Natural Awakenings Washington DC January 2014

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Health Team Label-Literate Kids The ABCs of Product Ingredients

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An Enduring Alternative to Resolutions

January 2014 | Washington, D.C. | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com natural awakenings

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A D V E RTO R I A L

Visit www.creativehealingtrends.com for UPCOMING Classes January 4 & 5 - Manifesting & Abundance Seminar in Rockville, MD January 10 - 12 - Basic Theta Healing near Warrenton, VA January 24 - 26 - Basic Theta Healing in Rockville, MD

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Indigo Integrative Health Clinic A Concierge Medical Practice We Specialize In

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Food Allergies Digestive Disorders Thyroid Disorders Clinical Nutrition and Detoxification

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Adrenal Fatigue Immune Support Cardiovascular Health Same Day Sick Visits and more

We find medical solutions that work for you, targeting your condition while strengthening your immune system.

We use many types of non-aggressive treatments tailored to your needs, including intravenous infusions, giving your body the appropriate tools to heal itself naturally.

For Appointments Please Call

(202) 298 -9131

More Energy

www.IndigoHealthClinic.com

Better Life

Dahn Yoga is a dynamic mind-body practice originating in Korea that combines stretching, flowing movement, deep breathing exercises and meditation in a simple and easy to learn format that focuses on the development of the body’s core strength as the basis of physical, mental, and spiritual health.

How is Dahn Yoga different?

- It's about changing your energy. - It's about awakening your brain.

- It's suitable for everybody.

- It helps you create positive lifestyle changes More info at: www.dahnyoga.com 11 Locations in DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Maryland Gaithersburg Bethesda Aspen Hill Beltsville Rockville

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Washington DC 202-393-2440 Please call to set up an individual introductory session. Mention this ad for 50% off your first visit. natural awakenings

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letterfrompublisher Happy New Year, Dear Readers contact us Publisher Robin Fillmore Managing Editor Sharon Hadden Contributing Editors Grace Ogden Jessica Bradshaw Design & Production Irene Sankey Partnership Development David Chang Outreach Terri Carr Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-505-4835 Fax: 202-827-7955 5230 Tuckerman Lane North Bathesda, MD 20852 Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com NaturalAwakeningsDC.com ©2014 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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Washington, D.C.

For many of us, January is the time of the year when we take stock of the year that has just passed, and imagine new possibilities for the days to come. I am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, knowing that the average life span of these lofty goals to lose weight, wake up earlier or kick a bad habit is short. These healthy habits are usually abandoned in a few weeks or a few days.

When I used to belong to a large gym in Annapolis, the regulars (myself included) found January to be the least desirable month to go for our daily workouts. The gym was packed with people who didn’t know how to use the elliptical trainers, all the lockers were taken and there was no space in the Zumba class. Magically, by February 1, all was back to normal. Thank goodness, we thought, for the fickleness of those who gave up their goal to get fit. At least there is an open locker now.

I am not proud of my arrogance toward my temporary gym mates. They had a real desire to make a change in their lives and even took positive steps to make that change possible. What they didn’t have, for a host of reasons I imagine, was a plan to make those desired goals an indelible part of their lives. It isn’t easy to change ones’ habits. There is comfort in the familiar.

Our January issue offers some insights on how to make real change in your life. This month’s feature, “Build Your Own Wellness Dream Team,” by Kathleen Barnes, provides important insights on how and why to develop a team of individuals that can help each of us live a healthier life. Our bodies are complex systems, and it is helpful to have a number of skilled professions to encourage us in a way that is individual-specific, to find true health. This piece is complemented by two others that share information about the value of finding a health coach, someone who is trained to develop sustainable systems for each patient. Local health coach and instructor at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, Linda Mastro, offers a behind-the-scenes look at a typical coach-patient relationship, while writing of the value of individual coaching for the patient.

Beyond seeking healthy change for our physical bodies, local author of The Voluntourist, Ken Budd, shares insights in “Volunteering Abroad,” on seeking a personal quest. His journey to six countries was inspired by his concern that his life should stand for something more than his daily work and personal relationships. There is a whole world out there and many in it could use an extra hand.

Budd inspires with practical information to change the world, while changing ourselves­­­—a value I appreciate and support with ongoing work in Haiti with my husband, John.

Mark Twain wrote, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born… and the day you find out why.” My hope for each of you is to make the space in January to ask new questions and then abide in the answers.

Peace and Light –

Robin Fillmore, Publisher

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

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8 newsbriefs 12 healthbriefs 14 globalbriefs 15 eventspotlight 20 healingways 22 greenliving 24 healthykids 25 conscious

communication 15 26 firstperson 28 fitbody 30 naturalpet 34 community

spotlight 24 37 inspiration 38 naturalbeauty 40 consciouseating 41 leadingedge 42 calendar 46 resourceguide

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

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

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.

16 BUILD YOUR OWN

WELLNESS DREAM TEAM Take Your Health to the Next Level

by Kathleen Barnes

The Wellness Wheel

by Linda Mastro

20 CARING, STEERING, CHEERING

A Health Coach Helps US Change

22 EVER-MORE-GREEN IN 2014

Easy Ways to Go Eco Right Now

by Avery Mack

24 LABEL LITERACY

Five Tips Help Kids Choose Healthy Foods

by Elisa Bosley

26 VOLUNTEERING ABROAD 22 Advice on Serving Overseas

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Robin@NaturalAwakeningsDC.com. Deadline for editorial: feature articles are due by the 5th of the month, news briefs and health briefs are due by the 10th.

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

Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

30 LONG-LIVED PETS

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by Lauressa Nelson

by Ken Budd

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19 LIFETIME COACHING

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28 FITNESS Ă la CARTE The Latest, Hottest Trends

by Christine MacDonald

Anti-Aging Care Aids Youthful Vigor

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

33 SOUND AS THERAPY

The Body and its Orchestration

by Milagros Phillips

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39 VOWS

An Enduring Alternative to Resolutions

by Grace Ogden

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newsbriefs Krishna Das in Concert

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ollowing the studio recording of his new album, Krishna Das kicks off his tour of the United States at 7:30 p.m., on March 26, at the University of DC. From the first heart-opening sounds of the concert, as the harmonium blends with the unmistakable voice of Krishna Das, something stirs deep within. One knows immediately—this will be a soulful evening. Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Krishna Das has been called yoga’s rock star.

With a remarkable voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das—known to friends, family and fans as simply KD— has taken call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls.

Audience and musicians unite to create a joyous energy of love and devotion.

A worldwide icon and the bestselling chant artist of all time, KD has sold over 300,000 records. His album, Live Ananda, was nominated for a 2012 Grammy for Best New Age Album.

Early bird tickets are available for $35 until February 26 The concert will be held at the Theatre of the Arts, University of DC, 4200 Connecticut Ave., NW. For more information, visit BuddhaFest.org. See ad, page 51.

Become an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor

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yurveda is enjoying a reawakening in the west and affords much extraordinary knowledge and many opportunities for practice, career development and service to humanity.

For the first time, an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor certification course is being offered in Washington, D.C.,

by Neva Ingalls, director of the Inner Domain Teacher Training Programs (innerdomain.org).

This 500-hour certification course is designed to help each student become an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor. Previous training or licensure in any medical practice or in yoga is not necessary.

Ingalls has been given the honor to teach this course by the esteemed Vedacharya David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri). In India, Vamadeva is recognized as a Vedacharya (Vedic teacher), and includes Ayurveda, yoga, Vedanta and Vedic astrology in his scope of studies, as well as the ancient Vedic texts. This course will also feature the esteemed teacher, Ed Zadlo D.Ay (Acharya Premanand), a Certified Ayurveda Practitioner, Integral Yoga-Ayurveda Therapist and Acharya of Yoga/Vedanta, Ayurveda and Vedic Dharma.

The course is being offered at The Yoga Fusion Studio in Chevy Chase, M.D., and begins January 25. Early registration is recommended. For more information, contact Neva Ingalls at NevaFusion@gmail.com.

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Representing Your Life: A New Approach to Personal Change

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arrison Snow, director of Team Building Associates, will lead a Family Constellation Workshop at the Bridge Between Worlds Retreat Center, in Charlottesville, Virginia, January 25 and 26, and a weeklong workshop at the same location, April 20 to 25. Snow has been facilitating personal and professional growth workshops and trainings since 1974. He has facilitated workshops and trainings for international organizations in 24 countries worldwide.

Family Constellations (also known as Systemic Constellations) was developed by the German therapist, Bert Hellinger, who demonstrated how current life issues can be traced back to dynamics hidden in each person’s family background. Remarkably, events that took place long before birth can profoundly affect the quality of personal and professional relationships.

The Constellation process, better known in Europe than in the United States, uses a phenomological approach to personal change, meaning that it notices “what is” in a person’s life, based on the consequences of different actions and then solutions are sought. A family, like an organization, is a system. Different parts of the system can be identified and represented by individuals or representatives. When the representatives are set-up as a “constellation”, new insights emerge.

In this work, the representatives do not role play or adopt some type of posture.

In fact, the less they know or assume about their roles the better. Each representative simply stands where placed and notices any feelings, thoughts or sensations that might arise. The interaction between the representatives provides insights and understanding for the constellation client. Healing phrases are spoken by the representatives (given by the facilitator) so that what needs to be acknowledged or take place, actually does. Energetically, a shift can occur that may lead to new possibilities.

For more information or to register, visit TeamBuildingAssociates.com.

Vitality Cleansing Open House at New Bethesda Location

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aroline Alexander, founder of Vitality Cleansing, is opening a second location in Bethesda and will be holding an open house, from 3 to 6 p.m., on January 12, at her new location 4711 Montgomery Ln., Bethesda, at Lux Studios.

Alexander is renowned for helping so many in this area find rejuvenation and vitality through colon hydrotherapy. Treatments are offered in a comfortable, beautiful and hygienic environment; highlighted by soothing gentle music. The leisurely pace of purified water gently washing debris from the colon, provides the connection between water and cleanliness,—-that forms the basis for renewed health.

“Opening the Bethesda location has been a dream for me for so long,” states Alexander. “I am passionate about the work that I do to bring cleansing and good health to all my clients. I am so pleased to be able to share this wisdom at the new location.”

Working in partnership with Puree Juice of Bethesda, Vitality Cleansing will offer cleaning packages and special pricing to those who attend the open house on January 12.

For more information, call 301-907-6810 or visit VitalityCleansing.com. natural awakenings

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newsbriefs Community Forklift Named 2013 Green Business of the Year

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he Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce has named Community Forklift as its 2013 Green Business of the Year.

Community Forklift is a nonprofit reuse center for home improvement supplies. Homeowners and builders donate modern and vintage building materials, hardware, lumber, tools, architectural salvage and other renovation leftovers. Then, at a large warehouse just outside of Northeast Washington, D.C., the materials are offered to the public at a very low cost and distributed free to charities and families in need.

Community Forklift received the award because of its rags-to-riches success story and its commitment to “lifting up communities” in the District. By converting the region’s waste stream into a valuable resource stream, the operation has grown to 40 employees, in just eight years, with annual proceeds over $1.5 million. Community Forklift has combined business success, community improvement and ecofriendly practices to create a unique and much-loved local institution.

In addition to the Chamber’s award, Community Forklift was presented with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition by U.S. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD). Nancy J. Meyer, Community Forklift CEO, says, “Community Forklift is honored to be recognized. Our commitment to the local community is goal one. We educate, we advocate, and we support change in policies and practices, to value ecological and human sustainability.”

Community Forklift is the District’s largest thrift store for modern and vintage house parts and is located near the Hyattsville Arts District at 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Edmonston, MD—just five minutes outside NE D.C. For more information, visit CommunityForklift.org.

Introduction to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

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he Center for Mindful Living in Tenleytown is offering a special three-hour introductory class, led by Bill Mies, for anyone interested in learning more about Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on January 11.

MBSR 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. It offers spiritual insight and practices along with a practical application to health and well being.

The classes in the MBSR series are modeled after the ones offered at the Stress Reduction Clinic, developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. The clinic has been featured on PBS in Bill Moyers’ documentary, Healing and the Mind, the Oprah Winfrey Show, NBC’s Dateline, ABC’s Evening News and hundreds of newspapers and magazine articles. Attendees have the opportunity to sign-up for this more comprehensive course, consisting of eight, two-and-a-half hour weekly classes and one six-hour day-long workshop, starting on January 16.

During this introductory class, attendees will learn about the goals/objectives and content of the eight-week MBSR series. They will be introduced to and experience some of the major elements of the course, to include guided body awareness meditation, guided formal mindfulness meditation practices, gentle stretching and mindful movement, group dialogue and discussions aimed at enhancing awareness in everyday life.

Dialogue with the instructor will also take place to answer any questions about MBSR. For more information or to register, visit imcw.org.

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Come Feast on the JOY Diet rEVOLution

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re you looking to embrace more joy into your daily life and not quite sure how to go about it? Treat and honor yourself to a great start in 2014 and let the JOY Diet rEVOLution be your gift to yourself. Set aside some time each week to come play, discover and tap into the magic of life, by calling in and embracing a deeper capacity for joy in your life.

The vital importance of joy in life is often neglected. The JOY Diet rEVOLution will offer 10 weeks to 10 people and 10 opportunities to invite more spark into your life every day. Come delve into 10 daily practices for a happier life that will propel you into a more joy-filled mindfulness and will offer you abundance. Come connect in-person and in community with other joy seekers, beginning February 6, and make Thursday evenings your joy focus night.

Michelle Dubreuil Macek, a Martha Beck-trained life coach and Biodanza Movement Facilitator, offers heart centered coaching, teaching, mind-body connection and lots of fun and activities that will expand your perspective on life, and open the doors for a more magical, expansive and grateful existence.

Although not a weight loss program, the JOY Diet rEVOLution may put you and your body into the joy/love zone where stress is allowed to dissipate and weight loss can then become a real possibility.

For more information, visit the events page at LifeDance.me.

The Sister Circle: A Unique Service for Women

The cost is only $20. For more information, contact Dr. Theresa Ford at TFord@CreativeCounselingAnd Coaching.com or 240-354-3854. See ad, page 45.

You must not lose faith in humanity.

Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. ~Mahatma Gandhi

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free-flowing group discussion led by Dr. Theresa Ford is held monthly, so that any woman desiring to connect with other women and share experiences can participate. The Sister Circle meets for 90 minutes on the third Thursday of each month, at Seekers Church in Northwest, Washington, D.C., near the Takoma Metro. The group is diverse with regards to age and ethnicity. Some women later decide they would like more regular contact and elect to participate in a weekly support group.

Women have unique experiences and need a safe space for emotional healing that is staffed with competent and compassionate professionals dedicated to them. In such a space, women can raise concerns, air grievances and fearlessly examine the experiences, attitudes and behaviors that have led to their present unsatisfying condition. With the necessary support, women can also meet goals and create a more desirable future. The growth and development of a woman often positively impacts those around her, including family, friends and community members. Since women are naturally relational, being in the company of others, who are similarly striving for personal growth, is particularly helpful.

Ford is the director of Creative Counseling and Coaching Services (CCCS) and is a licensed psychotherapist, as well as an educator, researcher, life coach, award-winning workshop leader and internationally published writer. With more than thirty years of experience as a clinician and administrator, Ford’s expertise includes addictions, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, co-occurring disorders, eating problems, recovering from trauma, selfesteem issues and life transitions.

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biodanza movement facilitator life coach

Connect with your body/mind/spirit!

Dissolve limiting beliefs and create!

Access more joy in your life!

Let love be your guide!

h Michelle Dubreuil Macek offers individual and weekly group sessions in DC, MD & Skype. www.lifedance.me • 410-736-9311

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healthbriefs

Produce Banishes the Blues

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ew research from New Zealand’s University of Otago shows that consuming more whole fruits and vegetables increases peacefulness, happiness and energy in one’s daily life. Scientists discovered the strong relationship to be particularly apparent in countering winter blues.

A total of 281 college-age students filled out an online food diary and mood survey for 21 consecutive days. Results showed that eating fruits and vegetables one day led to improvements in positive mood the next day, regardless of other key factors, such as body mass index. Other types of food did not produce the same uplifting effect.

“After further analysis, we demonstrated that young people would need to consume approximately seven to eight total servings of fruits and vegetables per day to notice a meaningful positive change,” says Tamlin Conner, Ph.D., with the university’s department of psychology. “One serving of fruit or vegetables is approximately the size that could fit in our palm, or half a cup.” Study co-author Bonnie White suggests that this can be accomplished by having vegetables comprise half of the plate at each meal and snacking on whole fruit like apples.

The American Psychiatric Association acknowledges that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects, at least mildly, as many as 20 percent of Americans.

Sweets Sour Brain Power

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inging on sweets and soda in an effort to bone up for exams or presentations probably has the opposite effect, according to a new animal study from the University of California, Los Angeles. Researchers found that eating or quaffing too much fructose, like that found in cane sugar and the highfructose corn syrups permeating many processed foods, can cause unclear thinking, poor learning and impaired memory.

Scientists have long known that high-fructose diets increase the risk for diabetes, obesity and fatty liver. Now the UCLA team has discovered that only six weeks of a high-fructose diet slowed the animals’ brains. The good news is that eating omega-3 fatty acids like those found in cold water fish appear to counteract the negative effects of fructose, enabling the animals to think more clearly.

It is health that is real

wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. ~Mahatma Gandhi

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THE TOXIC SIDE OF TYLENOL

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s the evidence of the harmful effects of Tylenol increases, there is a growing call for it to be removed from the market. Its active ingredient, acetaminophen, once thought to be an effective and safe pain reliever for adults and children, turns out to have dangerous effects.

A related study by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center researchers leads with the fact that each year, acetaminophen causes more than 100,000 calls to poison control centers, 50,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and more than 450 deaths from liver failure. The U.S. Acute Liver Failure Study implicates acetaminophen poisoning in nearly half of all cases of acute liver failure in this country.

When taken with alcohol or without food, the effects on the liver are multiplied.

Doctor of Naturopathy Michael Murray, of Phoenix, Arizona, reports in GreenMedInfo.com that regular use of acetaminophen is linked to a higher likelihood of asthma, infertility and hearing loss, especially in men under 50. Last summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning linking acetaminophen use to three rare and sometimes fatal skin conditions.

“Can you imagine if the side effects and risks associated with acetaminophen were associated with a dietary supplement?” opines Murray.

“It would be yanked from the market immediately.”

Mammograms Carry Cancer Risk

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here is growing evidence that mammograms, which are the primary screening tool for breast cancer, may cause it.

Scientists have long known that radiation causes cancer, and now research published in the British Journal of Radiobiology reports that the so-called “low-energy X-rays” used in mammography are four to six times more likely to cause breast cancer than conventional high-energy X-rays because the low-energy variety causes more mutational damage to cells.

Mammograms led to a 30 percent rate of over-diagnosis and overtreatment, according to a study published in the Cochrane Review. Researchers wrote in the study, “This means that for every 2,000 women invited for screening throughout 10 years, one will have her life prolonged and 10 healthy women, who would not have been diagnosed if there had not been screening, will be treated unnecessarily. Furthermore, more than 200 women will experience important psychological distress for many months because of false positive findings.”

Many women and functional medicine doctors are now choosing non-invasive and radiation-free annual thermograms as a safer alternative. Those at high risk for breast cancer may choose to do periodic MRI screenings, a recommendation supported by research at Britain’s University Hospitals Birmingham.

Crash and Burn

by Dr. Isabel Sharkar here are two triangle-shaped glands sitting on top of your kidneys, responsible for regulating your body’s response to stress by releasing cortisol. Cortisol is the main adrenal hormone used to manage stress. These glands receive a lot of abuse, due to the prevalent chronic stress we encounter every day. If you are reaching for your morning cup of coffee in order to function, hardly wakeup feeling refreshed regardless of how many hours you sleep and feel wired later during the day when it is time to sleep, you are likely experiencing adrenal fatigue.

Adrenal fatigue results when the adrenal glands undergo prolonged or intense stress, such as that experienced with running your own business, loss of a job, financial stress, divorce, loss of a loved one or an acute or chronic infection. The adrenal glands cannot adequately meet these high demands of stress, and cortisol becomes deregulated.

Normally, cortisol is highest in the morning and decreases throughout the day.

During the initial period of stress, cortisol levels increase. However, with chronic stress, the adrenal glands can no longer produce adequate amounts of cortisol, resulting in adrenal burnout and extreme fatigue.

Other symptoms of adrenal fatigue include feeling rundown, overwhelmed and tired for no reason, increased susceptibility to infections, difficulty bouncing back from stress or illness, craving carbohydrates or sweet and salty foods, weight gain, midday fatigue and inability to fall asleep.

The goal in treating adrenal fatigue is to get your adrenals back in sync with your body’s normal rhythm. This requires a whole body approach that addresses the underlying cause of excess stress and unhealthy lifestyle habits. Start by balancing your blood sugar with your diet, avoid stimulants like caffeine, practice yoga and explore herbal adrenal adaptogens.

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BRIEF BOUTS OF YOGA BOLSTER THE BRAIN

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ust 20 minutes of yoga postures, breathing and meditation are valuable tools for bolstering mental functioning.

A study from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reports that a single, 20-minute hatha yoga session significantly improved participants’ speed and accuracy on tests of working memory, focus, retention and ability to absorb and use new information.

Study participants didn’t get the same positive brain buzz from 20 minutes of aerobics. The study appeared in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.

VITAMIN C HALVES COLDS IN ATHLETES

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aking vitamin C before engaging in physically demanding activities helps keep colds away for people that are heavy exercisers, say Finnish researchers at the University of Helsinki.

While their meta-study showed that non-exercisers that took vitamin C daily gained little or no protection from colds, the story for marathoners, competitive skiers and soldiers on subarctic assignments was much different.

The study, published in the Cochrane Review, found that the 598 heavy exercisers cut their risk of colds in half.

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

For more information, visit IndigoHealthClinic.com. See ad, page 5. natural awakenings

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

Eco-Skiing

White Resorts Go Even Greener As skiers flock to snow-covered trails this winter, more ski resorts are going greener to save energy and support the environment. Arapahoe Basin, in Colorado, recently received a National Ski Areas Association Sustainable Slopes grant for retrofitting its base area lighting that will annually slice off an estimated 53,000-plus kilowatt hours of usage.

A-Basin, Vail Resorts and others in the area provide their restaurants’ used vegetable oil to outside companies for recycling into biofuels. Aspen, Vail, Copper Mountain and other Colorado resorts installed more photovoltaic solar arrays on buildings prior to the current season.

Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, in Vermont, installed a 1,500-horsepower electric snowmaking air compressor last summer, replacing a diesel model. Purchased in consultation with the statewide energy utility Efficiency Vermont, it delivers more cubic feet of air per minute using less, and cleaner, energy. Since 2009, the state’s Bolton Valley ski area, plus Jiminy Peak and Berkshire East, both in Massachusetts, have all installed wind turbines to generate energy. Sarah Wojcik, director of public affairs at the Vermont Ski Areas Association, attests that resorts are doing their part to keep mountains green.

Sources: nsaa.org, SkiVermont.com

Life Threat

Evidence Mounts of GMO Dangers The nonprofit Non-GMO Project, committed to preserving and building sources of non-GMO (genetically modified organism) products and educating consumers on such verified choices, is focusing on Bt corn and Bt soy, which make up 90 percent of America’s total crop. Its scientists explain, “These crops have genes from a bacteria called bacillus thuringiensis spliced into their natural genetic code. This causes the plant to produce Bt-toxin—a pesticide that bursts the stomach of insects that eat it, killing them.”

Monsanto and Syngenta, which manufacture genetically engineered seeds, claim that genetically modified (GE, GM or GMO) crops are safe for humans because the Bt-toxin is completely destroyed in the human digestive system and doesn’t have any impact on animals and humans.

But Norwegian scientists’ decadelong study of rats, mice, pigs and salmon raised on GE feed published in 2012 found that due to alterations in their digestive tracts, the animals ate more, got fatter and were less able to digest proteins; they also suffered from diminished immune systems.

There is also mounting evidence that the spread of such crops is responsible for the dramatic decline of the monarch butterfly, the near annihilation of bats and the spread of honeybee colony collapse syndrome.

To get involved, visit NonGMOProject.com.

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Grassroots Gumption

Citizen Action Wins Against Monsanto and More The Center for Food Safety (CFS), a national nonprofit advocating in the public interest, works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. It confirms that actions such as signing petitions really do make a difference.

For instance, the CFS cites a hard-fought campaign that pushed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to respond to a lawsuit and remove arsenic from chicken feed. They credit the thousands of consumers that joined the effort, saying, “Together, we forced the FDA to remove arsenic ingredients in animal feed used for our nation’s chickens, turkeys and hogs, and 98 of the 101 drug approvals for arsenicbased animal drugs will be withdrawn.”

More recently, CFS reports that half a million citizen phone calls and emails had a significant effect in killing an extension of the so-called “Monsanto protection act” in the Senate. Formally named the Farmer Assurance Provision, the measure undermined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s authority to ban genetically modified crops, even if court rulings found they posed risks to human and environmental health.

Source: CenterForFoodSafety.org

Yogic Milestone

Smithsonian Exhibit Highlights Storied History This month’s exhibition at the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Yoga: The Art of Transformation, comprises the museum’s first presentation of yogic art. Temple sculptures, devotional icons, vibrant manuscripts and court paintings created in India more than 2,000 years ago will be on view, as well as early modern photographs, books and films.

The Washington, D.C., exhibition borrows from 25 museums and private collections in India, Europe and the United States. More than 120 works, from the third to the early 20th century, illuminate yoga’s central tenets, as well as its obscured histories. Through masterpieces of Indian sculpture and paintings, the exhibition explores yoga’s goals; its Hindu, Jain and Sufi manifestations; its means of transforming body and consciousness; and its philosophical foundations.

For more information, visit Tinyurl.com/SmithsonianYogaExhibit

eventspotlight

The Happiness Project Author to Speak in DC Gretchen Rubin inspires readers to find more happiness in their own lives.

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n January 8 at 7 p.m., meet Gretchen Rubin, New York Times-bestselling author of Happier at Home, for a talk, Q & A and book-signing of her new work.

Five years ago, Rubin began her first “happiness project”, setting out to find greater happiness in her life. After first identifying what brought her joy, satisfaction and engagement, as well as what created guilt, anger, boredom and remorse, she implemented key actions that boosted her happiness and resolved to practice them every day. She chronicled her journey in the bestselling book The Happiness Project.

As she conducted the experiment that became The Happiness Project, Rubin realized that her home and her family were the most crucial elements influencing her happiness and resolved to undertake her second happiness project centered on the idea of home. Turning her eye homeward, she embarked on a happiness project that explores the heart of fulfillment, captured in her latest New York Timesbestselling book, Happier at Home, now available in paperback.

Beginning in September, which according to Rubin, is the other January and the beginning of what she calls the Mother Olympics, and continuing for the nine months of the school year, Rubin explores the factors that make a home, home—possessions, marriage, time, parenthood, body, neighborhood and experiments with concrete, manageable resolutions meant to boost her happiness. She even coaxes her family into trying some of her happiness resolutions. With her signature blend of memoir, research and experimentation, Rubin’s passion jumps off the page and will inspire readers to find more happiness in their own lives. Her message: You don’t have to get a new life in order to be happier.

Happiness is right here, right now.

Tickets are $20 (which includes a book) or $15. Location: Sixth & I, 600 I Street NW. for more information, call 202-408-3100 or visit Happiness-Project.com. natural awakenings

January 2014

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queries and more. Finding the right mix of treatment and preventive measures requires some creativity and self-knowledge. The experts Natural Awakenings consulted maintain that it is both desirable and possible to assemble an affordable and effective personal health care team that focuses on optimum wellness.

structural; biochemical; and bioenergetic, a form of psychotherapy. Ideally, he says, conventional and integrative medicine, plus complementary practitioners, work together to provide the total care an individual patient needs. “Any problem on one level affects all levels, so we assess patients on all three with whatever tools we have,” he says.

While conventional medicine may be able to treat structural problems well and biochemical problems to a certain extent, it falls short on the energetic level. That’s when it’s time to expand the team, counsels Yang. “‘Know yourself’ is the watchword. Get to know what to use and when to use it. It’s the practitioner’s job to educate patients in this way.”

Dr. Andrew Weil, renowned as the father of the integrative medicine movement in the U.S., has remarked, “If I’m in a car accident, don’t take me to an herbalist. If I have bacterial pneumonia, give me antibiotics. But when it comes to maximizing the body’s natural healing potential, a mix of conventional and alternative procedures seems like the only answer.”

Dr. Shekhar Annambhotla, founding director and president of the Association of Ayurvedic Professionals of North America, turns to the integrative realm of ayurvedic medicine for healing and wellness. The 5,000-year-old Indian healing tradition incorporates lifestyle changes, yoga and meditation, detoxification, herbs, massage and various other individually targeted healing modalities, depending on the patient’s diagnosis and recommended treatment plan.

Integrative Approach

Customized Team

Build Your Own Wellness Dream Team

Take Your Health to the Next Level

by Kathleen Barnes

C

onventional doctors too often dispense vague, boilerplate health advice, urging their patients to eat a healthy diet, exercise and take helpful supplements. Some are lucky enough to also be directed to detoxify their body and manage stress. That’s typically the best most people can expect in terms of practical advice. It is rare to receive specific, individualized answers to such burning questions as: What is the best diet for this specific problem or my body type?

Which exercise will work best for me—yoga, running, tennis or something else?

Why do I feel stressed so much of the time, and what can I do about it?

What supplements are best for me, and which high-quality products can I trust?

Complementary natural healing modalities can address all of these

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“We need to understand the value of an integrative approach because no single modality treats everything,” says Dr. Michael Jingduan Yang, the Philadelphia-based founder and medical director of the Tao Institute of Mind & Body Medicine. By way of example, he maintains credentials as a physician, a board-certified psychiatrist and an internationally recognized expert on classic forms of Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture.

Integrative practitioners see the human body on three levels, Yang explains:

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“Wellness is a team effort,” advises integrative medicine specialist Dr. Vijay Jain, medical director at Amrit Ayurveda for Total Wellbeing, in Salt Springs, Florida. It’s not only a matter of knowing what needs the practitioners will address at specific times, it’s also knowing who can help when the going gets tough. “Modern medicine has the edge for early detection of disease,” Jain notes. “However, Ayurveda is excellent in determining the earliest imbalances in the mind and body that eventually lead to disease.”

Health insurance may not cover the services we want, and high deductibles may pose a financial challenge in maintaining comprehensive health care, so we need a personal wellness plan.

Most experts consulted agree that a personal wellness program should include a practitioner that acts as a gatekeeper and coordinates a care plan to meet individual needs. Jain recommends that the foundation of the team be a licensed medical professional such as an integrative physician (MD), osteopathic doctor (DO) or chiropractor (DC). In most states, any of these professionals can function as a primary care doctor, authorized to order and read laboratory tests, prescribe drugs and access hospital services. In some states, a naturopathic physician (ND) can perform the functions of a primary care doctor in ordering and reading laboratory tests.

As part of a personal wellness team, consider a functional medicine or integrative physician, chiropractor, osteopath, doctor of naturopathy, ayurvedic practitioner, nutritionist, Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor/ acupuncturist, herbalist, craniosacral therapist, massage therapist and energy practitioner (such as in Reiki, medical qigong or polarity therapy).

It’s not necessary to see all of them, sources say. Sometimes, one practitioner will be skilled in practicing several modalities, a bonus for patients. Other complementary practitioners may form a supporting team that works with the primary care team, depending on the challenges a patient faces. They will be identified as treatment unfolds and the team evolves over time.

Contributing Specialists

An ayurvedic practitioner likely will begin by helping to define healthful lifestyle changes, depending on one’s dosha, or energetic temperament. Yoga and meditation would be a likely recommendation, plus specific herbs and perhaps detoxification, says Annambhotla.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture often go handin hand with Ayurveda in accordance with the view that illness and disease are caused by imbalances in the body’s energetic flow. Diagnostic techniques

employ intuition and pulses to assess and smooth blocks in energy circulation.

Craniosacral therapy is another way to unlock energetic blockages caused by lifestyle stress and other factors that restrict and congest the body’s innate ability to self-correct and remain healthy, says Joyce Harader, a registered craniosacral therapist in Cave Creek, Arizona, and secretary of the board of the Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy Association of North America.

She relied on a whole team to realize a natural way back to health after being diagnosed with lupus in 1992.

“Members of my health team fluctuate, depending on what is going on in my life and where I am focusing,” comments Harader. She points out, for example, that nutrition education and general deep-tissue massage can both be helpful as part of a foundational plan toward obtaining and maintaining optimal health.

In fact, many of our experts recommend both a monthly chiropractic adjustment and/or massage, as well as daily yoga and an ongoing meditation practice for wellness and total well-being.

Naturopathic practitioners operating in states where they are licensed can be good sources of nutrition counsel and often recommend herbal remedies for relief. “For chronic illness, you need a chiropractor or drug-free physician like a naturopath on your team.

Conventional medicine is generally poor at dealing with chronic illness,” observes Naturopath and Chiropractor Michael Loquasto, Ph.D., who practices in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Loquasto should know. He has practiced integrated modalities for 50 years, employing the knowledge gained through his practice and triple doctorates, which include one in nutrition.

Also a master herbalist, he strongly advocates that people start by working with a good integrative or functional medicine medical doctor.

“In some states, like Pennsylvania, chiropractors and osteopaths can perform routine diagnostic work, but in

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January 2014

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AWAKENING AMERICA

Natural Awakenings Celebrates 20 Years of Conscious Living

Natural Awakenings provides helpful information on natural health and environmental issues with a consistently positive perspective and tone, which is not always easy considering how serious and intimidating some of these topics are. It’s a rarity. ~ Sayer Ji, founder, GreenMedInfo.com

Publications like Natural Awakenings reach many people and I’m so glad to be able to share a voice beyond the propaganda. ~ Melinda Hemmelgarn, Food Sleuth

I have changed so much over the last year finally realizing that life is so much bigger than me. I love this Earth and all the wonders that are a part of it, and your magazine contributes to my appreciation.

~ Theresa Sutton, Connecticut

It is unusual to see your level of writing and consciousness in a free publication. Thanks for a great work. ~ Kaih Khriste’ King, Arizona

Natural Awakenings magazine is the only advertising I use for my practice other than word of mouth referrals and it has brought us new patients consistently especially now that we advertise monthly. The quality of the leads is great and we really enjoy helping the holistic-minded patient. The publisher is great to work with and truly wants to see the business succeed. We plan on always advertising with Natural Awakenings and expanding our presence in the magazine. ~ Cate Vieregger, DDS, Colorado

Washington, D.C.

many states they cannot,” he notes. “I recommend undergoing a physical every six months and regular bone density tests, plus colonoscopies.” Loquasto is not in favor of mammograms because of the radiation exposure associated with them, but supports routine breast screening using ultrasound or thermography.

Self-Diagnosis

Read What People Are Saying About Natural Awakenings

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A personal wellness program should include a lead practitioner that acts as a gatekeeper and coordinates a plan of care that meets the individual’s needs.

Intuitive listening and observant selfknowledge are crucial parts of any wellness plan. Most people are aware when something doesn’t feel right in their body.

“Libido is a great barometer of health,” suggests Dr. Diana Hoppe, an obstetrician, gynecologist and hormone specialist in San Diego, California. “If you’re not interested in sex, it’s probably a sign that you need to do some investigating.” Reasons for such a decline of interest are wide-ranging says Hoppe. “For men and women, it might be due to hormonal changes, lack of self-esteem, medications, stress, relationship issues, job, family life or lack of sleep. It means that somewhere, things are out of balance,” she says.

Funding a Plan

A personal multifaceted wellness program can be expensive, but there are ways to minimize the cost. “In the new world of high insurance deductibles, people get more for their money from an alternative doctor, especially one knowledgeable in a variety of healing therapies, than a conventional one,” Loquasto advises. Costs for tests may also be lower; plus patients are not expected to pay $150 or more just to walk in the door.

A current trend has medical doctors and chiropractors participating in “umbrella” practices and wellness centers, where several types of practitioners collaborate in one facility. They find that sometimes insurance will pay for certain complementary services, including massage and nutrition education, when doctors or chiropractors prescribe them.

Maintaining wellness in an environment filled with chemical, biological

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

and mental toxins is a substantial, yet worthy, investment. It’s far better than the costly alternative of dealing with regular bouts of sickness or escalating disease.

In that light, maintenance looks affordable: an ayurvedic diagnostic session starts at around $100, a consultation with a licensed naturopath at $75 and acupuncture at $100; a massage typically costs about $80 an hour.

While insurance is unlikely to pay for treatments outside the realm of conventional medicine and sometimes, chiropractic, “The cost of these preventive therapies will be much less than the cost of treatment for a serious disease,” advises Loquasto. “You’re worth it.”

Kathleen Barnes is author of more than a dozen natural health books. Her latest is The Calcium Lie II: What Your Doctor Still Doesn’t Know with Dr. Robert Thompson.

Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

Finding the Right Practitioner Word-of-mouth is the most common way to find a natural health practitioner, plus many national organizations will help identify practitioners by location. Schedule an initial conversation to ask a practitioner key questions.

What is your degree, certification or license?

Who trained you and how did you train, specifically?

Do you practice full time?

How long have you been in practice?

Will you provide patient references I can speak with?

Trust in intuitive responses to the individual during the conversation or interview. His or her passion for the work of healing should be noticeable.

practitionerspotlight

Coaching for a Lifetime of Health and Wellness

by Linda Mastro

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llen came to wellness coaching with a specific goal­—she wanted to take her business to the next level. Before we started talking about how to boost her freelance writing business, I asked Ellen to complete the Wellness Wheel.

The spokes of the Wellness Wheel correspond to specific aspects of life, such as physical health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, career, spiritual fulfillment and recreation. Taken as a snap shot in time, the Wellness Wheel assesses where life is rolling smoothly and where there may be bumps in the road.

Ellen’s Wellness Wheel was well-inflated in many areas, including relationships with family and friends, work she enjoyed and a satisfying spiritual practice. She was less satisfied with her finances,physical health and the environments in which she lived and worked. After examining her Wellness Wheel, she saw that clutter and disorganization stymied her productivity. She decided to use our coaching sessions to discuss how her habit of hoarding and piling prevented her from achieving success as a freelance writer.

Insights from our coaching sessions inspired Ellen to clean out her attic, have a yard sale, shred old files and organize her work space. After a few months of focused housecleaning, Ellen arrived at one of our coaching sessions with an announcement­—she had signed a contract to co-author a book. By taking care of unfinished business in one area of her life, Ellen

Wellness Wheel

literally and energetically made space to take her business to the next level.

People often hire a health and wellness coach with a specific symptom or goal. They soon learn that before they can make progress, they might need to focus on obstacles that keep them from being successful. The good news is that attention to one area of life ripples out to affect every other area. For Ellen, getting her physical environment in order freed up time and space for a lucrative project. For other people, changing the story they tell about themselves attracts a new romantic partner. Physical symptoms and emotional malaise may point to something that is missing, such as a creative outlet or spiritual connection.

Coaches who specialize in health and wellness come with different

backgrounds and expertise. Some are accomplished physicians, nurses and therapists; others bring experience in business, education and the arts.

What they share is a commitment to helping people live vibrant and empowered lives.

Like my health and wellness coaching colleagues, I operate with the premise that every person is whole, complete and resourceful. My clients do not need to be fixed, nor do they need me to tell them what to do. Coaching gets results because the individual takes charge, building on past successes and acquiring new skills and experience.

Ellen has a new focus for our coaching sessions these days. Buoyed by her professional and financial accomplishments, she is now ready to apply what she has learned to create a new relationship with food.

Instead of dispensing advice and prescribing actions, I ask provocative questions to help her uncover her motivation for eating well and getting more exercise. I am there for her, shining a light on her successes and challenging her to take risks so that she can write a happy ending to her own life story.

Linda Mastro is a wellness coach, freelance writer and an instructor for the Health and Wellness Coaching Program at Maryland University of Integrative Health. For more information, visit OnTheWayCoaching.com.

See ad page 52

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Coming Next Month

healingways

Caring, Steering, Cheering

A Health Coach Helps Us Change for Good

by Lauressa Nelson

A health or wellness coach integrated into a personal healthcare team can be critical to catalyzing sustainable change. Many people understand they need to modify their self-care, yet fail to take the optimal steps to make such a transformation happen.

W

“

Rethinking

HEART HEALTH National and Local Experts Help Us Find Real Solutions

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hat we’ve discovered is that people don’t routinely change behavior due to education alone or out of fear. They change through partnership,” explains Linda Smith, a physician’s assistant and director of professional and public programs at Duke Integrative Medicine, in Durham, North Carolina. Coaching partnerships supply a supportive bridge between provider recommendations and patient implementations, she says, “significantly increasing the client’s ability to make changes successfully.”

“Health coaching was absolutely essential to my health,” says Roberta Cutbill, a 72-year-old retired registered nurse in Greensboro, North Carolina, who considered her lifestyle relatively healthy when in her late 60s she experienced autoimmune and cardiac problems. “I have an excellent primary care doctor who, when these issues came up, told me that I needed to change my diet, thoughtfully downloaded a list of recommendations and sent me on my way. I still needed help with many things in order

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

to make the changes,” recalls Cutbill, which is why she turned to a health coach at Duke Integrative Medicine.

Margaret Moore, founder and CEO of Wellcoaches Corporation and co-director of the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, in Belmont, Massachusetts, identifies two primary forces that enable behavioral change: autonomous motivation (people want to do something for their own reasons, not because someone tells them to) and confidence (they believe they can do it).

“The most powerful motivating forces of all are what you treasure most in life, your life purpose and contribution,” she remarks. Both Smith and Moore emphasize that the priorities in any health coaching relationship are client driven, based on the client’s chosen goals and personal intrinsic motivators.

Confidence in attaining ultimate success is built through positively framed experiments and experiences.

“A health coach is trained to help clients break up their goals into manageable steps,

focus on strengths, track progress and identify and overcome personal roadblocks,” explains Dr. Karen Lawson, an integrative physician and director of integrative health coaching at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing, in Minneapolis. A helpful approach sets goals that can be met and exceeded, not insurmountable ones.

“The key is always keeping a positive lens, helping clients see the progress they achieve,” continues Lawson. This involves speaking in terms of growth through trial and error, in which outcomes are explored without judgment and clients feel empowered to modify.

This is vital, explains Moore, because experiencing at least a threeto-one ratio of positive to negative emotions creates the conditions for the brain to learn, change and thrive, making people feel more capable of taking care of their health.

Mindful awareness is another essential tool; being self-aware and reflecting on what we are doing while it is happening. Unlike thinking, analyzing and planning, mindfulness involves observing while experiencing. During sessions, coaches use it to give their full attention in a non-judgmental way, modeling how clients can bring such compassion to themselves.

A mindful state calms mental noise and puts reflective distance between individuals and their beliefs, emotions and behaviors. It improves their ability to handle negative emotions and to make a conscious choice to respond with a different attitude or new behavior, according to Moore.

For Cutbill, maintaining a personal relationship with her coach over time has been the most significant factor in the improvement of her health. “The relationship was healing, because my coach regularly pointed out my progress with profound encouragement and validation. I wish all primary care doctors had health coaches on staff to help them and their patients attain the success they both are aiming for.”

Lauressa Nelson is an editor and contributing writer for Natural Awakenings.

Connect at LauressaNelson@gmail.com.

Hallmarks of a Good Health Coach

by Margaret Moore In the past 10 years, approximately 10,000 health professionals have become coaches through dedicated training schools and university programs focused on life, corporate or health and wellness coaching. The selection of the right partner to help in the quest for lifelong wellness entails assessing the following qualifications.

Credentials and training: A reputable health and wellness coach training program typically requires six months to two years of education, skills training and practice with clients, followed by a certification process that tests for knowledge and core competencies.

Employment background: Additional desirable credentials in the medical, physical or mental health fields will likely include exercise physiology, physical therapy, psychotherapy, nutrition counseling, nursing or medicine.

Structured relationship: A coach should be able to explain how coaching works and why successful results are more likely with a coach. Coaching sessions are typically conducted by phone and last between 30 and 60 minutes. Coaching services are generally not covered by insurance.

Personal character: Effective health coaches are good listeners, interested in clients’ unique stories. They foster self-acceptance and self-respect, pointing out personal strengths, values and desires. Coaches engage, energize and challenge clients through a positive, non-judgmental focus, while at the same time asking courageous questions.

As skilled partners, they help clients become clear about personal motivations and an overall vision for life, so that they can help design a detailed, attainable plan that successfully moves them toward fulfilling their goals.

Margaret Moore is CEO of Wellcoaches Corporation and holds a master’s degree in business administration. Email her at Margaret@Wellcoaches.com or visit CoachMeg.com or Wellcoaches.com. natural awakenings

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greenliving

Ever-More-Green in

Easy Ways to Go Eco Right Now

by Avery Mack

N

ew Year resolutions can be a distant memory by mid-January, due to unrealistic expectations, slow results and distractions that sideline good intentions. Yet we may still reap the rewards of a greener, healthier lifestyle by progressively adopting small, doable changes.

Nifty Switches

January white sales present a prime opportunity to change to organic cotton sheets and dry-fast towels to reduce energy usage. Local animal shelters welcome old towels and blankets.

Homeless shelters also accept gently used clean linens and outgrown coldweather gear.

Replace family toothbrushes with eco-friendly models made from renewable castor oil plants instead of petroleum. The Naturally Clean Toothbrush is BPA-free and recyclable (TomsOfMaine.com).

Each day, Americans use 500 million disposable straws, reports Milo Cress, founder of the Be Straw Free Campaign (Ecocycle.org). Discarded plastic straws and stirrers are on the Ocean Conservancy’s top 10 list of debris littering beaches. Cindy Schiff Slansky, CEO of GreenPaxx, in New York City, suggests using a reusable silicone straw.

“The bright colors help keep track of each person’s drink. They’re in my purse for when I eat out with my kids,” she 22

Washington, D.C.

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says. “We always say no to disposable straws.” Also consider paper straws that compost within 45 to 60 days.

Plug electronics into power-saving energy strips that can be turned off when machines aren’t in use. Completely shutting down computers saves more energy than using sleep mode.

When it’s time for a more energyefficient fridge or freezer, call the electric company. The Appliance Recycling Centers of America work with utilities to pick up and recycle working appliances. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers are accepted with a qualifying fridge or freezer. Alternatively, call a local recycling company for a curb pickup of broken appliances; even easier, confirm that the company delivering a new appliance will take away and recycle the old one.

Upgrade to a greener model when the need arises to change cars. California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont have pledged to speed the construction of charging stations in their states and project collectively having 3.3 million batterypowered cars, plug-in hybrids and other clean-burning vehicles on their roads by 2025.

To make clean and renewable home energy affordable and increase property values, Sunrun installs and maintains home solar power panels in

Switch to public transportation or telecommuting at least twice a week to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

1,000 cities in 11 states for low and predictable monthly rates (Sunrun.com).

Choose green products carrying the 1% for the Planet logo. Identify participating companies at Tinyurl.com/ OnePercentPlanet.

Table Tips

One-pot, slow-cooked hearty stews and soups—especially made with seasonal, locally grown vegetables—use less energy and need less water to wash. A slow cooker can also steam rice, make yogurt or bake simple, whole-grain breads (VitaClayChef.com).

Dave Feller, CEO of Yummly.com, in Redwood City, California, adds, “Slow cooking tenderizes meats and brings out flavor, even in less expensive cuts. It’s also a timesaver.” Yummly recipes detail ingredients, cooking times and nutritional values.

For family snacks, Terry Walters, the Avon, Connecticut, author of Clean Food and Clean Start, advocates going untraditional. “Get closer to the green plant than the processing plant,” she advises. At least once a week, she likes to try a new food. “Roasted chick peas, kale chips or a ‘pizza’ made from a

rice tortilla, pasta sauce or pesto, and veggies all make ‘clean-food’ snacks.” (Recipes at TerryWalters.net.)

Keeping produce fresh can be a challenge, especially when the average fridge can harbor millions of bacteria, according to testing by Microban Europe, UK. The BerryBreeze in-fridge automated device periodically circulates activated oxygen to prevent mold, keeping produce fresh longer and reducing spoiling to save grocery dollars (BerryBreeze.com).

Hannah Helsabeck, president of eco-friendly WildMintShop.com, shares can-free meal tips online. “It takes a little planning, but we can now avoid all the toxic chemicals used in processing foods and making cans. Let’s kick the can!”

Also, check out local food Meetup groups. Penny Miller, of Wichita Falls, Texas, says, “At our first meeting, we saw examples of raised-bed gardens, rainwater harvesting, composting, native landscaping and container plants.”

Avery Mack is a freelance writer in St. Louis, MO. Connect via AveryMack@ mindspring.com.

Global Foods From Around the Corner

Sunnyside Gourmet specializes in healthy, international fusion dishes prepared by Chef Tony Avirgan.

We will meet your specific dietary needs and your food will be enthusiastically hand-made with no processed ingredients. Sunnyside Gourmet uses locally sourced sustainable and organic ingredients.

Personalized cooking lessons available.

To learn about our signature dishes and what we can do for you, call Chef Tony at 301-585-6484.

Email: tonyavirgan@gmail.com • Website: www.sunnysidegourmet.com natural awakenings

January 2014

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healthykids

Label Literacy Five Tips Help Kids Choose Healthy Foods

by Elisa Bosley

Families have three key weapons in combating America’s childhood obesity epidemic: keeping them active, reducing their soda and junk food intake and teaching youngsters how to read food labels.

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ccording to the National Center for Health Statistics, obesity more than doubled in children ages 6 to 11 and tripled in adolescents ages 12 to 19 between 1980 and 2010.

Nearly one in five youths in both age groups, plus one in eight preschoolers, are now considered obese and at increased risk for consequent health problems. By 2013, the Centers for Disease Control finally showed signs of hope, with some states reporting small reversals in the trend.

Positive developments might continue if parents and teachers gently coach kids to better evaluate what’s going into their mouths and bodies by understanding food labels. Despite the intimidation factor (even for adults), “Once children know how to read, they are ready to start learning how to read food labels,” advises Jolly Backer, CEO of Fresh Healthy Vending, a forward-thinking company actively increasing the presence of healthy-food vending machines in schools nationwide. He says, “The more kids know about what they’re eating, the more empowered they’ll be about making healthier food choices.”

Here are five basic tips to increase

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knowing what food labels really say that will benefit a youngster’s health for a lifetime.

Visualize serving sizes. Assemble two or three packaged food items— preferably those that the child regularly eats, like cereal, oatmeal and applesauce—plus a measuring cup. Point out the serving-size number on the package label, and let the child measure out a single serving. This visually reinforces serving sizes, the first number anyone needs to consider on a food label. Try it with a single soda or juice bottle, too, which often says, “two servings.”

Important note: Most nutrition label serving sizes are based on a 2,000-calorie adult diet. For kids ages 4 to 8, portion sizes are about two-thirds of an adult portion; for preteens, portions run 80 to 90 percent of the adult amount, says Registered Dietitian Tara Dellolacono-Thies, food coach for CLIF Kid nutrient-rich organic energy snacks.

Evaluate numbers. Next, discuss the numbers noted for calories, fat, sugar, fiber and cholesterol. When evaluating a packaged food for an elementary school child, DellolaconoThies suggests aiming for 175 calories or less per serving; one gram or less

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saturated fat; no trans fats; no more than 13 grams of added sugars; no more than 210 milligrams sodium content; and at least two grams of fiber.

She notes that cholesterol alone is less of a health risk factor for kids than saturated fats and sugars unless a child is on a specialized diet. Added bonuses: Look for high-percent daily values (shown as DV percentage) for nutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin D, which experts generally agree most kids’ diets lack in sufficient quantities.

Compare and contrast. Armed with these basic guidelines, compare, for example, the grams of sugar in a can of soda with a serving of cooked rolled oats, or the amount of calcium in a carton of milk versus a juice box.

One-to-one evaluations will begin to give a child a sense of what numbers constitute “high” or “low” amounts.

Check the fine print. “Artificial colors and flavors, artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated anything signal that the food is likely of lower nutritional quality,” counsels Dellolacono-Thies.

Make a game of sounding out items in the ingredient list. “It’s a classic teaching moment: Unpronounceable ingredients often mean it’s a lab-created, fake, food-like item,” she says.

Next, ask the youngster to read the label on an apple. Surprise! No food label means it’s a whole, real food—the best, most nutritious kind.

Translate knowledge into choices.

Once a child has gotten the hang of it, let him or her compare different food labels and choose which one is the healthier option. Plan a little extra time to also do it during grocery shopping.

With time and practice, an educated youngster will begin to incorporate the power of reading food labels before choosing foods.

“Even when children walk up to a vending machine, where they can’t read labels, you want them to know which is the healthier option,” says Backer. “With label-reading practice, they’ll become savvy shoppers who’ll readily recognize healthy food options when they see them.”

Elisa Bosley is senior food editor at Delicious Living magazine.

consciouscommunication

Befriending the Inner Muse E

by Milagros Phillips

very person was created to be creative and has an inner muse (inspiration) and artist (expression) at their disposal at all times. Each person is an inexhaustible source of ideas, inventions and innovations that can be used in work or play—all inspired by an unseen force within us, that which can be called the inner muse.

Whether written, performed or visual, the arts are living systems that feed, uplift and sustain us.

To children, the arts are the original forms of expression.

Some children make up stories; others love to color, paint and dance. Some children make up songs, act out battles with imaginary foes and play with imaginary friends. At times, children commune with nature and make friends with trees and forest animals. Most are multi-talented artists and explore combinations of artistic expressions. No matter what form the arts take in our lives, a common thread is a relationship with the inner-muse, that is pure joy.

At this time of uncertainty, the pace of change has increased tremendously, the intuitive inner-muse can once again be each person’s best friend. Embarking on a dialogue with one’s inner muse can lead to profound awareness, creative opportunities and peaceful resolutions. The muse can remind us to see the world through the eyes of the artist. The muse can help us to see beauty in muddy situations, and extract from the shadow, the essence of our inner light.

The inner muse is a resident of the heart, knowing that the creator created each person to be creative for a reason. The inner

muse can lead each person to remember that childhood expressions may be the truth of why we are here, holding the memory of each person’s life path, service to humanity and gifts to the world. As an adult, befriending the inner muse may help us live in constant awareness of how to use creativity to enhance our lives.

As we embark on a new year, resolve to reengage those creative parts of you that are clamoring for expression. To communicate with the inner muse, let your imagination flow. Play a game of “imagine if.” Do a smiling meditation. Get some color pencils and draw shapes in different colors. Write about something you are passionate about. Get out the water colors and paint. Visit galleries and museums, get inspired. Listen to classical music. Meditate on specific colors and notice how you feel. Make up a song. Dance in the kitchen. Have fun.

Lightening the heart can prolong your life and help you and your inner muse engage in conscious communication.

Milagros Phillips is a multi-talented artist, and an intuitive, and has been a sound shaman/teacher, and a Reiki master/teacher for 20 years and diversity/race healing consultant for over 30 years. She is a coach and leads retreats for self-care and transformation.

To join the weekly heart meditation, visit WholenessInDiversity.wix.com/iglifecoaching or Eventbrite.com/ event/8935531415/eac2.

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firstperson

these trips are not cheap. In addition to your travel costs, you’ll likely pay a program fee that covers such basics as your food, lodging and transportation.

Most trips are tax deductible, but if you need financial assistance, ask the volunteer organization about options, and check out fundraising sites like VolunteerForever.com.

Ask the Right Questions

Volunteering Abroad

A veteran of six volunteer experiences —from China to Kenya— offers advice on serving overseas

by Ken Budd

I

f you’re wondering what it’s like to volunteer abroad, consider an experience I had in Ecuador. I was assisting scientists studying a remote mountain cloud forest. My foot slipped on the steep, slick ground, and suddenly—thump—I was sliding down the Andes. I grabbed a branch to stop my descent, which wedged tree bark behind my thumbnail (ouch).

Despite the throbbing, treatment would have to wait. We’d hiked nearly two hours from our base to the work site—so, I kept quiet and kept working.

And this, to me, perfectly illustrates what the volunteer experience is like: you’re often unsteady, occasionally uncomfortable, but if you persevere, you’ll regain your footing and make a meaningful contribution.

I volunteered in six locations around the world, from China to Kenya

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to the West Bank, in a midlife-crisis attempt to find meaning and help others. Each stay was no more than two weeks, an experience called voluntourism or volunteer vacations, miniPeace Corps programs that can last anywhere one week to three months.

Here is some advice to embark on your own volunteer adventure.

Find the Right Organization There’s no shortage of nonprofits offering volunteer opportunities: the reference book, Volunteer Vacations: Short-Term Adventures That Will Benefit You and Others, profiles over 150 organizations. Websites such as GoOverseas.com, GoVoluntouring. com and GoAbroad.com allow you to enter relevant data—where you want to go, what you want to do—and provide a list of options. Unfortunately,

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Volunteer travel isn’t as simple as a weekend jaunt to the beach. As you become interested in certain organizations, ask questions. How will my money be spent? Is the organization creating partnerships with local people or dependency? I’d usually ask to speak with previous volunteers for their input on the local community and whether the work they did was useful. And, just as you’re scrutinizing volunteer groups, they should scrutinize you. I was often required to fill out a skills questionnaire or write an essay explaining why I wanted to volunteer. When working with children, I provided references and submitted to a background check. Organizations that do not do these things should raise a warning flag.

Look for Intangible Benefits Nine months after Hurricane Katrina, I volunteered with a group called Rebuilding Together. The organization was accepting unskilled volunteers, and I thought, this is perfect because I have no skills whatsoever—I’m a writer, which makes me better at polishing prose than installing roofs. The best volunteers offer in-demand skills, from nursing to carpentry, but everywhere I went, I still contributed. In Ecuador, for example, the researchers could run more projects when they had volunteer labor. Sometimes the work you do is less important than the connections you make. When you’re sweating and laughing with locals—when you escape the usual tourist cocoon—it changes how people see each other, which benefits everyone.

Think Hard Before Volunteering at an Orphanage In 2010, my wife and I worked for two weeks at a children’s home in Kenya.

The home’s three “mothers” cared for nearly 40 children, so we provided

When you’re sweating and laughing with locals— when you escape the usual tourist cocoon—it changes how people see each other, which benefits everyone. simple, yet useful, work, from folding clothes to washing dishes. But working in orphanages is controversial, due largely to the exploitation of children in Cambodia, where corrupt operators trap kids in squalor to draw donations from tourists and volunteers. Even in well-run homes, orphans can become attached to volunteers, creating a cycle of abandonment. Some critics believe volunteers should avoid orphanages altogether, but in a stable environment, volunteers can still make positive contributions. In 2013, a former Ugandan orphan named Wycliffe Sande, addressed the criticism in an essay for the Huffington Post. Meeting volunteers, he said, gave him “an attitude that anything is possible, which was something that had certainly never been encouraged before.” A British volunteer sponsored his education, and Sande now runs his own travel company.

Bottom line for you, do your homework before volunteering, and when you do volunteer, work hard, be humble and don’t forget that you’re the guest. When you experience cultural differences, do not expect your hosts to change for you. And, don’t get discouraged—many volunteers naively hope to change the world, but even small contributions are important.

“Who knows where I would be today,” Sande says in his essay, “if it hadn’t been for volunteers.”

Ken Budd is the author of The Voluntourist: A Six-Country Tale of Love, Loss, Fatherhood, Fate, and Singing Bon Jovi in Bethlehem. All of his earnings from the book are contributed to the organizations and places where he volunteered. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information, visit KenBudd.us.

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Dr. Vargas’ approach involves tools from mindfulness-based therapies and motivational Interviewing, to increase awareness and acceptance, build selfefficacy, and adopt effective coping mechanisms conducive to behavior change.

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Dr. Ana Vargas

January 2014

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fitbody

Fitness à la Carte

The Latest, Hottest Trends

by Christine MacDonald

This year, many Americans are set to rock the charts by turning over a new leaf and morphing from more conventional workout modes to fresh takes on fitness.

Chart Toppers

Activities high on people’s lists these days reflect a perceived scarcity of time and money. The top picks, according to the Indianapolis-based American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2014, will be high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and body weight training.

Both pursuits have been contenders in recent years, but are cresting the survey for the first time. A HIIT session, typically involving rapid bursts of activity interspersed with brief rest periods, usually takes less than 30 minutes.

Body weight training’s appeal stems from its effectiveness and minimal need for fancy equipment or special gear.

The survey—involving hundreds of personal trainers, gym owners and other fitness insiders—further notes an increasing diversity in fitness offerings, plus some contradictory trends. Not everyone, for instance, is cost-conscious; 28

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fitness professionals anticipate the continued rise of boutiques specializing in niche activities. Those with momentum range from ballet-inspired barre workouts to Pound and Drums Alive sessions, in which people “rock out” while they work out.

Grace DeSimone, an ACSM spokesperson, equates specialized offerings to an à la carte menu, with individuals choosing tasty workout modes. “It’s like a buffet,” she says.

While a single class can cost up to $25, there seldom are membership fees. Muscles are treated to varied workouts, even if only once a week in a “boutique” treatment.

“It’s good for your body to crosstrain; if you do the same thing over and over again, your body adapts,” DeSimone advises. Unless a competitive athlete is looking to improve performances in a given sport, repeating the same exercise daily can lead to injury and

lessen the desired positive impact, she says. “Your body likes change.”

Spinning spin-offs like Soulcycle, Flywheel and Kinetic Cycling represent an evolution of indoor classes and oldschool outdoor cycling. Meanwhile, fitness instructors and wellness consultants note that Zumba has set the stage for dance-oriented workouts, diverging from Latin rhythms into hip-hop and other music genres.

If workouts are increasingly encroaching on “social” activities like dancing, it’s because the nation—or at least the expanding population trying to live healthier lifestyles—is undergoing a broader lifestyle transformation, says Jim White, of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The registered dietitian, award-winning fitness pro and national spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics observes, “There’s a shift in culture.”

He says, “People are sick of ‘yo-yoing’ with fad diets and exercise routines, and they are looking for effective new approaches, whether for dieting, social life, accountability or competition.” He sees this new mindset fueling the proliferation of websites and phone

apps that facilitate everything from counting calories and steps walked daily to on-the-go workouts.

What’s Playing

Interval Training: Both high- and low-intensity variations can resemble a fountain of youth for older adults, says DeSimone. These can range from integrating a few five-minute sprints to enhance a half-hour walk to engaging in formalized Asian-influenced Tabata classes and boot camps.

High-intensity workouts aren’t for everyone. “HIIT is best delivered when it does not use the one-size-fits-all approach,” says Tony Ordas, a kinesiology lecturer at California State University, San Marcos. “Participants need to have an established level of cardiovascular endurance before increasing intensity.”

Body Weight Training: The natural, timeless exercise approach of using our own body weight instead of equipment can, if done right, hone muscles and build core strength, often in creative ways.

Personal Training, Small-Group Training and Wellness Coaching: Rising demand by individuals for support

in achieving their desired results is propelling growing numbers of trainers and coaches to obtain health and fitness college degrees and postgraduate certifications.

Specialized Fitness Programs: Programs geared to the needs of particular groups such as pregnant women, older adults, dog owners and those interested in losing weight remain popular.

Activities vary in approach and intensity, but often emphasize “functional fitness”, focusing on building strength and balance useful in everyday life, rather than more athletic or competitive training.

Yoga: This ancient mind-body workout continues to extend from East to West, building on a host of classical forms such as hatha, ashtanga, kripalu, kundalini and Vinyasa. Relatively new forms also are extensive, from power yoga, Bikram and Yogalates to emerging hybrids like the yoga/surfing combination of Yoga Board.

Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., whose specialties include health and science.

Visit ChristineMacDonald.info.

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naturalpet

LONG-LIVED PETS Anti-Aging Care Aids Youthful Vigor

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

I

Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C.

202-505-4835

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com 30

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n human health care, naturopathic doctors offer a specialty called antiaging medicine. The goal is to restore optimal health to those at midlife and older that seek to prevent or reduce the incidence of diseases often associated with aging.

But when it comes to aging pets, most veterinary doctors fail to focus on the necessary specialized care. In fact, some traditional vets may decline to treat older pets at all. Often, these animals are suffering from chronic diseases and when they are treated, prescriptions may include numerous drugs. As many know, drugs can entail serious, even debilitating side effects, further deteriorating the prospects for sustained health.

Owners may thus find themselves spending a lot of money maintaining their pets in a chronic state of ill health with little hope for improvement. Animals that might benefit from surgery for problems ranging from dental disease to tumors may not receive ameliorating care when the family vet simply consid-

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

ers them “too old” to invest in or pull through surgery.

A Better Alternative

For an enlightened holistic vet, no pet is too old to warrant and benefit from proper health care. By instituting the correct care and focusing on anti-aging efforts, health can be improved and often restored, with the added advantages of reducing unnecessary medications and increasing their lifespan.

As an example, most doctors expect larger breeds of dogs to live 10 to 12 years, but with informed care, these same dogs can typically live 15 to 16 years. Smaller dogs and cats typically have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years; using an anti-aging approach, such pets routinely live 18 to 20 years or longer, in good health and with a good quality of life.

Exemplary Treatment

Here’s how the team at Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, in Plano, Texas, successfully approaches anti-aging medicine.

Beginning at 5 years of age, all pets—including dogs, cats, other small mammals, birds and reptiles—are screened via a physical examination and special blood and urine tests twice a year, with a focus on bionutritional analysis of results. Abnormal results indicating some risk, even slight ones, often ignored by mainstream medicine, are treated using vet-specified natural medicines that help return biometric values to normal and slow down the progression of problems that could, if untreated, turn into serious diseases.

Dietary evaluation, including a bionutritional analysis, ensures that the pet is eating what’s most appropriate for its age, breed and health status.

Potential dental and other oral issues are treated aggressively and early, because they are the most common source of infection and inflammation contributing to poor bodily health, including diabetes and diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart and lungs.

A review of prior medications confirms or adjusts proper use. In most cases, some of these medications can be eliminated or replaced as needed with natural therapies that have the same clinical effect, but without the possible side effects associated with chronic use of medical therapies.

Natural supplements, which can benefit all pets, also are reviewed and/ or prescribed. Most older pets benefit from supplementation with phosphatidylcholine, vitamins and minerals, fatty acids, glucosamine and other elements to support thyroid and adrenal functions.

Paws & Claws also favors the herbal remedy Healthy Qi to support the immune system of any ill or older pet; astragalus, green tea, gotu kola and ginseng ingredients give an extra boost toward achieving homeostasis and improved quality of life.

Like human senior citizens, pets in their golden years deserve dignified specialized care that allows them to live more happily and peacefully.

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

January 2014

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GMO FREE PET FOOD S 32

Washington, D.C.

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Sound as Therapy

The Body and its Orchestration

by Milagros Phillips

A

ll that we perceive in the physical world is vibration, and vibration is sound. The constant waves of matter vibrating in our physical world make up our environment. Our thoughts are sonic. The air we breathe is alive with this phenomenon. While most of the sound that surrounds us is inaudible, it nevertheless interacts with, and is absorbed, by the human body.

The body is a finely tuned orchestra with every organ adjusted to specific frequencies. These frequencies give each individual their own unique sound. Although the body contains many pitches and tones, when it is sound, it plays like a perfectly tuned orchestra. Throw one organ out of tune and you’ll find that the whole orchestra begins to play off-key.

The human body is naturally equipped to work with sound. The body is approximately eighty percent water, one of the greatest conductors of sound.

In spiritual traditions and mythology, water represents emotions (energy in motion). As any movie maker or adver-

tiser knows, sound is the fastest way to influence emotions. Sound can be used to frighten, sadden or control, and just as easily, sound can be used to heal, uplift, relax, soothe and comfort.

Sound works with the limbic system, the part of the brain related to pain and associated with our emotions.

This is why hearing certain music can prompt tears, or make listeners feel as if they can do anything.

Sound, particularly human voice, is as familiar to us as our breath. Before birth, babies hear the rhythm of their mother’s heartbeat and the constant oscillation of the blood as it moved through the circulatory system. As a fetus, babies hear the voices of the people, the traffic on the streets and the music playing on the stereo. This familiarity with sound makes it a comfortable tool for healing and transformation. The effects of sound are not only heard, they are also felt.

Sound forms crystalline structures in the liquids of the body. Through his experiments with Cymatics, the study of

how sound affects matter, Dr. Has Jenny was able to show the highly complex patterns formed by introducing sound into a medium, be it liquid or solid. These highly complex structures could be made to change by a simple change in amplitude (increase or decrease in volume).

The structure could be made to transform again by changing to a lower or higher frequency. He found that the higher the frequency of the sound, the more complex the structures formed by that sound.

In the 1980’s, Fabian Maman, a musician and researcher, showed the power of the human voice through a series of experiments. In one experiment, Maman took a blood sample from a donor and had the person sing the seven notes of the major scale to the sample. He found that with each note, the electromagnetic field of the cell changed color and shape. Maman also experimented with Hela (cancer) cells, playing a variety of instruments, including gong, drum, guitar and the human voice, for 21 minutes. He found that the most powerful was the human voice. Using the ionic scale, it could cause the Hela cell to break up in only nine minutes, while the other instruments took fourteen, eighteen and even the full 21 minutes to break up the cell.

Since those early days of research, sound has continued to offer impressive results to clients and practitioners alike. Treatments have been known to help with a variety of ailments. Knee pain, shoulder pain, stress and many other common body pains have been greatly and permanently reduced with sound therapy, which can include treatment with flutes, singing crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls and drums, as well as the human voice, to bring forth the sounds that harmonize and re-tune the body, and bring it back into balance.

Milagros Phillips has been a sound shaman/teacher, and a Reiki master/teacher for 20 years, trained as an opera singer for many years in NYC. She is a diversity/ race healing consultant, multi-talented artist and an intuitive, as well as a coach and leader of retreats, for self-care and transformation. Phillips offers a weekly heart meditation. For more information, visit WholenessInDiversity.wix.com/ iglifecoaching. See ad, page 14.

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communityspotlight

NIHA Offers Innovative Smoking Cessation Program

by Dr. C.E. Gant

N

icotine addiction is responsible for nearly one half of a million deaths per year in the United States and over 5 million deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.

The link between nicotine addiction and cancer, cardiovascular disease and other chronic psychiatric and medial disorders is irrefutable, yet our healthcare system offers smokers few safe, drug-free and effective options to help them quit. Outcome studies on the use of medication are dismal, and drug treatments are fraught with risky side effects.

The benefit of any treatment, for any healthcare problem, is based on four variables; safety, efficacy, expense and difficulty of application. An integrative medicine approach, which combines energetic laser, conventional medicine (non-drug assistance), bionutritional and counseling methods, meets all of these standards. Dr. Charles Gant and the National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA), a leader in holistic and integrative medicine and biological dentistry, which has been serving the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia area since 1995. To help give a tobacco dependent individual their best chance of quitting, Gant and NIHA are offering safe, effective, drug-free

Decrease in Cigarette Use with Nutritional Suplements Alone

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and natural assessments and therapeutic approaches for treatment of nicotine addiction. They have found that a combination of these strategies work the best, and this is where an integrative medicine approach can provide great results.

NIHA’s Integrative Nicotine Cessation Program includes several components. The integrative approach begins with a one-hour intake counseling session using a combination of MI (motivational interviewing) and a mindfulness-based approach, to demonstrate to the smoker that they can find relief from their cravings. Generally, three brief follow-up counseling sessions are needed to ensure that the ex-smoker is clear on their intentions to remain abstinent and that they are capable of using mindfulness techniques to abolish cravings and other emotional distress, which can often emerge when nicotine is pulled away. Besides supportive counseling at each session, the ex-smoker will receive low-intensity laser therapy to certain acupuncture points, which can boost endorphin levels and decrease cravings.

As part of the overall fee for service, the ex-smoker will receive a copy of Gant’s book, End Nicotine Addiction Now, which describes the science behind neurotransmitter replenishment and detoxification from the accumulated toxins that long term smokers accrue.

These topics are briefly discussed during the counseling session, and the ex-smoker is repeatedly told that their biochemical imbalances, which compels them to reach out for tobacco, are not their fault.

Vitamin, amino acid and other natural pre-cursors are prescribed to help the exsmoker naturally regenerate the depleted neurotransmitters acetylcholine, serotonin

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

and dopamine in their brain, which usually and immediately reduces the cravings and other withdrawal symptoms.

To avoid the hassle of searching health food stores for the right amino acids and other precursors and prescribed vitamins and minerals, the ex-smoker receives a 10-day supply, as a part of their overall fee. These nutritional supplements are batched in cellophane packets to make their use simple and convenient and are needed to replenish the brain’s stress hormones and neurotransmitters that nicotine has robbed them of.

To rule out medical complications, the ex-smoker will also receive a brief history and physical exam and printed medical report. Their insurance company may reimburse them for a bona fide medical en-counter. Sometimes there is nothing more reassuring than to find out that one’s physical exam is normal, and if it is not, the ex-smoker can be scheduled for more tests to determine the root cause of other concerns.

Before coming to NIHA, nicotine users are told to expect little or no cravings for tobacco after their first treatment and to assume that they will never need tobacco again. If relapse occurs, that is okay because relapse is part of the recovery process for a significant percentage of smokers, and they are told to not get down about it. Sometimes it takes the supplements, the laser treatments and the mindfulness and motivation a week or so to sink in, before smokers can achieve success.

Integrative medicine approaches like those described here for nicotine cessation are safe, natural, drug-free, effective and painless. They offer hope for those who have found it so hard to quit the use of tobacco and nicotine in the past, and for those who have been unsuccessful with other approaches.

Dr. C.E. Gant has practiced Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine and Psychotherappy for over 36 years and serves with the team at National Integrated Health Associates, a leader in holistic and integrative medicine and biological dentistry.

For more information about NIHA’s new smoking cessation program, call 202-237-7000 or visit NIHADC.com.

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e all need iodine, yet most of us don’t get enough of it through our diet. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that iodine deficiency in the developed world has increased fourfold in the past 40 years and now affects nearly three-quarters of all adults.

Numerous U.S. practicing physicians quoted widely in the media estimate that the incidence of hypothyroidism in our adult population may be between 30 and 70 percent.

Thus, we can’t efficiently produce the thyroid hormones that serve as chemical messengers triggering nearly every bodily function. The presence or absence of iodine affects our every cell.

Be Aware of Hypothyroidism Symptoms Low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, is the most recognized and obvious indicator of low iodine intake because the thyroid gland contains more concentrated iodine than other organs.

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Hypothyroidism can further cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke.

Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers. In children, insufficient iodine has been strongly linked with mental retardation, deafness, attention deficient and hyperactivity disorder and impaired growth, according to studies by Boston University, China’s Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and France’s National Academy of Medicine.

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Radiation: Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation emitted by cell phones, Wi-Fi, microwave ovens and other electronic devices.

Iodized table salt: The human body cannot utilize the iodine added to this product.

Low-sodium diets: Failure to use healthy salts to fulfill sodium requirements, plus overuse of zero-nutrient table salt in foods, leads to iodine depletion.

Bromine: This toxic chemical overrides iodine’s abilities to nourish the thyroid, adrenal and other hormone-producing glands.

A known carcinogen, it is used as an anticaking ingredient found in almost all baked goods, unless the ingredients specifically cite unbromated flour.

Iodine-depleted soils: Due to poor farming techniques, iodine and other minerals in soil have declined, so most foods today are devoid of naturally occurring iodine.

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

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inspiration

fix upon a goal and don’t reach it, we lead ourselves to disappointment.

More Than A Resolution

Dynamic resolutions assist in preventing this occurrence.

Static resolutions do not.

by HawaH

N

ow is the time of year when many will create and attempt to live up to resolutions. Most people make resolutions because they hold an ideal vision of the self that is yet to be attained. Our resolutions keep us pacing toward tangible change and hold us accountable to our deeper desires; ultimately, a resolution is the distance between who we are and who we want to be.

But let us ask ourselves, is making a resolution to lose 20 pounds addressing the heart of what you are hoping?

When making resolutions, it is important to remember that a resolution is not just a means or an end. A resolution is a conscious intention. How you get there and if you get there is actually not as important as setting the intention in your mind that you believe you have some degree of control, ability and capacity to transform your life.

So if we are saying we want to lose 20 pounds, really what our subconscious may be saying is that we want to live with more health, energy, vitality and higher self-esteem. Of course, losing 20 pounds will help move us in this direction, but in the end when are we really finished?

It is important to understand that

resolutions represent an ideal that propel us in a new direction. The ultimate goal of any resolution, however, should be the incorporation of the action into daily life. This is only possible after mastery has taken place. To master the resolution means to internalize the resolution and to fuse one’s life with a new habit pattern. This means the resolution no longer exists outside of you but actually one day creates a new you.

Resolve only until it becomes a part of your nature, then drop the resolution.

More than a resolution, the intention must be to change the very nature of our being, making us congruent with who we strive to be. In so doing, it is also important to accept yourself for who you are. Remember that no one is ever perfect or finished. Accept the dynamism of change. Experience a growth that cannot be calculated. Situations do not remain the same and as the environment around us shifts, we must be open to transform the resolutions we once made, because even the resolution can one day become obsolete or counterproductive. Resolve to not be disappointed, overly critical or difficult upon what you do and have done. If we

Accept all the good and the bad. Accept that which you cherish and that which you despise. Move into a space of acceptance; release from selfjudgment. Guilt is not healthy, instead embrace change and create alternatives. Move past the limiting idea of failure. Move into a constant state of embracing every moment, and then become open to all experiences. Remain open to all that arises and passes.

Look at yourself. Discover your fears. Understand your faults. Reach for the zenith and do not be afraid to fall.

Fall down. Stand back up. Embrace falling, for it is necessary to learn walking.

Challenge even the resolutions you have made for yourself, hence reaching awareness of self. Avoid causing self pain by sticking to a resolution that may no longer be relevant.

As the conscious intention penetrates into your being, resolve to not blindly cling to resolutions without understanding their meaning. Instead, embrace your true nature through awareness of who you are. The change sought is dependent on self-realization. The change is dependent upon acceptance.

HawaH has authored four books and produced three documentary films. He is co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization One Common Unity. For more information, visit OneCommonUnity.org.

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naturalbeauty

Facial Rejuvenation Massage

by Lia Phipps, DC on Heels Blogger

T

hese days, I am as concerned with staving off the signs of encroaching age as the next senescent Gen-Xer. However, I want to maintain my youthful appearance without resorting to surgery or Botox injections for as long as possible. In my tireless research on the subject, I have discovered the numerous benefits of various non-invasive skin care treatments that rejuvenate aging skin. My interest was piqued when I learned of a face-lift facial massage system put together by a licensed massage therapist here in Washington, D.C.

Combining the elements of three anti-aging massage methods that she has studied, Lisa Schumacher of Balancentering created a powerful anti-aging treatment that she calls Saving Face. I tried it out for myself and was surprised to see modest but noticeable results after just one treatment.

Saving Face blends the best of the Bellanina facelift massage method, the Burnham system of facial rejuvenation and traditional facial micro cupping. Each method brings specific benefits to your skin, and each one produces a distinctive feeling as it is being performed.

After gently cleansing my skin, Schumacher began the treatment with the light touch of the soothing, yet energizing, Burnham system.

Developed by Dr. Linda Burnham, a naturopathic physician, this massage focuses on 12 major nerve points in the face and head. Following a carefully planned sequence (named the “butterfly sequence”) of patterned strokes and 38

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manipulation of pressure points, the nerve centers of the head are activated and healing energy is released throughout the body. Based in reflexology and nerve rejuvenation, the Burnham method awakens the body’s inner healing and rejuvenation.

Micro cupping is next. Many of you are familiar with cupping—a traditional Chinese treatment for various ailments that involves the application of glass cups to the skin. The suction creates a gentle vacuum that stimulates lymphatic drainage and eliminates toxins. The same principles apply to facial micro cupping, only the cups used are much smaller and will leave nary a red mark on your face.

Facial micro cupping is popular in Europe and Asia, with good reason.

It fights the signs of aging by improving circulation, reducing puffiness by draining stagnant fluids and toxins, and improving skin tone and texture. It is rumored to work wonders in controlling acne and rosacea. It also relaxes tight facial and neck muscles and softens the appearance of wrinkles. The treatment is comfortable—as its name implies,

face-lift facial massage system

tiny “micro” cups exert extremely gentle pressure on the skin. During my experience, the pressure intensified at a few points along my jaw line, which, as Schumacher explained, were areas of stagnation. Schumacher also worked around my eyes, which showed markedly reduced puffiness post-treatment

The Bellanina facelift massage concluded the treatment. Created by aesthetician and massage therapist Nina Howard, this technique is based on the principles of acupressure and lymphatic drainage massage. It stimulates the metabolic processes to improve facial circulation, strengthen capillaries, cleanse the lymph system and clear the skin. Pressing facial acupressure points activates the flow of ”qi” (life force or energy) throughout the body’s various meridians, which over time can result in firmer, clearer and more vibrant skin.

The massage is preceded by a deeply relaxing application of warm towels suffused in aromatherapy essences, to open the pores and hydrate the skin. I must note that the botanically-based Bellanina skin care products used throughout the treatment were wonderful. The facial finished with an application of the Bellanina signature Honeylift masque, leaving my skin feeling smooth and lifted.

The entire Saving Face facial lasts about an hour and 10 minutes and includes a fabulous hand and foot massage. Although I saw an immediate improvement in my skin tone and lift around my eyes, you typically need at least four to six treatments for more lasting results. According to Schumacher, this treatment is perfect for people in their 30s and 40s who are starting to combat the first signs of aging. It can help you maintain your youthful complexion and hopefully, hold off on going under the knife indefinitely.

Lia Phipps, a native Washingtonian and beauty blogger for DConHeels.com, is an interior designer with an irrepressible, life-long fascination with health and beauty.

To learn more about facial rejuvenation massage, call 202-244-9588 or visit Balancentering.com.

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NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

This article was originally published on DConHeels.com.

wisewords

Vows: An Enduring Alternative to Resolutions

by Grace Ogden

A

re you among the 45 percent of Americans who set New Year’s resolutions? Named for Janus, the Roman god of all beginnings, January naturally inspires us to look inward and take stock. This ritual of promises for life-improvement dates back 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. Yet, these days, only 8 percent of us keep our resolutions. What if, at the start of 2014, we instead revisit the vows we have taken, the one or more deep inner promises we still aspire to realize?

Perhaps you no longer practice your family of origin’s religion—or are one of the 14,000 folks who recited the bodhisattva vows with the Dalai Lama in Washington, D.C., a few years ago (in Tibetan). Fresh insight, renewal and support reside in any vows that have ever shaped or touched your life in a positive way. Vows are found in all religious traditions, and they inform secular life,

from humanitarianism to professional ethics. They are also personal, inner realizations of meaning we hold for the direction and conduct of our lives. Being of service or motivated by love, practicing compassion and maintaining honest speech and conduct are among them.

Vows involve intentional sacrifice, “that which is made sacred,” the translation from Latin. As a life practice, both the giving and giving up of behaviors or ideas result in an ongoing experience of letting go the grip of the ego’s wants and dropping down into a kind of peace or humility that floods the psyche with well-being, even joy. Religious historian and Charter for Compassion founder, Karen Armstrong advises, “Look into your own heart, discover what it is that gives you pain and then refuse, under any circumstances whatsoever, to inflict that pain on anybody else.” At the start of 2014, identify what it is within you

that guides you on this kind of path.

There, you can turn when your child or colleague abruptly storms off down the hallway. The largeness of a vow, like being motivated by love, makes the inner space to resist retaliation, take a few calming breaths and reflect on the causes and conditions of the upset. The same refuge is available for more abiding challenges—a partner with cancer or one’s own illness or loss.

This New Year, before or instead of making resolutions, rediscover your deepest aspiration. Re-read the vows and support texts in your spiritual tradition or look at those in such contemporary spiritual communities as Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh’s Order of Interbeing, which echo key tenets of the Abrahamic religions. Each vow points to a place of surrender, not toward weakness but toward building the kind of inner strength that carries us through calamity and recognizes the good shining through almost every circumstance.

The texts even provide reasons for greater self-care, of diet and the wise use of money, which frequently appear in New Year’s resolutions. Yet the meaning and purpose of such actions are grounded in a more transformative purpose and a larger community of practice, whether in spirit or one you might attend on a regular basis.

Write your vow in your own words, or the words of the text if that means more. Dwell with your vow for a time, whisper it to yourself before sleep and remember it upon waking. Tell a trusted other about it. Resilience, lovingkindness and change will build up one drop at a time, over time, when your vow is not dependent upon achievement but rather takes you toward a state of being. Then, at the turn of the next year, or whenever you look back upon your life, you will see that through its twists and turns, you conducted yourself with a spirit that endured and nourished the good in yourself and others and matched the devotion of those early resolution-makers.

Grace Ogden is the founder of Grace Productions, which offers transformational consulting and Living Sacred events.

For more information, visit Grace Productions.co. See ad, page 17.

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consciouseating

NourishingYour Body Throughout the Seasons

W

by Dr. Melissa Windsor

inter is more than a time to bundle up by the fireplace and enjoy warm hot chocolate. It’s a time to transition away from the warm summer months and into the cleansing season of spring.

As each new season approaches, I am reminded of the natural cycles and rhythms of life. They cannot be denied. Blankets of snow melt, giving way to nourished soil for the spring harvest.

Just as our wardrobes change, so do the nutritional needs of our bodies. Our diets should reflect these seasonal changes.

A visit to your local market will familiarize you with the three growing and harvest sea-sons. As snow melts and spring rains falls, the ground gives way to sprouts and bitter greens, cleansing our bodies from a winter of heavier foods.

Warm summer sun feeds bright fruits and vegetables, high in carbohydrates, to help sustain our energy for longer days and more activity. As fall approaches, we prepare for the cold blistery months, har-vesting and storing up for winter. With snow having already fallen, we are well into this season.

Traditionally, we consume heavier meals in the winter.

Nuts, oil, fat and protein provide more insulation for the cold. Protein, fat and carbohydrates are beneficial for every sea-son, but the quantities will change depending on the season. A good balance for winter is 40 percent protein, 30 percent fat and 30 percent carbohydrates. Grains contain a good amount of essential fatty acids. If you eat red meat, winter is the season to indulge. Choose wisely–grass fed and organic. For those vegetarians out there, enjoy more seeds, nuts and lentils. The more we feed the body what it needs each season, the less we will have to deal with cravings for the wrong foods later in the year. Do not trouble yourself with measuring; simply add more protein and fat to your meals. Listen to your body. Natural cravings for grains, seeds, 40

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

nuts and fat will lead you in the right direction.

Although the winter months in our northern climate produce no fruit, other climates do. Avocado and banana are heavier fruits that are high in fat, provide warmth and are a rich source of potassium. According to Dr. John Douillard, author of The 3-Season Diet, when we enter into winter without first cooling our bodies, we are more susceptible to colds and flu. The accumulation of warm summer heat, with the dryness of winter, can wreak havoc on our health. Apples and pears provide the perfect antidote; they are rich with fiber to cleanse our intestinal tract, while their coolness helps to reduce the heat from summer. Oranges are also great during the dry winter months, providing high water content. Warm, oily foods also help to hydrate our bodies. When our bodies become dry in the winter, we produce more mucus in the spring time. This may present as a cold, flu, allergy, asthma or overgrowth of intestinal yeast. Nature helps to combat this by providing bitter greens in the spring, to scrape mucus from the intestines, cleanse the blood and support liver function. These greens also support healthy bacteria in our intestinal tract, a natural defense against parasites and opportunistic bacteria.

As you enjoy the fall harvest this winter, indulge. Eat larger quantities; food provides warmth. It is normal to gain a few pounds this season. After heavier foods in the winter, your body will crave more raw, lighter foods in the spring.

Melissa Windsor, DC, is a chiropractor and nutrition and lifestyle coach at Restorative Health in NW Washington.

For more information, visit RestorativeHealth.org. See ad, page 3.

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leadingedge

Learning the Science of Life: Ayurveda

by Neva Ingalls

A

yurveda, “the science of life”, derives from India, with roots going back 5,000 years to the Vedic period. Not surprisingly, it is called “the Mother of All Healing”. Ayurveda is a system of naturopathic medicine, covering all domains found in naturopathic schools, from herbs to surgery. It is perhaps the world’s oldest and most complete form of naturopathic medicine.

Our modern world is a great achievement of controlling nature, but we pay the price of being out of sync with the environment that supports us. With a little understanding, we can learn to re-establish health and harmony within ourselves and in our relationships.

The ayurvedic view is that the entire manifested Universe, from the planets, stars and galaxies, to the simplest living creatures, is an expression of a cosmic dance of energy, spinning out in a display of creativity. It mirrors an inner guiding intelligence that is accessible to each individual for greater understanding of health and happiness. Simply put, it is the knowledge to live in harmony with the natural world and with our own true nature.

A way to view this cosmology is to contemplate energy as an un-manifest potential exploding from a point of deep conscious stillness, that “steps down” through a myriad of densities and expressions, culminating with the five great elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether (space). These are the building blocks of all animate and inanimate forms. It is understood that the energy that composes these elements contains “Supreme Consciousness”, the Source.

Ayurveda teaches us how to live in accordance with this consciousness in our

outer lives, which includes the mind and its workings, while yoga, its sister science, gives practical tools for discovering and aligning with the Source inside.

It is further understood, that the highest goal of a human being is to recognize and align with the Source within and that health manifests when we are in alignment with our soul.

The ayurvedic approach to treating imbalances is the application of opposites. With an understanding of the nature of our own bodily constitutions (Doshas of Vata, Pitta and Kapha); foods, spices and herbs, from the six tastes (sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent; and the 20 attributes, such as hot/cold, dry/ wet, soft/hard, etc., we can learn to return balance to our body and minds.

Deeper patterns of imbalance stemming from the long term accumulation of undigested food (Ama) require therapies of cleansing, followed by rebuilding or “tonifying” with the correct nourishment for the individual. Ayurveda is a vast, deep and complex science in its entirety, yet holds a basic simplicity that we can all apply with great benefit.

We are indeed what we eat, from food to thoughts, and we can learn to optimize for more harmonious lives.

Neva Ingalls is director of the Inner Domain Teacher Training Programs and will be offering an Ayurvedic Lifestyle Counselor certification course beginning January 25 at the Yoga Fusion Studio in Chevy Chase.

For more information, visit InnerDomain.org/tt/page.php?id=76 or contact Ingalls at NevaFusion@gmail.com.

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4 Buddha B Retreat in Jamaica – Thru Jan 11. The Buddha B Yoga Center’s 2014 New Year’s Yoga Retreat to the Caribbean in beautiful Negril, Jamaica.

Located on the world famous Seven Mile Beach at the Negril Beach Club Condo Resort. Centrally located with full amenities. $1,099 (not including transportation). Buddha B Yoga Studio, Jamaica.

Register: BuddhaBYoga.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5 Advanced Screening of Film, Fly By Light – 6:309pm. Advanced screening of One Common Unity’s documentary, Fly By Light at THEARC, partnered with Covenant House Washington. $10. One Common Unity and Covenant House Washington, 1901 Mississippi Ave, SE. Info: OneCommonUnity.org.

MONDAY, JANUARY 6 Om Mommy Meet Up – 11:45am-12:45pm. Thru Mon Jan 27. 4-part series designed for moms with babies newborn-18 months who want to connect, find support, learn, and grow together. $10-35. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: LilOmm.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 Yoga Basics – 7:30- 8:30pm. 6-week series offers the fundamentals of posture and breathwork. All levels welcome. $60. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: LilOmm.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 Free Osteoporosis Support Group – 7-8:30pm.

A National Osteoporosis Foundation Osteoporosis Support Group lead by GYROTONIC instructors Ellen Barlow and Francesca Jandasek, featuring exercise methods with special programs for osteoporosis and osteopenia. Elements Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Info: 202-333-5252 or FrontDesk@ElementsCenter.com.

Gretchen Rubin Talk and Book Signing – 7-8:30pm. NY Times bestselling-author of The

Happiness Project will be talking about her newest book, Happier at Home. Gretchen explores the factors that make a home, home—possessions, marriage, time, parenthood, body, neighborhood and experimented with concrete, manageable resolutions meant to boost her happiness. Sixth & I, 600 I Street NW, Tickets are $15, or $20 including a book. Info: Happiness-Project.com or call 202-408-3100.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 Visualizing Your Future Self: Vision Wheel Collage Class – 6:30-9:30pm. This workshop will show you how to use visualization to envision your ideal situation. Through a combination of lecture, discussion, queries and visualization exercises, participants will be taken through the process of discovering what it is they most want in their lives. $50. Herban Lifestyle, 2931-C Eskridge Rd, Fairfax, VA. Register: Info@HerbanLifestyle.com.

RH Therapies: Far Infrared Sauna – 7-7:30pm.

- With Naturopathic Physician Karen Threlkel, ND. Come learn about infrared saunas and how they differ from regular saunas. This pleasurable therapy is helpful for detox and in the treatment of many common health problems. Sign up for a free sauna.

Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Info: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 Fall in Love with Yoga (again) – 7-8:30pm. This workshop will give you all the tools you need to stay inspired, eager and excited to get on your mat. Stay committed to your yoga practice in the new year. $15. Budda B Yoga Studio, 1115 U St, (Ste 202), NW. Register: BuddhaBYoga.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 Intro to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – 10am-1pm. A special three-hour introductory class to assist people who want to learn to use their own internal resources to respond to stress, medical and psychological conditions, and promote healthy living. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, (Ste 200), NW. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Special Screening Of Award Winning Documentary: Change – 2-4pm. “Change: The Life Particle Effect” has won the Gold Award at the International Indonesia Film Festival 2013 and the Award of Merit in The Accolade Competition honors outstanding craft and creativity in film, television and videography. $20. Gaithersburg Dahn Yoga, 840 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-3304861 or Gaithersburg@DahnYoga.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 Focus Inward & Activate Your Power: Initial Awakening Workshop – 9am-6pm. This workshop combines principles of energy with physical energy training. You will learn how Ki energy works as an intermediary between your mind and body. Benefits include: improvement in your physical condition (strengthen your core), enhanced mental focus and concentration, increase in overall energy levels and more. $295. Dahn Yoga, 6849 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD. Register: 202-393-2440.

Special Screening Of Award Winning Documentary: Change – 2-4pm. See Jan 11 for details. $20. Gaithersburg Dahn Yoga, 840 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-330-4861 or Gaithersburg@DahnYoga.com.

Monthly Children’s Sangha – 4-5pm. 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. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

MONDAY, JANUARY 13 Extreme Self-Care – 7-8pm. Join our monthly support group as together we work our way through Cheryl Richardson’s inspiring 12-month program,

Experience a place of refuge and a spiritual center where all are welcome!

A Vegan Vinyasa yoga studio & Jivamukti™ Yoga Center Affiliate.

Open 7 days a week & offering over 50 classes a week (including Mysore, Ashtanga led practice, Jivamukti™ yoga, Vinyasa all-levels, 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training, and more...).

1115 U Street NW Suite #202 Washington DC 20009

202-588-5885

Visit our website for more information:

www.buddhabyoga.com 42

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The Art of Extreme Self-Care, with Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach Melissa Windsor, DC, CHC. Come walk the walk with us. $10/class or $105/for the whole year if paid at the first class. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Info: 202-2446661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

yoga is not necessary. $3500. The Yoga Fusion Studio, 4609 Willow Ln, Chevy Chase, MD. Register: TheYogaFusionStudio.com.

Special Screening Of Award-Winning Documentary: Change – 2-4pm. See Jan 11 for details. $20. Gaithersburg Dahn Yoga, 840 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-330-4861 or Gaithersburg@DahnYoga.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14 Intro to Meditation – 7-7:45pm. - You hear it all the time: stress bad, meditation good. Come learn meditation basics with Timothy Eden, MSW, in this calming introductory class. Studies show even minutes a day can make a big difference in your health.

Come as you are-beginners and advanced meditators welcome. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Info: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

Winter Warmer Workshop: Yoga, Qigong and Meditation – 4-7pm. This workshop offers an opportunity to harmonize your body/mind the cyclic rhythm of the seasons. In acknowledgement of the Tao, the Kidney Qi rules in the winter, a time when living things are contracted with cold. Like a seed deep in the cold ground, Qi is dormant, waiting for the time to sprout. $40. Buddha B Yoga Studio, 1115 U St, (Ste 202), NW. Register: BuddhaBYoga.com.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15 Fly By Light Challenge – Thru Feb 15. An online portal to personal transformation, we’ll explore stress management, self-love, and social-emotional well being through live video discussions, podcasts, journaling and targeted readings for this One Month Challenge.$120. One Common Unity.

Register: OneCommonunity.org/Events/Fly-ByLight-Challenge.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 Movie Night: Crazy Sexy Cancer – 7pm. The movie that started it all for Kris Carr, beloved lifestyle guru, who mixes heart, healthy eating and good habits with fun. This is her own cancer story, from shocking diagnosis to remarkable recovery and beyond. One of our faves. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Info: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 Yoga Retreat in the Shenandoah Valley – 5:30pm. Thru Jan 19 11am. Join Yoga District’s Senior Teacher, Cara George, for a yoga retreat in a beautiful, private log cabin in the Shenandoah Valley this MLK weekend. $320. Yoga District.

Stanley, VA. Register: Clients.MindBodyOnline. com/ws.asp?studioid=2070&stype=-8&sTG=11& sView=day&sTrn=100000176&sDate=1/17/2014.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 Baby Om Yoga Teacher Training – 9:30am6:30pm. This 2-day certification course delivers a complete toolkit of techniques that allow participants to offer compelling mother and baby yoga classes. $500. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: LilOmm.com.

Winter Bootcamp – 1:30-3:30pm. Thru April 5.

A 12-week wholistic health coaching program designed to give you foundation on the four pillars of health: food, movement, breath, and emotional balance. Includes 15-day ayurvedic cleanse. $1565 with discounts. Apurva Ayurveda Healing and M3 Wellness, 1737A Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: 703-667-0465.

Special Screening Of Award-Winning Documentary: Change – 2-4pm. See Jan 11 for details. $20. Gaithersburg Dahn Yoga, 840 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-330-4861 or Gaithersburg@DahnYoga.com.

Finding True Self Workshop – 2-9pm. You will have the opportunity to re-connect with the “real you”, underneath all the layers of habits, judgements, emotions, and memories that we have mistakenly identified as who we currently are. $395. Dahn

Yoga, 218 Maple Ave West, Vienna VA. Register: 202-393-2440.

Yoga for a Strong and Flexible Back – 2:304:30pm. The back is a central part of the body. Being strong and flexible is essential for back health. Learn how yoga poses can help. $38. Unity Woods Yoga Center, 4853 Cordell Ave, (Ste PH7), Bethesda, MD. Register: UnityWoods.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 Finding True Self Workshop – 8am-8pm.See Jan 18 for details. $395. Dahn Yoga, 218 Maple Ave West, Vienna VA. Register: 202-393-2440.

Private Session with animal communicator Diane Roadcap – 10:30am-3pm. Roadcap will be giving private readings. Fee is $120 for a private half hour session. Paws of Enchantment, 3415 Perry St, Mt. Rainer. Reservations required: 301-209-0411.

Special Screening Of Award-Winning Documentary: Change – 2-4pm. See Jan 11 for details. $20. Gaithersburg Dahn Yoga, 840 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-330-4861 or Gaithersburg@DahnYoga.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 20 ACE Martin Luther King Day of Service – 10am12pm. Volunteer to clean up Arlington’s largest watershed, Four Mile Run in honor of Martin Luther King. Groups, families, and individuals are all welcome. Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, 4200 S. Four Mile Run Dr, Arlington. Register: ArlingtonEnvironment.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 Fitness Friday: Assessing and Treating Shoulder Pain & Injuries – 6:30-7:00pm. Orthopedic Massage Therapist Olivier Pelletier will assess your pain situation, share some suggestions, and discuss treatment options. $10 (payable by cash or check at the class). Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Info: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 500Hour Ayurveda Certification – 12-6pm. Sat and Sun thru September 14. Dr. David Frawley’s American Institute of Vedic Studies Ayurvedic Healing learning course. Course aims primarily at helping the student to become an Ayurvedic Life-Style Counselor, which is how those who successfully complete the course can see themselves. Previous training or licensure in any medical practice or in

Live Your Best 2014: Visionboarding Workshop – 5:30-7:30. Adults and children ages 5 and older are invited to set their intention and create vision boards for 2014. All materials included. $30. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: LilOmm.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 Asana Lab: Building a Strong Foundation – 2-4:30pm. The heart of a strong and beautiful asana practice begins beating in the standing poses, first on the feet, then on the head, hands, and shoulders. $35. Budda B Yoga Studio, 1115 U St, (Ste 202), NW. Register: BuddhaBYoga.com.

Special Screening Of Award Winning Documentary: Change – 2-4pm. See Jan 11 for details. $20. Gaithersburg Dahn Yoga, 840 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-330-4861 or Gaithersburg@DahnYoga.com.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 RH Kitchen: Savory Soups – 7-8pm. Nothing like home-cooked soup. Come learn the techniques with Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach Melissa Windsor, DC, CHC, to make sure you have something warm and savory simmering on your stove all winter long. Recipes and tastings included. Registration required. Dr. Windsor’s popular classes fill up fast, so register now. $35. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

savethedate Everyday Health and Wellness Conference A day of information and inspiration on health, nutrition and wellness.

Great speakers, a host of healthy minded exhibitors and a healthy buffet lunch is included. $99/$125

March 1 • 9am-6pm Fairfax Marriott Fair Oaks 11787 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy. Fairfax Register: EverydayHWConference.com

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

sunday Open Level GYROTONIC® Group – 10-11am. This class is open to all experience levels and provides a well rounded, fundamental GYROTONIC® workout on the pulley tower. $35/session, $250/10 Sessions. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

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

Weekly Yoga and Brunch – 10:30-11:45am. Work up your appetite with a Flow 1-2 Asana practice at Yoga District. Then come downstairs to enjoy a yummy vegan brunch at District Tea Lodge. Both your yoga practice and brunch is included in the price. Invite your friends and have an awesome time. $22. Yoga District and District Tea Lodge, 1922 I St NW, DC. Register: Bit.ly/177o7wP.

friendly environment to chat, share, and learn together as moms with children. Bring your lunch and enjoy the space to learn, live, play and grow. $5. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC. Register: LilOmm.com.

Beginner GYROTONIC® Group – 12-1pm. This class is held on the GYROTONIC pulley tower and is designed for new students. Students will learn how to set up the equipment and gain an understanding of the fundamental movements of the system. $35/ session. $250/10 sessions. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

Breastfeeding Mothers’ Support Group – 5:156:15pm. 2nd Mon. Mothers bring your babies of all ages to connect with other mothers, ask questions of Holistic Mothering’s IBCLC Sharon Curry and find support for breastfeeding related challenges. Baby scale available. $10. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC. Register: LilOmm.com.

Open Level GYROTONIC® Group – 6-7pm. See Sunday for details. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

Community Yoga Class – 11:30am-12:30pm. OpenLevel Yoga Class hosted by a range of teachers, including recent graduates from our Yoga Teacher Trainings.

This community yoga class will vary in style and flow.

Please note the room will be heated at 90 degrees to aid in the detoxification of the body. Please arrive early to guarantee your spot. $10/suggested donation. The Yoga Fusion Studio, 4609 Willow Ln, Chevy Chase.

Register: TheYogaFusionStudio.com.

Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors – 7-8:15pm.

This gentle class for women cancer survivors includes breathing exercises, healing yoga sequences, and restorative postures appropriate during and after cancer treatment. We practice in a safe space that encourages and nurtures women who are undergoing treatment for and in remission from cancer. All levels welcome. $10. Sibley Memorial Hospital, 5255 Loughboro Rd, NW. Register: 202-243-2320.

Family Yoga – 3-4pm. 2nd Sun. Yoga for the whole family together (age 8 and up). $15/person or $50/ family of four or more. Unity Woods Yoga Center, 4853 Cordell Ave, Ste PH7, Bethesda, MD. Register: UnityWoods.com.

Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. A fluid contemplation in motion and balance of breath, this yoga class nurtures harmony of mind and body as we work with alignment and awareness, deep stretching and relaxation for a revitalizing experience. $10. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD. Register: JoesMovement.org.

Sound Heart Meditations – 7:30-9pm. We will use the power of sound to quiet the mind and enter the heart. Beginners and seasoned meditators will greatly benefit from this experience. $20/on line, $25/at the door. Inner Gems Coaching, 437 Cedar St, NW, DC. Register: EventBrite.com/ Event/8935531415/eac2.

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. Dropins welcome. A project of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW). The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Ste 200, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Advanced GYROTONIC® Group – 10-11am. For clients with a significant amount of experience in the GYROTONIC method. $35/session. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

Mommy Meet Up – 11:45am-12:45pm. 1st Mon. A

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T’ai Chi – 8-9pm. Learn and enjoy peaceful slow movements, balance, and meditation, this class is for youth and adults who will study the movements of T’ai Chi Chun long form. T’ai chi is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for health benefits, self control, and relaxation. $10. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD. Register: JoesMovement.org.

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

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Beginner GYROTONIC ® Group–8-9am. See Monday for details. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

Moms’ Craft and Chat Morning – 10am-12pm.

In between drop off and pick up, make a little

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

something for yourself and meet other moms. We’ll have material available or bring your own. $10.

Herban Lifestyle, 2931 C Eskridge Rd, Fairfax, VA. Register: HerbanLifestyle.com/catalog/workshops.

Power Up Your Brain (For Aging) – 12-2pm.

Beginning Jan 14. This is Brain Education for successful aging. It teach you how to integrate your brain functions, enhance your brain’s executive control, and tap into its unlimited potential. $50.

Gaithersburg Dahn Yoga, 840 Muddy Branch Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. Register: 301-330-4861 or Gaithersburg@DahnYoga.com.

Introductory Yoga Series – 12:15-1:15pm. A brief introduction to the fundamentals of yoga, for beginners and for those new to the Iyengar approach. No experience necessary. $68/course or $20/drop-in.

Unity Woods Yoga Center, 4853 Cordell Ave, (Ste PH7), Bethesda MD. Info: UnityWoods.com.

Open Level GYROTONIC® Group – 1-2pm. See Sunday for details. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

Hoop Jam – 6:45-8:15pm. With Noelle Powers. Lift your spirits and get a full body workout accompanied by a super hoop-friendly soundtrack. All ages and skill levels are welcome at this drop in jam. A lesson for those interested is presented in the first half hour of jam, and the remaining hour is self-directed. $10.

Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD. Register: JoesMovement.org.

I Meditate DC: Introduction to the Art of Living – 7-8pm. Refresh and rejuvenate with a free community service initiative to introduce people to breathing and meditation techniques that have a calming effect on the mind and reduce stress.

In this 60-minute interactive session, participants develop insight on how to reduce negative emotions that eat up our energy and time. The Art of Living Foundation, 2401 15th St, NW. Register: Secure.

ArtOfLiving.org/Events.aspx.

Community Yoga Class DC – 7:15-8:15pm. Experience Dahn Yoga, a dynamic mind-body practice originating in Korea that combines stretching, flowing movement, deep breathing exercises and meditation. No previous experience needed. $10/ suggested donation for Dahn Yoga Foundation’s Nicaragua Project. Dahn Yoga DC, 700 14th St, NW. Register: 202-393-2440.

Vipassana Meditation – 7:30-8:30pm. Guided Meditation in the Vipassana or Insight Meditation Tradition with Vicki Goodman. Emphasis will be on the development of concentration to quiet the mind and body. There will be an emphasis on bringing mindfulness and open heartedness to daily life situations. Time will be allowed at the end of the meditation for discussion. Class takes place every other Tuesday. $10 or give what you can. The Yoga Fusion Studio, 4609 Willow Ln, Chevy Chase. Info: TheYogaFusionStudio.com.

Zumba – 8:30-9:30pm. Zumba is an effective, exhilarating, Latin-inspired, easy-to-follow, calorie-burning dance fitness-party that works all major groups in a high-energy cardio blast that leaves the participants invigorated, refreshed and full of life. It achieves the perfect balance of a progressive core workout, full-body cardio and strength training, and a stressrelieving, energy-producing fitness experience. $10.

Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD. Register: JoesMovement.org.

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

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Pilates – 8:30-9:30am. This Pilates mat class is suitable for students who are new to pilates or who have already been introduced to the method.

The first two classes will focus on fundamental concepts in Pilates and each week will build on the last. $10. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD. Register: JoesMovement.org.

Advanced GYROTONIC® Group – 10-11am. See Monday for details. $35/session. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

T’ai-Chi/KiGong – 12-1pm. Experience DahnMuDo, derived from the ancient tradition of Korean healing and martial arts forms. It can be literally translated as “the art of being limitless.” While many DahnMuDo forms can be physically challenging, it is gentle enough to be practiced by anyone of any age. $20. Dahn Yoga DC, 700 14th St, NW. Register: 202-393-2440.

T’ai-Chi/KiGong – 6-7:15pm. See previous listing for details. $20. Dahn Yoga DC, 700 14th St, NW. Register: 202-393-2440.

Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. See Monday for details. $10.

Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD. Register: JoesMovement.org..

Wednesdays with Tara Brach – 7:30-9pm. Class includes 30-min of Vipassana meditation instruction and guided meditation followed by an hour-long Dharma talk. A large gathering of approximately 250300 people. Beginners through advanced students welcome. There is no registration, but dana (donation) of about $10-$15 is suggested to help cover expenses and is gratefully received. River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Rd (corner of Whittier Blvd & River Rd), Bethesda, MD. For more info: Imcw.com.

Blessing Circle – 9:15-9:45pm. 2nd Wed. The Insight Meditation Community of Washington offers the Blessing Circle to comfort and support those experiencing loss, grief, illness or any of the “10,000 sorrows” of this life. We gather after the Wed class with Tara Brach for a 30-min service of sharing, mindful and supportive listening and metta practice.

Together we offer blessings to all in need as we take refuge together in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Rd (enter from Whittier Blvd), Bethesda. Info: Imcw.org.

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

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

FreshFarm Market at Penn Quarter – 3-7pm.

Delicious locally grown fruits, veggies, cut flowers, plants, handmade soaps, meats, cheeses, eggs and more are available every week. Market is open rain, snow or shine. This year introducing a Match-

ing Dollars program to this market and will give $15 free Matching Dollars to low-income shoppers using their SNAP, WIC or SFMNP coupons. North end of 8th St NW, between D & E sts NW. Info: 202-362-8889.

Chakra Healing Class – 6-7:15pm. Activate your seven chakras with moving meditation (Brain Wave Vibration) and deep, energy meditation to restore a flow of natural healing energy. $10. Dahn Yoga DC, 700 14th St, NW. Register: 202-393-2440.

Energy Yoga – 5:45-6:45pm. Classes use meridian stretching and tapping to open the energy flow, breathing postures to circulate and accumulate energy, and energy meditation to deepen your inner connections. $20. Dahn Yoga DC, 700 14th St, NW. Register: 202-393-2440.

Community Yoga Class – 6-7pm. Community classes are mixed level, one-hour asana classes taught by a rotating selection of Unity Woods teachers. They are offered by different teachers every Friday of the session. $5/class. Unity Woods Yoga Center. 4853 Cordell Ave, Ste PH9, Bethesda. Info: UnityWoods.com.

Sister Circle – 6:45-8:15pm. 3rd Thurs. Women are invited to come together and share about their journey for personal growth and emotional wellness. Group led by Dr. Theresa Ford, a skilled and sensitive psychotherapist and director of Creative Counseling and Coaching Services, providing specialized services to women. Support groups, therapy groups and individual therapy also available. $20. Meets at Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St, NW, near the Takoma Metro. Info or RSVP: 240-354-3854.

I Meditate DC: Introduction to the Art of Living – 7-8pm. See Tuesday for details. The Art of Living Foundation, 2401 15th St, NW. Register: Secure.

ArtofLiving.org/Events.aspx.

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 to stress, medical and psychological conditions, and promote healthy living. Note: no classes on 1/2 and 1/9. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, (Ste 200), NW. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Zumba – 8:30-9:30pm. See Tuesday for details. $10. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD. Register: JoesMovement.org.

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

Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Open Level GYROTONIC® Group – 10-11am.

See Sunday for details. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

Yoga and Aging – 10-11:30am. Each class will address a different topic pertinent to our bodies and minds as we age. All are welcome. $20/class in advance or $22/class at the door. Unity Woods Yoga Center, 4853 Cordell Ave, Ste PH7, Bethesda, MD. Register: UnityWoods.com.

Yoga for People Living With Cancer & Their Caregivers – 2-3pm. A relaxing hour of yoga taught by yoga therapist Yael Flusberg. The class combines breathwork, gentle movement and guided visualization. GW University Hospital, 900 23rd St NW, DC. RSVP: Jennifer Bires, 202-741-2218 or JBires@Mfa.Gwu.edu.

Yoga for Teens – 4:15-5:15pm. Starting Jan 17. A special space for teens to explore asana, meditation, breathwork, and relaxation. The full spectrum of Yoga is used to help teens build a healthy attitude. $200. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Register: LilOmm.com.

Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. See Monday for details. $10. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd, Mount Rainier, MD. Register: JoesMovement.org.

Biodanza – 6:45- 8:15pm. Join us every Friday for expressive dance that fuses movement, music and heartfelt emotion that will help you tap into your joy. Two “left feet” welcome.

No age limits. Near Dupont in DC. Biodanza East Coast, 1611 16th Street, DC. Register: LifeDance.me.

saturday Community Yoga Class DC – 10-11am. See Tuesday for details. $10/suggested donation for Dahn Yoga Foundation’s Nicaragua Project. Dahn Yoga DC, 700 14th St, NW. Register: 202-393-2440.

Open Level GYROTONIC® Group – 10am. See Sunday for details. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com..

Gyrokinesis Group Class – 11am-12pm. Group class starting on stools, moving to the floor and finishing with a standing series. $15-$18. Elements Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave NW, DC. FrontDesk@ElementsCenter.com.

Open Level GYROTONIC® Group – 11:15am12:15pm. See Sunday for details. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com.

Adoption Event – 12-3pm. Rural Dog Rescue holds its weekly adoption event every Saturday at Howl to the Chief. Fosters & Volunteers Needed.

Howl to the Chief, 733 8th Street, SE. Info: RuralDogRescue.com.

I Meditate DC: Introduction to the Art of Living – 4-5pm. See Tuesday for details. The Art of Living Foundation, 2401 15th St, NW. Register: Secure.

ArtofLiving.org/Events.aspx.

Let our New Year’s

resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word. ~Goran Persson

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communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare 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 CITY ACUPUNCTURE CIRCLE

1221 Connecticut Ave, Ste 5B, NW, DC 202-300-8428 CityAcupunctureCircle.com Safe, affordable acupuncture care. Pay what you can, $20-$50 per treatment. Join the Community Acupuncture movement.

We provide acupuncture and Intuitive Reiki services. Our mission is to heal our patients, ourselves, each other and our communities.

OURSPACE ACUPUNCTURE 809 Easley St, Silver Spring, MD 301-388-8085 OurSpaceAcupuncture.org

Natural, affordable, safe, holistic health care in a comfortable community setting. We ask for $15-$40 per session.

Schedule your appointment online today.

2841 Hartland Rd, Ste 207, Falls Church 703-667-0465 WellnessWithNature.com

Offering traditional ayurvedic bodywork and energy work for health and balance. Urban pancha karma, health counseling and other techniques to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

CATERING SUNNYSIDE GOURMET TonyaVirgan@gmail.com 301-585-6484

Catering and packaged foods using sustainable, organic, locally sourced ingredients. No processed ingredients. Specializing in international fusion dishes, paellas and tagines.

Accommodate all dietary needs. See ad, page 23.

CONSULTING

HELICON WORKS

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 17.

COUNSELING CREATIVE COUNSELING AND COACHING SERVICES, LLC

Individual and Group Therapy & Life Coaching 240-354-3854 CreativeCounselingAndCoaching.com

7108 Holly Ave, Takoma Park 301-404-5578 HeliconWorks.com Ecologically sensitive architecture and building practices, responding to people and place.

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NATALIE X. KORYTNYK, PHD

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

TEAM BUILDING ASSOCIATES TeamBuilder@msn.com 703-241-2421 TeamBuildingAssociates.com

Conducting organizational and family constellations to improve relationships and resolve obstacles to personal and professional success. See ad, page 37.

GRACE PRODUCTIONS

3808 34th St, Mt. Rainier, MD 301-864-1975 Revive-Acupuncture.com

ARCHITECT

Evaluation, treatment, counseling, and education for all sexual health concerns. See ad, page 2.

APURVA AYURVEDA HEALING CENTER

REVIVE COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE

$15-$35 acupuncture. Open Tuesday/Thursday, 2-7pm, Wednesday/Friday/Saturday, 10am-2pm. Convenient to Brookland, Chillum, H St, the Hill, Hyattsville, Cheverly. Free parking. Walk-ins welcome.

Couples Therapy GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055, 202-300-4981 Gwcim.com • SexMatters2Me@gmail.com

AYURVEDA

IX CHEL WELLNESS

202-630-2435 • Adam@IxChelWellness.com IxChelWellness.com

MARY KENDELL, MS, NP

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Offers high quality, culturally competent and gender-sensitive therapy and life coaching for adults that promotes physical, psychological and spiritual well-being.

DENTIST LYNN D. LOCKLEAR, DDS, LVIF 437 Cedar Street, NW, DC 202-829-7600

Dr. Lynn Locklear has helped many patients to get their “bite back” non-surgically after a diagnosis of TMJ Dysfunction. An International Associate of Dentists, Top in Washinton, D.C. in 2012. See ad, page 50.

ENERGY HEALING HEALING GATEWAY 877- 534-5534 HealingGateway.com

Sherry Lynn Dmytrewycz invites you to enter into a healthier, unlimited life with an energy clearing for you, your space or your animals. Handson or distance sessions. See ad, page 23.

EDUCATION WASHINGTON WALDORF SCHOOL 4800 Sangamore Rd, Bethesda 301-229-6107 WashingtonWaldorf.org

Washington Waldorf encourages the connections that broaden students’ experience and help them grow in new directions.

Their teachers incorporate academic, artistic, and practical elements into every subject, creating memorable lessons— and highly successful scholars—along the way. See ad, page 29.

FITNESS FLEXAWARE®

202-557-8384 Steve@FlexAware.com

Back Pain? Breathing Problems? FlexAware is remarkably effective for all ages, all health conditions.

Applied neuroscience, based on the way young children move naturally.

ELEMENTS FITNESS AND WELLNESS CENTER

2233 Wisconsin, Ste 217, DC 20007 202-333-5252 • ElementsCenter.com Offering Pilates, GYROTONIC® Exercise, physical therapy, massage and more for clients of all ages. Experience the joy of moving and breathing freely at Elements Center. See ad, page 8.

HEALTHY PETS THE BIG BAD WOOF

5501 Baltimore Ave, Hyattsville, MD 117 Carroll St NW, Old Takoma, DC 301-403-8957 • TheBigBadWoof.com The Big Bad Woof is a community resource for companion animals and their guardians. We are committed to providing nutritious foods for companion animals whether they are dogs, cats, small mammals, birds or fish. We provide access to organic, holistic and premium raw diets and a wide range of alternatives including holistic supplements for companion animals.

See ad, page 40.

HOWL TO THE CHIEF

733 8th St SE, DC 202-544-8710 • HowlToTheChief.com We carry a large assortment of natural, holistic, raw and organic diets for dogs, cats and small animals. Grooming and selfserve dog wash service too! See ad, page 32.

PAWS OF ENCHANTMENT

HYDROTHERAPY

3415 Perry St, Mount Rainier 301-209-0411 PawsOfEnchantment.com

VITALITY CLEANSING

The original holistic pet spa in the Metro DC area.

Rated ‘Best’ by Washingtonian Magazine. Let your pet be enchanted!

See ad, page 11.

HERBS GREEN COMFORT HERBAL APOTHECARY & SCHOOL OF HERBAL MEDICINE

571-331-1497 Inquiry@VitalityCleansing.com We offer an elegant and contemporary space using the natural element of water to gently wash debris from the colon. Our gravity-open system provides the connection between water and cleanliness that forms the basis for rejuvenation and vitality. See ad, page 28.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

540-937-4283 Green.Comfort@gmail.com

ANGELA GABRIEL, MSOM, LAC, CH

Green Comfort offers a variety of educational opportunities for herbal studies, offering clinical training, integrated medicine and holistic nutrition.

Apothecary and garden apprenticeships are available to returning students.

Green Comfort Herbal Apothecary Clinic is available by appointment to anyone wishing to discuss their health concerns and a holistic healing regimen.

HOME ENVIRONMENT MIKHAIL SOGONOV, PH.D.

InSitu EcoTesting LLC GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • Sogonov@InSitu-ET.com Consulting company inspecting indoor environment for biological agents negatively affecting human health. Mainly focused on mold, also includes sewage contamination and pet and pest allergens.

See ad, page 2.

GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055, 202-300-4981 Gwcim.com

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

See ad, page 2.

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

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

INDIGO INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CLINIC

HOME IMPROVEMENT

AMICUS GREEN BUILDING CENTER 301-571-8590 AMICUSGreen.com

A home improvement store full of materials that maximize health, eco-friendliness, water and energy savings, with expertise to make any project greener and smoother.

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 5.

MIKHAIL KOGAN, MD

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

HOME ORGANIZATION JUST THAT SIMPLE Just-That-Simple.net

Home and office organizig and move preparation services with a personalized, nonjudgmental approach, JTS helps tame “all clutter in all rooms.” You can find, use and put away things in relaxing, productive spaces.

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

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January 2014

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RESTORATIVE HEALTH

MASSAGE

4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW 202-255-6661 RestorativeHealth.org

AT EASE: TRAGER AND MASSAGE

Restorative Health is a patient-focused integrative medical practice dedicated to helping people achieve optimal health. Using a variety of healing therapies, the doctors at Restorative Health work with you in identifying the causes of illness and in shaping personalized, unique therapies to eliminate them.

See ad, page 3.

VIP IMED

3022 Javier Rd, Ste 217, Fairfax 703-207-4646 VIPiMED.com VIP iMed features individualized Integrative Medical and Wellness Programs: transforming your life and addressing your individual needs, with a proven record of treating most medical conditions and getting results.

LIFE COACH LIFE DANCE COACHING

410-736-9311 LifeDanceMe@gmail.com • LifeDance.me Michelle Dubreuil Macek offers a wholehearted, mindful life coaching approach to guide you towards breaking down limiting thoughts and creating space for joy, love and peace in your life. See ad, page 11.

MINDFULNESS COACHING FOR LIFE! 703-203-9202 Robyn@RobynPovich.com RobynPovich.com

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

5028 Wisconsin Ave, NW PMTI.org

Whether you are looking for a new career, interested in continuing your education to expand your knowledge as a massage therapist, or drawn to take an introductory class on massage and bodywork for yourself, family and friends - come join the circle at PMTI. Classes and workshops available, as well as massages. See ad, page 32.

MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE POWER SUPPLY DC MyPowerSupply.com

Power Supply provides fresh, tasty, all-natural and nutritious meal plans. Just order online, pickup at one of our 46+ DC/MD/VA locations, heat and enjoy. We offer Pure Paleo, Mixatarian (Paleo-Inspired) and Vegetarian choices made with local and organic when possible. No gluten or dairy. Order one-time or on a recurring basis

HUGH BYRNE, PHD Hugh-Byrne.com

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

ALOE WELLNESS

5840 MacArthur Blvd NW, Ste 2, DC 202-966-2563 • AloeWellnessDC.com Our Naturopathic physicians, acupuncturist, massage therapist, reiki practitioner, and life coach provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to achieving optimal health and wellness.

CENTER FOR NATURAL HEALING

4601 Connecticut Ave, NW, Ste 6, DC 20008 202-244-4545 • CenterForNaturalHealing.biz

Dr. Sullivan is a Naturopathic/Homeopathic physician, specializing in homeopathic and botanical medicine, clinical nutrition and diets for blood types. She treats people, not just conditions.

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NUTRITION GOûTER

240-330-3674 Facebook.com/HeyGouter Handcrafting raw, vegan and organic treats, tonics and cleanses in Washington DC. Making a raw vegan lifestyle more approachable, fun and simple through our products and services; consume less, become aware and live sustainably.

KRISTA NOELLE

302-897-2407 Krista@KristaNoelle.com • KristaNoelle.com Krista combines her knowledge of physiology, medicinal herbs, foodas-medicine and the mind/body connection to evoke positive and lasting change with each individual client. She currently sees clients in the Baltimore and Washington area.

RAW LIVING D-LIGHT

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

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

YES! ORGANIC MARKET

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS

Create positive growth in all areas of life with affordable life coaching—greater work/life balance, career development, stress management, wellness, and stronger leadership skills. See ad, page 25.

Dr. Ledenac is a Naturopathic Physician in family medicine caring for adults and children. She has a special focus in weight management (body composition improvement), nutritional assessments, pediatrics, and women’s health including fertility care. See ad, page 2.

POTOMAC MASSAGE THERAPY INSTITUTE

SEE POTENTIAL LIFE COACHING 202-280-3349 Info@LifePotentialist.com LifePotentialist.com

Adult & Pediatric Naturopathic Medicine GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • Gwcim.com

Deep bodywork that uses rhythmic, wavelike movement to ease pain, joint and muscle tension, and release long-held uncomfortable movement and postural patterns. See ad, page 2.

MEDITATION

Robyn Povich, Certified Professional Coach, Arbinger trained Coach, and Certified Facilitator of The Work™.

She offers private sessions, retreats, workshops and tele-classes. Become more present and empowered in your life. See ad, page 42.

MARIANNA LEDENAC, ND

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

YesOrganicMarket.com

Yes! Organic Market has provided healthful food, supplements and body care products at affordable prices for over 30 years. Visit any of our seven stores in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area. See ad, page 22.

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS HERBAN LIFESTYLE HerbanLifestyle.com

Making the world a happier, healthier, better-smelling place by handcrafting herbal bath and body products using organic, natural and Fair Trade ingredients in earthfriendly packaging. See ad, page 25.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BIODANZA EAST COAST USA 410-736-9311 BiodanzaEastCoast@gmail.com Biodanza-usa.com

Join us for personal development through a fusion of authentic movement, awesome music, and heartfelt emotions. A safe space for you to feel and dance organically all of the untapped potential within you.

See ad, page 11.

REIKI LUANN JACOBS, SLP/RMT

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

DESAI HEALTH AND WELLNESS

DAHN YOGA

202-599-0832 Anura@DesaiHealthAndWellness.com DesaiHealthAndWellness.com

202-393-2440 WashingtonDC@DahnYoga.com DahnYoga.com

Eat healthy. Increase energy.

Reduce stress. No one approach works for everyone. Find out yours. Discover simple ways to making a healthy life easy and possible.

eXTEND YOGA

12106 Wilkins Ave, Rockville 301-881-3330 • extendYoga.com

WELLNESS COACHING ON THE WAY COACHING

Linda@OnTheWayCoaching.com OnTheWayCoaching.com Linda Mastro uses humor, intuition and compassion to coach people who are ready to take a pilgrimage into the heart of life.

LINDA LANG

GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 • TherapeuticYogaDC.com A highly experienced practitioner, certified in the medical, therapeutic arena of Cardiac Yoga. Specializing in chronic conditions and degenerative disease. Therapeutic yoga for special conditions and m e d i t a t i o n a r e o ff e r e d b y appointment with GW Center for Integrative Medicine. See ad, page 2.

THETA HEALING CREATIVE HEALING TRENDS 301-876-3475 CreativeHealingTrends.com

Rebecca Norris is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, offering ThetaHealing, an extraordinary new technique that allows for immediate physical and emotional transformations and healings. See ad, page 4.

MEDITATION BLUE HERON WELLNESS

10723B Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 301-754-3730 • BlueHeronWellness.com Relax, rejuvenate, energize with acupuncture, massage, yoga, skincare and herbal medicine at our center or at your workplace.

extendYoga strives to provide a positive, nurturing environment that challenges individuals to extend themselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We believe in giving back to the community by participating in various charitable causes.

LIL OMM YOGA

4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC 20016 202-248-6304 A friendly, community yoga center welcoming all ages and stages of life. Offering open and honest teaching regarding yoga, wellbeing, family and spirituality.

YOGA THERAPEUTIC YOGA

Dahn Yoga is a dynamic mindbody practice originating in Korea that combines stretching, flowing movement, deep PObreathing exercises and meditation in a simple and easy to learn format that focuses on the development of the body’s core strength as the basis of physical, mental, and spiritual health. See ad, page 5.

ANANDA SHALA YOGA & PILATES STUDIO

34 S. Market St, Frederick, MD 301-682-9642 info@AnandaShala.com AnandaShala.com

Ananda Shala is a full spectrum mind-body center, Shiva Rea Prana Flow® yoga & Power Pilates studio.

BELOVED YOGA

2001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston BelovedYoga.com Beloved Yoga embraces all traditions and paths of yoga and our classes are designed to give you a complete yoga experience.

Our teachers come from different lineages offering you a wellbalanced practice and exposure to this ancient practice. One intention that you will find in all our classes is the philosophy of flow, integrating breath with movement creating a meditative space for the mind, body and spirit.

THE YOGA FUSION STUDIO

4609 Willow Ln, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-656-8937 TheYogaFusionStudio.com Yo g a c l a s s e s , t e a c h e r training, health and wellness seminars, and community wellness offerings. We are your home for a loving and cohesive yoga family. See ad, page 9.

Y’S ELEMENTS

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

BUDDHA B YOGA

1115 U St NW, DC, Ste 202 202-588-5885 • BuddhaBYoga.com Experience a place of refuge and a spiritual center where all are welcome! A Vegan Vinyasa yoga studio and JivaMukti™ Yoga Center Affiliate. Open 7 days a week and offering over 55 classes a week, including 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training. See ad, page 42.

ZERO BALANCING LISA SCHUMACHER

4000 Albemarle St, NW Ste 202 202-244-9588 Lisa@Balancentering.com Helping others find natural ways to gain optimum health through Zero Balancing, Massage, Energy Therapy and Herbal Support. See ad, page 31.

natural awakenings

January 2014

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INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DENTISTS TOP IN WASHINGTON, DC 2012

call today for an appointment 202-829-7600 ~ 437 Cedar Street, NW ~ Washington, DC 20012 Lynn Locklear, DDS, LVIF

For centuries, even before there was “medicine�, people have used essential oils for their medicinal and therapeutic qualities. Join us for a FREE webinar on December 27 at 7pm EST to learn how to use these oils for preventative and restorative health care. Contact me at mydoterra.com/purehealing for registration details or watch previously recorded classes.

Natural Awakenings SPECIAL OFFER the first 25 orders receive 148 page Modern Essentials Usage Guide, Free.

Call 435-513-9849

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Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

BuddhaFest Presents

KRISHNA DAS March 26 7:30 pm Early Bird Tickets $35 After Feb. 26 $40 Door $45

A profound evening of soul-stirring music from the Grammy-nominated chant master of American yoga

KD KICKS OFF HIS NEW TOUR IN DC! Featuring Music From His New Album

Theatre of the Arts University of DC 4200 Connecticut Ave NW Washington, DC at Van Ness/UDC Metro

Tickets & Info

BuddhaFest.org Sponsored by Insight Meditation Community of Washington natural awakenings

January 2014

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Degrees with Meaning for Careers with Purpose Master of Science in Health Promotion Enrolling April 2014 Maryland University of Integrative Health is one of the nation’s only accredited graduate schools with an academic and clinical focus on health and wellness. Here, the ability to be self-reflective and cultivate a healing presence is as critical to your academic success as competence in your chosen field.

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

Online, on campus, and weekend options available No GREs required muih.edu 800-735-2968 52

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com