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HAPPY HYMN TO MAKING FEASTING SILENCE MIRACLES Tasty Rituals that Deepen the Holiday Spirit

21

years of publishing

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Gabrielle Bernstein on Creating Happiness

Surrendering to the Holiness December 2014

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GoNaturalAwakenings.com December 2014

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Our providers: Nelson Kraucak, MD

FAAFP-ABFP-ABCMT-IBALM-ABHM-MOCI Family Practice Alternative Medicine

The first combined Anti-Aging, Holistic, and Family Practice Clinic in The Villages, Central Florida “We are committed to aid and promote the body’s innate mechanisms to heal and achieve homeostasis for optimum health by introducing and using natural approaches with innovative and cutting-edge technology.”

Services Offered: F Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy F Sequenced Amino Acid for treatment of autoimmune diseases F Lymphatic Drainage F Magnetic Wave Therapy for Incontinence F Massage Therapy F Laser therapy for pain F Chelation and IV Nutrient Therapy F Acupuncture F NAET (Allergy Elimination) F Colon Hydrotherapy F Nutritional Counseling F Bio Energy Balancing F Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hours and Location: Monday-Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM 1501 HWY 441, Suite 1700 The Villages, FL, 32159 Call to Schedule Your Appointment: 352-750-4333

www.HealthcarePartnersFL.com

Dr. Nelson Kraucak has been practicing holistic medicine since 1995. Dr. Kraucak is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Family Practice. Dr. Kraucak has advanced certificates by the American Board of Holistic Medicine, International Board of Anti-Aging and Longevity Medicine, Heavy Metal Detoxification and Immuno Modulation. He is Associate Professor at FSU and UCF College of Medicine.

Aaron Perry, DOM

Acupuncture Physician, AP1813 Licensed Massage Therapist, MA25126, MM31501 Since 2003 Dr. Perry has been a practicing Acupuncture Physician, a Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Colon Hydrotherapist.

He has a M.S. Degree in Oriental Medicine from the Florida College of Integrative Medicine. He also has an Associate of Science Degree in Natural Health from the Florida College of Natural Health.

Natalie Vincent, LMT

Licensed Massage Therapist, MA56651, MM31501 Ms. Vincent joined the practice in November 2012. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist.

She received her training at Community Tech Adult Education in Ocala, FL in 2008. She is a Certified Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist. She received her LDT training at the Upledger Institute in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Annalisa Osterhout, BS, E-RYT, IAYT Certified Yoga Teacher/Therapist

Ms. Osterhaut joined the Healthcare Partners family in autumn 2013. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Naturopathy. She is a Certified Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, and a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists.

Natural Smile or Smile Makeover...

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FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE What is Functional Medicine?

By Dr. Michael J. Badanek, BS, DC, CNS, DACBN, DCBCN, DM(P)

F

unctional Medicine is patient-centered medical healing at its best. Instead of looking at and treating health problems as isolated diseases, it treats individuals who may have bodily symptoms, imbalances, and dysfunctions.

As the graphic of an iceberg shows, a named disease such as diabetes, cancer, or fibromyalgia might be visible above the surface, but according to Functional Medicine, the cause lies in the altered physiology below the surface. Usually, the cause of the disease and its symptoms is an underlying dysfunction or an imbalance of bodily systems.

Named diseases are just the tip of the iceberg. Below the surface, according to Functional Medicine, are the real causes of a patient's health problems. If health care treats just the tip of the iceberg, it rarely leads to long-term relief and vibrancy. Identifying and treating the underlying root cause or causes, as Functional Medicine does, has a much better chance to successfully resolve a patient's health challenges.

Using scientific principles, advanced diagnostic testing, and treatments other than drugs or surgery, Functional Medicine restores balance in the body's primary physiological processes. The goal is the patient's lifelong optimal health.

How Functional Medicine Heals a Key Health Care Gap

Today's health care system is in trouble because it applies a medical management model that works well for acute health problems to chronic health problems, where it is much less successful.

If you have a heart attack, accident, or sudden lung infection such as pneumonia, you certainly want a quick-thinking doctor to use all the quick-acting resources of modern medicine, such as life-saving technology, surgery, and antibiotics. We are all grateful for such interventions.

However, jumping in with drugs, surgery, and other acute care treatments often does not succeed in helping those with chronic, debilitating ailments, such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis. Another approach is needed.

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DISEASES: Arthritis, Cancer, Diabetes, Thyroid conditions, Heart disease, Autoimmune disease, Endocrine conditions, Sexual dysfunction, Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue UNDERLYING CAUSES: Inflammation Hormonal imbalances Toxicity Structural imbalances Mitochondrial dysfunction Toxic emotions (anger, fear, resentment, etc.)

Toxic chemical exposure Digestive, absorptive, and microbiological imbalances Mercury dental fillings

Dr. Michael Badanek has been serving the Central Florida region for more than 32 years in active clinical practice.

Dr. Badanek is a licensed Chiropractic Physician with extensive continued training in alternative complementary medicine including nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathy, applied kinesiology, functional and traditional allopathic medicine, and electro-dermal screening with board certifications in homeopathy, naturopathic medicine, and clinical nutrition. His real love is treating patients with all types of conditions with alternative/functional medicine, especially people with an ailment which has not responded to traditional or alternative treatments.

Visit www.alternativewholistichealth.com or call 352-622-1151 for consultation.

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

12 Happy Feasting to All

Tasty rituals that deepen the holiday spirit

by Lane Vail

14 To Walk the Talk, Do It in 3-D!

by Nuris Lemire, MS, OTR/L, NC

15 Can-Do Kids

Changing our world at any age

by Ellen Sabin

16 The Thyroid Gland

The misunderstood and mistreated thyroid

by Dr. Michael J. Badanek, DC, BS, CNS

18 Yin & Tonic

To everything there is a season

Every Saturday 9 am- 3pm

Visit our Farm Store Open Sun - Sat. 9am - 3pm

20 Incontinence

Pelvic floor failure

by John G. Langdon, M.D., FACP

22 The Swedish Dentist



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Call (352) 595-3377 6411 NE 217th Place, Citra, FL www.cronescradleconserve.com Email: catcrone@aol.com

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19 Opening Up to Miracles

Gabrielle Bernstein on creating more happiness

by April Thompson

    

What is better than a bouquet of flowers and healthier than a tin of cookies? A custom gift basket from Crones’ Cradle of course!

Local delivery available.

by Melody Murphy

These are a few of my favorite things

by Perry Ekstrand, DDS, LVIF

23 Hymn to Living in Silence

by Robert Rabbin

24 Find Your Fitness Style

Workouts that suit your personality

by Wendy Worrall Redal

22 Printed on recycled paper to protect the environment

8 newsbriefs

9 healthbriefs

11 globalbriefs 12 consciouseating 15 healthykids

18 yin&tonic 19 wisewords 24 fitbody 25 resourceguide 26 calendarofevents

30 coupons

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please call 352-629-4000 or email GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail. com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month preceding publication (i.e. December 10th for January issue).

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REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of 91 regionally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. The magazine is the largest wellness publication in the world. Each month, the magazine is read by 4,000,000 people, and is read online by 200,000 viewers. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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Publisher Carolyn Blakeslee, Ocala Editors Sharon Bruckman S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist Design + Production Stephen Blancett Steven Hagewood Carolyn Blakeslee Jessi Miller Contact Us 352-629-4000 P.O. Box 1140 Anthony, FL 32617 GoNaturalAwakenings@gmail.com www.NaturalAwakeningsNCFL.com Facebook.com/NaturalAwakenings GainesvilleOcalaTheVillages Copyright Š2014 Natural Awakenings.

All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

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We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas and feedback.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink.

December 2014

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newsbriefs Crones Cradle in High Gear

C

rones Cradle Conserve, our area’s 800-acre organic farm and ecological preserve, has several interesting upcoming events on the calendar.

Crazy Quilts with Celeste

On Saturday, January 3, from 9am-4pm, Celeste Viale will lead a workshop on Crazy Quilts. These were all the rage in the Victorian era and are enjoying a resurgence today.

Primarily a hand art, crazy quilting consists of bits and pieces of a variety of fabrics that are stitched together on a muslin background. “Then the fun begins! Some basic embroidery

The Frugal Wine Snob The wine blog about wine, food, travel, life.

stitches, ribbon appliqué, beading, painting, and stamping are a few of the techniques used to create the ‘crazy’ look.” $35, lunch not included.

“First Sunday” Women’s Brunch Returns

Starting January 4, Crones Cradle’s popular First Sunday Brunch is returning with home-grown, freshpicked, lovingly prepared, beautifully presented brunch foods. Jeri Baldwin, the center’s director, says, “The brunch enjoyed great attendance and enjoyment for several years in the ‘80s.

Many women have asked us to begin again, and we are very pleased to do so.”

The theme for the January brunch is “Fables.” Women are invited to “Share anything you wish that you have written, made, designed, created, or read.” Sharing isn’t required, but it’s encouraged.

The brunch is offered on a sliding scale, with a $6/person minimum.

Fables Catering, a new Gainesville small business, will be involved with meal offerings each month.

The themes of upcoming brunches are “Butterflies” (February), “A Book” (March—bring a used book you want to give away after you’ve talked about it), and “Walk Lightly” (April).

Open to all women. Reservations are required.

Cast-Iron Cooking

www.TheFrugalWineSnob.com

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On Saturday, January 10, instructor Robert Wilson will give a workshop on cast-iron cooking. Learn how cooking with cast-iron skillets can be good for your health. These vessels conduct heat beautifully, go from stovetop to fire to oven easily, and last

for decades.

$35, lunch not included.

Death Mid-Wifery Intensive

In this unusual class scheduled for January 16-19, participants will have the opportunity to learn about helping others transition into eternity.

Behind the Lens

Sherri Bunye will lead a documentary and story-telling photography workshop March 13-15.

Participants will be able to photograph nature, organic sustainable farming scenes and operations, and more, and will present their images on the last day.

Pre-registration may be required for these events. For more information, contact Crones Cradle in Citra at 352595-3377. Custom holiday gift baskets can be created, starting at $10 with local delivery available. The farm also has a selection of beautiful handmade jewelry, tapestries, quilted items, greeting cards, home-made canned goods, and homesteading books at the farm store, open daily 9-3.

Printed on recycled paper to protect the environment

healthbriefs Calcium Supplements Increase Risk of Brain Lesions

A

Duke University study published in the British Journal of Nutrition this summer found that calcium supplements taken by elderly persons may increase the risk of brain lesions that are identified as hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans.

The researchers studied 227 adults older than 60. The patients were assessed for supplemental calcium intake and received brain scans via MRI. Those taking calcium supplements had more lesions of a volume typically associated with hypertension. They noted no dose-dependent relationship between lesion size and the amount of calcium being supplemented. The scientists commented that other studies have found calcium supplementation also associated with greater risk of artery disease.

Hyperintensities are observed in normal aging, plus several neurological, psychiatric and autoimmune disorders that affect the brain. They constitute damage to brain tissue caused by restricted blood flow and have been linked to mild cognitive deficits and disturbances.

Knotweed and Hawthorn Outperform Lovastatin in Trial

C

hinese researchers recently discovered that two herbal extracts may treat atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries, as well as or more effectively than the pharmaceutical drug Lovastatin.

Sixty-four patients with atherosclerosis of the carotid artery were studied. For six months, half the patients received 20 milligrams of Lovastatin per day, while the other half took an herbal extract combination of Japanese knotweed and hawthorn.

After six months, tests showed artery plaque thickness and inflammation were significantly lessened among both groups.

However, the herbal extract-treated group showed a greater reduction of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, a marker of risk for cardiovascular disease.

Relatively high levels of hs-CRP in otherwise healthy individuals are predictive of heart health crises even when cholesterol levels are within an acceptable range. People with lower values have less of a risk.

www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

Cell Phones and Router Microwaves Stress Plants

E

vidence of the effects of wireless technologies on human health continues to be controversial, with agreement on results remaining elusive.

Now a new study published in the Journal of Plant Physiology found that human-generated microwave pollution can be stressful to plants.

Researchers from Romania’s Estonian University of Life Sciences tested three common garden plants—parsley, celery and dill. They exposed each to the types of microwave radiation equivalent to those produced by cell phones and wireless routers. Then these radiation-exposed plants were compared with identical plants not exposed to the radiation.

The scientists noted that the irradiated plants had thinner cell walls; smaller chloroplasts (cellular sites of photosynthesis); smaller cell mitochondria (centers of energy production); and greater emission of volatile compounds, particularly monoterpenes and green leaf volatiles, which are protective, life-promoting components of the plants’ essential oils.

The effects were stronger for the type of radiation produced by wireless routers. While essential oil production overall was increased by the frequency of the microwaves produced by cell phones, it was decreased by the frequency emitted by the routers.

December 2014

9

H

Hospice Care Adds Months for Cancer Patients

olistic esearchers from Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center determined that hospice Medicine R care significantly increases survival rates

for all Health Challenges

* Classical Homeopathy * Heavy Metal Detox * Nutrition * Preventive Health Care * Allergies

* Chronic Fatigue * Environmental Toxicity * Stress Management * Biosyntonie * Holistic Pediatrics

WE EDUCATE. Learn how to enhance your own unlimited self healing potential.

FREE holistic health and wellness workshops, and FREE electro-magnetic pollution workshops, available online or by phone.

Hanoch Talmor, MD

4140 NW 27th Ln, Suite C, Gainesville

352-377-0015 www.drtalmor.com

Check our website for upcoming workshops and webinars.

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among patients with metastatic (stage IV) melanoma, a difficult-to-treat form of cancer that occurs when melanoma cells have spread through the lymph nodes to other parts of the body.

The study’s authors followed 862 metastatic melanoma cancer patients.

Of these, 523 patients received one to three days of hospice care, 114 patients received four or more days and 225 people received no hospice care through their survival period. Those who received four or more days had an average survival period, which typically dates from the original diagnosis, of 10.2 months, while those who received none averaged 6.1 months. In addition, the end-of-life hospital costs for those receiving the most hospice visits were nearly half of what was incurred by patients not receiving hospice attention.

Hip Fractures Decrease on Weekends and Holy Days

A

new study published in the Israel Medical Association Journal found that older adults are more likely to have hip fractures in the wintertime, except during weekends and on religious holidays.

The study’s authors checked the records of 2,050 patients who were at least 65 years old and had suffered a hip fracture. Analyzing the dates of each fracture revealed that significantly more of them occurred during the wintertime; the injuries corresponded directly with lower temperatures and greater rainfall.

Fewer fractures took place on the Sabbath and during weekends in general, as well as on Yom Kippur and other holy days, with the exception of Passover.

Mistletoe Extract Benefits Pancreatic Cancer Patients

A

study published in the European Journal of Cancer revealed that a mistletoe extract may lengthen life for patients with severe pancreatic cancer. German researchers tested 220 patients with advanced stage pancreatic cancer, an aggressive, often fatal disease. The patients were divided into two groups; one was given up to 10 milligrams of Viscum album (European mistletoe) three times a week for up to 12 months. Both groups received supportive care throughout the study period.

The average length of survival for those taking the mistletoe extract, 4.8 months, was nearly twice that of the other group, 2.7 months; a survival period typically dates from the original diagnosis. Within a group considered to have a good prognosis, the survival period for those who consumed the extract, averaging 6.6 months, was more than double that of the no-extract group, which averaged 3.2 months.

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globalbriefs Planet Power

Scientists May Harvest Energy from Earth’s Infrared Emissions

P

hysicists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are developing a device described in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that would harvest energy from Earth’s infrared emissions into outer space.

The power is modest, but tangible. Steven J. Byrnes, a postdoctoral fellow at SEAS, points out, “The device could be coupled with a solar cell, for example, to obtain extra power at night without extra installation costs.”

Heated by the sun, our planet is very warm compared to the frigid depths of space. Thanks to recent technological advances such as plasmonics and nanofabrication, and new materials such as graphene, the researchers say this heat imbalance could soon be transformed into direct current (DC) power, taking advantage of an untapped, virtually limitless energy source.

Source: ScienceDaily.com

Green Envy

Don’t Be So Quick to Bash the Rich

A

survey at social research site Queendom.com reveals that stereotypes of the richest class of society as being uniformly selfish individuals are not accurate. It seems that having money does not necessarily mean that a person has an overactive ego. Actor Will Smith, with an estimated net worth of $200 million, observes, “Money and success don’t change people; they merely amplify what is already there.”

Queendom data shows a difference of only a few percentage points between respondents of varying income levels in matters of altruism such as doing and returning favors, putting themselves in others’ shoes, sympathy and empathy. The area where those in a higher socioeconomic status rank at the top is in charitable contributions.

Ilona Jerabek, president of parent company PsychTests AIM, says, “Our personality impacts every aspect of our life—the choices we make, the people we surround ourselves with, the career we pursue, the way we respond to life experiences, the way we manage our finances and whether or not we share our good fortune.”

Feeding Hope

Recognizing Restaurants that Support the Homeless

F

ood Recovery Certified is a new program that rewards restaurants that donate their extra food to those in need with a sticker on their front door. It’s a project of The Food Recovery Network, a national system of college students that takes cafeteria leftovers to homeless people.

Founder Ben Simon started the group in 2011 at the University of Maryland, and the network has saved more than 320,000 pounds of food from the dump in its first three years.

If a restaurant donates unsold food to the hungry at least once a month, it can apply for the certification. Then Food Recovery Certified verifies with local nonprofits that the donations actually occur before awarding its approval. Simon states, “Every food business should be donating its extra food.”

For more information, visit FoodRecoveryCertified.org. www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

Bamboo Bamboozle “Green” Clothing Made with Toxic Chemicals

B

amboo is rapidly renewable and requires few pesticides to grow.

However, bamboo fabric manufacturing is a chemically intensive process that doesn’t provide clear and legitimate product labeling. Misleadingly using the terms “eco-friendly” and “green” becomes greenwashing when applied to items such as bamboo clothing.

As the Fair Trade Commission describes the overall process, “Most bamboo textile products, if not all, are actually rayon, which typically is made using environmentally toxic chemicals.

While different plants, including bamboo, can be used as a source material to create rayon, there’s no trace of the original plant in the finished rayon product.”

This example points out the public vigilance required to secure more sustainable, environmentally friendly products. Third-party verification of all claims is recommended. Products made of the bamboo stalk itself, such as poles for furniture or planks for flooring, remain true to their naturally sustainable source.

Source: Tinyurl.com/Organic BambooFraud

December 2014

11

consciouseating

Connect

“Food connects us with one another, our heritage and our culture,” says May. Heather Evans, Ph.D., a Queen’s University professor and a holiday culinary history expert in Ontario, Canada, suggests creating a food diary of traditions to reinforce a connection with the past and support a holiday food legacy for the future. Ask grandparents about their childhood culinary memories, peruse family recipe books or discover new dishes that honor everyone’s ethnic heritage. Then create an heirloom holiday cookbook with handwritten recipes arranged alongside favorite photos and stories.

HAPPY FEASTING TO ALL

Tasty Rituals that Deepen the Holiday Spirit

by Lane Vail

Sync

T

he holiday season is ripe with an array of spiritual, cultural and family rituals. We celebrate, reflect, give gifts and, of course, feast.

Fortunately, the media also teems with tips on how to avoid high-calorie holiday goodies, says Dr. Michelle May, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat. For our diet-driven culture to resolve its struggle with food, she says we must learn to honor its intrinsic value. Ritualized eating can help; a recent study published in the journal Psychological Science found that engaging in food rituals evokes mindfulness that enhances the enjoyment of eating.

Pause

Hunger, the body’s fuel gauge, manifests in physical symptoms like a growling stomach or low blood sugar, says May, citing a useful analogy: “You wouldn’t drive around and pull into every gas station you see; you’d check your fuel gauge first. Before filling up with food, pause and check your fuel gauge. Am I actually hungry, or is this desire coming from something else?”

May suggests practicing FEASTing: First, focus on physical sensations, thoughts and emotions; perhaps we’re thirsty, rather than hungry, rationalizing that holiday foods are special, or feeling stressed or lonely. Next, explore why the feelings or thoughts are present, and then accept them without judgment.

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Strategize ways of satisfying the need and take a small step toward change.

Savor

Complex preparations for a major holiday can provoke anxiety and impatience, and likewise, feelings of longing or disappointment when it’s over. Sarah Ban Breathnach, bestselling author of Simple Abundance and Peace and Plenty, recommends allowing Christmastide to unfold at its own pace and celebrating all of December with a homemade Advent calendar.

Craft a tree-shaped tower of tiny boxes or a garland of burlap mini-bags clipped with clothespins. Place an almond covered in organic dark chocolate in each container and use the treat as a daily mini-meditation.

“Drop into the present moment, fully savor the luxurious, small bite and experience the pleasure of eating,” suggests May. Consider it symbolic of the season’s sweetness.

According to ancient philosophy, sharing seasonal food with loved ones during the winter solstice on December 21 symbolizes the shared trust that warmth and sunlight will return. Eating warm foods provides physical comfort and eating seasonally and locally connects us to the Earth, observes May.

Sync body and spirit with the season by stewing root vegetables, baking breads, sipping hot cider and tea, and nibbling on nuts and dried fruits.

“The repetition of predictable foods is reassuring,” remarks Evans, and it celebrates nature’s transitions.

Play

Stir-Up Sunday is a Victorian amusement filled with fun, mystery and mindfulness, says Ban Breathnach.

Some December Sunday, have each family member help stir the batter of a special Christmas cake while stating a personal new year’s intention. Drop a clean coin, bean or trinket into the mix and bake. Serve it with a sprig of holly on Christmas Day, and the person with the piece containing the lucky charm will be rewarded with a prosperous, wholesome and positive new year, according to tradition. Evans remarks, “This is a wonderful ritual for nurturing the health and spirit of the family.”

Give

Boxing Day offers something far more meaningful to celebrate than

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post-holiday sales. Originating as a tradition that thrived during the 19th century, “December 26 was a chance for landowners and homeowners to give back to household staff and local tradespeople,” says Evans. “It’s a tradition worth reviving to pause, reflect on our own good fortune and contribute to others’ comfort.”

Consider serving a meal at a local soup kitchen, collecting items for a food drive or offering a box of healthy culinary treats to community stewards at a fire station, post office or library. On Christmas Day, says Ban Breathnach, “Our kids have the world lying at their feet.” Boxing Day, she says, provides a natural transition to reach out in charity.

Lane Vail is a freelance writer and blogger at DiscoveringHomemaking.com.

A Revitalizing Ritual for the New Year

S

tart the new year with a tabula rasa (clean slate) by hosting a New Year’s Eve Good Riddance Tea Party. Gather family and friends over warm ginger tea, spiced apple cider, hot chocolate and festive finger foods. Guests write down on slips of paper any mistakes, disappointments, regrets, hurts or failings they wish to be forgiven or forgotten.

One by one, put them into a crackling fireplace or bonfire to symbolize surrendering of the past. “This ties the heart strings in a comforting bow,” comments author Sarah Ban Breathnach.

Then, inscribe fresh intentions for the year to come and tuck them away in a special place. “This is the most mystical part, because so many prayers get answered,” Ban Breathnach says.

Lastly, toast the new year with optimism and joy.

www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

HOLIDAY TREATS

C

reating a repertoire of delicious wintery foods can help evoke health, mindfulness and delight during the holiday season. Dr. Michelle May says, “Cake becomes more than just cake, it becomes something the family creates and enjoys together.”

Memory-Making Christmas Cake Yields 20 servings

This nontraditional, healthy Christmas cake is alcohol-, sugar- and gluten-free.

Prepare the cake with the whole family as a Stir-Up Sunday ritual, and keep it tightly sealed in the refrigerator until Christmas Day. Serve in small portions at room temperature or warmed in the oven and alongside vanilla bean custard or plain yogurt swirled with orange blossom honey.

2½ cups (600 grams) mixed and chopped dried fruit (raisins, prunes, figs, apricots, currants, sultanas and/ or dates) 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp nutmeg 1 tsp vanilla bean extract Zest and juice from 1 organic orange 3 Tbsp olive oil 3 organic free-range eggs 2 cups (200 gm) ground almonds (almond flour) ¼ cup (50 gm) walnuts Preheat the oven to 300° F. Line the sides and base of a 7-inch round cake tin with parchment paper.

Combine the dried fruit, spices, vanilla, orange zest and juice, olive oil and eggs. Mix in the almond flour and walnuts, then spoon batter into the baking tin.

Bake for an hour-and-a-half. Insert a skewer or toothpick to see if it comes out moist, but clean; if not, bake for up to 30 minutes more. (Cover the top if necessary to prevent over-browning.)

After cooling, remove from the tin and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month.

The Perfect Custard

Yields 6 servings

A velvety-smooth custard, also called crème anglaise, may be used as a foundation of many desserts. It can be flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, citrus, coffee or pistachio.

Pour this vanilla bean custard over a warm Christmas cake or serve it straight up as eggnog, adding a touch of brandy and dusting of nutmeg.

2 cups milk of choice (organic, almond, coconut, soy or rice) 2 organic free-range eggs 2 tsp vanilla bean extract 2 Tbsp organic maple syrup or 1 Tbsp honey 1 Tbsp cornflour or kudzu Pinch nutmeg

Heat milk in a saucepan with vanilla and honey and bring to near boiling, then remove from heat.

Beat eggs and cornflour in a stainless steel mixing bowl until combined.

Pour the hot milk over the eggs and whisk in well.

Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook over a gentle heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until it thickens and coats the back of the spoon.

Remove from the heat quickly and pour back into the mixing bowl.

Whisk well to slightly cool and smooth it out. If any lumps appear, strain the mixture through a sieve.

Serve hot or cold. To warm up cold custard, put in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water; stir and heat through gently.

NOTE: For an egg-free custard, heat 17 oz almond milk with 2 Tbsp honey or 100 percent maple syrup and 2 tsp vanilla extract until near boiling. Thicken with a slurry made from 2 Tbsp cornflour, arrowroot or kudzu.

Finish with a sprinkling of nutmeg.

Both recipes courtesy of Teresa Cutter, author of The 80/20 Diet and founder of TheHealthyChef.com.

December 2014

13

To Walk the Talk, Do It in 3-D!

by Nuris Lemire, MS, OTR/L, NC

C

oming into the special time of the holidays, when people gather with families and friends, is a good time to look within, and evaluate: How do I feel about myself? Am I true to myself? Am I walking my talk? Am I the change that I want to see in the world?

When people look within and develop themselves so that they live their life in complete harmony with the universe, their world changes.

So ... the philosophy is not do good things; but be a good person.

Changing oneself in that way will make the world a better place, because as a person behaves well towards other people and the world, the community will respond by becoming better itself.

Some of the tools to assist with the tasks are devotion, dedication, and discipline.

Devotion: The dictionary defines devotion as follows: Profound dedication; consecration, earnest commitment to a cause, person, purpose, etc. A strong foundation is based on cultivating the mind. If you cannot give up attachment, you are not able to cultivate Qi (life essence) and enter a state of clarity and purity, complete voidness and ultimate stillness. One needs to practice restraint, and detach from desire, trauma, and crisis, or the need for recognition.

Dedication: The giving of oneself whole-heartedly to some purpose.

Peace, tranquility, and harmony are a result of daily, diligent, dedicated focus on the purpose or goal. If you see life as a journey, with the wisdom of knowing

14

that this is a relay of joy, each day you remain focused on your life purpose it becomes easier until it’s part of your DNA. External forces or people cannot distract you.

Discipline: Systematic training or conditions imposed for the improvement of physical powers, self control, behaviors, etc., resulting from such training or conditions. A person can say, “I am in charge of my life; that is why I am disciplined.� You can then overcome any attitude because you have a purpose. You have motivation and a value which propels you into action.

Self-motivated people experience joy and can smile through challenges.

The benefits of following what we call the 3 Ds are the 3 Rs!

Refresh: To renew by stimulation, replenish give new vigor or spirit. The result of having a routine for any activity you enjoy that you have become dedicated and disciplined to do.

Recharge: A process to restore power or charge to a power storage device, such as the human body. The body becomes stronger and the quantity and quality of Qi is accumulated, first by strengthening the kidneys. The foundation of longevity comes from healthy kidneys. This is followed by restoring the liver and next is the heart. It is said that disease cannot live in a joyful heart.

Rejuvenate: To make someone feel or look young, healthy, or energetic again; to give new strength or energy.

This is achieved through good foods, physical movement, and good thoughts

as your follow your journey with devotion, dedication and discipline.

Do good deeds and be charitable without being recognized. Give time and energy to serve your community.

Our essential human nature is loyalty, piety, respect, love, forgiveness, and self-love, which creates energy. Consistently contemplate the 3 Ds and the 3 Rs in the same way the hungry think of food, or the thirsty think of drink. If you become aware of the slightest imbalance, and consistently correct it, you will be successfully walking your talk.

References: www.wudangtao.com www.thefreedictionary.com If you would like assistance in creating a plan for your walk, contact Lemire Clinic at 352-291-9459, visit www. lemireclinic.com, or attend a free patient education seminar the first Monday of every month at 6pm.

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healthykids

Can-Do Kids Changing Our World at Any Age

by Ellen Sabin

practice giving by picking up litter, recycling and even turning off lights when you leave a room. When we pay attention to the environment around us, we can learn how to respond in a giving way.

Ellen Sabin is the founder and president of Watering Can Press (WateringCanPress.com), a publishing company committed to growing kids with character. Her series of award-winning books include The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving; The Greening Book: Being a Friend to Planet Earth; and The Healthy Body Book: Caring for the Coolest Machine You’ll Ever Own.

Fun Activity Who’s Been Giving to You?

This article is written especially for young readers eager to embrace the true spirit of the holiday season. Sharing it with them can help cultivate a lifelong practice of giving.

H

ave you ever seen someone do something that changed a situation from bad to good?

Maybe your parents helped someone whose car broke down, or a teacher spent extra time after class helping you with schoolwork.

No matter your age, where you live or what you own, you have the power to do good, too. What you do can make other people happy and make the world a better place. Here are some ideas to help you figure out how. n A good place to start is to think about what’s important to you. This will help you find a way of giving back that you’ll enjoy and want to do again and again. For example, if you love taking care of animals, offer to walk an elderly person’s dog for them. If you get sad when you think about someone being lonely, visit a neighbor who lives alone.

www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

n It’s nice to help strangers, but you can also do little things close to home that’ll make life easier and better for your family. You can call your grandma to say hello, help your mom or dad with the dishes or play a favorite game with your little sister or brother. n You can also use your own special talents to help others. If you are a good cook, bake a healthy holiday treat to bring to someone who is feeling sick. You can read out loud a story to a younger child. If you’re strong and have lots of energy, you can help your neighbor take out the trash or do other household chores. n You can have fun and make an even bigger difference by doing good things with others. One way to get your friends excited about joining you is to plan a “Giving Party.” Ask your parents to help you download a free guide (WateringCanPress.com/html/parents. html) that has fun ideas and activities for creating a holiday time, birthday party, or rainy day get-together. n Giving to other people is important, but the planet needs us, too. You can

W

hether it’s time, love or things, the people around us give to us all the time.

Sometimes we don’t stop to think about what people do for us, so we forget to say “Thank you.” Appreciating what people give us is just as important as giving to others.

Here are some questions to ask yourself. After you have answered each question, think about what you can do to thank people for their kindness.

Who shared with you? What did they share?

Who taught you something? What did they teach you?

Who showed you love? How did they show you love?

Who made you happy? How did they make you happy?

Source: Adapted excerpt from The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving by Ellen Sabin.

December 2014

15

The Misdiagnosed and Mistreated Thyroid Gland

by Dr. Michael J. Badanek, DC, BS, CNS, DACBN, DCBCN, MSGR/CHEV

I

t is estimated that one in four Americans suffer with a condition involving the thyroid gland. The problems which trigger these thyroid conditions are numerous and are rarely discovered or treated by conventional medical practices. During my 35 years of clinical practice, I’ve seen a steady increase in the population being affected with thyroid disease, but what is most distressing is that thyroid conditions are now affecting our youth. Due to the allopathic medical profession’s view of hypothyroidism, the condition has remained enigmatic, and both doctors and patients are having a hard time understanding and treating this common clinical condition.

The clinical presentations of thyroid disease are numerous and can be very perplexing to the clinician. Here are just a few of the common complaints from patients who enter doctors’ offices:

1. Fatigue and “not enough energy” are among the most common complaints. These are nonspecific complaints that correlate with many health conditions, including depression, anemia, infection, cancer, autoimmune diseases, cardiopulmonary disease, and nutritional deficiency, to name just a few.

2. Depression is common among patients with thyroid disease. The most direct explanation for this is reduced function of the adrenergic nervous system—specifically, the reception of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine which support energy, attention, vigilance and pleasure.

3. Cold hands and cold feet. The T3 hormone increases body temperature; therefore, with decreased T3 thyroid hormone, patients commonly notice cold intolerance.

4. Dry skin, commonly noticed due to a combination of impaired nutrient absorption and impaired function of the oil-producing glands of the skin.

5. Constipation, poor digestion, acid reflux. Thyroid diseases leads to slowing of the body’s functions, which leads to slower intestinal transit, which manifests as constipation. Autoimmune thyroiditis produces antibodies to the acid-producing cells in the stomach.

6. Menstrual irregularities, PMS, uterine fibroids,

16

excessive menstrual bleeding, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

7. Infertility and the feeling and experience of not having enough sex hormones. Thyroid hormone is directly necessary for sex hormone production and for the successful maintenance of pregnancy.

8. Weak fingernails and hair loss.

9. Increased need for sleep.

10. Obesity and difficulty in losing weight.

11. High cholesterol. HMG-CoA reductase enzyme is suppressed in thyroid conditions, thus elevating cholesterol levels.

12. Slow heart rate.

13. High blood pressure.

14. Slow healing.

15. Decreased memory and concentration.

16. Muscle weakness.

17. Sleep apnea.

18. Recurrent infections.

19. Frog-like husky voice.

Problems that may arise in the thyroid gland, affecting hormone production and metabolism:

1. Conditions affecting the hypothalamus.

2. Problems of the pituitary gland.

3. Problems specific to the thyroid gland such as Grave’s Disease (hyperthyroidism), autoimmune thyroiditis, euthyroid disease.

4. Peripheral metabolic dysfunction.

5. Adrenal gland dysfunction.

6. Heavy metal toxicity.

7. Nutrient deficiencies.

8. Conversion deficiencies.

The above-noted maladies/conditions all play an important role in the proper function and integrity of proper and healthy thyroid function. Very little, if any, emphasis is placed on these mentioned etiologies (causes) of thyroid dysfunction in the standard medical model. Most if not all of my patients have been misdiagnosed, therefore mistreated, with this common endocrine condition.

To schedule an appointment for a courtesy consultation regarding thyroid or any other condition, call 352-622-1151 or visit www.AlternativeWholisticHealth.com.

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December 2014

17

N

S

in & Tonic

by Melody Murphy

To Everything There Is a Season

M

y sweet grandmother died in October. If you remember past columns, this is the one who had orange trees in her back yard in Bartow, whose good neighbors would stop by with soup and camellias and tangerines, who still called Alabama “up home” after 58 years away from it, and who taught me to make Russian tea at Christmas.

This month’s column is not a tribute to my grandmother, though she well deserves it. I already did that when I wrote her obituary and her eulogy. It’s too soon, too personal, and too much to write about her right now.

Nor is this about Christmas. As you can imagine, I don’t feel super-festive, and I’m not going to wax poetic about Christmas trees or exhort you to follow holiday traditions. You do what you want this year, even if it’s lying on your couch all day watching cartoons and drinking eggnog through a bendy straw. You’ll get no argument from me.

No, this is about family. As I wrote in September, I have a sizable extended family. My mother’s side of the family is from Florence, Alabama, way up in the northwest corner of the state, almost to Tennessee. Naturally, my grandmother wanted to be buried next to my grandfather, so after the funeral in Bartow, my mother and I headed “up home” to fulfill my grandmother’s wishes and lay her to rest in the red clay of her birthplace.

18

It is more than 600 miles from Ocala to Florence. If I’m going to drive 12 hours to get somewhere, I’m not going to turn around a couple of days later and drive back. Plus, we hadn’t been in an astounding 11 years. Work and family illnesses have kept us from going much of anywhere. It had been five years since I’d left the state of Florida. Ridiculous, but true.

So I took two weeks off work, and we had nine wonderful days in Alabama. And it’s the best thing I could have done.

In those two weeks, I spent time with four aunts, one uncle, and 26 cousins: 11 second cousins, six third cousins, four fourth cousins, and five cousins-in-law. I’m sure I should be referring to some of them as onceremoved or twice-removed, but as I said in September, neither you nor I has the time or patience for that.

You wouldn’t think you could have a really good time on a trip whose impetus is a funeral. Especially when someone you loved dearly has died.

And yet, death did not stand in the way of a lively and rejuvenating interlude. I can thank my family for that.

I genuinely enjoy my Alabama relatives. They’re all very nice people.

And they made sure we all got to visit, and that we had as good a time as we could.

I also adore Florence and the great state of Alabama. It’s a beautiful place full of friendly people, Southern

charm, good food, great music, and fascinating history. I have always enjoyed my visits, and there has never been a time I haven’t thought while there, “I could very happily live here.”

This time, I flatly did not want to come home. I blame my family for that.

There isn’t enough space remaining to tell about all our Alabama adventures. So the detailed stories will have to wait for future columns.

For now, it is enough to say that we had a lovely time. We shared lots of stories, ate extraordinarily well, heard and sang along with great music. We explored our family history and the beautiful autumnal countryside. As a native Floridian who’s never been out of the state in October, this was the first time I’d ever gotten to experience a real fall, and it was glorious. Best of all, we got to reunite and reconnect with family we hadn’t seen in years, and were able to pick up right where we left off, like it had been no time at all.

A wise man who worked for Hospice said to me, shortly before my grandmother died, “This trip to Alabama is going to be her gift to you.”

How right he was. And how much she would have enjoyed knowing what a good time we all had together! I hope she knows.

There is a time and a season for everything: a time to be born, a time to die. Christmas is a season about birth, not death. And although death will, unavoidably, color this holiday season for me, Christmas is still a time to celebrate and be grateful for family, those here and those no longer with us. This year, I will take all the comfort and joy from them that I can – which is considerable.

And if Christmas is a time to reconnect with and celebrate family, share stories and music and good food... well, then, Christmas came extra-early for me this year. It’s the last gift my grandmother gave me.

Melody Murphy is grateful this Christmas for all those she can call family.

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wisewords

Opening Up to Miracles Gabrielle Bernstein on Creating More Happiness

by April Thompson

M

otivational speaker and bestselling author Gabrielle Bernstein knows the gravitational pull of addiction firsthand. Although introduced to spiritual practices from an early age, she turned away from that upbringing in her 20s, pulled instead into a vortex of drugs, alcohol, and unhealthy relationships while running a public relations firm promoting Manhattan nightclubs. After hitting rock bottom at age 25, Bernstein made the unwavering decision to seek spiritual help and change her life.

The entrepreneurial young woman found her groove as a spiritual teacher, introducing millions to new ways of thinking and living through her books, lectures, blogs and videos.

Her no-nonsense approach to spirituality and knack for making practices like meditation and prayer accessible to beginners and cynics have attracted a new generation of seekers. Bernstein’s latest book, Miracles Now:108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow, and Finding Your True Purpose, offers simple, yet powerful tips to short-circuit unhealthy thought patterns and take a shortcut to transformational change.

Why do you reframe a miracle as simply a shift in perception?

Shifting your perception and choosing again is a core principle from A Course in Miracles, a metaphysical text that I study and teach from. When you choose to reorganize your belief www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

system and align it with a loving, forgiving perspective, rather than a fear-based reality, that’s when miracles can happen.

Some people shift away from a harmful relationship with addictive drugs and alcohol as you did, while others take such unhealthy behaviors to the grave; what makes the difference?

Often when we get caught in unhealthy behavior, we aren’t willing to ask for help. I think the reason I was able to leave those behaviors behind and create a new path was my willingness to live a different way. I was able to witness my life and see that it wasn’t working. It’s an ongoing process; I’ve been on my current path of turning to spiritual principles for many years, but I’m still constantly working to apply them throughout my moment-tomoment experiences.

How does meditation help create radical change?

I think meditation is a key tool for health, happiness and well-being. It can help reorganize the nervous system, lower stress levels, calm the mind and recalibrate energy. It can help us experience more synchronicity in our lives and a greater sense of interconnectedness, as well.

What do you struggle with the

most and what personal miracle are you still trying to realize?

I’m in constant conversation with myself over my thoughts and beliefs about judgment and separation. People are programmed by society to believe we are separate and to judge ourselves and others. My practice suggests a reinterpretation of that general belief system in order to perceive things differently. I also try to forgive limiting thoughts I was holding onto; for example, judging myself for not performing well at a lecture.

Talking too much in conversations is a big challenge for me. A practice in my Miracles Now book called WAIT, for “Why am I talking?” reminds me to notice when I’m saying too much, commenting unnecessarily or not supporting the greater good.

How do you think about money, and has that proven helpful in broader terms?

I believe that we have the power to attract healthier relationships in our financial circumstances in the same way that we have the power to attract healthier relationships with people in our lives. Some people think that you can’t both be spiritual and secure financial abundance; I think that’s nonsense. When you start to reorganize your beliefs around your self-worth and capacity to earn, and open up to your intuitive voice and the creative possibilities for earning, then your financial situation can change dramatically. I have lived that principle fully. I was brought up in a poverty mindset, but with a shift in perception, I was able to release my fears of financial insecurity.

Do you have a go-to practice that you reach for first when faced with a difficult situation?

When I’m faced with a complicated situation or feeling powerless, I say a prayer in stillness. Such a practice asks through prayer and listens through meditation. It’s in that stillness that I can hear the voice of intuition and the voice of forgiveness, and love can come forward.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

December 2014

19

Incontinence Pelvic Floor Failure

by John G. Langdon, M.D., FACP Chief Medical Strategist, New Wave Biosciences, Inc.

W

hat medical condition affects nursing home patients, young moms, soldiers returning home from Afghanistan, middle-aged guys who have trouble peeing, and prostate cancer survivors?

The answer, of course, is a medical condition that never kills unless one dies of embarrassment. It is incontinence— the equal opportunity affliction that affects millions of individuals and results in billions of dollars of expense every year, much of it not reimbursed by insurance. Incontinence, whether it be Urge, Stress, or Mixed, is as much an aesthetic problem as it is a medical condition.

The common pathways that lead to this problem include trauma, surgery, drugs, pregnancy (parity), malignancy, and the usual list of suspects including poor nutrition and fluid management, alcohol, smoking, obesity (high BMI), and poor fitness. The bottom line, regardless of the stressors, is that a healthy pelvic floor will reduce a wide variety of issues from incontinence (both urinary and fecal) to sexual dysfunction.

With a problem that affects the quality of life so dramatically, one would think that new therapies would be continuously emerging. The truth is that until recently there has been little change in therapies available for pelvic floor rehabilitation.

There are incontinence products costing $1,500/ year; there are Kegel exercises, drugs, neuromodulation (electrical stimulation) and even surgery. Medications can help, but realize that stopping a drug that could be causing the problem might be the most important thing you can do. Be prepared for plenty of side effects—constipation, diarrhea, hot flashes, agitation, and shaky sensations. Drugs really should not be used in the elderly, the cardiac patient, the hypertensive, patients with renal disease, and women

20

who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

ExMI (Extracorporeal Magnetic Innervation) and electrical stimulation are the last stops before surgery. The ability to induce muscle-strengthening contractions is not limited to applying an electrical impulse through the skin or mucosa, but also by way of passing a strong magnetic impulse through the pelvis to stimulate the pelvic nerves, which in turn generates a normal muscle contraction like a very strong Kegel exercise compared to the inefficient contraction of electrical stimulation.

E-stimulation requires inserting electrical contacts into the vagina or rectum. ExMI, on the other hand, requires no disrobing or electrode insertion, only requiring sitting on a treatment chair fully clothed. ExMI has been in highly effective use in much of the world for more than a decade. It has recently become available in the US. HealthCare Partners Family Medicine in The Villages is now a Certified Center for Pelvic Floor Centers of America, offering this technology.

This, then, represents the spectrum of non-invasive therapies for incontinence.

The guiding principles in managing incontinence include getting a good diagnosis, which can be made with a good patient history supported by a bladder diary and a simple relevant physical exam. A urinealysis to rule out infection is a requirement. After a good diagnosis, using the least invasive, most effective treatment is critical. Magnetic wave therapy (ExMI) is the best example of non-invasive treatment.

To learn more about ExIM, contact Healthcare Partners Family Medicine in The Villages at 352-750-4333, email sklund@md-one.net, or visit www.HealthcarePartnersFL. com.

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December 2014

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These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

by Perry Ekstrand, DDS, LVIF, The Swedish Dentist

I

have never been one to endorse any particular brand or product during my years in practice, but since 2008 I have personally experienced the benefits of the science that has gone into two different product lines I believe will make a difference in your oral health, and seen first-hand with my patients.

First, the Hydrofloss®. I personally got hooked on this appliance when Debbie and I went to Alaska on a 10week vacation in 2009. We drove our truck and towed a trailer for 14,000 miles.

Before this trip, at a conference I had met some guys who bragged about this HydroFloss thing, so I figured I would test it myself. I was in the process of getting all my upper teeth reconstructed, so I had a temporary bridge from ear to ear.

I did not floss a single day on the whole trip! Eewwwww:) This normally makes for really ugly tissue under the temporary. However, I was very diligent with the Hydrofloss. I might have missed a few days, but not many.

When I came home, and the bridge was removed, the tissue was beautiful.

I could not believe it.

I love this machine. This is a product that acts like a WaterPik®‎, blasting away at the things left between your teeth and stimulating your gums. I never felt this could take the place of flossing and I used to say these were real handy if you were thirsty :-) Hydrofloss, however, has taken their product a step further and developed a system to not only

22

pressure wash but also ionize the water. This drastically reduces the ability of the bacteria to build plaque on teeth, keeping your gums and teeth healthier. It is especially good for people who do not have the dexterity to successfully floss their teeth. Not quite a substitute, but darn close.

Secondly I was introduced to Melaleuca, the Wellness Company®, an American company that has scientifically created a line of products, in tune with nature, that I believe will help to improve your oral health and overall health in general.

The basis of their line of tooth care products is tea tree oil from the Melaleuca tree. Unlike other toothpaste, they call it a tooth polish.

The tea tree oil, along with other naturally derived products in their tooth polish, helps control bacteria that cause plaque buildup and freshens breath. Besides tea tree oil, it contains the following:

Papain: a potent natural enzyme extracted from the mountain papaya that breaks away stains on the tooth surface for whiter teeth, without damaging tooth enamel and compromising oral health.

Myrrh: a resin from African and Middle Eastern trees, a natural astringent.

Xylitol: Found in the fibers of many fruits and vegetables, this sweetener cannot be fermented by bacteria in the mouth, so it naturally sweetens without contributing to tooth decay the way sugar in other products does.

The tooth polish has options with

fluoride or without, and they also have a kids’ line. I use the no-fluoride one.

The rest of their tooth care line includes a concentrated mouth rinse with tea tree oil and no alcohol, and a floss with tea tree on it to get the oil down in between the teeth into the gums where bacteria grows. They also make aspartame-free gum and breath mints sweetened with xylitol that help in the same way their tooth polish works. (If you check out other breath mints, they have sugar or aspartame which have the opposite effect and actually promote bad breath. They are also less healthy for you.)

If you add to this their focus on concentration of all their products, it lets you use less, with, I believe, better results and a money savings as well.

Last but not least is to encourage you to consider supplementing your diet with vitamins and minerals.

Melaleuca holds two patents in this area and seems to have found the secret to absorption of supplementation and I think is worth looking into.

Hydrofloss (hydrofloss.com) can be purchased online or through your dentist’s office so be sure to ask. You might get a better deal from your dentist. Melaleuca (melaleuca.com) products can be purchased direct from the manufacturer after being referred by another customer.

My hope in sharing what I have learned over the years is to inspire you to do your own research and keep forging down the road towards improving your health.

Visit The Swedish Dentist for a cappuccino or espresso and meet the team that can help you find joy, function, and a more youthful you through mercury-free, biologic dentistry. Information: Exceptional Dentistry of The Villages, 352-3919897, TheSwedishDentist.com.

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GIVE YOUR BUSINESS Hymn to Living in Silence AN ENERGY BOOST

by Robert Rabbin

T

here’s one truth, and it is silence.

All truths come from, exist as and return to silence.

Silence is behind every holy thought, word and act. All holiness is silent.

This is what all sages know and say: Enter silence and we leave behind the rubble of self and no-self, time and death.

Enter silence and we see the world that God created; that we are the created. God, the world and being are one. Life is suddenly real—beautiful and perfect in each curve and angle.

This awakening into truth happens as we surrender everything to silence.

We must give away our inventory of unreleased thoughts and cherished beliefs, undigested experiences and dogma, disappointments, fears, worries, resentments and sorrows; even personal desires and joys.

If it’s difficult to do: throw it away, fling it off, kick it out. Just don’t let it stay.

We must empty our storehouses of past, present and future, and then burn them down so that nothing can ever accumulate again.

Now give more. Let go of ego, will and humility, ignorance and knowledge, the body and its faculties. Surrender what is and is not yourself. Give away meaning, purpose and happiness, even precious life itself.

Nothing can remain.

Then, by letting everything go the second it occurs, we return to clarity, freedom and eternal openness. We live in silence. For it is in silence that God is working, playing and loving. In silence, we become perfectly one with that divine working, playing and loving.

When absolutely all has been given up and only emptiness remains, even then, take one more step towards silence. Give away the emptiness. Hold back nothing. Even the giver is given away.

In silence, we transform and are reborn. We become real with more joy, pleasure, peace and contentment than we ever hoped for. Our highest purpose is fulfilled, our greatest longing is realized in ways we know not.

In becoming nothing, we become everything. We need nothing, and thus have everything. With nothing to protect, only peace remains. It cannot be controlled or fathomed, only lived. We love this about the holy ones, the sages. No one knows how it happens, only that it does.

In silence, we are moved by what moves all else without knowing how, why or when. This is freedom, love and truth.

Robert Rabbin is a self-awareness teacher and author. Connect at RobertRabbin.com.

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December 2014

23

Find Your Fitness Style

Workouts that Suit Your Personality

by Wendy Worrall Redal

W

hile some people find repetitious workouts boring, others like doing predictable routines at regular locations. Ensuring that our fitness regimen jives with our “fitness personality” is integral to making exercise a consistent part of our lifestyle, a concept that has traction among exercise experts.

Jonathan Niednagel, founder and director of The Brain Type Institute, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, and an athletic consultant for professional teams, explains in his book, Your Key to Sports Success, that understanding our inborn brain type can help us to determine which sport is best suited to motivate us. In Suzanne Brue’s book, The 8 Colors of Fitness, she applies principles from the Myers-Briggs personality inventory to help readers develop a personalized exercise program. Susan Davis-Ali, Ph.D., in St. Paul, Minnesota, a professional coach for working women, created a Fitness Interest Profile survey for the Life Time Fitness health club chain. She points to research that suggests people who engage in activities appropriate for their personalities enjoy their workouts more and are likely to stay with them longer.

Identifying our fitness personality can help us find a program that suits our rhythms and interests. Based on composites from growing research, here

24

are six categories that assess and capture the way we may feel about exercise; more than one can apply to any individual.

Disciplined and driven. This is an image to which many of us may aspire, even though not everyone fits the mold. These exercisers are self-motivated and goaloriented. Commitment and consistency go hand-in-hand. They like to use devices to track progress, maintain a training log and/ or work with a personal trainer in systematic workouts geared to measure improvement.

Disciplined types are often early risers; starting the day with regular exercise is second nature. Compatible fitness regimens include cardio workouts, interval and weight training, running, swimming and martial arts.

Relishes routine. While these folks are disciplined and driven in some ways, they tend to be more relaxed about regimens.

The key to success here is consistency. They like order and familiarity in exercise settings and practice and may enjoy reading or watching a screen during workouts.

Whatever the preferred approach, whether it’s a favorite training video, Wii Fit video game, favorite teacher or memorized Pilates moves, these exercisers like to stick with it, even working out at the same time every day— often first thing in the morning or after work— finding that regularity can be habit-forming.

Conscious contemplative. Reflective individuals

enjoy quiet, solo activities like long-distance running, biking, hiking and swimming, that allow opportunities to look inward, often without thinking too much about the physical details. Exercise offers a chance to clear the mind and renew the spirit while strengthening the body. These types naturally gravitate to outdoor pursuits, but some indoor practices may also suit them, like yoga, Pilates, tai chi or even karate, which incorporate a strong mind-body component. Workouts are often soothing, rather than intense.

Plays well with others. For many people, exercise is best enjoyed with others, combining the social and fitness benefits of both. Connections and camaraderie get them off the couch, revved up and ready to go. Whether it’s a committed group of friends chatting during water aerobics or a high-powered cardio class that compares notes, motivation comes primarily from the presence—and accountability factor—of others. A lunch-hour class at a nearby studio or gym may be a fun break in the workday. On weekends, consider golf, tennis, dance or a local recreation team.

Compulsive competitor. While the communal aspect is appealing, the greater gratification for this type comes through the thrill and challenge of competition.

Trying to win is the great motivator, unlike driven and disciplined types who are happy to push through to their personal best.

Team sports are a natural outlet, including soccer, rugby, lacrosse, basketball or swimming, plus disc golf, tennis or racquetball matches and running events.

Avid for adventure. It’s tough for any formal exercise program to keep the attention of adventurers. They crave freshness and spontaneity in fitness venues, activities that engage their interest and animate enthusiasm. It’s crucial for adventurous types to mix things up and not rely on any one exercise practice. Outdoor endeavors such as snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, inline skating or mountain biking have appeal. They may gravitate to the variables of Nia, Zumba’s high-energy Latin dance groove, kickboxing, exercise balls or hot yoga. A midday exercise escape can break the work routine. Their key to keeping active is to keep things stimulating.

Wendy Worrall Redal blogs at Gaiam Life (Life.Gaiam.com), from which this was adapted.

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CommunityResourceGuide Colonics

Holistic Medicine

Massage

Gentle Waters Healing Center 352-374-0600, Gainesville info@gentlewatershealing.com The therapists at Gentle Waters Healing Center will assist each individual with detoxing using colon hydrotherapy, Far Infrared Sauna, and/or Aqua Chi Lymphatic Drainage. Call Dawn Brower for more information or visit www.gentlewatershealing.com. MA41024, MM15426.

Hanoch Talmor, M.D. Gainesville Holistic Center 352-377-0015 www.drtalmor.com/ We support all health challenges and the unlimited healing potential of God’s miracle: your body.

Chelation, Nutrition, Cleansing, Homeopathy, Natural Energy Healing, Detoxification, Wellness Education and more.

Fitness

Aaron C. Perry II, Lac OMD, Colon Hydrotherapist The Lemire Clinic

Clark Dougherty Therapeutic Massage Clinic 415 NE 25th Ave., Ocala 352-694-7255 / www.ClarkDougherty.com Offering a variety of therapeutic massage techniques for pain relief, improved flexibility, and other wonderful benefits. WorkComp always accepted, also group/private insurance in some instances. All credit cards accepted. Gift certificates are available for holidays and birthdays with 25% discount on a second session. MA27082, MM9718.

Hip Moves Fitness Studio Rona Bennett, BS, CPT Holistic Health, Personal Fitness Coaching 708 N.W. 23rd Ave., Gainesville www.hipmoves.com / 352-692-0132 An intimate fitness studio focusing on creativity and holistic health. Classes and private lessons in Belly Dance, Yoga, Pilates, and Personal Training.

Rental space available.

Life Coaches Cynthia Christianson, M.A., CCC ThetaHealing™ Advanced Practitioner 352-374-7982 or 352-284-1107 www.thetahealingworks.net ThetaHealing™ coaching is using the Belief and Feeling Work to empower people with the ability to remove and replace negative emotions, feelings and thoughts with positive, beneficial ones. Change your negative beliefs and you will heal on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels thus really seeing this relief show up in your life.

11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Suite 600 Ocala, FL 34481 / 352-291-9459 www.LemireClinic.com Lemire Clinic welcomes Aaron C. Perry II, DOM, LMT. Dr. Perry attended Florida College of Integrative Medicine, where he earned his MS in Oriental Medicine and BS in Applied Health Science. He also attended Florida College of Natural Health. He has certifications in Colon Hydrotherapy, Injection Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, Homeopathy, and Herbology. Dr. Perry will be performing Acupuncture and Colonics for Lemire Clinic to treat pain, anxiety, constipation, gynecological and digestive disorders, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions.

Michael J. Badanek, BS,DC,CNS,DACBN,DCBCN 3391 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Suite #B Ocala, FL 34470 / 352-622-1151 www.alternativewholistichealth.com

33 years in clinical practice with alternative wholistic complementary health services. Treating the body to support all health challenges with Wholistic Integrative Medicine. Treatments include Autoimmune disorders, Lyme disease, Autism, ADD/ADHD, Musculoskeletal conditions, Heavy metal toxicity, Cardiovascular and endocrine conditions, Nutritional deficiencies/testing.

Natural Health & Wellness Jill McCoy, Natural Health Consultant 352-454-2318 / mydoterra.com/jillmccoy1 jill@JillMcCoy.org Are you “thriving” or just “surviving?” Is it time to make a change?

Start looking and feeling your best! Achieve a happier, healthier, more balanced life, with just the essentials. Don’t put it off any longer! Request a FREE Wellness Consult today & claim your health, naturally.

Veterinary Care Medicine Wheel Veterinary Services Shauna Cantwell DVM, Ocala, FL www.shaunacantwell.com / 352-538-3021 Holistic veterinary medicine for small animals and horses. Arthritis, neurologic and hormonal dysfunction, skin, allergies, cancer, pain, immune and chronic disease.

Certified Veterinary Acupuncture, certified cAVCA animal chiropractic, herbal therapy, tui na medical massage, functional neurology, postural rehabilitation, ozone therapy, homotoxicology, nutrition. Available for workshops.

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December 2014

25

calendarofevents Calendar of Events listings are free for our advertisers and just $15/listing for nonsponsors. To publicize your event, visit http://www.naturalawakeningsncfl.com/ news.htm.

Monday, December 1

New Patient Education, free seminar at 6pm. ALSO, Thermography, by appointment. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Ocala, 352-2919459, www.LemireClinic.com.

Wednesday, December 3

Live Blood Analysis. $60, by appointment. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Ocala, 352-2919459, www.LemireClinic.com.

December 5-6 Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre, 5pm, $25. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Suite 504, Summerfield, Unityofthevillages.org. Call 352-4543120 to reserve.

Saturday, December 6

“What Is Esoteric Healing?”

Talk and Mini Sessions with Fran Oppenheimer, RN, LMT, Esoteric Healing Practitioner. Talk 12-1pm, free. Mini Sessions 1-5pm, $20. Walk in. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. 386-4548657, www.highspringsemporium.net.

Sunday, December 7

* AUMAKHUA-KI® Energy Healing 2 Workshop, 10am-6pm, $150, in Ocala. Register at 352-2399272, www.AKheal.com, 7 CEs (#5014398). * Confessions of a Spiritually Promiscuous Woman with spiritual teacher/humorist, Dr. Pamela Gerali.

12:30-2pm. $15 donation. Unity of Citrus County, 2628 W. Woodview Lane, Lecanto, 352-746-1270, www. unityofcitrus.org. ALSO her one-

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woman art show opens December 7, and at Unity of The Villages on January 11.

Tuesday, December 9

* Crystal bowl meditation with Marcia McAllister. Love offering.

Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Suite 504, Summerfield, Unityofthevillages.org.

* Meet the Doctors. Learn about more alternatives in managing your medical condition. Free, 5:30pm.

HealthCare Partners Family Medicine, 1501 US Hwy 441 North, Suite 1700, The Villages, 352-750-4333.

Wednesday, December 10

Iridology, by appointment. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Ocala, 352-291-9459, www.LemireClinic. com.

Thursday, December 11

Lemire Clinic/Himalayan Salt Room Holiday Open House. Free, 5-7pm. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Ocala, 352-291-9459, www.

LemireClinic.com.

Friday, December 12

* Incontinence: Magnetic Wave Therapy. Free, 4pm. Dr. Nelson Kraucak will speak. Diapers and invasive treatments are not the only solution. RSVP. HealthCare Partners Family Medicine, 1501 US Hwy 441 North, Suite 1700, The Villages, 352750-4333.

* Pachamama: Awakening the Dreamer: A Transformative Workshop.

Free, 10-3. Bring a brown bag lunch.

Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE

177 Place, Suite 504, Summerfield, Unityofthevillages.org. * Stem Cell Therapy, free, 2pm.

Dr. Nelson Kraucak will speak on Stem Cell Therapy. Join us to learn how your own stem cells and platelets can successfully treat your chronic joint and back pain. RSVP. HealthCare Partners Family Medicine, 1501 US Hwy 441 North, Suite 1700, The Villages, 352-750-4333

Saturday, December 13

* Psychic/Medium Spiritual Development Class, 2-4:30pm.

Includes meditation, lesson, practice. $25. Held at Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave. Int’l Foundation for Spiritual Knowledge, www.ifsk.org, 407-673-9776.

* “Using the Energies of Color in Your Life and Practice” Workshop with Cindy Zsolnai, PhD, Reiki Master.

1-5pm, $45. Call to sign up. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. 386-454-8657, www.highspringsemporium.net.

Sunday, December 14 AUMAKHUA-KI® Energy Healing 3 Workshop, 10 am-7pm, $175, in Winter Park. Register at 352-2399272, www.AKheal.com, 8 CEs (#5014398).

Friday, December 19

From Allergies to Cancer, free, 2pm. Dr. Nelson Kraucak will speak about Sequenced Amino Acid Therapy.

RSVP. HealthCare Partners Family Medicine, 1501 US Hwy 441 North, Suite 1700, The Villages, 352-7504333.

Saturday, December 20

“Light out of Darkness: a Crystal Celebration for the Soul” Workshop with Sharron Britton. 2-4pm, $20. Call to sign up. High Springs Emporium,

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660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. 386-454-8657, www. highspringsemporium.net.

Sunday, December 21

“Peace on Earth” annual holiday celebration. Free crystal gifts for everyone, all sale prices honored all day, relaxing BioMat sessions, champagne and holiday goodies. 12-5pm, free. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. 386-454-8657, www. highspringsemporium.net.

Wednesday, December 24

Christmas Eve service, 5pm. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Suite 504, Summerfield, Unityofthevillages.org.

Saturday, December 27

Psychic Readings for the New Year with Rev. Steve Henry and special guests. 15 minute readings only $20. 125pm. Call to sign up or walk in. High Springs Emporium, 660 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs. 386-454-8657, www. highspringsemporium.net.

Wednesday, December 31

Burning bowl service. We invite you to engage in this fun ritual of releasing and burning whatever we do not wish to carry forward into 2015. 5pm, love offering. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Suite 504, Summerfield, Unityofthevillages.org.

January 3

Crazy Quilts with Celeste. Instructor: Celeste Viale. See “News Briefs” for more information. Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352-595-3377, www. cronescradleconserve.com.

January 4

First Sunday Brunch for women. Theme: Fables: Share anything you’ve written, made, designed, created, read, etc. $6 or more donation. Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra.

352-595-3377, www.cronescradleconserve.com.

Rev. Ojela Frank, LMT, 2-4pm, $25 for 2 CEs, or no CEs: Donation, in Ocala. Register at 352-239-9272, www.

AKheal.com (#50-14398).

January 16-19

Death Mid-Wifery Intensive. Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352-595-3377, www.cronescradleconserve. com.

Sunday, January25 ® AUMAKHUA-KI Energy Healing 1 with Rev. Ojela Frank, LMT, 10am-5pm, $125 for 6 CEs, $100 without, in Ocala. Register at 352-239-9272, www.AKheal.com (#5014398).

Sunday, February 8 AUMAKHUA-KI® Energy Healing 2 with Rev. Ojela Frank, LMT, 10am-6pm, $150 for 6 CEs, $125 without, in Ocala. Register at 352-239-9272, www.AKheal.com (#5014398).

March 13-15

Behind the Lens Photography Workshop, 9am-3pm.

Instructor Sherri Bunye. See “News Briefs” for more information. Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352595-3377, www.cronescradleconserve.com.

March 28

Beekeeping Workshop, 9am-3pm. Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352-595-3377, www. cronescradleconserve.com.

April 11

Spring Natural Foods Gala, 9am-3pm. Store, snack bar, garden tours and more than 1,500 seedlings available. $1 admission per person. $2/food sample ticket. Come hungry and expect a great day. This is a rain or shine event.

Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352-595-3377, www. cronescradleconserve.com.

ONGOING January 10

Cast Iron Cooking. Instructor: Robert Wilson. For more information, see “News Briefs.” Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352-595-3377, www.cronescradleconserve.com.

Sunday, January 11

Introduction to AUMAKHUA-KI® Energy Healing with

28

SUNDAYS * Bible Study, 9:30am; A Course in Miracles, 9:30am; Master Mind Healing Circle, 10:15am; Worship Service, 11am; Sunday School, 11am. TKM Hands-on Healing, 1pm.

Nursery care provided during service. Potluck lunch on first Sundays. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave., 352-

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373-1030, www.unitygainesville.org. * Celebration Service, 10am. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd., Ocala, www.UnityOcala.org. * Unity Service, 8:30am and 10am. Unity of the Villages, 10935 SE 177 Place, Suite 504, Summerfield, www.UnityOfTheVillages.org, 352-454-3120.

MONDAYS A Course in Miracles, 7pm. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, 352-373-1030, www. unitygainesville.org.

If you haven’t got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. ~Bob Hope

MONDAY-FRIDAY Belly-dancing, fitness, yoga classes, personal training as early as 5:30am, as late as 7:30pm. Hip Moves, 708 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, 352-692-0132, www.hipmoves.com.

WEDNESDAYS * Healthy Wednesdays. Second Wednesdays. Potluck dinner and healthy film, 6pm. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd., Ocala, www.UnityOcala.org.

* Pilates. 5:30pm, $15. Dec. 3, 10, 17. RSVP; limited space. Lemire Clinic, 11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Ocala, 352291-9459, www.LemireClinic.com. * Quest Book Study Group, 7pm. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, 352-373-1030, www. unitygainesville.org.

THURSDAYS * A Course in Miracles, 10:30am. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, 352-373-1030, www. unitygainesville.org. * A Course in Miracles, 4pm. Unity of Ocala, 101 Cedar Rd., Ocala, www.UnityOcala.org.

FRIDAYS Open Energy Healing Circle with Dee Mitchell, Reiki Master, 7pm first and third Fridays. Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, 352-373-1030, http:// www.unitygainesville.org.

SATURDAYS * Farmstead Saturdays. Free, 9-3. Crones Cradle, 6411 NE 217 Pl, Citra. 352-595-3377, www. cronescradleconserve.com. * Super Saturday Sales. Earth Origins. Gainesville: 521 NW 13th St., 352-378-5244; and 1237 NW 76th Blvd., 352-331-5224. Ocala: 1917 E. Silver Springs Blvd., 352351-5224.

www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

Do you want your life to be the picture of Hope, Happiness & Peace?

Sunday Services: 8:30 am & 10 am • Rev. Marge Brown

Home of “The Daily Word”

Northern most end of Spruce Creek Professional Center, Suite 504 Off Hwy. 27/441, Summerfield • 352.454.3120 • UnityofTheVillages.org

December 2014

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Discounts & COUPONS Stillpoint Therapy Center

PT/Acupuncture combined or alone.

Also Chiropractic, Family, Nutritional Medicine. Most insurance accepted. COUPON SPECIAL: 5 Massage Therapy or Acupuncture sessions, $40 each. Info: Call 352-3761320, www.stillpointtherapycenter.com

Ayurveda Health Retreat

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Art & Soul: Exploring Your Inner Landscape. Art, Meditation, Yoga in Puerto Vallarta with Richard and Robert. Info: 352-870-7645 www.ayurvedahealthretreat.com/

Give yourself and your loved ones gifts of health, well-being, and sustainability while supporting our local economy.

Shop locally!

20% discount on pre-purchase of 5 or more massage sessions

Courtesy consultation Call for appointment

10% off First Massage or Facial

Dr. Michael Badanek, DC, Ocala 352-622-1151 www.AlternativeWholistic.com

Lemire Clinic 11115 SW 93rd Ct. Rd., Suite 600, Ocala 352-291-9459 / www.LemireClinic.com

“MIRRAKULUS! Skin Repair�

Your special offer here.

Instant relief of itching in allergic rash, jock itch, and more. Tremendous relief for shingles. Clears up psoriasis with daily use. 352-286-1779 or squareup.com/market/natural-awakeningsmagazine/mirrakulus-skin-repair.

Clark Dougherty Therapeutic Massage Clinic / MM 9718 MA 27082 / 352-694-7255

Farm Stead Saturday, 9-3 every week. Fun for the whole family.

FREE! 6411 NE 217th Pl., Citra 352-595-3377

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https://squareup.com/market/ natural-awakenings-magazine

Ongoing Psychic/Medium Spiritual Development Classes in the British Style of Evidential Mediumship

Psychic/Medium Spiritual Development Class: Saturday, Dec. 13, 2-4:30pm Held at Unity of Gainesville Check our complete program on the website.

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Turn Your Passion Into a Business

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As a Natural Awakenings publisher, you’ll have the opportunity to inspire and support your community by providing the tools and resources the readers need to live a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

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Bring a Natural Awakenings Magazine to Your Community or Select One of Our Existing Markets!

Natural Awakenings publishes in over 95 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico • Birmingham, AL

• Monmouth/Ocean, NJ

• Huntsville, AL

• North NJ*

• Mobile/Baldwin, AL*

• North Central NJ

• Little Rock/Hot Spg., AR* • South NJ* • Phoenix, AZ

• Santa Fe/Abq., NM

• Tucson, AZ

• Las Vegas, NV

• East Bay Area, CA

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• Central NY

• Denver/Boulder, CO

• Long Island, NY

• Fairfield County, CT

• Manhattan, NY

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• New Haven/ Middlesex, CT

• Rochester, NY

• Washington, D.C.

• Syracuse, NY

• Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL • NW FL Emerald Coast • Ft. Lauderdale, FL

• Rockland/Orange, NY • Westchester/ Putnam, NY • Central OH

• Cincinnati, OH • Jacksonville/St. Aug., FL • Toledo, OH • Melbourne/Vero, FL • Oklahoma City, OK • Miami & Florida Keys* • Portland, OR* • Naples/Fort Myers, FL • North Central FL*

• Bucks/Montgomery Counties, PA

• Orlando, FL*

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• Tampa/St. Pete., FL • FL’s Treasure Coast • Atlanta, GA • Hawaiian Islands • Chicago, IL • Indianapolis, IN • Baton Rouge, LA • Lafayette, LA • New Orleans, LA* • Boston, MA • Portland, ME • Ann Arbor, MI • East Michigan • Wayne County, MI

• Rhode Island • Charleston, SC • Columbia, SC • Grand Strand, SC* • Greenville, SC • Chattanooga, TN • Knoxville, TN • Memphis, TN • Austin, TX • Dallas Metroplex, TX • Dallas/FW Metro N • Galveston, TX • Houston, TX

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www.GoNaturalAwakenings.com

• Madison, WI • Milwaukee, WI

• Central NJ

• Puerto Rico

• Hudson County, NJ*

*Existing magazines

for sale December 2014

• Mercer County, NJ

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Printed on recycled paper to protect the environment