Bellasparkmagazine marapr2016

March/April 2016

Igniting Change

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contents

March/April 2016 • Issue 128

4 6 8 30 33

features 9

Oatmeal for Insomniacs!

Collin Ruiz

10

Nutrition for Intuition Doreen Virtue and Robert Reeves

13

departments Publisher's Note Sparks Trending Sandra Recommends Holistic Directory

Beating Food Sensitivities Amber Currie

14

On The Road Again Suzanne Rouge

18

Create Some Calm!

10

Mary Beth Kennedy

19

True Communication Requires Your Presence

14

Leslie Shore

21

Forest Bathing Donna Mazzitelli

22

Wholetones: The Healing Frequency Music Project Lynette Chilcott

24

Watsu: A Spiritual Experience Phyllis K. Kennemer

26

Aiming High: The art, the practice and the gift of conscious aging Ron Pevny

34

Facials… A Beautiful Way to Relax and Rejuvenate Mary Barghelame

columns 28

Foodie Corner: Fresh Veggies Will Not Disappoint! Enjoy Garden Patties with Avocado Cream Dressing Barb Combs

29

Foodie Corner: Nostalgic for Home Cooking?

Try Ribs & Kraut Jordan Danz

35

Leveling Up : Introducing the Abundance3 Coaching Program Sandra G. Malhotra

19 The opinions expressed in articles and advertisements are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or other contributors.

BellaSpark Magazine is brought to you by our advertisers. Your support of these businesses and services encourages freedom of choice in health care in our community. Join us in thanking them for their support — please tell them you saw their ad in BellaSpark.

For help with advertising, call 408-821-8341

www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

1

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Copyright

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,PSJO 0XFOT - "D (License #1621 CO) Korin is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist who specializes in women’s health. Her passion is in pregnancy and postpartum care.

She graduated from PaciďŹ c College of Oriental Medicine with a Master’s of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine in 2006.

She is a registered acupuncturist in Colorado and Nationally Board CertiďŹ ed as a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine.

8 .PVOUBJO "WF 'PSU $PMMJOT $PMPSBEP Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday & Saturday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm Closed Wednesday & Thursday

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Publisher’s Note

DONNA VISOCKY & SANDRA MALHOTRA

It’s the Season of Change

I

t is with much joy, tinged with a bit of sadness, that I announce that BellaSpark Magazine has a new owner. I have been searching and waiting with much anticipation the arrival of just the right person to take over the reins of this publication, a vehicle that has been such an important part of my soul’s journey. That person came to me in a synchronistic, almost magical way and I have no doubt it was divinely guided. Spirit is moving me in a new direction as I let go of the past and look forward to the future; I am excited to see what it holds for me. I thank all of you who have played a role in my journey: writers, editors, graphic designers, distributors, printers, advertisers, all who have read BellaSpark Magazine and supported me over the years and especially my husband Bob. I am truly blessed to have walked this path with all of you.

Please meet Sandra Malhotra, radio host, writer and inspired change maker.

Sandra has much passion and a wonderful vision for the magazine and its message. I know she will take it to the next level and be an informed source of knowledge and inspiration for you our readers. I invite you to welcome her with an open heart as she takes you on a new journey. It’s going to be an exciting one.

Wishing you much joy, love and laughter and reminding you to always let your light shine.

You ARE a Beautiful Spark.

Sarah M. Babbitt Licensed Massage Therapist

Celebrating 20 Years in Practice Swedish Pregnancy Neuromuscular Trigger Point Lymphatic Drainage Myofascial Release On-site Chair

(970) 472-0766 sarahbabbitt.massagetherapy.com

T

hank you, Donna, for the kind introduction and all you have done to make BellaSpark Magazine what it is today.

You’ve touched many lives with your wisdom and kindness. We wish you much success as you embark on the next chapter of your life and career. Please stay in touch!

It has been said that the only constant in life is change. I invite you all on a journey of change, in which we will push the boundaries but maintain the heart and soul that makes BellaSpark special. We will continue to be a premiere source of information and inspiration about lifestyles that regenerate the body, mind, spirit and planet. But you’ll see an updated look, name (“Regenerate Magazine”), social media presence, and additional columns and features. In this issue, you’ll see the new Trending and Level Up features. In the next issue, there will be more. Growing and evolving is going to be exciting — onward, my friends!

P.S. I also love talking about health, wellness, and expansion on my radio show, Generation Regeneration, where I feature life coaches, food movement activists, holistic healers, and more. Tune in live on Tuesdays at 12 p.m. Pacific/3 p.m.

Eastern at gr.voiceamerica.com or catch the podcast On Demand. Donna joined us on February 9th and discussed her wonderful book I’ll Meet You at the Base of the Mountain, which is a testament to her amazing ability to embrace and convey the deep spiritual lessons that followed her daughter’s untimely passing.

4 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

Exploring the Afterlife WITH BRUCE MOEN

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5

Sparks

Campbell’s Supports GMO Labeling The Campbell Soup Company has announced its support of federal legislation to establish a single mandatory labeling standard for foods derived from genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) and plans to voluntarily disclose the presence of GMO’s in all its foods in the absence of such a standard.

Campbell’s has also withdrawn its support from the efforts of groups working to oppose federal GMO labeling, such as the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

“This announcement is a major victory for consumers and sets Campbell’s apart from many of its industry peers. 92 percent of Americans support GMO labeling, so Campbell’s commitment to transparency in its ingredients will be warmly welcomed by U.S. consumers,” said Elizabeth O’Connell, director of consumer advocacy for Green America. “Campbell’s is going far beyond any of its competitors to support the people’s Right to Know what’s in their food.”

GMO labeling is now required in Vermont, where Campbell’s has introduced packaging that discloses if a product contains GMO ingredients. Campbell’s announced that if a federal labeling standard could not be agreed upon, the company was prepared to label all of its U.S. products for the presence of GMO ingredients.

“Campbell’s decision to withdraw its support from anti-labeling efforts and voluntarily disclose its GMO ingredients on its packaging sets the company apart from other consumer packaged goods companies,” said Todd Larsen, co-executive director of Green America. “Other companies should take note of consumer preference and follow Campbell’s lead in disclosing GMO’s.”

In 2015, Campbell’s announced new lines of organic soups that contained no GMO’s and also announced it would remove MSG from its soups, as well as organic wheat versions of its iconic Goldfish crackers.

Source: GreenAmerica.org

The 5-Minute Fix to Improve Your Day We attract whatever mood we are putting out. If we’re angry and negative, more negativity will come our way. If we smile in spite of difficulties, positive things will begin to take shape. The truth is, all of us have the ability to turn any bad mood around rather quickly if we set our mind to it. The secret is to immerse ourselves in something we love. And it just takes 5 minutes – 5 minutes of complete and utter love.

Find something that always makes you smile, whether it’s your favorite song, a steaming cup of hot cocoa, standing in the sunshine or looking at a favorite photo or scene. Whatever it is, completely immerse yourself in it for 5 minutes. Rather than focus on the frustrating events of your day, fully engage in this positive activity. Blast your favorite song on your headphones or radio and sing along and dance. Allow happiness to flood you. Most of the time, this small break from the issues of your day will be enough to turn your day and your mood around.

Source: care2.com

Get Your Vitamin D From Mushrooms Store-bought mushrooms contain on average 2.3 mcg of vitamin D per 100 grams (about 3-4 mushrooms), which is 23 percent of your daily needs. This number can be greatly increased when mushrooms get additional sun.

A study by the University of Sydney found that mushrooms left in the midday sun for about one hour produced roughly 10 mcg of vitamin D per 100 gram serving. Another found that a short burst of UV-B rays increased vitamin D2 levels to 17.6 mcg per 100 grams, equal to levels found in other food sources of vitamin D, such as fatty fish.

This is a big dose of the sunshine vitamin. Be sure to check with your doctor before replacing vitamin D supplements with natural alternatives, but mushrooms are a great way to boost your levels naturally. Simply allow your mushrooms to sunbathe outside or on an open windowsill for 1-2 hours to create your own natural vitamin D “supplement”… one that actually tastes good, too.

Source: care2.com

Donna Mazzitelli 6 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

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Trending

Welcome to the new Trending feature. Here, we will discuss what’s hot and what’s not in life, the universe and everything. For this issue, what’s hot is meeting joyfully and mindfully… not drunkenly. Gathering over an artful cocktail with friends is still fabulous, but getting wasted as a way of socializing is not. That’s so 1980s (and yes, I grew up in the 1980s so I would know). How about bringing your green drink to a meet-up of awesome, like-minded people?

Yes! No regrets, no hang-overs, just a wonderful time and energy for that morning run or yoga class. Many excellent adventures can be had while completely sober. Here are a few that are happening across the country:

Wanderlust Festivals (http://wanderlust.com/festivals/) Wanderlust Festivals are billed as all-out celebrations of mindful living. They bring together a remarkable group of yoga and meditation instructors, musical performers, speakers, artists and chefs for transformational retreats in the world’s most aweinspiring natural resorts. They create an experience that gets into your mind, body and soul. For 2016, they have festivals in North America scheduled for Hawaii, West Virginia, Vermont, Colorado, California, British Columbia and Quebec. It is said that Wanderlust is an experience that leaves you different than when you came — with new ideas, new friends, newly discovered abilities and greater peace. Like it. Love it. Need to attend the one in CO.

Daybreaker (http://dybrkr.com/) How about a glittery dance party before work? This is an idea whose time has come, right?! Why not show up to the office with a smile and spring in your step. Daybreaker organizes sober morning raves in major cities across the globe. If there’s not one yet in your city, then you can apply to be a producer on their website. But get ready to answer questions like: Are you awesome? Are you immortal? What’s your daily level of mischief?

The Big Quiet (http://www.bigquiet.nyc/) Meditating with others can be fun and impactful. Medi Club, a group of Modern Meditators, organized its first free mass meditation in Central Park in NYC in June 2015, and more events are to follow. Their mission is to make meditation part of our culture and foster a sense of community and interconnectedness.

And here’s the truly awesome part — there’s an after party. I love this modern twist on meditation. Time is spent quieting the mind and looking inward, and then you party like it’s 1999 with a likeminded, sober community.

Source: http://wanderlust.com/journal/its-hip-to-be-sober/ by Andrea Rice.

Sandra G. Malhotra 8 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

Body

Oatmeal for Insomniacs!

Collin Ruiz

“What, it’s not my insomnia but what I’m eating?” asked Bill. “Yes, that is what I’m saying!” As a Holistic Nutritionist, I have heard many people complain that by the afternoon they have trouble concentrating, their patience is growing short, and their cravings for junk food is at an all time high. Eating the right things at the right time can set you up for success, energy during the day AND a good night’s sleep!

B

ill was a former weight lifter who was used to eating a high protein (animal) breakfast (what I call a Cowboy Breakfast: steak and eggs). He switched to eating oatmeal for breakfast in an attempt to lower his cholesterol.

He was experiencing issues with insomnia and low energy in the afternoons.

When I met Bill he was treating his energy slump by adding vitamin supplements. After feeling an energy crash, most people reach for stimulants: caffeine, sugar, cigarettes or energy drinks. These are all Band-Aids.

Matching nutritional needs and timing of meals helps maintain adequate energy reserves throughout the day.

In Bill’s case I recommended that his breakfast and lunch include high protein animal AND plant based foods while reducing his carbohydrates and eliminating fruit. I also recommended adding adaptogens for adrenal support.

Adaptogens are herbs that adapt to the individual needs of the body to provide essential support for your adrenal system. For example, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Astragalus root (Astragalus membranaceus) and Rhodiola rosea help to manage the body's response to stress.

Next we looked at how to align Bill’s nutritional needs to tackle his insomnia.

Popular sleep aids include melatonin, valerian root and pharmaceutical sleep aids such as Ambian. However, what people eat for dinner or take before

going to bed often doesn't help their body prepare for sleep. For example, Bill was eating between 7:30 or 8:00 p.m., when it would have been better for him to eat at 5:00 pm and then have a snack an hour before bed. That is exactly what I recommended, and the snack before bed? Oatmeal!

Oatmeal is typically recommended to lower cholesterol; however it is also a source of tryptophan. This makes oatmeal perfect for eating at night an hour before bed.

Because Bill has high cholesterol, I recommended supplementing his oatmeal with hemp hearts, chia seeds, ground flax seed and pumpkin seeds.

Not only are these heart-healthy foods, they have the added benefit of considerable amounts of protein.

Pumpkin seeds have significantly more tryptophan than oatmeal and they have more protein per ounce than turkey!

Plus add a non-dairy milk, oat milk and cinnamon and you now have insomniacs’ oatmeal!

Not everyone is a Cowboy Breakfast person. There are others I call Sunrise Breakfast people. These people are hungry the minute they wake up and their body requires a high plant-protein breakfast such as the insomniacs’ oatmeal described above or a grain with lots of nuts and seeds; for instance, rice porridge with hemp hearts, chia seeds and cashews.

Other foods that help the body

prepare for sleep include comfort foods. Although carbohydrates (bread and pasta) are typically comfort foods, whole grains with essential fatty acids are especially comforting. That is why my insomniac oatmeal is so good for you at bedtime. Couple this with a dinner of salmon, rice and vegetables (spinach, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, yams or winter squash) is perfect for insomniacs.

Insomnia can be a difficult problem to tackle because of the wide variety of primary and secondary causes. For example the pineal gland is responsible for producing melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. And melatonin is produced when you are sleeping. If you aren’t sleeping then you aren’t making melatonin; if you aren’t making melatonin, you aren’t sleeping! This is why nutritional balance, supplementation and timing of meals can set you up for true health.

Collin Ruiz believes holistic nutrition includes consciously eating healthy foods that promote vibrant physical and mental health, while supporting a strong immune system and preventing disease. With a Masters degree in nutrition and incorporating muscle testing to evaluate nutritional options, Collin strives to integrate a balanced eating plan into her client’s lives. www.HolisticNutritionFood.com ruizcollin@gmail.com 970-631-1830

www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

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Body

The following is an excerpt from Nutrition for Intuition by Doreen Virtue and Robert Reeves. It is published by Hay House (January 5, 2016) and is available in bookstores and online at www.hayhouse.com

Nutrition for Intuition When you meet someone, you can immediately tell if you like him or her or if something about what he or she is saying rings untrue.

Practical Intuition Our intuition is an inner voice that speaks with an essence of love.

As we connect to that loving energy, we feel supported. We feel relaxed and safe, knowing that everything happening at this moment has a greater purpose.

Begin with those small calls to action, the ones that say, Today reach out to your friend, because who knows what that friend is going through at this moment? Understand that those gut feelings, and that sense of urgency behind them, may very well be lifesaving for that dear loved one of yours.

If you “hold on” to that intuitive guidance, it’s like a mail carrier receiving a parcel and refusing to deliver it. If you keep it to yourself, only one person is going to benefit from it, and that’s you. However, if you choose to share that message – to have the courage and the

10 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

confidence to speak what you feel – then it may change the lives of your loved ones and allow them to feel happier and freer... and be inspired to then trust their own gut feelings.

They, in turn, will share their intuitive messages, and that ripple effect spreads.

As you listen to your inner guidance, it may tell you something simple, such as Switch lanes, while you’re driving in the car. It may become more complex, such as, You need to leave that relationship, You need to change careers, or You need to move.

Your intuition can be like an internal lie detector. When you meet someone, you can immediately tell if you like him or her or if something about what he or she is saying rings untrue. You get a sense of somebody’s energy the instant that you make a connection, and your internal lie detector says, Yes, this is a

wonderful person! Or, it does the opposite and tells you to get as far away as you possibly can.

Sometimes you pick up on different energies when you’re in somebody’s home. Do you feel uplifted, or do you get a sense that the person is just trying to impress you? Is that energy stagnant with negativity? You’ll know.

So please trust the messages that you receive when you meet somebody or when you enter a new environment. Do so especially if you’re going to see practitioners or healers, because if you go into a space feeling uncertain or afraid, that’s a sign to step back.

This is something that we’ve learned to listen to when we’ve been invited to attend particular seminars.

We feel that our purpose here on Earth is to help as many people as we can. We hope to spread healing messages about spirituality, natural health, God, and the angels. But we still have to trust our own intuition.

Sometimes we get invited to speak at events that sound wonderful, but there’s something in our gut that says, Don’t do it.

When we trust that information, even though it might feel uncomfortable at the time, we’re then able to look back on that event at a later date and understand why we were guided to stay away. Often it’s not because the organizers or attendees were “bad” or anything like that, but rather something else came up that more urgently required our attention. We might not have been able to give 100 percent at that particular event. Perhaps we’d been so busy throughout the year that we needed some time to rest.

As you listen to your intuition, you learn that the way in which God and your angels communicate with you is special and unique because you are special and unique. Rather than

feeling like you have to fit inside a box, honor your own perceptions.

Trust your intuition. Truly, it’s the heavenly voice of God and your angels coming through.

Science and Intuition At one time, intuition was considered an old wives’ tale. Today, researchers have solid scientific foundations for the process of intuition. Dozens of studies support the value of intuition in decision making and finding creative

neither the participants nor the researchers know beforehand which type of image the person being studied will see. The studies show that our bodies “know” when something emotionally charged is coming our way.

Perhaps you’ve had this experience yourself when you woke up feeling excited or happy for no known reason. Or, similarly, you felt a sense of dread on a day when something unforeseen and unpleasant later occurred.

The studies show that our bodies “know” when something emotionally charged is coming our way. solutions to problems. A recent study stated that medical doctors can achieve better outcomes in their patients’ care by calling upon their intuition when making decisions.

The researchers concluded, “Intuitive and analytical decision processes may have complementary effects in achieving the desired outcomes of patient decision support” (de Vries et al. 2013). A related study found that farmers use intuition more than analytics.

Many studies have focused on our physical reactions to various situations, measuring blood pressure, brain waves, perspiration and heart rate in response to stimuli, such as looking at emotionally charged photos or video clips. In some intriguing experiments, the participants’ heart and other systems were shown to react to a photo or video even before the people being studied were shown the stimulus.

Most of these experiments are “double-blind,” which means that

Research has demonstrated that our palms begin to sweat when we’re around something harsh or dangerous several minutes before our conscious minds can register the threat. This makes sense, as the hands have a high number of sensory neuronal connections to the nervous system. Scientists believe that if we could learn to pay attention to our palms’ subtle signals, including perspiration, it would enable us to be consciously be aware of — and avoid — danger.

Similar studies find that our heart rate and blood pressure increase when people are directing negative thoughts our way, and that these functions relax and decrease when others are thinking positive thoughts about us. It turns out that “sending love” is a measurable energy!

Intuition Works with the Body’s Systems Our ancient ancestors relied on their intuition to ensure their

www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

11

Imagine the vulnerable feeling of walking outside to forage for food, where you depend on your wits to stay alive.

physical safety. Imagine the vulnerable feeling of walking outside to forage for food, where you depend on your wits to stay alive. This is the same built-in system wild animals use for survival. While we now shop in grocery stores for food and live in houses, this doesn’t mean that our ancestors’ instincts have “evolved away.”

Researchers have pinpointed the brain’s right hemisphere, which is associated with emotions and the arts, as the center of our intuition.

Additionally, the autonomic nervous system, also called our “ancient brain,” appears to be hardwired to instinctively react to potential danger in a way that could be called “intuitive.” The brain’s limbic system — our feeling center — can sense danger detected by the autonomic nervous system before it’s physically apparent. In this way, our intuition

(if we listen to it) keeps us safe.

In the face of stress, our nervous and endocrine systems work closely together to bring about harmony and

12 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

balance. These two systems are linked by the hypothalamus, a structure in the brain’s limbic system. While the endocrine system is made up of many glands, the most important to know in regard to stress and intuition are the pituitary and adrenal glands. Let’s look at how all these systems work together.

When your nervous system recognizes a stressor, it sends a message to the hypothalamus, which then releases hormones to deliver the message to the pituitary gland.

Next, the pituitary sends out hormones influencing the adrenal glands. In turn, this causes your adrenals to release a hormone to reduce the effects of the stress. This pattern continues until your body is satisfied that you have enough stress-relieving hormones available.

Your body then relaxes, and the nervous system calms.

However, if stress continues for extended periods of time, the biological exchange of neuromessages and hormones may become unbalanced. If the hypothalamus, pituitary, or adrenal glands become depleted, it creates a strain along the cascade. This causes a change in your stress response, energy levels and hormones.

By supporting your endocrine and nervous systems nutritionally, you will help keep your intuition clear and sharp. And, conversely, listening to your intuition is a big factor in reducing your stress levels, as it will guide you to avoid stress-producing situations in the first place. Your intuition may also lead you to a stress-management program that’s custom-tailored to your interests, schedule, and budget.

Amanda Smith, Assistant Publicist, Hay House, Inc., 646.484.4968, 250 Park Ave. South, Suite 201, New York, New York 10003 www.hayhouse.com® and HayHouseRadio.com®

Body

Beating Food Sensitivities Amber Currie

Do you find meals challenging because it’s hard to know what is going to agree with you? Well, you are not alone.

F

ood sensitivities affect as many as 90 percent of people according to Theron Randolph, known as the father of environmental medicine. Most of these people don’t realize that their symptoms are related to the food they eat daily. Are you one of them?

I am a classically trained homeopath who works with people with digestive disorders, food sensitivities and related chronic issues. People are more aware that food sensitivities exist, though there is still confusion about what they are.

So what is a food sensitivity? It means you have an unpleasant reaction to certain foods. Common reactions are heartburn, gas or nausea. Surprisingly, symptoms such as headaches, coughing, acne, mood swings, trouble focusing on mental work, and pronounced sleepiness are also associated with food sensitivities.

To make things trickier, food sensitivities can be inconsistent. Maybe you have heartburn every time you eat tomato sauce, or maybe it only bothers you when eaten with cheese, or if your stress is high, or if you’re wearing silver jewelry (because you might have a slight sensitivity to silver, too). That is the nature of food sensitivity. It’s variable.

This differs from food allergy, which is defined as a consistent immune system response to a particular protein found in food. Usually these are classified as either IgG or IgE responses. Rashes, swelling, or breathing difficulties can result within minutes or hours after the protein was eaten.

Food sensitivity, on the other hand, triggers white blood cells in the body to release pro-inflammatory mediators.

Besides making you feel bad, the resulting inflammation is suspected to contribute to many serious health problems.

In my clinical work I always consider the role of food sensitivity in health problems. Then I work to help the person’s body resolve those sensitivities, which is possible for most people.

Why are there so many people with food sensitivities now?

There are a few theories. One observation is that genetically modified foods (GMOs) started making their way into the food

chain at the same time food allergies began rising in the 1990s.

In 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine stated that, “Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with genetically modified food,” including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal tract. (http://www.aaemonline.org/gmo.php).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits use of genetically modified organisms in organic products. So it makes sense to make organic products your first choice of food.

Another theory is that our fixation with anti-bacterial everything and a lack of exposure to what were previously normal childhood illnesses contribute to immune systems that don’t develop the way they could.

Have a pet if you can. Let kids get dirty, and spend some time getting dirty yourself. Working an organic garden is a great way to do that and provides multiple benefits for health.

Then there’s leaky gut syndrome. Many in integrative medicine tag this as a major cause of food allergies. The working theory is that leaky gut is caused by: • The standard American diet (SAD) • Unnecessary antibiotics, which destroy the beneficial microbes in our bodies, freeing up space for pathogens, which damage our digestive tract and make it “leaky” • Chronic stress, which weakens the immune system as a whole • Environmental toxins such as pesticides, smog, fluoride in our water, and pain killers, which overwhelm our bodies’ native detoxification abilities Choosing nutritious, organic foods and natural medicine that does not damage beneficial microbes in your body, reducing stress, and avoiding toxins can all help your body function as it should Amber Currie, CHom C.HP CCH(Cand) is a classically trained homeopath, a certified homeoprophylaxis supervisor, and a certified professional BioSET practitioner at Rocky Mountain Homeopathy LLC in Loveland. 970-412-7777 www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

13

On The Road Again Suzanne Rouge

14 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

R Hemp was once a crop deemed necessary for building a strong America, and came to save the day in the “Hemp for Victory” campaign during WWII.

ick Trojan will be behind the wheel. Before planting nearly 300 acres and starting the largest hemp farm in the nation, Rick educated himself about hemp, its history, the motivations behind domestic prohibition, and the global impact of the plant. Learning firsthand about the cultivation, harvesting, processing and distribution of industrial hemp and the legal challenges inherent therein, Rick decided to create the Hemp Road Trip and attack the problem of prohibition through nationwide education and outreach.

The road ahead is cluttered with misinformation from the past that has thwarted the once prolific hemp harvest. Hemp was once a crop deemed necessary for building a strong America, and came to save the day in the “Hemp for Victory” campaign during WWII. Hemp was literally cut down because of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, and was effectively turned over into the soil in the 1950s. Fear mongering propaganda campaigns sponsored by the paper and oil industries influenced politicians to prohibit hemp production by inaccurately associating it with its cannabis cousin marijuana.

One cannot get a high from hemp,unlike marijuana. Hemp products can however, feed one with the most nourishing

Sustainability

With a Willie Nelson guitar on board, The Hemp Road Trip will be rolling into towns and onto campuses across the U.S. in a rig geared up with hemp clothing, body products and illustrations of the way BMW and Mercedes use hemp composites in the manufacturing of their cars. However,they won’t be driving an auto like the one Henry Ford created twelve years after he saw where the car industry was headed. Ford addressed the problems of car collisions and gasoline pollution by creating a car made of hemp and sisal which ran on hemp ethanol. It could withstand a sledge hammer without a dent. Consider the lives that could have been saved from crumpled metal crashes. protein on earth, clothe one in durable material that protects one from UV rays, and provide body products that are healthy for skin and hair. Hemp products have the potential to replace toxic plastics that put cancer-feeding mock estrogens into our bodies that can increase infertility rates.

A hemp home is free of mold, mildew and termites and provides protection from outside pollution; its antimicrobial properties purify the air inside. Hemp homes are water, fire and earthquake resistant and will last 300 years or more. Hemp oil once greased machinery and most resins, varnishes and paints were made out of flax and hemp oils.

Hemp was used in drafting the constitution. Hemp paper is preferred for Bibles because it is long-lasting and doesn’t yellow.

Because of its low lignin content, hemp can be pulped using fewer chemicals than wood. Its natural brightness can obviate the need to use chlorine bleach, which means no

www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

15

side of the bus can yield seven million views. You can donate gas and expense money at http://hemproadtrip.com/donate.html.

HEMP-EPIC-NESS! Happening Here At Home

extremely toxic dioxin being dumped into streams. A hemp field can yield four times what an average forest can yield. Think of the old growth forests which would have been saved by a crop that can be harvested three times a year.

Hemproadtrip.com will be following the National Primary trail to raise awareness among people and politicians about the advantages of reintroducing hemp to revitalize our economy and move toward the goal of sustainability.

The ultimate destination is Washington, DC, where participants will attempt to persuade senators and representatives to remove harmless hemp from the controlled substance list so it can again be planted in any state in the union.

The purpose of the trip is to educate citizenry, gather commitments from co-sponsors of the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015, influence state senators and representatives, promote domestic hemp businesses, educate farmers on the benefits of planting hemp and to document the nationwide campaign. All along the Hemp Road Trip, iHemp radio podcasts will update listeners.

If you would like to support the change in legislation, consider sponsoring the trip. Your logo on the

One doesn’t have to hit the road to find hemp in Colorado: the industry is budding everywhere.

Those curious about what is happening in its third year of hemp propagation can attend the 3rd Annual Hemp Expo (NoCo3) at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, Colorado, on April 1–2, 2016.

This premier business and consumer Expo experience, brings together farmers, experts, entrepreneurs, investors, vendors, suppliers and visionaries for two days of education, entertainment and eye-opening policy updates.

The primary goal of NoCo3 is to increase awareness of industrial and

There is a business to business/industry-focused experience on Friday April 1st for suppliers, buyers, farmers, processors, manufacturers and companies directly involved in the hemp industry and ancillary markets.

On Saturday, April 2nd, the Expo is open to the general public. You can pick up hemp products to fill your cupboards and offer your friends.

Precedents are being set in Colorado and this event will surely provide a glimpse into a thriving field of possibilities. for hemp.

The interest and opportunity in hemp is expanding. NoCo3 offers a chance for businesses and the general public to gather, learn, network and grow with the goal of integrating hemp back into the American agricultural spotlight.

Public support, leadership and involvement will help move this industry forward.

A hemp home is free of mold, mildew and termites and provides protection from outside pollution; its antimicrobial properties purify the air inside. nutritional hemp products, technology, innovation, legislation and politics that impact the advancement of hemp re-entering the mainstream with common-sense regulations.

Attendees can learn what’s happening with hemp with over 100 vendors and 50+ speakers, panelists and industry experts so you can continue the conversation and advocate change with your family, neighbors and co-workers. You’ll actually get your hands on hemp at the event by experiencing building, cooking, painting, fabrics and even tasting beer brewed with hemp.

16 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

Check out the interview with Hemp Expo on Generation Regeneration on February 16, 2016 at http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/ 90471/pure-hemp-epic-ness http://www.nocohempexpo.com Suzanne Rouge, BSE, is an educator and spiritual mentor, who has studied with a variety of indigenous medicine people in the U.S. and abroad. Suzanne facilitates opportunities for transpersonal growth through Moon Circle events, ceremony, presence practice, aromatherapy, reflexology, Ilahinoor energy work, medicine wheel readings, breath work and art.

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www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

17

Mind

Create Some Calm!

Feeling stressed? Try these seven simple ways for a calmer day, calmer life.

Each takes only a few minutes.

1. Begin your morning by closing your eyes while you are still in bed and take a few deep breaths. Think of three things: one success you had yesterday, however large or small; one blessing in your life, and one thing you want to accomplish today. Then begin your day! Do this every day.

2. Smile. It's amazing how a smile can physiologically change you and your attitude. Try it!

3. Take a short walk. Just twelve minutes outside will do wonders for you. Notice the different sights and sounds around you. Look at the clouds, the color of the sky or the stars at night.

4. Listen to your favorite music. My favorite is Claude Debussy while I'm at my laptop; his music keeps me focused.

5. Take a few deep breaths. Internationally recognized stress-management expert and meditation teacher Davidji suggests a four breath meditation. Breathe in

18 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

Mary Beth Kennedy

deeply. Notice the pause, and then exhale deeply. Do this four times. Notice the difference in you.

6. Write it down. Stressed about all you have to do? Make a list. It will get out from inside your head and be visible.

And you'll feel better as you cross those things off.

7. End your day with gratitude. A gratitude journal is a great way to do this. You don't need to write an expository; it can simply be three words. Don't feel like writing? While you are drifting off to sleep, think of three good things in your life; three blessings. Sweet dreams!

What's your favorite way to create calm? Email me at: marybeth@marybethkennedy.com Mary Beth Kennedy is a Transformational Coach and Foundational Reconnective Healing & Reconnection-Certified Practitioner. She offers Reconnective Healing, The Reconnection, Mentoring, Credentialing and Transformational Coaching. 303-589-8006 marybkennedy@gmail.com www.marybethkennedy.com

Mind

True Communication

Requires Your Presence Deepen your listening skills by removing distractions and being in the moment Leslie Shore

T

he most important skill needed to build and keep a loving relationship is communication.

When we begin relationships, we attend to the other person because we want to get to know him. We listen to her likes and dislikes, history, family dynamics, dreams and fears. We spend hours in conversation, discovering each other.

No fact too small, no story too long.

The building of the relationship has newness and surprises. Then, over time, real life happens. Work pressure, money issues, no time to connect, and parenting tensions become ever-present distractions.

More and more conversations morph into arguments or confrontations.

How did we get here? Whatever happened to the way we used to communicate?

The Roman philosopher Seneca said, “Who is fair in all the world who listens to us? Here I am — this is me in my nakedness, with my wounds, my secret grief, my despair, my betrayal, my pain, which I can’t express, my terror, my abandonment. Oh, listen to me for a day, an hour, a moment, lest I expire in my terrible wilderness, my lonely silence. Oh God, is there no one to listen?”

There is. The person you love who also loves you is there to listen. And like you, he has forgotten the most important component of deep listening: being present. There are two components to presence, one physical and one emotional. Both of them need attending to if a conversation is to stay rational, adult and successful.

First consider the physical aspects of the distractions of technology and multi-tasking. When we add the distraction that comes with multitasking we are in trouble, because listening is a single-minded, reasoning task, and multi-tasking and listening effectively at the same time are mutually exclusive. When we look at technology, with phones ringing, computers popping up e-mail, cell phone ring tones, and text message alerts beeping all distract us, we know technology is at work distracting us from effectively listening. Now, let’s add yet another layer of multitasking, the kind that is second nature and almost invisible to us as is multitasking. Many of us are guilty of looking through the mail while talking; typing a quick email on our smartphone while in conversation; or having a conversation while the television is on.

Here I am — this is me in my nakedness, with my wounds, my secret grief, my despair, my betrayal, my pain, which I can’t express, my terror, my abandonment.

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One of my students made this point in his listening reflection paper: “As a manager, I am required to constantly interact with others every day. When I come home at the end of the day I want nothing more than to sit in silence without the requirement to listen. My wife, however, wants nothing more than to tell me about her day, and so the listening challenge begins. While I have previously heard her talk, I realize now that I have not really listened. I have allowed my needs to get in the way of my ability to be present to what my wife’s thoughts and emotions are.”

There are some simple steps to pull the distraction of multitasking out of our conversations.

When sharing a conversation with your significant other, find a place, away from distractions, so the ritual of debriefing is the top priority in each other’s eyes. Finding out what happened in each other’s day and how the other person feels about the day requires that you choose a physical space away from the television, video games, computer, music, the mail, cooking, children or other distractions. Make sure you are comfortable. By creating such an environment, deep listening can take place. And DO make the debriefing a ritual! Even if you only have five minutes of uninterrupted time, make it happen at the same time every day.

Now we’ll tackle “being present.” We need to do everything in our power to take the “I” out of listening.

When we “suspend self” as the listener, we are able to truly take in the speaker’s message without filtering the incoming content and emotion through our own listening barriers.

Being

“present” is a simple concept, yet difficult to achieve.

Being present is the act of being in the present moment in our mind and body, not thinking about the past or future, but being in the moment with the person we are listening to. We are not wishing to be somewhere else. Being present means practicing self-control. It means suppressing the urge to convey our own thoughts. It means concentrating on understanding what the other has to say and how she

Being present is no easy task. It requires taking our ego out of the conversation and keeping our reactive mind under control. is saying it. We need to stop talking! As difficult as that may be sometimes, not talking can move a conversation forward because the speaker gets a chance to develop and finish a complete thought. It is amazing what we can learn about people’s lives, what motivates them, what they know, and what they are passionate about if we just listen.

Eckhart Tolle says it wonderfully in Stillness Speaks: “Far more important than what you are listening to is the act of listening itself, the space of conscious presence that arises as you listen. That space is a unifying field of awareness in which you meet the other person without the separative barriers created by conceptual thinking. And now the other person is no longer “other.” In that space, you are joined together as one awareness, one consciousness.”

Being present is no easy task. It requires taking our ego out of the conversation and keeping our reactive mind under control. However, the brain is an amazing organ that can be trained and strengthened. In the coming months I encourage you to become aware of when you are present in a conversation and when your mind and listening wanders. When you notice your mind wandering, you can take action by pushing aside your thoughts and get back to listening fully.

As the owner of the consultancy Listen to Succeed, Leslie Shore has worked with corporations, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, health professionals, and educational institutions to up-level their intra-personal and inter-personal communication skills. Her book, Listen to Succeed: How to identify and overcome barriers to effective listening, is currently used in four universities. www.ListenToSucceed.com

20 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

Mind

Forest Bathing Donna Mazzitelli

F

orest bathing originated in Japan, where it is known as shinrin-yoku. It is a popular meditative technique that utilizes the forest for its calming and invigorating effects. Taking a contemplative, tree-focused walk through a forest reconnects an individual with nature and can lead to decreased stress. It also naturally elevates one’s mood and can build a stronger immune system. Forest bathing has been recognized by the Japanese government since 1982 and endorsed by the Forest Agency of Japan as a way to improve a person’s quality of life.

Qing Li, the president of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine, which was founded in 2007, studied the effects of forest bathing on individuals.

Using a mood profile, he found that

participants’ feelings of stress, anxiety or anger decreased and their perceptions of energy or vigor improved. In two other related studies, Li and fellow researchers looked at long-term effects by sending groups of young men and women on three-day trips that included several forest baths and a stay in a hotel in the middle of the forest. Blood tests taken before and after showed a significant boost in natural killer cells, which play a vital role in the immune system’s ability to fight off illness. Li speculated that forest bathing allows participants to breathe in air from the surrounding trees that contains volatile essential oils and active components such as limonene that have antimicrobial and immune-boosting properties.

Forest bathing, which can be thought of as focused hiking, is an extremely effective meditative practice. To give forest bathing a try, choose a spot based on your physical ability. Avoid routes that are too strenuous. As a rule of thumb, you should walk no more than three miles in four hours. It’s important to keep in mind that this is not an endurance hike — think of it as a treefocused meditation. As you walk through the tranquil forest and focus on the towering trees, the leaves and vegetation underfoot and the sounds of birds or other small creatures around you, your busy mind is simultaneously calmed and your stress hormones and blood pressure are lowered. Rest whenever you need by finding a spot where it is pleasant to sit. Focus your attention on the trees around you and take in your surroundings with as many of your senses as possible. Bring along water or green tea to keep yourself well hydrated. If possible, follow your forest bath with a hot spring bath.

Developing a practice by taking a trip

to a nearby forest (or heavily wooded area) once a month and engaging in a forest bath, can bring you long-lasting mind-body benefits. If getting to a forest or the woods is not currently possible because of where you live, consider other ways to connect with nature in a more conscious way. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 1. Take a daily stroll in a local park.

2. Take your lunch break outside in a natural setting, preferably amongst trees, near a creek or in a garden.

3. Take a walk in nature with your children and bring along notebooks and pencils to record your observations.

4. Create a quiet space in your yard where you can sit and observe local nature.

5. Learn to sketch as a hobby and spend some time sketching in a nearby nature spot.

6. Take an overnight camping weekend once a month in a natural setting.

Whether or not you can begin a forest bathing practice, keep in mind that by simply spending time in nature as often as possible, you will provide your body and mind with many lifeenhancing benefits.

Sources: care2.com, Los Angeles Times Donna Mazzitelli, “The Word Heartiste,” is the owner and founder of Writing with Donna, where she provides writing and editing services, and Merry Dissonance Press, a book producer/indie publisher of works of transformation, inspiration, exploration and illumination. Donna can be found at www.writingwithdonna.com, www.merrydissonancepress.com and donnamazzitelli@gmail.com.

www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

21

Spirit The Healing Frequency Music Project Lynette Chilcott

I The timelessness of Wholetones works well in any season or situation, the compilations a gift of serenity.

www.wholetones.com

magine visiting loved ones in their home on the Colorado plains during January. Outside the wide windows, deep snow blankets the ground in every direction, the glare of winter sun glinting iridescent off the white surface. Inside, a pot of red chili bubbles on the stove, a deliciously inviting aroma wafting through the house.

As lovely as this sounds, niggling health issues beset even the best efforts to remain calm. First a lingering horrific cough, followed by a sinus infection, then a pulled muscle mixed with ongoing headaches and insomnia. The frigid temps outdoors have crept into the body, threatening to overthrow any chance at joy.

A few of these issues are mentioned during the course of light conversation. Without preamble, the hostess pulls out a CD of her latest find, a set of Wholetones. She pops a disk into the player and within seconds the room is filled with the resonance of a single frequency. Soon joined by soothing melodic companions, that note develops into a tune complete with harmony and rhythm. Cupping the soul like gentle hands, the music eases the anxiety of continuing problems, then instantly

22 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

transports the listener to another zone — floating in mineral hot springs, soaking up the rays on a tropical beach, soaring with eagles in flight. All at once a feeling of being more in balance with the universe takes over.

The timelessness of Wholetones works well in any season or situation, the compilations a gift of serenity.

What are Wholetones?

They are part of The Healing Frequency Music Project, which was created to promote positive, healthy change. Developed by Michael S. Tyrell, renowned musician, author and speaker, the musical therapy set consists of seven rediscovered musical tones found to relieve stress, break negative cycles and restore sleep. They are reported to be healing musical tones hidden deep within ancient frequencies.

Each single song has its ability to help heal certain ailments. Taken together they offer a stronger overall sense of peace. As a series, according to Tyrell’s claims, they heal, repair and protect against disease, balance hormones and release endorphins, resulting in faster recovery rates from illness and more profound healing. The frequencies are also

purported to soothe postoperative pain, lower blood pressure and boost immunity.

With Wholetones, one can: • Wipe out unhealthy fears as well as feelings of guilt and shame • Remove recurring negative cycles • Discover the master key that precipitates all other frequencies

• Hear the most curious frequency of all, which gives the power to relax • Enjoy the fostering of peace and forgiveness • Gain awareness of spirit • Revel in the frequency that celebrates the King of Kings

Lynette Chilcoat has been a freelance writer for nearly 20 years, regarding every current assignment as top priority. Each subject she addresses takes precedence in her life, aside from family, friends, pets and plants, whose presence remind her to lighten up. www.lynettechilcoat.com

Tune Therapy Whether it be symphonic, new age, jazz, classic rock, a favorite reel or a lively French ditty, music cures the soul in a way little else can do. Listening to strains that wind through the brain or a beat that gets the heart thumping adds a sense of contented joy to our lives.

A preference toward Bach or The Beatles doesn’t matter. Whenever the pace of the day-to-day grind gets too hectic and sadness takes over, reach for the mellow strains of the blues instead of that comforting little pill. Angry at the steady screech of tires or frustrated by the blaring of your boss as she berates you? Then allow a mainstream melody or a heavenly harmony to be the healthy remedy that soothes the savage beast.

Play a musical instrument but often too busy to practice? Take a few moments to pluck that guitar, tickle those ivories, give a deep resonating breath to that harmonica, trumpet or flute. Beat the bodhran (Irish drum), blow into a didgeridoo, lightly hammer a dulcimer. You’re developing both left and right brain function by learning the language of notes while doing something creative. Invite friends over for a jam session. Play with gusto, even if expertise isn’t on your list of skill sets. Sing out loud. Have fun.

Be exuberant.

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www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

23

Spirit

Watsu:

A Spiritual Experience Phyllis K. Kennemer

Can you imagine the feeling of having no sense of gravity? I am not talking about going into outer space. It is possible to have this sensation right here in Colorado. It happens during Watsu sessions. Watsu is a form of aquatic bodywork used for physical rehabilitation, muscle therapy and deep relaxation.

W

atsu is performed in a pool filled with chest-deep salt water. Unlike most therapy pools with higher temperatures, water in Watsu pools is maintained at body temperature. Thus, the body does not need to exert any energy to warm up or cool down. The client (receiver) is continuously supported by a practitioner (provider) while being back floated, rhythmically cradled, moved and stretched. Body work in warm water frees the person from the effects of gravity which allows the body to release holding

patterns from old injuries and stress related tightness.

The provider involves the receiver in a progression of breath coordination and movement patterns which are based on that person’s specific needs and responses. The provider constantly monitors the state of the receiver, mindful of subtle changes in muscle tension and respiration and adapts the treatment accordingly.

The effects of warm water, gentle touch, and flowing movement produce a deep state of relaxation.

24 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

Watsu is used as a form of passive aquatic therapy for physical rehabilitation of illness, injury and disability. Healthy people engage in Watsu for relaxation, muscle stretching and profound meditation.

Harold Dull is credited with developing Watsu in Harbin Hot Springs, California, in the 1980s. He combined methods used in Shiatsu (a Japanese muscle treatment performed by therapists with clients lying on mats on the ground) with flowing movement techniques made possible by doing the treatment in water.

Deb Evangelista of Essential Element Bodywork is an integrative aquatic therapist.

She offers Watsu sessions in a large salt water pool located on her family’s property near Longmont. Deb sees her role as holding space for the individual and for wellness through creating a place of safety and peace.

Her somatic therapy is based in understanding the connection of the mind and body for maintaining optimum health.

Most of her clients climb an outside ladder to step into the pool, but she also has a hydraulic lift chair for use with those who are physically challenged.

Deb talks fondly of the installation of her pool, the amenities she provides, and recycled materials she used to create an inviting and spiritual environment. She describes her pool area as sacred space. Most of her clients experience meaningful meditation during treatment. Many of them tell her that ideas or issues bubble up to the surface of their conscious awareness where Aimee Heckel, a reporter for the Boulder Camera, wrote an article about Watsu for her newspaper (February 12, 2014) describing her experience in a couple’s session with her husband. Deb and a local colleague provided the treatment for the two of them simultaneously. Heckel described her experience as freeing and spiritual. She stated that Watsu taps into a deep part, far beyond the physical – a space accessed only in rare breakthrough moments of deep mediation.

Maura Clare, a Boulder resident, contacted Deb as a result of reading Heckel’s article. She started seeing Deb in search of relief from muscle tension. She reports that the tension has been relieved and that she continues with monthly sessions as part of her self-care practice.

Maura feels a complete release from tension during her treatments. The feeling of weightlessness begins with a sense of freedom, almost like flying, and then places her in a deep meditative state. She has discovered profound observations within herself that go beyond intellectual description. Every session continues her progress in self-knowledge.

they can be recognized and released. Deb explains that clients often come to her with physical problems, such as aches and pains or muscle issues. The water therapy relieves these symptoms, but clients report that the greater good from the session is the spiritual sense of well-being that results.

The healing qualities of Watsu have become more widely recognized in recent

years. Watsu is offered in many spas and treatment centers, as well as with private practitioners. More information can be obtained by at www.watsu.com.

Dr. Phyllis K. Kennemer is a Certified NLP Life Coach, a Certified Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator, and an Educational Consultant. She can be contacted at pkkbooks@comcast.net.

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The good news is… much of this evidence of environmental aging is visibly reversible.

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www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

25

Spirit

Aiming High The art, the practice and the gift of conscious aging Ron Pevny

The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.

— Michelangelo

Our ability to reach our goals is very much dependent upon the state of our inner life and the inner development work we do to bring clear, healthy energy to our lives as we age.

W

hat do I aim for as I age?

What does aging mean to me? How do I deal with my fears of aging? How can I find fulfillment and dignity as I grow older? What is the purpose of my life after retirement?

Such questions of meaning and purpose arise in the quiet hours for many of us but are seldom asked, answered or even acknowledged in public. Often we consider only the monetary aspects of aging. While addressing our financial and physical security is certainly important, it is equally important to address the needs of our emotional and spiritual selves — our needs to thrive as well as survive.

My work is to share with others a vision of aging, often called “conscious aging” or “conscious

26 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

eldering,” that recognizes and supports all that is life-enhancing and passion-awakening as we contemplate the later chapters of our lives. These years can be a time of deep fulfillment as we reach the pinnacle of our personal and spiritual growth. They can be an opportunity for the kind of service to community and sharing of wisdom that, throughout most of human history, defined the honored role that cultures accorded their elders.

For those inspired by this vision, conscious aging is a path characterized by meaningful goals for our elderhood that spring from our authentic selves rather than the expectations of the society around us, and by our use of the power of intention and inner work to make our sense of what is possible a

reality. It is a challenging path that requires the courage to aim high and bring awareness and intention to our aging, rather than drift into old age without goals that can bring out the best in us.

This is not only about aiming for lofty goals, however. Our ability to reach our goals is very much dependent upon the state of our inner life and the inner development work we do to bring clear, healthy energy to our lives as we age. We have all heard “wherever you go, there you are.” There is great value in seriously reflecting on “what kind of a self am I bringing to my later life chapters?”

As we move through life, we suffer the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” We are all wounded by others, by painful experiences, by our own misguided choices and actions. These wounds often produce lingering, heartclosing resentments and numb our emotional lives. Many of us harbor regrets and are weakened by disempowering internal stories of being victims, or inadequate, or unworthy. We have absorbed and internalized countless messages from the society around us about who we are and what should have meaning for us, and in the process we become somewhat estranged from our own authentic selves and our internal guidance for our lives.

All of these realities, largely unconscious for most of us, bind our life energy to emotional baggage, sap our passion and blind us to our unique potential. The lack of energy, passion and sense of purpose that so many experience in their senior years is not primarily a function of age, but rather of these life-draining inner dynamics. Critical to conscious aging is commitment to inner work to free up our energy and passion by healing old wounds, forgiving resentments, transforming regrets, re-writing

call within yourself, I encourage you to respond as if your deepest fulfillment depends upon it, and the wellbeing of the generations to follow you depends upon the choices you and others make. Because they do.

Collectively we can lay the foundation for a healthy world in which our descendents can thrive.

There is no greater legacy we can leave to future generations, and no greater gift we can give to ourselves, than to aim high as we age, ever

Many of us harbor regrets and are weakened by disempowering internal stories of being victims, or inadequate, or unworthy. disempowering old stories, replacing counterproductive habits with conscious choices, and getting in touch with the spiritual dimension from which our visions and our unique, authentic goals can emerge.

We are then able to aim high.

Conscious aging is not a path that everyone will embrace. However, a growing number of baby boomers as well as those beyond their sixties are indeed hearing a strong call from within to age consciously. Are you one of them? What do you plan to do with the remaining chapters of your precious life? If you recognize that

reaching for our best. The world needs the wisdom, wholeness, passion and gifts of conscious elders.

Director of the Center for Conscious Eldering in Durango, Colorado, Ron Pevny is the author of Conscious Living, Conscious Aging: Embrace and Savor your Next Chapter, published by Beyond Words/Atria Books. Ron will give a presentation on Conscious Aging at the Fort Collins Holistic Fair on March 12th, and will be offering a workshop at Sunrise Ranch near Loveland on June 3–5. See www.centerforconsciouseldering.com.

Wellspring Inner Source

A Place for Exponential Change

~ Improve Cognitive Functioning ~ Increase Emotional Resiliency ~ Reawaken Your Inner Source to Wellness ~ Increase Energy & Reduce Stress ~ Heighten Creativity & Intuition

Carol Casebeer M.Ed, CBP Wellness Practitioner

970-663-4019 • Loveland, CO WellspringInnerSource@aol.com www.WellspringInnerSource.com

www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

27

Eat Well & Prosper

Foodie Corner

BARB COMBS

Fresh Veggies Will Not Disappoint!

F

Enjoy Garden Patties with Avocado Cream Dressing

or several days after Mother’s Day, I diligently scan the forecast, waiting to see a prediction of ten days in a row where the minimum temperatures stay at 40° or above. Even then, planting my delicate summer starters of tomatoes, cantaloupe, and broccoli is a risk. When I hustle outside in inclement weather, throwing sheets and covers over those persnickety vegetables, I am thankful for the ease of planting heartier spring crops, starting from seeds as early as March.

Luckily, even here in Colorado with such crazy weather extremes, I know my peas, onions, radishes and fresh greens will not disappoint. A typical spring harvest yields more produce than I know what to do with, and that led me to create the following recipe All of the produce and ingredients can be grown or purchased organically.

Garden Pea and Garbanzo Bean Patties with Avocado Cream Dressing Patties: 1 pound (~ 8 cups) fresh garden pea pods 15 ½ oz. can no salt added garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

¼ cup freshly minced parsley small minced garlic clove ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper ½ teaspoon ground turmeric ¼ cup mayonnaise with olive oil ½ cup garbanzo bean flour 4 finely sliced green onions 2 Tablespoon country style Dijon mustard Dressing: 1 very ripe avocado ¼ cup Greek style fat-free yogurt ¼ cup finely minced cilantro ½ tsp. crushed red pepper ½ teaspoon sea salt 1 small minced garlic clove 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar Salad: 8 cups fresh garden greens 4 large radishes, thinly sliced Patties: Shell the peas. Fill a small saucepan about ½ full of water and bring to a boil; add peas and cook 5–6 minutes; drain.

Put rinsed and drained garbanzo beans in a medium-sized bowl; add cooked peas and parsley; mash gently using a pastry blender. Add the garlic and next seven ingredients (through Dijon mustard) and mix thoroughly; refrigerate at least one hour. Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a ¼ measuring cup, scoop 8 servings of pea mixture onto parchment paper; flatten and shape into circles with a spoon. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes; remove and gently turn over each patty. Continue baking

28 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

at 375° for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and place on salad greens.

Dressing: Place avocado and yogurt in a food processor and blend for about 30 seconds. Add the cilantro and next four ingredients (through vinegar) and blend thoroughly; set aside.

Salad: Evenly divide the greens and radishes between four plates. Place two freshly baked patties on top of the greens on each plate. Scoop about 2 Tablespoons of the avocado cream dressing on top of each patty; enjoy!!

Freezing directions for the patties: The patties can be made ahead of time, and/or in large batches. Once the patties are baked, remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. Once the patties are cooled thoroughly, place in a waxed paper lined container, cover, and freeze for up to 8 weeks. To reheat, place frozen patties on a microwave safe plate. Heat at 50 percent power for 90 seconds; remove and flip patties over. Heat at 30 second intervals on high or until hot throughout.

As my hearty spring crops thrive in Colorado’s unpredictable spring weather, I continually find ways to creatively use the vegetables, hoping mild spring weather prevails throughout June so I can enjoy the wonderful flavors of the season!

Barb Combs is a personal chef in Fort Collins, Colorado and owner of Barb’s Bistro. She has been in business since 2011 and enjoys cooking fresh, healthy meals for her clients. www.barbsbistro.net

Foodie Corner

JORDAN DANZ

Nostalgic for Home Cooking?

Try Ribs & Kraut

Ribs & Kraut 2 racks of ribs (cut into individual ribs) 4 lbs sauerkraut 1 onion sliced thin 2 lbs baby Yukon gold potatoes 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 beer (A Pilsner or cream ale; nothing too hoppy or bold. You can also substitute white wine.)

Salt and pepper

I

recently spent a weekend at my childhood home with my family. Even though I only live five hours away, this doesn’t happen often enough. Going home always brings out this nostalgia for the past, for life growing up in suburban Milwaukee. It is both wonderful and sad at the same time. Since I am in the process of planning a wedding, my mother and I spent a morning going through old pictures. I was looking for photos to create a slideshow to play at a pre-wedding party.

My parents keep all of their photos in a large metal box and trust me, nothing is organized. The box is filled with a jumble of pictures from the various stages of my parents’, siblings’ and extended families’ lives. It’s truly fascinating to see photos of your parents, aunts and uncles when they were your age. Seeing pictures from their wedding as I plan my own, brings everything full circle. It makes me feel lucky and full of joy to have grown up with such support and love. It takes time and a visit home to truly appreciate these things.

In honor of this new-found nostalgia I decided it would be fun to celebrate my German heritage and make a simple yet delicious German dish… Ribs and Kraut.

In a large stock pot, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Toss the ribs in salt and pepper to season them. In batches, sear the ribs until they are golden brown. Set aside.

Add onion to pot with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook until tender. Add 2 pounds of the sauerkraut (with juice) and cook for another 5 minutes. Layer ribs on top of sauerkraut and onions and add another pound of sauerkraut. Place potatoes on top of ribs and layer the last pound of sauerkraut on top of potatoes. Pour in the beer and bring everything to a boil. Cover pot, reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 and a half to 3 hours. Pour everything out on a platter and enjoy!

It’s truly fascinating to see photos of your parents, aunts and uncles when they were your age.

Note that this recipe serves 6-8 people and can be cut in half easily.

Jordan is a home cook based in Minneapolis. He enjoys cooking, eating and spending time at his local food co-ops and farmers’ markets finding new flavors and ingredients to experiment with. His passion for fresh local ingredients inspires his belief that food has the power to bring people together. www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

29

Sandra Recommends

Insightful Books + Author Interviews

SANDRA MALHOTRA

Read the books below and tune into Gen R Wholistic Radio podcasts (gr.voiceamerica.com) to hear host Sandra G. Malhotra interview the authors.

Warrior Pose: How Yoga (Literally) Saved My Life

By Bhava Ram Bhava Ram (a.k.a. Brad Willis) was a successful NBC News war correspondent prior to a careerending back injury that could not be corrected surgically. This debilitating condition was followed by a diagnosis of stage four throat cancer which he treated conventionally.

Western medicine could not offer deep healing or cures for these conditions, so after living a life of chronic pain, disability, addiction and fear of recurring cancer, Bhava listened to the voice within and healed himself using the sciences of Yoga and Ayurveda. He is now a worldrenowned spiritual teacher, and I had the pleasure of interviewing him on Gen R Radio on January 27, 2015. He discussed the ancient texts that influenced him, including the Vedas, Gita and Yoga Sutras, and how their wisdom can be applied to modern life. He described how he teaches others to tap into their inherent power to transform themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually, and to appreciate the interconnectedness of all things. Bhava’s transformation is truly remarkable, and an example of the power that we all possess.

God’s House Calls: Finding God Through My Patients

By James Roach, M.D. and Don McNay Dr. Jim is in the growing field of integrative medicine which combines conventional western medicine with an appreciation of the mind and spirit influences on overall health. I interviewed Dr. Jim on April 7, 2015, and he described his journey as a physician initially practicing the conventional approach to embracing the integrative holistic approach he uses today. Dr Jim reported that he

30 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

found God through his patients. He discussed how his experiences culminated in his writing God’s House Calls, which was published nationally in 2015. Dr. Jim gave a preview of the book, which recounts the spiritual experiences he witnessed with his patients, including outof-body and near-death experiences. He outlined his goals to destigmatize such experiences, which he believes have a firm scientific basis and an important place in our spiritual evolution, and to help readers release their fear of the natural transition known as death. The book and interview offer valuable insights and may transform the way we look at the practice of medicine and the role that God plays in our lives and healing.

Whole Pet Healing: A Heart-to-Heart Guide to Connecting with and Caring for Your Animal Companion

By Dr. Dennis Thomas In Whole Pet Healing, Dr. Thomas delves into the heartto-heart link we share with our cherished animal companions and how we can influence their healing — and they, ours. He presents a case for holistic pet care backed by quantum science and explains the nature of the energetic body and the ways we can tap its extraordinary curative abilities using techniques ranging from Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture to intention and intuition. He sheds light on our power to deliver love and healing to our dogs, cats, birds and other pets via an enhanced human-animal connection, and how this benefit flows in both directions, helping us experience radiant love and well-being ourselves. Whole Pet Healing is a truly groundbreaking book about the depth of our energetic and spiritual relationship with our pets; it shed a new light on the way I view my animal companions. I interviewed Dr. Thomas on January 26, 2016 and was impressed at the depth of his knowledge and wisdom. If you read this book and listen to the interview, you will be touched.

BIOPHOTON

Mary T. Meger 970-903-9772 What if a simple body process could change YOU & the World? Get Happy with Access Bars®!

At worst you'll feel as if you've had a great massage... at best your whole life will change! For Kids & Adults!

Schedule your session today! www.GetHappyWithAccessBars

BioPhoton Colorado 970-581-5864 The biofeedback device Chiren checks the quality of light your cells emit, finding and removing disturbances on the energetic body, restoring immune functions, activating self-healing ability of the body.

Safe, non-invasive therapy benefits adults, children and animals with wide a range of health issues. www.biophotoncolorado.com

CHAKRAS/COLOUR ENERGY

ACUPUNCTURE Dayna Larson LAc 970-416-0444 Traditional Chinese Medical Clinic, Fort Collins Complete Herbal Pharmacy, Acupuncture Tui Na style Massage www.tcmclinic.org Monique Larson LAc 970-416-0444 Traditional Chinese Medical Clinic, Fort Collins Complete Herbal Pharmacy, Acupuncture Tui Na style Massage www.tcmclinic.org

ASTROLOGY Babette Lacy 970-667-1666 Classes, readings, written reports, parties www.TheMysticMoon.net

BODYTALK Carol Casebeer M. Ed., CBP 970-663-4019 Providing a safe, professional, compassionate, judgment-free environment with a multi-modality approach to help you Improve Cognitive Functioning, Increase Emotional Resiliency, Reawaken Your Inner Source to Wellness, Increase Energy & Reduce Stress and Heighten Creativity & Intuition Wellspring Inner Source…. A Place for Exponential Change In-Person, Phone, Distance Sessions Available MATRIX ENERGETICS, EMOTION CODE, EFT, JOURNEYWORK www.WellspringInnerSource.com

CHINESE MEDICINE ART DISCOVERY / COACHING Cathi Foster & Kate McKenna, Journeys of Change 970-775-3217 One-on-One Art Discovery Coaching Art Workshops – Goal Boards, Chakra Hangings, Intention Flags, Promise Jewelry, Jewelry Making, Fiber Arts, Wood Carvings, Recycled Art, Paintings, Collages Family classes, Kids Events, Adult Art Parties www.JourneysofChange.net

Directory

ACCESS BARS ®

Dayna Larson LAc 970-416-0444 Traditional Chinese Medical Clinic, Fort Collins Complete Herbal Pharmacy, Acupuncture Tui Na style Massage www.tcmclinic.org Monique Larson LAc 970-416-0444 Traditional Chinese Medical Clinic, Fort Collins Complete Herbal Pharmacy, Acupuncture Tui Na style Massage www.tcmclinic.org

Cathi Foster, Journeys of Change 970-775-3217 Chakra Healings, Trainings, Programs, Art Colour Energy™ Products & Supplies The Power of 7 – Chakra Training Program www.JourneysofChange.net

CHURCHES/SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY Unity of Fort Collins NEW COPY COMING970-482-1620 1401 W. Vine, Fort Collins, CO Honoring the uniqueness in each of us; celebrating the one Spirit in all of us” office@unityfc.org www.unityfc.org Unity of Loveland 970-622-0000 1342 N. Washington Ave., Loveland, CO Through community, prayer, spiritual education and fun, Unity of Loveland supports people expressing their divine potential for healthy, prosperous and meaningful lives.

One God, many paths – we welcome diversity, we welcome you! info@unityofloveland.org www.unityofloveland.org

COACHING  PERSONAL, BUSINESS, WELLNESS Cathi Foster, Journeys of Change 970-775-3217 A CREATIVE CATALYST FOR POSITIVE IDEAS & ACTION! There is no one approach fits all. I guide you to find solutions that work for you. Gather your Courage, Define your Goals, Design your Path, Discover You, Create Your Dream! www.JourneysofChange.net

AYURVEDIC Alissa Page AHP, CYT500, AMBT 970-310-3896 A Little Peace Ayurvedic Family Practice Healthcare for all of Life’s Stages - Infants to Elders Diet - Herbs - Body Therapies - Counseling Digestive Issues - Sleep Problems - Anxiety Depression - Stress www.facebook.com/alittlepeace

LINDA KING CHT, CMT, RM

• Hypnotherapy • Flower Remedies • Massage Therapies • Energy Work

970.215.7606 LovelandHypno.com NaturallyYoursMassage.com www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

31

Directory

COUNSELING/MINISTRY/ SPIRITUAL COACHING

ENVIRONMENT

HYPNOTHERAPY

Sally Petersen, MA, CCHt 970-330-4375 Individual Transpersonal Counseling & Hypnotherapy Change your mind, change your life. Greeley salpetersen@comcast.net

Trees, Water & People 970-484-3678 Offset your personal or business environmental impact Purchase paper and carbon offsets! www.treeswaterpeople.org megan@treeswaterpeople.org

DENTISTRY

EVENT & RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT

Shelby Kahl, RDH PC 970-682-2474 Integrated salubrious dental hygiene services 420 S. Howes St., Ft. Collins, CO

Charmacy 970-682-2925 A Happiness & Healing Boutique and Event Center located in the historic "White House" at the corner of Pitkin & College in the heart of Fort Collins.

The family friendly retail shop offers magical rooms filled with transformational treasures, two rentable meeting spaces for connection, collaboration and classes, a purple fireplace and old fashioned conversation counter.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @charmacynews.

1220 S. College Ave www.charmacy.com

Sally Petersen, MA, CCHt 970-330-4375 Stress, Depression, Smoking, Grief, Fears/Phobias.

Past Life Regression, Cellular Release, EFT salpetersen@comcast.net Linda King, CHt, RM, FEP, CH 970-215-7606 Past Lives, Anxiety, Habits, Fears, Weight Loss, Health Issues, Self-Esteem, EFT, Depression www.Lovelandhypno.com

EATING PSYCHOLOGY, NUTRITION, LIFESTYLE COACHING Donna Ichikawa 970-825-5175 Do you struggle with weight, food allergies, digestive or auto-immune disorders? Overcome emotional eating habits by examining your relationship with food, sources of stress & unhappiness through self-empowering techniques. Dispel the myths around diet, exercise, body image and sexual identity. www.foodvitalitycoaching.com

EMOTION CODE Judith Albright, MA 970-218-8643 Rapid release of emotions trapped in the body www.stressfreewitheft.com Judith@stressfreewitheft.com

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE EFT Judith Albright, MA, EFT-ADV 970-218-8643 Fast relief for any emotionally based condition www.stressfreewitheft.com Judith@stressfreewitheft.com

ENERGETIC WELLNESS DeAnna Kay Swetzig, Certified Practitioner 970-420-6684 MatrixEnergetics/Reiki/Attunements In person/remote Bio Scans/Aroma Therapy/AromaTouch doTERRA CPTG Oils www.joyfulwellbeing.com dk@joyfulwellbeing.com

HERBAL MEDICINE & HERBS Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic 970-416-0444 We are committed to providing you with the best medical care in a gentle, friendly and highly effective manner. With a complete herbal pharmacy we tailor our herbs to fit each individual’s unique constitution. www.tcmclinic.org Transform Health – Diana Sproul 970-988-5413 After an interview, I create a personalized herbal formula tailored to your individual needs, sometimes combining herbs together to reach the desired effect. I also work with Nutrition and Lifestyle Practices. Start your journey toward better health today! Fort Collins, CO contactus@transformhealth.biz www.homeopathyschool.org

INTUITIVE READING/HEALING/COACHING Katherine Skaggs 970-224-9950 Soul Portraits & Sacred Art Soul Portrait-Intuitive paintings to heal the soul www.soulpaintings.com

IRIDOLOGY Melody Masters C.N. - Halcyon Health 970-484-2411 Iridology – Iris Analysis, Over 30 years experience Biofeedback, Aura Soma, Supplementation Wellness on Wheels, I come to you! halcyonhealth@q.com www.halcyonhealth.net

LED FREQUENCY THERAPY Melody Masters C.N. - Halcyon Health 970-484-2411 Recently added to Halcyon Health is LED and Frequency sessions, a nonintrusive yet amazingly effective tool that encourages the body to heal through the use of light and vibration. halcyonhealth@q.com www.halcyonhealth.net

LIFE COACH/LABYRNTH FACILITATOR Phyllis Kennemer 970-622-0858 Life Coaching, Guiding You Through Change Loveland, CO www.Paths4Change.com pkkbooks@comcast.net

HOMEOPATHY Homeopathy School International 303-440-3717/970-685-4613 Distance education & flexible study options For personal use or homeopathic certification www.homeopathyschool.org

PATHS 4 CHANGE PHYLLIS K. KENNEMER, Ed.D. • Certified NLP Life Coach • NLP Weight Loss Coach • Certified Labyrinth Facilitator

MASSAGE THERAPY Sarah M. Babbitt, RMT 970-472-0766 Swedish Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofacial Release Trigger Point Therapy, Lymph Drainage, Aromatherapy, & More www.sarahbabbitt,massagetherapy.com sarahbabbittrmt@gmail.com

RECONNECTIVE HEALING® Experience the new energies

BOB POTTER

FREE CONSULTATION SESSION

970.622.0858 pkkbooks@comcast.net Paths4Change.com 550 N. LINCOLN • LOVELAND

32 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

Practitioner rpotter557@yahoo.com

REAL ESTATE Jackie Mihalchick – Intuitive Real Estate 970-396-2288 I understand the process and the emotions involved in buying or selling a home. Call me, I would love to help you along your journey.

3720 South College Ave., Ste. A, Fort Collins, CO www.yourintuitiverealtor.com

NUTRITIONAL CONSULTING Transform Health – Diana Sproul 970-988-5413 I interview you to find clues to what is causing your main complaint, creating a personalized nutrition, lifestyle and herbal plan for you. We may then discuss things like needing different or better nutrition, food allergy elimination, changes in choices, enhancing sleep, and possible deficiencies. Start your journey toward better health today! Fort Collins, CO contactus@transformhealth.biz www.transformhealth.biz

RECONNECTIVE HEALING/ THE RECONNECTION Mary Beth Kennedy, MA 303-589-8006 Practitioner/Mentor/Coach Reconnection Teaching Team In Person & Distance Healing, People & Animals www.marybethkennedy.com Marybeth@marybethkennedy.com Bob Potter, Practitioner 970-686-2721 In person and distance healing rpotter557@yahoo.com

PSYCHK® Judith Albright, MA, PSYCH-K® ADV 970-218-8643 Change subconscious beliefs and change your life. www.stressfreewitheft.com Judith@stressfreewitheft.com

PSYCHIC READERS Melissa Windell, Earth Feather Healings 720-490-6171 Longmont’s Psychic, Medium, Angel Communication, Child spiritual therapy, and Reiki/Energy Healings by Melissa Windell practicing for 9 years and still loving it!

Longmont, CO www.earthfeatherhealings.com

RADIO/TV  METAPHYSICAL Sandra G Productions Our initiatives aspire to change the way health care is practiced by elevating awareness of, and access to, holistic lifestyles and practitioners. We host a weekly radio show called Generation Regeneration featuring holistic healers, food movement activists, spiritual thought leaders and coaches. Tune in at www.gr.voiceamerica.com.

REIKI Jennifer Buchanan – Lotus Reiki 970-214-1006 Trained in Healing Touch and Reiki.

Services for both children and adults of all ages. jennlotusreiki@gmail.com Lisa White 970-232-8902 Usui Holy Fire Karuna Reiki®Master Reiki Sessions and Classes I – Karuna Master Biomat Sessions, Loveland, CO www.innerharmonyreikicenter.com

SCHOOLS  EDUCATION/ CLASSES/WORKSHOPS The Light is Always In You™ 970-231-4222 The Ascended Host Series - Stevie Lee Honaker, Ph.D. Fort Collins, CO. Small group to large audience presentations. The Angelic Host, 101 – First class in the series based on The Angelic Host Bring their Individual Services for Humanity’s Blessing: Book & Kindle at Amazon. www.drsteviehonaker.com Stevie_honaker@yahoo.com

Homeopathy School International 303-440-3717/970-685-4613 Distance education & flexible study options For personal use or homeopathic certification www.homeopathyschool.org Front Range Community College 970-613-7580 Expand your horizon with a career in holistic health.

Associate of Applied Science degree, Massage Therapy Certificate, Short term certificates in Aromatherapy, Holistic Health, Reflexology, Yoga Teacher Training www.frontrange.edu

Directory

Christina Rosario, Journeys of Change 970-443-0836 Massage for Relaxation & Rehabilitation Offering Medical Massage, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular & Trigger Point Therapy Also offering Hot Stones, Cupping Therapy, Reflexology www.JourneysofChange.net

SKIN CARE/BODY CARE Jennifer Visocky-Traylor, Exec. Consultant 970-219-7447 Rodan & Fields, Skin Care for All Skin Types Sensitive Skin, Acne, Brown Spots/Sun Damage, Fine Lines, & Wrinkles We’ve got something for everyone!

Skin is a Beautiful Thing, Wear it Well! https://jenvistray.myrandf.com crmjv77@aol.com

SPAS Avalon Arbor 970-221-1280 Shhh…it’s a secret. Reclaim yourself in the tranquility of Avalon Arbor’s unique private getaway.

No one needs to know you slipped away for Botox, dermal fillers, laser treatment, or soothing Hydrafacial, but everyone will notice your radiance and glow.

315 W. Harmony Rd., Fort Collins, CO www.avalonarbor.com

WELLNESS CENTER Journeys of Change, A Center for Wellness Work & Wonder 970-775-3217 Cathi Foster, Founder Chakras, Massage, Biodynamic CranialSacral, Reiki, Emotion Code, EFT, BioMat™, Auralite Colour Therapy, Access Bars™, Tuning Forks, Art Discovery, Music Therapy, Yoga, T’ai Chi Chah, Belly Dancing, Workshops, Events, Space Rental and so much more www.JourneysofChange.net

www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

33

Beauty

Facials…

A Beautiful Way to Relax and Rejuvenate Mary Barghelame

P

reviously, I have offered informative articles on high impact, high results treatments, including CO2 resurfacing, IPL/BBL laser therapy, and laser hair removal.

But perhaps you need to release the ‘winter blues’ with a relaxing experience that will pamper you and improve the appearance and radiance of your skin…. Consider a facial treatment that is designed specifically for your skin type, and for your personal desired results.

A facial can be the most heavenly way to relax your entire body. Done properly, it gently stimulates and refreshes your skin, while the quiet and the subtle aromatherapy scents bring overall relaxation to your body and mind.

Your facial should always start with a consultation. Your therapist needs your input on your skin concerns and issues. Be honest, and let her know areas that bother you or areas of concern. That helps your therapist direct you to the most rewarding facial option. Next, she

gently, but thoroughly cleans your face and neck so it can be analyzed to determine skin type (dry, oily, combination, normal, and perhaps sensitive). Acne, aging, dryness, and damaged skin assessment also occurs at this time. Your therapist will suggest facial treatment(s) most appropriate to your skin and desired outcome.

Some facials include gentle steam depending on our skin type. The moist heat is very relaxing and prepares your skin for the next step in a facial. An exfoliant may be follow, which can be mechanical, using a fine textured ingredient or can be chemical, such as an enzyme.

Removal of blackheads and whiteheads if needed occurs next.

This can be a bit uncomfortable, so some prefer to skip this step if a relaxing treatment is the final goal.

Then a facial mask is applied and chosen with your specific skin concerns in mind. A gentle head, neck and face massage either before or after the mask heightens the

relaxing experience.

The final step to this luxurious treatment is application of serums, moisturizers, and a sunscreen specific to your skin type. Your therapist should offer advice on how to maintain your skin and suggest products that can help you maintain healthy, beautiful skin.

To maintain both the health of your skin, and for that relaxation that is essential for all of us, ongoing facial treatments are best to improve and maintain your skin. A monthly or at least quarterly treatment is a treasure for your skin and rejevenation for the soul.

Mary Barghelame is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C), statelicensed professional and owner of Avalon Arbor Private Spa. Mary is Avalon Arbor’s master professional specially trained in the art of medical esthetics such as Botox, dermal fillers and other treatments that maintain the overall health and beauty of the skin. www.AvalonArbor.com

Call Avalon Arbor for your irst or repeat facial.

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34 BellaSpark • March/April 2016 • www.BellaSparkMagazine.com

Leveling Up

SANDRA G. MALHOTRA

Introducing the

3

ABUNDANCE Coaching Program Our food and healthcare systems are broken and not serving our highest good. It is our belief that wellness entrepreneurs who integrate the best of modern and holistic approaches will fix them. Generation Regeneration Wholistic Radio (gr.voiceamerica.com) host Sandra Malhotra, and coach and creator of miracles Noam Kostucki (artofamagicallife.com), are going to empower them so they can do just that.

W

e will accomplish this by coaching them to Level Up because coaching isn’t just for athletes … it’s for all of us. You don’t need coaching because you’re broken, but because you want to be the best expression of yourself possible. You are ready to work hard, get out of your comfort zone and unlearn limiting beliefs you have about yourself and what is possible with your business.

Noam and I started the 2016 Abundance Cubed group coaching program in January for five entrepreneurs who were selected from an impressive pool of applicants. Noam conducts a group coaching session each month, and then on the first Tuesday of the following month, we dedicate that Gen R Radio episode to the previous month’s coaching session. Our goal is

to not only help the five entrepreneurs in the program, but anyone who wants to follow along by listening to our radio show, reading the same books and following our Facebook page. Our first Abundance Cubed show aired on January 5th, and during it, Noam and I introduced

Successful entrepreneur and founder of eponymous eco-chic beauty line Indie Lee (IndieLee.com) joined us and shared many insights about how she established and built her brand.

Here are the topics for upcoming Abundance Cubed episodes on Gen R Radio:

You don’t need coaching because you’re broken, but because you want to be the best expression of yourself possible. the coaching program in detail. On February 2nd, we covered the first group coaching session on the topic of Establishing Your Brand, because doing so is critically important and not as easy as you may think!

• March 1: The focus will be on promoting yourself and your business on social media, which can be a powerful tool if used properly.

• April 5: We will delve into effective

www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

35

website design and search engine optimization. We all put time and money into our websites, so learn how to get the biggest bang for your buck!

• May 3: Changing gears for this show, we will discuss improving your relationship with money. For many healers, this relationship can be an uncomfortable one. Learn how to share your gifts and accept the abundance that you deserve.

that you use religiously — you probably know and love their backstory and mission. Learn how to craft and share your own.

keeping a mentor as you continue your journey upward.

• August 2: We would be remiss if we did not pause to discuss self-care for those who give so much to others, so we’ll discuss great techniques for self-care that you can incorporate into your daily routine.

• June 7: The topic will be proper pricing for your products and services. Now that you are comfortable accepting abundance, learn how to position your offerings in the marketplace.

• September 6: Now that you have a great website, social media presence, products and services, and are comfortable generating abundance … it’s time to bust through any final blocks and go forth as the confident entrepreneur that you are.

• July 5: Everybody loves a great story, and this show will delve into how to tell the story about your business. Think about the brands

• October 4: Having a coach in your corner is invaluable, as is a mentor or two. This show will discuss the benefits of finding and

• November 1: Do you aspire to write a book or present a TED talk?

We hope so! Noam has done both and will convey his wisdom about achieving these milestones on the 11/1/16 show.

• December 6: We’ll savor how we’ve all expanded during this show!

Check back in the May/June issue for an update on the Abundance Cubed program. You can also participate by tuning into our radio show the first Tuesday of every month at gr.voiceamerica.com at noon Pacific time, or catching the podcast On Demand. Also don’t forget to like our Abundance Cubed for Wellness Entrepreneurs Facebook page for great insights!

Spiritual Readings, palm readings, holistic healing, reiki master, psychic parties, classes available and more

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Beloved, I am “Archangel Gabriel.

The world is waiting for God’s Angels to show them the way home. We, the angels of God are speaking to them through our words written in this Book for you to read and call; to ask and receive our loving assistance for every request. We have written for your daily use to allow us into your hearts and minds to love you as you truly are: God’s perfect creation. We hope you will call upon us; the Angels of God created just for humanity’s wellbeing, so we may be allowed to come into your life with God’s healing love.”

Relax, Nourish, Grow Tune in to Genera on Regenera on on VoiceAmerica to learn about ways to regenerate your body, mind, and spirit with host Sandra Guy Malhotra, Ph.D. We feature holis c prac oners and spiritual thought leaders who are passionate about helping others. Join us for an inspiring and informa ve hour every Tuesday at noon PST, or On Demand!

Paperback or Kindle versions available at Amazon www.BellaSparkMagazine.com • March/April 2016 • BellaSpark

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