Natural Awakenings Washington, D.C. March 2017

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EAT FOR WELLNESS How to Move Past Food Sensitivities

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March 2017 | Washington, D.C. Edition | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com natural awakenings

March 2017

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Medical

Scientific

Empowering

Profound Qigong Training

Comes to Baltimore

$149 for 3-Days of AMAZING Qigong Healing “Massive Group Energy” Assembles for High-Energy Yoga & Qigong Techniques QIGONG HEALING & BREATH APPLICATIONS (Level-1) Friday * Breath Empowerment: Generates Qi so powerfully a “Humming Engine” is experienced. * Level-1 Qigong Form: Your energy field becomes so palpable - it feels like solid matter. * Foot Reflexology: Qigong-style pulsing massage stops pain & improves organ function.

ADVANCED FOOD & BREATH APPLICATIONS (Level-2) Saturday * Food-Healing Science: Learn about Free Radicals and REVERSING disease with key foods. * Tumo Breathing: Build Warmth & Qi-Power. Pulsation of Blood/Qi flows down arms & legs. * 9-Breath Method: The Ultimate breathing practice. Blissful waterfall of Qi vaporizes stress.

QIGONG MASTER APPLICATIONS (Level-3) Sunday * Qi Strength Training: Build muscle and raise metabolism with specialized Qi movements. * Tui Na Massage: Give Healing w/Rolling and Acupoint secrets of Chinese Qigong massage. * Wuji Style Qigong: After learning Qigong forms we practice a free style dance of Qi. “Learned more about FOOD HEALING at Qi Revolution than my entire time in Med School!

My open-minded patients now are told about specific foods for helping their conditions.”

- Claudia Gabrielle, M.D, Practicing Physician

Baltimore Convention Center

April 7th-9th, 2017

April 7th is (Level-1) April 8th is (Level-2) April 9th is (Level-3) All three levels $149!

Seating is Limited. CEU’s Available. (800)-298-8970 www.QiRevolution.com natural awakenings

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There is a place just hours away where you can find peace and thrive. Where you’ll be surrounded by abundant natural beauty, clean air and space; not condos, crowds or endless traffic. Located in the USA on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, just 3 hours from I-95 and the PA state line and 5 hours from New York.

High Knoll at Country Club is centrally located on a narrow peninsula with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Chesapeake Bay on the other. It can easily access the many free boat ramps for launching on the ocean side or the bay side making it possible to fish either side within minutes of home!

The Gulf Stream runs just offshore giving the area a nearly perfect climate with short, mild winters (snow is rare.) Ranked 2nd for the most sunny days on the East Coast.

The land is high ground and well protected from storms and flooding. This property has rich, fertile farming soils and an aquifer with abundant pure water. Nearby are wineries, a food co-op, organic farms and great seafood! An 18 hole golf course and yacht basin is just across the water.

Low property taxes. Protective local zoning will help preserve the area’s rural character. Fourteen barrier islands make up the Virginia Coastal Reserve, a virtual paradise of uninhabited beaches and coves just waiting to be explored. The sea side bays between the shoreline and the islands offer an abundance of oysters, clams and fish of every kind!

Please come take a look. You might be pleasantly surprised that pristine coastal places like this still exist just hours away.

High Knoll at Country Club 4500 sq. ft. waterfront home on 3.619 acres $1,500,000 or 4500 sq. ft. waterfront home on 106 acres with 3,343 feet of waterfront, divided into 24 lots - $2,999,900. natural awakenings

March 2017

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letterfrompublisher Dear Friends, contact us Publisher, Editor-in-Chief Robin Fillmore Contributing Editors Jessica Bradshaw Randy Kambic Grace Ogden Editorial Intern Rachel Feidelman Design & Production Irene Sankey Sales Director Laina Poulakos Outreach Director Samantha Hudgins Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-505-4835 4938 Hampden Lane, #214 Bethesda, MD 20814 Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com NaturalAwakeningsDC.com ©2017 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.

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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.

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Washington, D.C.

In December, I posted one of the most personal letters to you all in nearly four years of publishing. I was blessed by the response that I received to my offering of the Prayer of St. Francis, with his call to “make me an instrument of your peace.” While I hope to keep parts of my life, and certainly this magazine, out of the political realm, the implications of where we may be headed over the next four years has real implications for our health—individually and for our communities.

Every day there seems to be new, and even more egregious, headlines that confront us. Just to mention a few, the Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt as the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Noted in The Washington Post, he served as Oklahoma’s attorney general and while there, “Pruitt has sued the EPA more than a dozen times during the Obama administration, challenging the agency’s authority to regulate toxic mercury pollution, smog, carbon emissions from power plants and the quality of wetlands and other waters.” For those of our community who felt that the EPA, and our government, wasn’t already taking seriously enough the scientifically established threat of climate change, this appears to be a backward step.

Additionally, the Office of Surface Mining’s Stream Protection Rule, a regulation to protect waterways from coal mining waste, finalized in December, was quashed. According to the Department of the Interior’s website, this rule was set in place to “better protect streams, fish, wildlife and related environmental values from the adverse impacts of surface coal mining operations and provides mine operators with a regulatory framework to avoid water pollution and the long-term costs associated with water treatment.”

I recognize, as a self-proclaimed political nerd, that almost every argument, rule and ideal is multifaceted. The protection of streams from coal waste favors the rights of those who live by and enjoy the stream, including those who may draw drinking water from it. The new ruling favors the business interests of a struggling coal industry.

The pendulum is now moving in a direction that favors business interests over the environment. Stepping back a bit further to watch these early days of 2017 unfold, I would argue that our sense of balance has been profoundly shaken. We have been jolted by a new reality, along with a newly energized opposition to the abrupt changes. Many in the environmental movement are simultaneously hopeful, with rallies, marches, online petitions and house parties, and despondent, without an effective voice to challenge the onslaught of protections that seem to have eroded so quickly.

My dear friends, my purpose in this letter is to encourage you to take that step back with me. See the greater picture of your personal equilibrium and how your voice can be added to the growing chorus of defenders of our Mother Earth in a way that honors your own personal health. Recognize that the pendulum is swinging and find ways that you can achieve balance.

Part of your self-care, I humbly suggest, is to spend time with loved ones (with CNN turned off), while eating good foods (and check out our articles this month on food sensitivities and some of the great practitioners in our community that can help you determine what you should be eating). If you still feel uneasy, read the article by Dr. Patricia Frye on legal forms of cannabis to help overcome anxiety. Finally, to feel that you are not alone, join one of the many marches being held in the city to show our leaders and the rest of the world, that standing up for our dear Mother Earth is our calling. The People’s March for Climate Change will be in Washington, D.C. this year, on April 29. Maybe I will see you there!

Most of all, find ways to find your own center of gravity. You are not alone in this big, sometimes scary, world. We are with you.

Peace,

Robin Fillmore, Publisher

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

contents 8 newsbriefs 11 1 1 ecotip 1 2 healthbriefs 1 6 globalbriefs 24 community

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 FEARLESS EATING

How to Move Past

spotlight Food Sensitivities

by Kathleen Barnes 12 26 eyehealth spotlight 21 SOLVING THE 30 naturalhealing MYSTERY OF 32 regionalspotlight FOOD ALLERGIES Spotlight on 36 healthybody Dr. Autumn Frandsen

by Robin Fillmore 37 yogaspotlight 16 38 firstperson 22 FIT FOR LIFE How to Stay Healthy, 39 eventspotlight Flexible and Strong

by Aimee Hughes 4 1 calendar 45 resourceguide 27 HOLISTIC EYE CARE advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 202-505-4835 or email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com.

Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

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

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

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

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

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18 22

Taking the Whole Body into Account

by Linda Sechrist

28 TIS THE SEASON

FOR THE TAX MAN Investment Tax Basics

by Jeremy A. Pearce and Barry Wind

31 CANNABIS

FOR ANXIETY

An Effective Treatment

by Patricia Frye, MD

34 THUMBS-UP ON FATS

Good Fat Doesn’t Make Us Fat

27 40

by Judith Fertig

40 KEEP YOUR

PETS HEALTHY

With Proper Nutrition

by Pema Choepel Mallu

natural awakenings

March 2017

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newsbriefs Gathering of Alternative Practitioners at The DC Dentist

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t The DC Dentist, one of the main philosophies is to help patients keep their teeth for the rest of their lives. This is a relatively easy process by making sure that bacteria is controlled by brushing and flossing, as well as seeing a holistic dentist on a regular basis. Another way to maintain full health is to understand the connection between what happens in the body and how that impacts the mouth. With that guiding philosophy, it is important that physicians and dentists come together when treating the same patients. To help facilitate the collaboration, The DC Dentist is hosting an Alternative Practitioners Meet and Greet at 6:30 p.m. on March 30, at their office in SE D.C., near the Navy Yards.

According to Dr. Terry Victor, “This can have a very positive impact on a patient’s health. When the whole body is strong, it is less likely that there will be dental issues.

Also, when dental issues are addressed, it is much more likely to contribute to good overall health.”

At the gathering, Victor and his team are encouraging their fellow practitioners to join together to exchange information, as well as have an opportunity to meet and learn what services are provided by one another. All are invited to be a part of this exciting event for like-minded individuals.

Location: 509 11th St., SE, Washington, D.C. To register, call 202-544-3626. For more information about The DC Dentist, visit TheDCDentist. com. See ad, page 29.

Two-Day Workshop to Reverse Chronic Illnesses

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yle Davies, author of The Intelligent Body: Reversing Chronic Fatigue and Pain from the Inside Out, will be in the area April 1 and 2, offering an experiential workshop to present his successful, proven Energy-Flow Coaching model of illness and recovery. This program has helped hundreds of sufferers of chronic illnesses achieve optimal health and wellness. The workshop will take place in Arlington and will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days.

Davies has spent his professional career as a psychologist Kyle Davies and therapist, helping those who suffer, and fail to find true healing, from conditions such as chronic fatigue, pain, fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome or the variety of chronic illnesses on this spectrum. A native of Wales, he speaks throughout Europe and the United States, offering tools to rediscover the crucial mind-body connection, enabling his workshop participants to enjoy a new path to restored health.

“I have spent the last 15 years working with literally hundreds and hundreds of sufferers… helping them understand the causes of their symptoms and crucially how to tap into their natural self-healing abilities. On this journey, I have worked with doctors, nurses, therapists and academics to find solutions to the challenges, obstacles and blocks people face on the road to recovery,” notes Davies. It is through this work that he understands the crucial link to getting unstuck, maximizing potential and transforming the lives of his patients.

Cost: $249 (through March 15)/$299. Location: Residence Inn Arlington Courthouse, 1401 North Adams St., Arlington. For more information or to register, visit KyleDavies. net/IntelligentBodyWorkshop/. See ad, page 33.

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The Foundational Event for Trinity School of Natural Health

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rinity School of Natural Health is a nonprofit, educational institution that offers a complete natural health education, to provide people with hope, solutions and support to transform their lives and improve the world.

Their Foundational Event provides students with the knowledge of core natural health competencies needed, not only to improve their health, but also, the health of those around them.

The Curriculum for the Certified Natural Health Professional and Certified Health Specialist programs are taught throughout the course of the week. The next local event will be offered April 27 through May 3, in Virginia Beach.

Trinity’s live events are informative, hands-on learning experiences that provide students with the opportunity for inperson learning through their instructors and their community of fellow students.

These live events serve as vocational intensives, and offer the flexibility of earning certain Trinity designations or simply broadening the participant’s understanding of natural health and its considerable positive impact.

In addition to the educational components, the events provide the unique opportunity to get connected within the natural health community. Whether you want to pursue a career in natural health, or you want the resources to obtain a healthier lifestyle, education from Trinity can help empower you, your family or your workplace to achieve a happy, healthy life.

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton-Norfolk Airport, 1500 N. Military Hwy., Virginia Beach. To register or learn more, call 1-800-428-0408 or visit TrinitySchool.org.

See ad, page 24.

People’s Climate March in Washington, D.C.

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n the wake the international Women’s Marches, activists are planning a major People’s Climate March on April 29, in Washington, D.C. and across the country.

The effort is being organized by the coalition formed out of 2014’s People’s Climate March, which brought more than 400,000 people to the streets of New York City and many more around the world.

The April 29 march comes in response to widespread outrage against the anticlimate agenda including executive orders advancing the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines as well as attacks on health care, immigrants and programs that improve the lives of all Americans. The event will cap off 100 days of action to reverse climate action.

The People’s Climate Movement grew out of the largest climate march in U.S. history. Held in New York in September 2014, the movement has created a groundbreaking coalition of green and environmental justice groups, labor unions, faith, students, indigenous peoples and civil rights groups, working to advance a climate agenda rooted in economic and racial justice. Groups such as Moms Clean Air Force, have joined the effort. Their senior director, Dominique Browning, notes: “We represent a million moms— and dads—from across the country. Republican and Democrat, we want to see action to cut the carbon and methane emissions that are changing our climate to so dangerously, and so rapidly… We are ready to march, to show elected officials that we expect them to respect science, respect medicine and do the right thing.”

New Book on Sickle Cell Natural Healing

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ooking for an opportunity to refresh your passion and your soul in the months ahead? You are invited to Nurture Your Passion, Nourish Your Soul, a women’s retreat to be held April 13 to 16 at the Blue Mountain Retreat Center, in Knoxville, Maryland.

This gathering is for women who are serving, caretaking or contributing to the world, as well as holding frustration, anger or sadness in their hearts.

This retreat is designed to give participants the space and support to help them to recenter, ground and remember what’s important, so each woman can better serve herself alongside her community and the people in her life that need her. It will give attendees the skills, practices and tools to heal, reflect and prepare to be truly effective. In sharing this sacred space together, there will be the opportunity to nurture the collective passion and nourish tender souls.

When pondering if you should attend, consider whether you feel stuck in the doing, achieving or climbing, yet want to find more practical self-care strategies that really work in everyday life. Or perhaps, you feel shut out, shut up or shut down by the masculine and know you must stop fighting in ways that lead you to exhaustion or burnout. Finally, you may feel confused or fearful about what to do next and want to reconnect with your true purpose. While there are different questions to ask while on retreat, there will be ample opportunity and support as you prepare yourself to maximize your effectiveness and ability to live in vulnerability and fight with passion amid the chaos around you.

amika Moseley, speaker and sickle cell advocate, has released a ground-breaking book, Sickle Cell Natural Healing.

Tamika Moseley and son Sickle cell is an inherited blood disease, caused when an individual does not produce enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Because of this, the blood becomes stuck in the vessels and leads to chronic pain, organ damage or failure, stroke or even death.

Sickle cell affects millions of people around the world globally and millions of lives are being lost because of this debilitating disease. For Moseley, the fight was personal as her son was diagnosed with sickle cell at a very early age. He suffered multiple crises in the first year of his life, was hospitalized every few months and required multiple blood transfusions. Moseley recounts, “I quickly realized that I had to do something different to help my son or the hospital would become our second home. I changed our diet to a majority of plant-based foods and cut out all processed foods and white sugars.”

She also researched natural supplements to help the body naturally produce red blood cells, such as liquid chlorophyll and other supplements that helped to build blood, increase oxygen and raise hemoglobin when taken on a consistent basis.

With the adoption of lifestyle changes, her son, now 8 years old, has not had a crisis in the last seven years. She notes that he is active, plays sports and lives a very healthy and productive life. Thankful to have gained this knowledge and education to help her son, Moseley now spends her time helping others along this journey.

Location: 2 Hoffmaster Rd., Knoxville, Maryland. For more information or to register, visit HealingInService.com/Womens-Retreat.

For more information, visit SSNatural Healing.com.

For more information, visit PeoplesClimate.org.

Women’s Wellness Retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains

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newsbriefs MBSR Boosts Self-Care Dimension of Health

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tressed-out students, civil servants, scientists and septuagenarians alike throughout the D.C. area are learning how to take better care of themselves in the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course offered by the GW Center for Integrative Medicine (GWCIM), in Washington, D.C. Developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, the evidence-based, eight-week training brings mindfulness meditation into the medical mainstream, where GWCIM’s medical director Dr. Mikhail Kogan knows it belongs.

MBSR’s proven effectiveness is the reason Kogan and his colleagues regularly refer patients into the course and provide Grace Ogden a 10 percent discount when someone attends with a friend or family member. Participants learn and practice mindfulness meditation, gentle yoga and other body-awareness exercises, mobilizing their own inner resources for coping, growing and healing with support from the group and the teacher, Grace Ogden.

Ogden is a Qualified MBSR Teacher by the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Healthcare and Society, at UMass Medical School. A longtime meditator and wellness educator, Ogden began integrating mindfulness into her daily life in her 20s under the guidance of Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.

GWCIM’s next MBSR program starts in mid-March and includes an orientation session, eight weekly classes and a daylong retreat, with a choice of Sunday afternoons on the GWU campus or Monday mornings in Takoma Park, Maryland.

For more information or to register, call 202-833-5055 or visit GWCIM.com/Patient-Care/ Classes. If you have questions about the course, email Grace.GWCIM@gmail.com.

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ecotip

Regain Your Health and Vitality Do you suffer with Chronic Pain? Fatigue? Allergies?

Eco-Joe

Whatever your health challenges, we can help you get on the path to real wellness.

We don’t throw pills and potions at symptoms. Instead, we will help identify hormone, metabolic, digestive, nutritional and food sensitivity issues to get to the root cause of your health problems, where true healing begins.

Making a Cuppa More Planet-Friendly marlee/Shutterstock.com

A Gallup poll last year reported that 64 percent of U.S. adult coffee lovers consume one or more cups daily and the average number of cups quaffed each day is 2.7. We can express our affection for both java and the Earth by following these eco-tips.

4 Forego the convenience of single-cup, plastic pod makers like Keurig. As Mother Jones magazine recently reported, only 5 percent of current pods are made with recyclable plastic, and even those, having hard-to-remove aluminum tops, pose recycling challenges. Keurig plans to make all of its pods recyclable by 2020.

4 Many other simpler coffee-making devices maximize energy use by facilitating more servings and reducing waste.

Treehugger.com recommends the Moka Pot, a pressure-driven aluminum stovetop brewer; the Chemex Coffeemaker, a funnel-shaped glass unit with a wooden collar; the Canadian wood product Aeropress; an old-fashioned vacuum pot with two glass chambers connected by a thin neck; and a traditional non-electric stovetop percolator.

4 Some coffee farms exploit their workers, paying subsistence wages, damage rainforests and use unsustainable farming practices. Jake Carney, co-founder of TheAlternativeDaily. com, founded Lucy’s Bru, an organic whole-bean coffee that’s exclusively shade-grown under fair trade conditions, sustainably farmed and free of harsh fertilizers and pesticides.

4 Reuse steel and aluminum coffee cans. ChasingGreen. org details how they can make effective dehumidifiers for damp basements when filled with salt; soak paint brushes in thinner solutions; store items in a garage or work space; and serve as a spot lawn or garden seeder after punching holes in the bottom.

The website also lists ways that coffee grounds can be used as a beauty, cleaning, deodorizer and dying agent.

4 Use better filters at home. Instead of paper, single-use filters, INeedCoffee.com suggests reusable or unbleached, biodegradable alternatives such as the Medelco cone permanent filter and a French press.

4 For to-go drinkers, many coffee shops and restaurants will pour fresh brew into mugs that patrons bring in. Keeping a clean spoon in the car can save on plastic stirrers.

“I am confident I can help you get well so you will feel good again.”

Call Today

571.529.6699

Our key services and treatments include:

• Integrative and Functional Medicine • Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) • Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia & other Chronic Illnesses • Functional Chiropractic Care

• Acupuncture

• Homeopathy

• Holistic Nutrition Consults

• Chronic Pain Management • Women’s Health Program • Digestive Health Program

For more details go to

www.RoseWellness.com Sushma Hirani, MD 2944 Hunter Mill Road Suite 101, Oakton, VA 22124

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. ~Albert Einstein natural awakenings

March 2017

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healthbriefs

No Benefit to Cutting Fat in Cheese

nyone that has struggled to reduce their intake of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol) may have considered avoiding saturated fat in their diets, although the latest metastudy published in the Annals of Internal Medicine now refutes this. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, conducted a test to determine if consuming low-fat versus regular cheeses impacts LDL cholesterol levels.

The study divided 139 people into three groups. One ate regular fat cheese, one consumed reduced-fat cheese and one didn’t eat any cheese at all for 12 weeks. Both LDL and high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol) levels were tested at the beginning and end of the period. Researchers found no significant difference in the LDL levels of any of the groups and no difference between the HDL levels of the reduced-fat and regular cheese groups, suggesting that consuming low-fat versions has no measurable metabolic benefit.

An increase in HDL levels among those that abstained from eating cheese altogether was noted.

The Five-Second Rule Debunked

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he five-second rule is a belief that food that falls to the floor can be safely eaten as long as it’s picked up quickly. Researchers from Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, sought to test its veracity.

Four different food items were tested, including watermelon, bread and butter, plain bread and gummy candy, using four different surfaces—stainless steel, ceramic tile, wood and carpet.

Each surface was contaminated by bacteria and completely dry before the scientists dropped each item for one second, five, 30 and 300 seconds. A total of 128 separate scenarios were repeated 20 times each and 2,560 measurements were taken and analyzed for contamination.

The results proved that longer contact time resulted in more bacterial contamination, but there were also cases of instantaneous contamination, which disproves the five-second rule. The wet surface of a watermelon yielded the most contamination and gummy candy the least. The surface tests yielded surprising results, with carpet transferring significantly fewer bacteria than tile and stainless steel, while wood floors exhibited varied results.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. ~Mark Twain 12

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Joe Belanger/Shutterstock.com

Yeko Photo Studio/Shutterstock.com

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esearchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, used data from previous studies to discern the association between dairy and animal fats and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in American adults.

The study reviewed dairy fat and other fat consumption data using validated foodfrequency questionnaires from more than 43,000 men and 175,000 women during three different studies, each spanning at least 20 consecutive years. Of the subjects studied, 14,815 developed some form of CVD, close to 7 percent of the total.

The researchers found that replacing dairy foods with foods containing polyunsaturated fats—primarily found in vegetables, nuts and fish—in just 5 percent of a subject’s diet reduced the risk of CVD by an average of 24 percent. But replacing the same percentage of dairy fats with other animal fats increased the incidence of CVD by 6 percent.

Kids Going Online at Bedtime Sleep Poorly

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Eye Health Nutrients Also Aid the Brain

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utein and zeaxanthin are known key carotenoids for eye health, filtering out harmful high-energy blue wavelengths of light and helping to protect and maintain cells comprising the eye. The human body does not make enough of either nutrient, so we must get them from supplements or food sources such as kale, spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, corn, green peas, broccoli, romaine lettuce, green beans and eggs.

Researchers from the University of Georgia, in Athens, investigated the relationship between levels of lutein and zeaxanthin and cognitive function. They measured the levels of each nutrient in the retinas of 43 older adults with a mean age of 72 and asked that the subjects learn and recall pairs of unrelated words. The study found that those with higher levels of both nutrients did better on the test, suggesting that the enhanced neural efficiency that comes from consuming these nutrients leads to better brain function.

Yuganov Konstantin/Shutterstock.com

colnihko/Shutterstock.com

Veggie, Fish and Nut Fats Preserve Heart Health

new study from King’s College London has found that children’s use of electronic devices close to bedtime can reduce their chances of a good night’s sleep. Researchers examined 20 existing studies encompassing 125,000 children between the ages of 6 and 19. They found that youngsters using a device within 90 minutes of falling asleep had an increased likelihood of poor and inadequate sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Study author Ben Carter, Ph.D., says, “Sleep is an often undervalued, but important part of children’s development, with a regular lack of sleep causing a variety of health problems.”

These can include obesity, sedentary lifestyle, reduced immune function and poor diet. Poor food choices and excessive eating can start young, as illustrated in a study from Colorado University, in Boulder, which found a link between sleep deprivation and poor diet choices in preschool children.

The Colorado study followed five girls and five boys, ages 3 and 4, that were regular afternoon nappers. They were deprived of their naps for one day, during which their food and beverage consumption was monitored and compared with their choices on a day when their sleep routine remained intact. During the sleep-deprived day, the children ate 20 percent more calories than usual and their diet consisted of 25 percent more sugar and 26 percent more carbohydrates.

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Enjoy the Positive Effects Wheezing Toddlers of a Himalayan Prone to Food Allergies Salt Light

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esearchers in Singapore studied the relationship between eczema and wheezing in babies and food allergies in toddlers. They collected data from 849 children that had completed skin prick testing for inhalant and food allergies, including eggs, peanuts and cow’s milk at 18 months and 36 months of age. The resulting data were compared to information obtained from questionnaires administered to the children’s mothers at several intervals throughout their first three years of life to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases such as eczema and rhinitis, along with wheezing.

The researchers found children that experienced eczema or wheezing within their first 18 months were more likely to have an allergy at 36 months. Occurrences of eczema or wheezing after youngsters were 18 months old appeared to have no notable impact on the later allergy skin test results.

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Katherine Leo helps others find full health by using CBD. For more information about CBD or getting into the cannabis space as a business opportunity, call 516-418-7565 or visit CBDRevolutionUS.com. See ad, page 15.

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CBD for Brain Injury

by Katherine Leo arch is Brain Injury Awareness month, and with the theme “Not Alone”, that’s exactly how people often feel. Unfortunately that couldn’t be farther from the truth. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, every year, about 2.6 million people have some type of brain injury—whether as a result of trauma, stroke, tumor or other illnesses.

About 52,000 die as a result of traumatic brain injury and more than 5 million Americans who’ve suffered traumatic brain injury require assistance in performing daily activities.

Surprisingly, the U.S. government thinks that cannabis is a promising treatment for head injury. The federal government currently holds a patent on CBD as a neuro-protectant. The 6630507 patent states: “The cannabinoids [in cannabis] are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example, in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.”

So while the U.S. government admits that CBD helps in preventing many causes of brain injuries, further research finds that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a crucial role in the brain’s ability to repair itself. Studies also show that cannabinoids not only help in prevention, but may also provide protection against cell damage after an injury has occurred.

Researchers time and time again have shown in lab rats, as well as in humans, that CBD both helps in prevention, acting as a “shock absorber”, as well as post-injury in helping to recover at a faster rate. In any case, adding at least 50 mg of high-quality CBD hemp oil to your daily routine shows to have great benefits pertaining to head trauma, as well as overall well-being.

by Laina Poulakos ne of the most well known uses of a Himalayan salt light is its power to purify the air. This is done as the heat activates the salt, attracting dust, pollen and dander.

These partials get trapped within the salt and clean air is released, helping reduce suffering of those who suffer with allergies and asthma.

The Himalayan salt light also emits negative ions. This is beneficial as it can help increase a person’s energy and reduce stress, creating a more peaceful environment. In so doing, the Himalayan salt light neutralizes electromagnetic radiation (EMR) which can drain the body of energy and may have other negative health effects. Salt lights have also been known to help treat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), with the gentle glow of the salt light mimicking the warmth of sunshine.

At the end of the day, a salt lamp can also help you sleep better by cancelling out positive ions in the bedroom. Simply leave the salt light on during the day to work on the positive ions and turn it off at bedtime. This will create a most restful environment and is a great addition to one’s home.

Laina Poulakos is the founder of Mother’s Nature Store and a certified aromatherapist and herbologist. For a consultation and products, call 703851-0087 or visit MothersNature Store.com. See ad, page 12.

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

Botanical Breakthrough

Bukhanovskyy/Shutterstock.com

Oregano Oil Proves a Safe Antibiotic for Poultry In many large commercial chicken farms, the animals are fed antibiotics to keep them healthy and fight off infections. But due to consumer demand, McDonald’s has eliminated antibiotics used in human medicine from its entire restaurant chicken supply.

Meanwhile, a farm in Pennsylvania owned by Scott Sechler is among the first to rely solely on a mix of oregano oil and cinnamon in the treatment and care of its chickens. In addition to being completely natural, oregano oil supplies the chickens with health advantages, producing a much higher quality of natural chicken in a far more humane method than that attained using antibiotics. Like antibiotics, the oil assists the chickens in battling any infections, reducing the number of birds lost to disease.

Bob Ruth, president of another Pennsylvania farming business, has been testing oregano on his pigs for six months to see if it can outperform prescription antibiotics. Related problems arise when animals live in dirty conditions, making them more susceptible to infections and viruses, which can also be triggered by insufficient cleansing of slaughterhouses that must be hosed down and completely sanitized after each act of butchery. He thinks that drugs should not be a requirement if the farmers keep things tidy.

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Researchers from Iowa State University have developed a new form of synthetic leather using cellulose fibers taken from kombucha tea, along with vinegar and sugar, made in shallow plastic tanks. When a colony of bacteria and yeast is added, the material grows on the top of the liquid’s surface, where it can be harvested and dried.

The researchers have successfully used the material to make prototype garments, including shoes and a vest. It’s 100 percent biodegradable, so when the fabric gets wet, it softens and becomes less durable; in very low temperatures, it can become brittle.

Young-A Lee, Ph.D., associate professor of apparel, merchandising and design at Iowa State University, in Ames, says, “Fashion, to most people, is an ephemeral expression of culture, art and technology, manifesting itself in practical form. Fashion companies keep producing new materials and clothing, from season to season, year to year, to fulfill consumers’ desires and needs. Think about where these items eventually go. They will take up tremendous underground spaces of the Earth, like other trash.”

Spanish designer Carmen Hijosa has created Piñatex, another faux-leather product made from pineapple leaf fibers as a more sustainable and cruelty-free alternative. She acted after seeing how leather tanneries operate.

Source: News.iastate.edu

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A Veggie Leather Alternative

Oil Wastewater Irrigating California Fields In the nation’s produce basket, some California water districts are knowingly selling oilfield wastewater to farmers, putting a huge portion of our fruits and vegetables at risk of contamination. Watchdog group Water Defense uncovered one district buying oilfield wastewater to include in the water it sells to farmers to irrigate crops in California’s Central Valley. This year, Food & Water Watch uncovered another district buying this potentially toxic wastewater and selling it to farmers.

A threat to California’s agriculture is a threat to the entire country’s food supply. Some staples of which California is the primary U.S. producer include 99 percent of olives, 99 percent of almonds, 98 percent of garlic, 96 percent of broccoli, 95 percent of celery, 91 percent of strawberries, 91 percent of lemons and 83 percent of fresh carrots.

The government is allowing oil companies to sell their wastewater for use on crops. Citizens must call on their elected representatives to fix this broken system and protect our food supply.

Source: FoodAndWaterWatch.org.

Bag Ban Pavel Kubarkov/Shutterstock.com

California Outlaws Single-Use Plastic Bags California’s ongoing ban on single-use plastic carryout bags, approved by 52 percent of voters, is setting a notable precedent for other states. A coalition of environmental groups, grocers and others are collaborating, and Mark Murray, of Californians Against Waste, welcomes elimination of the 25 million plastic bags that pollute California every day, threatening wildlife.

In 2007, San Francisco first banned plastic shopping bags, setting off a movement that led nearly half the state, including its biggest cities, to do the same. Although the legislature passed a statewide ban on plastic bags two years ago, paper bags are still for sale at grocery stores and other outlets for a nominal fee.

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Toxic Crops

Junior Achievement Take the Kids to Work

The Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation (TODASTW) is holding its annual national event on April 27, offering new toolkits and activity guides based on this year’s theme of Dependability at DaughtersAndSonsToWork.org.

The group assists businesses, families, schools and organizations throughout the year initiate their own special work day for children and mentees.

Each year, more than 3.5 million American workplaces open their doors to about 39 million employees and their children on TODASTW Day. “Human resources and marketing professionals are typically responsible for creating this day within their companies,” says Carolyn McKeucen, the foundation’s executive director. “We provide templates and automated planning elements to save them time while ensuring success for planners and participants.”

Eco Yards Plus: Medical Massage

Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for Earth-Friendly Landscaping & Therapeutic Massage

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Fortunately, food allergies that trigger such a dramatic, fast, immune response are fairly rare, particularly in adults.

“Most of what we’re seeing today is an uptick in food sensitivities and intolerances, terms that are often used interchangeably to describe foods that are not digested well and can challenge the immune system,” says Solana Beach, California, nutrition and fitness expert JJ Virgin, author of The Virgin Diet.

Newark, Delaware, medical doctor and allergist Junfang Jiao, Ph.D., attests to increased levels of testing for food allergies and sensitivities in recent years. “I can’t say there are more allergies or sensitivities, but more doctors are aware of the wide-ranging symptoms and more people are getting referred for testing,” he reports.

Many experts agree on at least one underlying cause behind the trend—a widely studied condition called leaky

FEARLESS EATING How to Move Past Food Sensitivities

by Kathleen Barnes

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omplaints of digestive upsets, brain fog, headaches, relentless food cravings and unrelieved stress appear to be at epidemic levels these days.

“These symptoms may be part of newfound awareness of the wideranging and seemingly unrelated health problems caused by food sensitivities and intolerances, which are different from food allergies,” explains microbiologist Kiran Krishnan, from Chicago.

Food Allergies

Food allergies seem to be plaguing America’s children now more than in the past. We know that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, once standard lunchbox fare, have become a no-no.

They’re often outlawed by schools to protect the students that experience extreme peanut allergies.

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The symptoms of food allergies in adults and children, often including hives, rashes and itching, can range from being annoying to life threatening.

For extremely sensitive people, the tiniest fragment of a peanut or a bee sting, exposure to latex gloves or certain medications like penicillin can cause such a sudden strong allergic reaction that it results in anaphylaxis, which makes breathing passages swell shut. If untreated, such extreme allergies can even prove fatal, which is why people with severe allergies carry the antidote epinephrine (adrenaline) with them.

Food allergies are diagnosed by blood and/or skin testing under the supervision of a medical professional, usually a doctor of medicine, osteopathy or naturopathy. Effective treatment, which must be customized to the individual, typically entails avoidance of allergy triggers.

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gut, characterized by intestinal permeability. Microscopic pinholes in an unhealthy small intestine can allow undigested nutrients to pass through intestinal walls, triggering mild immune responses, inflammation and, potentially, the onset of some diseases.

Theories of what causes leaky gut are diverse and sometimes contradictory but experts recommend consulting a medical professional if one suffers from food sensitivities. Each individual is unique, so there is no “blanket solution” for everyone.

Dysbiosis: Leaky gut is often caused by an imbalance in “good” and “bad” intestinal bacteria, sometimes called dysbiosis, says Krishnan. It can be brought on by the use of antibiotics, antibiotic residues in meats and dairy products or a diet high in sugar and processed foods.

Most interesting, he believes, is the discovery that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s weed killer

Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com

Some More Common Issues

Roundup used on genetically modified (GMO) corn and soy crops, contributes to dysbiosis, as verified by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists in a study published in Interdisciplinary Toxicology. They concluded with a plea to world governments to reconsider policies regarding the safety of glyphosate residues in foods.

GMOs: While this issue has been less widely analyzed, a 1996 study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology found that the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin added to Monsanto’s GMO corn crops to kill pests is not destroyed during human digestion. Danish researchers at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University suggested it may damage cells of the intestinal lining.

Gluten: “Gluten causes leaky gut,” says Port Jefferson, New York, naturopathic doctor Doni Wilson, author of The Stress Remedy, voicing one side of the controversy based on her review of scientific literature. She’s concluded, “Whether you are sensitive to it or not, gluten increases the production of zonulin, which can result in damage to intestinal walls and cause the cells on the outside of the intestines to set off an immune response to anything that passes through. In this condition, what we’re eating—cheese, milk, eggs, corn, soy—is leaking through the gut lining, triggering an immune response and potentially creating multiple food sensitivities.”

Wilson also notes that in her clinical experience, only about half of her patients with gluten sensitivities complain of digestive issues. “I’ve found that gluten causes the immune cells on the outside of the small intestine to affect the nervous system, causing headaches, anxiety, depression and insomnia,” she says. Her findings are backed by research from the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Celiac Research and Italy’s University of Catania. The same researchers confirm that non-celiac gluten sensitivity or intolerance can also foster depression; a University of Cincinnati study published in the journal Headache links gluten and headaches.

Other proteins in wheat can be problematic, advises Fiona McCulloch, a Toronto doctor of naturopathy, citing a study presented at the annual European Gastroenterology Conference, in Vienna,

As a gluten tolerance test, substitute an amount of non-gluten carbohydrates for the same amount of gluten-containing products.

For example, instead of two pieces of bread, substitute three-quarters of a cup of brown rice—a rough equivalent in carbohydrate content. A positive difference in hunger, cravings and energy levels when gluten is eliminated indicates a condition of gluten intolerance. ~Fiona McCulloch last October. The report showed that a family of proteins called amylase trypsin inhibitors can lead to the development of inflammation in tissues beyond the gut, including the lymph nodes, kidneys, spleen and brain.

Glyphosate residues can be a factor in gluten intolerance. Although wheat crops produced in the U.S. are not yet genetically modified, many non-organic wheat crops are sprayed with glyphosate to promote rapid drying, according to the Environmental Working Group.

Inadequate digestive enzymes: Lactose intolerance is the most common result of missing digestive enzymes like lactase, according to the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota.

Avoiding milk products may relieve digestive distress for some.

Eliminate Items, Then Challenge

Most experts believe the easiest way to deal with food sensitivities is to stop eating the food in question. The so-called “elimination and challenge” diet, which has been in use for decades, is effective, free and addresses the foods responsible for common food intolerances, says Virgin.

Simply avoid the food of concern completely for at least three weeks, then eat a small amount of it and catalog the results. For some people, it may only take a couple of hours for symptoms to return after eating a piece of bread, cup of milk, an egg or bit of tofu.

Virgin’s seven-food challenge is a bit more rigorous, but improves feelings of general well-being so readily that many people don’t even want to bring back the eliminated foods because they feel so much better, she says. Her threeweek diet completely eliminates the most common food sensitivity triggers: gluten-containing foods (largely wheat), dairy, eggs, soy, corn, peanuts, sugar and artificial sweeteners.

“When I say eliminate these foods 100 percent, I mean it,” cautions Virgin.

“You need to give your immune system at least that much time to cool off.” She adds, “You can do anything such as this for just three weeks.”

Virgin also recommends the elimination diet for weight loss because it helps overcome food cravings triggered by the immune system response and leptin resistance, leveraging the hormone that turns off the body’s hunger signals, a finding confirmed by independent studies performed by Sweden’s Lund University and Italy’s University of Palermo. She’s also documented other positive effects through her own research and experience with participants in her programs, including improvements in energy, focus, joint pain, skin clarity and bloating, all in the designated short time frames.

Other Approaches

People with food sensitivities may be able to tolerate occasional indulgences in their trigger foods once they’ve healed their digestive systems, notes Krishnan. Probiotics can help, especially those encapsulated in spores so they can pass through the barrage of stomach acid and reach the small intestine where they are most needed.

Krishnan’s research, to be published this spring, showed that half of otherwise healthy young people suffering from leaky gut had a dramatic reduction of symptoms by taking a spore-forming probiotic Bacillus indicus product for 30 days. After the healing period, sensitive people may be able

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to eat small amounts of certain foods with the assistance of dietary aids and supplements, adds McCulloch.

Get dirty: Johns Hopkins University research has shown that kids raised in an excessively hygienic environment experience much higher rates of allergies and sensitivities. University of Wisconsin researchers found that youths growing up in households that are less than obsessively sanitary among four or five other people and dogs will strengthen and challenge their immune systems as they mature. Adults need to challenge their immune systems, too, says Krishnan.

Eat organic and fermented foods: A widely varied diet helps spread out the immune system challenges of trigger foods. Organic foods don’t contain glyphosate and other potentially harmful chemicals; fermented foods contain digestive enzymes.

Eat prebiotics: Raw onions, garlic, leeks and asparagus are prebiotics.

They help feed probiotic bacteria and improve gut health.

Block sensitivity triggers: Many people with lactose intolerance are able to consume dairy products if they use lactase, the enzyme that helps digest lactose. Similarly, some people with gluten intolerance find they can eat moderate amounts of wheat products with protein supplements like lectin, carb blockers and digestive enzymes that help break down the gluten molecules, according to Virgin.

Supplements that might help: Glucomannan (konjac or elephant yam fiber) contributes to a feeling of fullness and stabilizes blood sugar, says McCulloch. She also recommends the amino acid L-glutamine and digestive enzymes to assist in gut healing.

Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous natural health books. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

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Food Intolerances Self-Questionnaire

by JJ Virgin Answer each question with never (0), seldom (1), sometimes (2) or often (3).

1. I need a cup of coffee or another caffeinated pick-me-up to jumpstart the middle of my morning or afternoon. _____ 2. I crave baked goods, pasta and other high-sugar impact foods. _____ 3. I have difficulty falling asleep or I awake during the night feeling anxious and struggle to get back to sleep. _____ 4. My bowel movements occur infrequently (less than one a day), which can sometimes be painful and involve straining. _____ 5. My mood can change swiftly and I take out my crankiness and irritation on coworkers and family members. _____ 6. I want to lay my head down on my desk mid-morning or afternoon because I have little motivation to remain productive. _____ 7. During meetings or conversations I zone out and struggle to concentrate for long periods of time on my work. _____ 8. After eating a big meal, I’m hungry and craving more of what I ate several hours later. _____ 9. Doing routine and important tasks takes all the energy and initiative I have. _____ 10. Even as an adult, I struggle with acne, rashes or blotchy skin, even though I use expensive skin cream. _____ 11. I head to the bathroom or step outside after a meal because of gassiness, bloating or other uncomfortable gut issues. _____ 12. The smell of a scented candle, perfume and detergent bothers me. _____ 13. Walking or moving around can create cramping, achiness or joint pain. _____ 14. I develop headaches that prevent me from enjoying the moment and leave me scrambling for a pain reliever. _____ 15. Even though I don’t have other cold/flu symptoms, I suffer from a scratchy throat or sinus trouble. _____ 6. I eat all the right foods in moderation, exercise religiously, and yet struggle 1 intensely to lose every pound. _____ Total Score: ______

What Scores Mean

18 or above – You most likely struggle with food intolerances that create many unpleasant symptoms and stall fat loss. By removing the seven target foods for just three weeks, you’ll see these symptoms disappear and the scales will start moving again.

10 to 17 – You display some of the symptoms that food intolerances can trigger.

You would greatly benefit from eliminating target foods to lose symptoms and those last few pounds.

Below 10 – While you suffer few of the symptoms brought about by food intolerances, you could still benefit from the same regimen. Even the healthiest person can take their game up a notch and ditch those last few stubborn pounds.

Source: The Virgin Diet, by JJ Virgin

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

nutritionspotlight

Helping to Solve the Mystery of

Food Allergies Spotlight on Dr. Autumn Frandsen of National Integrated Health Associates

by Robin Fillmore

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o often, when a person who is normally healthy begins experiencing a lingering illness or presents signs that something is amiss in the body, it can be a great mystery to the individual as well as to their physician. Typcal remedies—tried and true—don’t seem to be helping. The patient can be experiencing symptoms such as heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, brain fog, headaches, gas or bloating, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, joint pain, eczema or psoriasis. A doctor’s appointment may reveal that the patient is healthy, with no discernable illness or condition and is typically given a prescription to deal with the discomfort of the symptoms and sent home.

For many, the underlying reason for the symptoms is a sensitivity to food or chemicals. Dr. Autumn Frandsen is a naturopathic doctor working with the team at National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA) that specializes in working with patients who have food or chemical sensitivities.

When patients come into NIHA with the suspicion food allergies, Frandsen explores that possibility with both sensitivity and IgE allergy testing through the blood, as well as using a non-invasive (no-needle) method called electrodermal screening, and then considers other factors. Often

seasonal allergies, chemical exposures or infectious microbes have been present for some time and are causal or contributing factors in inflammation in the GI tract that can lead to food sensitivities. Depending on the cause, the treatment may be different, but often patients will elect to use Frandsen’s desensitization program so they are able to eat the foods they react to while still healing the gut and eliminating the allergy simultaneously.

There are many factors influencing allergies and/or sensitivities including high stress, infectious organisms, overconsumption of sugar and even the mix of flora in a specific area of the country. Particularly unique to the greater Washington, D.C. region, stress and the floral mix are two huge factors. “Plants given as gifts from other countries often are not received well by our immune systems when mixed with the naturally occurring pollen native to this area. This, in combination with the stress of commuting, pollution and competitive job market can often cause an overload to our nervous systems,” notes Frandsen.

Additionally, sugar consumption in the past 50 years has tripled, with the average annual intake for each person in the United States at around 66 pounds. This high intake of sugar can cause a tremendous increase in inflammation in our bodies and GI tract as

well as feeding dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, in our GI tract. Antibiotic use can also create dysbiosis and thus lead to inflammation down the line.

This inflammation can cause or exacerbate autoimmune reactions, including Hashimoto’s disease, arthritis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, to name just a few.

According to Frandsen, it is important to use a natural approach to allergies because it is often the overuse of medications, primarily antibiotics, that precede the allergy development or exacerbation. “Healing the gut, identifying and desensitizing the allergen and reducing the nervous system response are vital to recovery and symptom relief.

Managing any downstream effects or concomitant issues are also important.”

She became interested in the specialty of food sensitivities and allergy support while a student in naturopathic medical school, which is a four-year program similar to medical school.

Fueled by this interest, Frandsen sought out conferences on the topic and worked closely with her colleagues at NIHA. “As far as my desensitization program goes, I learned that from Dr. Barbara Solomon, a medical doctor who retired after more than 30 years of practice—many of them being at NIHA. Solomon was ahead of her time in identifying and treating allergies and sensitivities in a non-invasive manner that is very effective.”

It is this team approach to healing that distinguishes NIHA, as medical professionals collaborate with specialists on their staff, to address the core problems of patients’ individual concerns. Learning from each other is vital at NIHA and when doctors are not able to determine the cause of illness, it is helpful to work closely with other staff practitioners, thereby offering patientcentered care and therapies that help the patient get better.

Location: 5225 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington D.C. For more information about the allergy testing program, to schedule an appointment or to learn more about Dr. Frandsen, call 202-2377000 or visit NIHADC.com/Health -Program/Allergy-Testing-Treatment. html. See ad, page 15.

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How to Stay Healthy, Flexible and Strong

by Aimee Hughes

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hen thinking about the best forms of exercise as we enter midlife and beyond, we should first clarify some myths and preconceptions,” says Michael Spitzer, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, biochemist, fitness expert and author of Fitness at 40, 50, 60 and Beyond. “In our society, there’s a mindset that once we pass our 40th year, it’s all downhill from there.

Our metabolism slows and we gain weight, lose mobility and flexibility, deal with more aches and pains, experience shortness of breath and the list goes on.”

According to Spitzer, this all can happen, but it’s more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than destiny. “Research with older people at both rehabilitation and nursing centers tells us that the human body wasn’t designed to begin a major decline in function until age 70, barring major illness or accidents along the way. Most of individual decline is due to lifestyle choices, not nature’s plan.”

Spitzer teaches his clients that weight training is essential for every age group. “After age 30, most people lose between 0.5 to 1 percent of lean muscle fiber per year, which directly affects the basal metabolic rate. Much like a car engine, the more lean muscle mass 22

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we have, the more energy our ‘engine’ uses, even when idling. If not prevented, by age 50, for example, we may have lost as much as 20 percent of the lean muscle fiber we had when we were 30.”

He also recommends regular cardiovascular exercise. “Do a good round of cardio inside your target heart rate zone for 30 minutes at least three times a week. It’s vital for lung and heart health, the primary benefit of cardio exercise as opposed to just burning calories.”

“For those in their 40s, I recommend high-intensity interval training such as burst training, along with a mind-body practice like power yoga or budokon,” says Nelson Pahl, of Northfield, Minnesota, managing editor of Longevity Times. “Vinyasa yoga, tai chi and cycling are ideal during our 50s, while hatha yoga, tai chi, or qigong and hiking work well in our 60s.”

“Most of my clients are 70 and up,” notes Gwyneth Jones, an active aging specialist at the Carriage Club, in Kansas City, Missouri, who also trains physical therapists, rehabilitation specialists and movement educators. “They enjoy mixing up their daily exercise routines and look forward

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Aimee Hughes, a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO, is a doctor of naturopathy and consultant for the Yandara Yoga Institute. Connect at ChezAimee@gmail. com.

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FIT FOR LIFE

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fitbody

to the support and encouragement of their classmates. Discussions include lighthearted wordplay and questions about anatomy and physiology.”

Pahl urges everyone at every age, “Consume only whole foods, always.”

He rarely drinks alcohol and begins every day with yoga and qigong.

“Also, be sure to stay well hydrated,” adds Jones. “This will keep your joints healthy, skin clear and moist, digestion more efficient and detoxification of organ systems more effective. Add fresh lemon if you like.”

Physical fitness is only one aspect of aging gracefully. Spiritual growth lifts and lightens any mental and emotional load, while supporting physical well-being.

Spitzer also recommends, “Reading, learning to play a musical instrument, crafting activities, computer strategy games or doing other activities that require concentration or new problem-solving skills; all help the mind stay tuned up and sharp.” It’s always healthy to break out of normal routines and comfort zones, venture into new worlds, volunteer and do what makes our heart soar.

Jones advises, “Choose activities that feel good, refreshing, include people you enjoy, and are done in pleasant environments. Don’t forget to revel in sunshine or a good book on a rainy day. Listen to music, play music, sing and dance every day.”

Maturity brings benefits we can embrace with delight when we bring loving attention and happy novelty to life.

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communityspotlight

Redefining Vitality A Spotlight on Bob McMillan and the Come Alive Project

by Robin Fillmore

F

or many who hit their mid-70s, their first thought is to relax, sit on the porch and enjoy a glass of lemonade. That would not be the correct assumption about Virginia-local, Bob McMillan. As he approached retirement in his late 60s, he realized that a new career in fitness and health, working specifically with other seniors, was to be the next step on his journey. In 2010, McMillan launched his new business, the Come Alive Project and has been working with those who thought they may be too old to regain their health.

Throughout his career in the seminar business, McMillan,

like many people, was focused on other aspects of life, like career and family, and not his own creeping weight-gain and personal fitness. He notes, “As I got older, I did not like seeing what was happening to me and to others my age. Most of us are overweight and out of shape and getting worse. I was an athlete in high school and college, on the crew team.

I took it up again in my 60s and began to get back in shape, but the friend I rowed with moved, and then I stopped.”

After retiring, McMillan thought it might be a good time to explore a nudge he felt to create a program for those, like him,

who were looking for a renewed path to wellness. After an initial false start with a prominent national, boot-camp promoter, McMillan read an article about a program called MovNat and “the fittest man in the world.” Synchronicity struck as the first U.S. training for the program, using natural movement, was to be held nearby, in West Virginia. After speaking with Erwan LeCorre, creator of the program, he learned that it was appropriate for everyone, including seniors. “I attended the program, and developed an entirely new viewpoint about what seniors were capable of doing.

It was a turning point for me.”

After the training, McMillan decided to make some significant lifestyle changes. To start, he changed his diet, stopped drinking alcohol and lost 30 pounds.

With his focus on fitness for seniors, he got his personal trainer certification and designation as a Senior Fitness Specialist from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). To share this knowledge, he put together talks and workshops and started a blog, Energy Bites, with thoughts, tips, ideas and commentary, about health, fitness and personal energy for seniors.

McMillan notes, “Since I’ve been a public speaker for over 30 years, I decided to use that talent where it can be useful to seniors and am planning to do more speaking and expand the workshops on a national level this year.” He also maintains his website and is writing a fitness manual for seniors. As he expands his workshops,

Trinity School of Natural Health presents

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Washington, D.C.

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he is adding new topics such as: how to make friends with the floor (since getting up and down is one of the most difficult things for seniors to do), how to recover from a loss of balance or a fall, and how to use natural movement to build strength and improve the range of motion in aging joints. In addition, he is adding a segment on Rescue Fitness, to teach seniors how to help themselves and others escape emergency situations such as fires, fallen trees or other natural emergencies.

McMillan’s passion is to teach and watch people successfully put what they have learned from him into practice— and succeed. As a former military flight instructor for a short time, he recalls the joy after a student’s first solo flight. Equipping and influencing seniors now generates that same enthusiasm, for both him and the seniors with whom he works.

To learn more about Bob McMillan, his work and workshops, or to sign up to receive Energy Bites, email him at Bob@ TheComeAliveProject.com or visit The ComeAliveProject.com. See ad, page 11.

The secret of

getting ahead is getting started. ~Mark Twain

natural awakenings

March 2017

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eyehealthspotlight

Ease Eyestrain and Impaired Vision The Natural Way

by Nathan Oxenfeld

T

ension, if left unchecked, can cause eyestrain, blurry vision, mental fatigue, lack of circulation and elevated stress levels. One of the simplest natural and holistic ways to quickly relax the eyes and decrease eyestrain is the gentle practice of palming.

A 2013 study by the Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences through the College of Applied Medical Sciences at King

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Saud University, in Saudi Arabia, found that palming for six weeks contributed to a significant improvement in visual acuity for patients with myopia (nearsightness).

To palm, sit comfortably with elbows resting on a table or desk. Rub both hands together briskly to create some heat through friction. Then, cup the palms and gently rest them over closed eyes with the fingers of

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one hand resting over the fingers of the other hand on the forehead.

The center of each palm should be directly over the center of each eye.

The hands are cupped so that there is no pressure on the eyes.

Take a few deep breaths, relax the shoulders and imagine the darkest shade of black possible. The darkness soothes the optic nerves and the warmth relaxes the muscles of the eyes to encourage increased blood circulation and lymph flow.

Begin to focus the mind on a pleasant, happy memory, like a beautiful place or joyful experience.

Involve all five senses in this imagining to enhance and deepen the visualization. This process of mental relaxation replaces mental strain and enables the eyes to also relax.

The more time spent palming the better; we cannot palm for too long.

It’s okay to do it upon waking and right before going to sleep. Take frequent palming breaks throughout the day to prevent the accumulation of visual strain and to maintain relaxed eyes and a focused mind.

Nathan Oxenfeld is a certified Bates Method teacher who offers individual coaching, group courses and online holistic vision programs for improving eyesight. For more information, call 910-859-1232 or visit IntegralEyesight. com. See ad page 10.

Holistic Eye Care Taking the Whole Body into Account

by Linda Sechrist

T

he “old wives’ tale” about eating carrots for healthy vision wasn’t wrong, but fell far short of a holistic approach to eye health. Today’s holistically trained healthcare providers and ophthalmologists believe that properly maintaining the marvelous phenomenon of eyesight requires taking into consideration genetics, diet, toxin exposures, life environments and our belief systems.

“The body does not work as a series of parts in isolation, but as a dynamically integrated living system,” says Marc Grossman, a doctor of optometry, licensed acupuncture physician and co-founder of Natural Eye Health, in New Paltz, New York. “The reductionist method of referring each symptom to the domain of a particular specialist, isolated from the whole person, is slowly being replaced with a complementary view of health care that may include acupuncture and other forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine. We are beginning to look at each person as an integrated being.”

Progressive health providers now consider dietary preferences, general exercise regimens, environmental factors and physical, emotional and mental issues, as well as an individual’s particular symptoms, in determining treatment strategies. “To improve vision, the condition of the whole person needs to be addressed,” says Grossman, whose books include Natural Eye Care: Your Guide to Healthy Vision.

Board-Certified Ophthalmologist and Homeopathic Doctor Edward Kondrot’s practice at Healing The Eye &

Wellness Center, which he founded in Zephyrhills, Florida, embraces traditional and alternative therapies. He uses microcurrent, ozone therapy and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved stem cells from a newborn’s umbilical cord in treating serious eye disease.

Kondrot, the author of 10 Essentials to Save Your Sight, systemically understands the eyes as windows to overall health. For instance, his perspective is founded on the fact that a balanced diet is one of the best preventive measures for maintaining eye health. Systemic disorders such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stress-related effects and nutritional deficiencies are easily determined under the scrutiny of his holistic biomicroscope.

According to science published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, chiropractic spinal manipulation may also contribute to normal vision; in one case study, 20 treatment sessions helped an individual recover the function of optic nerves and normal vision. It’s generally accepted that chiropractic adjustment realigning the spinal column allows the nervous system to function properly, reduces tension and frees up the body to better transport blood to locations such as the eyes. Additionally, the second vertebra below the skull contains nerves that affect the eyes, optic nerves, auditory nerves and sinuses.

Common eye conditions generally develop so slowly that they may not present noticeable symptoms until deterioration has become severe. “Many factors can affect our eyesight, including

other health problems. Having a family member with eye disease may mean you’re genetically prone to having that condition as well, but living a healthy lifestyle may prevent the gene from being activated,” advises Kondrot.

Viewing the condition of the eyes as a reflection of whole body health means that lifestyle and diet choices play major roles. The Vision Diet and supplement program recommended in Grossman’s Natural Eye Care has been shown to reduce the intraocular pressure in the eyes of study participants by five to seven millimeters, which generally equates to 10 to 15 percent.

In general, a diet high in beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and sulfur-bearing amino acids can be helpful. Foods containing such nutrients include garlic, onions, beans, spinach, celery, turnips, yellow and orange vegetables, green leafy vegetables, seaweed, apples, oranges and tomatoes.

Other dietary and lifestyle options recommended by Grossman are daily drinking one pint of juice made from mostly green vegetables and drinking eight to 10 glasses of purified water to keep eyes hydrated. Managing stress and doing palming and other eye exercises, such as those found at Tinyurl.com/ ComputerEyeStrainExercises, as well as daily aerobic exercise for at least 20 minutes, are also beneficial. Additionally, Kondrot’s use of multimodal protocols such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy, homeopathy, and detoxification can be applied to reverse visual loss.

Kondrot advises that avoiding foods that trigger allergic reactions is important.

“A study of 113 patients with chronic simple glaucoma showed an immediate increase in pressure in the fluid inside the eye when they were exposed to foods to which they were allergic. Take up meditation, yoga, tai chi or any other practice that helps you manage stress and relax,” he advises. “Some consider glaucoma a stress-related condition.”

The best strategy for healthy eyes is to have regular eye examinations. Early detection and prompt treatment can prevent significant vision loss.

Tuzemka/Shutterstock.com

healingways

For Dr. Kondrot’s free report on how to heal macular degeneration, see ad on page 48.

natural awakenings

March 2017

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moneymatters

Tis The Season for the Tax Man Investment Tax Basics

by Jeremy A. Pearce and Barry Wind

O

ne April 15 in the 1990s, a car rental company gave all its agents t-shirts that read, “I love the IRS” on the front and “Like I love slamming my fingers in the car door,” on the back. For better or worse, most folks start paying more attention to their taxes at this time of the year.

Fortunately, there are strategies you can implement year-round that will minimize your tax burden and keep more money in your pocket. This is particularly the case if you have brokerage or other taxable accounts.

Just to be clear, your investments must, first and foremost, be suitable for your particular circumstances, e.g., your risk tolerance, time horizon and objectives. It should also be noted that it is generally more daunting to withstand losses from poor investment choices than it is to pay higher taxes on winning stock picks.

Yet, there are ways one can invest successfully while taking steps to minimize the impact of the taxman. So before you begin making investment choices, it is often prudent to be sensitive to tax liabilities.

For example, using exchange traded 28

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funds (ETFs), passively managed index funds and low-turnover stock funds can reduce your exposure to capital gain distributions. There is also a category of mutual funds which were specifically created and are managed to minimize the tax burden of their investors.

For investors who own individual stocks, selecting those companies that are geared more toward growth and less toward dividends can help to avoid tax consequences that come with higher dividend payouts. If in a higher tax bracket, income from divi-

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dends can have a tax rate of up to 20 percent. Of course, with both mutual funds and individual stock holdings, investments held for longer than a year are taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rate instead of at the higher short-term gains rate.

Interest earned from corporate bonds in taxable accounts are subject to an investor’s ordinary income tax rate. One method to mitigate these high tax rates is to utilize the tax-advantaged investment option provided by municipal bonds and municipal bond funds.

These are fixed income securities issued by states and municipalities that are generally shielded from federal income tax (and in some cases free of state taxes as well). In addition, municipal bonds can add a layer of diversification to your portfolio.

Tax-loss harvesting is another approach which seeks to minimize your tax liability by offsetting realized capital gains with corresponding capital losses. Be careful, however, and steer clear of repurchasing the same or similar security within 30 days, lest you feel the wrath of the IRS “wash sale” rule.

Lastly, it may make sense to balance taxable accounts with taxadvantaged accounts, such as traditional and Roth IRAs, 401(k) retirement plans and annuities. Enrolling in and making contributions to your workplace retirement plan is a great way to save on taxes as well as get a start on your retirement. If you do not have a retirement plan at work, opening up a Roth or traditional individual retirement account (IRA) offers many

of the same tax advantages. For the 2016 tax year, you can open and make contributions to an IRA by Tax Day, April 18, 2017.

As Tax Day approaches, we all know there is no way to completely avoid paying our share to the government. Wise investors, however, can start to take the steps that can minimize the bite for this year and the years to come.

Barry Wind and Jeremy A. Pearce are financial advisors in the Washington, D.C., area, specializing in socially responsible investing with SharePower Responsible Investing, Inc. Comments and questions can be sent to BWind@ Emailsri.com and JeremyAPearce@ Emailsri.com. See ad, page 32.

Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Different types of investments carry varying degrees of risk and clients and prospective clients should be prepared to bear investment and original principal loss. Investing, including socially responsible investing, does not guarantee any amount of success.

This is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy. The offering is only made by the prospectus.

Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the investment company carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company. Prospectuses may be obtained from your advisor and should be read in full.

Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and SharePower Responsible Investing, Inc. are not affiliated.

The information does not constitute and is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, the authors recommend consultation with a qualified tax advisor, CPA or lawyer. natural awakenings

March 2017

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Edgar Cayce The Original Holistic Healer

by Allan Tomson

E

dgar Cayce was America’s premier “medical intuitive” long before those words were coined. Thoughout his career he gave more that 15,000 readings, mostly pertaining to health. He was a superb channeler, able to both diagnose and give treatment advice. In fact, Cayce channeled many remedies that still work extremely well today.

Edgar Cayce was born in 1877, in rural Kentucky. He showed remarkable abilities at a young age. Once, at the age of 9, young Cayce was studying with the help of his father. He was very tired, frustrated, not remembering anything from his schoolwork. His father told him to rest and take a break for a while. Cayce laid his head on his book and slept for five minutes. When he awoke, his book closed, Cayce could tell his father anything on any page, as if he was looking right at it. He retained this incredible “intuitive” memory throughout his schooling, advancing from the third grade to the sixth in one year.

Cayce’s heyday was from the 1920s to 1940s. He did hundreds of readings concerning a proper diet, maintaining that the optimal diet for humans should consist of 70 to 80 percent fruits and vegetables and only 20 percent meats and grains.

This is the alkaline diet that is spoken and

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written about extensively today (Cayce channeled this information in the 1920s).

One of the most important remedies that he channeled was the castor oil pack.

This is a hot compress using wool flannel soaked in castor oil, typically placed on the abdomen. Cayce channeled that this remedy’s best use is for improving the assimilation and eliminations within the digestive system. It can also be used to soften scar tissue. This was one of hundreds of readings that emphasized how important proper digestive function is to the entire body. He stated that arthritis is caused by the thinning of the wall of the intestines. Today we call this leaky gut and it’s a well-known diagnosis in functional medicine. He channeled protocols for allergies, male-pattern baldness, cancer, headaches—always searching for a solution to the ills of all humanity.

Cayce was the original holistic healer. His amazing ability to access deeply the energy fields gave him the unique perspective of “looking inside” a person. All aspects were viewed: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

In the spiritual realm, Cayce talked frequently about ideals; a positive, creative image of what is possible in one’s life. The human dilemma is that daily living pulls us in many different direc-

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Used by permission–Edgar Cayce Foundation–Virginia Beach, VA; EdgarCayce.org.

naturalhealing

Cayce was the original holistic healer. His amazing ability to access deeply the energy fields gave him the unique perspective of “looking inside” a person. tions—sometimes in the opposite direction from where we really want to be.

Intense stress, setting off emotions, like worry fear, anger and resentment can be the trigger for a cascade of inflammatory hormones, adrenal overload and disconnection between the different nervous system pathways that, over time, can lead to physical symptoms.

The stronger one’s ideal, the more pressure internally is created that leads to blocked energy flow in the body. Conditions displaying symptoms similar to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue were around in Cayce’s time. One can easily see how some conditions are much more complicated, requiring a broad vision.

Dr. Allan Tomson is not your average chiropractor. In addition to using the Cayce teachings in his holistic approach, he employs Visceral Manipulation, a myofascial technique to release tissue tensions in the organs. He can be reached at Neck Back and Beyond Healing Arts. Call 703-8655690 or visit NeckBackAndBeyond.com.

See ad, page 12.

How glorious a

greeting the sun gives the mountains. ~John Muir

leadingedge

Cannabis for Anxiety An Effective Treatment

by Patricia Frye, MD

M

any physicians are now being asked if cannabis is an effective treatment for anxiety. Actually, it is one of the more common reasons patients seek a recommendation for medicinal cannabis.

Anxiety is a relatively common disorder, characterized by worry and anxiety that is excessive and difficult to control. It can negatively impact relationships, job performance and quality of life. Excessive worry can make it difficult to fall asleep and often interrupts sleep, with patients being unable to sleep more than two to three hours before waking up. Anxiety can cause somatic symptoms such as shortness of breath, hyperventilation, sexual dysfunction, abdominal cramps and even chest pain.

Some patients suffer from social or performance anxiety that interferes with their ability to carry out certain tasks required by their job or position, such as speaking in front of a large group. This type of situation can cause hyperventilation, sweating, flight of ideas, rapid heart rate and feeling faint. Others experience ongoing anxiety that is driven by the pressure to meet deadlines, quotas or sales goals. This type of anxiety often leads to headaches, forgetfulness, neck

pain from muscle spasm, poor appetite, chronic nausea, poor concentration and disturbed sleep.

There is almost always some degree of anxiety that evolves during or after a prolonged or serious illness. For patients with chronic pain, it is very important that this is addressed because anxiety can contribute to persistent pain. It has been shown that anxiety causes neurotransmitters in the brain to signal mediators that cause inflammation, which, in turn, causes pain. It is very difficult to alleviate pain in patients with chronic back pain, neuropathy, fibromyalgia and other pain syndromes without treating underlying anxiety.

Pharmaceuticals, like benzodiazepines, are used to treat anxiety and anxiety-induced insomnia but can be sedating and are highly addictive and prone to abuse. While antidepressants can be safely used to treat anxiety without the risk of addiction, some patients experience undesirable side effects such as drowsiness, weight gain or loss of libido. Exercise is a very important tool in fighting anxiety. It has been shown that 30 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise is very effective in reducing anxiety and is something that every patient should

at least attempt to incorporate into their anxiety-relieving regimen.

The anti-anxiety effects of certain strains of cannabis do not stem from THC. While low doses of THC can squelch anxiety, strains higher in THC, the only psychoactive compound in the plant, are more likely to produce anxiety and paranoia in users.

Rather, a secondary compound, cannabidiol (CBD), is primarily responsible for treating the cause of these kinds of symptoms. CBD, unlike THC, has little binding affinity for either the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors found in the human brain, so it doesn’t cause the “euphoric high” associated with THC. Instead, it interacts directly with several other receptors to produce a variety of therapeutic effects.

One of those receptors is the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor, which helps mediate a variety of biological and neurological processes, one of which is anxiety. When CBD binds to it, the result is that it slows down 5-HTIA signaling, which in turn minimizes the body’s excitatory responses, thereby reducing anxiety. Certain terpenes, which are substances found in cannabis and throughout the plant world, like limonene (citrus) and linalool (lavender), also add to the anti-anxiety effect of cannabis.

Decreased appetite and increased energy are side effects that are commonly associated with CBD although for some patients, these may be added benefits. CBD also has the potential to interfere with the metabolism of certain medications, so it’s important to review this with your healthcare provider before starting CBD. Since CBD does not cause psychoactivity, it's an appropriate treatment for those who need to remain clear-minded.

So, if anxiety is impacting your life in a chronic and negative way and conventional therapy has been ineffective or causes undesirable side effects, consider the benefits of medical cannabis.

It’s a natural way to feeling better.

Patricia C Frye, M.D., is the founder of Takoma Alternative Care, located at 6930 Carroll Ave., Ste. 412, Takoma Park, MD. For more information, call 301-328-3045 or visit TakomaCare. com. See ad, page 23.

natural awakenings

March 2017

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regionalspotlight

Explore and Live on

The Eastern Seaboard’s Longest Coastal Preserve

by Robin Fillmore

T

hough it is only hours from Washington, D.C., a true hidden gem lies just to our south. Off the Eastern Shore of Virginia are the barrier islands which protect seaside tidal creeks, bays, marshes and the mainland, providing habitat for abounding nature, including migratory songbirds, raptors, shorebirds, shellfish and finfish. Visitors are welcomed with the sign “You’ll Love Our Nature.” For many in the D.C. region, Virginia’s Eastern Shore is becoming the place not only to discover on vacation, but also to find their dream retreat or retirement home.

On one side of the peninsula lies the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the U.S. With more than 150 rivers and creeks flowing into the bay, it provides sandy tidal areas, suitable for boat docks and marinas, as well as beautiful beaches to enjoy. On the other side lie the barrier islands and 32

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the Atlantic Ocean, knit together with bays, inlets and salt marshes. Except for a few “grandfathered” properties, the barrier islands are uninhabited; however, they can be easily enjoyed by kayak or boat. There are many free public boat launches available for easy access to the islands or deep sea fish-

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ing in the Atlantic Ocean. Fourteen of the barrier islands make up the Virginia Coastal Reserve and has earned the distinction of a United Nations Man and Biosphere Reserve.

Since the 1970s, nonprofit, federal and state conservation partners, including The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service and the Commonwealth of Virginia, have invested more than $100 million to protect and restore 133,000 acres of coastal and mainland habitats, including barrier islands, marshes and upland forests, and have led to a reintroduction of a species of bay scallops to the coastal bays, which had not been seen there for more than 80 years due to habitat loss.

The bounty and beauty of the Eastern Shore are important economic drivers for the entire region, with agriculture, including aqua-farming, research and tourism as the industries that provide this growth. With its clean water in tidal creeks and bays, the area is home to the U.S.’s largest oyster and clam aquaculture. The rural coastal landscape provides an ideal location for one of NASA’s premier rocket launch facilities. Additionally, the Eastern Shore hosts one of the National Science Foundation’s prestigious LongTerm Ecological Research (LTER) Program sites, operated by the University of Virginia, which has transformed the region into a center for world-class coastal science research.

With such bounty and beauty to offer, as well as the relaxed lifestyle in the area, the Eastern Shore of Virginia is noted in many retirement guides as

lifestyle with the opportunity to enjoy healthy air and water, it is unlikely that the gem of the Eastern Shore of Virginia will stay hidden for long.

The Kirkwood Group offers beautiful waterfront, beachfront and water access properties along the Chesapeake Bay and the creeks and coves that feed

into the bay. For example, High Knoll at Country Club offers a 4,500-squarefoot waterfront home on 106 acres or 24 lots of 3-plus acres each. To see their current listings, visit Kirkwood OnTheShore.com. See ad, page 5.

Robin Fillmore is the publisher of Natural Awakenings, Washington, D.C.

one of the best places in the country to live or retire. In one’s own backyard it is possible to fish, hunt, bird-watch, kayak, golf or simply enjoy the beach.

For those looking for indoor activities, there is excellent shopping and antique hunting, as well as cultural and community events. Recently popping up throughout the area are kayak trips with stops at local wineries and oyster tastings. Plus, the weather is good all year.

Even though residents enjoy all four seasons, the winters are not hard and the mean average temperature is 59 degrees, which keeps energy costs low.

Most of the homes are on large three-to-five acre tracks and zoning is for single-family homes. These protections come from the commitment to environmental conservation, but the benefit for the homeowner is a spacious lot with marvelous views, and in many cases, waterfront or beachfront access.

As more people seek a balanced

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Craevschii Family/Shutterstock.com

consciouseating

Thumbs-Up on Fats Good Fat Doesn’t Make Us Fat

by Judith Fertig

I

n an era of too much information, the role of fats in our diet has been a victim of not enough information.

Today’s turnaround in nutritional thinking acknowledges natural fats as being vital to heart health and weight loss.

Heart Health Benefit

A recent metastudy in the Annals of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American College of Physicians, concluded that saturated fat does not appear to increase heart disease risk, overturning almost 60 years of accepted medical thought. The researchers analyzed data from 76 studies involving more than 600,000 people and found that those that ate the most saturated, or “bad”, fat did not show a higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those that ate the least. Note that processed trans fats remain a villain, still deemed a risk to heart health per the metastudy.

The misleading information began in the 1950s, when Physiologist Ancel Keys, Ph.D., discovered a correlation between diets high in saturated fats and higher cholesterol levels. Soon, the lowfat diet was born.

In 2000, further research introduced the concepts of good and bad fats. More 34

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recent analysis confirmed this finding with the refinement that saturated fats increase both types of cholesterol. However, the latest research from the journal BMJ shows that saturated fat does not increase the number of LDL, or “bad”, particles, a predictor of cardiovascular disease. Instead, it makes existing LDL particles larger, a fairly benign situation in regard to such disease.

Weight Loss Benefit

Fat doesn’t even make you fat, claims Mark Hyman, a well-known medical doctor in Lenox, Massachusetts, and author of Eat Fat, Get Thin: Why the Fat We Eat Is the Key to Sustained Weight Loss and Vibrant Health. “The theory that all calories have the same impact on your weight and metabolism remains one of the most persistent nutrition myths,” says this practitioner of functional medicine who points out that we’ve been sidetracked by wrong thinking.

“Eating fat can make you lean.

Healthy cell walls made from highquality fats are better able to metabolize insulin, which keeps blood sugar better regulated. Without proper blood sugar control, the body socks away fat for a rainy day. The right fats also in-

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“Eating fat can make you lean. Healthy cell walls made from high-quality fats are better able to metabolize insulin, which keeps blood sugar better regulated. The right fats also increase fat burning, diminish hunger and reduce fat storage,” crease fat burning, diminish hunger and reduce fat storage,” he notes.

Whole30, a 30-day diet revolving around clean eating, also emphasizes healthy fats. Devised in 2009 by Dallas Hartwig, a functional medicine practitioner and certified sports nutritionist, and Melissa Hartwig, a certified sports nutritionist, the program aims to reduce inflammation, detoxify the body and reset metabolism. The Salt Lake City, Utah, authors of the New York Times bestselling The Whole30 recommend healthy fats to keep us full and rev up metabolism. Recommended healthy fats include coconut milk and oil, avocados, olive oil, organic ghee (clarified butter) and raw nuts.

Josh Axe, a natural medicine practitioner and clinical nutritionist in Nashville, Tennessee, recommends the healthy fats contained in avocados, organic butter and ghee from grass-fed cows and goats, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, sardines, walnuts, chia seeds and flax seeds.

“Butter’s experiencing a comeback as a healthy fat as its benefits become more widely known,” says Axe. “The omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in butter help the brain function properly and improve skin health.” Ghee, an ancient Indian version of butter, is lactose- and casein-free, while being loaded with fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E, says Axe. These vitamins are best absorbed by the body when they’re in a fat substance and then stored in the gastrointestinal tract, keeping metabolism and digestion on track, he notes.

Ghee’s high level of vitamin K2, best known as a natural blood coagulator,

“also helps strengthen bones, while the fatty acids found in it improve digestion and reduce inflammation.”

Healthy Levels of Fat

“If you’re active, about 40 percent of your calories should come from carbohydrates, another 30 percent from protein and the other 30 percent from fat in general,” says Axe, adding that this has the added benefit of helping prevent arteriosclerosis. “Some people may consume a greater percentage of healthy fats if the goal is to become a fat burner.”

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss and health,” Hyman reminds us. “Low-carb, higherfat diets work for most people, but for some, they may not be optimal in the long term.”

Judith Fertig writes food health articles and cookbooks from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).

Prime Sources of Healthy Fats Functional medicine physician Mark Hyman suggests that we include four to five servings of fat in our diets every day. “In the last five years, the scientific evidence has been mounting that high-fat diets outperform low-fat diets for weight loss and for revising every single indication of heart disease risk, including abnormal cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension and inflammation,” he says.

Each amount listed indicates a serving size.

Fatty fish (4 ounces of salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines, tuna or trout) Avocado (one-half to one avocado) Extra virgin coconut oil (one tablespoon) Organic coconut milk (one-quarter cup) Olives (one-quarter cup) Grass-fed animal butter, clarified butter or ghee (one tablespoon)

Nuts (a handful of walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts or cashews) Seeds (a handful of pumpkin, sunflower of flaxseed) Most plant-based liquid oils (one

tablespoon of olive, safflower, sesame, avocado, macadamia, grape seed or walnut oil)

Aim to eat fats that remain liquid (not solid) at room temperature; it’s a sure sign of heart-healthy, unsaturated fats.

Source: Adapted from Eat Fat, Get Thin, by Mark Hyman, M.D.

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8380 Colesville Road, Suite 600 - Silver Spring, MD 20910 – (202) 686 -7046 – www.pmti.org natural awakenings

March 2017

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healthybody

Acidity in the Diet

Neutralizing the Problem

by Elizabeth McMillan

V

irtually all types of diseases thrive in an acidic environment.

In fact, too much acidity has been linked to inflammation, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune disease, chronic pain and other chronic conditions. Understanding acidity or pH levels, the symptoms of high acidity, and which foods are acidic or alkaline can help improve your health and extend your longevity.

The acidity of the body is measured using pH levels, similarly to testing the pH of a pool. Individuals can determine their pH levels by using a simple urine test. For best accuracy, the test should be performed first thing in the morning. Optimal pH levels are between 6.5 and 7.5. The pH is acidic

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when it is below 6.5 and alkaline when it is above 7.5. When the body is acidic, minerals are taken from your bones and organs to help neutralize the acid and remove it from your body, causing mineral deficiencies. These deficiencies can go undetected for years and may only be found when your symptoms become more severe. Some of the symptoms of mild acidity include yeast infections, fatigue, weight gain, acne, allergies, cavities and premature aging.

The modern Western diet, specifically dairy, sugars, meats and grains, contribute to an acidic body. In addition to the foods we consume, the body can become acidic due to metabolism. As food is burned for energy,

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waste products are produced, and these are typically acidic. The body needs to neutralize the acid produced and then excrete the waste. Excess waste causes the kidneys to work harder and can result in kidney infections, bladder infections and kidney stones.

Interestingly, one study suggests that reducing acidity through diet may help slow the progression of kidney disease.

The foods you eat play a role in maintaining a proper pH level. Diets consisting of acid-forming foods will cause the body to become more acidic. Conversely, eating too many alkaline-producing foods will cause the body to be too alkaline. So, it is essential to you eat a balanced diet to help ensure that optimal health.

Unfortunately, one cannot determine acidity by taste. For example, many people think lemons are acidic.

Although lemons are scientifically classified as acidic, they are alkalineforming in the body. During digestion, the citric acid in the lemon is oxidized into water and carbon dioxide in the body. There are food charts available that label common foods based on the impact they have on the body’s acidity.

The average person needs to eat about 70 to 80 percent of alkaline foods to help maintain body pH. This means that one should fill their plate with fresh fruits and vegetables, such as leafy greens and the remaining portion should be filled with lean proteins and grains. This will ensure a balanced diet.

Additionally, drinking enough water throughout the day will help the kidneys filter waste and restore pH levels.Â

All of life depends on maintaining proper pH levels. Optimal pH levels help regulate metabolism, optimizes enzymes in the digestive system and keeps the immune system functioning properly. When the body becomes too acidic or alkaline, you can be plagued with a variety of chronic diseases and illnesses, inflammation and pain.

Learning how to properly maintain a pH level will help keep you healthy and extend your longevity.

Elizabeth McMillan, MS, CNS, is an integrative nutritionist at Rose Wellness, in Oakton. For more information, visit RoseWellness.com. See ad, page 11.

yogaspotlight

Yoga

As Lifestyle Medicine A Two-Day Seminar

by Linda Lang

l David Foge

W

hat if you could learn gentle practices to do throughout the day that would give you an enduring sense of ease and comfort, regardless of your health status? This question, and more, will be addressed in the two-day event, Yoga As Lifestyle Medicine, presented by the Smithsonian Associates and Therapeutic Yoga of Greater Washington, on March 25 and 26, at the Smithsonian. The event will provide an immersion in yoga for difficult diagnoses and special conditions. It is open to anyone seeking greater health and peace of mind, their healthcare providers and caretakers. Therapeutic yoga is quickly being established as a key component in modern medicine for prevention, recovery and self-care.

Over the course of the event, leading medical professionals, researchers, master teachers and authors will speak, guide demonstrations and participate in panel discussions on the first day, which will be led by the Smithsonian Associates.

The second day is devoted to experiential master classes and intensive trainings, offered through Therapeutic Yoga of Greater Washington and its partners.

Loren Fishm

an

Attendees to the seminar will have the opportunity to hear experts speak and watch practitioners demonstrate best practices. The lunchtime discussions will engage the attendees, with a discussion leader, on conditions that matter most to the attendees. The afternoon is then filled with more opportunities for greater learning. The presenters will engage with the audience to illuminate and encourage further exploration and personal discovery in the realm of yoga practices.

Some of the more prominent voices in therapeutic yoga will be speaking.

Loren Fishman will share his research on back pain, osteoporosis, sciatica and scoliosis, arthritis, weight control, PMS and common injuries. Judith Hanson Lasater will promote stress relief and healing through restorative yoga. Sat Bir Khalsa will review the psychophysiology of yoga and the research evidence base on the efficacy of yoga therapy and share practices from his clinical trials on insomnia, anxiety disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.

JJ Gormley, the accomplished and beloved therapeutic practitioner, presents on metabolic syndrome. Heather Mason, well-known in the U.S. and throughout

UK, will focus on mental health. Steffany Moonaz, of the newly founded “Yoga for Arthritis”, based in Baltimore, will focus on rheumatology. Local-expert aligned with the Alzheimer’s Prevention and Research Foundation, Jane Stelboum, will teach compelling and simple practices from research trials.

Special guest speakers will be joining as well. Jnani Chapman, of Yoga for People with Cancer, will lead a discussion on the art of yoga: the roles of intentionality, motivation and dedication to creating and maintaining a daily practice. Dilip Sarkar, president of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, David Fogel and Mary Pappas-Sandanos of the Casey Health Institute, in Gaithersburg, will present case studies on how yoga therapy works in a doctor’s office.

The hope is that each person will find this program to be compelling and motivational, and that you will seek out qualified yoga teachers, therapeutic instructors and yoga therapists, wherever you live. Particularly if you feel that your lifestyle, due to arthritis, back pain, a serious health diagnosis or stress is creating a challenge to getting a good night’s sleep or if you are simply looking for gentle practices that generates a sense of ease and comfort, this event will help to answer your concerns and bring you to a new understanding of yoga as a lifestyle choice to maintain health and balance.

Location: 1100 Jefferson Dr., SW, Washington, D.C. For more information on the program, visit YogaAsLifestyleMedicine.com. For more information on yoga therapy, visit IAYT.org.

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firstperson

How Qigong Healed a Wounded September 11 Firefighter

by Jonathan Henderson

On duty the morning of September 11, 2001, New York city firefighter Jonathan Henderson searched for lost friends after the World Trade Center Tower collapsed and then volunteered for 30 days of 12-hour shifts to recover their remains. A total of 343 firefighters died that day and the death toll is still climbing as a result of breathing in toxic particles. The following is an account written by Henderson about his own road to recovery following that day of national and personal tragedy.

M

y lungs and sinuses suffered major damage at the Trade Towers site. Everything from hearing loss to depression set in, which caused me to balloon to over 300 pounds. At a funeral for a firefighter who died of September 11-related lung cancer, I looked around at the low turnout and mentioned my disappointment to our lieutenant.

Looking at the small number attending he said, “I’ll show up for your funeral.” I turned and said, “I’ll show 38

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up for yours too, pal.” Seeing we were a dying breed and there was major mishandling of health care for firefighters impacted by September 11 is what motivated me to find natural solutions.

During a spiritual vision, I saw my healthy-self on a beach practicing a slow martial art, having had no prior knowledge of qigong. I moved to San Diego to make the healthiest version of me and ate organic foods and smoothies. I removed toxic food and people

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

from my life for a two-year sabbatical to get well. Soon, I was led to a mindbody studio and attended powerful qigong classes. During a Breath Empowerment session, my lungs never felt so big! My ribcage had expanded and I felt real energy surge through me, like nothing I had ever known. I was buzzing for days after.

The studio was promoting a big seminar called “Qi Revolution” and I attended based on their suggestion.

Initially I felt out of place with what seemed like mostly new age people in attendance, but when I did the practices with hundreds of others, it felt even more powerful than what I had known from my small group. Pressing on qi, concentrating on breath and moving slowly had a great effect on me and most everyone else in attendance.

I found qigong practice slowed my overly active New Yorker-mind, allowing me to focus on giving my body and soul some long overdue healing energy.

September 11 anniversaries are emotional for those connected. For the 2013 anniversary, I was with San Diego FDNY retirees aboard the USS Midway, reading names of rescue workers and flight crews lost 12 years earlier. That morning I woke up and went to the beach and did Supreme Science Qigong Level-1 healing form with a rising sun. I did it by myself, for myself for the first time ever, and I felt energy pulsing and surging all around me. It was as my spiritual vision showed me. It made the most difficult day of the year easier somehow, and gave me peace and calmness that stays with me now.

Since finding qigong, I’ve not taken addictive prescriptions and I’ve had tremendous results with food-based healing. I’ve lost 80 pounds and my lung capacity shows significant improvement. Everyone can help themselves with qigong, especially my firefighter family. Anyone seeking improved physical health, specifically better lung capacities will benefit greatly from the Qi Revolution seminar.

Cost: $99 for the two-day, one-night training; free for firefighters and veterans. Open to the public. The Qi Revolution seminar will be held April 7 to 9, at the Baltimore Convention Center. To learn more, call 800-298-8970 or visit QiRevolution.com. See ad, page 3.

eventspotlight

Courtesy of At The Fork

Fresh Perspectives on Food

Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital

by Helen Strong

T

he Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital, the largest and one of the oldest film festivals in the country, will commemorate its 25th anniversary this spring. Marking a quarter century of celebrating and defending the Earth through the power of film, the 2017 festival, March 14 to 26, will present more than 150 films across the city, exploring what has happened over the past 25 years and what lies ahead.

Fresh perspectives on the food we eat and how it’s grown will be among the many diverse topics explored in festival films. Food Evolution, presented with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Academy of Sciences, examines the schism between scientists and consumers surrounding GMOs. Narrated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, the film looks at the real-world application of food science in the past and present and argues for sound science and open-mindedness in this

increasingly polarized debate. The free screening, followed by a discussion, will take place on March 17, at the Carnegie Institution for Science.

Asking the tough questions behind every hamburger, glass of milk and baby-back rib, the film, At the Fork, takes a timely and refreshingly unbiased look at how farm animals are raised for our consumption. Filmmaker and omnivore John Papola and his vegetarian wife, Lisa, visit large-scale conventional farms, where they discover no heartless industrialists, but America’s farmers— real people who are grappling with the moral dimensions of farming animals for food.

Following the film’s free screening, at American University on March 24, there will be a panel discussion with Whole Foods Market’s Global Meat Coordinator, Theo Weening and Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. Whole Foods Market will be

providing food and refreshments at the screening.

From the Montana Rockies to the Kansas wheat fields and the Gulf of Mexico, families who work the land and sea are profiled in the new Discovery film, Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman, narrated by Tom Brokow. Based on a book by Miriam Horn, the film explores how these people are crossing political divides to protect the natural resources vital to their livelihoods. The film, followed by a discussion, will be shown March 25, at the Carnegie Institution for Science.

New England’s dairy farmers, the backbone of the region’s agriculture, are fighting for survival in an age of artisan cheeses and baby greens. The film, Forgotten Farms, suggests that we have much to learn from these dairy farmers as we strive to revive local production to confront climate change. The film’s director, Dave Simonds, will be present for discussion following the free screening on March 17, at the E Street Cinema.

Moving from the farm to the table, Ants on a Shrimp spotlights acclaimed celebrity chef Rene Redzepi, whose locavore eatery Noma, lauded as the world’s best restaurant, relocates from Copenhagen to Tokyo. The chef (one of Time magazine’s most influential people) and his international team, create a 14-course menu, using only Japanese ingredients. The film will be shown free on March 18, at the E Street Cinema.

An overview of food films will be provided by Chris Palmer, founder and director of American University’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking, who will discuss “The Most Important Food Films of All Time” in a special lecture, illustrated by clips from ground-breaking films that explore the origins and impact of the food we eat. This free evening with Palmer will take place on March 21, at American University.

For the complete schedule with program updates, registration and ticket information, visit the Environmental Film Festival website, DCEFF.org. See ad, page 4.

Helen Strong helps to spread the word about the wonderful films at the Environmental Film Festival. For more information, email at Helen@DCEFF.org.

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Optimize Your Health & Well-being!

naturalpet

KeepYour Pets Healthy

Optimal Health Dimensions 703-359-9300

www.OptimalHealthDimensions.com Our practice of Integrative, functional and holistic medicine addresses all aspects of health with a focus on prevention, lifestyle changes, rejuvenation, and overall optimal health maintenance. Our goal is to use our innovative therapies to assist you in revitalizing, restoring and balancing your health thus optimizing your emotional health to support your well-being, joy and vitality!

Optimal Integrative Med Spa 703-865-5577

www.OptimalIntegrativeMedSpa.com A n a t u ra l a n d i n t e g ra t ive a p p ro a c h t o w h o l e - b o dy aesthetics. As an integrative med spa, we bring a unique perspective to aesthetic medicine with a holistic approach. By c o m b i n i n g functional medicine approaches to aesthetic treatments we improve outcomes and significantly reduce down time.

Our successes are due to applying the principles of individualized care and functional medicine approaches.

Come in for your customized plan today.

3930 Pender Dr. Ste. 260 and 280 Fairfax, VA 22030 40

Washington, D.C.

with Proper Nutrition

by Pema Choepel Mallu, DMV

D

ogs and cats are carnivores and they cannot digest grains well. Cats are obligate carnivores that are pre-disposed to diabetes when fed foods with grains. Feeding a raw diet has helped many pets get over Inflammatory bowel disease, allergies in general, ear infections, autoimmune diseases, epilepsy, bladder stones, arthritis, obesity, Cushing’s disease, thyroid disease, liver and kidney disease, pancreatitis and cancer. Raw diets also contribute to improved oral hygiene. If a raw diet is not for you, consider home cooking, freeze-dried raw food, grain-free canned food or grain-free dry food.

Nutrition is the key to maintaining a pet’s vital force and keeping the body and their immune system strong. Providing the individual pet with what their body needs creates balance. Ideally, it is recommended that pets eat a raw diet—full of meat, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, enzymes and probiotics from whole foods that are sourced from non-genetically modified organisms (non-GMO).

Look for meats having a Global Animal Partnership (GAP) rating, produce that is free from pesticides and products packaged in BPA-free packaging. The body knows exactly how to digest whole foods that are free from added antibiotics or hormones, chemicals, synthetic

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vitamins and minerals.

Leaky gut syndrome is a common digestive disorder leading to many inflammatory disease states and must be addressed with a grain-free diet, and ideally a raw diet. Food allergy blood testing can be done to determine what food allergens are causing the irritation in the bowel and leaky gut disorder. Then the specific food allergens are eliminated from the diet, thus healing the leaky gut and secondary inflammatory diseases.

There are many nutritious pet-food lines available such as Answers Pet Food (AnswersPetFood.com), which specializes in raw diets, Stella & Chewy’s (StellaAnd Chewys.com), which makes freeze-dried raw diet and Weruva, which offers a canned diet. Great Life Grain, Potato and Pea-free (DoctorsFinest.com) and Orijen (Orijen.ca) are nutritious dry foods. Highquality food and pure water will improve organ function and poor-quality food can deteriorate overall health.

Dr. Pema Choepel Mallu helps to keep pets healthy and happy at Holistic Veterinary Healing, in Germantown, MD. For more information about proper nutrition and feeding your pet a raw, healthy diet, call her at 240-715-6570 or visit Holistic VeterinaryHealing.com. See ad, page 23.

calendarofevents

MD. Register: 301-986-1090 or Roxanne@The MindfulnessCenter.org.

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

Structural Myofascial Release Certification Series – 9:30am-5:30pm. Through July 26. The fascial system of the body spans the body continuum from the cellular level, where it links the cells together via the cytoskeleton and impacts their metabolism by how nutrients and wastes travel through its ‘ground substance,’ to the structural interconnection of all of the body’s systems.

125 CEUs. $2,312.50 (financing available). Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: 202-686-7046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

Awareness Through Movement – 1:15-2:30pm.

This class offers an innovative approach to movement and health that is beneficial for anyone experiencing fatigue, pain or restriction of movement due to injury, surgery or treatment. Each class guides you through a series of simple exercises which have an effect on your posture, breathing and movement. $10 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 3 First Friday Hot Pilates Drop it like it’s Hot Fitness Party – 8-9pm. Bikram Yoga Riverdale Park, 6202 Rhode Island Ave, Ste 200, Riverdale Park, MD. Info: BikramYogaRiverIC.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4 Linda Lombardi Book Signing – 12-2pm. Ms. Lombardi will be joining us to sign copies of her latest book titled The Pit Bull Life. Copies of the book will be available. The Big Bad Wolf, 6960 Maple St, NW. Register: LindaLombardi.com.

Info: TheBigBadWoof.com.

Teaching Yoga Games and Stories for Kids 3-9 – 1-6pm. 5-hour workshop to teach yoga instructors and others teach yoga to kids ages 3-9. $95. YoKid at YogaNoMa, 1200 First St, NE. Register: YoKid. org/Continuing-ed-Courses-Registration.

SUNDAY, MARCH 5 A Life of Wellevance Workshop – 8:30am-5pm.

A Life of Wellevance Workshops equip you with tools to improve your quality of life through the 8 dimensions of wellness (physical, emotional, occupational, environmental, social, spiritual, financial and intellectual). $129. Be Here Now Yoga, Healing and Wellness, 411 8th St, SE. Register: BeHereNowYogaDC.com/Workshops/?mobile= false&options%5Bids%5D=638&options%5Bsi te_id%5D=212346. Info: 202-643-8875 or Info@ BeHereNowYogaDC.com.

Greyhound Welfare Meet and Greet – 10am12pm. GW will be stopping by with some adorable former track stars looking for their forever home. Some of the dogs go home very quickly so please check the Greyhound Welfare website regularly for updates at GreyHoundWelfare.org.

The Big Bad Woof, 6960 Maple St, NW. Info: TheBigBadWoof.com.

Mommy Playdate – 2-3pm. A community support group and social hour for mothers. Fathers and family members are welcome to join. Free.

Be Here Now Yoga, Healing and Wellness, 411 8th St, SE. Info: 202-642-8875 or Info@BeHereNowYogaDC.com or BeHereNowYogaDC. com/Workshops/?Mobile=false&options%5Bids %5D=667&options%5Bsite_id%5D=212346.

Heart of Touch – 6:30-9:30pm. 6-Week Series: Come experience a taste of PMTI’s powerful learning methods used in the Professional Training Program. You work on neck and shoulders, hands, feet, face and back. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: 202-686-7046 or Info@PMTI. org or PMTI.org.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8 Inner Peace – 7-9pm. Stress reduction tools for everyday living with Alison Babil. $185. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: 202-6867046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

Energetic Well-Being Demonstration – 7:309:30pm. LeRoy Malouf, developer of the Energetic Well-Being Process will conduct a free demonstration to show the powerful effects of his method and energy healing in general. Free. Be Here Now Yoga, Healing and Wellness, 411 8th St, SE. Info: 202-642-8875 or Info@BeHereNowYogaDC.com or BeHereNowYogaDC.com/Workshops/?mobile =false&options%5Bids%5D=705&options%5Bsi te_id%5D=212346.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training – 6-9pm.

Through March 12. This program is perfect for the avid yoga student who wants to become a yoga teacher or anyone that wants to deepen their personal practice. Scholarships available. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda,

FRIDAY, MARCH 10 Women’s Self-Defense Seminar – 7:30-9:30pm.

Empower yourself. Join Heidi Lyndaker, black belt martial artist and learn techniques to defend yourself and unlock your inner warrior. Free. Be Here Now Yoga, Healing and Wellness, 411 8th St, SE. Register:BeHereNowYogaDC.com/Workshops/? mobile=false&options%5Bids%5D=713&options %5Bsite_id%5D=212346. Info: 202-642-8875 or Info@BeHereNowYogaDC.com.

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

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 11 Energetic Well-Being Workshop – 9am-5pm.

Through March 12. Energetic Well-Being is conducting the Essentials Workshop. This workshop is an important step in increasing your skills for clearing away the symptoms of yourself and others. $495. Be Here Now Yoga, Healing and Wellness, 411 8th St, SE. Register: BeHereNowYogaDC. com/Workshops/?mobile=false&options%5Bids% 5D=704&options%5Bsite_id%5D=212346. Info: 202-642-8875 or Info@BeHereNowYogaDC.com.

Best Practices for Teaching Yoga in Schools – 10am-2:30pm. This workshop is an opportunity to connect with fellow practitioners and educators around lessons and best practices to support you and your students in a wide variety of situations. YoKid. Register: YoKid.org/ Continuing-Ed-Courses-Registration.

Delivering Workshops That Bring in Clients – 1-5pm. With instructor Leslie Zucker.

Learn how to market your business, convert clients and earn more money. 4 CEUs. $119. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: 202-6867046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

Healing through your Akashic Records – 1pm. Akashic Records are vibrational information of every soul‘s journey in form. Resolve recurring patterns, heal challenges and empower choices through an Akashic Record healing session. $40. Healing through your Akashic Records, 3301 Black Steer Dr, Finksburg, MD. Register: BillSanda@gmail.com.

Reiki for Children – 1-4pm. This workshop will empower children with the ability to improve concentration, enhance relaxation and sleep and encourage self-awareness through history and instruction in reiki. Ages 7-12. $60. Unity of Fairfax, 2854 Hunger Mill Rd, Oakton, VA. Register: ReikiChildren.EventBrite.com.

Open Fireside Chat Awakening Circle – 7:309:30pm. Co-founders of the DC Awakening Collective Meetup, Cullen Kowalski and Bennett Crawford share direct experiences with meditation in the context of full-time embodied awakening, open heart mutuality and deep healing. $5. Samsara House 2023, 36 R St, NW, Bloomingdale. RSVP: Hello@MeditateEverywhere.com. Info: Bit.ly/ OpenFireside or SamsaraHouse.org.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 12 D.C. Young Adult Cancer Meet-Up and Support Group – 5-6:30pm. Meet other young adult cancer survivors in a monthly facilitated group session. This gathering is a collaborative initiative of local hospitals, health organizations and cancer support groups.

A healthy meal is provided. $15 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

pared together. $25 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Yoga Nidra Bikram Yoga – 6-7pm. Bikram Yoga Riverdale Park, 6202 Rhode Island Ave, Ste 200, Riverdale Park, MD. Info: BikramYogaRiverIC.com.

Essential Mindfulness for Daily Living Workshop – 1-4pm. Many of us are experiencing a great deal of stress and adversity these days because of the never ending demands and pressures of everyday life. This workshop could be for you. $45 pre-registered or $55 at the door. East Meets West Yoga Center, 8227 Old Courthouse Rd, Ste 310, Vienna, VA. Register: EastMeetsWestCenter. com. Info: Hello@MeditateEverywhere.com or Bit.ly/EssentialMindfulness.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

MUIH Webinar: What Does a Community Health Educator Do? – 12-1pm. If you are interested in public health, health education, community health, or health promotion, please join us to get all of your questions answered. We will also briefly touch on the Masters of Science in Health Promotion MUIH offers with a concentration in community health or worksite wellness. Free.

Maryland University of Integrative Health. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

Kids Yoga Foundation Bikram Yoga – 12-1pm.

Bikram Yoga Takoma Park, 7324 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD. Info: BikramYogaRiverIC.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 16 Radiant Child Yoga Teacher Training and Certification – 6-9pm. Through March 19. With Shakta. Teacher training and certification for children’s yoga through Radiant Child Teacher Training with Teacher Shakta. Raj Yoga Center, 22821 Silverbrook Center Dr, Unit 160, 2nd Floor, Sterling, VA. Info: 703-376-3433 or Info@RajYoga.org.

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 17 Weekend Meditation Retreat (Advanced Meditation Seminar M200 - 8hrs) – 6:30-9:30pm. Through March 18. Be guided deep into the realms of personal awareness and integration. As the practitioner, learn to deepen your practice and learn to guide others to do the same. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: 301-9861090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

Sound Healing – 1-3pm. A sonic environment is created using a variety of instruments inciting a deep relaxation. Relax, enjoy and bathe in a shower of soothing tones. $50. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: 301986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

Spring Equinox Yoga Mala – 1-3pm. Please join us in celebrating the equinox. Marco will lead us through the practice of 108 sun salutations (12 rounds of 9), offering an optional yin pose in between each set. $22 for members and $28 for nonmembers. Be Here Now Yoga, Healing and Wellness, 411 8th St, SE. Register: BeHereNowYogaDC. com/Workshops/?mobile=false&options%5Bids% 5D=696&options%5Bsite_id%5D=212346. Info: 202-642-8875 or Info@BeHereNowYogaDC.com.

MONDAY, MARCH 20 Laughter Yoga – 7-8pm. 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: Arlington LaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 21 MUIH Integrative Health Graduate Fair – 6:308:30pm. If you’re considering an academic program at MUIH—either in the spring or fall or beyond— please join us for this special event designed to be fun, inspirational and informational. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

SATURDAY, MARCH 18 Humane Rescue Alliance Adoption Event – 12-3pm. Adopting from the HRA means you’re taking home an animal that is up to date on its vaccinations, neutered, microchipped and, most importantly, snuggle ready. For more adoptable animals, visit their website at HumaneRescue Alliance.org. The Big Bad Woof, 6960 Maple St, NW. Info: TheBigBadWoof.com.

Ayurvedic Spring Cooking Class – 1-4pm. Early spring weather tends to be cool and wet: attributes of the kapha dosha in ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of health and balance. Our menu will feature fresh foods that naturally balance and support the attributes of early spring for our health and happiness. This is a hands-on cooking class that will end with us sharing the meal that has been pre-

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

specialevent Positively Priming the Mind Workshop

Join keynote speaker, Kim Serafini, founder & CEO, to understand how MindPT cultivates a mindset and habit of happiness and success.

Excellent for coaches, practitioners, doctors, healers, educators and others.

Includes lunch. $49.

Friday, March 24 • 10am-1:30pm Tower Club, Tysons Corner 8000 Towers Crescent Drive, Suite 1700, Tyson, VA 22182.

703-761-4250 PositivePrimingForSuccess.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 25 Winter Volunteer Teacher Training – TBD. Workshop on curriculum and methods of teaching students in the YoKid program. YoKid. Register: YoKid.org/Volunteer.

Healing Touch Level 1 – 8:30am-6pm. Through March 26. Enhance wellness in yourself and in the lives of those you care about by using the gift of energetic touch. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: 202-686-7046 or Info@ PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

How to Start a Veggie Garden Workshop – 9am-12pm. Start a veggie garden based on your goals and dreams in with this fun and informative how-to class and workshop. Worksheets and handouts included. $55. Prior Unity Garden is a short walk to the Vienna Metro, James St, Fairfax, VA. Register: PriorUnityGarden.com/ HowtoStartVeggie.html. Info: 703-281-7743 or Gardeners@PriorUnityGarden.com.

Reiki 1 – 9:30am-6pm. 7 CEUs. $200. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: 202-6867046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

Stitch Together and Dance – 12:30-4:30pm. Join us for a potluck lunch and afternoon of knitting to foster wellness, comfort and community. Project Knitwell will have complete pattern kits and supplies available for purchase, or you may bring your own project. We will end the day with a 1.5 hour Moving Dialogues dance workshop with Kelly King. $35 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Moving Dialogues: The Yarn of Your Truth – 3-4:30pm. Join us to shed light on individual personal experiences through physical movement and expression by answering the question: What is My Truth? We will use yarn to weave together our stories and encourage you to bring a knitted item that best reflects you. Prior dance experience is not needed. $15 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

MONDAY, MARCH 27

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

MUIH Webinar: Yoga Teacher to Yoga Therapist – 1-2pm. No matter how passionate or talented, very few people can create a fulltime, long-term career as a yoga teacher. Learn about what it takes to become a yoga therapy practitioner and whether you’re ready for the transition. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

Holy Saturday Silent Meditation Retreat – 9am3pm. In preparation for Easter, spend the day in noble silence, meditating and creating a space to be still and listen. Love offering. Unity of Fairfax, 2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA. Register: UnitySilentRetreat.EventBrite.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 24

specialevent

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29 MUIH Webinar: Herbs for Spring Allergies – 12-1pm. Learn about a number of springtime herbal strategies to alleviate seasonal allergies.

This webinar will include information on specific herbal teas, supplements, diet suggestions, essential oil treatments and sinus oil blends allowing you to put together a ‘tool kit’ for hay fever. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

THURSDAY, MARCH 30 Movie Night – 7-9pm. This month’s groundbreaking documentary, Food Choices, explores the impact that food choices have on the health of people, our planet and other living species. $5 (donation). Neck Back and Beyond, 10560 Main St, Ste 204, Fairfax, VA. Info: 703-865-5690 or NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31 Introductory Evening for the HeartSoak Weekend Retreat – 7:30-9:30pm. If you have any interest in accelerating your own awakening and streamlining your further healing, growth and full expression of your life-purpose, don’t miss this extraordinary weekend with founder Saniel Bonder and Senior teacher Linda Groves-Bonder and other. $20 pre-registered or $30 at the door. East Meets West Yoga Center, 8227 Old Courthouse Rd, Ste 310, Vienna, VA. Register: EastMeetsWestCenter. com. Info: Goo.gl/ghLPBG (retreat information) or Cullen@MeditateEverywhere.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

specialevent The Intelligent Body: Reversing Chronic Fatigue and Pain from the Inside-Out

OBX Spring Retreat

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

specialevent

Monday, April 24 to Sunday, April 30 Register: OBXSpringRetreat.com

The Art of Spiritual Healing

MONDAY, APRIL 24 Laughter Yoga – 7-8pm. 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.

Tuesdays through May 23. Learn the lessons from Joel Goldsmith’s The Art of Spiritual Healing, which addresses not only physical ailments but imbalances in relationships, prosperity, business and more. $100

Tuesdays, April 4 to May 23

THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Unity of Fairfax 2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA. Register: Healing_Unity.EventBrite.com.

specialevent

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 Dolphin Healing Adventure – Through April 13. Dolphin healing Adventure Red Sea, Egypt, everyone who commits loves dolphins, commits to the self is welcome. Price upon request. GRID Alternatives Mid-Atlantic and MDV-SEIA at Red Sea, Hurghada, Egypt. Register: 518-208-0509 or IkieraHealing@gmail.com. Info: IkieraHealing. com/Healing-Offers/Dolphin-Lovers.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

specialevent Nurture Your Passion, Nourish Your Soul: Women’s Wellness Retreat

Psychologist Kyle Davies explains the origins of chronic symptoms and outlines the road to recovery. In this two-day, experiential workshop, Davies will share his successful, proven Energy-Flow Coaching model of illness and recovery that has helped hundreds of sufferers achieve optimal health and wellness.

This retreat is for women who are serving, caretaking, or contributing to the world and holding frustration, anger, or sadness in her heart. $495 (starting price).

1401 North Adams, Arlington Info: KyleDavies.net/IntelligentBodyWorkshop/.

Healing in Service Blue Mountain Retreat Center.

Register: Leora@HealingInService.com.

Info: HealingInService.com/Womens-Retreat.

Saturday, April 1 • 10am-5pm Sunday, April 2 • 10am-5pm

Experience a week of beachfront luxury and self-care beach fitness, hatha yoga, massage, meditation, kayaking, crafts and raw food demos and workshops. Delicious cuisine, green juices and fresh coconut water every day, all prepared for you in this all-inclusive retreat.

Thursday, April 13 to 16 • 6pm

Foundational Event for Trinity School of Natural Health

This Foundational Event provides students with the knowledge of core natural health competencies needed, not only to improve their health but also the health of those around them.

April 27 to May 3

1500 N. Military Hwy., Virginia Beach For more info: Call 800-428-0408 or visit TrinitySchool.org

MONDAY, MAY 1 Spiritual Practices Class – 7-9pm. Mondays through May 22. Explore the world of spiritual practices in this experiential survey class that will include qigong, tai chi, kundalini yoga, chanting and more. $15/class or $50 in advance. Unity of Fairfax, 2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA. Info: SpiritualPractices.EventBrite.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 6 World Labyrinth Day Workshop and Labyrinth Walk – 12-2pm. Participate in World Labyrinth day by learning about and experiencing the spiritual practice of walking a labyrinth. Love offering. Unity of Fairfax, 2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA. Info: UnityOfFairfax.org.

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ongoingevents 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.

Cancer Support Group – 6-7:30pm. 2nd and 4th Sun. This support group provides participants with the opportunity to explore their experience with cancer in a safe group setting with a trained social worker and to connect with others who are facing a similar challenge. Please RSVP by phone prior to your first visit. Free. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Mindfulness in Recovery – 6:30-8pm. This group is open to new meditators and seasoned practitioners alike with a common interest in the intersection of Buddhist teachings and 12 Step recovery.

All 12 Steppers are welcome and we ask that participants have at least 90 days of continuous recovery and a working relationship with a home 12-Step recovery group be established before attending your first meeting. This group is not a replacement for our individual 12 Step programs. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

monday

Chair Yoga – 12-1pm. You are invited to relax deeply as we move through a series of gentle seated and supported poses that promote self-care. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation).

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

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

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

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.

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

Info: SmithCenter.org/Calendar.

Mindfulness Meditation – 7-8pm. 2nd and 4th Wed. $15 donations accepted. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Ste 600, Silver Spring, MD. Register: 202-686-7046 or Info@PMTI.org or PMTI.org.

Teen Sanga – 7:30-9pm. 2nd and 4th Wed. The teen sangha provides a framework for exploring

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.

Gentle Yoga – 10:30-11:45am. Gentle yoga classes to help reduce stress and balance the mind, body and spirit. All experience levels welcome. $10/ class or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

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.

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one’s inner life, understanding the causes of emotional stress and realizing the possibility of inner freedom. We explore key Buddhist teachings and how they can be helpful in navigating life’s inevitable challenges. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown.

Info: Living-Mindfully.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.

Gentle Yoga – 10:15-11:30am. See Mon for details. $10/class or $25/month (suggested donation).

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

Introduction to Iyengar Yoga Short Course – 12:10-1:10pm. 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thurs. If you are new to yoga or a current yoga practitioner curious about Iyengar yoga, come for this short course introducing Iyengar fundamentals. $48 for the entire series. Yoga 4 All Bodies, 12021 Creekbend Dr, Reston, VA. Register: 703-297-2224 or Yoga4AllBodies.com.

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, Dance, Create – 11am-12:15pm. Stretch your creative capacity, feel good and connect with fellow participants. Featuring a variety of dance styles, the class is a well-paced and refreshing experience for all. $10/session or $25/month (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

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

Meditation Circle and Vegetarian Potluck – 6 pm. Guided meditation with music begins at 7:30. $10 (suggested donation). 12803 Twinbrook Pkwy, Ste 204, Rockville. Register: Contact Carol “Anandi” 269-365-8939.

saturday Refuge Recovery – 6:30-8pm. Refuge Recovery is a mindfulness-based recovery program and community that utilizes Buddhist philosophy as the foundation of the recovery process. Based on the Four Noble Truths and Eight-fold Path, emphasis is placed on both knowledge and empathy as a means for overcoming addiction and its causes.

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

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

ACUPUNCTURE NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 12.

VIRGINIA MITCHELL, M.AC., L.AC., DIP’L AC. Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com

Virginia Mitchell is board-certified acupuncturist specializing in pain management, fertility support and stress reduction. She also treats other conditions including allergies, anxiety, depression, arthritis, back, neck or shoulder pain, migraines, headaches, fibromyalgia, autoimmune disorders, insomnia, and sports injuries. Virginia is also a trained massage therapist focusing on acupressure and zero balancing. See ad, page 11.

ACUPUNCTURE EDUCATION VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE

9401 Mathy Dr, Ste 100, Fairfax 703-323-5690 VUOM.edu Virginia University of Oriental Medicine is a private, nonprofit and accredited university offering graduate degree programs in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. They also offer licensed acupuncturists the opportunity to advance and develop their professional skills through continuing education. See ad, page 33.

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

C e r t i f i e d a r o m at h e r ap i s t 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 12.

BEDROOM FURNITURE SAVVY REST NATURAL BEDROOM

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

See ad, page 10.

CANCER SUPPORT NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES

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

If you are diagnosed with cancer, there are supportive treatments which may enhance the body’s ability to fight cancer and help the traditional cancer treatments work more effectively.

Integrative, holistic medicine combines traditional and adjunctive complementary treatments to restore the patient to a better state of health and improve the quality of life. Whereas traditional medicine will focus on treating the tumor, the holistic approach is to focus on the patient and outcome. See ad, page 15.

CANNABIS PRODUCTS

CATERING GREENFARE

408 Elden St., Herdon, VA 703-689-0506 GreenFare.com GreenFare is an innovative community cafe and learning center that serves organic, whole plant food in concert with medical professionals, environmentalists, and animal welfare advocates who recognize that this optimal diet can positively transform our world. Open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

CHIROPRACTOR NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER DR. ALLAN TOMSON, DC

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 • NeckBackAndBeyond.com NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com Dr. Allan Tomson, DC, director of Neck Back & Beyond Healing Arts in Fairfax, VA with a satellite office in Manassas, VA. He is not your ordinary chiropractor with skills and experience in functional medicine, visceral manipulation, cranial sacral therapy and Cayce protocols. See ad, page 12.

SHAANS CHIROPRACTIC AND SPORTS REHAB CLINIC

2946 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Ste 2-A, Falls Church, VA • 703-237-2161 Contact@ShahverdiChiropractic.com ShahverdiChiropractic.com Chiropractic preventive care, naturally. See ad, page 26.

CBD REVOLUTION US

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

We are an innovative community, passionate about empowering individuals to balance their health and wealth while becoming leaders in the cannabis movement. We spread the truth about the benefits of an amazing plant in our modern culture, teaching people how to get healthy without the high. See ad, page 15.

DR. VISHAL VERMA, DC, CCSP Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 RoseWellness.com

Dr. Verma specializes in functional ch i ropr a c t i c c are for p ai n management and active restoration of the body. He treating root causes using gentle chiropractic, physical therapy, cold laser therapy and rehabilitation for fast effective results. Dr. Verma treats back, neck, spine and joint pain, sciatica, sports injuries, fibromyalgia, and various other chronic and acute pain conditions. See ad, page 11.

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CLEANING

DENTISTRY, HOLISTIC

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 25.

COACHING THE COME ALIVE PROJECT

703-217-2746 Bob@TheComeAliveProject.com TheComeAliveProject.com We provide information about health, fitness and positive personal energy for active seniors.

See ad, page 11.

NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES

5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 • NIHADC.com The professional health team at NIHA is comprised of holistic medical physicians, biological dentists, naturopaths, a chiropractor and health professionals highly skilled in acupuncture, nutrition and other healing therapies. See ad, page 15.

TERRY VICTOR, DDS THE DC DENTIST

509 11th St, SE, DC 202-544-3626 Staff@TheDCDentist.com TheDCDentist.com Dr. Victor’s practice believes patients’ needs are primary.

Holistic dentistry integrates dental health with your overall health.

The DC Dentist—holistic, biological and eco-friendly. See ad, page 29.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com An effective method for cleansing the colon and large intestine. It helps to renew and cleanse the cells, purify the blood and give life to the digestive system. Accumulation of toxic waste materials in the body, also known as autointoxication, is the root cause of many diseases. CHT allows the body to get rid of these toxins, and is a necessary part of any type of detox program or cleanse. See ad, page 12.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACY GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

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

EDUCATION VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE

9401 Mathy Dr, Ste 100, Fairfax 703-323-5690 VUOM.edu Virginia University of Oriental Medicine is a private, nonprofit and accredited university offering graduate degree programs in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. They also offer licensed acupuncturists the opportunity to advance and develop their professional skills through continuing education. See ad, page 33.

FAT REDUCTION THERAPY ZERONA FAT REDUCTION

2946 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Ste 2-A, Falls Church, VA • 703-237-2161 Contact@ShahverdiChiropractic.com ShahverdiChiropractic.com

Prescriptions with personal attention (we accept all insurance). Compounding pharmacy for special medications and your pet’s special needs. Integrating pharmacy services with nutritional support. Juice Bar, holistic health and wellness workshops, cooking classes for disease management and an infrared sauna with acoustic sound therapy. See ad, page 23.

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Effective, non-invasive, fat reduction therapy. See ad, page 26.

HARMONY LIFE COACHING HIGHEST HARMONY HEALING AND COACHING

Rev Carol Anandi Richardson M.Div., MPH Body-Mind-Spirit Coach, Mystic Healer, Speaker, Author 12803 Twinbrook Pkwy, Ste 204, Rockville, MD • 269-365-8939 Carol.Dodson.Richardson@gmail.com HighestHarmony.Guru Mastermind Stars: Mindfulness and Movement Programs for students, teachers and families. See ad, page 29.

HEALTHY PETS WHOLE PET CENTRAL

Info@WholePetCentral.com WholePetCentral.com We are your one-stop destination for all things natural regarding your pet’s nutritional and grooming needs. Shop online or visit one of our stores locations in Rockville, MD, Herndon, VA or Ashburn, VA. See ad, page 16.

HERBS MOTHER NATURE’S 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 12.

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

Elizabeth McMillan is a boardcertified clinical nutritionist specializing in functional nutrition.

She believes in finding the root cause of aliments and creating a personalized dietary plan to restore optimal wellness. Elizabeth specializes in diab etes, fo o d s ensitivities, gastrointestinal health, autoimmunity and metabolic syndrome issues. Call today to see how she can help. See ad, page 11.

HOLISTIC PARENTING HOLISTIC MOMS NETWORK ARLINGTON/ALEXANDRIA CHAPTER Bit.ly/HMN-MetroDC

Supportive communities for parents following natural lifestyles with six local D.C.area chapters, Metro D.C. area chapters in Arlington/Alexandria, Burke/ Springfield, Northern Virginia/Fairfax, Loudoun in Virginia and in Anne Arundel County and Montgomery County in Maryland.

MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE

571-358-8645 Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com MindfulHealthyLife.com Online lifestyle magazine for D. C . - are a n atu r a l minded families. Event calendar, resource directory, blog. News, events, giveaways, profiles, tips for holistic healthy living and mindful parenting.

HOLISTIC PEDIATRIC CARE NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES 5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 • NIHADC.com

Holistic pediatric and young adult care combines the healing power of traditional Western medicine with safe, complementary healing therapies. This approach addresses the whole child, not just the symptoms that brought you to the doctor, and encourages the immune system to heal naturally.

See ad, page 15.

HOLISTIC PRIMARY CARE NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES 5225 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 402, NW 202-237-7000 • NIHADC.com

Holistic primary care is an integrative approach that treats the whole person: mind/body and spirit. A primary care provider coordinates all of the health care a patient receives. This total patient care considers the physical and emotional needs of the person and how health issues may be affecting those needs. Whether you are coming in for an annual check-up or managing a chronic disease, we focus on the whole person, not just your disease or symptoms. We consider lifestyle, nutrition and stress management and put together a treatment plan to help you attain an optimum level of wellness. See ad, page 15.

parenting.

NATIONAL INTEGRATED HEALTH ASSOCIATES

HOMEOPATHY

MICHAEL LISS

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

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

See ad, page 11.

The professional health team at NIHA is comprised of holistic medical physicians, biological dentists, naturopaths, a chiropractor and health professionals highly skilled in acupuncture, nutrition and other healing therapies. See ad, page 15

Rose Wellness Center 571-529-6699 • RoseWellness.com

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE SUSHMA HIRANI, MD

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Dr. Sushma Hirani uses an integrative approach to wellness, utilizing conventional medicine and evidence-based complementary therapies. She strives to treat the whole person an d e mph a s i z e s nut r it i on , preventive care and lifestyle changes. Dr. Hirani specializes in the treatment of chronic issues such as hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, menopause and women’s health issues. Patients love her compassionate care and personalized attention. See ad, page 11.

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 2.

ALEX LEON, MD

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

OPTIMAL HEALTH DIMENSIONS

3930 Pender Dr, Ste 260 & 280, Fairfax 703-359-9300 OptimalHealthDimensions.com We offer integrative medicine lead by Dr. Leila H Zackrison MD. Along with offering modern medicine and technologies, we offer time tested, powerful, profound healing techniques developed centuries ago. This is what makes us uniquely effective in the ever-expanding region of health care. See ad, page 40.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Suffering from chronic pain, fatigue, allergies, stress? Whatever your health challenges, Rose Wellness Center can help you get on the path to real wellness. We help identify hormone, metabolic, digestive, nutritional and food sensitivity issues to get to the root cause of your health problems, where true healing begins. Our services include digestive and women’s health programs, hormone balancing, acupuncture, Lyme treatment, homeopathy and thyroid management. See ad, page 11.

TAKOMA PARK ALTERNATIVE CARE 6930 Carroll Ave, Ste 412, Takoma Park 301-328-3045 Info@TakomaCare.com • TakomaCare.com

Pediatric and adult evaluations for D.C. and MD by certified medicinal cannabis specialist.

Tr e a t m e n t / d o s i n g recommendations; nonp s ycho a c t ive proto c ols available. No residenc y restrictions for MD program. See ad, page 23.

Dr. Alex Leon is a board-certified family physician specializing in integrative functional medicine to help restore and maintain your wellbeing. He has a special interest in men’s health care, chronic pain syndromes including musculoskeletal problems, fibromyalgia, bioidentical hormone replacement for men and women, chronic conditions including hypothyroidism, gastrointestinal disorders and allergic disorders. He treats kids too. See ad, page 11.

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MASSAGE

MURAL PAINTING

POTOMAC MASSAGE THERAPY INSTITUTE 8380 Colesville Rd., Ste. 600 Silver Spring 202-686-7046 • PMTI.org

Whether you are looking for a new career, interested in continuing your education to expand your knowledge as a massage therapist, or drawn to take an introductory class on massage and bodywork for yourself, family and friends— come join the circle at PMTI. Classes and workshops available, as well as $39 Student and $59 Graduate 1-hour massages. See ad, page 35.

MASSAGE INSTRUCTION

MAGIC WAND MURALS

7417 Cedar Ave, Takoma Park, MD MagicWandMurals@gmail.com MagicWandMurals.com • 513-259-4842 Artist Nancy Illman empowers clients of all ages to create a room of their dreams, painting murals based on the fondest wishes of their imagination.

NATURAL LIVING RESOURCE MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE OF METRO DC

Jessica@MindfulHealthyLife.com MindfulHealthyLife.com • 571-358-8645 Blog, calendar and directory for natural living, holistic parenting and family wellness.

8380 Colesville Rd., Ste. 600 Silver Spring 202-686-7046 • PMTI.org

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA

TAKOMA PARK ALTERNATIVE CARE 6930 Carroll Ave, Ste 412, Takoma Park 301-328-3045 • TakomaCare.com Info@TakomaCare.com

ORIENTAL MEDICINE VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE

9401 Mathy Dr, Ste 100, Fairfax 703-323-5690 • VUOM.edu Virginia University of Oriental Medicine is a private, nonprofit and accredited university of fer ing g radu ate deg re e programs in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. They also offer licensed acupuncturists the opportunity to advance their professional skills and development with continuing education. See ad, page 35.

MEDICAL SPA OPTIMAL INTEGRATIVE MED SPA 3930 Pender Dr, Ste 260 & 280, Fairfax 703-865-5577 OptimalIntegrativeMedSpa.com

A natural and integrative approach to whole-body aesthetics. As an integrative med spa, we bring a unique perspective to aesthetic medicine with a holistic approach. By combining functional medicine approaches to aesthetic treatments, we improve outcomes and reduce down time. See ad, page 40.

Washington, D.C.

Great Falls, VA 703-738-4230 • NurturedBones.com

Nurtured Bones provides a holistic approach to addressing osteoporosis and bone loss. Our BONES method will help you build strong, healthy bones for life. See ad, page 23.

NURTURED BONES Great Falls, VA 703-738-4230 NurturedBones.com

Nurtured Bones provides a holistic approach to addressing osteoporosis and bone loss. Our BONES method will help you build strong, healthy bones for life. See ad, page 23.

POLARITY THERAPY

Pediatric and adult evaluations for D.C. and MD by certified medicinal cannabis specialist.

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See ad, page 23.

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NURTURED BONES

PHYSICAL THERAPY

POTOMAC MASSAGE THERAPY INSTITUTE

Whether you are looking for a new career, interested in continuing your education to expand your knowledge as a massage therapist, or drawn to take an introductory class on massage and bodywork for yourself, family and friends— come join the circle at PMTI. Classes and workshops available, as well as $39 Student and $59 Graduate 1-hour massages. See ad, page 35.

OSTEOPOROSIS SUPPORT

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Janice M Johnson NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690 Allow me to join you in creating your own individualized treatment program, which provides a safe and supportive experience for your healing process, with Polarity Therapy and Swiss Bionic Solutions MRS 2000 (Magnetic Resonance Stimulation) pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF). See ad, page 12.

PRESCRIPTIONS GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

46950 Community Plaza, Ste 112, Sterling, VA ElsaLam@GoldenHealthPharmacy GoldenHealthPharmacy.com • 703-430-8883 Prescriptions with personal attention (we accept all insurance). Compounding pharmacy for special medications and your pet’s special needs. Integrating pharmacy services with nutritional support. Juice Bar, holistic health and wellness workshops, cooking classes for disease management and an infrared sauna with acoustic sound therapy. See ad, page 23.

RETREAT CENTER SEVENOAKS RETREAT CENTER

403 Pathwork Way Madison VA 22727 SevenoaksRetreat.org • 540-948-6544 A serene and beautiful sanctuary for retreats where mindfulness and healing can occur. The lush grounds, forest and walking trails are inspirational and tranquil with wildlife and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains nearby. See ad, page 16.

ROSE WELLNESS CENTER

SPORTS REHABILITATION

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

SHAANS CHIROPRACTIC AND SPORTS REHAB CLINIC

2946 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Ste 2-A, Falls Church, VA • 703-237-2161 Contact@ShahverdiChiropractic.com ShahverdiChiropractic.com Shaans Chiropractic is a topranked provider of effective patient-centered care for many types of sports injuries, including injuries involving the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. See ad, page 26.

VETERINARIAN - HOLISTIC

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Storytelling for Adults and Children 703-568-0698 S_Coti@hotmail.com • IHearVoices.biz I am a storyteller who uses world tales and original stories to delight and inspire couples, dinner party guests, families or participants in other group events. See ad, page 29.

SHIATSU THERAPIST NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Nathalie Depastas 10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690 Nathalie Depastas is a highly skilled acupuncturist and Shiatsu therapist with 30 years of experience in Chinese medicine, including medical qigong. See ad, page 12.

SPIRITUAL LIVING

Rose Wellness Center for Integrative Medicine offers Thermography or Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI). This noninvasive diagnostic technique creates thermal images that are analyzed for abnormalities and early signs of disease. Thermal imaging is painless, non-invasive, does not involve any compression and emits no radiation. Call today to setup your scan. See ad, page 11.

THERMOGRAPHY

Pema Choepel Mallu, DVM, CVA, M.Ac. L.Ac 12627 Wisteria Dr, Ste C/D, Germantown, MD 240-715-6570 HolVetHealing@gmail.com HolisticVeterinaryHealing.com We offer integrative compassionate veterinary care. We view your animal as a whole focusing on the root cause of dis-harmony for long-term healing. See ad, page 23.

YOGA

NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

YOGA WITH NYA

Nya@YogaWithNya.com YogaWithNya.com

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com • 703-865-5690 Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA, offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 12.

yogawit nya@yogawit washington, dc ∙ 202

UNITY OF GAITHERSBURG

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

out their potential.

yoga with

Nya A lemay hu is a yoga instructor in Washington, D.C., dedicated to building community through sharing the practice of∙ private y o g a . N y a o f f e r s p r i v a t∙ especialty ∙ sunday commu instruction and workplace yoga. at Un See ad, page 13. ∙ wor

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

natural awakenings

March 2017

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Tur� Your Passion Into a Business

Own a Natural Awakenings Magazine Our publishers ranked us among the highest in franchise satisfaction for our Training, Support, Core Values and Integrity!*

As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you can empower yourself and others to create a healthier world while working from your home earning an income doing something you love!

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natural awakenings

March 2017

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Let nature be your teacher. —William Wordsworth

Graduate Degrees in Holistic Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, and more Maryland University of Integrative Health is one of the nation’s only accredited graduate schools with an academic and clinical focus on natural health.

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: Nutrition and Integrative Health | Herbal Medicine | Health and Wellness Coaching Health Promotion | Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine | Yoga Therapy

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Washington, D.C.

Online and on campus programs muih.edu 800-735-2968 NaturalAwakeningsDC.com