Natural Awakenings DC September 2013 by Natural Awakenings DC

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September 2013 | Washington, D.C. | NaturalAwakeningsDC.com natural awakenings

September 2013

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

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

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

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

this Month’s featured Providers Marianna ledenaC, nd – adult and pediatric naturopathy, Weight loss

Mary Kendell, nP – Women’s health, Sexual Disorders

lisa BreGMan, lMt – Massage, trager therapy

Special oFFer

for NaTUraL aWaKeNiNGS readers

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

CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

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

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

www.gWciM.com 2

Washington, D.C.

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October 17 – 20, 2013 Westfields Marriott • Chantilly, VA

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND HEALTH-SEEKERS REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.TCMCONFERENCE.ORG (Register through the Natural Awakenings affiliate partner code and receive 20 percent off standard registration!)

SPECIAL PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

• •

Buddha Here Now: Healing Means Awakening the Mind and Opening the Heart, Transmuting Energy and Illumining Spirit – “We are all Buddhas in essence; we only have to recognize our true nature.” Lama Surya Das Wu Ming Qigong for Breast Health Training: Participants will learn how to go beyond early detection, strengthen breast health and help prevent breast cancer with these ancient energy movements. TCM Health Consultants: Elaine Katen, Irma Jenne

Featured Presenters Nothing is certain but change! How can we take advantage of the invisible shifts that ripple through our lives and bring us to new shores of being? How can we apply the wisdom gained from transitional experiences to guide ourselves, as well as our patients and clients? The answers are within! Go deep as we discover the true meaning of Oneness from the convergence of spiritual, medical, quantum science and classical Chinese medicine perspectives.

Lama Surya Das

Jim Gordon, MD

Amit Goswami, PhD

Nan Lu, OMD

Awakening Together Beyond East and West

Food as Medicine

The Quantum Physics of Vital Energy and Energy Healing

Medical Qigong: Becoming the Best Energy Practitioner

We are pleased to offer CMEs for medical doctors, psychiatrists, and doctors of osteopathy through the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, NY. This program has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for CME (ACCME) through joint sponsorship with the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (UB) and Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation. The University at Buffalo is accredited by the ACCME to sponsor CME for physicians. The University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences designates this live activity approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.™ Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

34 West 27th Street, Suite 1212, New York, NY 10001 • 212.274.1079 • www.tcmworld.org natural awakenings

September 2013

letterfrompublisher Dear Friends,

contact us Publisher Robin Fillmore Managing Editor Sharon Hadden Contributing Editors Grace Ogden Jessica Bradshaw Design & Production Irene Sankey Business 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 ©2013 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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

Natural Awakenings of Washington, D.C., is a faithful steward of global resources. We are delighted to be part of an environmentally conscious community and therefore manufacture this magazine utilizing the environmentally-friendly cold-set web printing process which emits virtually immeasurable VOC's into the environment. This product is 100% recyclable.

Washington, D.C.

I want to take this opportunity to make a confession—I am an addict. Specifically, I am gym-addicted. For the past 30 years, I have spent at least six hours a week in the gym. It is a good thing to be addicted to—at least in my case. My daily, one-hour gym routine has been a constant in my life to reduce stress, ward off my families’ particular health concerns of heart disease and osteoporosis and simply makes me a better person to be around. My husband and children can attest to that. Another constant in my life, which helps me to maintain my health, balance and sense of humor, is my own spiritual walk. I grew up in the United Methodist Church and started singing in the choir when I was about 3. Today, I still attend weekly services at Metropolitan Memorial UMC and sing in the choir at the early service on most Sundays. I also worked at Sojourners magazine for 10 years—an ecumenical Christian magazine that is one of the nation’s leading voices for social justice. My spiritual walk is just as important to me as my daily gym workout. For me, and I hope for you, this month’s feature, “Whole-Being Workouts,” brings to light a new dimension for those of us who look both to the gym (or the track or the yoga studio) and the place of sacred healing to find even greater wholeness. There has been extensive research by Philadelphia-based research neuroscientist and physician Andrew Newberg in the field of integrative “neurotheology”. Newburg uses brain-imaging technologies to study the impact religious or spiritual practices, such as deep meditation, have on an individual. He found that like exercise, amazing thoughts can emerge while engaging in these activities. Both can take the participants “into the zone” of complete surrender and utter bliss. For those who look forward to the meeting of the region’s conscious consumers, the Green Festival is back in the District of Columbia again this fall, and Natural Awakenings is a proud media sponsor. I am sure many of you have attended the biggest meeting of green consumers in the D.C. metro area in the past and hope that you will consider coming down to the Convention Center on September 21 or 22. Stop by our booth and introduce yourself to me and other members of the team—David, Sharon, Terri and Scott. We love to meet our readers! I hope you enjoy the feature on “Whole-Being Workouts” and the other amazing articles this month. As always, it is my pleasure to bring this resource to you. With warm wishes –

Robin Fillmore, Publisher

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

contents 12

6 newsbriefs 11 eventspotlight

12 healthbriefs 13 globalbriefs

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.

14 RED, HOT AND HOLY

The Enduring Soul Quest of Women

13 13 ecotip 14 wisewords 16 MIND-BODY AND BEYOND 18 leadingedge The Whole-Person Paradigm 26 healingways 19 ...From ARCHETYPES 28 naturalpet An Excerpt 28 32 consciouseating 20 WHOLE-BEING 36 calendar WORKOUTS Moving the Body 40 resourceguide Opens the Door to Spirit by Grace Ogden

by Steven Shafarman

by Caroline Myss

by Lisa Marshall

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

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24 TRAUMA-SENSITIVE YOGA Finding Relief in the City by Linda Lang

26 GREEN JOURNEY

INTO HERBALISM Finding Medicine in Your Backyard by Teresa Boardwine

30 BUILDING BRIDGES EAST AND WEST

An Interview with Dr. Nan Lu by Robin Fillmore

32 SUGAR MONSTER How Sweet It Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t by Kathleen Barnes

34 DELIVERED WITH LOVE

The Power of Sound and Silence by Mamaniji Azanyah natural awakenings

September 2013

newsbriefs

Open House for Elements and Deva Premal & Miten Bring MatraFest to D.C. Inspired Choices Premal & Miten will be in Glover Park Deva in D.C. on September 24 to bring the sacred spirit of India’s ancient mantras to audiences at the University of DC Theater of the Arts. The NW D.C. concert is part of the MantraFest 2013 Tour, the duo’s 25-city North American tour, featuring special guests Manose, Maneesh de Moor and The GuruGanesha Band. The couple fell in love playing meditation music together at an Indian ashram and have been sharing their love of that music with eclectic audiences across the globe ever since. For Premal, who was raised in the mystical traditions of the East, the spaces between the sounds are just as important as the music itself. “Music is nourishment, but then you have to give yourself time to take it in so you can reap its benefits,” she observes. Manose, a bamboo flute virtuoso from Nepal, is also featured on the couple’s latest release, A Deeper Light. “If ever we were to doubt that we are supported by the divine, we just have to turn around and look to see who is with us,” says Miten. “Manrose is a gift from God. Just wait until you hear it all.” Location: University of DC Theater of the Arts, 4200 Connecticut Ave. and Windom Place, NW DC. For tickets, starting at $30, visit BrightStarEvents.net. Listen to samples at DevaPremalMiten.com. See ad, page 31.

Share a Lyft with New Ride Service in D.C.

or car-free city dwellers, it is good to have at least one car-owning friend who can give you a ride when public transit just won’t do. That new friend in town is Lyft, a quirky, fun-spirited taxi service now serving Washington, D.C. The service started in San Francisco in May 2012 and has since expanded to eight U.S. cities. Lyft incorporates an attitude of fun, friendliness and affordability in its techsavvy brand. The vehicles bear fuchsia pink mustaches on the front grill for a touch of whimsy, and the fares are an average of 20 percent cheaper than regular taxis. No money changes hands between drivers and passengers. Instead, passengers reserve and pay for Lyft trips using a phone app. CEO John Zimmer says, “Lyft is all about creating a transportation model that is affordable, social, sustainable and more connected.” Lyft passengers are encouraged to ride in the front seat with the driver, who typically greets them with a friendly fist-bump instead of just an ordinary hello. Although Lyft is less formal than some taxi services, the company upholds high industry safety standards. All Lyft drivers undergo a strict screening process, including background checks for criminal and driving offenses. For more information, visit Lyft.me. 6

Washington, D.C.

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ustine Bernard-Edwards, founder of Elements Fitness and Wellness Center, and Liz Goll Lerner, founder of Inspired Choices (IC) will celebrate their new and renovated spaces in Glover Park with a wellness open house, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m on Friday, September 27. Experience Pilates and Gyrotonic

exercise, massage, Reiki, Feldenkrais and other healing and body work methods Elements has to offer, or view and purchase artwork by Lerner. Watch local dancers work, meet others interested in wellness, enjoy snacks and beverages and a raffle for a free Pilates and massage certificate and 10 percent off IC accelerated breakthrough coaching. For more information, call 202-3335252 or visit ElementsCenter.com. See ad page 29.

News to share? Email details to: Robin@ NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Submittal deadline is the 10th of the month.

DC Entrepreneurs Shake Up Prepared Meals Options

ower Supply, provider of chef-driven, prepared, paleo meals, recently announced that it has joined forces with Mindful Chef, which delivers paleo-inspired and vegetarian meals to yoga and specialized fitness communities. Under the Power Supply brand, the company will serve a variety of active lifestyle consumers, including those at CrossFit gyms, yoga studios, multi-program gyms and other intentional fitness communities, where members are looking for tasty, convenient, healthy and nutritious meal options to fuel their active lifestyles. Power Supply and Mindful Chef currently deliver to 46 locations in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Customers do not have to be members of a specific location in order to pick-up there. “The prepared meals world hasn’t really reached beyond its diet- and weight-loss-centric roots,” says Patrick Smith, Power Supply founder and active D.C. entrepreneur. “With this step, we’re putting together a unique mix of technology expertise, food service knowhow from fast-moving areas like the food truck world, culinary expertise and understanding of new eating approaches like paleo. The result will be a more engaging, intuitive and tasty eating experience for active folks— from ordering to enjoying their food each week.” Since 2010, Power Supply has created and delivered more than 250,000 meals to active and time-starved professionals in the Capital region. Mindful Chef founders, Jeff Kelley and Joshua Kriger, followed a similar path in starting Mindful Chef. After teaming up in the food truck world where Kelley founded the popular Eat Wonky, the two turned to prepared meals with a focus on clean eating for conscious consumers, including soon-to-be and new mothers, vegans and people with gluten and dairy intolerance. The combined meal offers will debut in the fall and feature continued emphasis on responsible, local ingredient sourcing, as well as support for local causes through the Power Supply Giveback program. The program donates 1 percent of all company proceeds to local nonprofits, including the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture and Microgreens. For more information, visit DC.MyPowerSupply.com. See ad, page 24.

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

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September 2013

newsbriefs The Center for Mindful Living—A Sanctuary in the City

FlexAware® Teacher Education Program

or people of all ages and all health conditions, FlexAware®, a new approach to healing, fitness and exercise, based on current neuroscience and insights into the way young children learn he Center for Mindful Living, is and move, is available. The next FlexAware® teacher education program begins a sanctuary in the city, offering September 20 to 22 and runs for four weekends with 100 hours total instruction. regular meditation classes, special The focus of FlexAware® is on learning to move easily and efficiently in class series and gatherings related to everyday activities. This may benefit those that have back pain, breathing probthe practice of Buddhism, mindfullems, pain in knees, hips, shoulders, and so on, or anxiety, depression and such. ness and conscious living. As young children learn to walk, they outgrow crawling and leave it behind. That’s the idea behind FlexAware®. We outgrow pain and outgrow problems. FlexAware® provides ways to strengthen weak muscles and relax tight ones at the same time for people seeking greater fitness and exercise. When muscles everywhere work harmoniously, we are strong, supple and flexible, with greater stamina—like healthy young children. FlexAware® teacher education program is carefully designed to ensure that graduates are competent, confident and ready to teach. Participants receive a comprehensive teacher’s manual that describes the FlexAware® movements and exercises in detail, with specific advice about how to practice and teach each of them effectively.

The FlexAware® teacher education program will be offered at a location in Dupont Circle. Information about dates and tuition are available at FlexAware.com/ become-a-teacher. See ad, page 22. Many classes are offered on a dropin, donation basis, including daily meditation from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m., Monday through Friday and a weekly class from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Sundays, with senior meditation teacher Hugh Byrne, providing an oasis in a busy week. Monthly gatherings include the DC Contemplative Lawyers Group, the Mood, Attachment & Anxiety Disorders Dharma Sangha Group (MAAD) and a Singles Sangha, an opportunity for connection and shared experience. The center also features a variety of healing practitioners. Services currently offered include private meditation instruction, psychotherapy, acupuncture, acupressure, craniosacral therapy, Reiki, medical massage and Kundalini yoga. Space is available for rent for allied healing professionals and special events. The Center for Mindful Living is a facility of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington (IMCW), a vibrant community offering classes throughout the metro D.C., MD and VA region. To learn more, visit imcw.org or Living-Mindfully.org. 8

Washington, D.C.

Energy Efficiency Training Center Grand Opening

lysian Energy opened a new building efficiency training center in Silver Spring last July. The row-house facility is one of only five Building Performance Institute (BPI) Testing Centers in Maryland. Elysian Energy plans to train over 150 professionals per year in preparation for BPI Building Analyst and BPI Envelope Professional certifications. The training center is also available for use by local green businesses for meetings and presentations. “Our objective is to contribute to improved energy efficiency practices through highquality training, which will ultimately support sustainable development and energy-efficiency in the Mid-Atlantic region. There is a real need for better, real-world experience in building science and efficiency training. Unfortunately, there aren’t many resources in Maryland that address training needs. With our new training center we hope to improve the quality and professionalism of building scientists in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas,” says Jim Conlon, owner of Elysian Energy. The new facility doubles as a classroom and as a real-world testing house, so that students can use the equipment they learn about during training. “We think there’s tremendous benefit in being able to use the equipment during class, seeing the theory and the real-world practice side-by-side,” says Ruth Ann Scoles, training coordinator at Elysian Energy. Elysian Energy is an energy efficiency firm, serving D.C., Baltimore and surrounding counties, helping homeowners lower their energy bills and carbon footprint. For more information, visit ElysianEnergy.com.

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The Loving Kindness Tour of Sacred Buddhist Relics

eople in the Washington, D.C., area will have the rare opportunity to experience an exhibit of sacred relics from Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, and other Buddhist masters from India, Tibet, Korea and China. The Loving Kindness Tour will present the relics for public viewing from October 4 to 6, at the Church of the Holy City, in the Dupont Circle area. Called ringsel in Tibetan, the relics resemble pearl-like crystals and other gemstones and strands of precious metals. Traditionally, when Buddhist masters pass away, their cremation ashes are searched in the hope of finding these precious relics. The relics are said to embody the master’s spiritual qualities of compassion and wisdom and to be deliberately produced by him to inspire and bless. Eight of the relics are from the historical Buddha and were offered to the tour by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who rescued them from Tibet in 1959, after the occupation by China. The tour also features relics from over 40 other masters. Hosted by Allies in Compassion and BuddhaFest, the exhibition will be augmented by a Celebration of Loving Kindness, featuring films, talks, meditation and music throughout the weekend. All events are offered free of charge and are intended for people from all walks of life, cultures and faiths. Those who have viewed the relics often report being moved by the energy that fills the space. Nearly everyone reports some kind of change or shift, such as a release of physical or emotional pain or the experience of a profound sense of peace. Visitors can receive blessings from the relics, and people are encouraged to bring children and pets. To learn about the relics, visit MaitreyaRelicTour.com. For more information on the Loving Kindness Celebration featuring films, talks, meditation and music, visit BuddhaFest.org. See ad, page 17.

Lifestyle Medicine is Here Today

estorative Health, an integrative medical center which has been a feature in Tenleytown for 8 years. is pleased to announce that it has expanded and now offers a series of healthy living classes for the community. “We’re health detectives,” says Dr. Ali Safayan, of himself, Karen Threlkel, ND, and Melissa Windsor, DC, a nutrition and lifestyle coach. Safayan continues, “We work with our patients to find the root causes of health imbalances and recommend helpful therapies from among the many we offer to promote healing. At the basis of health for our patients, and ourselves, is a healthy lifestyle. We’re offering classes for patients and our community to help support making key changes that lead to health and vitality.” Classes include informative presentations on therapies such as acupuncture, detoxification and coping with pain. Fitness Fridays, with Ben King, mindful fitness trainer and Olivier Pelletier, orthopedic massage therapist, will cover topics such as range of motion, posture and alignment and improving core strength. Monthly cooking classes are offered to fill your weekly menus with easy, healthy options, and just for fun, movie nights feature healthy documentaries to stimulate and inspire.

RETHINKING CANCER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Natural Awakenings invites you to this free event to explore alternative ways to “rethink cancer” with experts: -Herb Simmens, certified life & wellness coach -Lorraine Washington, RN & holistic health counselor -Krista Noelle, clinical herbalist & nutritionist Explore nutrition, herbal treatments & alternative therapies for persons dealing with cancer as a patient, caregiver, or concerned person. Participants will have the opportunity to network and speak directly with our experts.

District Wellness 1608 20th St, NW, D.C. Register:

RethinkingCancer.EventBrite.com

Classes are free or reasonably priced. Drop-in classes are available. For more information, call 202-244-6661 or visit RestorativeHealth.org. See ad page 43. natural awakenings

September 2013

newsbriefs Find the Beauty in All-Natural Products

oday’s beauty and health industries are overrun with product lines that claim to be all-natural, healthy or chemical free. A quick glance at the long list of ingredients these products carry can easily discredit there claims. Andrew J. Suggs, CEO and president of Astronowyl, a family-owned and-operated skin and hair treatment product line, believes everyone can experience the benefit of all-natural ingredient products with a few simple and easy steps. Common non-natural ingredients found in leading brands include parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, artificial colors and fragrances and propylene gylcol. Consumers should look for these ingredients first to determine whether their product of choice is all-natural or not. Other ingredients to avoid are salicylic acid, 1,4-DIOXANE, synthetic colors, BHA and BHT, Isopropanol/Isopropyl Alcohol and FD&C Yellow Aluminum Lake. Astronowyl understands that quality comes first. Before making your next cosmetic purchase, do your research and always choose products that will be gentle on your body, producing the most beautiful of results. Founded in 1970, Astronowyl seeks to change the health world through its allnatural potent products, which contain no additives and no artificial byproducts. For more information, call 708-669-9563 or visit Astronowyl.com.

Restore your Health and Nourish your Body with Alkaline Foods

Join our ongoing Detox Program designed to help you take back control of your health. I: Introduction to amazing plantbased foods • wheatgrass juice • microgreens & sprouts II: Growing your own sprouts • invest just seconds a day • learn how to prepare delicious and healthy meals at a lower cost than ever before

Health Educator Certified by the Hippocrates Health Institute, Luzy Perez provides healing support through classes and private consultations to those facing mild, severe or chronic health challenges and all who want to improve their diets and lifestyle.

Call today to schedule your class, workshop or private consultation! 571.471.2891

www.rawlivingdlight.com 10

Washington, D.C.

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eventspotlight

The Ninth Annual Green Festival Returns to the Nation’s Capital “As Americans are demanding more government accountability on issues like GMOs used in food and fossil fuels regulation, the Green Festival attracts national leaders to discuss the important issue of our time.”

~ Denise Hamler

he premier name in sustainability events will take place at the Washington Convention Center’s Hall A, features national and local speakers, workshops, kids activities and green shopping The ninth annual Green Festival returns to the nation’s capital September 21 and 22, 2013. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center will host eco-innovators and entrepreneurs, expert speakers, influential community leaders and activists, nonprofits and green businesses addressing environmental and social justice issues. It is the largest marketplace of eco-friendly, organic and Fair Trade businesses with products and services for home, school and work. The event is a project of two nationally recognized not-for-profits, Green America and Global Exchange. Two days of activities, workshops and special presentations combine to educate the public on healthy lifestyle choices, including The Green Kids Zone, where youngsters can enjoy recycled crafts and educational exhibits, culinary workshops featuring delicious vegetarian cuisine, a robust schedule of yoga classes, an organic food court and beer and wine garden. Keynote speakers include Amy Goodman, Ralph Nader, author John Perkins, Wenonah Hauter (author of Foodopoly) and other environmental leaders, as well as nationally prominent experts on healthy lifestyle and social justice issues. Workshops and live demonstrations

include exhibitor products in action, the eco-fashion reveal, DIY home and gardening workshops, live music, and more. Washington Post Food Editor Joe Yonan (also author of the bestselling book Eat Your Vegetables) is among the headliners in the increasingly popular food and cooking portion of the program, which centers around a full slate of programming on the Good Food Stage. “Given the close proximity to the nation’s capital, the Washington DC Green Festival is the perfect venue to profile the strength and virtues of a sustainable economy in action,” says Green America Director Denise Hamler. “As Americans are demanding more government accountability on issues like GMOs used in food and fossil fuels regulation, the Green Festival attracts national leaders to discuss the important issue of our time.” Hamler and her team will be leading workshops on GMOs and economics, the latter centered on a study they completed and released last June (TheBigGreenOpportunity.org). FORD Motor Company and Green Festivals have partnered again to fund a $5,000 Community Green Grant at the Washington DC Green Festival. Finalists will be published online and attendees can to vote for their favorite nonprofit project in the week leading up to the festival at the FORD Community Green Grants Booth during show hours. The 2013 DC Green Festival will be

held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place N.W. Hall A, Washington, DC 20001. Doors open Saturday, September 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, September 22, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for a one-day pass and $20 for a full weekend pass when purchased online at GreenFestivals.org, or $15 and $25 at the door. (All tickets provide access to exhibit floor, all workshops/yoga classes, speakers and films.) Free admission for anyone who rides a bike to the event and parks with the Clif Bar bike valet, youth under eighteen, union members, volunteers and Green America and Global Exchange members. For more information, visit GreenFestivals. org. To exhibit, call: 828-333-9403 x 300. Green America (GreenAmerica.org) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today’s social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility. Global Exchange (GlobalExchange.org) is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Since its founding in 1988, Global Exchange has successfully increased public awareness of root causes of injustice while building international partnerships and mobilizing for change. See ad, page 25.

natural awakenings

September 2013

healthbriefs

Jog or Walk to Live Longer

slow jog around the block a few times a week can prolong life. The Copenhagen City Heart Study monitored 1,878 joggers for 30 years and found that 44 percent of these subjects are less likely to prematurely die from any cause than non-runners. Males and females that continued to jog regularly added 6.2 years and 5.6 years, respectively, to their average lifespans. It only takes 1.5 hours of slow-to-average-pace jogging a week to reap the longevity benefits. Walking is also beneficial; the National Institutes of Health says it can add up to 4.5 years to the average life expectancy. Seventy-five minutes of brisk walking a week can add 1.8 years to life expectancy after age 40, according to study results cited in PLOS Medicine.

School Lunches Minus the Meat

s the first school in the nation to go completely meatless, 400 students at New York City’s P.S. 244, the Active Learning Elementary School, are treated to eclectic fare that includes black bean and cheese quesadillas, falafels, and tofu in an Asian sesame sauce. “We’ve had a really great response from the kids, but they also understand it’s about healthy options,” says Principal Bob Groff. “Because we teach them to make healthy choices, they understand what is happening and believe in what we’re doing, too.” When the school opened in 2008, the cafeteria served vegetarian meals three days a week. “We started to try out recipes with small groups of students to see what they liked and didn’t like. It was a hit,” says Groff. All meals adhere to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, so students get plenty of nutrient- and protein-dense vegetables. Students are also welcome to pack their own lunches, including meat.

Yoga Relieves Back Pain

ould a simple yoga class ease chronic back pain? Yes, say researchers in two recent studies. Scientists at the University of Washington found that subjects reported a 61 percent decrease in back pain when practicing yoga in a 12-week period compared with doing simple stretching. The researchers attributed their findings, published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, to yoga’s physical and breathing exercises and how they increase awareness and relaxation. Another project, funded by Arthritis Research UK, showed that Britons with long-term back pain that took a 12-week yoga course reported 75 percent fewer sick days.

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Weightlifting Lowers Heart Disease and Diabetes Risks

ewer than 10 percent of Americans regularly lift weights, but perhaps more of us should, according to a study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Scientists at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville, found that weightlifters had a 37 percent reduced risk of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors linked to heart disease and diabetes. Previous research has linked having greater muscle strength and mass (results of weightlifting) to lower rates of metabolic syndrome. People with three out of five risk factors—a large waist (more than 40 inches for men, more than 35 inches for women), high triglycerides and low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar—may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The researchers also analyzed data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which showed that young men were most likely to do regular weightlifting, while women, older people and Latinos were least likely. The survey statistics support the conclusion that non-weightlifters are more likely to exhibit metabolic syndrome.

globalbriefs

ecotip

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

Freebie Fruit

Online Mapping Points the Way Falling Fruit (FallingFruit.org), created by Caleb Philips, co-founder of Boulder Food Rescue, and Ethan Welty, a photographer and geographer based in Boulder, Colorado, uses a map to cite locations of fruits and vegetables that are free to forage around the world. It looks like a Google map, with reported locations marked with dots. Zoom in and click on one to find a description of what tree or bush is there. The description often includes information about the best season to pluck plant fruits, the quality and yield, a link to the species’ profile on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website and additional advice on accessing the spot. Welty compiled most of the half-million or so locations from various municipal databases, local foraging organizations and urban gardening groups. Additionally, the map is open for Wikipedia-style public editing. He says, “Falling Fruit pinpoints all sorts of tasty trees in public parks, lining city streets and even hanging over fences from the UK to New Zealand.” It also lists beehives, public water wells and even dumpsters with excess food waste.

Killing Fields

Neonicotinoid Pesticides Threaten Birds and Insects, Too Controversial neonicotinoid pesticides linked to catastrophic honeybee declines in North America and Europe may also kill other creatures, posing ecological threats even graver than feared, according to a new report by the American Bird Conservancy. It claims that dangers to birds and streamdwelling and soil-dwelling insects accidentally exposed to the chemicals have been underestimated by regulators and downplayed by industry. “The environmental persistence of the neonicotinoids, their propensity for runoff and for groundwater infiltration and their cumulative and largely irreversible mode of action in invertebrates raise environmental concerns that go well beyond bees,” according to the report co-authors, pesticide policy expert Cynthia Palmer and pesticide toxicologist Pierre Mineau, Ph.D., who both work for the nonprofit. They note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency typically sets guidelines for bird exposures using laboratory tests on just two species, which ignores widely varying sensitivities among hundreds of other species. Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society, an invertebrate conservation group, says that integrated pest management (IPM), which combines precisely targeted chemical use with other, non-chemical means of pest control, can deliver industrial-scale yields in an environmentally sustainable way. To the detriment of wildlife, “[Our nation] has moved away from IPM, from scouting a farm, putting in habitat for beneficial insects and spraying only if there’s damage,” he warns. “With neonicotinoids, they don’t do that anymore,” instead returning to indiscriminate blanket spraying. Primary source: Tinyurl.com/ABCBirdReport

Global Glamour Natural Beauty Aids from India

The health and beauty aisle at Indian grocery stores includes several natural products in wide use among Indian women. Here are some popular ones available in America. Henna: Women mix powder from the henna plant with water to use as a natural hair dye and conditioner. Coconut oil: Indian women regularly massage a natural oil into their scalp before washing to keep their hair healthy and prevent the scalp from drying out and itching. “Coconut oil helps to grow hair long,” advises Bibya Malik, owner of Bibya Hair Design, a salon chain in Chicago. “It is probably the most widely used hair oil in the Indian subcontinent; amla oil, jasmine oil and other herbal oils are used, as well.” Rosewater: Most often used as a skin toner, some women also like to spray rosewater on their face as a refresher. Rosewater has a long history as a fragrance and as a flavoring in dessert recipes. Ubtan: This mixture of turmeric, gram (chickpea) flour and herbs is combined with milk or water as a beauty treatment. Indian brides scrub their skin with it in the days prior to their wedding. Source: Bibya Hair Design, research by Bushra Bajwa

natural awakenings

September 2013

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Living Sacred:

Red, Hot and Holy Sera Beak, author of Red, Hot and Holy: A Heretic’s Love Story.

A Fresh Take on the Enduring Soul Quest of Women by Grace Ogden

n the surface Sera Beak and Marjory Bankson might strike you as opposites. To start with, they are from two generations and dwell a continent apart. Beak is a spiritual rebel and modern mystic in her mid-30s who leads goddess retreats on the “red feminine,” based out of San Francisco. Bankson, an ecumenical Christian author and artist, preaches and teaches regularly at Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C., and in church settings across the United States. The publication of Beak’s new spiritual memoir, Red, Hot and Holy: A Heretic’s Love Story, will bring them together in Washington, D.C., on September 17, for a public conversation

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about women’s spiritual awakening. Both Beak and Bankson know that when a woman embodies her soul, she experiences a deep, intimate and at times disruptive path of awakening. It is one largely unsupported by Western culture. The norm is to live with mind and spirit split off from the body, with the masculine and feminine aspects of self-living separate from each other, as pioneering psychologist Carl Jung famously noted. One side or the other often dominates, depending on what gained us the most attention in childhood—intellectual achievement for one, physical beauty or prowess for another. Renowned Jungian analyst, Mar-

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ion Woodman greatly impacted Beak’s and Bankson’s lives and work. In a daylong interview with Woodman several years ago, Beak found herself crying without being able to stop. “It was due to what I was experiencing—a woman who has embodied her soul,” she writes. Beak herself had deep spiritual longing and intense experiences—many of which came in the color of red, lusty and at times shocking. As Beak says it in her latest book, “both [spirit and soul] are meaningful and mysterious… but it’s critical to note that spirit is the most popular and public ‘face’ of spirituality. More often than not, soul has been relegated to the moldy basements of the clean and bright McMansions of mainstream spirituality.” This leaves us psychologically starving. When the soul is suppressed or ignored, it takes form in illness, heartbreak, career crashes, even addiction—a specialty of Woodman’s. Beak says, “Much of my exciting, career-making, spiritually driven way of life was actually a way of avoiding my ordinary life—a way that kept me detached from intimate relationships, my body, my psychology and this very Earth.” Children start out naturally full of themselves—alive, eager and full of energy. Bankson understands this as “an unconscious unity of body-soulspirit.” But we live in a patriarchal culture where external approval is the most powerful social drive. In Bankson’s experience growing up in the 1940s and ‘50s, her achievements required her to “split off from the soft animal of her body. I never talked about it for fear someone would think I was crazy,” she says. Instead she wrote about it in her journal, as the feminine-masculine split. The integration of what Bankson calls her “cultural persona/the masculine energy, my physical body/ the feminine and my soul/the Divine Feminine” began when she suddenly confronted ovarian cancer at age 40. Her husband was away on military assignment in Vietnam. On a faith-based retreat before surgery, Bankson experienced a guided meditation encounter with Mary.

As she succumbed to the anesthetic, she reports the Divine Feminine came to her and clearly said, “I am Spirit. I will be with you always.” The impact stayed with Bankson. She noticed a newly calm and caring acceptance of her mother, now that she was freed from spiritual needs her own mother could never meet. Among the remedies Beak and Bankson both recommend on the path of uniting body and soul and awakening the Divine Feminine are these essential ones: Pay attention to your dreams. In the words of Marion Woodman, “The dream keeps us in touch with the soul in which we all live… our dreams disturb in order to illumine.” Listen to your body. Sense its intuitive knowing, often felt in the center of the chest. Track what you notice and what happens when you heed this sense or do not. Let your embodied awareness grow to be a felt sense you can trust as a companion or even a lead to your rational mind.

Find or create a community of support for deeper wholeness. Trust your need and ability to call for a circle of kindred souls, knowing that you are part of something larger unfolding through your individual search for conscious embodiment. Awakening of the soul and integrating the body, soul and spirit calls inwardly, powerfully, to each of us. Aligning the soul with the life of our mind and body is a task of meeting rising energy with maturing wisdom. If embraced, we grow into beings of consciously embodied awareness. On this path together, we can heal ourselves and possibly the planet. For tickets and information about the live conversation Red, Hot and Holy with Sera Beak and Marjory Bankson, visit GraceProductions.co.

GROW Your Business Secure this ad spot! Call 202-505-4835 for special ad rates.

Grace Ogden is the founder of Grace Productions, which offers transformational consulting and Living Sacred events. See ad, page 27.

natural awakenings

September 2013

MIND-BODY and Beyond The Whole-Person Paradigm Keeps Us On Track by Steven Shafarman

One way to apply these insights is to avoid talking about “uniting” or “integrating” mind and body. Such phrases assume a split or separation, two distinct things that are somehow brought together. But there is no separation in the new paradigm I am proposing. Never—not while we are alive.

ind-body is now a common phrase—mind-body-spirit too—and these are welcome signs of changing attitudes and growing awareness. Not too long ago, people mostly viewed mind and body as separate. The credibility of doctors who spoke about psychosomatic or mindbody illness was denounced. We may now be ready for the next step. However, to prepare, briefly consider four common conditions: arthritis, back pain, anxiety and depression. According to dualistic models that view mind and body as separate, arthritis and back pain are caused by something wrong with bones, joints, muscles or other tissues. The problem is in the body, so the treatments must be physical, such as surgery, exercise and manipulation—or drugs, to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Regarding anxiety and depression,

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dualistic concepts describe these as mental or emotional conditions. They are, according to the cliché, “in your mind.” Treatments include goal-setting, affirmations, hypnosis and such, with talking as a common feature. Various psychiatric drugs target brain chemistry, but psychiatric drugs effectively reinforce dualism by ignoring the body below the neck. Those of us who practice mindbody modalities can readily see the fallacies. For people experiencing arthritis or back pain, visualization, meditation, goal-setting and diverse treatments that start with talking can often provide relief. Methods for relieving anxiety or depression can include herbs, vitamins, dietary changes, massage and exercise. All of these are effective and scientific research is increasingly documenting the efficacy. These are exciting times for mind-body wellness.

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The next step is to lead the scientists and the general public toward an understanding that mind and body are never separate. Every physical act involves the way we sense, feel and think. All mental activity occurs in living, breathing embodied beings. We are whole. In my journey toward these insights, an important teacher was Buckminster Fuller. He is known as an architect, the creator of the geodesic dome, though he called himself a “comprehensive anticipatory design scientist.” In other words, he devoted his life to seeing the whole system. Among the ideas he popularized is “synergy.” In the past decade or so, synergy has become a buzz-word in the business world. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. That’s a simple definition of synergy, though Bucky was more precise and tended to be a bit verbose. His concept of synergy emphasized the fact that the behavior of the whole system is independent of, and cannot be predicted by, the behavior of the separately observed parts. Thus, mind-body is greater than mind plus body. And the behaviors of mind-body cannot be predicted when looking at mind or body separately. These ideas about synergy can help us see the limits of conventional dualistic therapies. We cannot understand the whole system by only studying the parts, and we cannot predict behaviors in terms of the parts. Therefore, in order to reliably alter, modify or enhance behaviors—which is a fundamental aspect of healing and wellness practices, including conventional medicine—we have to respect the whole person. Our holistic mindbody wellness practices may one day prove to be more scientific, and more effective, than current conventional medicine. Synergy also plays a vital role in the ideas of my mentor, Moshe Feldenkrais. Even though the Feldenkrais Method is sometimes described as a subtle form of “bodywork,” Feldenkrais was emphatic about the unity and integrity of our experience. Feldenkrais was an engineer, judo master and neuroscientist, and his methods combine these disciplines with insights into the way very young children learn and move. In very young

children, prior to acquiring language, mind and body are inseparable, clearly. One way to apply these insights is to avoid talking about “uniting” or “integrating” mind and body. Such phrases assume a split or separation, two distinct things that are somehow brought together. But there is no separation in the new paradigm I am proposing. Never— not while we are alive. During mind-body wellness practices, many of us focus on breathing. That is particularly true of yoga, Tai chi, qigong, Pilates and related exercises. It is true also true with common forms of meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Thus, a good way to enhance our skills as teachers and practitioners is to be more aware of how we breathe. In my experience of teaching and talking with thousands of people about their breathing, I find that most of us focus on inhaling. We tend to overlook exhaling and the pauses in between. We also overlook the fact that breathing involves moving the ribs. Breathing uses many muscles in addition to the diaphragm—muscles throughout the trunk, front, sides and back. With awareness of breathing, we move beyond mind-body and begin to more fully appreciate mind-body-spirit. After all, a synonym for inhaling is inspiring. And the root of inspiring is spirit, which is Latin for breath or to breathe. The linguistic connection between breathing and spirit is also in Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, Chinese and other languages. Beyond current mind-body wellness practice, and beyond conventional medicine and therapy, is a new paradigm of whole person healing, whole person wellness. One day, perhaps, these four-letter words, mind and body, may be anachronisms, reminders of a time before we learned to fully appreciate our wholeness. Steven Shafarman is the creator of FlexAware®, a fitness and healing practice that teaches people to breathe freely and move easily. Steven is the author of six books, including Awareness Heals. Currently residing in Washington, D.C., he teaches individuals and groups, and educates new FlexAware teachers. For more information, visit FlexAware.com. See ad, page 22.

P R E S E N T S A Rare Washington, DC Appearance by

Don Miguel Ruiz Bestselling Author of

THE FOUR AGREEMENTS Friday, September 13 Don Miguel Ruiz

Talk at 7:30 pm

Saturday, September 14 Workshop from 10 am - 5 pm Don Miguel Ruiz, Jr., author of The Five Levels of Attachment, joins his father for the workshop

SPIRITUALITY + EMOTIONS

Awakening to the Wisdom of Your Heart Saturday, October 12 10 am–5 pm, Concert at 7:30 pm

Tara Brach

FILM TEARS OF THE BUDDHA TALKS AND MEDITATION with Tara Brach, Judith Blackstone and Jon Bernie CONCERT The Inspiring Music of Carrie Newcomer

Don Miguel Ruiz and Spirituality + Emotions at Spectrum Theatre at Artisphere, Rosslyn, VA

Tickets + Info at

BuddhaFest.org Hosted by Allies in Compassion and BuddhaFest

THE LOVING KINDNESS TOUR A Rare Display of Sacred Buddha Relics

October 4-6 Church of the Holy City 1611 16th Street, NW Washington, DC

This event is offered free of charge.

More information at MaitreyaRelicTour.com natural awakenings

September 2013

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Cancer-Free with the Gonzalez Protocol by Herb Simmens

quarter of a century ago, I found myself with a rare tumor in my lung that had spread to my liver. Not many people can write a sentence like the previous one, as few survive a liver metastases for more than a handful of years. I was extremely fortunate to find a newly established doctor in New York, who had discovered a novel and decidedly unconventional treatment for most all forms of cancer. Trained at Cornell Medical College, Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez was a post doctoral fellow at Sloan Kettering in New York—one of the preeminent cancer research and treatment centers in the world. He was and continues to be my doctor and guide. Over the years, I have come to know Gonzalez quite well, through my semi-annual visits to his office, where I continue to learn about his protocols and theory of the origin and treatment of cancer. Gonzalez believes that cancer can be prevented and successfully treated with a program that includes three major components. The first is the use of large quantities (as many as 50 or more capsules a day) of specially prepared pancreatic enzymes. These enzymes have been shown to essentially “digest” cancer cells when there is no food in the digestive system. Other supplements (as many as 15-20 taken one to three times a day) are also prescribed based on the patient’s specific needs. The second leg of the program is a customized diet that depends upon a person’s metabolic type. These diets all require organic non-processed foods but can vary greatly in the amount of meat and other foods to be eaten. Carrot and other freshly juiced fruits and vegetables are an essential part of the diet. Lastly,

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Gonzalez believes that detoxication is essential to help the body fight cancer and to rapidly eliminate any cancer cells broken down by the pancreatic enzymes. The effectiveness of pancreatic enzymes against cancer was demonstrated in an animal experiment. A study of 11 of Gonzalez’s patients with pancreatic cancer, one of the most lethal forms of cancer, showed that most lived much longer than would be expected. As a result of this research, Gonzalez became the first alternative doctor to be funded for a full scale trial of his work comparing it to chemotherapy. The multi-year study had several irregularities, with the final result showing Gonzalez’s protocol to be inferior to chemo. However, Gonzalez believes that the trial was seriously flawed and has written a 600-page book, What Went Wrong: The Truth Behind the Clinical Trial of the Enzyme Treatment of Cancer, documenting the irregularities in the trial. Based not just on my own experience, but on years of getting to know Gonzalez, talking to other patients and studying his writings—I strongly believe that his program offers an opportunity for many, if not most, advanced cancer patients to live significantly longer and healthier lives. In addition, following his dietary principles and taking his enzymes can help to prevent cancer. Herb Simmens is owner of District Wellness, a full-service holistic health center at Dupont Circle. He is a certified life and wellness coach and is available for consultations on the Gonzalez protocol. For more information, call 202-299-1200 or visit DistrictWellness.com. To hear more of his story, come to the “Rethinking Cancer” event. See ad, page 9.

bookexcerpt

...from

ARCHETYPES by Caroline Myss

f I said to you, “See that man over there? He’s my Hero,” or “That woman is the Perfect Mom,” I know without a doubt that you would understand exactly what I was communicating to you about two people you had never met. With just three words—Hero and Perfect Mom—I would have awakened in you two complete archives of myths and symbols that you automatically associate with those terms. In seconds, these two people would cease to be strangers, as your psyche wrapped them in stories, fairy tales and your own memories. The man would instantly take on the appearance of a superstrong Hero able to face any adversary. Despite knowing nothing else about him, you would instantly trust him. The words Perfect Mom pack a powerful punch, especially in our society. The instant someone tells you that a woman is a Perfect Mom, you immediately picture a great cook with a charming, well-ordered home, who helps her kids with their homework, attends all their sporting events, listens to their problems, hosts sleepovers with their friends— and bakes brownies. So how do those words—Hero and Perfect Mom—communicate so much visual, emotional, intellectual and mythic information to us? They carry the power they do because they are archetypes, psychic power patterns in the unconscious mind. Archetypes are the power images we identify with as children. We are drawn to movies, books and video games with characters that represent our power images. Little girls dress up as Princesses and Wonder Woman, little boys as Batman and Warriors. Archetypal identification begins early.

The ten archetypal patterns that reflect the power trends of our times are: the Advocate, the Artist/Creative, the Athlete, the Caregiver, the Fashionista, the Intellectual, the Queen/Executive, the Rebel, the Spiritual Seeker and the Visionary. They all embody the primary power issues that define women today, including their underlying struggles with personal empowerment. In addition to reflecting contemporary power themes, the ten archetypes embody the more pressing personal challenges facing women today. Women in particular face the challenge of developing an inner sense of power and personal identity. Without that essential core of self-esteem, you will be unable to hear your intuitive guidance. Archetypal patterns filter into every aspect of your life. Your archetypes influence your spending habits, how you shop and what you buy or not. They influence the quality of your relationships, and who you are attracted to and why. And they influence recurring issues: arguments you seem to have over and over, difficulties at work that keep cropping up and other patterns that repeat themselves. The more you know about how archetypes work, the more easily you can observe their influence on your thoughts, your attitudes, your behavior and your personal myths and symbols. Once you connect with an archetype that you know is genuinely you, it will inspire you to find out about other archetypes that may be influencing your life. Connecting with an archetype is a bridge to your true Self, to who you really are. You are an infinitely complex human being with stories and myths and dreams—and ambitions of cosmic proportions. Don’t waste time underestimating yourself. Dream big. Use your archetypes. If you’re an Artist, make art. If you’re a Visionary, imagine something the future needs, then join forces with an Entrepreneur to make a venture out of it. Use the energy of your archetype to express the true reason you were born. Life was never meant to be safe. It was meant to be lived right to the end. There are inner riches awaiting you in the archetypal domain. Life is an archetypal magic carpet ride through endless adventures meant to teach us about the hidden truths of life and our place in the cosmic scheme. To learn more about Carolyn Myss and inspirational authors such as Dr. Wayne Dyer, Cheryl Richardson, Congressman Tim Ryan, Kris Carr and more, we invite you to join us at the Hay House I Can Do It! event in Washington, D.C., from September 28 to 29. For more information, call 800-654-5126 or visit ICanDoIt.net. See ad, page 44.

natural awakenings

September 2013

WHOLE-BEING

WORKOUTS Moving the Body Opens the Door to Spirit by Lisa Marshall

t’s the Sabbath, a day of “Exercise can “the flail.” As the World Beat playlist picks up the prayer, and millions of be a powerful pace, Pierrat leads the people across America through a funky, raveare quietly sitting or kneelgateway to group like series of dance moves ing, humbly communing the spiritual.” aimed at “opening up” the with a power greater than hips and chest and somethemselves. ~ Chantal Pierrat thing less tangible deep But inside the Alchemy inside. By song five, the of Movement studio in Boulsweat is flowing and some are dancing der, Colorado, the Soul Sweat faithful unabashedly, eyes closed, lost in the are connecting with their higher power music. Others are smiling broadly, makin a different fashion. In bare feet, and ing eye contact in the mirror. wearing yoga pants and tank tops, they The sense of joy and interconnectfind a place before a wall-to-wall miredness in the room is palpable. “Exerror while a slow, Afro-Brazilian rhythm cise can be a powerful gateway to the vibrates the wooden floor. spiritual,” observes Pierrat, the founder At the urging of instructor Chantal of Soul Sweat, a highly choreographed, Pierrat, they let their arms and necks spiritually charged dance workout. go limp, shaking off the week’s stresses Twenty years after the yoga craze via a sensual, full-body writhe she calls 20

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introduced Westerners to the possibility that the two seemingly incongruous goals could be intertwined, the spirituality-fitness link has spread well beyond the yoga mat. It has spawned fusions ranging from Body Gospel, a Christian workout tape, and Jewish Yoga classes to triathlon programs rooted in Native American teachings and Buddhismbased running meditation workshops. In addition, creative instructors have been fusing body/mind/spirit classics like yoga and Pilates with hardcore cardio disciplines like spinning and boxing. Half of all U.S. fitness clubs now offer mind/body programming, according to the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, and the portion of classes dedicated to “mind/spirit” versus just “body” is on the rise. “The newer programming is balanced 50-50, rather than the 80-20 body-mind split of the past,” estimates Sandy Todd Webster, editor in chief of IDEA’s publications. At a time when, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, the number of people that identify with “no organized religion” continues to grow (topping one-fifth of Americans and one-third of U.S. adults under 30), more people than ever are exploring exercise as a path to both flatter abs and deeper self-discovery. “We have spent so long focusing on the mind and the brain… but that is not the whole story,” says Pierrat. “The somatic, or physical, expression of spirituality is the future.”

In the Zone

The notion that intense dancing or a long run could spark what feels like a spiritual awakening makes sense to Philadelphia-based research neuroscientist and physician Andrew Newberg, author of How God Changes Your Brain. A pioneer in the field of integrative “neurotheology”, he has for years used brain imaging technologies to study the impact religious or spiritual practices like deep meditation, intense prayer and speaking in tongues have on the brain. Exercise, he says, provides many of the same effects. In addition to prompting a surge of feel-good endorphins, a highly strenuous workout is one of the few activities that can lead to simultaneous activa-

“God has created us with a body. Why aren’t we praying with our body?” ~ Marcus Freed tion of both sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (calming) nervous system reactions. “Normally, when one of these is active, the other one shuts down, but when people drive one or the other to a very heightened level of activity, there is some evidence that the other turns on too,” explains Newberg. That intense dual firing can paradoxically lead to an interruption in sensory information traveling to areas of the brain that control our sense of ourselves at any moment. “Not only do you have this great feeling of energy and calmness, but you tend to lose your sense of space and time,” he notes. Newberg’s own research also suggests that when people “surrender” themselves in a spiritual practice, the frontal lobe (the practical part of the brain that keeps our thoughts in check) quiets. He speculates that something similar may happen in the midst of, say, a marathon or intense dance, enabling out of the ordinary thoughts and feelings to surface. “It can allow for creativity—a blending of different, more intuitive ideas in ways you don’t normally mix things,” comments Newberg. So, is exercise able to only make us feel like we’re having a mystical experience, or is it somehow actually opening a channel to the divine? Newberg declines to go there, commenting that a brain scan tells what’s going on in the brain, not in the soul. Yet he has no doubt the two are inextricably linked. He says, “There are many well-known examples of intense experiences, like Sufi dancing, generating spiritual experiences for people.”

Whole-Being Workouts

Marcus Freed is one of those people. He grew up in a traditional Jewish family in London, England, and attended a rabbinical seminary in Israel. Still, he felt that something was missing in his spiritual life. “I thought, ‘God has created us with a body. Why aren’t we praying with our body?’” Freed says that Biblical text often references the body: King David, in the

Book of Psalms, says, “Let all my bones praise the creator.” The Jewish Talmud refers to a rabbi that “stretched his spine with a prayer of gratitude.” Yet, Freed observes, the physical elements of daily spiritual practice have been largely forgotten over the centuries. When he discovered yoga, it filled a gap for him. “I found a way to draw upon this incredible spiritual literature but ground it in the body, so that experience is not just in the head, but also in the heart.” Thus, Freed founded Bibliyoga, which launches each class with a Hebrew or Kabbalistic teaching, followed by poses that incorporate its themes, as reflected in his book, The Kosher Sutras: The Jewish Way in Yoga and Meditation. The practice, now taught in cities around the United States and Europe, has prompted the birth of similarly religion-infused classes, including Christ Yoga, and the Jewish Yoga Network. “A lot of people separate things, saying they’ll get their spirituality from one place and their exercise from somewhere else,” says Freed. “I think they are missing out.”

Mindful Sports

The spirituality-exercise link likewise resonates through other traditionally solo pursuits such as triathlon activities and running, in which many athletes say a more mindful approach to training has infused their sport with more meaning, and in some cases, improved their performances. Ironman Marty Kibiloski, formerly a competitive marathoner and road racer, led what he terms a “high achievement, low contentment” life for years, measuring his self-worth by timed results that never quite satisfied him. In 2006, he attended a Running with the Mind of Meditation three-day workshop, based on Rinpoche Sakyong Mipham’s book of the same name. The retreat combined with his newfound interest in Buddhism, completely redefined running for him. Kibiloski prefers to steer clear of the word “spiritual” (which he sees as

somewhat ambiguous) when describing what he now experiences when running. Instead, he frames it as a vehicle for self-discovery, a mobile meditation that provides the intense focus and freedom from distraction that enables him to “awaken to how things really are.” He now leads the retreat that proved pivotal for him, drawing more than 100 runners each Labor Day weekend to the Shambhala Mountain Center, in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. Participants learn to focus on the cadence of their footfalls, their breathing and their surroundings to, as he puts it, “move meditation beyond the cushion.” He remarks, “It trains you to have your mind be still when your body is active, which is how you are in everyday life.” Triathlete Mark Allen credits his work with Brant Secunda, a shaman and teacher in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico, for enabling him to overcome negative self-talk and physical stresses and go on to win the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, six times in the late 1980s and early 90s. He notes, “In every one of my physical workouts, I also focused on training the spiritual aspect, so that when I got that chatter in my head, saying, ‘This is too hard’ or ‘I want to quit,’ I could go to a quiet place, rather than a negative one.” “Mobile meditation… trains you to have your mind be still when your body is active, which is how you are in everyday life.” ~ Marty Kibiloski Based on their book, Fit Soul, Fit Body: Nine Keys to a Healthier, Happier You, the pair conduct workshops around the country on how to strengthen both soul and body by intertwining both. “Some people think you are only spiritual when you are praying, but when you are moving your body, that is an intensely spiritual experience, too,” says Allen. “It’s my way of saying, ‘Thank you for letting me be alive.’” Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer near Boulder, CO. Connect at Lisa@LisaAnnMarshall.com.

natural awakenings

September 2013

UNIVERSAL FITNESS TIPS

Mindful Practices Enhance Any Routine by Casey McAnn When it comes to attaining fitness, several well-regarded recommendations increase the likelihood of success. Natural Awakenings canvassed online fitness sources for tips and techniques intended to keep workouts safe, fun and satisfying. Our favorites follow. Always stretch – Light stretching before and after workouts loosens muscles and increases circulation for quicker repair and healing. It can also help prevent injuries. It’s ideal to hold stretches for at least 30 seconds, breathing “into” the muscles that are being stretched and inviting a gentle release of tension on the exhalation. If any pain surfaces while stretching a certain area, stop. Start slowly – Begin and build workout routines slowly in order to avoid straining muscles and ligaments.

Exercise at least twice a week, the bare minimum for staying physically fit. Be well rounded – Add leg and back exercises to crunches and bicep curls, and vary cardio routines to stay enthusiastic about workouts. Experiment with all the equipment available at a studio or gym, asking a trainer for guidance. Drink plenty of water – Drinking water helps to decrease appetite and eliminate cravings, while nourishing and hydrating the body. The goal is to drink half of one’s body weight number in ounces each day. Keep it regular – Making exercise a regularly scheduled part of the week eliminates excuses. Keep it on the calendar and show up as dutifully as for any other important appointment. Make up any days missed.

Increase intensity – More intense workouts mean less time spent doing them while achieving the same level of benefits. It’s also important to keep endurance exercises in any routine, however, because they are vital for cardiovascular benefits and building stamina. Use weights – Adding muscle to the body increases strength, life expectancy and fat burning. To tone muscles, use a weight that works for eight to 12 lifts. For bulk, use a weight suited to four to six lifts. Practice a weight training routine two to three times a week, keeping sessions under 45 minutes. Add interval training – Sprinting for about 50 yards boosts metabolism and heart health. Return to the starting point by taking a slow walk. Repeat as many times as possible, making sure to warm up before the interval training and cool down afterwards. Dress up – Energize a workout session and boost confidence by wearing something snazzy. Donning an exercise “uniform” gets us in the mood, and a new piece of clothing or footwear can make us excited to get moving again. Be a safe runner – Every six weeks, cut running mileage and frequency in

Steven Shafarman is the founder of FlexAware® and a leading Feldenkrais Method practitioner. Steven studied directly with Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, and created FlexAware as a dynamic fitness practice that extends and enhances the benefits of Feldenkrais lessons.

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half for a week. This allows the body to recover from workouts and helps to prevent injury. Make it meaningful – While walking or running, recite prayers or a gratitude list, or listen to inspirational podcasts and downloads. Volunteer for fitness – Many volunteer tasks involve some form of physical movement. It feels good to burn calories while helping others. Bring workout buddies – Friends and pets need exercise, too, and they provide restorative companionship. Working out with a pal adds support and motivation, which are keys to success. Seek out a human buddy with similar fitness goals. Go green – Research from the University of Essex, in England, shows that exercising in nature produces additional physical and mental benefits. The researchers found that “green exercise” improves mood, self-esteem, enjoyment and motivation. Casey McAnn is a freelance writer in Boston, MA.

FUSION WORKOUTS Pump Body, Charge Spirit

Drawing newcomers eager to break a sweat while staying true to their mind/body and spiritual roots is the aim of yoga, Pilates and tribal dance instructors that are busy introducing innovations. Here’s a quick look at just some of them. Aero boga: This approach to yoga-dance fusion is designed for older adults that follow the bhakti yoga philosophy. Buti: Teachers of this 90-minute, high-intensity workout that fuses yoga, tribal dance and plyometrics aim to unlock the shakti spiral and release the hips to help energy flow freely in the first and second chakras. Piloxing: Created by Swedish dancer and celebrity trainer Viveca Jensen, Piloxing blends Pilates and boxing with powerful principles of femininity. Soul Sweat: Highly choreographed, yet accessible to beginners, dance movements are set to World Beat, African, Latin, hip-hop and rave music to enhance coordination, tone muscles, enhance energy flow and awaken creativity. Vinyasa on the bike: Conscious pedaling on a stationary bike integrates yoga principles of breathing, flowing and paying attention to what is happening in the body. YoBata: Fast-paced classes intersperse Vinyasa (or flow) yoga with tabata brief sets of high-intensity, fat-burning bodyweight or cardio exercises).

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September 2013

Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Greater Washington by Linda Lang

ver the years, students come ive teacher. The Washington area is rich in seeking yoga for physical and resources for individuals looking for emotional well-being, never trauma-sensitive mentioning their yogaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from very need for relief Because the body itself gentle group from traumatic holds memory, not just classes with experiencesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;mawithin the brain, but deep physical poses licious relationwithin our cells, the release and breathing ships, disastrous exercises, to we experience in yoga alaccidents, derestorative yoga bilitating military lows our bodies to express service or devasthis memory and release it. by candlelight, using blankets, tating diagnoses. chairs and walls One-by-one, their for support. Yoga nidra has become an yoga practice becomes a source of extremely popular and effective form hope and healing, with a dedication of deep relaxation and personal acto overcoming trauma, under the ceptance, with body scanning, guided gentle guidance of a skilled, support-

imagery and mindful awareness. Such classes can be found in integrative medical clinics, yoga studios, community centers, hospitals, the Veterans Administration and the Walter Reed Medical Center. Highly experienced yoga teachers, yoga therapists and psychotherapists also offer private, individual sessions to teach yoga, as a means of getting in touch with our bodies, using a wide range of postures and practices, from beginning to advanced. Because the body itself holds memory, not just within the brain, but deep within our cells, the release we experience in yoga allows our bodies to express this memory and release it. This allows us to have the experience of letting go, in a safe and sacred space. Those seeking trauma-sensitive yoga experience should speak with the studio owner, instructor or therapist first. Another helpful resource is the Joint Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Performance Programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website at JCamp2.com, which is an outstanding resource for veterans and their families. Linda Lang is a trauma-sensitive, therapeutic yoga teacher at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the George Washington University Medical School. For more information, visit TherapeuticYogaDC.com. See GWCIM ad, page 2.

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September 2013

healingways

The Green Journey into Herbalism by Teresa Boardwine, RH, (AHG)

hen did it happen to you— the medicinal benefits of plants. Experithe plants on the side of the encing a health concern could motivate road caught your eye. You you to walk the herbal path to healing. may have wondered aloud; What plant Despite the conveniences of modis that? Is it medicinal? How can I use ern technology, research will not offer it? Today, plant lovers can download an the skills, knowledge and support of app to aid in proper identification. a holistic herbal practitioner or herb Using the botanical name to re- alist. A herbalist can educate, guide search a plant is essential in discovering and document one’s progress. Herbalits chemical constituists are not allowed to ents, actions, growth patdiagnose, nor prescribe tern and medicinal uses. but will make recomThere are many plants mendations for herbs, used in herbal medicine supplements, foods and and proper plant idenlifestyle choices, which tification is one way to can benefit the healing, be pulled onto the green well-being and recovery path. Take a moment of an individual going to observe the red clothrough a health chalver (Trifolium pratense), lenge. The consultation chicory (Chichorium is education that is intybus), joe pye weed specific to your needs— (Eupatorium purpureum), meant to support, mullein (Verbascum thapnourish and balance the sus), queen anne’s lace person who ultimately (Daucus carota), yellow seeking optimal health. Joe Pye Weed dock (Rumex crispus), burPerhaps having your own dock (Arctium lappa) and consultation would set you sumac (Rhus glabra), all abundantly on the path to herbal education. available in ditches and roadsides from My business, Green Comfort, LLC, the D.C. metro area to the Blue Ridge was created in 1994 and continues to Mountains–consider the use of these umbrella all the herbal enterprises and beautiful herbs. teaching opportunities my path unveils. Another step along the path to As a registered herbalist with the Ameriherbal medicine is an illness, ailment or can Herbalist Guild (AHG), I offer health diagnosis. Take advantage of the conveconsultations and herbal apothecary nience of the internet, conducting your series; teach foundations of medicinal own research to discover traditional herbalism and lead wild food forages. uses of herbal remedies in Western Corporate wellness programs and cliniherbalism, Traditional Chinese Medicine cal training for herb students beginning (TCM), Ayurveda or other traditions that to acquire the 400 hours needed to aphave been used to treat a condition. ply for AHG status are also available. To Many search engines, databases and find a registered professional herbalist in websites offer research to support the your area, search the AHG list by state, medicinal properties of plants applied to at AmericanHerbalistsGuild.com. the diagnosed condition. Research is an Everyone traveling the path to herbacceptable beginning into discovering alism takes a very unique trip. When

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Take advantage of the convenience of the internet, conducting your own research to discover traditional uses of herbal remedies in Western herbalism, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda or other traditions that have been used to treat a condition. herbalists gather, we see how diverse we are; from young hipsters coming out of herb school, to the back-the-earth generation growing their own food and marketing their homemade herbal products at farmer’s markets, clinical practitioners, acupuncturists, chiropractors, bodyworkers, book authors, ethnobotanists, compounding pharmacists, nurses—you name it. People begin their journey for many different reasons. Some, after taking a class which whet their appetite or remembering their grandparents’ use of plants as a child. They may hear the plants call to them. How and why he or she chooses to study herbal medicine is as individual as each herbalist. It has been my pleasure to instruct many who have continued their journey into herbal medicine and have become registered herbalists. It has also been my pleasure to offer many students and clients my perspective on medicinal plants with healing benefits specific to their needs. If you have found yourself strolling along the green path identifying plants, harvesting the weeds, making herbal products, learning their many uses and applying this knowledge to health concerns—you might just be an herbalist. And if not, take the road that leads you here, the journey through herb school is an empowering one. Teresa Boardwine, RH, (AHG), is the founder of Green Comfort School. For information, call 540-937-4283 or visit GreenComfortHerbSchool.com. See ad, page 15.

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September 2013

naturalpet

FAT FIGHT Like Us, Pets Must Eat Right and Keep Moving

by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

besity, a severe and debilitating illness, is the most common nutritional disease in both animals and people. The latest survey of 121 veterinarians in 36 states by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) and corroborating American Veterinarian Medical Association data reveal we have 80 million fat cats and obese dogs; that’s more than 58 percent of dogs and 52 percent of domesticated cats. “Pet obesity remains the leading health threat to our nation’s pets,” says Dr. Ernie Ward, APOP’s founder, from the organization’s headquarters in Calabash, North Carolina. Current medical consensus states that an animal is obese if it weighs at least 15 percent more than its ideal weight. But looking at body composition is more accurate, based on measurements top-tobottom and side-to-side and depth to the ribs and spine.

food, snacks and treats, paired with a lack of aerobic exercise. People may believe they are showing love by rewarding begging with treats, but they actually may be slowly killing their companions with kindness, putting them on a path toward painful and costly medical problems. These can include cancer, cardiac problems, complications from drug therapy, difficulty breathing, heat intolerance, hypertension, intervertebral disk disease, orthopedic conditions (including arthritis), lethargy and ruptured ligaments. Also, because excess body fat first deposits in the cavities of the chest and abdomen and under the skin, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus can develop, so screen overweight animals for these disorders prior to treatment for obesity. Tackling obesity involves restricting calories and increasing the metabolic rate with a controlled exercise program. Diet and exercise are the two most vital factors in fighting fat.

Eating Right

Simply switching to a store-bought “lite” pet food is inadequate because many are designed to maintain, not lose, weight. Also, many products contain chemicals, byproducts and unhealthy fillers that are contrary to a holistic program.

Health Issues

Animals aren’t born fat. Obesity results from too many calories in 28

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A homemade restricted-calorie diet is the best choice for obese animals. The second is a processed “obesitymanagement” diet available through veterinarians, although many of these also contain chemicals, byproducts and fillers. Such diets can be used to attain the target weight, and then replaced with a homemade maintenance diet. Foods high in fiber work well for shedding pounds because they increase metabolism. Vegetable fiber decreases fat and glucose absorption. Fluctuating glucose levels cause greater insulin release that can lead to diabetes; because insulin is needed for fat storage, low, stable levels are preferred. Fiber also binds to fat in the intestinal tract and increases the movement of digested food through the intestines.

Tackling obesity involves restricting calories and increasing the metabolic rate with a controlled exercise program. Diet and exercise are the two most vital factors in fighting fat. Supplement Options

Several natural therapies may be helpful for treating animal obesity. These include herbs such as cayenne, ginger and mustard; white bean extract; chromium; carnitine; hydroxycitric acid (HCA); epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG); and coenzyme Q10. All have been widely used with variable success, although not yet thoroughly researched or clinically proven. A supplement called Vetri-Lean appears promising. Based on a white bean extract, it has cut starch digestion by up to 75 percent in the company’s clinical tests. The formula also has EGCG from green tea extract to boost metabolism, inhibit carbohydratedigesting enzymes and help maintain normal blood insulin levels, all to help dissolve fat and control appetite. Chromium polynicotinate, another ingredient, also helps to curb appetite,

Among owners of chubby pets, 45 percent believe their dog or cat is of a normal weight. ~ Association for Pet Obesity Prevention build muscles and reduce fat.

Exercise is Key As with humans, a regular program of supervised exercise is essential to pet health. Experience shows that it must be combined with a diet and supplement plan to achieve maximum results for overweight pets. Along with burning off excess calories, even mild exercise works to reduce hunger, improve muscle strength and aerobic capacity and improve functioning of organs. Plus, as veterinarians further attest, the activity is mentally stimulating for both animals and guardians, while decreasing behavioral problems. There is no one best exercise program for every animal; a sensible plan must be personalized to needs and abilities. Consult a veterinarian to determine the best regimen. As always, prevention is better than a cure, so staying alert to signs of additional pounds and keeping an animal from becoming obese in the first place is optimum. Dr. Shawn Messonier has authored The Arthritis Solution for Dogs, 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, and the award-winning Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. His Paws & Claws Animal Hospital is located in Plano, TX. Find helpful tips at PetCareNaturally.com.

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September 2013

An Interview with Dr. Nan Lu, LAc,

Building Bridges Between Eastern and Western Medicine

he Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation (TCMWF) is a not-for-profit organization devoted to educating both the public and healthcare practitioners about the natural healing wisdom accumulated over thousands of years in China. Through educational programs, publications, online and practitioner resources, TCMWF advances the practice and integration of authentic traditional Chinese medicine in Western culture. They bring to Washington D.C. their 12th annual Building Bridges of Integration conference in October. Nan Lu, OMD, LAc, is the president and founding director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation and its sister organization, the Tao of Healing. Dr. Lu holds a doctorate from Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hubei, China, and is a New York State—licensed acupuncturist. Classically and universitytrained, Nan Lu, OMD, is a master herbalist as well as an internationally recognized Taiji expert and Qigong master. In addition to his contribution to healthcare media, he is also the best selling author of a special series of three self-care books on TCM published by HarperCollins: A Woman’s Guide to Healing from Breast Cancer, A Woman’s Guide to a Trouble-Free Menopause, and A Natural Guide to Weight Loss That Lasts. Natural Awakenings D.C. publisher, Robin Fillmore, had the opportunity to interview Dr. Lu recently. The following is an excerpt of their conversation.

NA: What is the mission of TCMWF? Dr. Lu: TCM World Foundation was founded to build a bridge between Eastern and Western medicine. We know that Chinese culture has had an impact on the world in many different ways—including teachings of ancient wisdom. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is based on natural law, which has been used successfully for thousands of years to help all the Chinese people unlock their healing abilities. We know that it is still beneficial today to help people bring their bodies back to balance. TCM is focused on understanding the uniqueness of each individual’s ability to heal themselves. We know that the answer to each person’s health is held within. Even today with illness that is genetic, the positive and negative exist at the same time. If a person has been diagnosed with diabetes, she has diabetic genes within, but she also has the genes to control this disease. Every TCM is a medicine of extraordinary relationships which is where the true power lies and once practiced, allows the individual to find balance. Finding balance requires techniques for the deeper levels – mind, body and spirit. We use all angles including eating foods which carry a Universal energy, Wu Ming Qigong practice to move and build energy and an understanding of the role emotions play in discovering life’s purpose.

NA: When most Americans use the term “traditional medicine” they are referring to Western medicine 30

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– believing that treating a disease after they have been diagnosed by a physician, usually with medication or surgery, or both, is the more advanced way to healing. What are your thoughts on that idea? Dr. Lu: Everything happens for a reason. Every disease has a purpose. Western medicine tries to fix the disease through the medicine and it does help a lot of people but in reality, everything is connected. When TCM looks at a tumor, the focus is to see how to change the energy. To treat any condition, we need to look at the whole lifestyle—the whole reality. That is why TCMWF seeks to build a bridge to western medicine to see where techniques can be incorporated—to see how care can become complementary.

NA: I have read about your Wu Ming Qigong Breast Health program that will be offered as a preconference workshop at your conference. What led you to develop this program? Dr. Lu: Women need to understand where breast disease comes from. If you don’t know where it comes from, you can’t really treat it. To heal the breast is one of the specialties of TCM. There are energy lines that run through the breast area and any energy stagnation can cause breast problems—cancer, tumors and cysts. Specific qigong exercises can help energy flow through this area to help prevent breast cancer. The program that I have developed is comprehensive—to treat the mind, body and spirit with exercise and food. (Publishers note: to learn more about this program, visit BreastCancer.com)

NA: You have a yearly gathering in the DC area. Who comes to the conference and what is the goal of the conference? Dr. Lu: The goal of the conference is to build the bridge between the east and west. Many professionals come to this event looking for body mind spirit training. Health is more important than the disease and this conference gives the opportunity to look at health from a different angle. Also, many people who are not health care professionals come because they are looking for answers. The name of the event this year is Building Bridges of Integration for TCM: Discovering the Healing Wisdom of Transitions. What people are looking for are ways to transform themselves by seeing their health from a different angle and an approach that incorporates the body, mind and spirit. Here they find many techniques to put into practice in their own lives. There is basic information, including a workshop called “The ABCs of TCM.” Attendees also have the opportunity to meet and talk with practitioners and speakers and by the end, we have created one large energy field of interconnections and no one wants to leave. The TCM World Conference will be held October 17 to 20 in Chantilly, VA. To learn more visit: TCMConference.org. See ad, page 3.

natural awakenings

September 2013

consciouseating

Ounce of Prevention, a Lifetime of Health. “If there is more glucose than you need, the remainder is stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen, and then converted to fat.”

Killing Effect

SUGAR MONSTER How Sweet It Isn’t by Kathleen Barnes

“Am I a sugar addict?” There’s an easy way to tell.

“

f you have to ask yourself, you are,” advises Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, a renowned integrative physician in Kona, Hawaii, and author of Beat Sugar Addiction Now! The dangers of excessive sugar consumption, especially of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), are well known. Yet such cheap, corn-based sweeteners account for nearly 56 percent of all sweeteners, especially in beverages. The average American annually consumes 152 pounds of sugar, compared to 109 pounds in 1950, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A large portion is ingested as sugary liquids, including juices and an average of 46 gallons of soft drinks a year—compared to 11 gallons 50 years ago.

Puts on Pounds

Certainly, high-calorie sugars trigger weight gain, but it may be news that calories from sugar act differently in the body than those from other foods. “Fat doesn’t make you fat. Sugar makes you fat,” states Dr. John Salerno, director of The Salerno Center for Complementary Medicine, in New York, Tokyo and Sao Paolo, Brazil. “Eating carbohydrates quickly raises blood sugar (glucose), prompting the release of insulin to transport the glucose not immediately needed for energy, to the cells,” Salerno explains in his new book, The Salerno Solution: An 32

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While the negative effects of excess sugar consumption have been documented for decades, “Evidence is mounting that sugar is the primary cause of obesity, plus many chronic and lethal diseases,” says Osteopathic Physician Joseph Mercola, of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, who runs the highly popular natural health website, Mercola.com, and has authored books that include The No-Grain Diet and Sweet Deception. “Excessive fructose consumption leads to insulin resistance that appears to be the root of many, if not most, chronic diseases,” says Mercola. Beyond the obvious association with obesity, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, liver and heart disease and Alzheimer’s have all been linked to sugar, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Institutes of Health. “Sugar, in excess, is a toxin, unrelated to its calories,” says Dr. Robert Lustig, an endocrinologist and professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. “The dose determines the poison. Like alcohol, a little sugar is fine, but a lot is not. And the food industry has put us way over our limit.” Sugar can be addictive, continues Lustig. “It has clear potential for abuse. Like tobacco and alcohol, sugar acts on the brain to encourage subsequent intake.”

Healthy Sweeteners

n Stevia, a powdered extract of a South American plant, is the most popular natural sweetener, delivering no calories or blood sugar swings; 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar, a little goes a long way. Look for a product with no additives. n Sucanat—minimally processed, dehydrated cane sugar juice—is a reasonably healthy alternative, especially to substitute measure for measure in baking. Because it metabolizes like sugar, it too will cause blood sugar swings; also note that both agave and “raw” sugar, which is merely less refined table sugar, have similar effects.

Everyday Sugar Addicts by Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum A solution to sugar addiction is simply to stop eating sugars, especially any form of corn syrup. Drink more water and take a high-quality multivitamin, plus other supplements as necessary. Here are the four characteristics of people that tend to obsessively seek sugar. 4 Chronically exhausted and looking for an energy boost 4 Stressed out and suffering from adrenal exhaustion 4 Cravings caused by excessive presence of yeast/candida 4 Hormonally related cravings

comes loaded with health benefits, so eating it in moderation works, especially fruits and berries that are low on the glycemic index, a measure of carbohydrate effects on blood sugar levels.

n Honey, while not caloriefree, is high in heart-healthy flavonoids and anti-allergens, and may even help lower cholesterol, according to a study from University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, in Germany.

Kathleen Barnes has authored many natural health books. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

n Maple syrup carries calories, but is also a rich source of polyphenol anti-inflammatory antioxidants. A University of Rhode Island, Kingston, study suggests that maple syrup may help manage Type 2 diabetes. n Molasses, while not calorie-free, is a worthy alternative if weight isn’t an issue, since it’s a good source of minerals, especially iron. n Raw monk fruit (avoid processed Nectresse), a small, sweet melon native to China and Southeast Asia known as luo han guo, has traditionally been used in herbal medicine. It is touted as being low in carbs and is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. n Coconut sugar is generating excitement largely because of its low glycemic index (35) and low carbohydrate qualities. This optimum option is a good source of potassium, magnesium, iron, boron, zinc, sulfur and copper. n All fruit contains fructose, but in a natural state—not synthesized as a vegetable product like corn syrup. Fruit also

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Corn Syrup Hides in Processed Foods Most of us might suspect that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) lurks in soft drinks, baked goods, candy and other sweets, but substantial amounts permeate many processed foods. Key culprits include: 4 Applesauce 4 Bottled steak and barbecue sauces 4 Breads 4 Breakfast cereals (including low-calorie ones) 4 Canned soups

4 Catsup 4 Canned vegetables 4 Cottage cheese 4 Flavored yogurt 4 Juice drinks 4 Salad dressings 4 Spaghetti sauce

Notes: HFCS sometimes hides on labels as inulin, glucosefructose syrup, isoglucose and fruit fructose, among others. Sources include several online publications and food product labels.

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September 2013

Delivered with Love: The Power of Sound and Silence by Mamaniji Azanyah

use the power of love, silence and the divine, and the result is the music of Deva Premal and Miten. For more than 20 years, the couple’s impassioned renditions of the sacred mantras of India have inspired an eclectic worldwide following. The pair’s shared journey, converging music and love, began two decades ago in an ashram dedicated to the Indian mystic and guru Osho, then known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Miten was searching for a different way of life with richer meaning after departing the British rock ’n’ roll scene, while the German-born Premal was reconnecting with the great Eastern musical and spiritual disciplines in which she was raised.

Premal made a conscious decision early on to pursue two goals in life: “Enjoy every moment and do something meaningful.” In the music she found both, and more. One day, she simply sat down and began harmonizing with Miten while he played the ashram’s meditation music, effortlessly invoking the ancient mantras that had been her childhood lullabies. Miten discovered that Premal’s powerful voice completed his music, and her powerful presence completed him. The same was true for Premal, who sang in part because, “I wanted to find a way to be with him all the time.” Since their first star-crossed encounter in 1990, the duo has recorded some of the top-selling mantra albums in the world; most recently, A Deeper

Light. Their personal histories and life together are depicted through words and sound in More Than Music: The Deva Premal & Miten Story, a book and compilation CD. Premal and Miten have sung for the Dalai Lama and to mark the life passing of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, author of the groundbreaking On Death and Dying. Their celebrity fans include Eckhart Tolle, Anthony Robbins and Cher, who performed their version of the Gayatri Mantra during her farewell tour. Miten sees their music’s growing popularity as a sign of people’s hunger for spiritual renewal and purpose. “You don’t need to know what the mantras mean for them to have their effect—it works like medicine in that way,” he says. Audiences at their performances are encouraged to withhold applause and naturally take in the expansive silence that fills the room after a mantra has been played. “It’s the reason we play, to feel that ‘alive’ silence, which is as tangible as the music,” says Miten. “That’s when it’s the most healing.” “Once you tune into that silence, you can hear it anywhere, even in a noisy place,” advises Premal. “It’s always underneath everything; the awareness of it becomes part of your life.” Deva Premal & Miten’s MantraFest tour across North America this fall features the legendary GuruGanesha Band and Nepalese musician Manose. For tickets, locations and dates, visit BrightStarEvents.net. See ad, page 31.

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natural awakenings

September 2013

calendarofevents TUESDAY, SEPTMEBER 3 School of Philosophy and Healing in Action – Thru Sept 13. 9am-5pm. Grounded in powerful transformative language practices, this course teaches students to be more self-aware, develop life skills, and navigate personal and professional challenges. CEUs available. $750. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel. Register: MUIH.edu.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTMEBER 4 One for the Bay Social Hour – 5-7pm. Have the chance to meet staff from The Nature Conservancy to learn about the largest oyster restoration project on the Chesapeake Bay. The Nature Conservancy, 1652 K St, NW, DC. Info: Nature.org/OnefortheBay. Drumming Circle – 7-9:30pm. Experience the joy, peace, healing, and community of a drumming circle. Feel free to bring your drums and rattles if you have them. $20. Reston Reiki and Self Healing Arts, Sunrise Valley and Hunter Mill Rd, Reston, VA. Register: KarunaJoy1@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Baby Sleep Q & A – 12-1pm. Address common issues and find support for sleep-related challenges. Learn sleep requirements, ideal schedules, and goals for each stage of development. $10. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC. Register: LilOmm.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Green Living Expo DC – 10am-4pm. At our 5th annual Expo, exhibitions and workshops will be organized by sustainability experts on green roofs, energy saving, green living practices, transportation innovations, and much more. Green Living DC and UDC, UDC Plaza, 4200 Connecticut Ave, NW, DC. Info: GreenLivingExpoDC2013.EventBrite.com. Dirty Dogs Done Dirt Cheap – 10am-4pm. Rural Dog Rescue is having a dog wash fundraiser. All proceeds go to the homeless dogs and cats of Rural Dog Rescue. Bring your dirty dog and we will do all the rest. $15 per dog. Howl to the Chief, 733 8th Street SE. Info: HowlToTheChief.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Field Day: Medicinal Plant Identification Intensive – 9am-3pm. With Holly Poole-Kavana. A day of exploring the world of medicinal plants. Explore both cultivated and wild varieties of medicinal species and get up close and personal learning many plants you can grow at home. Identify features between various plants and learn many of the traditional medicinal uses of the plants. $50. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Register: Info@CentroAshe.org. Sun Salutations – 2-4:30pm. With Rexx Samuell. Sun Salutations are the initiation into Ashtanga Yoga and other forms of Vinyasa yoga. They hold the key to many of the more challenging aspects of a vinyasa yoga practice, such as breath-movement coordination, precision, control, jump backs and jump throughs, and even handstands and backbends. The Buddha B Yoga Center is a 200-Hour Registered School with The Yoga Alliance. Budda

Washington, D.C.

B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, NW, Ste 202 (2nd fl), DC. Register: BuddaBYoga.com. Experience and Learn Energy Balancing Processes – 4-6pm. These will easily bring you into balance and spiritual alignment, where body, mind, and spirit flourish. $35. Reston Reiki and Self Healing Arts, Sunrise Valley and Hunter Mill Rd, Reston, VA. Register: KarunaJoy1@gmail.com. Mindfulness for Teens: Stop, Breath & Be – through October 13. 5:30-7pm. With Silvia Garcia Pereira & Glen Harrison. For teens 14-18 to learn to use mindfulness to help cope with stress and anxiety, develop healthier relationships with thoughts and emotions, and understand how self-compassion promotes inner strength and happiness. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Ste 200, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

Buddha B Yoga 200-Hour Teacher Training – Thru December 15. Friday’s 6-9:15pm, Saturday’s 12-8pm, Sunday’s 11am-7pm. This 200-hour Teacher Certification program offers a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental elements that go into teaching basic and intermediate hatha yoga classes with an emphasis on Vinyasa yoga based on the Ashtanga system. The Buddha B Yoga Center is a 200-Hour Registered School with The Yoga Alliance. Budda B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, NW, Ste 202 (2nd fl), DC. Register: BuddaBYoga.com. Fitness Friday: Posture & Alignment – 6-6:30pm. Assess your posture and learn some techniques for improvement with mindful fitness trainer Ben King. $10. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW (Tenleytown). Register: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

specialevent

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

The Tearoom 2013

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

The Tearoom, an experience of traditions and culture, is an experience design of the rituals, traditions and culture of tea. Tea is a personal experience, so we invite your participation! While you move around the room, use all your senses, imagination while you sip and relax. So what does this experience in The Tearoom hold? Pure hospitality, so please come and enjoy the experience with all your senses. •Tea Desserts will be served compliments of Whole Foods @ Foggy Bottom •Live Music of Africa and Southeast Asia featuring Nistha Raj, The Alice Gu-Zeng Ensemble & Sahel •Meditation with Tea Rituals with Trudy Mitchell-Gilkey •Complimentary Tea Bar sponsored by Teas Etc.

Sunday, September 8 • 12-5pm. The Heritage Center @ The Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Register: SocialArtandCulture.info/the-culture.html

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Why Detoxify – 6-6:30pm. Join Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Karen Threlkel, for a free class explaining the why and how of detoxification, a key step to healing. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Tenleytown. Register: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Sound Healing Certification Intensive – 5-9pm. Participants will learn how to use sound with the intent of bringing balance and healing on all levels, using voice and instruments.$333. Reston Reiki and Self Healing Arts, Sunrise Valley and Hunter Mill Rd, Reston, VA. Register: KarunaJoy1@gmail.com.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

Sound Healing Certification Intensive – 12:308:30pm. See Sept 13 listing. Reston Reiki and Self Healing Arts, Sunrise Valley and Hunter Mill Rd, Reston, VA. Register: KarunaJoy1@gmail.com. Awareness Through Movement – 1-2:30pm. Awareness Through Movement workshops are Feldenkrais based, verbally prompted movement explorations that allow the mover to become aware of their neuromuscular habits gradually. $45. Elements Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC. Register: FrontDesk@ElementsCenter.com. Monthly MAAD (Mood, Attachment & Anxiety Disorders) Dharma Sanga – 4-6pm. With Trudy Ann Mitchell-Gilkey. Take refuge in the power of awareness, understanding and compassion. Not designed to replace psychotherapy, and participants must email facilitator in advance. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Ste 200, Tenleytown. Info:Living-Mindfully.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Sound Healing Certification Intensive – 12:308:30pm. See Sept 13 listing. Reston Reiki and Self Healing Arts, Sunrise Valley and Hunter Mill Rd, Reston, VA. Register: KarunaJoy1@gmail.com. Children & Family Mindfulness Meditation – 4-5pm.With Jennifer Jordan & Ofosu Jones-Quartey. 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, NW, Ste 200, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Let’s Get Organized: Back to Basics – 10:30am12pm. Judy Tiger of Just That Simple shares ‘The Basics”, leaving you with the energy and confidence to tame clutter and live organized. Laurel Beltsville Senior Activity Center, 7120 Contee Rd, Laurel,

Premal and Miten with special guests The Guruganesha Band. Experience the beauty and bliss of the world’s most sacred mantras. $30-$108. University of DC Theater of the Arts, 4200 Connecticut Ave and Windom Pl, NW, DC. Info: BrightStarEvents.net.

MD. Register: 301-206-3350. Infant Massage – 5:15-6:15pm. This 4 week series will provide a hands-on approach to the proven techniques and philosophy of infant massage. Enjoy individualized support as you practice. $120. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC. Register: LilOmm.com. Pantry Rehab – 6-6:30pm. Learn what a healthy pantry looks like and what should stay, and what should go. Nutrition and Lifestyle coach Melissa Windsor, DC, gives a pantry tour in this free class. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW (Tenleytown). Register: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org. Mindfulness Meditation for Happiness and Wellbeing – Mondays Thru Oct 21.7:30-9pm. In this 6 week session, gain an understanding of the benefits of meditation. Learn basic practices of mindfulness meditation to cultivate well-being and peace in daily life. $200. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Ste 200, Tenleytown. Register: Living-Mindfully.org.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18 Graduate Programs Open House – 7-9pm. Explore Maryland University of Integrative Health's academic offerings and learn how our programs can advance your current career or inspire a new path. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Register: MUIH.edu.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

specialevent Rethinking Cancer Natural Awakenings hosts this free event to explore alternative ways to rethink cancer with a panel of experts in nutrition, herbal treatments, and the mind-body connection - for persons dealing with cancer as a patient, care-giver, or concerned person. Participants will have the opportunity to meet in small groups with the experts as a part of the evening’s events. Free.

September 19 • 6:30-9pm. District Wellness, 1608 20th St, NW, DC. Register: RethinkingCancer.EventBrite.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Yoga and Aging – 10-11:30am. Friday’s through December 13. Each week, an experienced teacher will offer a special yoga sequence addressing a different issue. See website for class titles and descriptions. $20/in advance, $22/at the door. Unity Woods Yoga Center, 4853 Cordell Ave, Ste PH7, Bethesda, MD. Info: UnityWoods.com. Itsy Bitsy Yoga Babies – 12-1pm. This 6 week session for newborn to nearly crawling babies, IBY classes contain dozens of unique yoga postures designed to support baby's development. $100. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC. Register: LilOmm.com. Yoga for Teens – 4:15-5:15pm. The teen years are characterized by many rapid physical and social changes. This 10-week session of Teen Yoga cre-

Movie Night, Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare – 7pm. A screening of this 2012 documentary and brief, lively discussion to follow. $10. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW (Tenleytown). Info: 202244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

National Gallery of Art

THURSURDAY, SEPTMBER 26

ates a special space to explore these through yoga, meditation, breathwork, and relaxation. $200. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, DC. Register: LilOmm.com. Charity Happy Hour – 6-9pm. This monthly charity happy hour in DC will benefit the MD/DC Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and its work in the Mid-Atlantic region. $10/suggested donation. “20's and 30’s Going Out Group” from MeetUp. com. Info: Meetup.com/20sand30sGroup.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Green Festival – 10am-6pm. Green Festival offers many activities, including meeting environmental non-profits, learning about sustainable vendors, taking part in workshops, hearing from famous speakers, and more. $10/day pass, $20/weekend pass (if bought online). Green America and Global Exchange, 801 Mt Vernon Pl, NW, DC. Register: GreenFestivals.org/WDC.

SUNDAY, SEPTMBER 22 Fall Rhythm of the Seasons Retreat – 10am-2pm. Designed for women to reconnect with nature and live in harmony with the seasons inspired by The Way of the Happy Woman. Lunch included. $60. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave NW, DC. Register: LilOmm.com. Green Festival – 11am-5pm. See Sept 21 listing. Green America and Global Exchange, 801 Mt Vernon Pl, NW, DC. Register: GreenFestivals.org/WDC.

MONDAY, SEPTMBER 23 BPI Building Analyst – Thru Sept 27. 8am-4pm. Learn whole-building analysis and recommendations to save energy, improve comfort, and increase a home’s safety and durability. BPI Building Analyst certification exams included. $1750. Elysian Energy, 1418 Fenwick Ln, Silver Spring, MD. Register: Training@ElysianEnergy.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTMBER 24 DC Contemplative Lawyers Group – 7-8:30pm. 20 minutes of guided meditation followed by guided discussion. Open to all active and retired lawyers, legal professionals, law students and judges. The Center for Mindful Living, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Ste 200, Tenleytown. Info: Living-Mindfully.org. Mantrafest 2013 – 7pm. An evening with Deva

RH Kitchen: Gluten-Free Savvy – 6-7pm. Nutrition and Lifestyle coach Melissa Windsor, DC, demonstrates easy and delicious gluten free recipes. Taste how wonderful gluten-free can be. Her classes are popular, register early. $35. Restorative Health, 4801 Wisconsin Ave, NW (Tenleytown). Register: 202-244-6661 or RestorativeHealth.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTMBER 28 Chesapeake Herb Gathering – 12-9pm. Chesapeake Herb Gathering annual gathering of our herbal community. Enjoy a day of workshops, local vendors, and networking with local medicine makers, teachers, clinicial herbalists, healers, botanists, birthkeepers, plant geeks, artists, homesteaders, and more. $50. Centro Ashé Farm, 1620 Chester Ave, Bryans Road, MD. Register: Info@CentroAshe.org. Awareness Through Movement– 1-2:30pm. See Sept 14 listing. Elements Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC. Register: FrontDesk@ElementsCenter.com I Can Do It!® Conference –Thru September 29. Hay House’s annual, one-of-a-kind transformational summit is an opportunity to revitalize the soul, enlighten the mind and spirit, and obtain creative strategies for prospering and thriving in the current world climate. Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Register: HayHouse.com/Events.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Reiki I Class – 9am-6pm. Through this one day class, anyone can learn Reiki, a gentle hands-on form of healing energy that brings us back into balance physically and emotionally. $175/Sept 8. New Leaf Acuputure and Reiki, Adams Morgan. Register: Got_Reiki@yahoo.com. Integral Postural Alignment Therapy method ( iPATH ) – 2-3:30pm. As posture deteriorates, joint movements become restricted and the differences between tense and weak muscles places greater stress on the joints. This causes pain, stiffness and loss of motion throughout the body. The Mind /Body awareness technique, Integral Postural Alignment Therapy method ( iPATH ) will help create the ideal posture. Budda B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, NW, Ste 202 (2nd fl), DC. Register: BuddaBYoga.com. Introductory Workshop on Chandra Krama (the Moon Sequence) – 2-4:45 pm. With Rexx Samuell. The Moon Sequence is meant to be practiced on the full moon, the new moon or any time when your energy may be flagging. By practicing an alternative sequence regularly, you can decrease the likelihood of strain and overuse injury. $30. Budda B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, NW, Ste 202 (2nd fl), DC. Register: BuddaBYoga.com.

natural awakenings

September 2013

Understanding the Food Mood Connection – 1-3pm. Discover what to eat, when to eat and how to eat for your body type. Walk away with tools to more effectively balance you and your family's meals. Make the connection. $30. Lil Omm Yoga, 4708 Wisconsin Ave, NW, DC. Register: LilOmm.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Introduction to Yoga for Students Over 50 – 11:45am-1pm. A 4 week introductory course on the fundamentals of yoga, adapted for those over 50. $20/class or $68/course. Unity Woods Yoga Center, 2639 Connecticut Ave, Ste C-102, NW, DC. Register: UnityWoods.com.

plan ahead TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1 Introductory Yoga Series – 7-8am. A 4 week introductory course on the fundamentals of yoga. $20/class or $68/course. Unity Woods Yoga Center, 4853 Cordell Ave, Ste PH7, Bethesda, MD. Register: UnityWoods.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 Redefining Health – 9am-5pm. Gain 20 practical and empowering skills you can use immediately to create more ease and less suffering. $165. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Register: MUIH.edu. Saturday Series: This Present Moment with Bonnie Schmidt – 2-3:30pm. This special 4-week workshop explores the inner workings of anxiety and its effects on our mind and body. Learn yoga poses and breathing techniques specially designed to alleviate stress and anxiety, as well as powerful mental practices to create a total transformation in the way to deal with anxiety in your life. $100/4 weeks, $35/ drop-in. The Yoga Fusion Studio, 4609 Willow Ln, Chevy Chase. Register: TheYogaFusionStudio.com.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 Redefining Health – 9am-5pm. See Oct 5 for details. Maryland University of Integrative Health, 7750 Montpelier Rd, Laurel, MD. Register: MUIH.edu.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 Yoga and the Power of Intention: On & Beyond the Mat – 11am-1:30pm. With Max Strom. This flowing workshop begins very gently and then builds momentum. At the apex of heat and breath we move directly into a special vigorous sequence of postures that bring the mind into stillness and the body into a new state of energy. This class is both challenging and very healing. $40/by Oct 14th, $48/after Oct 14th. Budda B Yoga Center, 1115 U St, NW, Ste 202 (2nd fl), DC. Register: BuddaBYoga.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 The Workshop of Death with Hari-Kirtana Das – 2-4:30pm. The process of yoga is one of identifying and overcoming obstacles to self-realization: illusion, attachments, aversions, our ego, and our fears. All of our fears ultimately roll up to one basic fear: the fear of death. To retreat from death is to retreat from life, to miss out on the full potential of our life offers us.$25/advance,$30/door. The Yoga Fusion Studio, 4609 Willow Ln, Chevy Chase. Register: TheYogaFusionStudio.com.

Washington, D.C.

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 Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market – 8:30am-1pm. A producer-only farmers’ market. Only regional growers from the Chesapeake Bay watershed region (DE, MD, PA, VA and WV) may sell at market. 20th St, NW (between Massachusetts Ave & Hillyer Place NW) and the adjacent bank parking lot. More info: 202-362-8889. Open Level GYROTONIC® Group – 10-11am. This class is open to all experience levels and provides a well rounded, fundamental GYROTONIC® work out 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. Community Yoga Class – 11:30am-12:30pm. Open Level 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.

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

ages to connect with other mothers, ask questions of the IBCLC and find support for breastfeeding related challenges. $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.

tuesday Early Morning Meditation – 7:30-8:15 am. SeeMonday 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. Chair Massage – 9am-2pm. Have a bit to eat and then get a refreshing, 10- or 15-minute massage every Tuesday and Thursday in Takoma Park. $10-15. Capital City Cheesecake, 7071 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, Md. Massage2Day.com. Open Level GYROTONIC® Group – 1-2pm. See Sunday for details. Elements Fitness & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com. 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. 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.

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.

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.

Breastfeeding Mothers’ Support Group – 5:156:15pm. 2nd Mon. Mothers bring your babies of all

Advanced GYROTONIC® Group – 10-11am. See Monday for details. $35/session. Elements Fitness

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

wednesday

and individual therapy also available. $20. Meets at Seekers Church, 276 Carroll St, NW, near the Takoma Metro. For more 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.

friday & Wellness Center, 2233 Wisconsin Ave, Ste 217, NW. Info: ElementsCenter.com. Organizing For the Season – 10:30am-12pm. Professional organizer Judy Tiger, owner of DC-based Just That Simple, shares tips on putting away winter clothes and organizing for spring and summer. Laurel Beltsville Senior Activity Center, 7120 Contee Rd, Laurel. Registration required: 301-206-3350. Just-That-Simple.net. 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 250-300 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. More 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 Matching 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. More info: 202-362-8889. 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

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 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. 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.

Coming in October

Sustaining a Healthy Environment Daily Choices We Make Determine the Well-Being of Our Planet.

saturday Mount Pleasant Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm. A producer-only farmers’ market that supplies the Mount Pleasant neighborhood with local fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, cakes, flowers, plants and prepared foods. Some producers are certified organic or use chemical-free methods, and the meat and dairy is free range. Producers are all located within 125 miles of Washington DC. Lamont Park, corner of 17th & Lamont NW. Info: Mtpfm.org. 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.

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

202-505-4835

natural awakenings

September 2013

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. AYURVEDA

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.

IX CHEL WELLNESS

202-630-2435 • Adam@IxChelWellness.com IxChelWellness.com We provide acupuncture and Intuitive Reiki services. Our mission is to heal our patients, ourselves, each other and our communities. See ad, page 7.

APURVA AYURVEDA HEALING CENTER 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.

CONSULTING GRACE PRODUCTIONS Grace Ogden, Principal 301-445-6771 GraceProductions.co

Grace Ogden leads this consulting and event production firm that supports progressive social change with an awareness of why spiritual principles and practices matter. See ad, page 27.

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.

COUNSELING MARY KENDELL, MS, NP

Couples Therapy GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055, 202-300-4981 Gwcim.com • SexMatters2Me@gmail.com Evaluation, treatment, counseling, and education for all sexual health concerns. See ad, page 2.

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

$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.

ARCHITECT HELICON WORKS

7108 Holly Ave, Takoma Park 301-404-5578 HeliconWorks.com

NATALIE X. KORYTNYK, PHD

Individual & Couples Therapy GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 Gwcim.com

Ecologically sensitive architecture and building practices, responding to people and place.

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.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.

C R E A TIV E C O U N S E LI N G A N D COACHING SERVICES, LLC Individual and Group Therapy & Life Coaching 240-354-3854 CreativeCounselingandCoaching.com

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

FITNESS FLEXAWARE® 202-319-9279 FlexAware.com

Move and live the way you were born to—free of pain, and with ease and joy! FlexAware is the real physical education we didn’t get in school. It’s also the continuing education in fitness we need as we age. See ad, page 22.

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 7.

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 34.

HERBS GREEN COMFORT HERBAL APOTHECARY & SCHOOL OF HERBAL MEDICINE 540-937-4283 Green.Comfort@gmail.com

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. See ad, page 15.

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.

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.

HYDROTHERAPY

subspecialties. See ad, page 2.

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

202-280-3349 Info@LifePotentialist.com LifePotentialist.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.

MIKHAIL KOGAN, MD

GW Center for Integrative Medicine 202-833-5055 Gwcim.com Dr. Kogan is Medical Director of GW Center for Integrative Medicine where he provides integrative consultations and primary care. In addition, he does geriatric consultations at GW University Hospital and makes home visits to frail patients. See ad, page 2.

VITALITY CLEANSING

RESTORATIVE HEALTH

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.

Restorative Health Center for Integrative Medicine is a patient-focused medical center dedicated to helping people achieve optimal health. Using a multidisciplinary approach to treatments, 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 43.

571-331-1497 Inquiry@VitalityCleansing.com

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

Classical Chinese medicine, Japanese-style acupuncture, pain and stress management, chronic issues, family care, women’s health, pregnancy, children, Kiiko Matsumoto-style acupuncture, moxibustion, integrative medicine. See ad, page 2.

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

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

SEE POTENTIAL LIFE COACHING

4801 Wisconsin Ave NW 202-244-6661 RestorativeHealth.org

LIFE COACH HOLISTIC AWARENESS CENTER ValerieStanley@hotmail.com

Life coaching by Valerie Stanley moves you in the right direction for long-term authentic happiness. It helps you to answer many of the questions in your life about love, marriage, and work. Guidance that is down to earth yet out of this world. See ad, page 33.

Create positive growth in all areas of life with a ff o r d a b l e l i f e coaching — greater work/life balance, career development, stress management, wellness, and stronger leadership skills. See ad, page 19.

MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE POWER SUPPLY

MyPowerSupply.com Power Supply and the Mindful Chef have come together to provide fresh, tasty, all-natural and nutritious meals. Just order online, pickup, heat and enjoy. Mixatarian and Vegetarian choices made with local and organic when possible. No gluten or dairy. Order once or recurring meal plans up to 10 per week. See ad, page 24.

MEDITATION 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.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS MARIANNA LEDENAC, ND

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

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

Robyn Povich, Certified Professional Coach, Arbinger trained Coach, and Certified Facilitator of The Work™. She offers private sessions, retreats, workshops and teleclasses. Become more present and empowered in your life. See ad, page 23.

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.

natural awakenings

September 2013

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS ALOE WELLNESS

5840 MacArthur Blvd NW, Ste 2, DC 202-966-2563 AloeWellnessDC.com

REIKI

YOGA

LUANN JACOBS, SLP/RMT

BELOVED YOGA

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

2001 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston BelovedYoga.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.

Our Naturopathic physicians, acupuncturist, massage therapist, reiki practitioner, and life coach provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to achieving optimal health and wellness.

NUTRITION GOûTER

THERAPEUTIC YOGA

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.

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 meditation are offered by appointment with GW Center for Integrative Medicine. See ad, page 2.

wellness 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.

Raw living d-light 571-471-2891 luzy@RawLivingDLight RawLivingDLight.com

Alkaline foods to restore your health and nourish your body. Microgreens and sprouts, foods for superior health. Classes, workshops and private consultation. Available for lectures and home growing consultations. See ad, page 10.

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

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 10.

Washington, D.C.

ELEMENTS FITNESS AND WELLNESS CENTER 2233 Wisconsin, Ste 217, DC 20007 202-333-5252 • ElementsCenter.com

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com

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 7

eXTEND YOGA

12106 Wilkins Ave, Rockville 301-881-3330 • extendYoga.com 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, well-being, family and spirituality.

DESAI HEALTH AND WELLNESS

YES! ORGANIC MARKET

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.

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 25. ®

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 26.

Y’S ELEMENTS

202-246-9592 YaelFlusberg@gmail.com • YaelFlusberg.com Experienced yoga therapist/coach available for group and individual sessions drawing from a deep well of creative, somatic and reflective methods to help you flourish. See ad, page 29.

The power of lifestyle medicine is here today. Integrative & Naturopathic Medicine Nutrition & Lifestyle Coaching Healthy Living Classes

Healing Therapies including acupuncture,

Join us for monthly Healthy Living Classes

allergy elimination, nutrition, digestive healing,

on topics including healthy foods & cooking,

hormone therapy, immune support, infrared

healing therapies, fitness, mindfulness, and

sauna & detoxification, prolotherapy, pain relief

(just for fun!) documentary movie nights.

& management. MD exams covered by most major insurance.

Visit www.restorativehealth.org

4801 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016. For appointments & information: 202.244.6661 or info@restorativehealth.org natural awakenings

September 2013

Live happier, healthier, and more intentionally.

WA S H I N G TO N D . C . S E P T E M B E R 28 - 29 , 2 0 1 3 G AY L O R D N AT I O N A L R E S O R T & CONVENTION CENTER

Attend To Energize Your Mind, Body and Spirit! KRIS CARR New York Times best-selling author, motivational speaker and wellness activist, Kris directed and starred in Crazy Sexy Cancer, an inspirational documentary that chronicled her journey from cancer diagnosis to juicy healthy living. DR. WAYNE DYER An internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development, Dr. Dyer is the author of New York Times bestsellers including Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life, Excuses Be Gone, and his newest release, Wishes Fulfilled: Mastering the Art of Manifesting. NICK ORTNER Producer of the documentary film, The Tapping Solution, Nick is a searcher, constantly reading, exploring and experimenting with emotional freedom techniques (EFT) that can change lives. BRIAN L. WEISS, M.D. Best-selling author of Many Lives, Many Masters, psychiatrist and past life regression expert, Dr. Weiss continues to help people release anxieties and fears.

IYANLA VANZANT Founder and executive director of Inner Visions International and the Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development, Iyanla is the author of 13 titles—including five New York Times bestsellers. CAROLINE MYSS Five time New York Times bestselling author, Caroline is recognized as one of the world’s leading voices in the fields of human consciousness, spirituality, and health. ANITA MOORJANI Author of Dying to Be Me, Anita recounts her fascinating and moving near-death experience in early 2006 following an end-stage cancer diagnosis including the depths and insights she gained while in the other realm that tremendously changed her perspective on life. TIM RYAN Currently serving in his fifth term representing Ohio’s 17th Congressional District, Tim Ryan continues to be an outspoken advocate for promoting mindful meditation as an aid to dealing with the variety of complex problems facing the nation.

Join Us to Be Entertained . . . Get Educated…Live a Better Life! Register Early and Save! Call 800-654-5126 or visit www.hayhouse.com/events This Event Will Sell Out! 44

Washington, D.C.

NaturalAwakeningsDC.com