Natural Awakenings Washington DC July 2016

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Female Farmers

Growing Numbers Emphasize Eco-Values

Summer Barbecues

A Delicious Way To Stay Healthy

Real News that Matters Independent Media Tell Us the Truth

Locavore

LINGO What All the Food Labels Really Mean

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

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Barnard MEDICAL CENTER

Your state-of-the-art medical center

Your path to good nutrition

Complete Care for a Healthier You

Your personalized health plan

Our Focus Is on Nutrition • Comprehensive nutrition counseling with registered dietitians • Group cooking classes • Recipes and resources

Special Expertise in • Weight Control • Heart Health • Diabetes • Chronic Conditions 2

Washington, D.C.

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We Spend Extra Time with You • Our team spends extended time with each patient to address their medical needs.

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

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

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

When I was in graduate school in Ohio some years ago, I had some forward-thinking professors that challenged me to expand my understanding of the world as presented through the mainstream media. It has been a few years since I graduated from that program and the media landscape has changed quite a bit since then. Now, anyone with a cellphone can be a reporter of everyday moments of life, which could be seen as a move toward democratizing our public discourse—and it has, to some extent. I would argue that acts of racism have Robin with Maryland been exposed in ways unseen in previous decades State Senator Jamie Raskin because of the capacity to capture them on film and quickly get those images to the world.

At the same time, we have witnessed the conglomeration of media companies to the point that only six corporations, whose names everyone knows, control the vast majority of what we watch, listen to and read. Natural Awakenings, a fierce member of the self-proclaimed independent media, stands alongside other emerging and vitally important voices that are finding the cracks in the wall established by the dominating media companies.

Our feature this month on the rise and importance of independent media shines a spotlight on where we are as an “audience” and suggests where we might want to move our attention. From my grad school reading list, I was introduced to media theorist Neil Postman, author of Amusing Ourselves to Death. He notes that, “We in America are the best entertained and least informed society in the world.” However, it doesn’t have to be that way.

One voice that has been challenging the status quo for decades is State Senator Jamie Raskin, who is now running for Congress in Maryland’s 8th District. My interview with him this month is not to support his election bid but to highlight his compelling voice for serious and sustained action to work on the overarching problem of climate change. Beyond an issue to deal with in isolation, climate change impacts so many other issues, such as poverty, trade policy, criminal justice and immigration, that we, as a civilization must now face. One could argue that it is precisely the silence of the impenetrable media machine, supported by companies that profit by maintaining the status quo, that has allowed climate change to go unchecked (and even denied) for far too long. In my interview with State Senator Raskin, we explore why we face some of the problems that are before us and steps we can take to make positive changes.

Also highlighted this month is the summer harvest. I met an amazing urban farmer, Zachari Curtis of Good Sense Farms, at the Green Festival in May and learned how urban farming is playing an important role in bringing locally produced food and creating a new conversation in what it means to be a community. They also make an amazing mushroom jerky.

Finally, I must mention that I was thrilled to interview Michael Lang, well known for producing Woodstock in 1969. He is working with local producers to bring to the region the Lovelight Yoga and Arts Festival at the end of August. As part of this event, there will be a tribute to the role that yoga played in making Woodstock the event that it was. There is much happening at Lovelight, and we are proud to be media sponsors and plan to be there for the entire festival. We hope that you will too!

neverglossy.alwaysgreen 6

Washington, D.C.

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Robin Fillmore, Publisher

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contents 8 newsbriefs 1 1 healthbriefs 14 globalbriefs 1 7 ecotip 11 25 breakthrough 29 business

spotlight 3 1 yogaspotlight 32 money matters 14 33 firstperson 35 community

spotlight 36 event

spotlight 4 1 calendar 17 46 resourceguide

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

18 REAL NEWS

THAT MATTERS

Independent Media Tell Us the Truth

by Linda Sechrist

20 SOIL SISTERS

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by Lisa Kivirist

20

Female Farmers Come of Age

22 LOCAVORE LINGO

What All the Food Labels Really Mean

by Judith Fertig

24 SUMMER BARBECUES

A Delicious Way To Stay Healthy

advertising & submissions

By Elizabeth McMillan

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.

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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.

28 DETOX

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

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

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26 MOM’S KITCHEN

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Kids That Learn to Cook Grow Up Eating Healthier

by Jen Haugen

It’s Time You Try One

by Beyla Mitchen Ogunfolu

34 A SHOT

Without the Hangover

by Isabel Sharkar

36 CREATING COMMUNITY

34

AND EMERGING VOICES

at The Lovelight Yoga and Arts Festival

by Robin Fillmore

38 JAMIE RASKIN

An Interview with the Maryland State Senator natural awakenings July 2016

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newsbriefs DC Meditates on National Mall Rescheduled for August

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he greater D.C. area is known throughout the country as having a robust and thriving community of meditators and meditation teachers. All are invited—longtime meditators and those new to the practice (including those who have never meditated)—to a time of meditation from 4 to 6 p.m. on August 6 on the National Mall, at the Sylvan Theater. The event will offer loving-kindness meditation, mindfulness, music and food in an effort to bring healing to a world of violence.

The free event is co-sponsored by The Mindfulness Center, BuddhaFest and Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C. There will be teachings and a meditation, led Debbie Norris, Ph.D., founder of the Mindfulness Center. Norris is a health scientist who has trained extensively in mind-body therapies and teaches meditation and trains new meditation teachers in Bethesda and in a new online course. Lauren Chelec Cafritz will offer breath-work and Angela Blueskies, will offer soul-stirring and deeply connected music for all to enjoy.

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

Location: The Sylvan Theater is located next to the Washington Monument at the corner of 15th NW and Independence Ave. For more information, TheMindfullness Center.org. See ad, page 29.

Nubian Heritage Offers New Organic Skincare Options

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ubian Heritage’s line of luxurious bath, body and hair products—made from traditional recipes with authentic certified organic and natural ingredients for smoother, revitalized skin—has now been expanded, with a special discount available on the entire line this month. The African Black Soap Collection is made with palm ash, tamarind extract and plantain peel, and has been used in Africa for centuries to minimize the appearance of skin blemishes and other skin ailments. The deep nourishing formula helps in exfoliation and hydration revealing radiant and healthy looking skin.

Other products made by the company, part of Sundial Brands, include the Indian Hemp and Haitian Vetiver collection that uses naturally anti-inflammatory hemp seed oil; the Coconut and Papaya Collection; plus bar soaps, body washes and lotions, hand creams, organic-infused Shea butter, aluminum-free deodorant, sugar body scrub, massage oil and bath bombs. Shea butter, an ingredient in all of the products, is obtained from cooperatives in Ghana that help develop self-sustaining businesses there.

For more information or to order products, call 631-842-8800, email HMerritt@ SundialBrands.com or visit NubianHeritage.com. See ad for special discount, page 40.

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Illuminate Annapolis

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ome to the Illuminate Annapolis Mind-Body-Spirit Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 17. It will be a wonder-filled day of natural health, including acupuncture, massage, reiki, reflexology, energy healing, herbal remedies, essential oils and more. Vetted intuitive readers including psychic mediums, Native American shamans and professional tarot readers will be offering their services at special festival rates.

There will also be free workshops and live music. Artisans will be offering handmade jewelry, glassware, luxurious spa products, beautiful crystals and unique textiles from India.

Illuminate Annapolis founder Judy Bazis has been organizing holistic festivals for more than six years in Frederick, Maryland. Her company, Love and Light Events, LLC, launched the Illuminate Frederick Mind-BodySpirit Festival in April 2015. This is her first festival in the Annapolis area.

“Illuminate festivals cater to professionals who are interested in myriad holistic modalities,” notes Bazis. “We do a couple of things differently than other festivals. We hire a feng shui consultant to assure that our events have a good energy flow. We also throw an Exhibitor Appreciation Party a couple of weeks after our events. It allows our 80-plus exhibitors to connect and network because they are far too busy to do so at the festivals. We are not simply selling booth space; it is our intention to weave the fabric of the healing community together.”

Cost: $10. Location: Doubletree by Hilton, 210 Holiday Crt., Annapolis, Maryland.

Visit IlluminateAnnapolis.com for details.

Diabetes Cooking and Nutrition Course

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he nonprofit Barnard Medical Center is offering Food for Life, a cooking and nutrition course to help people with Type 2 diabetes, or pre-diabetes, put the latest medical research into immediate practice. Each class offers a cooking demonstration, and provides samples of delicious, diabetes-fighting dishes, along with a take-home packet of easy-to-prepare and affordable recipes. The course will be offered each Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. from July 5 to August 2, at the Barnard Medical Center, in NW D.C. The curriculum, designed by Neal Barnard, M.D., FACC, is based on clinical research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, that shows a plantbased prescription—vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes—improves blood sugar control three times as effectively as a standard diabetes diet and outperforms leading medications, leaving only desirable side effects: weight loss, improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol, and a reduced risk for obesity, heart disease and certain forms of cancer. This five-class series is specifically designed for those who are looking for a nonpharmacological solution to today’s most pressing health problems.

Local Food for Life instructor and health coach Kara Blank-Gonzalez will cover important diabetes-nutrition topics, from blood sugar control to insulin function, and guide students through the preparation of tasty and easy-toprepare recipes. Participants are strongly encouraged to work with their health care team to safely make dietary changes.

This prescription continues to earn accolades from national medical organizations, including Kaiser Permanente and Kim Williams, M.D., FACC, former president of the American College of Cardiology, to contemporary stars, including Beyoncé and Venus Williams.

There is no cost to attend but registration is required. Location: 5100 Wisconsin Ave, N.W., Ste. 400, Washington, D.C. To register, contact Rose Saltalamacchia at 202-527-7314 or RSalt@pcrm.org. For more information about Food for Life cooking and nutrition course, visit BarnardMedical.org. See ad, page 2.

I praise loudly.

I blame softly. ~Catherine the Great

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Functional medicine, nutrition and lab testing: • Type II Diabetes • Thyroid Conditions • Fibromyalgia • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome • Sleep Disorders • Peripheral Neuropathy • Chronic Pain Management We also provide acupuncture, cold laser and chiropractic for complete holistic care in a one-stop natural health facility.

Craig D. Sanford, DC FIAMA, FMCP American Association Of Integrative Medicine

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CALL FOR YOUR CONSULTATION 703-821-1013 1485 Chain Bridge Rd, Ste. 100, McLean, VA

NOVA Center for Alternative Medicine natural awakenings July 2016

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newsbriefs Transformational Journey to Peru

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ringing together ancient traditions of healing and spiritual practice from around the world, Heart of the Mother Retreats provide the opportunity for seekers to enter into deep communion with the ancient plant sacrament, Ayahuasca, while being fully supported by experienced facilitators. Held in a safe and loving space, Ayahuasca ceremonies bring profound healing and understanding through a process of surrender and transformation. The next Heart of the Mother Retreat will lead participants on a transformational journey in the high Andes of Peru, beginning in Cusco, through the Sacred Valley, and onward to Machu Picchu, from October 7 to 17.

Leaving behind the comforts of home and culture, as well as the distractions of daily life, Heart of the Mother Retreats offer the chance to step into a new perspective, through profound connection with the natural world, as well as ancient sacred places and traditions. On this journey, participants will find greater balance and peace in body, mind and spirit through meditation, yoga, contemplation, music and sound healing, as well as opportunities to explore ancient sacred temples.

Angela Blueskies and Helene Garrovillo, guides and facilitators, have designed every detail of the retreat experience to bring comfort, enjoyment and rejuvenation, as well as a sense of community to support this transformational experience. Every participant will receive personalized care from world-class healers practicing massage therapy, acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine and energy healing, as well as local Andean healers and wise ones, also included with registration. When combined with beautiful accommodations and delicious, nourishing food, this is truly the journey of a lifetime.

Cost: $2,475 (save $175 until July 15). Mention Natural Awakenings and save an additional $50. For more information, visit HeartOfTheMotherRetreats. See ad, page 35.

However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. ~Stephen Hawking

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Washington, D.C.

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healthbriefs

Hire a Health Coach

by Sara McCoy here are countless resources available today, providing dietary guidelines, information on various supplements, healthy lifestyle persuasion, just to name a few. This list may seem quite daunting to the tired, busy professional, the overly scheduled parent or even an excessively fatigued college student with a demanding social routine. Maybe you’ve spoken with a specialist who has recommended a full night’s rest and a balanced diet to assist with chronic fatigue and additionally prescribed an anti-anxiety drug. How quickly did you successfully put this all into effect?

If you’re like most people, you ate a few salads, took pills with little improvement to your overall health and think of meal preparation as an excess chore.

Do see your doctor for important medical concerns; however, it can be very beneficial to seek further assistance to bridge the gap between your state-of-mind and your desired ending point. This is what health coaches are hired to do. A health coach will not treat any present illness, but they will empower you to recognize your past and present behaviors that influence your current well-being.

Through active listening, your health coach will help you design specific, measurable, realistic and timely goals which are unique to you. You may find that, after forming a rapport with a health coach, food selection will become fun and daring, you have extra time for relaxation or other personal enjoyment, others notice a pep in your step and you may experience feelings of lightness and increased joy.

The results are endless and will always be from within.

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Sara McCoy is an integrated health coach, providing guidance in nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. To schedule a consultation, contact GreenGlowGirl@gmail.com. See ad, page 26.

Lemons Are Lovely

by Laina Poulakos

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he tangy taste of a sour lemon really makes the mouth pucker. This is something we all can relate to. For a fruit that tastes so sour, there are some amazing health benefits.

Lemons are very high in vitamin C, which helps to fight off colds and flu. Lemons also boost the immune system.

This tart fruit is also beneficial to detoxifying your liver as it helps to rid poisons from this important organ. The citric acid in lemon juice helps to dissolve gallstones, calcium deposits and kidney stones. Lemons are alkalizing on the body, helping to balance the PH in the body.

The ancient Romans used to dose pregnant women with lemon cordials, to help with nausea. Using lemon oil for a massage will help with circulation. Also, the lemon has high antibacterial properties that are beneficial to treating acne. For those looking for a new look, it may be used to lighten one’s hair, providing natural looking highlights.

Of course we know lemonade tastes great. Now you can feel even better about enjoying an icy cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer day.

Calcium Pills Don’t Build Bone Health

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esearchers reporting in the British medical journal The Lancet, analyzed 44 studies on calcium supplementation or dietary calcium and bone fractures and concluded, “Dietary calcium intake is not associated with risk of fracture and there is no current evidence that increasing dietary calcium intake prevents fractures.” Qualifying studies included more than 44,000 people.

A different meta-study from New Zealand’s University of Auckland, also published in The Lancet, reviewed 59 clinical and observational studies of calcium and bone density. The metaanalysis compared the effect of calcium doses of 500, 800 and 1,000 milligrams per day and found that bone density improvements ranged between 0.6 and 1.8 percent throughout the body during the first year of supplementation, but did not increase over time.

They concluded that the improvements in bone mineral density from calcium supplements were small and that results mirrored the increases seen from dietary sources, suggesting that neither method significantly improves bone health.

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ~Walt Disney

Laina Poulakos is the founder of Mother’s Nature Store and a certified aromatherapist and herbologist. For a consultation or to learn about products, call 703-851-0087 or visit MothersNatureStore.com. See ad, page 15. natural awakenings July 2016

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healthbriefs

New Hope for Juvenile Arthritis Sufferers

by Katherine Leo

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f your child complains of sore muscles or joints, pay attention and don’t just write it off as “growing pains”. There may be an underlying cause for their discomfort—it may be juvenile arthritis. This condition affects nearly 300,000 children in the U.S. alone.

Each child’s pain, discomfort and/or flare-ups are different but most share these symptoms: pain, inflammation or joint swelling, redness, warmth, stiffness and fatigue. Juvenile arthritis can also affect the musculoskeletal system, eyes, skin, muscles and gastrointestinal tract.

As more people become aware that we have an endocannabinoid system (ECS), they are looking for cannabidiols rather than prescriptions which have major side effects. Our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) has receptors for cannabis throughout our entire body. Our ECS is vital for our overall wellbeing as it aids in the function of mood, appetite, pain management, immune system and memory, to name a few benefits.

Some parents are now using CBD as the cannabidiol to help with the pain, inflammation and fatigue associated with juvenile arthritis, and are having success instead of using medical marijuana which contains high levels of THC. CBD is non-psychoactive and has all the medicinal properties without the high. CBD is a natural anti-inflammatory and eases pain throughout the body. It’s also a natural energy booster and mood stabilizer.

Some other alternative or complementary approaches for juvenile arthritis are yoga, meditation and acupuncture, which may help the child handle some of the stress of living with an ongoing illness. Living with juvenile arthritis can change a child’s life but there are natural and effective options for parents who seek them.

Kids get arthritis tOO!

Katherine Leo helps others find full health by using CBD. For more information, call 516-418-7565 or visit CBDRevolutionUS.com. See ad, page 40.

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Washington, D.C.

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Colorful Produce Slows Cell Aging

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new study published in the European Journal of Nutrition finds that an increased intake of carotenoids, powerful antioxidants found in plantbased foods, is associated with slower aging. The research tested 3,660 U.S. adults and measured blood levels of five common carotenoids: alphacarotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, combined lutein/zeaxanthin and trans-lycopene.

The researchers found that those with levels that were in the highest quarter had 5 percent to 8 percent longer telomeres compared to those with the lowest quartile of carotenoid levels.

Telomeres are located at the ends of DNA chromosomes and get shorter as we age. Longer telomeres indicate greater longevity.

Carotenoids are found in the yellow-to-red pigments in many yellow, red and orange foods. They are also contained in green foods where chlorophyll shields the yellow-red color. Alpha-carotenes are present in carrots, cantaloupes, mangoes, kale, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Beta-carotene is found in some of the same foods, and also tomatoes, apricots and watermelons.

Beta-cryptoxanthin is found in papayas, apples and orange peels. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in some of the same foods, along with kiwifruit, grapes, oranges, zucchini and squash.

Some of the highest levels are in corn.

Lycopene is in tomatoes, watermelons, papayas, apricots and other redto-yellow foods.

ADHD Meds Weaken Kids’ Bones

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new study announced at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons shows that drugs prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can weaken bones in children during a time of critical growth. This study tested 5,315 kids between 8 and 17 years old and compared the results to a subgroup of 1,967. Each child was given a bone mineral density scan on the femur, femoral neck and lumbar spine.

The children taking ADHD medications of Ritalin, Focalin, Dexedrine, Strattera and Vyvanese had lower bone mineral density in the femur, femoral neck and lumbar spine. At least 25 percent of the youngsters taking these medications were categorized as having osteopenia.

According to a 2014 Express Scripts study, prescriptions of ADHD medications to children in the U.S. grew by 36 percent between 2008 and 2012.

Neurotoxins Identified in Everyday Items Osteopathy Alleviates R Low Back Pain esearch published in the British medical journal The Lancet has newly identified six neurotoxins: manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene or PERC) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE).

Manganese exposure is found in welding and high-octane gas fumes, among other sources; fluoride is used in many municipal water supplies, glass etching and chrome cleaners. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphate contained in many pesticides, including Dursban and Lorsban. While DDT has been banned from insecticides within the U.S., it is still contained in other agents, including petroleum distillates. DDT is also still used in some areas to spray for mosquitoes. PERC has often been used in dry cleaning and for degreasing metals. PBDEs appear as flame retardants and to make electronics, household goods, building materials, polyurethane foams, plastics and more.

The same researchers previously identified lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic and toluene as neurotoxins. The neurotoxin label means they affect the nervous system and can cause neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism, attention deficit disorders, dyslexia and others.

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ore than 600,000 people undergo surgery for back pain every year, yet back surgery is often unsuccessful. Safer manual therapies provide a viable alternative, according to recent research.

A study of 455 people with low back pain found that osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT) helped with their symptoms. The research, published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, gave each patient six osteopathic manual therapy sessions or a placebo treatment over a two-month period. Patients were tested before and a month afterward to assess the success of the treatments, using pain severity and mobility as the main criteria.

The research showed that those that started with higher disability scores of 17 or more prior to therapy had significantly less pain and more mobility. Patients with scores of seven or greater also improved, but not to the same degree.

Lead researcher and Osteopath Dr. John Licciardone says, “Subgrouping patients according to chronic low back pain intensity and function appears to be a simple strategy for identifying patients that can attain substantial improvement with OMT. From a cost and safety perspective, it should be considered before progressing to more costly or invasive interventions.”

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

Moth Misery

Bright Lights Drive Them to Extinction National Moth Week, held from July 23 to 31 (visit NationalMothWeek.org for podcast), has prompted the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to encourage cities to install motion-sensitive dimming streetlights and is working to designate dark-sky parks that could provide a refuge for nocturnal species. The giant silk moth and other insects pollinate 80 percent of our food crops. In turn, their bodies sustain innumerable birds, rodents and bats. Entire ecosystems rest on their delicate, powdery wings.

Only two species of moths are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and three others have gone extinct in the past decade. Many populations are seeing declines of up to 99 percent. Between monoculture crops, pesticides, changing climate, urbanization and decreasing darkness due to artificial lighting, the future of night-flying moths is uncertain.

Their only goal is to reproduce, guided to suitable nesting grounds by the shadow of the moon; many moth species do not even have mouths. However, cities now glow brighter than a full moon, and ambient light pollution radiating from urban areas draws moths to their deaths. IDA Program Manager John Barentine says, “Every time a person turns off and shields a porch light on their house, they’re helping.”

Source: Sierra Club

GMO-Free Pioneer

New Grain Transport to be Contaminant-Free Large food companies that are switching to non-GMO (genetically modified) soy and corn products must still worry about their ingredients picking up GMO contamination through conventional supply chains.

Now, Captain Drake LLC, a North Dakota grain plant, has acquired its own million-bushel terminal with dedicated rail cars used exclusively for GMOfree grains. President Mark Anderson maintains, “We’ll be able to obtain the best non-GMO commodities from three regions: North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada.”

In a 2015 Nielsen study of 30,000 consumers, 43 percent rank non-GMO as very important and 80 percent said they would pay more for foods that indicate a degree of healthfulness. Sales of non-GMO products exceeded $10 billion last year and are growing.

Anderson explains, “The supply chain needs to be tightened up and moved domestically. We consider this to be another strategic asset for food and beverage clients seeking suppliers committed to guaranteeing the integrity and purity of non-GMO commodities.”

Source: Tinyurl.com/NonGMOGrainTerminal 14

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Farm-to-Work

Fresh Veggies Come Direct to Offices Pioneering employers are now offering fresh vegetables to help employees improve their diet—and their health. Tech companies are even hiring professional chefs to prepare healthful lunches and snacks. In Texas, the Farm to Work program is making it easy and affordable for workers to pick up baskets of local produce at the office.

Participants aren’t required to pay an initial lump sum or commit to buying every week. Instead, they can sign up to receive produce in any given week. Other groups around the country are also looking into workplace produce delivery programs, and while many use the traditional community supported agriculture (CSA) model, others are experimenting with different procedures.

The Farm Fresh Program, in Bellingham, Washington, connects local farmers to employers interested in receiving weekly deliveries. Meanwhile, Farm2Work, in Arkansas, links local purveyors of produce, meat, eggs, dairy, pies, jams and jellies to area employers. New York’s Adirondack Harvest, a branch of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, started by helping a single farmer link to area employers.

The next step, says Teresa Whalen, the group’s southern chapter representative, is working to persuade insurance companies to subsidize workplace CSAs in the same way they’re starting to subsidize gym memberships.

Source: FarmToWork.org

Fish Fried

New Numbers Confirm Global Overfishing The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has been collecting reports for decades on how many fish are caught in the oceans annually. However, those numbers don’t take into account smallscale, recreational and illegal fishing or the bycatch that’s discarded before boats return to harbors. A study published in Nature Communications increases the actual total world catch from 1950 to 2010 by 50 percent.

Daniel Pauly, author of the University of British Columbia study, states, “The world is withdrawing from a joint bank account of fish without knowing what has been withdrawn or the remaining balance. Better estimates for the amount we’re taking out can help ensure there’s enough fish to sustain us in the future.” Based on official counts, global catches peaked in 1996 and have declined modestly each year. The decline isn’t due to less fishing or restrictions on certain fish, though. “It’s due to the countries fishing too much and having exhausted one fish after the other,” says Pauly.

The findings also emphasize the value of fisheries to low-income people in developing countries. The next steps will require well-informed action to preserve this critical resource for people and for the planet.

Source: Tinyurl.com/OverfishingReport

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Toxic Teflon

Scientists Increasingly Find It Dangerous According to a new meta-analysis of previous studies, Philippe Grandjean, of Harvard, and Richard Clapp, of the University of Massachusetts, concluded that DuPont Teflon, used for 50 years to make frictionless cookware, is much more dangerous than previously thought, causing cancer, birth defects and heart disease, and weakening the immune system.

Even though Teflon’s harmful perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is no longer produced or used, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found it in the blood of more than 99 percent of Americans studied, because it can be passed from mother to unborn child in the womb. The researchers say that the federal government’s recommended “safe” level, set in 2009, is as much as 1,000 times too high to fully protect people’s health. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has yet to set a legal allowable limit for its presence in drinking water.

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globalbriefs Recycling Nutrients

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A paper published in Forest Ecosystems concludes that frugivores, large, fruit-eating animals like toucans, tapirs, curassows and spider monkeys, help to keep the woods healthy by eating fruits and spreading seeds. As traps for carbon and an effective defense against global warming, forests collectively absorb up to 30 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions and store more than 1,600 gigatons of carbon in the soil.

“You have a lot of large birds that play a fundamental role for large trees,” says study author Mauro Galetti. “They increase the likelihood that seeds will turn into actual photosynthesizing plants.”

However, big, tropical birds are constantly under threat of hunting, poaching and habitat loss; the International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources’ Red List notes that 14 of the world’s 16 toucan species, for instance, are decreasing in population. The study found that without the help of high-capacity frugivores, there would be no way for larger seeds to grow into the towering trees that store carbon best.

Scientists now want to research individual species to calculate how much each animal’s services are worth in terms of battling climate change. Putting a dollar amount on a species, say Galetti, could be the only way to persuade governments to protect it.

Find the study at Tinyurl.com/ForestCarbonReport.

Low-Cost Largesse

Nonprofit Grocery Sells Good Food at Low Prices The biggest challenge to healthy eating in poor neighborhoods isn’t always access to healthy food; it’s whether people can afford to buy it. A year ago, Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe’s, opened Daily Table, a nonprofit grocery in Boston, to take action. It gathers nutritious food that would otherwise be wasted and then sells it at low prices. After learning about food insecurity in the U.S. and that approximately 40 percent of the food we grow is thrown out, Rauch decided to address both problems by offering this new option for people that don’t want handouts.

The store now has 5,000 members and hundreds of daily customers, with plans to expand to new locations. “The challenge we have in America is that the food system is designed from the farm on up to create calories that are cheap and nutrients that are expensive,” he says. “People on the lowest economic rung get squeezed the hardest.”

Rauch partners with vendors to get excess food, such as fruit just slightly too ripe to make it through the standard supermarket system, that chefs turn into readyto-eat meals like prepared salads and soups, or entrées that can cost less than $2.

For more information, visit DailyTable.org.

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Washington, D.C.

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ecotip Eco-Beach Blast

Sustainable Ways to Enjoy Sand and Surf When eco-conscious families hit the beach this summer, there’s more to be aware of than just picking up trash like drink containers, wrappers and found litter. Here are some other ways we can enhance our beach and water experiences while upping fitness benefits.

Rising water levels and severe weather events have damaged coastlines, so extra care is needed.

When setting up a beach spot, stay away from sand dunes and pockets of beach grass that serve as natural defenses against beach erosion. Also watch out for marked-off turtle hatching spots; prime nesting season is May through October, according to the nonprofit Turtle Conservancy. Teach kids not to chase birds. Walk around shorebirds to cause minimal disturbance; it’s stressful dodging danger during meals and wastes precious energy stores.

Walking on soft sand is like a weight-training workout, as detailed in Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee’s Barefoot Walking book.

Polluting chemicals enter waterways via fertilizer and industry runoff and accidents like the BP Gulf oil spill; don’t contribute more by using sunscreen that contains oxybenzine, which reportedly alters hormone function. The Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) maintains an online guide of safe sunscreens. The Huffington Post also suggests that we can make our own by mixing zinc oxide (a sunblocking agent), coconut oil (soothes and conditions skin), beeswax (for waterproofing) and tea tree oil (soothes and repairs skin and smells good).

The same care applies to chemical hair dyes, shampoos, conditioners and straighteners. Patronize clean, green salons that use natural hair treatments free of synthetic chemicals, ammonia or para-phenylenediamine (PPD). Or search “nontoxic hair care” online.

Plan a visit to coincide with a public volunteer beach cleanup event. Check with national organizations like Keep America Beautiful (kab.org) and local or countywide groups, as well as social media sites for group activities.

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17

REAL NEWS THAT MATTERS Independent Media Tell Us the Truth

by Linda Sechrist

I

n virtually all aspects of life, we are influenced consciously or subconsciously by mainstream media messages. Today, six media giants—Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, Twenty-First Century Fox, Time Warner, Viacom and DirecTV—control the vast majority of what we watch on TV and in movies, listen to on the radio and read in books, newspapers and magazines. According to Ben Bagdikian, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The New Media Monopoly, this handful of conglomerates form a cartel that wields enough influence to affect U.S. politics and define social values.

Thirty years ago, before many mergers and acquisitions, 50 corporations owned nearly all of American media.

Today’s infotainment and rhetoric, misrepresented as news, is leading millions to conclude that these colossal powers do not exist to objectively report the truth.

Mainstream Media’s True Colors

Although a recent Gallup Poll reflects Americans’ lack of trust in mainstream media’s reporting of news fully, fairly and accurately, fair reporting was what HarperCollins, a prominent publisher, expected upon the 2016 release of 18

Washington, D.C.

New York City holistic psychiatrist Dr. Kelly Brogan’s A Mind of Your Own: The Truth About Depression and How Women Can Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives. They were shocked when the book was boycotted.

“The New York Times, Dr. Oz and Good Morning America refused to schedule author interviews or write book reviews. There wasn’t a whisper anywhere on mainstream media about my evidenced-based book on how women can holistically recover from depression without a single prescription. HarperCollins was baffled. I was their first credentialed author who spoke out against pharmaceuticals,” says Brogan.

So Brogan turned to independent outlets, including print, online and social media, her own website, newsletter lists and word-of-mouth. Her work soon broke through into three of the top bestselling book lists: USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and The New York Times. That example serves as clear proof of the importance and power of independent media to furnish the public helpful and in-depth information on wide-ranging topics that mainstream broadcast media typically only cover in 30- to 60-second blurbs or not at all.

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Dr. Mark Hyman, chair of the Institute of Functional Medicine and director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, learned Brogan’s lesson early on. “Independent media have been crucial in disseminating my life’s work. Given the misinformation being spread by regular news and government channels about weight and health, we deserve to hear the truth about what’s in our food, toxins in our environment and how we can truly heal our bodies,” says Hyman, a nine-time bestselling author.

Independent Voices

Today’s independent media landscape shifts at warp speed. With 24/7 Internet access to websites, both groundbreaking journalism and grassroots perspectives appear in original articles and blogs. Outlets include independent online radio, TV shows, newspapers, filmmakers and “citizen journalists” armed with smart phones instantly transmitting images and updates via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. From a growing recognition that such media play a vital role in shaping a more informed and engaged citizenry, more attention is again being paid to the need for real news that matters. Breaking the reign of junk food news generators is the mission of ProjectCensored.org, a media research program at California’s Sonoma State University.

Billions of dollars are spent annually on webinars, podcasts and e-books exploring health and healing, self-help, spiritual enlightenment and creativity, indicating a reading audience with a hunger for deeper wisdom. Since 1973, New Dimensions Radio, co-founded and hosted by Justine Willis Toms, has featured many of the world’s most respected wisdom keepers. “Guests exclaim how refreshing it is to speak in-depth and at length. Mainstream, commercially based media consistently present sound bites on how things are breaking down and not working, without opening thought to constructive visions for a future that benefits all life and the planet,” says Toms.

“Independent media have broken away from dependence on the moneyed interests holding tight reins on the news and information they publish. Because we’re listener-supported, public radio is

free to explore a wide range of timely and timeless topics,” he says.

Leaning away from one-sided views gives independent media space to expand people’s perspectives and positive expectations for the future.

The seven-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Christian Science Monitor international news organization was established in Boston over a century ago to till human thought and thereby improve human lives via an uplifted journalistic standard.

“Its quiet insistence for human rights and against tyranny; for generosity and against selfishness; for intelligence, charity, courage, integrity and most of all, for progress and hope—surely that has helped,” remarks John Yemma, current columnist and former editor.

“We work to uncover where progress is occurring, even though headlines proclaim the contrary. There are always two sides to a story,” says Susan Hackney, a senior director with the Monitor, which consistently resists the sensational in favor of the meaningful.

Magazines such as Natural Awakenings, Mother Jones, The Optimist and Yes! are likewise stirring up conversations on meaningful issues via larger perspectives with a focus on tangible solutions. They address such areas as the damaging health and environmental effects of genetically engineered food, championed by Jeffrey Smith, founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology.

“Europe could kick genetically modified ingredients (GMO) out of their food supply because their mainstream media covered the health dangers, while U.S. mainstream media ignored them and kept Americans in the dark.

Independent media in the U.S. enable democracy and consumer-inspired transformations of all kinds. Knowledge has organizing power,” advises Smith.

Success Stories

With Fran Korten at its helm, the adfree, subscription-supported, nonprofit Yes! is helping to reframe our biggest issues. “Mainstream media, dependent upon advertisers that would have us believe that we can buy happiness, celebrate stories of the rich and powerful, leaving everyone else feeling small and powerless. Independents can help resist such ways of seeing the world, help people see a different path to suc-

We in America are the best entertained and least informed society in the world. ~Neil Postman, media theorist and educator cess and happiness and perceive themselves as change agents.

Together, we share engaging stories of how people are carving out new ways of living that hold the hope of a world more in balance with the living Earth and where everyone’s inherent worth and dignity are recognized,” says Korten.

Allan Savory, founder of the Savory Institute and originator of a holistic land management systems approach to recover and preserve sustainable resources, underscores the need for change leaders and independent thinkers. “As we ponder who they might be, we realize it’s not those that discover new, counterintuitive insights, but those that spread the knowledge. The groundbreakers are pioneers like writers, poets, artists, speakers and social networkers. After 50 years of trying to understand the intense institutional resistance to and ridiculing of my work of managing complexity in a simple manner, holistic management is now quickly spreading globally. This is only due to social networking, independent writers and my TED talk that went viral,” observes Savory.

Laurie McCammon, change leader and author of Enough! How to Liberate Yourself and Remake the World with Just One Word, contracted with independent publisher Red Wheel Weiser to get her message out. “It’s been building awareness of forbidden knowledge—that we each have unrealized potential to affect reality by changing our thoughts. We can nurture a shift in global culture away from an existing way of life that has bred fear, lack and a belief in scarcity,” explains McCammon.

She suggests that to preview a new vision of, “I am enough and have enough,” and, “We are enough and have enough,” we should look to the fertile fringes; small communities of intentional and conscious people actively reinvent-

ing society. “Look at what independent media are reporting on; as well as their unprecedented use of new terms such as organic, wellness, sustainability, permaculture, transition town, sharing economy, social responsibility, biomimicry and the butterfly effect,” says McCammon.

The existing worldview, with all of its core assumptions and rules, aims to restrain awakening individual and collective consciousness. McCammon observes, “As long as the ‘old story’ was told repeatedly by mainstream media with conviction, it could command our attention and make us doubt our inner story. Trusting that the outer world had our own best interests in mind meant that there was no need to turn within.

This is changing. Thanks to farseeing, courageous and strong enough independent media, there’s been an overturning to a more wholesome story of mind-body-spirit, abundance, innovation, collaboration and cooperation.”

Mainstream and independent media coexist like two sides of a coin.

Mainstream media’s talking heads tell us how to act and think while independent media invite us to engage, educate and think for ourselves, dig deeper and take action. Without independent media, we would know little about the benefits of the ever-evolving grassroots movement of holistic, alternative, complementary, integrative and functional medicine. Nor would we know the truth about climate change; the health advantages of plant-based diets and community gardens; food deserts and nutrition-related illnesses; the prevalence of environmental toxins; signs of spiritual progress; alternative education; and the benefits of eco-villages to people and the planet.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com. natural awakenings July 2016

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greenliving

SOIL SISTERS Female Farmers Come of Age

by Lisa Kivirist

M

ore women are becoming farmers, bringing with them a passion for producing organic and sustainably raised fare and transforming America’s food system. The U.S. Census of Agriculture reports that their numbers rose by more than 20 percent between 2002 and 2012, to 288,264.

Historic Roots

“Women have played an integral role in farming for centuries, but in the last 100 years they’ve started to self-organize and be recognized for their important work,” says University of California garden historian Rose Hayden-Smith, Ph.D., author of Sowing the Seeds of Victory: American Gardening Programs of World War I and editor of the UC Food Observer. “During that war, the Women’s Land Army of America, a female-led initiative, recruited nearly 20,000 mostly middleclass urban and suburban women to enter the agricultural sector as wage laborers at farms, dairies and canneries, often in rural areas, where farmers urgently needed help while the male labor force was off fighting.”

Women also helped feed Americans during the Victory Garden era of 20

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World War II. “It’s also estimated that more than 40 percent of fruits and vegetables consumed on the American home front then were grown in school, home, community and workplace gardens,” says Hayden-Smith, possibly resulting in America’s highest period of produce consumption ever.

When the commercial organic industry launched in the 1990s, women organized to provide overlooked and undervalued perspectives. The wakeup call for Denise O’Brien, an organic vegetable farmer and owner of Rolling Hills Acres, near Atlantic, Iowa, came during the farm economic crisis of the preceding decade. Although still considered “just” farm wives, “It was the women on the farms that had foreseen where things were heading, because they often kept the accounting books, though nobody took their voices seriously,” O’Brien recalls.

This launched O’Brien’s agriculture activism: balancing farming, raising children and serving as a national advocate and spokeswoman for women in agriculture in an ecological and just food system. In 1997, she launched the Women, Food and

Innovation, independence and vision drive women to use their organic farm ventures to create a livelihood, express themselves and do their part to change how America eats.

Ag Network to collectively advocate for a stronger voice.

“Throughout history, women in agriculture have been relegated to providing assistance, rather than making decisions,” O’Brien explains. “It’s up to us as women to collaboratively support each other while challenging the system.”

age,” explains Foreman, now an urban farmer in St. Paul, Minnesota. Embodying this business moxie, she chose to specialize, producing one thing very well: organic dried beans.

Relinda Walker, of Walker Organic Farms, outside Savannah, Georgia, represents a cadre of “boomerang” farmers; women that return to the land to continue a family farm with a commitment to organics. Like many farm kids, after college, Walker left to pursue a corporate career in the city. Then the 9/11 terror attack shifted her priorities. “All roads led me to coming back home and growing food,” she says.

Launched in 2005, Walker’s farm was one of southern Georgia’s first organic operations, yielding specialty varieties like rainbow carrots in vivid shades of purple, orange and red.

Cultivating Change

Future Femme Power

For her 50th birthday, Paula Foreman gave her life a new chapter. She launched her midlife “second act” in 2007 with Encore Farm, a name that serves as a rallying mantra for her peers. “The name is a tribute declaring that fresh starts and new beginnings can happen at any

Young women in their 20s and 30s are adding energy, diversity, vibrancy and fresh outlooks to the female farming movement. Lindsey Morris Carpenter runs Grassroots Farm, in Monroe, Wisconsin, a diversified operation of certified organic vegetables and

pastured livestock, in partnership with her mother, Gail Carpenter.

“A crucial key to farming happiness is being a good neighbor,” she shares. “I call around when I see livestock and pets outside of fences; maintain my fences; share my garlic and potato seed; and always invite neighbors to parties and events, even though they may not attend. Even if others’ personal lifestyle and farming philosophies are radical opposites, we still have our physical location and appreciation of nature in common, and that’s big.”

“The women farmer movement is just a toddler,” sums up O’Brien. “We’ve come a long way, but we’re not there yet, especially with representation on the national leadership platform.” It’s easy to support female growers at local farmers’ markets. Cultivating change can be rewarding—and tasty.

Lisa Kivirist is the author of the new book Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers and a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. Her family runs the energyindependent Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B, in southwestern Wisconsin.

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Washington, D.C.

Locavore Lingo What All the Food Labels Really Mean

by Judith Fertig

L

ocally grown foods are more likely to have been bred for flavor and nutrition than durability and a long shelf life, says Emily Akins, outreach director for the Kansas City Food Circle, a cooperative that links residents with farmers that grow and raise organic and free-range food. An added benefit is getting to know the farmer and being able to ask the questions—and receive the answers—that are important to us.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that local food sales totaled $12 billion in 2014, up from $5 billion in 2008. They continue to grow.

Organic or Certified Organic Consumers want to know the difference between organics and certified organics.

Today’s number of U.S. certified organic operations has jumped nearly 300 percent since 2002 to more than 21,700.

Although a certified organic designation might be the preferred index of

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how foods are grown and raised, it is not always possible for certain foods in some climates. Sometimes there’s a tradeoff in buying organic foods in the carbon footprint of its transport to market.

According to the Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, in Tampa, Florida, “Organic refers to a specific method of growing and processing foods, and is defined as produce grown, packaged and stored without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or irradiation.”

To be considered certified organic under the Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR Part 205, products must meet these standards: n No harmful chemicals have been applied to the land for at least three years. n Farmers and processors are inspected annually by a certifying agency. n Farmers and processors must keep detailed records of practices. n Farmers are required to maintain a written organic management plan.

Certified Humane When we buy local cheese, poultry or meat at the farmers’ market, we sometimes see a certified humane notice. One such producer is Baetje Farms, outside St. Louis, Missouri. Their highly regarded goat cheeses offer traceability via a lot number, so buyers can know exactly which milking the cheese came from.

In factory farming, which often involves penning or caging animals that never go outdoors, “certified humane” means that this producer meets Humane Farm Animal Care standards: n Fed a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones. n Provided proper shelter with resting areas and sufficient space. n Animals have to ability to behave naturally.

Veronica Baetje says her farm’s goats receive organic mineral supplements and locally grown alfalfa hay in addition to pasture grass every day. She adds, “They are free to choose what they prefer to do, whether skip and run up a hill, lie under the shade of a tree, soak up some sunshine or play with their herd mates.”

Wild Food At times, farmers’ markets will offer foraged foods from the wild or wild game.

Sources are listed online at EatWild. com. “Few of us will go back to foraging in the wild, but we can learn to forage in our supermarkets, farmers’ markets and from local farmers to select the most nutritious and delicious foods available,” says founder Jo Robinson, in Vashon, Washington,

For example, Dave and Sue Whittlesey, at High Wire Ranch, in Hotchkiss, Colorado, raise bison (buffalo) and elk that they sell both through local stores and at the Aspen Saturday Market. The wild game is 100 percent pasture-fed, non-GMO (no genetically modified feed), gluten-free and not given hormones or any antibiotics unless the animal is sick.

Trusted Sources The land, climate and growing season dictate the best natural farming practices for each area, often described along with their products on farm and farmers’ market websites.

Wisconsin’s Dane County Farmers’ Market, in Madison, provides detailed descriptions of farm products and agricultural practices so customers can make informed choices. Sometimes, the type of farm makes a difference. “We are intentionally human scale,” says Virginia Goeke, of Sylvan Meadows Farm, in Viroqua, Wisconsin.

“We choose to husband our land to promote harmony and synergy. We are creating a sustainable farm ecosystem where herbal meadows, prairies, heirloom gardens, orchards, woodlands, and rare breeds of livestock and wildlife flourish.”

Sometimes, we’d just like someone else to do the food curating for us. The Kansas City Food Circle requires member farmers to take a pledge to follow certain agricultural practices. “When you buy food from our members, you can rely on the co-op’s pledge that it’s been certified naturally grown or that the farmer has USDA Organic certification,” says Akins.

Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, the joint effort of 100 small-scale family farms providing fresh, organic, seasonal produce, in Leola, Pennsylvania, gives similar assurances.

The USDA reports that 160,000 farmers nationwide are currently selling to their local markets via farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture organizations, restaurants, groceries and institutions, generating health, social, economic and environmental benefits for local communities. It keeps growing because we keep asking questions.

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

Healthy Foods Lexicon Grass-fed—Beef or milk cows fed on grass. The benefit is leaner, betterflavored meat and more omega-3s, plus fuller flavors in milk, butter and other dairy products.

Heirloom—Older, non-hybrid varieties of produce, including fruit trees, herbs and vegetables.

Foraged—Native foods gathered from the wild, rather than cultivated. Examples: wild mushrooms, fiddlehead ferns, mulberries, native pecans, black walnuts and native persimmons.

Heritage breeds—Ancestral breeds of poultry and livestock that often take longer to reach market weight, but have more flavor.

Free range—Poultry raised outdoors where they are free to range over natural vegetation.

Local—Grown or raised within a threehour driving radius of the consumer’s purchase site.

Pastured—Livestock raised on pastures instead of factory farms.

Traceability—Precise tracking by a farmer that informs the consumer of which chicken hatched a specific clutch of eggs, which farm grew a cantaloupe and which mill boiled down and bottled the sorghum syrup.

Wild-caught—Fish that live and are caught in open lakes, streams or oceans.

For more current agricultural, market and trade terms, visit LexiconOfSustainability.com. natural awakenings July 2016

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healthyeating

Summer Barbecues A Delicious way to Stay Healthy

by Elizabeth McMillan

S

ummer is finally here along with the heat and that sizzling barbecue smell. We are all busy planning picnics filled with potato salad, pasta salad, brats, burgers, chips with dip and all kinds of fun treats and alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, the typical American barbecue feast is not ideal for our health or waistlines. The good news is that there are many ways to help trim off the unwanted calories.

Here are some survival tips for the summer barbequing season.

First, create a marinade for your grilled meats or poultry. Marinades are an excellent way to add a healthy dose of antioxidants to your barbecues.

They are also a great barrier against the potentially cancerous byproducts of charcoal grilling. A Caribbean chicken marinade might include orange juice/zest, lime juice, ginger root, garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano and olive oil.

Second, you can alter traditional recipes to cut out the calories and add 24

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extra healthy benefits. For example, try using avocado in place of mayonnaise in salads. Avocados will lend a color to your salads while increasing your intake of healthy omega-3s, as in this delicious Avocado Dill Potato Salad recipe.

Avocado Dill Potato Salad 3 avocados, smashed 1 bunch fresh dill ½ red onion 2 lb cooked red potatoes, cubed and cooled ½ cup chopped dill pickles 1 ¼ tsp Lemon Juice 3 Tbsp Dijon mustard Salt and pepper to taste Mix all ingredients together and serve chilled

For pasta salads you can try using gluten-free pasta. Another alteration to

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pasta is by creating “noodles” by spiralizing vegetables like zucchini, sweet potatoes or carrots.

Third, remember to load up on your summer produce. Summertime allows for a bountiful harvest full of bright colors. The brighter and more colorful your plate, the more phytonutrients are available. Phytonutrients are natural chemical substances found in plants that act as antioxidants, antiinflammatory substances and detox promoting substances.

In-season summer produce includes: beets, blackberries, blueberries, cabbage, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, nectarines, peaches, peppers, tomatoes and watermelons. If you have questions about what is in season, check out your community farmers’ market. In addition, grilling vegetables decreases the bitterness by creating a caramelized coating. Many picky eaters find that grilling vegetables opens up their palate.

Finally, watch your added sugar intake by choosing either a starchy carbohydrate dish or a sweet dessert.

Although a patriotic-themed dessert filled with blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream may look healthy, it is probably a sugar overload. Highsugary foods like desserts, large quantities of fruits, alcohol, sugary drinks like lemonade or juices causes blood sugar to spike. We are more susceptible to this in the summer heat, especially if we are not staying hydrated with water.

Sugar spikes lead to energy deficits, weight gain, headaches and decreased immunity.

There are many eating challenges at the summer barbecue, but hopefully these tips will provide some guidance.

Elizabeth McMillan, MS, CNS, is a board-certified integrative nutritionist at Rose Wellness Center, in Oakton, VA. She specializes in digestive health, food sensitivities, chronic inflammation, energy optimization and weight problems. She will work with your physician and your personal goals in order to create energizing wellness for a lifetime to come. For more information, visit RoseWellness.com. See ad, page 21.

breakthrough

Active Isolated Stretching

by James Graffenberg

Active Isolated Stretching involves the holding of each stretch for only two seconds. This method of stretching is also known to work with the body's natural physiological makeup to improve circulation and increase the elasticity of muscle joints and fascia.

I

t’s interesting how ignorance, coupled with arrogance, can spark a natural awakening to evolve into highly valuable, useful knowledge and practice.

This natural awakening may be easily accomplished by thinking outside of the box of so-called norms, the mainstream and conventional education. The previous terms may describe those under a strict code of conformity that may also have serious control issues.

The mind is innately intelligent by design. This is a story of an individual whose intelligence may be described as creative genius. Aaron Mattes, a world-class licensed kinesiotherapist and licensed massage therapist, has lived a dynamic and already legendary life. Please review his bio on the website, StretchingUSA. com. Here is the gist of his story.

Mattes received his B.S. degree at Wisconsin State University Superior. His special interest was in applied kinesiology.

While attending a class at the University of Illinois, Mattes posed a question to one of his professors. Mattes stated that “kyophosis (an exaggerated rounding of the back) is nothing more than thoracic flexion (a stretch to extend the back to the ceiling while on the knees and hands— like a cat). What if we take the spine into thoracic extension to correct the spinal deformity?” The professor replied, “Mattes, you idiot, you can’t do that.”

This was the spark that set Mattes to the task of turning “You can’t” to “I can and I do.” Soon after finishing college, Mattes began developing Active Isolated Stretching (AIS), beginning with the hamstrings. Discovering success with the

hamstrings, Mattes used the principles of Wolff’s Law (the understanding that bone in a healthy person will adapt to the loads under which it is placed) and Sherrington’s Law (that a muscle will relax when its opposite muscle—such the biceps/triceps—is activated). Mattes applied them to virtually all muscles of the body and produced the highly effective modality called Active Isolated Stretching.

Mattes found that holding stretches for long periods of time was not only torturously slow and ineffective, but aggressive, forceful long stretches can cause injury (tears and bleeding) to muscles, fascia (connective tissue) and other structures of the body. Active Isolated Stretching is gentle, non-aggressive and non-evasive.

AIS can be easily performed by moving slowly and actively in precise planes of movement, using a gentle assist at the end range, holding the stretch for one and one-half to two seconds at the end range.

The body structure is returned to the starting position and is repeated for typically seven to 10 repetitions. With each repetition, the joint increases range of motion in small increments. In this manner, the tissue is returned to what we call a long resting length. At the same time, pain is reduced or eliminated.

AIS promotes better blood and lymph flow essential to cellular health and the removal of waste products from the body.

When performed accurately and appropriately, AIS releases superficial, intermediate and deep layers of fascia. The deep tissue is where our most prominent issues reside. AIS helps to resolve a multitude of musculo-skeletal injuries and many neurological injuries and conditions. AIS helps to prevent injuries, as well.

Health and well-being should be at the top of our “to do, to be” list. The take home/take everywhere is: “Always, always think outside of the box.” Wouldn’t you agree?

James Graffenberg, LMT, CPT, is a soft-tissue injury rehabilitation specialist, licensed massage therapist and certified personal trainer who practices Active Isolated Stretching (AIS), Soft-Tissue Release (STR), Myofascial Release, Russian Neuromuscular Reeducation, Swedish Massage, sports massage as well as personal training. Learn more at StretchingTheWorld.com. See ad, page 43. natural awakenings July 2016

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healthykids

Mom’s Kitchen Counter Cooking School Kids That Learn to Cook Grow Up Eating Healthier

by Jen Haugen

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nvision walking the supermarket aisles and picking up a favorite pasta sauce and breakfast cereal, then adding favorite fruits and vegetables to the cart. When we think about the grocery brands we buy or our go-to recipes, they tend to begin with one common thread— the influence of our mothers—our first teachers about food and cooking.

In their Project EAT study, University of Minnesota researchers found that Mom has the biggest impact on the family’s eating habits and continues to play a significant role in our food choices, brands and how we cook, even influencing our ideas about health itself by their example.

Cooking Together

Most of us learn about cooking from our mothers, and one way moms have a tremendous impact on their children is by collaborating on recipes and cooking meals together. The idea of an at-home “kitchen counter cooking school” doesn’t focus on a hard and 26

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

fast course on cooking; instead, it’s a place where family members gather around the counter and cook together.

This almost guarantees that meals will be healthier and more fun, affording a sense of ongoing adventure where kids can explore ingredients from around the U.S. and even the world. Consider creating a “United States of My Plate” project by preparing a recipe from each state during the summer, and then rating the recipes based on taste and flavor (startup tools are at ChooseMyPlate.gov).

Our senses are engaged during food preparation activities. While chopping red peppers for a recipe, we are noting their appearance, feeling their texture, smelling their fragrance, hearing the sounds of preparation and likely tasting some on the spot. Involving more of our senses as we explore our food makes the whole activity more enticing. It helps to adopt Julia Child’s motto: “Learn how to cook, try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all, have fun.”

Moms can change the world by teaching their kids healthy cooking lessons at home and planting an organic garden together.

Gardening Together

The freshest ingredients come from our own gardens and produce the most delicious meals. Gardening as a family can change the way everyone looks at food through the simple act of planting, growing and harvesting. Knowing where everything on the plate comes from makes us more mindful of the energy it takes to grow food, and kids will naturally eat what they help grow.

Moms can change the world—right in their own yard or patio—with the power of a traditional or urban garden.

Just one square foot of organic gardening space can yield half a pound of fresh fruits and vegetables. A 300-square-foot garden can produce 150 pounds each summer; plus it provides a good workout.

In 2011, I started a teaching garden at our local supermarket as a means of showing kids how to grow their own food, with the hope that it would also inspire their families. The goal was to plant the seeds for healthier habits that would last a lifetime. During its first four years, 52 percent of the students’ parents noted a more positive attitude about fruits and vegetables exhibited by their own children. After participating in the program, one mother shared her young daughter’s noteworthy query, “Mom, could you go to the store and get me some Swiss chard?”

By planting gardens and creating kitchen counter cooking schools at home throughout America, our country could become victorious in ensuring that families are healthier. They will be eating healthier foods, working out in the garden and learning about food in a whole new way, all while connecting in a family activity.

Jen Haugen, a registered and licensed dietitian and certified master gardener, is the author of The Mom’s Guide to a Nourishing Garden. She blogs at JenHaugen.com. natural awakenings July 2016

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naturalhealing

Detox

It’s Time You Try One

by Beyla Mitchen Ogunfolu

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he art of detoxification through fasting, food and colon irrigation has been used for spiritual and natural healing purposes since ancient times. It focuses on resting, cleansing and nourishing the body to maintain or regain balance and harmony.

Many religions have incorporated periods of fasting for the purification and renewal of the mind, body, and spirit for thousands of years. In ayurvedic medicine, one of the oldest systems of medicine in the world, food is considered medicine when consumed properly.

Egyptians knew as early as 1500 B.C. that what comes out of the body is as important as what goes into the body with their use of colon irrigation as explained in the Ebers Papyrus, an ancient Egyptian medical document.

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Colon irrigation was also mentioned in The Essene Gospel of Peace which was written over 3,000 years ago. Detoxification during these times, however, was primarily used to maintain rather than to restore health.

From green smoothies to colonics, detoxing has increased dramatically in popularity in the United States over the past decade. The catalyst for this growth, in large part, is attributed to the surge in chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The overconsumption of processed foods, lack of physical exercise, chronic dehydration and stress (mental and emotional) has contributed to Americans being among the unhealthiest people on the planet and has brought detoxification into the mainstream.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and Supersize Me are just a few of the documentaries in recent years that have examined the benefits of a diet that is largely whole foods and plant based as opposed to a diet high in processed foods.

When the body is plagued with toxic material, the immune system is weakened which inhibits the body from carrying out its’ natural healing and rejuvenation functions leading to possible problems.

Some of the most common signs a person may need to detox include:

■ Brain fog ■ Low energy/fatigue ■ Constipation ■ Digestive discomfort ■ Feeling lethargic and/or depressed ■ Trouble losing weight ■ Weight gain ■ Insomnia ■ Frequent headaches ■ Skin problems ■ Allergies ■ Body odor

It is important to note that people with chronic health conditions should be cleared by their medical doctor before beginning a detox program.

If it is time to consider detox, there are a wide variety of programs on the market today. It’s important to consider your lifestyle and the level of commitment the program will require and select one that suits your needs. If possible, work with a wellness practitioner to help support you in the process to maximize your results.

Detoxing can be a mental, emotional and spiritual roller coaster.

Chances are you’ll be better at the end of the ride than you were at the beginning.

Beyla Mitchen Ogunfolu is a certified colon therapist and reiki practitioner.

She brings healing from her practice at Neck, Back and Beyond in Fairfax. Visit NeckBackAndBeyond.com, for more information. See ad, page 26.

businessspotlight

CHANGE TO BE YOUR BEST, STOP SETTLING!

Celebrating One Year of Healing

A Spotlight on Golden Health Pharmacy

by Robin Fillmore

G

olden Health Pharmacy is celebrating its first anniversary this month. Over the past year, they have helped many people heal their bodies through compounding and prescription services, nutritional consultation, infrared saunas and wellness programs. Their unique integrative approach offers clients a variety of ways to achieve health beyond medication. Join them 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 16 for a day of healing music, balloon animals and nutrition talks.

They are a member of PCCA (Professional Compounding Center of America) with a specialized compounding lab that allows them to customize medications not only for their patients’ needs, but also for pets. Some of their popular compounds are bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), dermatologic cream and pet medications. PCCA’s proprietary liposomal base, Lipoderm, used in transdermal compounding, is absorbed quicker than traditional PLO (Pluronic Lecithin Organogel) gels. Their clients appreciate the smooth touch and feel of their compounds, unlike the tacky feeling of PLOs.

Compounding is effective in addressing skin conditions such as acne, scars, psoriasis and eczema. Many clients, especially women, also use their infrared saunas for skin therapy. Infrared sauna stimulates anti-aging effects and purifies skin, providing a firmer and smoother look, while, while allowing the body to sweat out more

toxins than traditional saunas. Yet, beyond the surface, their infrared sauna therapy penetrates tissues, joints and muscles, and helps reduce pain and speed wound healing. It is especially effective for people suffering from Lyme disease. Infrared sauna is safe without harmful UV radiation.

Many of their clients seek them out to take control of their health and focus on disease prevention. Golden Health Pharmacy offers the SpectraCell micronutrient test to identify their nutrient deficiencies.

The test measures 35 micronutrient status at the intracellular level. Their nutritional consultation incorporates the detailed report to address clients’ underlying health issues, such as chronic gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, stress tolerance and cardiometabolic risks. Their professional line of vitamins and supplements are highly bioavailable and without harmful additives and coloring. Many clients realize their bodies are constantly exposed to external and internal toxins. Their detoxification programs assist the body to get rid of toxins, lose weight and set their patients on the path to healthier living.

Join them to celebrate this important milestone and embark on your journey to better health.

When conventional methods fail you...

When you have enough of suffering...

When you want to feel better...suffer less... reduce physical or emotional pain... be more successful... lose excess weight... have a healthy body... stop using tobacco and alcohol... change bad habits.

Hypnosis is your best alternative for positive change.

Donald Pelles, PhD Certified Hypnotherapist

Call 301 618 9801 for Appointment www.HypnosisSilverSpring.com

Location: 46950 Community Plaza, Ste. 112, Sterling, VA. For more information, visit GoldenHealthPharmacy.com. See ad, page 21. natural awakenings July 2016

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MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS LEGAL & AVAILABLE IN WASHINGTON, DC

CANN Compassionate physicians are waiting.

Schedule your appointment TODAY!

MYCANNX.COM

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yogaspotlight

Bringing the Personal Touch to Yoga A Spotlight on Vinaya

by Sam Hudgins

T

oo often in Western bines ayurvedic diet counseling and culture, self-transforhealing into her client sessions. mation is shown as She is specialized in working something that occurs from with clients with traumatic brain the outside in—think reality injuries and epilepsy. makeover shows. Vinaya Vinaya teaches in homes Saunders knows true, to allow clients the luxury of effective transformalearning in a place where tion actually comes they are comfortable and to from making changes reduce their potential for within oneself. “We stress. While she is based are just a physical reout of Leesburg, Vinaya will flection of the end, but travel to Washington, D.C., everything starts with and parts of Montgomery how our mind is and County, Maryland, to teach. what we eventually exShe also teaches in perience.” To help othhome to keep ers truly makeover things onethemselves through on-one, inner changes, exactly Vinaya opened like how Vinayam, an in- I am a passionate yogini. I perceive all yoga was home yoga stuto beings as a whole. I embrace life as meant dio where she is be taught, “very passionate a journey of exploration and living in as group about awakentrue essence of our natural quality. classes ing people.” can Vinaya’s dilute a ~ Vinaya studio shares its teacher’s name with the focus. For yoga style she founded and teaches. instance, working with individuals alVinayam is a very spiritual yoga that lows her to choose poses that are apfuses the physicality of Western yoga propriate for a client’s specific body and the mindfulness of Eastern yoga. type and ability.

The name Vinayam means “humble

While Vinaya prefers the connecapproach to yoga.” Vinayam is a com- tion of individual teaching, in addiplete shift in perspective toward yoga tion to her corporate yoga classes, from physical aspects to mindfulness she is a federal contractor, teaching and spiritual growth. Vinaya practices in places such as the Department of and teaches Rajayoga meditation in Justice and the Department of Energy corporate settings like Intelsat and because “they really, really need National American Education in D.C. to relax.” She also shares her yoga In coordination with the yoga and through community events, most meditation she teaches, Vinaya comrecently participating in the Love Your

Body Yoga Festival, which took place in Reston.

For those interested in the healing aspect Vinaya offers, she now has an integrative energy therapy studio in Reston. Energy therapy clears out the emotional baggage most humans are unaware they are even carrying. As Vinaya puts it “[energy healing] helps you move on and live life.”

Vinaya has also expanded her focus to include prenatal yoga and prenatal ayurvedic diet. She became interested in assisting prenatal women and empowering them when she herself was pregnant. She felt as though there was little support for pregnant women in the United States, and that traditional doctor’s appointments were more about finding something wrong than with teaching how to take care of her body and growing child.

Now Vinaya has her doula certification, prenatal yoga certification and is pursuing a master’s degree in prenatal ayurvedic obstetrics.

In September, Vinaya will be traveling back to her home country of India to open a yoga school with her sister. In her view, yoga teacher training offered is less focused on self-transformation and is more about producing fancy teachers with certification. In her words: “The nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness into darkest corners of the body.

It is journey of the self, through the self, to the self. Self-transformation is world transformation.” Though the school does not currently have a location, they are hoping to set up on the beach. The yoga practiced there will be Vinayam and it is Vinaya’s hope that it will be a destination for yoginis all over the world to learn and in turn transform the world for the better.

“You can’t help someone else get out of the ditch until you have pulled yourself out.”

For more information and to schedule a one-on-one yoga session, call 571-488-2522 or visit Vinayam.com.

The Vinyam integrative energy therapy studio is located at 1801 Robert Fulton Dr., Ste. 230 A, in Reston. Sign up for month-long intensive yoga training programs from September through next March at RuYogaSchool.com. natural awakenings July 2016

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moneymatters

SRI 101 An Introduction to ‘Investing for Good’ —Socially Responsible Investing

by Jeremy A. Pearce

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any investors are disappointed to be investing in companies whose products they’d never buy themselves and are interested in investing in companies whose products and business practices they hold in high regard. They wonder how their investments can contribute to a better society and healthier planet. Just as many are stunned to hear that this strategy for investing already exists and is commonly known as socially responsible investing (SRI). So let’s talk about SRI, its three components and what it means to invest in this manner.

Some of you may be asking what is socially responsible investing and is it like some of the other strategies you might be hearing about: green investing, sustainable investing and impact investing. For the sake of this article, let’s just agree that the nomenclature here basically references the same practice: an investment strategy that aligns an investor’s values with his or her financial objectives and that these strategies generally pursue endeavors that promote a healthy environment and viable communities.

The first component of SRI is the process of screening, both avoiding those companies that run counter to investors’ values and investing in those companies that meet investors’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. The genesis of this strategy are ancient Judaic and Islamic laws and in colonial times the Quakers and Methodists who shunned in32

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vestments in slavery and warrelated businesses. More recently, this strategy was employed during the Vietnam War and then again played a role to end apartheid in South Africa.

Today, companies that fail to treat their employees fairly that exploit natural resources and companies that conduct business with oppressive governments are generally removed from SRI portfolios. Conversely, the process of using ESG criteria to pursue investment opportunities that have a positive impact in communities, has come into play in the last decade. Increasingly investors want to identify those companies that do the right thing, employ females in leadership roles, pay a living wage to all employees or appropriately addresses their carbon footprint.

Socially responsible investors also have an opportunity to practice shareowner advocacy, the second component of SRI. This strategy encourages companies to adopt healthier corporate standards and behaviors. Because investors are owners of these companies, they can shape the role that large public companies play in employee relations, the environment and local communities through proxy initiatives and direct shareowner/management dialogue. Convincing large snack-makers to remove palm oil from its ingredients counts as a recent success story of responsible investors driving social change through shareowner advocacy.

Finally, it is through the third com-

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ponent of SRI, community investing, where investors can empower the small businesses that make up the fabric of local communities. In a strategy that mirrors the aforementioned positive screening, investors can direct assets toward community development financial institutions (CDFI) that place loans and investments in projects and endeavors that address affordable housing, healthcare, renewable energy and energy conservation and urban and rural revitalization.

In short, development banks and small businesses that lack access to traditional financial markets are a great opportunity to affect real social change.

Over the last few years, the world of socially responsible investing has grown in ways almost unimaginable. A record number of investors are aligning their assets with their values. More and more financial professionals are demonstrating to clients the strengths of SRI. Businesses once thought to be indifferent, unfriendly corporate entities are showing their capacity to be true corporate stewards.

In the following months, stories will be shared in Natural Awakenings, highlighting why total SRI assets grew 76 percent between 2012 and 2014, according to The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. For now, consider how your investments meet your financial goals, contribute to a better society, and promote a healthy planet.

Jeremy A. Pearce is a financial advisor in Washington, D.C., specializing in socially responsible investing with SharePower Responsible Investing, Inc. Comments and questions can be sent to JeremyAPearce@emailsri.com.

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.

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.

firstperson

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 ‘woowoo’ 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 On duty the morning of September 11, 2001, New York workers and flight crews lost 12 years city firefighter Jonathan Henderson searched for lost earlier. That morning I woke up and friends after the World Trade Center Tower collapsed. He went to the beach and did Supreme Science Qigong Level-1 healing form then volunteered for 30 days of 12-hour shifts to recover with a rising sun. I did it by myself, for myself for the first time ever, and their remains. A total of 343 firefighters died that day I felt energy pulsing and surging all and the death toll is still climbing as a result of breathing around me. It was as my spiritual vision showed me. It made the most in toxic particles. The following is an account written by difficult day of the year easier someHenderson about his own road to recovery following how, and gave me peace and calmness that stays with me now. that day of national and personal tragedy.

Since finding qigong, I’ve not taken addictive prescriptions and I’ve

by Jonathan Henderson had tremendous results with foodbased healing. I’ve lost 80 pounds and my lung capacity shows sigy lungs and sinuses suffered firefighters impacted by September 11 nificant improvement. Everyone can major damage at the Trade is what motivated me to find natural help themselves with qigong, espeTowers site. Everything from solutions. cially my firefighter family. Anyone hearing loss to depression set in,

During a spiritual vision, I saw seeking improved physical health, which caused me to balloon to over my healthy-self on a beach practicspecifically better lung capacities 300 pounds. At a funeral for a fireing a slow martial art, having had no will benefit greatly from the Qi Revofighter who died of September 11-reprior knowledge of qigong. I moved lution seminar. lated lung cancer, I looked around to San Diego to make the healthiest at the low turnout and mentioned version of me and ate organic foods and smoothies. I removed toxic food Cost: $99 for the two-day, one-night my disappointment to our lieutenand people from my life for a twoant. Looking at the small number training; free for firefighters and veterans. year sabbatical to get well. Soon, I attending he said, ‘I’ll show up for Open to the public. The Qi Revolution was led to a mind-body studio and your funeral.” I turned and said, “I’ll seminar will be held September 16 to attended powerful qgong classes. show up for yours too, pal.’ Seeing 18 in Virginia Beach. To learn more, call we were a dying breed and there was During a Breath Empowerment ses800-298-8970 or visit QiRevolution.com. sion, my lungs never felt so big! My major mishandling of healthcare for See ad, page 3.

How Qigong Healed a Wounded, September 11 Firefighter

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leadingedge

A Shot

Without the Hangover

Vitamin shots are energy-packed formulations of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, delivered straight to your gluteus maximus.

F

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■ Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic acid) plays a role in maintaining a healthy digestive tract, aids in red blood cell production and is great adrenal support for managing stress.

■ Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine) is an antiinflammatory and helpful for hormonal balance, immune support, premenstrual syndrome, anxiety, depression, arthritis, sleep and stress.

by Isabel Sharkar

rom popping supplements a few times a day to intravenous infusions once a week, both are great ways to get down your vitamins and minerals.

However, there is a third option available to you that is also very effective—vitamin shots, or in other words, injections. Vitamin shots are energy-packed formulations of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants, delivered straight to your gluteus maximus. Although our West Coast friends have paved the way for the vitamin shot culture, the East is catching on to these super beneficial nutrientdense cocktails. Not only are they easy to administer, but they also work quickly in optimizing your body.

Surely you have heard of the vitamin B-12 and D-3 injections that have become popular. The best form of vitamin B-12 is methylcobalamin, which does more than prevent anemia. B-12 is important for energy, DNA and red blood cell production, it slows cognitive decline by producing acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that helps with memory and learning, it helps produce myelin,

found to maintain active vitamin D levels for a longer period of time. If levels are low, a vitamin D-3 injection is the best and most efficient way to increase your body’s vitamin D3 blood levels.

In addition to vitamin B-12, other nutrients that can go into your special shot include vitamin B complex, vitamins B-5 and B-6, glutathione and MIC (methionine inositol choline) to name a few.

the fatty substance protecting your nerve endings, it helps with depression by improving mood and B-12 works with folic acid to lower homocysteine levels in the blood and greatly reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.

If that wasn’t enough, vitamin B-12 also increases energy, mental awareness and alertness, reduces allergies, prevents stress and anxiety and improves sleep. If you are vegan or vegetarian, it is important to check your vitamin B-12 levels because the primary source of vitamin B-12 is animal products (meat, poultry, fish and eggs). It may take up to two years for your body to become vitamin B-12 depleted and for symptoms like depression to arise.

Vitamin D-3, known as the sunshine vitamin, has an important role in supporting the cardiovascular system, blood sugar balance, increases musculoskeletal strength, as well as neurological and immune function enabled by its ability to target more than 200 different genes throughout the body. Vitamin D-3 is the preferable form, as it has been

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

■ Glutathione, the mother of all antioxidants, is a potent detoxifier for the liver and body. It is also helpful in athletic recovery and performance. Due to high levels of oxidative stress on the body from a toxic lifestyle (food, prescription drugs, emotional trauma, physical stress and environmental pollution), the glutathione naturally made in the body gets depleted fast.

■ MIC contains inositol, a fat-burning substance that helps the liver remove fat; choline, which distributes cholesterol and prevents it from getting deposited in one part of the body; and methionine, which is similar to inositol and amplifies the combination.

Starting off with vitamin injections to quickly build the body’s reserves and then maintaining with oral supplementation is both an effective and efficient approach. Vitamin injections are both faster than an intravenous infusion and oral supplementation, and offer many energy-boosting and body optimization benefits. Ask your naturopathic physician if vitamin shots would be a good fit for you.

Isabel Sharkar, ND, is a licensed naturopathic physician and co-owner of Indigo Integrative Health Clinic, in Georgetown.

For more information, call 202-298-9131 or visit IndigoHealthClinic.com. See ad, page 4.

communityspotlight

Urban Farming in the District A Spotlight on Good Sense Farm

by Robin Fillmore

S

ince 2013, the Good Sense Farm and Apiary has been on a dual mission: to provide locally produced delicacies, like gourmet mushrooms and fresh honey and hive products, while empowering their neighbors to learn the value of fresh, healthy products in the city. Helping to fill a need for creative commercial food enterprises in the District, founder and CEO, Zachari J. Curtis, had the vision to turn a background in agriculture into a way of life.

The farm is not a set place in the traditional sense of the word, but like many urban farmers, Curtis has used privately held land in the District and Maryland, including backyards, to grow mushrooms and support bee hives. “There is a network of trust between the farm and those who provide the land,” notes Curtis. With many years of relationships built up, Curtis has been able to acquire the resources to launch the growing farm. Even without a physical farm building, Good Sense offers tours, workshops, as they are able, and provides consultations for those eager

to learn more.

Curtis notes that becoming a mushroom grower was to serve a need in the community. “I like mushrooms but it wasn’t necessarily about mushrooms. It was about finding a high-value crop that we could grow that other people weren’t growing. There are only a few other mushroom growers in the area.”

Likewise, the love for bees came when Curtis worked alongside a Haitian family who shared their knowledge about the operation to maintain a healthy and thriving hive. With a few more classes after that experience, Curtis started a hobby operation, which eventually grew into a major portion of the farm’s work. “We produce honey and also work with other hobby-scale producers to increase our supply—all D.C. based. We have never been able to meet the needs for honey so we are connected a network of hobbyscale honey producers to extend our offerings of small batch honey.”

They offer a range of products for sale at weekly farmers’ markets in Petworth, Columbia Heights, Takoma Park, Brookland, Mount Pleasant and at the USDA Farmers’ Market near the Smithsonian. Their products include vegan mushroom jerky, DIY mushroom growing kits, an umami spice blend, in addition to mushrooms and honey. They also run an Etsy shop where the non-perishable items can be purchased at any time.

Curtis and the team of four part-time staff members recently acquired a space, formerly a grocery store, called The Perch on Georgia Avenue in the District, that will enable expanded mushroom growing as well as be open for community events and classes. Their soft opening in June included a celebration of Good Sense Farm’s three-year anniversary as well as an invitation to see what urban farming can bring to a neighborhood.

To learn more about Good Sense Farm and Apiary, visit them at Good SenseFarm.org.

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eventspotlight

CREATIVE THINKING BUILDS CONFIDENCE Let Us Create Your Next Ad Campaign

Creating Community and Emerging Voices at The Lovelight Yoga and Arts Festival

by Robin Fillmore

E Advertise your products and services in Natural Awakenings’

Empowering Youth and Creativity Issue To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

202-505-4835 36

Washington, D.C.

very participant at the Lovelight Yoga and Arts Festival, in Darlington, Maryland, will be helping to create the experience for all, during this August 26 to 28 event.

They will also be shaping a new community that is built on wisdom, sharing, art, profoundly touching music, as well as yoga. The idea for the festival came from Michael Lang, the iconic producer of the Woodstock Festival; renowned world artist (and D.C. resident) Wynne Paris; and co-producer Kim Maddox.

Together, they have woven together not just another festival, but an opportunity to build on the emerging consciousness that individual’s voices, when joined for the good of the planet and for the soul, can change the individual and the world. The location, not far from Washington, D.C., Baltimore or Philadelphia, makes it possible for all in the mid-Atlantic to easily attend.

The lineup for the festival includes two of the best-known names in the genre of world music: the Grammy-nominated kirtan master Krishna Das and Trevor Hall, who is now taking the world by storm

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

with his eclectic mix of acoustic rock, reggae and Sanskrit chanting.

They will be joined by many other beloved and well-known artists and DJs throughout the weekend, including the Desert Dwellers, Living Light and David Newman. The full lineup can be viewed on the event website, LovelightFestival.com.

The festival will connect with roots sown during Woodstock, according to Lang, where yoga and the participation of His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda, the founder of Integral Yoga, was a central component. At the Lovelight Festival, a segment is being developed with stills and video of Woodstock to honor the 50th anniversary of Integral Yoga, as well as the Woodstock generation.

One of the musicians participating in the festival, GuruGanesha Singh, recalls the transformative spirit aroused at the 1969 festival and envisions the same penetration can serve this new incarnation at the Lovelight festival. He notes, “When you are living in ‘individual consciousness’, you live only for yourself and it’s very painful. When we are living in ‘group consciousness’, we are living ‘for’

Swami Satchidananda at Woodstock with festival organizer, Michael Lang (top right), amid the music and art fair crowd in 1969.

each other and it feels much better...

When you are living in ‘divine consciousness’ you realize that the other person is actually you—and we are all One. Inspired gatherings give us the opportunity to transform ourselves and experience both ‘group’ and ‘divine consciousness’. And best of all, once you’ve experienced ‘divine consciousness’, there’s no going back!”

Throughout the event, nationally known yoga teachers, including the festival headliner, yoga master Dharma Mittra, will be presenting opportunities to practice a variety of yoga traditions. Regional master teachers will lead those who are both new to the practice as well as those who have been fans since Woodstock, to experi-

ence life on the mat while learning new things about their bodies and their spirits.

Much of the festival will actually take place in Villages, each with a specific theme. In the Visionary Village, participants will engage in the conscious co-creation of a transformational community, built on the self-expression, empowered dialog, alternate economics, eco-activism and connection to our collective roots. By participating in consciously focused conversation and workshops with visionary teachers, shamans, organic farmers, activists, painters and flow artists, the festival will draw together, what Lang calls “a diverse community of people who

are on parallel paths. We are looking to create an event that will serve everyone—to expand the ideas of the music and yoga communities to include concerns for the planet.

We won’t narrowly define the issues but create a space where all those threads can come together.”

In the Healing Village, ancient and modern healing and transformational techniques including massage, Vedic Thai bodywork, reiki, ayurveda and reflexology will provide opportunities for the nurturing of the body through deep relaxation and energy work. There will also be coaching from yoga therapists who are specialized in helping yoga practitioners learn to use their bodies to enhance their health and enhance their performance. Families will have their own Children’s Village to enjoy the festival as a family event with expanded age-appropriate programming for all-ages.

In addition to the pool, art projects and a magician, there will be yoga and meditation. Just don’t forget the sunscreen and floaties!

Like a tapestry that has been woven with beautiful threads, the soul of the festival will be experienced through art—as it can be witnessed or experienced through collaborative pieces. During the workshops presentations, artists will be capturing on canvas the wisdom and the sharing offered in the sessions. Individuals will be works of art themselves, with the opportunity to get blue, green, yellow and pink with fabulous colored chalk powder.

The Lovelight Festival will be a profoundly transformational event for all. According to Lang, the goal of the event isn’t to produce another mega-festival but to co-create “an experience that will promote community and consciousness, as well as help people to realize that they can make their voices count.

There seems to be a new burst of activism which is so critical to the survival of our planet.”

Location: Camp Ramblewood, 2564 Silver Rd., Darlington, MD. For more information or tickets, visit Lovelight Festival.com. See ad, page 5. natural awakenings July 2016

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oneonone

scientist.” Well, if you’re not a scientist, your job is to look to the scientists—that is what you can do. There is simply no scientific debate anymore.

An Interview with Maryland State Senator

Jamie Raskin

T

he three-term State Senator from Maryland’s District 20 and Senate Majority Whip, Jamie Raskin, is known as a fierce champion of the environment and has the legislative victories to support that claim. He serves his constituents in Silver Spring and Takoma Park addition to teaching constitutional law at American University’s Washington College of Law where he is a professor. His most recent challenge is to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, seeking to represent Maryland’s 8th Congressional District.

Recently, publisher Robin Fillmore had the opportunity to chat with Raskin about his views and commitment to the environment.

Climate change seems to be at the root of your work.

Where does your concern for the environment come from?

I have always been passionate about the Chesapeake Bay. I grew up here and spent my summers on the bay at a summer camp called Echo Hill.

I went to visit a few years ago and they had to close the Bay for a week because of the pollution, the extreme heat, the spreading dead zone in the water. They were taking kids to the movies instead. But I have always been a Chesapeake Bay person and I will fight forever to bring it back.

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That is where my environmentalism started but I have been concerned about climate change since I read Bill McKibben’s first book, The End of Nature. Bill is a friend of mine from college and that book shocked me. Rather than talk about climate change as an issue, I view it as the overarching context in which we need to decide every other issue, whether it is trade policy, war and peace or agriculture. We are in a civilizational emergency with climate change. We should view it as an opportunity and an imperative to mobilize the whole world.

I don’t need to tell you that there is great resistance to the idea that climate change is caused by human activity. In your opinion, how do you think this got so politicized?

Cognitive scientists talk about “motivated reasoning,” which means ideas and beliefs that are motivated by particular interests or goals. There is a whole industry organized around the denial of climate change and human impact. It is to be expected that there would be industrial denial, but fortunately, we have scientific evidence that is indisputable about what is taking place and why.

I am dismayed that many politicians take an ostrich position, by sticking their heads in the sand. When asked about it, they say, “Well, I’m not sure. I’m not a

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Do you see any glimmer of hope?

Are there constructive steps that can move the issue forward?

The carbon industry has dug in its heels.

We need to overwhelm them with science and then overwhelm them with politics.

The inner sanctum of the gas and coal industry understands perfectly what is going on, but they will be implacable until they can figure out a business model to allow them make as much money getting out of carbon as they make in it. But the rest of us need to act now.

Who or what else inspires you to act?

McKibben is an old buddy from college.

I love reading what he has to write. It is a little bit lurid but nobody is better than him at picking up the contemporary manifestations of climate change and telling us what is going on around the world.

I was very impressed by Naomi Wolf’s book, This Changes Everything.

She has an excellent structural analysis of the politics of climate change and makes the powerful argument that a recognition of climate change forces a broad discussion about social justice and economic inequality around the world. We have amazing environmentalists here in Maryland, people like Mike Tidwell, Ed Hatcher, Melanie Choukas-Bradley and Sarah Lynch. These people inspire me.

The political challenge is that we face short-term problems that need our attention, from gun violence and overtesting in schools to the immigration crisis and agricultural problems. We have this systemic threat facing us every single day from climate change. We need to figure out how to organize our public policies around climate change in a way that also allows us to address our other problems, including health care, immigration, terrorism and so on. We have to deal with immediate problems, but we should be thinking of climate change as a threat to all of humanity, a threat that has already arrived. We should view it as an invitation to organize people and governments all over the world to get on the same side.

This is our crucible.

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

嘀椀猀椀琀 甀猀 愀渀搀 猀攀攀 眀栀礀 攀瘀攀爀礀漀渀攀 椀猀 猀眀椀琀挀栀椀渀最 琀漀 渀愀琀甀爀愀氀 氀愀琀攀砀

嘀椀攀渀渀愀Ⰰ 嘀䄀 ⠀㜀 ㌀⤀ ㈀㔀㔀ⴀ㜀 㐀

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匀刀一䈀⸀挀漀洀

刀漀挀欀瘀椀氀氀攀Ⰰ 䴀䐀 ⠀㌀ ㄀⤀ 㜀㜀 ⴀ㜀 㐀

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When you judge another, you do not define them,you define yourself. ~Wayne Dyer 40

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

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

FRIDAY, JULY 1 Start Herb Camp for Kids – 9am-12pm. Also July 8, 15 and 22. Hands-on classes including plant explorations, field walks, medicine making, arts and crafts and more. $108/child for four classes including materials ($78 for additional children in immediate family). Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Info: CentroAshe.org.

TUESDAY, JULY 5 Food for Life: Diabetes Prevention and Treatment Cooking and Nutrition Class – 6-8pm.

Through Aug 2. The nonprofit Barnard Medical Center is offering a cooking and nutrition course to help people with Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, put the latest medical research into immediate practice. Each class offers a cooking demonstration and provides samples of delicious, diabetes-fighting dishes, along with a take-home packet of easyto-prepare and affordable recipes. Free. Barnard Medical Center, 5100 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 400, NW. Register: Contact Rose Saltalamacchia at 202-527-7314 or RSalt@pcrm.org.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6 Beer Yogis’ Cross-Country Tour – 7pm. The Beer Yogis join forces with Druminyasa at 3 Stars Brewing for a 60-minute all-levels vinyasa flow led by Melissa and Mikki with live drumming by Brad. Post practice, we’ll enjoy pints of 3 Stars beer. $25. 3 Stars Brewing, 6400 Chillum Pl, NE. Info: TheBeerYogis.com.

THURSDAY, JULY 7 Writing Your Truth – 12:30-2:30pm. Experience the powerful, mysterious and often surprising gifts that emerge as you listen to poetry, participate in simple exercises to get the juices flowing and then begin to write. $15 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

Enhances body’s energy flow, amplifies vitality and contributes to better postural alignment. 24CEUs. $795. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-6867046 or PMTI.org.

Past Life Regression Evening – 7-8:30pm.

Gently sliding into a past life memory can help you glimpse your eternal self and release what no longer serves you. $40. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com/ Psychic--Spiritual-Development.html.

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

SATURDAY, JULY 9 Customer Appreciation Day – We’ll be raffling a pair of Cirque de Soleil tickets for the Kurios performance on August 21st. Enjoy double points and light refreshments at the Tysons Galleria location. Eileen Fisher, 1805 G International Dr, McLean, VA. Info: 703-288-1802.

Start Grassroots Herbal Apprenticeship Program Year 1 – 9am-5pm. Through July 10.

Also Aug 6-7, Sept 17-18, Oct 1-2 and Oct 29-30.

Explore folk herbalism and understand nature’s ability to support our health, strength and vitality. $900 and a $50 materials ($10/class hour). Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Info: CentroAshe.org.

FRIDAY, JULY 8

Clairsentience and Clairvoyance Playshop – 9:30am-1pm. Games and exercises to strengthen and use your intuitive abilities with these two Clairs. Bring a question about your life. $40. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com/ the-Clairs-Series.html.

Zero Balancing II – 9am-5pm. Through July 11.

Felting Arts Workshop – 1-5pm. Create magical

3D fairy villages using intertwining wool fibers. $25 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

SUNDAY, JULY 10 Yoga for Self-Preservation – 9am-6pm. Yoga for Self-Preservation draws from the instructor’s personal experience as a massage therapist and yoga teacher and incorporates your individual needs, possibilities and limitations, to initiate the foundations of a healthy yoga practice. $99.

Prana Healthworks, Barre Tone 370 Maple Ave West, Vienna, VA. Register: Barre-Tone.com.

Info: 703-225-9111.

Intuitive Crystal Healing Certification – 10am4pm. Immerse yourself in the art of harnessing the healing power of crystals for your best and highest good. $120. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com.

Detoxification Demystified – 1-3pm. Nutrition Coach Linda Petursdottir will answer questions including: Why detox? Is detoxing safe? When to detox? And how to choose the right detox.

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

Deconstructing Headstand – 2:30-4:30pm. With Emily Rasowsky. Part flow class, part lecture and play, this workshop prepares for a fun afternoon of exploring the asana and its variations. $22.69. Yoga District Bloomingdale Studio, 1830 1st St, NW. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline.com/Classic/ ws?StudioID=2070&stype=-8&sView=Day&sLoc=0 &sTrn=100000226&Date=07/10/16.

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 MUIH Webinar: Herbs for Family Health – 121pm. Explore 10 herbs used to support the health of your whole family. Herbs can be incorporated into daily wellness and this webinar will help you start to use herbs with your family in this nurturing way.

Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health.

Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

natural awakenings July 2016

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THURSDAY, JULY 14 200-Hour Teacher Training Summer Extended Session – 7am-9pm. Through July 26. Handson modules focus on various yoga traditions including vinyasa flow, alignment, power, dharma, astanga, sivananda, restorative, prenatal, seniors, chair yoga and trauma-sensitive yoga.

With an understanding of these diverse yoga traditions, this training guides you to personally find what the best path in yoga is for you. $2500.

Yoga District, 14th St, NW. Info: YogaDistrict. com/The-Teacher-Training.

200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training – 6-9pm. This program is perfect for the avid yoga student who wants to become a yoga teacher or anyone that wants to deepen their personal practice. Scholarships available. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Register: 301-986-1090 or Roxanne@TheMindfulnessCenter.org.

FRIDAY, JULY 15 Teaching Mindfulness to Warriors – 6:309:30pm. Through July 16. A mind always set on threat can get stuck analyzing past events to anticipate future threats. Learn to help the service member tame the hypervigilant mind with mindfulness. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

Psychic Development – 7-8:30pm. Learn how to tell the difference between your imagination and psychic impressions. You will practice giving and receiving a variety of psychic readings. $40. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC. com/Psychic--Spiritual-Development.html.

SATURDAY, JULY 16 Touch of Massage – 10am-5pm. In just one day, our faculty will share with you how massage relaxes, heals and rejuvenates. $85. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org.

Celebrating One Year of Healing – 11am-3pm.

Join us for a family fun day with discounts on all our products, smoothie tasting, raffles and nutritional workshop. Free. Golden Health Pharmacy, 46950 Community Plaza, Ste 112, Sterling, VA. Info: 703430-8883 or GoldenHealthPharmacy.com.

Remember? You Are Whole: A Yoga Nidra Workshop – 1-4pm. With Shira Oz-Sinai.

Compounded by life’s challenges, we begin to

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Washington, D.C.

believe that we’re somehow flawed or broken.

We forget that who we truly are is always, already whole. $45. Willow Street Yoga, 8561 Fenton St, 2nd floor, Silver Spring, MD. Register: ShiraOzSinai.com/classes. Info: 240-839-1661 or Info@ShiraOzSinai.com.

Connect to Your Core – 2-4pm. Explore your inner strength and connect to your navel center. This workshop will lead your through movements and meditation taught to give you a good physical workout while strengthening your nervous system and core. Love Grow Yoga Studio, 9124 Bay Ave, North Beach, MD. Register: LoveGrowYoga.com. Info: 443-6465701 or Info@LoveGrowYoga.com.

Couples Massage – 2-5:30pm. Learn specific strokes and proper body-mechanics, so your body doesn’t hurt after giving a massage. $99/ couple. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org.

Yoga For Runners – 4:15-6:15pm. With Kirsten Ahern. Whether you are training for a race, new to running or looking for injury prevention, this fun and focused workshop will help you achieve your goals. $22.69. Yoga District Dupont Circle Studio, 1635 Connecticut Ave, NW. Register: Clients.

MindBodyOnline.com/Classic/ws?StudioID=2070 &stype=8&sView=Day&sLoc=0&sTrn=10000104 7&Date=07/16/16.

SUNDAY, JULY 17 Start Seasonal Herbal CSA – Each season each CSA member receives a box with six organically grown and handmade botanical products that help to support health and wellness. Pick-ups or shipping.

Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Info: CentroAshe.org.

CPR/First Aid – 10am-5pm. The curriculum meets the standards of the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. $80 or $45 for one part only. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org.

of the well endowed

– 11am-5pm. Acupuncture, massage, Reiki, reflexology, crystals, vetted intuitive readers, handmade jewelry, luxurious spa products, free workshops, live music and more. $10. Illuminate Annapolis Mind-Body-Spirit Festival, Doubletree

by Hilton, 210 Holiday Ct, Annapolis, MD. Info: IlluminateAnnapolis.com.

Herbal First Aid Class – 12-4pm. Learn herbal remedies for many common first aid needs and how to assemble an herbal first aid kit. $30. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Info: CentroAshe.org.

Learn to Relax: A Dive into True Restoration – 2:30-4:30pm. With Gracy Obuchowicz. Gracy will teach you a basic restorative yoga practices that you can replicate at home, including essential breath work and basic meditation. You’ll learn which props to buy and which props you can make at home. $22.69. Yoga District Bloomingdale Studio, 1830 1st St, NW. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline. com/Classic/ws?StudioID=2070&stype=-8&sView =Day&sLoc=0&sTrn=100000086&Date=07/17/16.

Survivorship for Young Adults with Cancer – 3:30-5pm. Join life coach Jenn McRobbie for an interactive discussion on topics such as what normal means, how to deal with family and friends, changing jobs and giving back to the community.

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

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

MONDAY, JULY 18 MUIH Webinar: Careers in Health Coaching – 7-8pm. Join us for this webinar and learn how well educated health coaches are finding more career opportunities than ever before. Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health. Info: Events@ MUIH.edu.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

Metaphysical Discussion Forum – 10am-4pm. If you have spiritual or metaphysical questions you’ve always wanted answered, be ready for a fascinating day of discussion, laughter and answers on all things metaphysical. $100. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com

MUIH Herb Walk – 5-7pm. Join us for a relaxing and informative tour of the herb garden before the Graduate Open House. Learn to recognize herbs and how they are used for healing and wellness.

Free. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Info: Events@ MUIH.edu.

Illuminate Annapolis Mind-Body-Spirit Festival

Deconstructing Bitters: Medicine and Mixology

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

– 5:30-7:30pm. Join us as we learn from Tricia McCauley, Common Good Resident Herbalist and JB Knapp, Mixologist at El Camino, about how to use bitters in both medicine and mixology. $45. Common Good City Farm, V St, between 2nd and 4th St, NW. Register: 202-5597513 or Info@CommonGoodCityFarm.org or CommonGoodCityFarm.org.

Lucky Dog Adoption Event – 12-2pm. The volunteer-run Lucky Dog Rescue will be bringing lots of adoptable animals looking for their forever homes. With no boarding facility or shelter of their own, Lucky Dog holds events across the District, Maryland and Virginia. The Big Bad Woof, 5501 Baltimore Ave, Ste 106, Hyattsville, MD. Info: TheBigBadWoof.com.

7:30pm. Join us as we harvest produce from Common Good City Farm to prepare a farm-totable meal. $15. Common Good City Farm, V St, between 2nd and 4th St, NW. Register: 202-5597513 or Info@CommonGoodCityFarm.org or CommonGoodCityFarm.org.

MONDAY, JULY 21

SUNDAY, JULY 24

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.

Yoga in Space: Practicing with the Elements – 2-4pm. With Alison Baenen. Explore the elements and how they influence our yoga practice (and life practice) through powerful and harmonizing asana plus breathwork designed to balance and revitalize our fiery, grounded, fluid and mutable qualities. $22.69. Yoga District, 1910 14th St, NW. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline.com/Classic/ ws?StudioID=2070&stype=-8&sView=Day&sLoc =0&sTrn=100001009&Date=07/24/16.

Movie Night – 7-8:30pm. Screening of Supercharge Me! 30 Days Raw. Inspired by Super-Size Me, Jenna Norwood ate only raw foods for 30 days to document the effects on her health. Movie interviews David Wolfe, Ben Vereen and Kathy Sledge. Organic snacks provided. $5 donation goes to a local charity.

Neck Back & Beyond Healing Center, 10560 Main St, Ste 204, Fairfax, VA. Register: 703-865-5690 or NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com.

Local Greatest Hits: Family Favorites – 7-9pm.

Chapter founder and MindfulHealthyLife.com publisher Jessica Haney will lead a sharing session about favorite places, events and activities in Metro DC for natural-minded parents.

Holistic Moms Network Arlington/Alexandria Chapter, Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, VA. Info: HolisticMomsArlAlex@gmail.com or HolisticMomsArlAlex.BlogSpot.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 22 Full-Body Manual Lymph Drainage Basic 5-Day Course – 8:30am-5:30pm. Through July 26. MLD by the Dr. Vodder School International is a series of precise movements that increases the health of the lymphatic system. 40 CEUs. $1095. Potomac Massage Training Institute, 8380 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD. Info: 202-686-7046 or PMTI.org.

Three-Day Cancer Retreat – 12pm.Through July 24. Smith Center retreats offer a place to explore the issues and choices that people with life-threatening illness encounter. Cancer patients and their caregivers experience a non-medical, educational, hands-on experience in a safe, nurturing environment. Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithcCenter.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 23 Clairaudience and Claircognizance Playshop – 9:30am-1pm. Learn about these two aspects of your psychic mind and how they often get confused with each other. Games and exercises to strengthen and use your intuitive abilities. $40. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com/the-Clairs-Series.html.

THURSDAY, JULY 28

plan ahead

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

TUESDAY, JULY 26 Laughter Yoga – 7:30-8:30pm. Please join us – all ages, 5-95–for this playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Washingto– National Cathedral, Bishop’s Garden, 3101 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

Restorative Movement Workshop – 7:30-8:30pm.

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

Simple floor exercises have profound effects on your posture, breathing, and movement capabilities. $15 (suggested donation). Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27 Webinar: Herbal Enthusiast to Herbal Expert – 12-1pm. Learn how to take your passion for herbal medicine into a viable career. Learn about emerging jobs and more. Free. Info: Events@MUIH.edu.

Summer: Cooking Produce at its Peak – 5:30-

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5 Contacting Your Spirit Guides – 7-8:30pm. Your Spirit Guides are waiting to send you messages.

Find out what helpful advice they have for you and if it is time to make a change in your life.

See what encouragement awaits you. $40. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com/ Psychic--Spiritual-Development.html.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7 Psychic Dreaming Workshop – 10am-4pm.

This is a beginning class to get you started with remembering and understanding your dreams. Bring 3 dreams or dream fragments to class. $110. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com/ Dreams.html.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 Start Permaculture Design Certificate Course – 9am-5pm. Through Aug 15. Also Sept 3-5 and Oct 8-10. Introduction to Permaculture principles, applications and design practices by Eric Kelly.

Composting, natural building, small crop production and much more. $720. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Info: CentroAshe.org.

2-Day Tarot Immersion Workshop for Beginners – 9am-1pm. This class is for anyone that has little to no tarot knowledge. You will be provided with your

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own original Rider-Waite Tarot deck and a Beginner Basics Tarot workbook. You will have 8-hours of training. $130. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Chesapeake Herb Gathering – 8:30am10pm. Through Sept 25 at 3pm, Weekend-long family friendly event full of workshops, plant walks, art, social justice talks, artisans market, Yoga for Balance – 2-4pm. Tune-up and balance campfire and much more. $70 before August 1 the entire glandular system with Kundalini Yoga. or $95 before September 22 or $110 after (all Learn the principle elements of the body through include camping). Piscataway Indian Cultural movement, meditation and breath. Open to all Center, 16816 Country Ln, Waldorf, MD. Info: levels. Love Grow Yoga Studio, 124 Bay Ave, CentroAshe.org.

North Beach, MD. Register: LoveGrowYoga.com.

Info: 443-646-5701 or Info@LoveGrowYoga.com. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5

SATURDAY, AUGUST 20 Growing Herbs for Medicine and for Sale – 9:30am-3:30pm. Tour a medicinal plant farm and processing facility used to produce teas, including the nation’s first solar, thermal, herb dryer.. $55.

Habanera Farm, 2916 Whitehaven Rd, Tyaskin, MD. Info: CentroAshe.org.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 Foraging and Wildcrafting Food, Medicine, Herbs – 9am-4:30pm. Practical class by Eric Kelly identifying wild plants, foraging basics for food and medicine, processing for safety, flavor and digestion and more. $55. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Info: CentroAshe.org.

Usui Reiki Certification Level I – 10am-4pm.

Enhance your level of energy nutrition by channeling life force energy into your own body from the unlimited universal energy source. $120. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com/ Energy-Healing--Reiki.html.

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

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

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Intro to Herbal Medicine Series – 5:30-7:30pm.

Also Oct 12 and 19. Learn to make herbal home and body products that are good for your health, the earth and your budget. $75. Emergence Community Arts Collective, 733 Euclid St, NW. Info: CentroAshe.org.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 Herbal Medicine Making Workshop – 10am-4pm.

Hands on class including plant walk, background in herbalism, folk medicine making techniques, herbal preparations. Start your own herbal medicine kit. $55. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Info: CentroAshe.org.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19 Laughter Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Please join us for a playful and fun practice that has been proven to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. The session ends with a silent meditation. Free. Arlington Central Library auditorium, 1015 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA. Info: ArlingtonLaughterYoga@yahoo.com.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

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

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

Info: Shenyun.com/Symphony.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Calendar

A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events. n Calendar of Dated Events: Designed for events on a specific date of the month. n Calendar of Ongoing Events: Designed for recurring events that fall on the same day each week.

202-505-4835 NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

ongoingevents

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.

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month Yoga – 10:15-11:30am. See Mon for details. and adhere to our guidelines. Email Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com for guidelines Gentle Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St, NW. and to submit entries.

Info: 202-483-8600 or SmithCenter.org.

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 miniretreat. Drop-ins welcome. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.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 individual 12 Step programs. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

monday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15am. A beautiful way to start your day, with a 30-minute meditation and optional 15-minute discussion following. Drop-ins welcome. A project of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

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). No class July 4.

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.

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.

Yoga Flow, All Levels – 6pm. Appropriate for all levels of yoga experience. Enjoy this flow-based class of yoga sequences designed to balance and strengthen the body and mind. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

Mindfulness Meditation for Well-Being and Happiness – 7:30-9:30pm. This series of six Tuesday evening classes will introduce the practice of mindfulness meditation and give an overview of helpful means for working with thoughts, opening to difficult emotions, developing wisdom and deepening compassion. There will be guided and silent meditations, as well as time for sharing questions and insights about your practice of meditation. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Register: IMCW.org/Calendar/EventId/1564/e/Class-SeriesMindfulness-Meditation-21-Jun-2016.

Women’s Community Mindfulness Class – 7:30pm.

The aspiration of the Women’s Community Mindfulness Classes (WCMC) is to create a safe space where women can practice mindfulness for the development of wisdom and compassion. We provide both guided meditation and independent practice time followed by a talk, with time for questions and comments. Beginning and experienced meditators are welcome. Chairs and cushions are provided. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Info: IMCW.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 – 10:30am12:30pm. 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.

Gentle Yoga – 7-8pm. Open to all levels. Beginners welcome. $15. Rising Phoenix Holistic Center, 9028 D Prince William St, Manassas, VA. Register: RisingPhoenixHC.com.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction – 7-9:30pm.

An eight-week program that assists people who want to learn to use their own internal resources to respond more skillfully to stress, medical and psychological conditions and promote healthy living. Intentional, present–moment awareness, developed through mindfulness meditation practices, helps us experience whatever is happening in our life as it unfolds. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 200, NW, Tenleytown. Register: IMCW.org/Calendar/EventId/369/e/Class-Series-Mindfulness-BasedStress-Reduction-mbsr-28-Jan-2016.

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: LivingMindfully.org.

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

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

saturday Meditation – 10am. Be guided through mindfulness meditation practices including breathing techniques, relaxation and development of nonjudgmental awareness. These practices invite calmness feelings of wellbeing. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or The MindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

PG SPCA Adoption Event – 12-2pm. 2nd Sat. The adoptable animals of the PG SPCA will be joining us at our Hyattsville location and you guessed it, they’ll be looking for their forever homes. There is an adoption fee but attending the meet and greet is free. The Big Bad Woof, 5501 Baltimore Ave, Ste 106, Hyattsville MD. Info: PGSPCA.org.

Gentle Flow Yoga – 12pm. Slow Hatha Vinyasa performed with a focus on pranayama, meditation, concentration and fluid, soothing asana movement that is suitable for beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. $20. The Mindfulness Center, 4963 Elm St, Ste 100, Bethesda, MD. Info: 301-986-1090 or TheMindfulnessCenter@gmail.com.

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

ACUPUNCTURE NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

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AROMATHERAPY

MOTHER NATURE’S STORE

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 26.

SHAWNA SNYDER

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Shawna Snyder is a licensed acupuncturist specializing in pain management. She effectively relieves pain by custom tailoring a comprehensive treatment plan to achieve optimal results. See ad, page 21.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE NOVA CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

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

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

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

See ad, page 15.

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 39.

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

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

Near Wolf Trap in Vienna.

CANNABIS PRODUCTS CBD REVOLUTION US

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

We are an innovative community, passionate about empowering individuals to balance their health and wealth while becoming leaders in the cannabis movement. We spread the truth about the benefits of an amazing plant in our modern culture, teaching people how to get healthy without the high. See ad, page 40.

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CHIROPRACTOR ASHDALE CHIROPRACTIC AND PHYSICAL THERAPY

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

NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Neck Back & Beyond in Fairfax, VA offers chiropractic and naturopathic care, acupuncture, massage, colon hydrotherapy (colonics), reflexology, lymphatic drainage and more. See ad, page 26.

CLEANING MAID BRIGADE CAPITAL REGION

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

We are Green Clean Certified so you can have peace of mind that your home will be healthier for you, your pets, and the environment. See ad, page 39.

COACHING FREE YOUR VOICE

AngelaBlueskies@gmail.com AngelaBlueskies.com/Free-Your-Voice Yoga of voice workshops and private coaching that offers a refreshing perspective for people who want to release personal blocks and sing from their hearts.

COMPOUNDING PHARMACY GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

46950 Community Plaza, Ste 112, Sterling, VA 703-430-8883 ElsaLam@GoldenHealthPharmacy GoldenHealthPharmacy.com Prescriptions with personal attention (We accept all insurance). Compounding pharmacy for special medications and your pet’s special need. Integrating pharmacy services with nutritional support. Juice Bar, holistic health and wellness workshops, cooking classes for disease management and an infrared sauna with acoustic sound therapy. See ad, page 21.

CONSULTING GRACE PRODUCTIONS

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

See ad, page 22.

GARDENING PRIOR UNITY GARDEN

Fairfax, VA 703-281-7743 Gardeners@PriorUnityGarden.com PriorUnityGarden.com From containers to whole home-sites we help you create organic, abundant and beautiful gardens. Classes, courses, workshops, presentations, consultations, coaching, designs, installations, maintenance, work-study, products. See ad, page 9.

HEALTHY PETS WHOLE PET CENTRAL

Info@WholePetCentral.com WholePetCentral.com

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

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

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

DENTISTRY-CERAMIC IMPLANTS MILES OF SMILES IMPLANT DENTISTRY

801 Wayne Ave, Ste G200, Silver Spring, MD 301-588-0768 PureImplants@MilesOfSmilesDental.net Our integrative approach addresses your body’s readiness for dental implants, we systematically test and optimize your immune system prior to implant placement. With 18 years’ experience in implant dentistry, Dr Noumbissi developed the Natural and Keramik Koncept, a safe protocol for teeth replacement with metal free ceramic implants coupled with naturally optimized and accelerated bone and gum healing to enhance your smile and improve your quality of life. See ad, page 10.

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

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

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

MINDFUL HEALTHY LIFE

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

MindfulHealthyLife.com.

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 COUNSELING

HOLISTIC PARENTING

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

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

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

See ad, page 15.

Bringing back the indigenous wisdom to our modern world. Organizing sacred retreat, reconnect with nature and sacred sites travel. Promoting holistic healers, traditional ancient medicine and wellness workshops. See ad, page 16.

HOLISTIC HEALTH COUNSELING GREEN GLOW GIRL

Sara McCoy Integrative Nutrition Health Coach GreenGlowGirl@gmail.com Providing one-on-one coaching to feeling inner vibrancy and awareness through healthy eating and self-care. See ad, page 26.

HOMEOPATHY MICHAEL LISS

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

See ad, page 21.

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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 and emphasizes nutrition, preventive care and lifestyle changes. Dr. Hirani specializes in the treatment of chronic issues such as hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, menopause and women’s health issues.

Patients love her compassionate care and personalized attention. See ad, page 21.

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

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

SULTANA AFROOZ, DO

Rose Wellness Center 2944 Hunter Mill Rd, Ste 101, Oakton, VA 571-529-6699 Info@RoseWellness.com RoseWellness.com Dr. Sultana Afrooz specializes in diagnosing and treating patients who have been chronically ill from effects of tick borne infection, mold toxicity and environmental toxicity. See ad, page 21.

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

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

She believes in finding the root cause of aliments and creating a personalized dietary plan to restore optimal wellness. Elizabeth specializes in diabetes, food sensitivities, gastrointestinal health, autoimmunity and metabolic syndrome issues. Call today to see how she can help. See ad, page 21.

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OPTIMAL HEALTH DIMENSIONS 703-359-9300 ContactLHZ@OHDDrz.com OptimalHealthDimensions.com

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

CANNX

800-462-0715 MyCannX.com Providing safe, legal and affordable access to medical marijuana for D.C. residents suffering from chronic illnesses. Schedule an appointment today. See ad, page 30.

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 everexpanding region of health care.

MEDICAL BARNARD MEDICAL CENTER

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 21.

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Washington, D.C.

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

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

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

PRESCRIPTIONS GOLDEN HEALTH PHARMACY

46950 Community Plaza, Ste 112, Sterling, VA 703-430-8883 ElsaLam@GoldenHealthPharmacy GoldenHealthPharmacy.com Prescriptions with personal attention (We accept all insurance). Compounding pharmacy for special medications and your pet’s special need. Integrating pharmacy services with nutritional support. Juice Bar, holistic health and wellness workshops, cooking classes for disease management and an infrared sauna with acoustic sound therapy. See ad, page 21.

POLARITY THERAPY NECK BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

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

See ad, page 26.

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 39.

SACRED RETREATS HEART OF THE MOTHER RETREATS HeartoftheMotherRetreats@gmail.com HeartoftheMotherRetreats.com

G u i d i n g transformational journeys in power centers around the world, including the Sacred Valley of Peru, we offer safe, supported Ayahuasca experiences combined with mindfulness practices..

See ad, page 35.

SHAMANIC PRACTICES TRIBE OF BELTWAY SHAMANS

RumiWasiSanctuary@gmail.com Meetup.com/Tribe-of-Beltway-Shamans Washington, D.C.’s premier community for all those interested in shamanic practice, indigenous spirituality and Native American traditions. We offer meetups, workshops, classes and trainings.

SHIATSU THERAPIST NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

Natalie Depastas 10560 Main St, Ste PH-1, Fairfax, VA 703-865-5690 NeckBackAndBeyond@gmail.com NeckBackAndBeyond.com Nathalie Depastas is a highly skilled acupuncturist and Shiatsu therapist with 30 years of experience in Chinese medicine, including medical qigong. See ad, page 26.

SKINCARE - ORGANIC NEAL’S YARD REMEDIES, NYR ORGANIC 571-277-1480 RandiOrganic@gmail.com US.NYROrganic.com/Shop RandiCohenCoblenz

Go organic. NYR Organic is the way to go. Awardwinning products, fair trade, ethical and transparent. Many holistic practitioners, massage therapist and estheticians use the products in their practice. See ad, page 42.

SOUND MEDICINE ANGELA BLUESKIES & SOUND MEDICINE JOURNEYS

AngelaBlueskies@gmail.com AngelaBlueskies.com/Free-Your-Voice Angela Blueskies & Sound Medicine Journeys ~ offering sacred music events, workshops and sound healing for groups and in private sessions throughout the MidAtlantic region. See ad, page 35.

VETERINARY HOLISTIC CENTER

UNITY OF GAITHERSBURG

7950 Woodruff Ct, Ste 1, Springfield, VA 703-662-4494 Info@VHCNoVa.com VHCNoVa.com

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

Dr. Jordan Kocen and his associates provide a full range of integrative veterinary care services, including: acupuncture, homeopathy, Chinese Herbal Medicine, massage, chiropractic and physical therapy.

See ad, page 13.

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

THERMOGRAPHY NECK, BACK & BEYOND WELLNESS CENTER

WOMEN’SHEALTH

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 #r adults and families with older children. See ad, page 26.

VETERINARIAN - HOLISTIC HOLISTIC VETERINARY HEALING

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 15.

BEAUTY VANTAGE, LLC

207-338-2177 BeautyVantage@MyFairPoint.net BeautyVantage.com In spite of the widespread acceptance of cosmetic and surgical procedures, the drawbacks remain at cross purposes. Breast implants and fat transfer are needlessly injurious in light of the dramatic, perennial results that can be organically achieved with Natural Woman “plant-vs-implants” formula. Stay Natural and stand out in a plastic world! See ad, page 42.

YOGA YOGA WITH NYA

Nya@YogaWithNya.com YogaWithNya.com

yoga with

Nya Alemayhu is a yoga instructor in Washington, D.C., dedicated to building community through sharing the practice of yoga. Nya∙ private ∙ specialty offers private instruction and ∙ sunday commu workplace yoga. See ad, page 15. at Un ∙ wor

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

yogawit nya@yogawit washington, dc ∙ 202

A holistic veterinary clinic focused on keeping your pet healthy by promoting quality of life while providing excellent integrative medical care in an exceptional environment. See ad, page 10.

SPIRITUAL LIVING UNITY OF FAIRFAX

2854 Hunter Mill Rd, Oakton, VA 703-281-1767 • UnityOfFairfax.org Admin@UnityOfFairfax.org At Unity of Fairfax, we offer a welcoming, safe environment to explore one’s own relationship with God in a community of likeminded individuals. See ad, page 27.

I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day. ~Vincent Van Gogh

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Protect Your Thyroid with Detoxified Iodine Give Your Body the Natural Boost it Needs

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

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

Radiation

Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation

Low-Sodium Diets

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

Iodized Table Salt

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

Bromine

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

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

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

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

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Satisfied Customers

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I feel much more energetic, my thoughts are extremely clear, and my entire body feels more in balance.

Natural Awakenings Detoxified Iodine is the only change in my daily routine over the last 45 days. The way I feel today is better than at any point in my life that I can remember. ~ James

I’ve been taking this product for over a year and no single supplement, diet or approach (I have tried lots) has had as great an impact as this. I have my energy back, my metabolism is back on track and my mind is clear and the depression has lifted. I love this product and wish more people knew about it. I think many of us are deficient in iodine and it can bring balance to the body. Thank you, thank you Natural Awakenings for offering it! ~ Pamela

Proper iodine supplementation with a high-quality product like Natural Awakenings Detoxified Iodine can prevent harm by protecting the thyroid and other endocrine glands from radiation and restoring proper hormone production.

A Few Drops Can Change Your Life!

You could feel better, lose weight or increase energy and mental clarity with a few drops of Natural Awakenings DETOXIFIED IODINE daily in water or topically on the skin.

The supplementation of iodine, an essential component of the thyroid, has been reported to give relief from: • Depression • Weight Gain • Fibromyalgia • Low Energy • Hypothyroidism • Hyperthyroidism • Radiation • Bacteria • Viruses

$19.99 plus $5 shipping • 1 btl. = 6-8 week supply Order today, available only at

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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