesStudioDC.com. Info: Connect@ PeaceCircleCenter.org.

Address Stress: Back 2 School Massage – 1-2:45pm. Going back to school is a time of new challenges and new stresses for kids and parents alike. Gentle massage can help support the transition to a new school year and create the time needed to relax and wordlessly connect to your child at the end of the day. $40. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit.ly/1OP5dST. Info: LilOmm.com.

Children’s Sangha – 4:15-5:30 pm. For 5 to 12-year-olds, accompanied by parents. The class provides young children with a Buddhist framework to explore their inner life, understand the causes of emotional stress and develop peace, wisdom and kindness. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.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.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Restore and Rejuvenate through Extended Restorative Yoga Practice for Fall – 1:303:30pm. Welcome the fall season with a grounding and centering practice of restorative yoga with gentle stretches, restorative postures that are held for 10-15 minutes and fully supported by props, along with breathing exercises, hands-on healing (adjustment and optional reiki), self-massage and guided meditation techniques. $22.69. Yoga District, Bloomingdale Studio, 1830 1st St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

Lakshmi Flow: Focus on Dance-like Side Waist Opening and Back – 2-4pm. Also Sept 26. Join Jeanette and Angie for the 2nd of a 3-part series exploring the goddesses of yoga. Lakshmi is the divine archetype and energy of nourishment and abundance. In this sadhana, we will realize the blessing of riches through dance-like side waist opening and back-bending flow. $22.69/ session or $55/all 3 sessions. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com. Register: YogaDistrict.com.

Yoga for Runners Workshop – 3:45-5:45pm.

A slow-paced vinyasa flow practice designed specifically for runners. If you are training for a fall race, find out how you can modify your yoga practice to complement your training cycle. $22.69. Yoga District, Bloomingdale Studio, 1830 1st St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

movie that is a call-to-action with an uplifting message. Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring, 10309 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring.

Registration required: SisterEden.com.

5690 or NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com. Info: NeckBackAndBeyond.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Weekend Meditation Retreat – 6:30-9:30pm.

Through Sept 20. Experiential in nature, the Advanced Meditation Seminar takes the student deep into the realms of personal awareness and integration with the universal field of awareness ultimate consciousness. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301986-1090 or Info@TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

Jivamukti Happy House Satsang – 7:30-8:45pm.

With Cory Bryant. Satsang (Sat means truth; Sanga means association) is a virtuous gathering of likeminded individuals who inspire, encourage, and reflect your true nature. The focus of the month for September is Life After Life; Reincarnation and Yoga. Free. Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com.

iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation – 6:45-7:45pm.

With Shira Oz-Sinai. Join Shira for a meditation practice derived from the very heart of yoga. No physical exercise involved, just an effortless, restorative and powerful awareness practice. $25.

The Spectrum Center for Natural Medicine, 8555 16th St, Ste 402, Silver Spring, MD. Register: ShiraOzSinai.com/classes. Info: 240-839-1661 or Shira@AwakenMyHeartNow.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Better Back and Core Workshop – 9-10am.

Strengthen and stabilize your lumbar and core.

Don’t underestimate the need to mentally connect with muscles you may not know you have. $25/ person. Barre Tone Studio, 370 West Maple Ave, Unit1, Vienna, VA. Register: Barre-Tone.com.

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.

The National Mall, (Between 4th St and 7th St), NW. Info: MoralActionOnClimate.org.

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.

200-Hour Teacher Training Fall Intensive Session – 7am-9pm. Through Oct 5. With Kat K. Hands-on modules focus on various yoga traditions including Vinyasa Flow, Alignment, Power, Dharma, Astanga, Sivananda, Restorative, Prenatal, Seniors, Chair Yoga, and TraumaSensitive Yoga. With an understanding of these diverse yoga traditions, this training guides you to personally find what the best path in yoga is for you. $2500. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com. Register: YogaDistrict.com/ The/Teacher-Training.

Restorative Yoga Workshop – 12:30-2pm. This workshop will calm your mind, relax your body and lift your spirit in a soothing and therapeutic way.

The poses will use several yoga props to help you take away the stress, anxiety and emotional tension that accumulate in your daily life. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or Info@TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

Curvy Yoga Lab: Building Strength – 2:303:30pm. Explore different ways to strengthen the arms, legs and core that work for your curvy body. $25. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit.ly/1H8Bksa. Info: LilOmm.com.

DC Young Adult Cancer Meet Up and Support Group – 5-6:30pm. With Jennifer Bires, LICSW and Cheryl Hughes, LICSW. Meet other young adult cancer survivors and enjoy a light dinner and facilitated discussion. This monthly gathering is a collaborative initiative of local hospitals, health organizations, and cancer support groups. Free.

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

Storytime Family Yoga and PJ Party – 6-7pm.

A fun, interactive yoga class that will add a little magic to your story time routine. All ages welcome. $25/family. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit.ly/1fjBbLc. Info: LilOmm.com.

Yin Yoga: Energize, Balance and Restore – 6:30-8:30pm. Enter into a deep meditative space in this two hour practice inclusive of yin postures, pranayama, meditation and restorative poses. All levels are welcome. $35. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit. ly/1S2mwTY. Info: LilOmm.com.

Movie Screening: Revolution – 7-9pm. In honor of Pope Francis’ address to Congress, Sister Eden Media is hosting a screening of this award-winning

Webinar: Herbal Enthusiast to Herbal Expert – 12-1pm. Learn about emerging jobs in herbal medicine and more. Free. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

Eating for a Lifetime: Cooking for People with Cancer – 5:30-8:30pm. Explore the role of nutrition in cancer care in this fun and informative cooking class. Learn the basic principles of healthy and delicious food selection and preparation. $30 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Movie Night – 7-9pm. We will be screening the documentary Food Chains. An informative documentary film that explores the fairness of treatment shown towards the workers who harvest our food. $5. Neck, Back and Beyond, 10560 Main St, PH- 1, Fairfax, VA. Register: 703-965-

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Restorative Yoga – 7:45-8:45pm. See Sept 11 for details. $25. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit.ly/1MwKTbh. Info: LilOmm.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 One-Day Cancer Retreat – 9am-4pm. Lead by Carole O’Toole. This retreat is aimed to strengthen your innate capacity for healing through group support, yoga, stress reduction, creativity and a talk on nutrition. Limited to 9 participants. Application required. $40. Register: Contact Kiersten@ SmithCenter.org for an application. Info: 202-4838600 or SmithCenter.org.

Seasonal Qigong Workshop – 12-4pm. Join us for a workshop on the seasonal energy of late summer/fall with Mike Basdavanos. This will be an Earth element-oriented workshop. Themes will include nourishing blood and clearing the mental faculties. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or Info@TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

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-Herb-Gathering.html. Info: Info@ CentroAshe.org.

Rocket to the Beats: Intermediate Rocket Flow Yoga with Live Music – 1:30-3:30pm. Practice the empowering practice of intermediate Rocket Flow Yoga with Claudia to the instrumental live music beats of badass violinist, Julie Stoessel.

Take your practice to a whole new level with this combination of yoga and music for the body, mind, and soul. $11.35. Yoga District, Bloomingdale Studio, 1830 1st St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

Dharma Yoga’s Great Practice: Maha Sadhana Workshop – 2-4pm. With Marci. The practice reflects Sri Dharma Mittra’s balanced and uplifting approach to yoga which includes purification techniques for the body, the mind, and the nervous system. $22.69. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com. Register: YogaDistrict.com.

Durga Flow: Focus on Strengthening Warrior and Back-Bending – 2-4pm. Join Jeanette and Angie for the final workshop of a 3-part series exploring the goddesses of yoga. Durga is the divine archetype and energy of the strong warrior who lays down the truth with compassion. In

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this sadhana, we will clear the obstacles with a strengthening warrior practice and back-bending flow. $22.69/session or $55/all 3 sessions. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict. com. Register: YogaDistrict.com.

Basic Anatomy for Yoga Teachers – 4-8pm.

With Rexx Samuell. Rexx brings life to the study of the human body as it is affected in the practice of yoga postures, through an orderly and lively presentation of the systems of the body and how they integrate into a yoga practice. $30 (plus tax).

Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com.

Planning a Mindful Return – 5:30-7:30pm.

Learn practical and effective strategies for planning your return to work after maternity leave so you can ease your concerns and fears about the transition, focus on your baby, and make calm, thoughtful choices. $25. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit. ly/1CbVn6z. Info: LilOmm.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Yoga Nidra Meditation (Y200 1.5hrs) – 12:302pm. Join Margarita Reyes for Yoga Nidra which helps us to relax and to live centered lives, free of conflict, anxiety, fear and suffering.

The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or Info@ TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

Partner Yoga and Thai Massage – 1-2:45pm.

Learn the basics of giving and receiving Thai massage, specific techniques to improve your communication, deepen your connection and inspire creativity within your relationship.

Childcare is available for this class- email Info@ LilOmm.com. $50/pair. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Tenleytown, NW. Register: Bit. ly/1gKA3l5. Info: LilOmm.com.

Central Axis: Exploring the Spine and the Breath with Anatomy – 2-6pm. With Rexx Samuell. Join Rexx for this in-depth look at the true core of the body, the spine and the diaphragm. You will leave this class with a better understanding of the spine and its mechanics, different theories on back pain and an overview of the diaphragm and its role in breathing. $30 (plus tax). Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com Yoga District Gives Back: All-Levels Flow Yoga to Benefit Playing To Live – 2-4pm. An all levels class to benefit Playing to Live, an international nonprofit that brings art, play, and yoga therapy to children affected by trauma. As an all-levels class, it is appropriate for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. $22.69. Yoga District, Bloomingdale Studio, 1830 1st St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

The Fourth Limb: Introduction to Pranayama – 6-7:30pm. With Rexx Samuell. More accurately translated as energy expansion, pranayama is the practice of becoming aware of, manipulating and then observing the movement of subtle energies in the body through the instrument of breathing. $30 (plus tax). Buddha B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, Ste 202, NW. Info: BuddhaBYoga.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Natural Ways to Deal with Hypothyroidism – A Free Webinar. 6:45-7:30pm. A low thyroid condition is frequently undiagnosed and

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often not well understood. Learn more about hypothyroidism and natural ways to deal with this condition at this free webinar with Dr. Sushma Hirani, of the Rose Wellness Center, sponsored by Natural Awakenings DC. Free.

Register: NaturalAwakeningsDC.com.

plan ahead FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 Sutras, Science and Psychology Series – 6:309:30pm. This workshop will help us understand how our practices help us as we re-shape these practices towards a recipe for more desirable living. This will be a led discussion using the sutras of Patanjali, combined with scientific findings, our practices, and life experiences. Donations welcome. Yoga District, 1922 I St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 Live in Balance: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Living – 2-4pm. Sundays through Oct 25 This holistic self-care program is designed to provide you with the understanding, guidelines and tools to achieve a life of balance based on the wisdom and beauty the ancient sciences of Ayurveda and Yoga. $35/session or $100/series. Blue Nectar Yoga, 513 W Broad St, Ste 110c, Falls Church, VA. Register: 703-667-0465. Info: BlueNectarYoga.com.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8

REGISTER NOW Drishti Fest

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, OCTOBER 10 Organic Valley Farm Discovery Farm Tour – 10am-3pm. Visit an Organic Valley Farm. Learn about pasture, milking and herd health on an organic farm. Sample OV products. Fun for all ages. Holterholm Farms, LLC, 5903 Holter Rd, Jefferson, MD. Register: OrganicValley.coop/ Who-is-Your-Farmer/Farm-Discovery/Northeast.

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 15 Breast

Thermography

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Clinic

(Imaging

Sessions) – 7pm. Breast Awareness and Women’s Health Talk. Fri Oct 16 through Mon Oct 19, Breast Thermography Imaging. Currently scheduling breast thermography imaging sessions. Neck, Back and Beyond, 10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA. Info: 703-865-5690 or NeckBackandBeyond@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 Sutras, Science and Psychology Series – 6:30-9:30pm. See Oct 2 for details. Donations welcome. Yoga District, 1922 I St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24

REGISTER NOW

Emotional Eating Retreat Through meditation, yoga, and other wellness techniques, our All-Inclusive Emotional Eating Retreat helps unlock the tools to overcome the vicious cycle of emotional overeating.

Oct. 24 through Oct 31.

$2,950. White Crow Yoga, Yogaville, VA. Register: KalyaniPena@gmail.com.

Info: WCYRetreat.wix.com/Emotional-Eating.

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 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.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 Sutras, Science and Psychology Series – 6:30-9:30pm. See Oct 2 for details. Donations welcome. Yoga District, 1922 I St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

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.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Sutras, Science and Psychology Series – 6:309:30pm. This workshop will help us understand how our practices help us as we re-shape these practices towards a recipe for more desirable living. This will be a led discussion using the sutras of Patanjali, combined with scientific findings, our practices and life experiences.

Donations welcome. Yoga District, 1922 I St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict.com.

ongoingevents

800 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-355-2030 or CaseyHealth.org.

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.

sunday 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.

Grow Sprouts and Micro Greens in Your Home Year Round – 2:30-5:30pm. 4th Sun. Indoor growing: wheatgrass, sunflower, broccoli and more. $50 (includes handouts and kit). Raw Living D’Light, Fairfax, VA. Register: Luzy@ RawLivingDLight.com.

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: LivingMindfully.org.

Casey Health Community Night – 5-6:45pm.

Come for an evening of yoga, mindfulness meditation, Reiki and chakra clearing. $5 for all Monday evening classes. Casey Health Institute, 800 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Info: 301-355-2030 or CaseyHealth.org. .

tuesday

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.

Continuing Yoga – 12-1:15pm. In this Iyengar yoga class basic poses will be refined with emphasis on all standing poses. $18/class. Casey Health Institute, 800 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-355-2030 or CaseyHealth.org.

Women’s Health and Empowerment Group – 2pm. As women, we serve a role as caretakers, often putting our own needs last. This class is about taking the time to care for ourselves and explore evidence-based, mind-body therapies to improve well-being. In community, we build a support network on trust and compassion. This class is appropriate for women with health concerns.

Donations accepted. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301986-1090 or Info@TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

The Physicians’ Kitchen – 5:30-7:30pm. Food-

as-medicine doctor Nicole Farmer and nutritionist Xonna Clark are passionate about healthy eating and its powerful effects on the body. This 5-week series is taught in the classroom and in the kitchen for cooking demos and tastings. $15/ class. Casey Health Institute, 800 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-355-2030 or CaseyHealth.org.

Awareness through Movement – 6-7pm. These Feldenkrais Method® classes guide you through simple floor exercises which profoundly affect posture, breathing, and movement and help you discover new options for moving and acting with more comfort, precision, and power. Intro class free. $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. iRest Yoga Nidra Meditation – 1-2pm. 1st, 3rd and 5th Wed. With Shira Oz-Sinai. Join Shira for an afternoon of relaxation and restoration with a meditation practice that is effortless, easy and profound. No experience necessary. All props provided. $25. The Spectrum Center for Natural Medicine, 8555 16th St, Ste 402, Silver Spring, MD. Register: ShiraOzSinai.com. Info: 240-8391661 or Shira@AwakenMyHeartNow.com. 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,

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: 202483-8600 or SmithCenter.org. .

thursday

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.

Outside the Lines – 10:30am-12:30pm. 1st and 3rd Wed. Learn how to use art making as a tool for healing through guided creative projects. Bimonthly. $10 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Continuing Yoga – 12-1:15pm. See Tues for details. $18/class. Casey Health Institute, 800 S Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301355-2030 or CaseyHealth.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 wellbeing, 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. 4th 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. The TM technique is easy to learn, enjoyable to practice and cultural neutral. It takes 20 minutes twice daily, reducing stress and cultivating transcendence.

Transcendental Meditation Center of Bethesda, 11300 Rockville Pike, Ste 408, Rockville, MD. Register: 301 770-5690 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 22.

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 11.

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 38.

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 46.

BARRE BARRE TONE

DEBRITT EALEY

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 6.

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

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. See ad, page 31.

PEACEFUL EARTH, GRACEFUL BIRTH

202-297-2722 PeacefulEarthGracefulBirth@gmail.com PeacefulEarthGracefulBirth.com Birth and postpartum labor support services. Personal and group childbirth education classes as well as vaginal steaming in our office or your home.

ANNE MAITREPIERRE

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

ALLERGY MANAGEMENT

BIRTH SUPPORT

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 6..

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 33.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

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

Wolf Trap in Vienna.

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

CHIROPRACTOR ASHDALE CHIROPRACTIC AND PHYSICAL THERAPY

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

See ad, page 31.

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 22.

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 24.

COUNSELING 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.

DOULA

GARENING, ORGANIC

THE DC DOULA

LOVE & CARROTS

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 20.

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

202-630-HOOK (4665) TheDCDoula@gmail.com • TheDCDoula.com

EDUCATION

Individual & Couples Therapy GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • Gwcim.com With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Natalie Korytnyk is a psychologist with an expertise in relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, work stress, eating disorders and selfesteem. 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.

HEALTH COACH BETH LINDLEY CONSULTANCY

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 41.

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

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.

LOTUS HEALTH AND HEALING

301-760-6924 • LotusHealthAndHealing.org EmpoweredHealth@LotusHealthAndHealing.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 NATALIE X. KORYTNYK, PHD

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

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 6. .

HEALING GATEWAY 877-534-5534 HealingGateway.com

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 38.

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.

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. See ad, page 34.

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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 42.

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

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 13.

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 20.

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.

HOME ENVIRONMENT MIKHAIL SOGONOV, PH.D.

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

MOTHER’S NATURE STORE 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 38.

HOLISTIC HEALING

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE SULTANA AFROOZ, DO

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

YOUR LIFE ENERGY HOLISTIC CENTER 311 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 571-319-0093 • YourLifeEnergy.com Maricela@YourLifeEnergy.com

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.

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Dr. Sultana Afrooz specializes in diagnosing and treating patients who have been chronically ill from effects of tick borne infection, mold toxicity, and environmental toxicity. See ad, page 6.

CASEY HEALTH INSTITUTE

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

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.

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.

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 6.

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.

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 6. .

MASSAGE

MIND-BODY THERAPY

AT EASE: TRAGER AND MASSAGE

THE MINDFULNESS CENTER

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.

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 39.

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

YOUR LIFE ENERGY HOLISTIC CENTER

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

301-986-1090 TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com TheMindfulnessCenter.org

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS

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

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

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.

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.

NOVA NATURAL BIRTH CENTER

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 11.

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.

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.

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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 22.

ORGANIC FOOD DELIVERY 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 35.

THERAPEUTIC YOGA

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.

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

SUMONA YOGA COMPANY

LINDA LANG

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

Falls Church, VA 310-809-0418 YoginiDanceSumona@gmail.com YoginiDanceSumona.wix.com/sumonayoga Sumona Apsara Parii is a dedicated yoga teacher and Indian classical dancer. At present, Sumona is offering private instruction of yoga for women. See ad, page 40.

YOGA WITH NYA

THERMOGRAPHY NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

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 25.

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.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 22.

REIKI LUANN JACOBS, SLP/RMT

YOGA

VETERINARIAN - HOLISTIC

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.

HOLISTIC VETERINARY HEALING

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 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 22.

YOGA THERAPY EMOTIONAL EATING RETREATS

KalyaniPena@gmail.com WCYRetreat.wix.com/Emotional-Eating

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 25.

Longtime teacher Mary Irby leads week-long, all-Inclusive retreats that encourage transformation for people who are struggling with emotional overeating and eating disorders. See ad, page 33.

THE WOMB SAUNA

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

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

Degrees with Meaning for Careers with Purpose Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Programs Enrolling for January and September 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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