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Real News Matters to Independent Media

COOL CHOW

Icy Treats for Hot Summer Days

July 2016 | Houston-Edition | NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com natural awakenings

July 2016

Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

natural awakenings

July 2016

letterfrompublishers

reetings! In keeping with this month’s theme of Summer Harvest I want to say a few words about our local harvest. In addition to the many private and community gardens, we are blessed with a large number of local farmer’s markets. Almost every neighborhood has one where you can buy fresh locally grown vegetables, fruit, eggs, honey, seafood and other products. Local is the key here. Local means that it’s fresher. Most local growers pick the day before or even early on the morning of the market. This means that the vegetables are picked ripe and are fresh rather than being picked while still green to ripen in transit and storage. Being local means that they have only been transported a few miles from where they are produced rather than hundreds or thousands of miles. Less energy spent on transportation and a smaller carbon footprint. By buying local we not only support our local farmers so they can continue to supply us with fresh food but the money we spend with them stays in the local economy. If you buy locally, you can know where your food comes from and how it was grown. Check out the complete Houston Farmer’s Market guide in this month’s Natural Awakenings-Houston. So, whether you are growing your own or buying from a local farmer’s market or food co-op, do enjoy this summer’s harvest.

contact us Natural Awakenings 448 West 19th Street #419 Houston, TX 77008 Phone: 713-927-6540 Fax: 713-880-9979 Natural Awakenings Team PUBLISHERS

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NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com © 2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

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.

6 9

6 newsbriefs 8 businessbriefs 12 eventbriefs 15 healthbriefs 17 globalbriefs 26 consciouseating 27 greenliving 31 inspiration 32 healingways 35 naturalpet 37 calendar 41 farmersmarkets 43 resourceguide

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 713-927-6540 or email Sales@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

contents 19 A BALANCED DIET is a Well-Balanced Life by Carrie Harmon

20 AHOW QIGONG

HEALED A WOUNDED SEPTEMBER 11th FIREFIGHTER by Jonathan Henderson

22 REAL NEWS

THAT MATTERS Independent Media Tell Us the Truth

by Linda Sechrist

22 LOCAVORE LINGO

What All the Food Labels Really Mean by Judith Fertig

27 SOIL SISTERS

Female Farmers Come of Age by Lisa Kivirist

29 INSPIRATION

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Editor@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month..

Living Under the Influence by Cherie Ray

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Calendar@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com. Deadline for calendar: the 5th of the month..

32 MAKE TIME

FOR DOWNTIME

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

Chilling Out Revives Body and Soul by April Thompson

35 COOL CHOW Icy Treats for Hot Summer Days by Sandra Murphy

NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com natural awakenings

35 July 2016

newsbrief

ego there are constant battles between good and bad, right and wrong, winning and losing, as well as continuous blaming, judging, comparing, and competing. As long as ego is in control, there is never true peace of mind or lasting happiness. She uses simple everyday language and delivers her profound message in ways that are open, honest, and direct. Many know her to be motivating yet spontaneous, with the unique ability to use basic, modern examples to help people A Special Public Talk by Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien connect with the main point: how to discover more about who Sunday, July 31, 2016 6:00 – 8:00pm they really are, transform all stress and conflict in daily life, and return to the Awake already within each person. “You are not the voice in your head, or the emotions, or the stress... Originally from Vietnam, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien is You are what can recognize the voice, the emotions, and the stress. the founder of Universal Door Meditation Center in Houston You are Awake.” (Sugar Land, 2003) and Suoi Tu Meditation Center in Dallas –Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien (Lancaster, 2013). She is a Buddhist nun devoted to teaching the direct path to Wake Up from the ave you ever wondered…Is it source of all stress and conflict in order actually possible to live without to live truly happy and free in any any worries, fears, anger, sadness, situation, disturbed by nothing. From a stress, and conflicts inside or out? Is very early age, she saw that all things in it possible to make clear decisions on life are constantly changing, like how the spot, free from tension, guilt or good health shifts to illness and death, regret? Is it possible to live with a true or how a person’s emotions can go from happiness that is unlimited, never fades, joy to anger and back in a matter of and stays with you even in the most moments. From this she had profound challenging situations? YES! From her and unshakable questions about life. And own experience, Zen Master Thich Dieu yet at the same time, she also had a deep Thien guides students to realize and knowing that there is that which does experience for themselves the endless not change, something unconditionally benefits when you discover the Awake happy and free. However, she didn’t Mind within. know how to return to it and live with Known internationally as a very it. The combination of seeing that all inspiring teacher full of wisdom, clarity, things change and knowing there is and compassion, Zen Master Thich Dieu something that does not change, drove Thien easily engages her listeners and Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien her to constantly search for answers, a helps them to realize the Awake Mind that is already within and many other things about themselves quest that took decades to fully resolve. After her own complete they did not know before. Her interactive style, whether with breakthrough, all of her life questions were answered; she questions, live demos, or stories, can capture everyone in the fully Awakened and lives with it always. From that moment audience no matter what level of understanding they are at. on, she saw that Awake is already within everyone, but you Her teaching lessons are always fresh, and she speaks directly don’t know that, and instead you believe your ego. Trapped to the people and situation in front of her in each moment, inside there, you are lost and continue spinning in its system, helping each person to “wake up” from their ego...and all its unable to recognize it, and therefore you cannot go back and beliefs, confusion, misunderstandings, and perceptions that live with Awake. She vowed to help all people discover, return, keeps them in the pattern of stress and conflict. Living from and live Awake, which can see all things exactly as they are, is open, unlimited, and flexible. Awake moves dynamically with the conditions of any situation, always knowing clearly Join Us Experience what to do, why, and how. It is fresh and vibrant. In Awake, ego Peace, Healing, And Feel doesn’t exist; but in ego, Awake cannot appear. She teaches Love & Friendship people of all ages, cultures, religions, and backgrounds that it is really possible to return to their Awake Mind and live truly happy. An all faith church that This is one public talk you definitely do not want to miss! embraces diverse belief Join us for a wonderful evening with Zen Master Thich Dieu & positive thought Thien, hosted by the Mindfulness Community of Houston, at their meeting place in the Montrose area. Carmel Temple

“You Are Awake.” Are you ready to discover your Awake Mind?

The ENERGY

Celebrating 46 years www.carmeltemple.org 6

Houston

1208 Pennsylvania St. S. Houston, TX 77587 713-944-0014

Mindfulness Community of Houston. Meeting at: 1712 Fairview, downtown.Sunday, July 31, 6:00 – 8:00pm.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

LAST CONCERT CAFE

One of Houston’s oldest

Open Enrollment at Bayou Village School

ayou Village School offers a nurturing school environment with a holistic approach to academic excellence. We strive to respect the wonder of childhood, preserve children’s passion for learning, allow children to develop a strong connection with nature and foster children’s imagination and creativity. Currently we are enrolling infants through 2nd grade, with plans to add another grade each of the following school years. More information can be found on our website www. BayouVillageSchool.org. To make an appointment to tour the school, please call 713-864-2452 or email enroll@ bayouvillageschool.org. See ad on page 12.

IAN ETAR G & VE

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Live-Music Venues

Serving Up Great Music & Delicious Tex-Mex Since 1949!

713 226-8563 | 1403 Nance St. | Houston, TX. 77002

natural awakenings

July 2016

businessbriefs St. John’s Retreat Center

ne of the best kept secrets in the Houston area has to be St. John’s Retreat Center. The retreat center was opened in March, 2000 and is dedicated to the memory of the founders, Grace and Ivan Cooke. It is a peaceful place situated on seventy acres of forest and wildlife fifty miles north of Houston with ten, comfortable and beautifully decorated guest rooms, each with a private bath and two single beds. On the grounds of the retreat, guests enjoy a therapeutic saltwater pool surrounded by rolling hills and the beauty of nature. Nearby are nature trails, a labyrinth and quiet places for reflection. An abundance of wildlife including deer, opossums, armadillos, foxes and a variety of native birds can be observed in their natural habitat. In keeping with their philosophy of reverence toward all life, Saint John’s Retreat Center serves vegetarian meals which may include dairy and egg products. Meals are served in the sun-filled dining room. An informal self-serve breakfast gives guests the opportunity to relax over their morning coffee or tea. Guests make themselves at home in the gracious living room where they gather for retreat sessions. Nearby is a cozy library with a fireplace where guests can enjoy reading a good book. Connected to these areas is a spacious dining room that is often used for lectures and large group workshops – seats 40 comfortably. Sunday worship services are held at 11am in the Temple each week. Tuesday through Friday at 8:30am (9:00am during a retreat) a half-hour open meditation is held in the Temple, except in August. A Noon Healing Service is held year round, Monday through Friday. Visit the website to learn about the various activities, retreats and workshops held at the retreat center such as The Beautiful Road Home retreat which will be held this October. St. John’s Retreat Center, Montgomery, Texas. Call 936-597-5757 for directions. WhiteEagleLodge.org. See ad on page 47.

New Ayurveda Spa Opens Grand Opening!

yush Wave Ayurveda Wellness and Yoga, a new, alternative and holistic wellness center in Sugar Land will have their Grand Opening on July 15th. Their focus is on providing wellness services using Ayurveda, the form of traditional healing from India. Services include: Ayurvedic Consultation, Premium PanchakarmaDetox program, Holistic Spa services, Ayurvedic Body and Beauty Treatments, Yoga Sessions and classes., Massage Services, and Herb shop. Ayush Wave is owned by Shwetha Reddy, who has been practicing Ayurveda since 2006 in India and Europe. She has consulted over 2,000 patients to date. Before starting Ayush Wave, she worked as a Chief Ayurvedic Consultant at Kerala Ayurveda, Nurture Soul Therapeutics and at Baba Ram Dev’s Patanjali Ayurvedic center in Houston, Texas. She has completed Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science, India, and Master of Science in Pharmacology from University of Hertfordshire, London. She is experienced in consulting chronic disorders and a board member of AAMA and NAMA. Present this article during the Grand Opening and receive a free $50 gift certificate Ayush Wave Ayurveda Wellness and Yoga, 15263 Southwest Frwy., Sugar Land. Call 281-870-2772 or visit AyushWave.com for more information. See ad on page 43.

Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Introducing Mary Beth Haubrich and Joyful Healing Arts

A Face Reading with Julie Parker

ace Reading is an ancient branch of Chinese medicine meant to provide clues regarding an individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personality patterns, their inherent strength and weaknesses, where they tend to excel and where they might face challenges. The secrets of your inner nature and your own potential are beautifully and perfectly inscribed in the features and lines of your face. Learn what to look for in choosing someone compatible with your personality and lifestyle when attracting a life partner, advisors, a boss or business partner. Understand yourself so you can move more easily past challenges and blocks and direct your efforts of empowerment and affirmation. Julie Parker has been studying alternative healing and nutrition for over 30 years. Julie combines her deep knowledge and skills to help people understand themselves on a deeper level so they can thrive in life (personally and professionally) from a place of love and unconditional acceptance vs judgement and condemnation. Julie Parker. 832.305.5498. innerblueprint@gmail.com. yourinnerblueprint.com. See Ad on page 44.

FulHum Water, a Texas Original!

ater is needed for each of us to live. Whether working out, doing yoga, or just relaxing outside on a warm summer day, everyone needs water. There are, however, different kinds of water and some are healthier than others. There is a new black-colored water that is bottled here in Texas that has been gaining attention around the world. It is FulHum-EarthWater. Rather than just removing harmful chemicals from city water, FulHum has added fulvic and humic minerals which give it its distinctive black color and a pH of 9+. You can find FulHum on their website or at Sprouts and Central Market stores in Houston. fulhum.com.

re you ready to transform pain into power, fear into courage, challenges into opportunities? If so, your journey begins now. Mary Beth first met Dr. Darren Weissman in 2007 and began studying and applying The LifeLine Te ch n i q u e . S i n c e t h e n she has witnessed and experienced time and time again life changing shifts and healings. There is no question in her mind that The LifeLine Technique provides the key to unlocking the infinite healing potential that lies within each one of us. The LifeLine Technique enables us to discover the root cause of a symptom or stress, and then reconnect, harmonize and balance these patterns so the body, mind and spirit can thrive and awaken to its infinite healing potential and is creating a revolution in natural healing. Louise Hay, bestselling author and Hay House publisher has experienced The LifeLine Technique and she highly recommends it because she knows it works. It is the wave of the future. If you experience this technique just one time, you will know what she means! No matter how challenging your circumstances may be, through the The LifeLine Technique I can provide you with tools that will help you own your power and regain your strength. You will be inspired, guided and harmonized to intentions that will put you on the path of your choosing. For more information or to schedule a LifeLine session with me, you can call 864-266-8501 or simply fill out the eForm on her website. Mary Beth Haubrich, CLP. Certified LifeLine Practitioner, 2245 Texas Drive, Suite 300, Sugar Land, TX 77479. 864-266-8501. marybethhaubrich@gmail.com. See ad on page 45.

Join the

Farm Share Program Enjoy a weekly box of our local organically grown produce. Sign-up now for the winter-spring 2016 season. Call today: 832-983-0405 Visit our website www.plant-it-forward.org Email: farmshareprogram@Plant-It-Forward.org

natural awakenings

July 2016

Venus Hair Design, a Heights Original

hen Susan Venus opened a beauty shop in what was the 19th Street Barber Shop, little did she know that thirty-eight years later it would have become a must-see place to visit. Venus and her staff are proud to be able to provide their customers of any age with any style, from a trim to a Mohawk. She is a wizard at color. Venus has been involved in the Art Car scene for many years and has won numerous trophies for her creation, the Venus Hairse. Venus is a big supporter of Heights community development and is very involved with local parades and street festivals. If there is a parade in The Heights, you will always see the Venus Hairse and you can usually see it parked out front when she is in. If you live in or are visiting The Heights be sure to drop by and say hi. Venus Hair Design, 361 West 19th Street Houston, TX 77008. 713-868-4725. venushairhouston.com. See ad on page 44.

What’s the Point of

ACUPUNCTURE?

Discover A SAFE, EFFECTIVE And CHEMICAL-FREE Way To Promote Your Body’s Self-Healing Abilities.

The World Health Organization recognizes acupuncture as an effective treatment to help you: • Move without pain • Sleep more soundly • Focus & think clearly • Stay calm & relaxed • Lower blood pressure • Soothe digestive issues • Eliminate migraines • Ease depression & grief • Promote fertility • Heal quicker • Stay healthy longer

Call (713) 825-1636

To Begin Your Journey To Wellness

Houston

ow often do you find yourself saying you are tired or you just don’t have the energy to do this or that or feel out of sorts or not yourself? We are not just a body and a set of experiences – we are energy. We are made up of energy in physical form and this fact allows us to address our health and our wellbeing through our energetic system. When our energy is aligned and that energy moves through us in a smooth flow, we feel better. We can manage stressful situations with more ease, our emotions stop ruling our every decision and our brain is sharper and more efficient. After Cecilia Timon had a personal health scare several years ago, she was taught simple alternative methods that empowered her to be on the path to wellness. From that experience she had a deep desire to empower others on their healing journeys and became an Eden Energy Medicine Certified Practitioner and Reiki Master. She also had training in EFT/Tapping and currently holds a massage therapy license. Eden Energy Medicine’s main principle is that your body is composed of a complex structure of electromagnetic energies and other even more subtle energies that can become imbalanced or even blocked, and we believe that this is when illness occurs. Manipulating those energy pathways through various touch techniques and exercises can restore balance and flow. Come in for an assessment of your energy systems and relax while your energies are rebalanced. Leave with an amazing take-home daily routine. You will feel like your body just got an energy system tune-up. EnerBodyBalance. 832-423-8318. enerbodybalance.com. cecilia@enerbodybalance.com. See ad on page 43.

When The Inner Light Is On, EVERYTHING IS CLEAR True happiness & true freedom are already within us. However, our perceptions & holdings block us from living with it. Realize the source of these blocks to live truly happy… anywhere, anytime, always.

JoNell Norcini,L.Ac.

10330-D Lake Road • Houston, Texas 77070 cypressareaacupuncture.com 10

Introducing Cecilia Timon and EnerBodyBalance

Universal Door Meditation Center 281-565-9718 • UniversalDoor.org 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, TX 77498

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Reconnect to Peace and Wellness

r. Eric Pearl is the founder of Reconnective Healing (RH), a comprehensive option for life progress in overall health, balance, spirituality and wholeness. For over 20 years, Pearl has been traveling the world, serving alongside the global community as an ambassador for this evolutionary movement in health care. From August 19 through 23, he will be at the Palmer Events Center for seminars featuring a two-part training program for RH Levels 1 and 2, which allows participants to discover and explore RH frequencies and even open their own RH practices. After successful completion of Level 1 and 2, one can qualify for RH For Pets, to be held August 26 through 28. Attendees will dive deeper into our relationships with animals by focusing on animal consciousness and the remarkable benefits of an integrative approach to animal healthcare. In a study published November 2013 in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, RH was tested alongside Reiki, shamanistic healing, and physical therapy on patients with limited range of motion in their shoulder. The results showed that RH was more effective than its counterparts, increasing range of motion by 26 percent, while physical therapy increased by 12 percent; Reiki by 20 percent and shamanistic healing reported no improvement in range of motion.

As a chiropractor, Pearl found the ability to connect with energy and use it for healing, leading to the RH technique. His work has taken him to 100 countries and he’s been featured on The Dr. Oz Show and CNN. He’s author of The Reconnection: Heal Others, Heal Yourself. Cost: Varies; see website for details. Location: 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin. For more information on scientific studies or to register for a training program, call Lisa Honeywell at 281-338-8721 or visit TheReconnection.com. See ad on page 15.

NEW!

unlimited movement & education classes $50 a month

Mindy King’s Sweet Simple Healing

ealing from a high vibration and offering tools for empowerment is Mindy King’s niche. Based in Sugar Land, Sweet Simple Healing offers sessions to get your mind, body, purpose, and soul all on the same page so clarity and moving forward is easier. Energy work can move bones, reduce inflammation, accelerate healing, and relieve neck and back pain just for starters. Emotional issues melt away; it can clear the fog from stress. In addition, she teaches kids and adults how to better focus for studying and working and has fun workshops to support and teach what she does. She also works with corporations, individuals, and groups for leadership training. And tools come with the Grief Recovery Method® for healing from divorce, death, and unfilled relationships. Mindy believes in opening up all closed doors for new possibilities. Prepare to be amazed!

hines center.org

Please see Mindy’s ad, page 13. natural awakenings

July 2016

ges ds . t he h an

ens th e

...a wa k

ind n ,e nliven s the he a r t & e

Bayou Village School

eventbriefs

Medium Fleur at Unity

Classes for Infants through Elementary Grades www.BayouVillageSchool.org 3702 Hardy Street, Houston, TX 77009 713-864-2452 Bayou Village School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, cultural background, political beliefs, or marital status.

Houston

riday July 8 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm Medium Fleur will be at Unity of Houston in The Pyramid helping people connect with their loved ones who have crossed over. Audience members can expect to enjoy an evening of love, laughter, closure and peace knowing that love never truly dies after you cross over. Currently residing in California, Fleur grew up in Houston and looks forward to coming back to her â&#x20AC;&#x153;hometownâ&#x20AC;?. More information about Fleur and her Houston event can be found on her website. mediumfleur.com.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Five Day Intuitive Painting Workshop - Moving from Wanting to Doing!

Wednesday, July 27 through Sunday, July 31, 2016

o you have a longing to live with more freedom and creativity? Intuitive Painting builds the bridge from wanting it, to doing it, then you realize, you’re living it! Experiencing the joy of freedom. Yo u w i l l l e a r n t h e fundamental principles of creativity. With a deeper understanding of the nature of creativity, you begin to trust and learn from your own process. Explore in a critique-free studio. Allow spontaneous expression to flow from you, igniting your intuition with a desire to play. As you dip into the 22+ delicious colors you will be surprised how layers of mental restrictions that contribute to your dayto-day life melt away. This new experience of Freedom is your partner—both in your painting and as you navigate through every aspect of your life. Cherie Ray has studied with Michele Cassou for 13 years. She has traveled and assisted Michele with her teaching for six years. Cherie teaches and supports the pure integrity of Michele’s work. No experience necessary. No comments or critiques are permitted. All materials are provided. Houston Heights Studio (77008). Wednesday, July 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 2016. Wednesday through Saturday, 10am-6pm, Sunday, 10am-32pm. Early-bird price: $495; after July 1, $525. Registration deadline is Monday, July 25, 2016. Facilitator is Cherie Ray, MLA - Life & Creativity Coach. Register at trueyoucreativity.com. See ad on page 8.

Abolish Your Inner Saboteur! with Tina Marie Jones-St. Cyr

he Abolish Your Inner Saboteur! events in February and May were both sold out events and the seats for the next event in October have already begun to be filled. Tina Marie says, “It could not have happened without you! A sincere hug for all the great energy. The feedback and testimonials of how the Abolish! processes and strategies have transformed your lives have been overwhelming and brought beautiful tears to my eyes. I am grateful for you doing your personal work, showing Tina Marie Jones up, being courageous and committing to make a difference in our world.” Abolish Your Inner Saboteur! is a live experiential training for those interested in learning a state of the art framework for transforming doubt, worry, and all limiting beliefs into sheer useable focus, energy and personal power. Certifications available for coaches, counselors, trainers and teachers. www.tinamarie.com, 888-721-4204. See ad on page 16.

Leadership Training | Grief Recovery | Quantum-Touch® | Heal Your Life® | Workshops

Mindy King 281.684.1956

Welcome to Sugar Land! home of ...

SweetSimpleHealing.com natural awakenings

July 2016

ABOLISH YOUR INNER SABOTEUR! LIVE IN HOUSTON OCTOBER 7-9, 2016

LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND PAGE 20

Fears Failures Doubts Regrets CHOOSE FREEDOM! LEARN MORE AT TINAMARIE.COM/ABOLISH 14 (888) Houston 721-4204www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

healthbriefs

Increasing Movement and Flexibility as We Age

C Why Am I Still Sick and No one Can Help Part Four

by Dr. Bobbie Stowe, DC o you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic disease, and as far as you know, it just seems to have come out of nowhere. Now, you’re sick and on drugs – for the rest of your life. But WHY you? WHY now? What caused the disease? How does one find the cause, and, knowing the cause, hopefully stop the disease process? The answer: objective laboratory testing. There are many FDAapproved laboratory tests (which most doctors don’t know about and certainly don’t order) that can pinpoint cellular dysfunction. But these tests are the only way to determine what cells are diseased or not functioning. For example, tests can determine what vitamins you are deficient in; determine your stress levels by looking at your cortisol levels; or determine if you have sensitivities to foods, chemicals, food additives, etc. We can also test for parasites, pathogenic bacteria, and other factors. Once test results have been obtained, protocols to address c e l l u l a r dy s f u n c t i o n c a n b e implemented, allowing cells to regain normal function. Once that happens, disease should be eliminated and health restored.

hildren move with the freedom to jump up or roll around without fear of injury, movements taking them in many directions—up, down, around and even upside-down. Youth has a feel of fluidity and juicy resiliency. Older men and women tend to shuffle, the head tilted down and forward, and the eyes focused downward toward the ground because they are fearful of falling. The rib cage is stooped forward and a rhythm of cautionary movement propels the person in one direction only. Rolfing Structural Integration practitioners look at the movements people make and restrictions in the body that may create the feel and look of aging, which has more to do with how the body breaks down and can still be changed, rather than the number of years lived. The fascia connective tissues respond to injuries and repetitive emotional and physical postures over the years by tightening, twisting and changing shape, which ends up restricting the easy movements we equate with youth and agility. Posture is not something to be forced into place. Rolfing practitioners know how to work holistically with the fascia throughout the entire body in a sequential method to bring back naturally youthful mobility and movements. Source: Valerie Berg, certified advanced Rolfer and member of the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration faculty in Boulder, CO. For more information on Rolfing, call the Rolf Institute at 303-449-5903 or visit Rolf.org. See ad, page 21.

Please see Dr. Stowe’s ad, page 2. natural awakenings

July 2016

Calcium Pills Don’t Build Bone Health

esearchers reporting in the British medical j o u r n a l T h e La n c e t , analyzed 44 studies on calcium supplementation or dietary calcium and bone fractures and concluded, “Dietary calcium intake is not associated with risk of fracture and there is no current evidence that increasing dietary calcium intake prevents fractures.” Qualifying studies included more than 44,000 people. A different meta-study from New Zealand’s University of Auckland, also published in The Lancet, reviewed 59 clinical and observational studies of calcium and bone density. The meta-analysis compared the effect of calcium doses of 500, 800 and 1,000 milligrams per day and found that bone density improvements ranged between 0.6 and 1.8 percent throughout the body during the first year of supplementation, but did not increase over time. They concluded that the improvements in bone mineral density from calcium supplements were small and that results mirrored the increases seen from dietary sources, suggesting that neither method significantly improves bone health.

ADHD Meds Weaken Kids’ Bones

new study announced at the 2016 annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons shows that drugs prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can weaken bones in children during a time of critical growth. This study tested 5,315 kids between 8 and 17 years old and compared the results to a subgroup of 1,967. Each child was given a bone mineral density scan on the femur, femoral neck and lumbar spine. The children taking ADHD medications of Ritalin, Focalin, Dexedrine, Strattera and Vyvanese had lower bone mineral density in the femur, femoral neck and lumbar spine. At least 25 percent of the youngsters taking these medications were categorized as having osteopenia. According to a 2014 Express Scripts study, prescriptions of ADHD medications to children in the U.S. grew by 36 percent between 2008 and 2012.

EMBODIED MINDFULNESS - FOR EVERYONE at Dawn Mountain

Join Us

This fall, get grounded with six weeks of meditations to draw you back into your body. We’ll cultivate the basic skills of meditation--focus, curiosity instead of judgment, spacious awareness, and more--through seated exercises and mindful movements. Join us to deepen your practice and make some new friends on the path.

Founded 1996 by Anne C. Klein, PhD & Harvey B. Aronson, PhD

2010 Naomi Street, Suite A, Houston, TX 77054 Just South of the TX Medical Center

Instructor Claire Villarreal is Dawn Mountain’s Program Manager and received her PhD in Religious Studies from Rice University. She is a long-time kung fu student and red sash teaching assistant in the Wing Chun tradition.

Six Thursday evenings • September 22 - October 29 • 7:00pm - 8:30pm $180 / 150 / 120 dynamic pricing (Find your level.) 20% discount for Dawn Mountain members

Houston

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Farm-to-Work

Fresh Veggies Come Direct to Offices Pioneering employers are now offering fresh vegetables to help employees improve their diet—and their health. Tech companies are even hiring professional chefs to prepare healthful lunches and snacks. In Texas, the Farm to Work program is making it easy and affordable for workers to pick up baskets of local produce at the office. Participants aren’t required to pay an initial lump sum or commit to buying every week. Instead, they can sign up to receive produce in any given week. Other groups around the country are also looking into workplace produce delivery programs, and while many use the traditional community supported agriculture (CSA) model, others are experimenting with different procedures. The Farm Fresh Program, in Bellingham, Washington, connects local farmers to employers interested in receiving weekly deliveries. Meanwhile, Farm2Work, in Arkansas, links local purveyors of produce, meat, eggs, dairy, pies, jams and jellies to area employers. New York’s Adirondack Harvest, a branch of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, started by helping a single farmer link to area employers. The next step, says Teresa Whalen, the group’s southern chapter representative, is working to persuade insurance companies to subsidize workplace CSAs in the same way they’re starting to subsidize gym memberships. Source: FarmToWork.org

globalbriefs GMO-Free Pioneer

New Grain Transport to be Contaminant-Free Large food companies that are switching to non-GMO (genetically modified) soy and corn products must still worry about their ingredients picking up GMO contamination through conventional supply chains. Now, Captain Drake LLC, a North Dakota grain plant, has acquired its own million-bushel terminal with dedicated rail cars used exclusively for GMO-free grains. President Mark Anderson maintains, “We’ll be able to obtain the best non-GMO commodities from three regions: North Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada.” In a 2015 Nielsen study of 30,000 consumers, 43 percent rank non-GMO as very important and 80 percent said they would pay more for foods that indicate a degree of healthfulness. Sales of non-GMO products exceeded $10 billion last year and are growing. Anderson explains, “The supply chain needs to be tightened up and moved domestically. We consider this to be another strategic asset for food and beverage clients seeking suppliers committed to guaranteeing the integrity and purity of nonGMO commodities.” Source: Tinyurl.com/NonGMOGrainTerminal

Toxic Teflon

Scientists Increasingly Find It Dangerous According to a new meta-analysis of previous studies, Philippe Grandjean, of Harvard, and Richard Clapp, of the University of Massachusetts, concluded that DuPont Teflon, used for 50 years to make frictionless cookware, is much more dangerous than previously thought, causing cancer, birth defects and heart disease, and weakening the immune system. Teflon production was phased out in 2006, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found it in the blood of more than 99 percent of Americans, because it can be passed from mother to unborn child in the womb. The researchers say that the federal government’s recommended “safe” level, set in 2009, is as much as 1,000 times too high to fully protect people’s health. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has yet to set a legal allowable limit for its presence in drinking water. Source: EnvironmentalHealthNews.org

natural awakenings

July 2016

Fish Fried

Moth Misery

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has been collecting reports for decades on how many fish are caught in the oceans annually. However, those numbers don’t take into account small-scale, recreational and illegal fishing or the bycatch that’s discarded before boats return to harbors. A study published in Nature Communications increases the actual total world catch from 1950 to 2010 by 50 percent. Daniel Pauly, author of the University of British Columbia study, states, “The world is withdrawing from a joint bank account of fish without knowing what has been withdrawn or the remaining balance. Better estimates for the amount we’re taking out can help ensure there’s enough fish to sustain us in the future.” Based on official counts, global catches peaked in 1996 and have declined modestly each year. The decline isn’t due to less fishing or restrictions on certain fish, though. “It’s due to the countries fishing too much and having exhausted one fish after the other,” says Pauly. The findings also emphasize the value of fisheries to lowincome people in developing countries. The next steps will require well-informed action to preserve this critical resource for people and for the planet.

National Moth Week, held from July 23 to 31 (visit NationalMothWeek. org for podcast), has prompted the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to encourage cities to install motion-sensitive dimming streetlights and is working to designate dark-sky parks that could provide a refuge for nocturnal species. The giant silk moth and other insects pollinate 80 percent of our food crops. In turn, their bodies sustain innumerable birds, rodents and bats. Entire ecosystems rest on their delicate, powdery wings. Only two species of moths are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and three others have gone extinct in the past decade. Many populations are seeing declines of up to 99 percent. Between monoculture crops, pesticides, changing climate, urbanization and decreasing darkness due to artificial lighting, the future of night-flying moths is uncertain. Their only goal is to reproduce, guided to suitable nesting grounds by the shadow of the moon; many moth species do not even have mouths. However, cities now glow brighter than a full moon, and ambient light pollution radiating from urban areas draws moths to their deaths. IDA Program Manager John Barentine says, “Every time a person turns off and shields a porch light on their house, they’re helping.”

Source: Tinyurl.com/OverfishingReport

Source: Sierra Club

New Numbers Confirm Global Overfishing

Bright Lights Drive Them to Extinction

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A Balanced Diet is a Well-Balanced Life by Carrie Harmon

o you struggle every day to maintain a well-balanced life? Whether you attempt to stabilize your social life, weight or work – it is never an easy task. It is always a struggle trying to have it all. If you work a full-time job, you will have a hard time finding time to exercise or even have a social life after your 9 – 5. For me, having a career makes it almost impossible to do anything social or active. After work, I am exhausted and continue to sit in traffic for an hour. Once I do get home, the rest of my evening is allocated to having dinner, catching up on my favorite TV show or watching the news. With careful consideration and preparation, anyone can achieve a state of equity. To enhance balance in my life, I wake up early to run the neighborhood for 30 minutes before I have to get ready for work. This small adjustment has not only introduced balance in my life, but also improved my well-being, health and productivity. Just as it is important to have balance in your life, it is equally important

to have “potential of hydrogen” (pH) balance in your diet. The pH is quantified on a scale of zero to 14 where the lower pH is more acid while the higher is more alkaline. Neutral pH is 7, which is the level of water and usually a heathy range is between 6 and 7.5. A pH balance is a complex process that occurs within your body. It can be regulated with healthy habits. Overconsuming sodas, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods

is considered to be a diet that is high in acid. Symptoms of a diet with too much acid include feeling sluggish, dry skin, depressed, brittle nails and sensitive teeth. When your body is too acid, it can lead to serious health problems. Maintaining a neutral pH diet can prevent diseases, improve digestion, increase energy and can help you sleep better at night. A diet that is slightly alkaline can improve your overall health and help bring your life to balance. Consuming organic vegetable juices and incorporating a raw food diet in your lifestyle can help the body, soul and spirit reach a healthy state of mind. Yoga, meditation, breathing exercises and staying hydrated will also support a balanced lifestyle. I recommend testing your pH and consider a self-directed cleaning program depending on your level of health. Deer Lake Lodge and Spa offers organic juices, yoga, life enrichment classes and the tools you need to harmonize your health. It is important to work towards a controlled pH diet, because it provokes balance in all aspects of life. Carrie Harmon is the Spa Director at Deer Lake Lodge & Spa, a health resort that promotes enhanced living through holistic cleansing and other therapeutic practices in a relaxing, secluded environment. Deer Lake Lodge and Spa aspires to improve guests’ health in an environment where they can enjoy a multi-faceted cleansing program in a rustic-chic resort atmosphere, located on a 50-acre oasis in Montgomery, TX. www.DeerLakeLodge.com. See ad on page 28.

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July 2016

How QIGONG HEALED a Wounded September 11th Firefighter! by Jonathan Henderson

On duty the morning of 9/11/2001, Jonathan searched for lost friends after the tower collapses and then volunteered for thirty days of 12 hour shifts to recover their remains. 343 Firefighters died September 11th 2001 and the death toll is still climbing as a result of breathing in toxic particles.

y lungs and sinuses suffered major damage at the trade towers site and everything from hearing loss to depression set in, which caused me to balloon to over 300 pounds. At a funeral for a Firefighter who died of September 11th related Lung Cancer, I looked around at the low turnout and mentioned my disappointment to our Lieutenant. Looking at the small number attending he said, “I’ll show up for your funeral”. I turned and said, “I’ll show up for yours too pal”. Seeing we were a dying breed and there was major mishandling of healthcare for Firefighter’s impacted by September 11th is what motivated me to find natural solutions.

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During a spiritual vision I saw my healthy-self on a beach practicing a slow martial art having had no prior knowledge of Qigong. I moved to San Diego to make the healthiest version of me and ate organic foods and smoothies. I removed toxic food and people from my life for a 2-year sabbatical to get well. Soon I was led to a mind-body studio and attended powerful Qigong classes. During a “Breath Empowerment” my lungs never felt so big! My ribcage had expanded and I felt real energy surge through me like nothing I had ever known. I was buzzing for days after. The studio was promoting a big seminar called “Qi Revolution” and I attended based on their suggestion. Initially I felt out of place with what seemed like mostly new age woo woo people in attendance, but when I did the practices with hundreds of others it felt even more powerful than what I had known from my small group. Pressing on Qi, concentrating on breath and moving slowly had a great effect on myself and most everyone else in attendance. I found Qigong practice slowed my overly active New Yorker mind allowing me to focus on giving my body and soul some long overdue healing energy. September 11th Anniversaries are emotional for those connected. 9-11-2013 I was with San Diego FDNY retirees aboard the USS Midway reading names of rescue workers and flight crews lost 12 years earlier. That morning I woke up and went to the beach and did Supreme Science Qigong Level-1 healing form with a rising sun. I did it by myself, for myself for the first time ever and I felt energy pulsing and surging all around me, it was as my spiritual vision showed me. It made the most difficult day of the year easier somehow and gave me peace and calmness that stays with me now. Since finding Qigong I’ve not taken addictive prescriptions and I’ve had tremendous results with Food-based Healing. I’ve lost 80 pounds and my lung capacity shows significant improvement. Everyone can help themselves with Qigong, especially my Firefighter Family. Anyone seeking improved physical health, specifically better lung capacities will benefit greatly from the Qi Revolution seminar. August 26h-28th 2016 QI REVOLUTION comes to Austin Convention Center $99 for 2-Days and 1-Night of training! Open to Public. Firefighters and Veterans are admitted free. For details call (800)-298-8970 or visit online: www.QiRevolution.com. See ad on page 3.

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natural awakenings

July 2016

REAL NEWS THAT MATTERS Independent Media Tell Us the Truth by Linda Sechrist

n virtually all aspects of life, we are influenced consciously or subconsciously by mainstream media messages. Today, six media giants— Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, Twenty-First Century Fox, Time Warner, Viacom and DirecTV—control the vast majority of what we watch on TV and in movies, listen to on the radio and read in books, newspapers and magazines. According to Ben Bagdikian, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The New Media Monopoly, this handful of conglomerates form a cartel that wields enough influence to affect U.S. politics and define social values. Thirty years ago, before many mergers and acquisitions, 50 corporations owned nearly all of American media. Today’s infotainment and rhetoric, misrepresented as news, is leading millions to conclude that these colossal powers do not exist to objectively report the truth.

Mainstream Media’s True Colors

Although a recent Gallup Poll reflects Americans’ lack of trust in mainstream 22

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media’s reporting of news fully, fairly and accurately, fair reporting was what HarperCollins, a prominent publisher, expected upon the 2016 release of New York City holistic psychiatrist Dr. Kelly Brogan’s A Mind of Your Own: The Truth About Depression and How Women Can Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives. They were shocked when the book was boycotted. “The New York Times, Dr. Oz and Good Morning America refused to schedule author interviews or write book reviews. There wasn’t a whisper anywhere on mainstream media about my evidenced-based book on how women can holistically recover from depression without a single prescription. HarperCollins was baffled. I was their first credentialed author who spoke out against pharmaceuticals,” says Brogan. So Brogan turned to independent outlets, including print, online and social media, her own website, newsletter lists and word-of-mouth. Her work soon broke through into three of the top bestselling book lists: USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and The New York Times. That example serves as clear proof of the importance and power of

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independent media to furnish the public helpful and in-depth information on wide-ranging topics that mainstream broadcast media typically only cover in 30- to 60-second blurbs or not at all. Dr. Mark Hyman, chair of the Institute of Functional Medicine and director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, learned Brogan’s lesson early on. “Independent media have been crucial in disseminating my life’s work. Given the misinformation being spread by regular news and government channels about weight and health, we deserve to hear the truth about what’s in our food, toxins in our environment and how we can truly heal our bodies,” says Hyman, a nine-time bestselling author.

Independent Voices

Today’s independent media landscape shifts at warp speed. With 24/7 Internet access to websites, both groundbreaking journalism and grassroots perspectives appear in original articles and blogs. Outlets include independent online radio, TV shows, newspapers, filmmakers and “citizen journalists” armed with smart phones instantly transmitting images and updates via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. From a growing recognition that such media play a vital role in shaping a more informed and engaged citizenry, more attention is again being paid to the need for real news that matters. Breaking the reign of junk food news generators is the mission of ProjectCensored.org, a media research program at California’s Sonoma State University. Billions of dollars are spent annually on webinars, podcasts and e-books exploring health and healing, self-help, spiritual enlightenment and creativity, indicating a reading audience with a hunger for deeper wisdom. Since 1973, New Dimensions Radio, co-founded and hosted by Justine Willis Toms, has featured many of the world’s most respected wisdom keepers. “Guests exclaim how refreshing it is to speak in-depth and at length. Mainstream, commercially based media consistently present sound bites on how things are breaking down and not working, without opening thought to constructive visions for a future that benefits all life and the planet,” says Toms. “Independent media have broken

away from dependence on the moneyed interests holding tight reins on the news and information they publish. Because we’re listener-supported, public radio is free to explore a wide range of timely and timeless topics,” he says. Leaning away from one-sided views gives independent media space to expand people’s perspectives and positive expectations for the future. The seven-time Pulitzer Prize-winning Christian Science Monitor international news organization was established in Boston over a century ago to till human thought and thereby improve human lives via an uplifted journalistic standard. “Its quiet insistence for human rights and against tyranny; for generosity and against selfishness; for intelligence, charity, courage, integrity and most of all, for progress and hope—

We in America are the best entertained and least informed society in the world. ~Neil Postman, media theorist and educator surely that has helped,” remarks John Yemma, current columnist and former editor. “We work to uncover where progress is occurring, even though headlines proclaim the contrary. There are always two sides to a story,” says Susan Hackney, a senior director with the Monitor, which consistently resists the sensational in favor of the meaningful. M a g a z i n e s s u ch a s N a t u r a l Awakenings, Mother Jones, The Optimist and Yes! are likewise stirring up conversations on meaningful issues via larger perspectives with a focus on tangible

solutions. They address such areas as the damaging health and environmental effects of genetically engineered food, championed by Jeffrey Smith, founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology. “Europe could kick genetically modified ingredients (GMO) out of their food supply because their mainstream media covered the health dangers, while U.S. mainstream media ignored them and kept Americans in the dark. Independent media in the U.S. enable democracy and consumer-inspired transformations of all kinds. Knowledge has organizing power,” advises Smith.

Join Us At The 2016 “It’s Your Time!” Women’s Conference Featuring Keynote Speaker: Elizabeth Smart Presented by the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce and Houston Methodist St. John Hospital

Friday, September 16, 2016, 8:30am - 5:00pm South Shore Harbour Resort in League City, TX Tickets: $65 Learn More: ItsYourTimeWomensConference.com Overcoming Adversity: The Elizabeth Smart Story

The abduction of Elizabeth Smart was one of the most followed child abduction cases of our time. At the tender age of 14, just before celebrating her middle school graduation, Elizabeth went to sleep in her family home just as she had always done. Awakened hours later to a knife held roughly against her throat, she was taken from her home and family and held captive for nine long months.

natural awakenings

July 2016

We need our media to be candid, fierce, raw and searingly truthful about the world in which we live, so that we might propel ourselves and humanity, into a brighter future for all.

responsibility, biomimicry and the butterfly effect,” says McCammon. The existing worldview, with all of its core assumptions and rules, aims to restrain awakening individual and collective consciousness. McCammon observes, “As long as the ‘old story’ was told repeatedly by mainstream media with conviction, it could command our attention and make us doubt our inner story. Trusting that the outer world had our own best interests in mind meant that there was no need to turn within. This is changing. Thanks to farseeing, courageous and strong enough independent media, there’s been an overturning to a more wholesome story of mind-body-spirit, abundance, innovation, collaboration and cooperation.” Mainstream and independent media coexist like two sides of a coin. Mainstream media’s talking heads tell us how to act and think while independent media invite us to engage, educate and think for ourselves, dig deeper and take action. Without independent media, we would know little about the benefits of the ever-evolving grassroots movement of holistic, alternative, complementary, integrative and functional medicine. Nor would we know the truth about climate change; the health advantages of plant-based diets and community gardens; food deserts and nutritionrelated illnesses; the prevalence of environmental toxins; signs of spiritual progress; alternative education; and the benefits of eco-villages to people and the planet.

~Lauren Walker, editor, Truth-out.org

Success Stories

With Fran Korten at its helm, the ad-free, subscriptionsupported, nonprofit Yes! is helping to reframe our biggest issues. “Mainstream media, dependent upon a dve r t i s e r s t h a t wo u l d h ave u s believe that we can buy happiness, celebrate stories of the rich and powerful, leaving everyone else feeling small and powerless. Independents can help resist such ways of seeing the world, help people see a different path to success and happiness and perceive themselves as change agents. Together, we share engaging stories of how people are carving out new ways of living that hold the hope of a world more in balance with the living Earth and where everyone’s inherent worth and dignity are recognized,” says Korten. Allan Savory, founder of the Savory Institute and originator of a holistic land management systems approach to recover and preserve sustainable resources, underscores the need for change leaders and independent thinkers. “As we ponder who they might be, we realize it’s not those that discover new, counterintuitive insights, but those that spread the knowledge. The groundbreakers are pioneers like writers, poets, artists, speakers and

social networkers. After 50 years of trying to understand the intense institutional resistance to and ridiculing of my work of managing complexity in a simple manner, holistic management is now quickly spreading globally. This is only due to social networking, independent writers and my TED talk that went viral,” observes Savory. Laurie McCammon, change leader and author of Enough! How to Liberate Yourself and Remake the World with Just One Word, contracted with independent publisher Red Wheel Weiser to get her message out. “It’s been building awareness of forbidden knowledge—that we each have unrealized potential to affect reality by changing our thoughts. We can nurture a shift in global culture away from an existing way of life that has bred fear, lack and a belief in scarcity,” explains McCammon. She suggests that to preview a new vision of, “I am enough and have enough,” and, “We are enough and have enough,” we should look to the fertile fringes; small communities of intentional and conscious people actively reinventing society. “Look at what independent media are reporting on; as well as their unprecedented use of new terms such as organic, wellness, sustainability, permaculture, transition town, sharing economy, social

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consciouseating Farm Shares Schedule Plant It Forward Farms invites you to enjoy your own weekly box of our fresh, local produce through our Farm Share program which helps ensure our efforts to give newly arrived refugees access to the American dream. You, the socially and environmentally conscious consumer, will be supporting local refugee farmers and their families to earn a living wage by farming sustainably on urban farms in Houston. Farm Shares may be picked up at the following locations. Visit our website for more information or to sign up. http://plant-it-forward.org/our-produce/ farm-share/

MONDAY:

Locavore Lingo What All the Food Labels Really Mean by Judith Fertig

ocally grown foods are more likely to have been bred for flavor and nutrition than durability and a long shelf life, says Emily Akins, outreach director for the Kansas City Food Circle, a cooperative that links residents with farmers that grow and raise organic and free-range food. An added benefit is getting to know the farmer and being able to ask the questions—and receive the answers—that are important to us. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports that local food sales totaled $12 billion in 2014, up from $5 billion in 2008. They continue to grow.

Organic or Certified Organic Consumers want to know the difference between organics and certified organics. Today’s number of U.S. certified organic operations has jumped nearly 300 percent since 2002 to more than 21,700. Although a certified organic designation might be the preferred index of how foods are grown and raised, it

is not always possible for certain foods in some climates. Sometimes there’s a tradeoff in buying organic foods in the carbon footprint of its transport to market. According to the Sweetwater Organic Community Farm, in Tampa, Florida, “Organic refers to a specific method of growing and processing foods, and is defined as produce grown, packaged and stored without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or irradiation.” To be considered certified organic under the Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR Part 205, products must meet these standards: n No harmful chemicals have been applied to the land for at least three years. n Farmers and processors are inspected annually by a certifying agency. n Farmers and processors must keep detailed records of practices.

Nature Discovery Center in Bellaire 4pm-7pm 7112 Newcastle St, Bellaire

TUESDAY:

Local Foods in Rice Village 3:30 pm - 7 pm 2424 Dunstan Rd, Houston Dr. Blazek’s Office in the Heights 3:30 pm - 7 pm 2310 Rutland St, Houston Pearland Elite Training Center 3:30 pm - 7 pm 4407 Halik St, Pearland University of St. Thomas 3:30-7 pm 1318 Sul Ross Montrose

WEDNESDAY:

The Corner of Fondren and Willowbend 3:30 pm - 7 pm 10611 Fondren Rd, Houston Dr. Blazek’s Office in the Heights 3:30 pm - 7 pm 2310 Rutland St, Houston American Health Foods 3:30-6 pm 21202 TX-249 #500, Houston University of St. Thomas 3:30-7 pm 1318 Sul Ross Montrose Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center 3:30 - 7 pm 5601 S Braeswood Blvd, Houston

FRIDAY:

Summerwood Elementary School 3:30 - 7 pm 14000 Summerwood Lakes Dr, Houston

n Farmers are required to maintain a written organic management plan. natural awakenings

July 2016

Certified Humane When we buy local cheese, poultry or meat at the farmers’ market, we sometimes see a certified humane notice. One such producer is Baetje Farms, outside St. Louis, Missouri. Their highly regarded goat cheeses offer traceability via a lot number, so buyers can know exactly which milking the cheese came from. In factory farming, which often involves penning or caging animals that never go outdoors, “certified humane” means that this producer meets Humane Farm Animal Care standards: n Fed a nutritious diet without antibiotics or hormones. n Provided proper shelter with resting areas and sufficient space. n Animals have to ability to behave naturally. Veronica Baetje says her farm’s goats receive organic mineral supplements and locally grown alfalfa hay in addition to pasture grass every day. She adds, “They are free to choose what they prefer to do, whether skip and run up a hill, lie under the shade of a tree, soak up some sunshine or play with their herd mates.”

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

game. Sources are listed online at EatWild.com. “Few of us will go back to foraging in the wild, but we can learn to forage in our supermarkets, farmers’ markets and from local farmers to select the most nutritious and delicious foods available,” says founder Jo Robinson, in Vashon, Washington, For example, Dave and Sue Whittlesey, at High Wire Ranch, in Hotchkiss, Colorado, raise bison (buffalo) and elk that they sell both through local stores and at the Aspen Saturday Market. The wild game is 100 percent pasture-fed, non-GMO (no genetically modified feed), gluten-free and not given hormones or any antibiotics unless the animal is sick.

Trusted Sources The land, climate and growing season dictate the best natural farming practices for each area, often described along with their products on farm and farmers’ market websites. Wisconsin’s Dane County Farmers’ Market, in Madison, provides detailed descriptions of farm products and agricultural practices so customers can make informed choices. Sometimes, the type of farm makes a difference. “We are intentionally human scale,” s ay s Vi r g i n i a G o e k e , o f S y l va n Meadows Farm, in Viroqua, Wisconsin.

“We choose to husband our land to promote harmony and synergy. We are creating a sustainable farm ecosystem where herbal meadows, prairies, heirloom gardens, orchards, woodlands, and rare breeds of livestock and wildlife flourish.” Sometimes, we’d just like someone else to do the food curating for us. The Kansas City Food Circle requires member farmers to take a pledge to follow certain agricultural practices. “When you buy food from our members, you can rely on the co-op’s pledge that it’s been certified naturally grown or that the farmer has USDA Organic certification,” says Akins. Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, the joint effort of 100 small-scale family farms providing fresh, organic, seasonal produce, in Leola, Pennsylvania, gives similar assurances. The USDA reports that 160,000 farmers nationwide are currently selling to their local markets via farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture organizations, restaurants, groceries and institutions, generating health, social, economic and environmental benefits for local communities. It keeps growing because we keep asking questions. Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

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

Foraged—Native foods gathered from the wild, rather than cultivated. Examples: wild mushrooms, fiddlehead ferns, mulberries, native pecans, black walnuts and native persimmons. Free range—Poultry raised outdoors where they are free to range over natural vegetation. 26

Houston

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

Pa s t u re d — L ive s t o ck ra i s e d o n pastures instead of factory farms. Tra c e a b i l i t y — P r e c i s e t r a ck i n g by a farmer that informs the consumer of which chicken hatched a specific clutch of eggs, which farm grew a cantaloupe and which mill boiled down and bottled the sorghum syrup.

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

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

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

Fo r m o r e c u r r e n t a g r i c u l t u r a l , m a r ke t a n d t r a d e t e r m s , v i s i t LexiconOfSustainability.com.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

greenliving

SOIL SISTERS Female Farmers Come of Age by Lisa Kivirist

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

Historic Roots

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

more than 40 percent of fruits and vegetables consumed on the American home front then were grown in school, home, community and workplace gardens,” says Hayden-Smith, possibly resulting in America’s highest period of produce consumption ever. When the commercial organic industry launched in the 1990s, women organized to provide overlooked and undervalued perspectives. The wakeup call for Denise O’Brien, an organic vegetable farmer and owner of Rolling Hills Acres, near Atlantic, Iowa, came during the farm economic crisis of the preceding decade. Although still considered “just” farm wives, “It was the women on the farms that had foreseen

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where things were heading, because they often kept the accounting books, though nobody took their voices seriously,” O’Brien recalls. T h i s l a u n c h e d O ’ B r i e n ’s agriculture activism: balancing farming, raising children and serving as a national advocate and spokeswoman for women in agriculture in an ecological and just food system. In 1997, she launched the Women, Food and Ag Network to collectively advocate for a stronger voice. “Throughout history, women in agriculture have been relegated to providing assistance, rather than making decisions,” O’Brien explains. “It’s up to us as women to collaboratively support each other while challenging the system.”

Cultivating Change

For her 50th birthday, Paula Foreman gave her life a new chapter. She launched her midlife “second act” in 2007 with Encore Farm, a name that serves as a rallying mantra for her peers. “The name is a tribute declaring that fresh starts and new beginnings can happen at any age,” explains Foreman, now an urban farmer in St. Paul, Minnesota. Embodying this business moxie, she chose to specialize, producing one thing very well: organic dried beans. Relinda Walker, of Walker Organic Farms, outside Savannah, Georgia, represents a cadre of “boomerang” farmers; women that return to the land to continue a family farm with a commitment to organics. Like many farm kids, after college, Walker left to pursue a corporate career in the city. Then the 9/11 terror attack shifted her priorities. “All roads led me to coming back

July 2016

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

Future Femme Power

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

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

just a toddler,” sums up O’Brien. “We’ve come a long way, but we’re not there yet, especially with representation on the national leadership platform.” It’s easy to support female growers at local farmers’ markets. Cultivating change can be rewarding—and tasty. Lisa Kivirist is the author of the new book Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers and a senior fellow at the University of Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. Her family runs the energyindependent Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B, in southwestern Wisconsin.

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Inspiration Living Under the Influence

hat is inspiration? This has been on my mind a lot these days, so I looked it up. The dictionary said inspiration is a divine influence inserted directly into the mind or soul. Inspiration can come in the simplest of forms, such as wanting to make contact with a person that crosses your mind or wanting to share a photo with someone. It doesn’t need to be grandiose. What seems to be captivating my attention is what we do with these divine influences. While vacationing in Costa Rica, I was struck by a desire to take a surfing lesson. I watched how the ocean was full of people paddling out, surfing, and enjoying the sparkling water. After a couple of days of listening to my logistical mind, I began to get really bored with my internal party-pooper dumbing down my excitement. What are you thinking? Really? You’ve never surfed before. You could break a leg. At your age? In front of all these people? Yadayadaya! It was in that moment that I got up, walked to the beach and signed up. By saying yes to this inspiration, joy and excitement filled my body. I felt exhilaration, just like being 16 years old again and being handed the keys to the car with a full tank of gas and no curfew. Freedom! FREE Monthly The outcome? WOWZA! That’s what happened. A sense Gathering! of awe, wow, joy, AFFIRMATION amazement, aliveness, and big smiles emergedJune from24th every part 7:00 PMof– my 8:30being. PM In the Spectrumcome Centerto4100 days that followed, I realized how often inspirations me Westheimer and I innocently

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dumb them down. When I say dumb them down, I seem to focus my attention on the logistics of how, why, outcomes, and my life long response, “What’s the point?” I can talk myself out of anything….until I don’t. From my surfing experience, I believe the intelligence behind all life offers these inspirations to fuel my dance. I also see how my tendencies to manage my inspirations creates a buzz-kill effect to those sweet offerings. It’s like saying no every time you get asked to dance, then being upset because you’re not dancing. What’s a girl to do? Stay in the feeling of the inspiration. Do not go into logistics, do not listen to the objections or all the reasons why not. See what unfolds instead. Say yes to your inspirations for no good reason. You’ll never know the outcome of following inspirations if you only play them out in your head.

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Signs That You’ve Found Your Calling by Lissa Rankin

ou may think you’ve identified your calling, questioned it, become disillusioned, left it and then come back to it in a different form. The following clues let you know you’re on the right track. You realize you’ve been training for this since birth. Even the gritty things, the disappointments, regrets and screwups have all been preparation. Major life disruptions and failures were all just teaching essential lessons so that you can become who you’re called to be. You sense ease. In the face of obstacles—such as doors of suspected opportunity that are shut tight or relentless struggles impeding a course you thought was right—it can be hard to tell if your commitment is just being tested or you’ve veered off course. Such hurdles can be part of the growth process cultivating your “inner hero” necessary for the journey. Trust the sense of movement t owa r d s e a s e , wh i ch l i k e l y w i l l include supportive synchronicities. Your health may improve. Cravings for unhealthy foods will lessen and you’ll feel more energetic. Old aches and pains might disappear; even chronic illness can fade when you’re focused on your life purpose. You feel strangely peaceful, despite reasons to be anxious. Your soul longs to express what you’re on Earth to express, and when you finally rise into alignment with your calling, your soul does a happy dance. Even if everything else seems to be falling apart and others consider you crazy, you’ll be centered in peace, relieved that you finally know what you’re called to do. The universe rolls out the red carpet. When called to do what is needed for the highest good of all beings, the universe bends over

backwards to hand you whatever you need. No request is too small. Unexpected money flows in and other resources appear just as you’re ready to give up. You’ll know you’re on track, even if it is not quite clear what you’re on track to do. People find you. Few can fulfill a calling alone. Most of us need a tribe to lift us up as we do brave, scary, worldchanging things. When you’re aligned with your life purpose, the right people, including magic-wielding mentors, will find you at the right time, if only you’re courageous enough to be vulnerable about what you’re being called to do.

Dr. Lissa Rankin, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, is the author of Mind Over Medicine, The Fear Cure and The Anatomy of a Calling (TheAnatomyOfACalling.com).

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Make Time for Downtime Chilling Out Revives Body and Soul by April Thompson

ere’s something to add to our to-do list: nothing. Americans today work more hours than ever before, foregoing hard-earned vacation days and spending more time with electronic devices than with friends and family. The temptation and pressure to do more at the expense of needed rest are great, but failing to take time out to recharge our minds and bodies can have serious consequences, according to experts. Downtime is most acutely needed in the workplace. In a survey of nearly 20,000 workers, The Energy Project and Harvard Business Review found that 59 percent of them were physically exhausted, emotionally drained, distracted and lacking purpose. Headquartered in Yonkers, New York, with offices in Europe and Australia, The Energy Project has helped hundreds of businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, create healthier, happier and higher-performing workplaces. The company takes its cues from elite athletes that carefully build rest and recovery periods into their training schedules. “Just as your body needs sleep and food to function optimally, so does your mind and spirit,” says Annie Perrin, an executive vice president with the project. There’s a mounting body of neurological research to buttress the analogy. Important assimilation of learning and “meaning making” occurs in the resting brain, according to Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Ed.D., associate professor of education, psychology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and author of Emotions, Learning, and the Brain. When our minds are allowed to

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wander, they engage a network of interacting brain regions that together are thought to play a key role in building our ability for inward reflection and recollection, known as the default mode network. Immordino-Yang’s research suggests that such activation during restful moments is positively associated with the recalling of memories, envisioning the future and even developing a moral foundation. “This network seems to be more engaged when we aren’t actively gathering information or working on an external goal,” remarks Immordino-Yang. Zoning out on TV or video games doesn’t produce the same brain benefit because, “It’s about looking inward rather than outward,” she says. The default network does engage when introspection occurs during nurturing social interaction, such as while enjoying a reflective conversation with friends or family. She recommends banning technology and other distractions during periods spent in activities that bring joy and meaning so that we are present in a mindful way. The Energy Project ushers clients through a comprehensive energy audit, using exercises to expose specific personal habits that lead to diminishing returns in both work and play time. In one exercise, workers are asked to rank current incoming emails from one to five, with the highest number equating to, “I need to respond immediately.” Most rate nearly no fives, says Perrin, a realization that has helped many people change their email habits. While change can be hard, Perrin suggests creating new, healthy rituals through repetition, which taps into the brain’s desire for automaticity. For example, she advises workers to schedule “renewal breaks” every 90 minutes after completing a block of high-priority tasks. “If you’ve been sitting, move; if the mind has been active, do something to quiet it, like meditating or simply closing your eyes.” She also suggests finding workers to buddy up with and schedule mutual breaks to help support and hold each other accountable. Immordino-Yang suggests that another practice to maximize the value of downtime is to combine it with exercise. “A walk can be rejuvenating,” she says. “While the body is engaged, the mind is free to wander.” The Energy Project calls on managers to model these downtime activities for their employees. Some companies have instituted policies that limit sending email from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., as well as during weekends and vacations, so staffers don’t feel compelled to read and respond to keep up with work. Setting limits is even more crucial for young people with minds and habits that are especially malleable. “I see teenagers taking their phones into the bathroom or bed to text in the middle of the night. Parents need to put a stop to this,” counsels Immordino-Yang. “The brain needs uninterrupted rest to work at its best.” Learning that being a productive employee or an emotionally available parent requires giving ourselves a break and gives us permission to rest. We find that downtime is not just good for ourselves, but also for our families and workplaces. Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

May MoonSign Predictions by Varshaa Sachdev

HAT IS YOUR MOON SIGN? The Moon signifies Motherly energies in the Universe. For centuries, sages in ancient cultures have based their predictions on Moon Sign because they are more accurate. Vedic Moon Sign is different from your Sun Sign or Moon Sign in Western Astrology. Find out your Moon Sign for FREE by logging on to OpenMindAstrology.com or call 832-597-8888. You can also find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/ OpenMindAstrology. Aries – Lots of activities at home, a real social atmosphere. Be careful of the relationship with spouse and in-laws as it may become quarrelsome. Seek spiritual guidance and expect your finances to improve. Expect good news during the last week of the month. Your lucky days are 26th and 27th. Taurus – Expect improvement in your family member’s health and relief from tensions at home. Watch out for quarrels at work during the first half of the month. Your communication skills will be recognized and appreciated this month. Your lucky days are 1st, 2nd, 28th and 29th. Gemini – Take advantage of your confidence and inner harmony. Expect improvement in your income. Struggles at work will calm down. Family relationships start to improve. Be careful driving especially during the first part of the month. Your lucky days are 3rd, 4th, 30th and 31st. Cancer – You should experience a positive encounter with an authority

figure. During the second part of the month expect to receive the attention of others whom you know well. Avoid aggressive energy at home especially during the first part of the month. There will be some relief in both finance and romance this month. Your lucky days are the 5th and 6th. Leo – Shift your focus slowly from income/job/finances to your spiritual connections and you should see relief in all aspects of your life. Tensions at home will get better during the first half of the month but watch out for quarrels in the second half. Lucky days are 7th, 8th, and 9th. Virgo – Your main focus is work and finances. Expect a promotion or positive news from your boss at work. Take care not to speak harshly, especially during the first part of the month and take care of your health. Things at home will get better though be careful about feelings during the last week. Your lucky days are 9th, 10th and 11th. Libra – Take care not to come off as aggressive during the first part of the month and be sure you use soft words in your speech. Positive news at work and more harmony and happiness in your home life. Your lucky days are 12th and 13th. Scorpio – Expect struggles in your home life. Focus on spirituality during the first part of the month to find relief. Be careful around the authority figures in your life. The good news is that your family’s health should be improving. Lucky days are 14th, 15th, and 16th. natural awakenings

Sagittarius – Expect relief in all areas of your life. Be more aggressive in your finances. In the second half of the month be sure to take care of your health. Reconnect with siblings or family members whom you have become estranged from and expect relationships in your immediate family to be of harmony and joy. Lucky days are 17th and 18th. Capricorn – Your job and relationships at home will get much needed relief this month. Your boss will be looking on you favorably so take advantage of it. Your lucky days are 19th, 20th and 21st. Aquarius – This is your month to be in a party mode. Expect your boss to favor you during the second half of the month so be sure to work hard, take advantage of opportunities and minimize your stress. Home atmosphere will be mixed. Lucky days are 21st and 22nd. Pisces – This month, expect harmony and romantic relationships especially toward the second half of the month. Take care of your health and expect relief at work. Your lucky days are 23rd, 24th and 25th. lyv-na-ad-0416.qxp_p 4/8/16 9:29 AM Page 1 See ad on page 12.

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COOL CHOW Icy Treats for Hot Summer Days by Sandra Murphy

n 2015, manufacturers of commercial dog and cat foods and treats issued 28 recalls, some for multiple products, due to the potential presence of listeria or salmonella bacteria, mold, dangerous levels of cumulatively harmful propylene glycol, inadequate thiamine, elevated levels of vitamin D, off odors or labeling problems (Tinyurl.com/PetFood ManufacturerRecalls). In response, homemade treats have

grown in popularity to ensure that pets enjoy safe and healthy snacks. “Most summer fruits work naturally to cool the body,” advises Cathy Alinovi, co-author of Dinner PAWsible: A Cookbook of Nutritious Homemade Meals for Cats and Dogs, in Pine Village, Indiana. “Healthful treats, made from the best ingredients, are a good way to take a break from summer heat.” She suggests taking a refreshing look at low-calorie fruits and veggies such as stuffed celery used in creative, tasty ways. After removing strings, fill celery logs with plain yogurt and freeze. To serve, cut into one-bite pieces appropriate for a dog’s size. Another easy favorite is filling an ice cube tray twothirds full with Greek-style or traditional plain yogurt mixed with diced strawberries or whole blueberries and freeze overnight. For cats, omit the fruit and instead add bits of mercury-free water-packed tuna or salmon as a special treat. Add fresh or dried catnip to catch Kitty’s attention. “Once when fixing dinner, I dropped a piece of frozen yellow squash and the dogs dove for it,” says writer Livia J. Washburn, in Azle, Texas, of her Chihuahuas. “Nicki waits for things to hit the floor; Nora showed her game face and won the Squash War.” “Obesity is the number one nutritional disease affecting

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photo courtesy of The Healthy Hound Cookbook

our pets, so summertime activities that avoid overheating are vital for overall health,” says Veterinarian Jeff Werber, a veterinary medical journalist with a Los Angeles practice. “Proper nutrition is critical—not only to the foods we feed, but to the treats we give.” Twelve years ago, Rick Woodford’s Belgian Malinois/Labrador mix, Jackson, was diagnosed with lymphoma. In order to keep him eating, Woodford shared his own food. Jackson lived an additional four years, in part due to improved nutrition. “Portion control is important,” he says. “What’s right for an 80-pound dog is way too much for a 30-pounder.” Woodford, the author of Feed Your Best Friend Better and Chow, lives near Portland, Oregon. Frosty Paws is a lower lactose version of ice cream for dogs and discriminating cats. Recipes for homemade versions can be found online. The basics are one ripe, mashed banana, 32 ounces of plain or vanilla yogurt and two tablespoons of honey, all mixed in a blender and frozen in small ice cube trays. Variations may substitute goat’s milk yogurt or add a quarter-cup of strawberries, cranberries or blueberries for antioxidants in lieu of the honey. Frozen vegetable broth, primed with added bits of cooked chopped spinach, broccoli, carrots or a small cheese cube, is a hit with dogs. Cats like theirs with tidbits of chicken, turkey or a few shreds of cheese. Using a bone-shaped ice cube tray lets humans know it’s the pet’s treat. “When I was developing frozen treat recipes, my husband came in from the yard one hot afternoon and went straight to the freezer,” says Paris Permenter about John Bigley, co-authors of The Healthy Hound Cookbook, in Cedar Park, Texas, who live with mixed breeds Irie and Tiki. “I watched him eat two helpings of the dog ice cream and then told him what it was. We often share our food with our dogs. It was nice for them to share their goodies with us!” The bottom line for the best summertime treats is to go healthy, be creative, use fresh ingredients, don’t overindulge and stay cool.

Frosty Treats for Furry Friends Cooling Recipes Fido’s Frozen Fruit Pupsicles 4 cups water 1 Tbsp blackstrap molasses (optional) 1 cup fresh fruit (no grapes or raisins), chopped Wash and core all fruit. Blueberries and strawberries are popular with most dogs, while others enjoy melons, peaches and apples. Chop fruit into bite-sized pieces. Mix fruit with water and molasses. Freeze the mix in ice cube trays, small tubs or Popsicle molds. Source: The Healthy Hound Cookbook, by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

Mango Sorbet 2 ripe mangos, peeled Juice of 1 orange Juice of 1 lime ½ cup unsweetened almond milk

Transfer frozen cubes to a zip-top plastic bag; stores up to 2 months in the freezer. Source: The Healthy Hound Cookbook, by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

Watermelon Slush Low-calorie watermelon is high in potassium and magnesium plusvitamins A and C; filled with fluid,it helps prevent dehydration. Blackstrap molasses has less sugar and more minerals than other sweeteners. 2 cups cubed watermelon, seeds removed ½ cup strawberries 1 Tbsp. blackstrap molasses ½ cup coconut water 1 cup ice Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix. Serve in a bowl as a slushie treat or pour into ice cube trays and freeze.

Add all ingredients to a blender and purée.

Or share a slice of fun. Many dogs love plain watermelon slices. Be sure the animal doesn’t eat the seeds or rind.

Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.

Source: The Healthy Hound Cookbook, by Paris Permenter and John Bigley

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Plum and Apple Coolers

calendarofevents

One batch makes enough cubes to treat both a large- and medium-size dog.

NOTE: All Calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Email Mike@NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

(10-lb dog: 1 to 2 cubes; 20-lb dog: 3 to 4 cubes; 40-lb dog: 4 to 5 cubes; 60-lb dog: 5 to 6 cubes; 80-lb dog: 6 to 7 cubes; 100-lb dog: 7 to 8 cubes)

FRIDAY JULY 1ST

Movies at Miller – Jurassic World. 8:30pm. Free movie showing. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/

6 plums, washed and pitted 1 Tbsp filtered water, to begin 1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch cubes (no seeds)

Marva’s Holistic Fair. 10:00am-5:00pm. Psychics, tarot readers, palmists, healers, vendors of all sorts. Admission Free. LaQuinta Inn-Galleria on 610 West Loop North between San Felipe and Post Oak, 77027. psychicfairs.com 713-444-3581

Purée the plums and water in a blender or food processor. Add another 1 or 2 tablespoons of water if needed.

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Spread the apples in the ice cube tray and spoon the plum purée on top. Don’t pack, or it will become a denser cube. Freeze for 4 hours. Serve the cubes one by one (outdoors may be best) or in a big bowl. Source: Chow, by Rick Woodford

SATURDAY JULY 2ND

SUNDAY JULY 3RD

Half-day Retreat. 9:00am-12:00pm. Chan/Zen Meditation Classes guided by Ordained Zen Masters of Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www.cthouston.org 281-568-1568 Bayou Bikers. 8:00am. Meet at Market Square Park for 25- to 40-mile bike rides exploring the bayous of Houston. Rides are open to all. Mountain bikes or bikes with fat tires are necessary. This is an informal group whose purpose is to show Houstonians and visitors the beauty of Houston’s waterways. Market Square 301 Milam, 77002. 713-845-1000 marketsquarepark.com

MONDAY JULY 4TH

A Beginner’s Guide to Sacred Geometry with Julie Umpleby. 6:30pm–8:30pm. Experience this special class offered by instructor Julie Umpleby who is joining us all the way from England. Learn how our universe and world is encoded in sacred geometry and how that impacts your life path. $35. Body Mind & Soul, 7951 Katy Frwy, Ste. N, 77024. 713-993-0550. www.bmshouston.com LiveStream Oneness Meditation with Reverend Howard Caesar. 11:30am-12:30pm. The Oneness Meditation is a powerful transmission of Divine Energy which helps one move into higher states of consciousness; allowing the individual to deepen their spiritual journey. The results are transformative, bringing lasting changes and shifts in consciousness. Each person will have their own unique experience during the meditation. Child care is available, no reservation required. Love offering. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713782-4050 unityhouston.org

FRIDAY JULY 8TH

Messages from Beyond. 7:30-9:30pm. Medium Fleur will be in Houston to help connect people to their loved ones in the spirit world. Audience members should expect to enjoy an evening of love, laughter, closure and peace. $35 to $50. Unity of Houston 2929 Unity Dr., 77057. mediumfleur.com Life Coaching & Intuitive Painting - Weekend Workshop. Fri 6-8:30pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm. Intuitive Painting swings the doors open to living with more expression and authenticity. When you understand the nature of creativity and its principles, you begin to relax and trust. You will learn these principles during this series. No experience is needed. No critiques are permitted. All materials included. $255. Facilitator: Cherie Ray. Register at www.trueyoucreativity.com

SATURDAY JULY 9TH

Dowsing for Beginners with Kristina Woods. 10:30am– 12:30pm. Have you ever wondered if dowsing is for you? In this class you will learn the history of dowsing, how to prepare yourself and your pendulum/rods, how to phrase your questions for maximum accuracy, and how to interpret your responses. $40. Body Mind & Soul, 7951 Katy Frwy, Ste. N, 77024. 713-993-0550 www.bmshouston.com

Ingredients to Avoid Avoid peanut and other nut butters or any ingredient with xylitol, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, coffee and caffeine, onions, chives, garlic, nuts and salty snack foods. Chocolate is also on the no-go list; the darker the chocolate, the worse it is for pets; baking chocolate is the most dangerous. If a pet eats any of these, try to determine how much and contact the family veterinarian, a veterinary emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. For a full list of foods to avoid, visit Tinyurl.com/ASPCA-Foods2Avoid.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY TUESDAY JULY 5TH

Meditation 101 Class. 7:00pm-9:00pm. Class will cover basic key instructions about Meditation Techniques, Mindful Intention, Self-Awareness, Inner-Silence, Breathing Technique, Relaxation Exercises, Q & A, and a Guided Meditation. $15. Wells Fargo Business Bldg, 12337 Jones Rd, 2nd Fl Conference RM, 77070. 832-303-6319

WEDNESDAY JULY 6TH

Rushmore at Market Square Park. 8:30pm Forget about trekking to the ‘burbs for your Alamo fix. Join us for a film under the stars as the Rolling Roadshow presents, Wes Anderson comedic drama, Rushmore, (R) 93min. Market Square Park. 301 Milam, 77002. marketsquarepark.com

THURSDAY JULY 7TH

Energetic Boundaries 101: Simple Methods to Increase Energetic Protection with Kristina Woods. 2:30pm–5:30pm. Do you tune into the feelings of others? Are you are on energetic overload? Maybe you are an empath! In this class, learn what it means to be an empath and leave equipped with simple techniques you can use to improve your boundaries while embracing your gifts. $50. Body Mind & Soul, 7951 Katy Frwy, Ste. N, 77024. 713-993-0550 www.bmshouston.com

SUNDAY JULY 10TH

Meditation Workshop. 10:00-11:00am. Open to everyone, especially for beginners to meditation. The master will give a brief introduction to meditation and guide the participants to do meditation. Free, donations welcome. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www.cthouston.org 281-568-1568

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markyourcalendar Wellness Seminar: Mood Disorders. 6:30pm. Join us for a complimentary dinner and seminar where you will learn how to naturally resolve issues like depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. There are non-toxic and effective treatments for these conditions. FREE. Grotto, 4715 Westheimer, 77027. Call weMEDWellness to reserve your seat: 713-572-3888. Wemedwellness.com

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July 2016

Connecting with Angels for Children with Brandi Khan. 2:00pm–3:30pm. Children are very intuitive individuals who easily sense their Angels around them. In this class, young people along with their parents will learn ways to connect with the Angelic Kingdom. This class is suitable for ages 7 and up; child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. $30. Body Mind & Soul, 7951 Katy Frwy, Ste. N, 77024. 713-993-0550 www.bmshouston.com

Meditation Lecture Group. 7:00pm-9:00pm. Group will enjoy different types of Mantras & Affirmation Styles, Meditation Techniques, Relaxation Exercises, Breathing Technique, Q & A Discussion, and Guided Meditations. $15. Wells Fargo Business Bldg., 12337 Jones Rd, 2nd FL Conference RM, 77070. 832-303-6319 Children’s Hilltop Festival - The Emperor’s New Clothes. 11:00am. An adolescent Tejano star learns about fame the hard way when he agrees to wear a bizarre new wardrobe in this new bilingual musical adaptation. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/

TUESDAY JULY 12TH

WEDNESDAY JULY 20TH

Senior Wellness Day: Let’s Take a Staycation. 9:00am12:00pm. Improve your mood during Senior Wellness Day this month at THM. Join us for an engaging and informative three hours which will inspire you in maintaining your overall wellness through interactive activities, lab experiences, active participation, and role playing! Group rates: $5 per Senior, w/addtl $3 per person fee for use of the DeBakey Cell Lab. Individual rates: $7 per Senior, w/addtl $3 per person fee for use of the DeBakey Cell Lab. The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Dr 77004. thehealthmuseum.org To make group reservation contact reservations@thehealthmuseum.org or 713-521-1515 ext. 119.

WEDNESDAY JULY 13TH

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Grand Opening of Ayush Wave Ayurveda Wellness and Yoga. Join us for the grand opening of Sugar Land’s newest Ayurveda spa. Bring a copy of the article from Natural Awakenings magazine and receive a $50 gift certificate. Call or consult the website for details of the timings. 15263 Southwest Frwy., Sugar Land, 77478. 281-870-2772. ayushwave.com

Happy Healthy Summer in the Sun. 2:00pm-4:00pm. Come and learn with Claudia Autry and Stephen Stein how essential oils, hypnosis, and acupuncture can help make your summer more fun and healthy. $40 at PayPal.me/CAutry. 3207 Mercer St.,77027. Claudia Autry 281-849-4610.

Emotional Healing with Essential Oils. 7:00pm–8:00pm, Come and learn how essential oils can be used for emotional healing. Free. Path of Tea, 2340 W Alabama St., 77098. Claudia Autry 281-849-4610.

markyourcalendar Wellness Seminar: Belly Fat. 6:30pm. Complimentary dinner. Learn what really causes weight gain – specifically belly fat. Modern stressors and foods stimulate fat-storing hormones that affect sleep, cravings and fat storage. Learn safe, non-toxic treatments to get your hormones – and weight – under control. Grotto, 4715 Westheimer, 77027. Call weMEDWellness to reserve your seat: 713-572-3888. Wemedwellness.com

Houston

Blanket Bingo. 6:00pm-9:00pm. Join us for Blanket Bingo benefiting Market Square Park and Buffalo Bayou Partnership. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs or snag one of the tables at the park for a night of fun, music and great prizes! $10 admission includes one bingo packet (approx. 9 games). Additional games and daubers can be purchased for $1 each. Market Square Park 301 Milam, 77002 http://marketsquarepark.com/

Children’s Hilltop Festival - Santa’s Rockin’ Reindeer: Christmas in July! 11:00am. An elf disguises herself as a fourlegged flyer in order to join Santa’s special singing group, The Rockin’ Reindeer. But can she keep her secret long enough to perform in the Holiday Pageant? An original holiday musical about honesty and elf-esteem, written by Tim Fried-Fiori. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/

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TUESDAY JULY 19TH

THURSDAY JULY 21ST

FRIDAY JULY 22ND

FRIDAY JULY 15TH

Spirit Quest’s Psychic & Holistic Fair. 12:00pm-6:00pm. Come and enjoy a day of intuitive and holistic pampering for yourself or your family. Try out different healing modalities, get a reading, or shop a variety of products. Free. The Spirit Quest Center, 303 Main St., Spring (Old Town Spring), TX 77373. thespiritquestcenter.com

Enjoy Life! The Happiest of Happy Hours. 6:00pm-8:00pm. Join Cherie Ray, Life & Creativity Coach and Tony Pryor at True You Creativity Studio. Reserve your space by emailing Cherie@trueyoucreativity.com. www.trueyoucreativity.com

Children’s Hilltop Festival - The Great Zoo Switcheroo. 11:00am. Kenny Penguin and Penny Kangaroo just can’t get over how different they are—until they’re forced to work together to outwit an Exotic Animal Thief trying to kidnap them from the zoo. A comedy about friendship by Austin native Max Langert. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/

Wellness Seminar: Belly Fat. 12:30pm. Complimentary lunch. Learn what really causes weight gain – specifically belly fat. Modern stressors and foods stimulate fat-storing hormones. We offer safe, natural treatments to help you get your weight under control. Free. Seasons 52, 4410 Westheimer, 77027. Call weMEDWellness to reserve your seat, space is limited: 713-572-3888. Wemedwellness.com

SATURDAY JULY 16TH

Children’s Hilltop Festival - My BFF, The Dragon. 11:00am. Pushed into an age old war by their Royal parents, a Human Prince and a Dragon Princess discover they have a lot more in common than they ever imagined. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Drive, 77030 http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/

SATURDAY JULY 23RD

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SUNDAY JULY 24TH

Three Refuges Ceremony. 1:30pm-2:30pm. Free. CHUNG TAI ZEN CENTER OF HOUSTON 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www. cthouston.org 281-568-1568

WEDNESDAY JULY 27TH

markyourcalendar Wellness Seminar: Thyroid Health. 12:30 p.m. Join us for a complimentary lunch and wellness seminar where you’ll learn the real symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Conventional medicine only tests thyroid levels within a certain range, which can FREE. Seasons 52, 4410 Westheimer, 77027. Call weMEDWellness to reserve your seat, space is limited: 713-572-3888. Wemedwellness.com 5 Day Intuitive Painting Workshop - Moving From Wanting to Doing! Wed 27th-Sat 30th 10-6pm and Sun 31st 10-3pm. Intuitive Painting builds the bridge from wanting it, to doing it, then you realize, you’re living it! Experience the joy of freedom. You will learn the fundamental principles of creativity. With a deeper understanding of the nature of creativity, you begin to trust and learn from your own process. $525. Facilitator: Cherie Ray. 77008. Register at www.trueyoucreativity.com

THURSDAY JULY 28TH

MD Anderson Day at The Health Museum. 2:00pm-5:00pm. MD Anderson will host a “Cancer Risk Reduction Day” comprising of multiple departments providing health education information, presentations on cancer risk reduction on HPV and cervical cancer, a lung exhibit and breast cancer exhibit, and Tai Chi demonstrations every hour. Also onsite, a camera that provides a snapshot of sun damage to your face. Free. The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Drive, 77004 www.thehealthmuseum.org

FRIDAY JULY 29TH

Critical Mass-Houston. Assemble at 6:30 pm. Roll at 7:15pm. A casual bike ride starting from downtown Houston and going wherever. Cars rule the road every day, but one day a month we get together to celebrate our love for bicycles and have fun riding. Free. Market Square 301 Milam, 77002. criticalmasshouston.com

SATURDAY JULY 30TH

YogaMass™. 5-6 pm. A unique and participative worship experience engaging the senses and integrating body, mind, and spirit through the combined practice of yoga, breath work, meditation, and Holy Communion. Bring your mind, body, soul and mat. All levels are welcome. Chairs are available for those who wish to sit. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort (one block west of Stella Link), Houston 77025. For more information, contact Grace at 832.667.8601, info@graceinhouston.org or yogamass.com.

SUNDAY JULY 31ST

Blessing Ceremony. 10:00am-12:00pm. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072 zen@cthouston.org www. cthouston.org 281-568-1568

Quantum-Touch Level 1 Workshops by Mindy King of SweetSimpleHealing.com in Sugar Land. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sat. July 23th & Sun. July 24th. Never feel powerless again! Heal yourself and others. Powerful, yet simple to learn. Professionals, Doctors, Caregivers, Moms and Dads are welcome. LMT CEU’s offered. Preregister 21 days or before for $50 discount! For more details: quantumtouch. com, 281-684-1956, mindy@sweetsimplehealing.com, or www.sweetsimplehealing.com

Public Oneness Meditation with Reverend Howard Caesar. 12:30pm-1:30pm. The Oneness Meditation is a powerful transmission of Divine Energy which helps one move into higher states of consciousness; allowing the individual to deepen their spiritual journey. The results are transformative, bringing lasting changes and shifts in consciousness. Each person will have their own unique experience during the meditation. Child care is available, no reservation required. Love offering. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713782-4050. unityhouston.org

Community Reiki Share. 2:00pm-4:00pm. Every 4th Saturday join like-minded people and practitioners interested in learning more about Reiki history, giving or receiving treatments, guided meditations. Free. Wells Fargo Bldg., 12337 Jones Rd, 2nd FL Conference RM, 77070. 832-303-6319

Public Talk by Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien. 6:00pm-8:00pm. You are Awake! Wake Up from the source of all stress and conflict in order to live truly happy and free in any situation, disturbed by nothing. Hosted by the Mindfulness Community of Houston. Free. 1712 Fairview, (downtown in the Montrose area), 77006. www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718

Make Your Own Fairy House with Anna Silver. 2:00pm– 5:00pm. Fairy houses are a whimsical form of sacred art that reconnect us to Mother Nature and our own inner child. Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of fairies and crafting led by artist, Anna Silver. Every participant will get to make their own customized fairy house which they can take home and display in or outdoors.$95. Body Mind & Soul, 7951 Katy Frwy, Ste. N, 77024. 713-993-0550 www.bmshouston.com

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Celebration: New Moon in Leo Forecast and Meditation with Kimberley McSherry. 3:00pm–5:00pm. Of all the planetary forces in Astrology, the influence of the Moon is the most personal and prominent in our everyday lives. The New Moon of Leo heralds a month long opportunity to explore new ways to celebrate self, enhance the positive expression of ego, and consciously work on self-love. $25. Body Mind & Soul 7951 Katy Frwy Ste. N, 77024. www.bmshouston.com 713-993-0550

planahead THURSDAY, AUGUST 19

markyourcalendar Reconnective Healing Training – 8/19-8/23. Fri, 6:3010pm; Sat-Tues, 9:30am-7pm. Fri: learn about the philosophy, art, and science of Reconnective Healing®. Sat-Sun: experience and discover the healing frequencies with expanded awareness. Mon-Tues: learn how to make this a career. $1428. ($1214 with discount). Info: Lisa Honeywell, 281-338-8721. TheReconnection.com‬.

SUNDAY AUGUST 21ST

FRIDAY AUGUST 26THSUNDAY AUGUST 28TH

QI REVOLUTION comes to Austin Convention Center. Open to Public. Firefighters and Veterans are admitted free. $99 for 2-Days and 1-Night of training! For details call (800)-2988970 or visit online: www.QiRevolution.com

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22

An Evening with Panache Desai. 7:30pm-9:00pm. An invitation to be empowered to create the life of your dreams. General Admission: $35. VIP Seating: $55. Unity of Houston. 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. More info: www.unityhouston.org or call 713-782-4050

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7TH – SUNDAY OCTOBER 9TH

markyourcalendar Understanding the Process of Death & Dying - The Beautiful Road Home. This retreat presented by Jane Sorbi, will seek to share the gentle journey which occurs as the soul moves out of the physical body - what might be expected after the death of the physical - and the new life which awaits. There will be sessions on understanding the process of grief and on helping those whom we love through this transition. One of the important facets of the White Eagle work is that of working with the souls who need help to light their passage from the earth. Together we will be learning through group healing work, how we might help. 5 day cost - $725 (includes meals & lodging). Saint John’s Retreat Center, Montgomery, TX 77316. www.whiteaglelodge.org

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20

An Evening with Miguel Ruiz Jr. 8:00am–5:00pm. In this workshop, our perception will blossom into the awareness that we are the constant in every relationship we are in; thus we are either the constant opportunity for either conditional love or unconditional love in life. General Admission: $35. Unity of Houston–Sanctuary. 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. More info: www.unityhouston.org or call 713-782-4050

THURSDAY OCTOBER 20 SUNDAY OCTOBER 23

Blossom: A Yoga & Spirit Renewal Retreat. Attend a 4 day retreat starting Thursday, October 20th and running through Sunday, October 23rd. Nurture your body, mind, and spirit at our fall yoga retreat in the magical high desert of Santa Fe, NM on a five-star oasis. Come to clear the path for the good you want to see in your life. Come to Blossom! Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado, Santa Fe, NM. Packages start at $2400. Brought to you by Soul Bliss Yoga. For more information and to reserve your spot, visit: www.soulblissyoga.com/blossomsantafe2016 or contact: retreats@soulblissyoga.com or 720-295-2127.

ongoingevents daily Houston Arboretum. 8am-6pm. Walk in nature. Learn about native plants and wildlife. Free. Houston Arboretum 4501 Woodway Dr., 77024. houstonarboretum.org Free Vegetarian Meal. 9:00am. (except Sunday) A free vegetarian meal for any and all. Free. ISKCON Temple 1320 West 34th Street, 77018. 713. 686.4482 iskconhouston.org Rothko Chapel. 10am-6pm (except during special events) The Rothko Chapel is an independent institution, a sacred place open to all people, every day. Free. Rothko Chapel 3900 Yupon, 77006. 713-524-9839 rothkochapel.org Free Vegetarian Meal. 12:30pm. (except Sunday) A free vegetarian meal for any and all. Free. ISKCON Temple 1320 West 34th Street, 77018. 713. 686.4482 iskconhouston.org Waugh Bridge Bat Colony. Sunset. Every evening at sunset, more than 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from crevices found in the Waugh Drive Bridge. These creatures are non-migratory and call the bayou home year-round. Free. Waugh Street at Allen Parkway 77019. houstontx.gov/parks/bats.html

Traditional Hatha Yoga! 5:30 pm. Integrative Hatha Yoga for Mental & Physical Happiness, facilitated by Lin Weiss MH, Certified Yoga Therapist. $18 drop in. Multiple class prices available. Bellaire Triangle Yoga & Meditation Studio is located behind the shopping center on the corner of Bissonnet & Mapleridge. Take first driveway on Mapleridge (right) - just past Gold’s Violin Shop. http://conscioushealingnow.com/ 713-858-8595 Zumba. 7pm to 8pm. Join Marco Oliver on Tuesday nights, Auditorium for Dance fitness classes are now available. The class is just $ 4.00 per drop in. Please bring water, a towel and some indoor shoes. Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E Center & Spa 7800 Amelia Road Houston TX 77055 http://www.arecenterhouston.org Circus Arts. 6-8pm. Circus Arts will consist of ground arts and ground acrobatics such as, contortion/flexibility, Low Tight wire, Partner acrobatics, juggling and hand balancing. Circus Arts is taught by instructors Nosa and Susie Edebor, who also teach Acro Yoga at classes outside Discovery Green. Must be 13 and up for class. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com

Free Vegetarian Meal. 7:30pm. (except Sunday) A free vegetarian meal for any and all. Free. ISKCON Temple 1320 West 34th Street, 77018. 713. 686.4482 iskconhouston.org

Sahaja Yoga-Meditation. 6:30-7:30pm. Come around and try our free weekly yoga-meditation classes. Simply turn up, and make yourself comfortable. Each session includes the basics and a practical guided meditation, so that you can start meditating at home straight away. Free. South Community Center. 2235 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, Houston, Texas 77380. 832-433-2415. info@Houston-Meditation.org

monday

Charles Bryant Showcase. 7-11pm. Dinner music at Last Concert Café. Get your Tex-Mex On! Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Yoga on the Green. 11am-noon. Strengthen, relax and recharge. Presented in partnership with Texas Military Veterans Network. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com Heartfulness Meditation on the Green. Noon-1pm. Life has a way of provoking us with traffic jams and never ending hassles. This free event explains how heartfulness helps us cope with stress by managing our own reactivity. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com Open Mic with Jimmy Deen. 7:00-11:00pm. Last Concert Café 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com Beginners Yoga 7-8:30 pm. Discover your strengths and balances through a therapeutic approach to yoga alignment and mind/body integration. First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, 5200 Fannin 77004. stanpolins@hal-pc.org. Food Not Bombs. 8pm. Help provide free vegan meals for Houston’s homeless. Volunteer, donate or just come see what we do. Free. Downtown Library Courtyard 521 Lamar, 77002.. houstonfoodnotbombs.org

tuesday Grace2Go. 7:00-8:30 am. On the go? Want a boost to the start of your day? Drive thru for free coffee, a breakfast bite, and a prayer if desired. All are welcome. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, 77025. www.graceinhouston.org. Yoga at India House. 11:00-12:00am. Enjoy relaxing cardio work out at India House. Free. India House, 8888 West Bellfort, 77031. Go to the website, print out the form and email it to the address given. http://www.indiahouseinc.org/ programs/yoga-classes The Self-Invest Series with Helen Racz. 11am-2pm or 6:45pm8:45pm. Happiness, Success can often seem illusive, mysterious or even magical. Like we need a special chant, a favor from the Divine or to find just the right key to make it a regular part of our lives. LEARN how to apply SPIRITUAL LAWS to your everyday life EASILY & with FUN and HUMOR. Cost: $125 Monthly. Spectrum Center, 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205, 77018. HelenRacz.com

natural awakenings

Intro to Meditation 101.7-8pm. Universal Door Meditation Center offers this beginner level class open to the public. Here we begin to discover the difference between False Mind and Awake Mind by applying basic Zen Meditation. Donations Welcome. Universal Door Meditation Center 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718 Yoga at Resurrection MCC. 7:00-8:00 pm. Get in touch with your mind, body, and spirit through Yoga! Connect with others in this non-competitive activity suitable for everyone. All body types and skill levels are welcome. Please bring a mat and towel. Extra mats are available for those new to Yoga. Donations Accepted. Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church 2015 West 11th Street 77008. Yoga@ResurrectionMCC.org Oneness Blessing Meeting. 7-9pm Our weekly meeting includes sharing, meditation, Oneness teachings, and the giving and receiving of the Oneness Blessing, also known as Deeksha. Connect with the Oneness Community to explore deeper experiences of Oneness, Divine Love and accelerated awakening. Child care is available, reservation required. $10 suggested Love Offering. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713-782-4050. unityhouston.org

wednesday Oneness Blessing Meeting. 5:30-6:45pm. Our weekly meeting includes sharing, meditation, Oneness teachings, and the giving and receiving of the Oneness Blessing, also known as Deeksha. Connect with the Oneness Community to explore deeper experiences of Oneness, Divine Love and accelerated awakening. Child care is available, no reservation required. Love Offering. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713-782-4050. unityhouston.org Christian Meditation. 5:30-6:30 pm. Experience meditation and contemplative prayer using ancient prayer practices of the early Christian communities. Explore and study contemporary and ancient texts of the contemplative way. All are welcome. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, Houston, 77025. Parking is free and available at the Woodwind St. entrance. www.graceinhouston.org. Questions? info@graceinhouston.org or 832-667-8601. Urban Ride. 6:30pm. Friendly cycling group. All routes go through inner city – each day of the week we have a different route. Please obey the rules of the roads. Stop at all traffic lights and stop signs. Free. Urban Bicycle Gallery 4814 Nett St. 77007. judy@urbanbicyclegallery.com

July 2016

Zumba on the Green. 6:30-7:30pm. ACE certified personal trainer, Oscar Sajche shows you how to make your workout a party! 6:30-7:30 pm. Come see why hundreds of Houstonians come out to the park to move it and lose it! Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com Sahaja Yoga-Meditation. 6:30-7:30pm. Come around and try our free weekly yoga-meditation classes. Simply turn up, and make yourself comfortable. Each session includes the basics and a practical guided meditation, so that you can start meditating at home straight away. Free. Kingwood Library. 4400 Bens View Lane, 77339. 832-433-2415. info@Houston-Meditation.org Sahaja Yoga-Meditation. 6:30-8:00pm. Come around and try our free weekly yoga-meditation classes. Simply turn up, and make yourself comfortable. Each session includes the basics and a practical guided meditation, so that you can start meditating at home straight away. Free. University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd. Sugar Land, 77479. 832-433-2415. info@Houston-Meditation.org Blue Line Bike Ride. 7pm. Starts at the bike shop and heads east for a loop through the 5th ward and over the viaduct into downtown. Then it heads west on Washington to TC Jester and north up to 43rd St. Second half of the ride continues west on 43rd/Clay Rd to Blalock and south to Westview where it heads back east to the Heights. Free. Blue Line Bike Lab, 3302 White Oak Drive, 77007. 713.802.1707 Diamond Way Meditation. 7-7:45 pm. Free. Diamond Way Buddhist Center, 2217 W 34th Street, Suite D. 281. 77018. 436.6081. diamondway.org/houston/ Hellina Bucket Band 8:00 -10:00pm. Free dinner music. Last Concert Café, 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com Beginning Zen Meditation. 7:30-9:30pm. Feeling stressed? Want something to help you feel better? Try meditation with us. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston. 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072. 281.568.1568. cthouston.org Food Not Bombs. 8pm. Help provide free vegan meals for Houston’s homeless. Volunteer, donate or just come see what we do. Free. Downtown Library Courtyard 521 Lamar, 77002. houstonfoodnotbombs.org

Drum Circle at Midnight 12mn-2am $7.00 Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Sahaja Yoga-Meditation. 6:00-7:00pm. Come around and try our free weekly yoga-meditation classes. Simply turn up, and make yourself comfortable. Each session includes the basics and a practical guided meditation, so that you can start meditating at home straight away. Free. Houston Public Library, Central Branch, 500 McKinney Street, 77002. 832-433-2415. info@Houston-Meditation.org

Dinner Music with Jimmy Deen. 6-9pm. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Introduction to Intuitive Painting & Open Studios. 6:00pm8:30pm. July 7th & 21st. Intuitive Painting swings the doors open to living with more expression and authenticity. When you understand the nature of creativity and its principles, you begin to relax and trust. You will learn these principles during this series. No experience is needed. No critiques are permitted. All materials included. $55/session multi session discounts available. True You Creativity Studio in The Heights. For more information and to register, visit www.trueyoucreativity.com Thrive Tapping with Helen Racz. 7-9pm. The Thursday Night Group Tapping is an amazing gift. The work is alive and, as in all living things, it has evolved. This evolution is taking us deeper into creating positive change on purpose with purpose. The beautiful meridian based science of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) was originally used to clear blocks in our energy fields. What we know now is that EFT is capable of much, much more. Donations accepted. Spectrum Center at The Preserve 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205 77018. helenracz.com Meditation Class: Discovering the Awake Within. 7-9pm Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien closely guides and interacts with students to connect with Awake Mind and to apply meditation. This class provides a stable foundation for those who are ready to move to the next level, go deeper in their meditation practice, and touch with the Awake within. Suggested donation $50/month, pre-registration required. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718

Chaz and the Plastik Flask. 8-10pm. Upbeat musical style with a rock and roll sound. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St., 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

thursday

Hightailers. 10:00pm-2 am. Longest running house band in existence! Gulf Coast Rhythm and Blues. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St., 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Grace2Go. 7:00-8:30 am. On the go? Want a boost to the start of your day? Drive thru for free coffee, a breakfast bite, and a prayer if desired. All are welcome. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, 77025. www.graceinhouston.org. Museum of Fine Arts-Houston. 10am-9pm. If you have not spent time enjoying the art exhibits at MFAH, what are your waiting for? Free. MFAH 1001 Bissonnet, 77005. 713.639.7300 mfah.org Yoga at India House. 11:00-12:00am. Enjoy relaxing cardio work out at India House. Free. India House, 8888 West Bellfort, 77031. Go to the website, print out the form and email it to the address given. http://www.indiahouseinc.org/ programs/yoga-classes Buffalo Soldiers Museum. 1-5pm. Buffalo Soldiers Museum is the only museum dedicated to preserving the legacy and honor of African American soldiers in the United States. Free. Buffalo Soldiers Museum 3816 Caroline Street, 77004. Buffalosoldiersmuseum.com 713.942.8920. Houston Museum of Natural Science. 3-6pm. Roam the Serengeti, walk with dinosaurs and discover the world’s mineral wonders. Free. HMNS 5555 Hermann Park Drive 77030. hmns.org Free Family Thursdays at The Health Museum. 2:00pm7:00pm.Free entry into The Health Museum to enjoy permanent and traveling exhibits (DeBakey Cell Lab requires a $3 fee) on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Health Museum, 1515 Hermann Dr 77004. thehealthmuseum.org (713) 521-1515

Houston

Food Not Bombs. 8pm. Help provide free vegan meals for Houston’s homeless. Volunteer, donate or just come see what we do. Free. Downtown Library Count Yard, 521 Lamar, 77002. houstonfoodnotbombs.org

Bohemeo’s Badass Bike Ride. 7pm. Every kind of bike is welcome but note the first and third Thursday of the month the ride is fast paced (16-18 mph) and contains about 20-25 miles with bridges. The other Thursdays it is a more social and slower ride, maintaining pace at 12-14 mph for about 12-15 miles. Free. Bohemeo’s 709 Telephone Road, 77023. 713.923.4277.

Pot Roast. 10:00pm-12mn. Late night music outside under the stars. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Children’s Museum of Houston. 5-8pm. Enjoy all the interactive exhibits at the museum with your children. Free. Children’s Museum 1500 Binz, 77004. 713.522.1138 cmhouston.org

friday Introduction to Intuitive Painting & Open Studio. 10am12:30pm. June 10th & 24th. Rid yourself of the common, wrong belief that only some of us are creative. The process of intuitive painting—which requires no skill or prior training— reflects the five guiding principles of all creativity, which you will experience in this workshop. An awareness of these principles helps you to relax and access deeper levels of creativity. $55. True You Creativity Studio in The Heights. For more information and to register, visit www.trueyoucreativity.com Houston International Folk Dancers. 7:30-10pm. Houston International Folk Dancers is a recreational folk dance group that celebrates ethnic dances from around the world: Eastern and Western Europe, Middle East and Mediterranean, and the Americas. You will delight in the diverse rhythms, melodies and unique dance styles of cultures from over 30 countries. Experienced folk dancers are always ready to help beginners. Singles welcome. Dress comfortably. Admission is $5. First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston 5200 Fannin 77004. Additional info at www.folkdancers.org

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

Satsang: Meditation for Spiritual Awareness. 7-8:30pm. Science of Spirituality is a global, non-religious, non-profit, spiritual organization headquartered in Chicago and under the leadership of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. We are beginning a new workshop series dealing with meditation for spiritual awareness. For registration and details visit our website: houstonSOS.org/carmel or call 281-766-4767. Carmel Temple, 1208 Pennsylvania,77587.

saturday Yoga for the Body and Mind. 8-9:30 am. Yoga classes based on the teachings of Swami Ramdev ji including asanas, pranayama and meditation. Free. Arya Samaj Greater Houston Center 14375 Shiller Rd. 77082. 281-242-5000 aryasamajhouston.org. Traditional Hatha Yoga! 9:30 am. Integrative Hatha Yoga for Mental & Physical Happiness, facilitated by Lin Weiss MH, Certified Yoga Therapist. $18 drop in. Multiple class prices available. Bellaire Triangle Yoga & Meditation Studio is located behind the shopping center on the corner of Bissonnet & Mapleridge. Take first driveway on Mapleridge (right) - just past Gold’s Violin Shop. http://conscioushealingnow.com/ 713-858-8595 Beginning Zen Meditation. 10am-12n. Feeling stressed? Want something to help you feel better? Try meditation with us. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston. 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072. 281.568.1568. cthouston.org Children’s Zen Meditation. 10am-12n. Open to children ages 4-12. Parents must be present and participate. Free. Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston. 12129 Bellaire Blvd., 77072. 281.568.1568. cthouston.org Yoga at India House. 10:00-11:00am. Enjoy relaxing cardio work out at India House. Free. India House, 8888 West Bellfort, 77031. Go to the website, print out the form and email it to the address given. http://www.indiahouseinc.org/programs/yoga-classes Young Writers Workshop. 10:30 -11:30 am. Kids learn to express their thoughts an develop language skills. Presented by Houston Public Library/HPL Express and Discovery Green. Houston’s only free and open writing workshop for kids conducted by Writers In The Schools. Limited to 25 students, first come first serve. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com For more information please call 832-393-1375. Beginning Meditation. 11:00-11:30am. Enjoy relaxing meditation class at India House. Free. India House, 8888 West Bellfort, 77031. Go to the website, print out the form and email it to the address given. http://www.meetup.com/ Meditate-Houston/events/229736844/ Science of Spirituality Meditation. 12:00-2pm. Science of Spirituality is a global, non-religious, non-profit, spiritual organization headquartered in Chicago and under the leadership of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. Each week our group gathers to meditate together, reflect on the words of the great Saints and Mystics and spend some time with others who share the goal of leading a spiritually enriched and fulfilling life. Spiritual Discourse, Meditation, Vegetarian Meal. Free. India House 8888 West Bellfort 77031. houstonSOS.org Falun Dafa. 4-6pm. Falun Gong also known as Falun Dafa is a traditional Chinese qigong practice. It uses gentle movements and meditation to cultivate the body, mind, and spirit. Falun Gong is a complete and powerful system, which consists of five simple exercises, which can be performed by anyone regardless of age, physical condition, or prior experience. If you plan to visit a practice location, please call the contact person beforehand. Outside of Chinese Consulate 3417 Montrose Blvd., 77006. Henry 956.844.2835. falun-houston.org Dinner Music with Jimmy Deen. 6-9pm. Cover charge. Last Concert Cafe 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com

Recycling Saturdays. 11:00am-2:00pm. Bring your, paper, plastic and aluminum to a recycling station at Discovery Green. We no longer accept GLASS. Please note: Recycling container is provided by the City of Houston Solid Waste Management. The schedule can be subject to change, but park staff will accept your recycling in the park office during the hours of 11 am to 2 pm regardless of whether the container is on site. Free. Discovery Green 1500 McKenney, 77010. discoverygreen.com

sunday Yoga for the Body and Mind. 8-9:30 am. Yoga classes based on the teachings of Swami Ramdev ji including asanas, pranayama and meditation. Free. Arya Samaj Greater Houston Center, 14375 Shiller Rd. 77082. 281-242-5000 aryasamajhouston.org. Sunday Oneness Blessing. After 9am and 11am services. The Oneness Blessing, also known as Deeksha, is a hands-on, direct transfer of energy. Which can strengthen your relationship with your Divine, Spirit, God; however you relate to that. Bring freedom from your chattering mind. fullness of life as it truly is. The more blessings you receive, the greater the benefit. Child care is available, no reservation required. Love Offering. Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Dr, 77057. 713-782-4050. unityhouston.org Movement Meditation for Healing Mind and Body . 9:30am–10:30am With an emphasis on bringing together mind, body, and movement to be in the present moment, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien guides students to connect with Awake mind, which is profoundly healing, and also restores and refreshes every aspect of our being. Suggested donation $50/month, pre-registration required. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 www.universaldoor.org 281-565-9718

Christian Meditation. 9:00-9:30 am. Experience meditation and contemplative prayer using ancient prayer practices of the early Christian communities in preparation for receiving Holy Communion at the 10 am worship service. All are welcome. Grace Episcopal Church, 4040 W. Bellfort, Houston, 77025. 832-667-8601. www.graceinhouston.org. Questions? info@graceinhouston.org. The Conversations With God Study Group. 9:30am-10:45am. The group is now studying Neale Donald Walsch’s new book The Storm Before The Calm, study materials provided, this ongoing gathering is facilitated by Dr. Ngozi Kamau. Free. Carmel Temple, 1208 Pennsylvania,77587. carmeltemple.org Carmel Temple All Faith Service. 11:00am. Different guest speaker every week. Free. Carmel Temple, 1208 Pennsylvania,77587. carmeltemple.org Semanal Programa de Meditación 10am-1pm. Ciencia de la Espiritualidad es una organización global, no religiosa, sin fines de lucro, espiritual dedicado a la unidad del amor y de la paz. Nuestro grupo de meditación Houston ha estado activo durante más de 52 años y se reúne regularmente. Cada semana nuestro grupo se reúne para meditar juntos, reflexionar sobre las palabras de los grandes santos y místicos y pasar algún tiempo con otras personas que comparten el objetivo de llevar una vida espiritualmente enriquecida y satisfactoria. Gratis. Trini Mendenhall Sosa Center 1414 Wirt Road 77055. houstonSOS.org 832-304-0767. Acoustic Jams. 10:30am-12n. Easy listening music to brunch by. No cover charge. Last Concert Café, 1403 Nance St. 77002. 713-226-8563 www.lastconcert.com Ecstatic Dance Evolution. 10:30-1:00pm. Ecstatic Dance Evolution is a unique transformational Ecstatic Dance practice developed by Houston’s Sydney Samadhi Strahan. This Dance has been actively evolving since 2003, giving Houstonians a consistent place to be free in mind-body-spirit and express themselves through movement with an accepting creative community. Free. MATCH: Midtown Arts and Theater Center 3400 Main Street 77002

Dawn Mountain Sunday Meditation. 11am-12noon. Join us for guided meditation suitable for everyone. Led by senior members of the Dawn Mountain community. Free. Dawn Mountain 2010 Naome Street, Suite A 77054. http://dawnmountain.org Youth and Teen Program at Universal Door Meditation Center. 11:00am–12:30pm. For youth grades 1-12. Through games and activities, they are introduced to basic meditation practice and life skills needed to understand more about themselves and how to be truly happy. Suggested donation $60/month, registration required, call for more details. Universal Door Meditation Center - 2619 Charles Lane, Sugar Land, 77498 universaldoor.org 281-565-9718. Centerpoint Body Mind and Spirit Expo. 1pm-5 pm. Psychics, Astrology, Tarot, Ear Candling, Massage, Fengshue, Ionic Foot Bath, Palmist, Pranic, Reiki & Matrix Healers, Jewelry, Foot Reflexology, Pet Massage, Pet Healing, FREE coffee, tea & pastries. Admission Free. Center Point (in the old Metaphysical Matrix building) 2727 Fondren Suite 5M, 77080. 713-932-7224 centerpointhouston.org Satsang: Science of Spirituality Meditation. 1:30-3:45pm. Science of Spirituality is a global, non-religious, non-profit, spiritual organization headquartered in Chicago and under the leadership of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. Each week our group gathers to meditate together, reflect on the words of the great Saints and Mystics and spend some time with others who share the goal of leading a spiritually enriched and fulfilling life. Spiritual Discourse, Meditation, Vegetarian Meal. Free. Carmel Temple, 1208 Pennsylvania, 77587. houstonSOS.org Diamond Way Meditation. 5-5:45 pm. Free. Diamond Way Buddhist Center. 2217 W 34th Street, Suite D., 77018. 281436-6081. diamondway.org/houston/ Food Not Bombs. 7pm. Help provide free vegan meals for Houston’s homeless. Volunteer, donate or just come see what we do. Free. Downtown Library Courtyard 521 Lamar, 77002 houstonfoodnotbombs.org Sunday Love Feast. 7:00pm. A free vegetarian meal for any and all. Free. ISKCON Temple 1320 West 34th Street, 77018. 713. 686.4482 iskconhouston.org

Heights Epicurian Farmer’s Market. 8am-1:30pm. First Saturdays only. Grace United Methodist Church 1245 Heights Blvd. 77008. HeightsEpicurian.com

farmers’markets DAILY

Canino Produce and Farmer’s Market. 6am-8pm (except Christmas and Thanksgiving) Over 20,000 square feet of Texas produce. Canino Produce and Farmer’s Market 2520 Airline, 77009. 713.862.4027 caninoproduce.com Last Organic Outpost Harvest. 9am-4pm (except during extreme cold or rainy weather). Come and get your hands in the dirt. Help with the work of the garden and harvest your share for FREE. Last Organic Outpost 711 Emile Street, 77020. 832.422.8407 facebook.com/lastorganicoutpost.com Nu Waters Food Co-Op. 9am-5pm Tue-Sun. 2320 Elgin 77004. NuWatersCo-Op.com

TUEDAY

Spring Branch Farmer’s Market. 2-6pm. Unitarian Fellowship of Houston 1504 Wirt Road, 77055. facebook.com/ springbranchfarmersmarkethouston Rice University Farmer’s Market. 3:30-6:30pm. Rice University, West Stadium Lot, 5600 Greenbriar 77005. farmersmarket.rice.edu/ Rawfully Organic Food Co-Op. 4-7pm Houston Arboretum 4501 Woodway 77024. You must order your shares by 9 pm Monday in order to pick up on Tuesday. Rawfullyorganic.com

WEDNESDAY

Central City Co-Op. 9am-6:30pm. Grace Lutheran Church 2515 Waugh Drive, 77006. centralcityco-op.com

THURSDAY

Westchase District Farmer’s Market. 3-7pm. 10503 Westheimer, 77042. (1 block west of Beltway 8) westchasedistrict.com/market Kingwood Farmer’s Market. 3-7pm. Town Center Park, 8 N. Main in Kingwood 77339. facebook.com/ kingwoodfarmersmarket

SATURDAY

Eastside Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market. 8am-12n. Parking lot behind 3000 Richmond at Eastside, 77098. urbanharvest.org

Memorial Villages Farmers Market. 9am-1pm. First Congregational Church, 10840 Beinhorn Rd. 77024. facebook.com/mvfm Farmer’s Market at Imperial. 9am-1pm. 198 Kempner, Sugar Land, 77498. imperialsugarland.com/ farmersmarket Tomball Farmer’s Market. 9am-1pm. Corner of Main (FM 2920) and Cherry in downtown Tomball 77377. tomballfarmersmarket.org Conroe Saturday AM Farmers Market. 9am-1pm. 135 N Main Conroe 77301 facebook.com/ConroeSamM/

SUNDAY East End Street Market. 10am-2pm. 2800 Navigation Blvd 77003. Eastendhouston.com Magnolia Farmer’s & Artisan’s Market. 11am-3pm. 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays. Intersection of FM 1488 and FM 1774 in Magnolia, 77354. sweetmagnoliapickins.net Farmers Market at Bridgeland. 12:30-3:30pm. 2nd Sundays. 16902 Bridgeland Landing, Cypress 77433. farmersmarketatbridgeland.org/

The Farm Stand at Petrol Station. 9am-1pm. Petrol Station, 985 Wakefield 77018. 713.957.2875 facebook.com/The-FarmStand-at-Petrol-Station The Woodlands Farmer’s Market at Grogan’s Mill. 8am-12n. 7 Switchbud Place in The Woodlands 77380. grogansmillvillage.com Farmer’s Market on Grand Parkway. 8am-12n. Church of the Holy Apostles, 1225 W. Grand Parkway in Katy, 77494. farmersmarketongrandparkway.com

natural awakenings

July 2016

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ACUPUNCTURE JONELL NORCINI, L.AC.

Cypress Area Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine 10330 Lake Road, Building D Houston, TX 77070. By appointment only 713-825-1636. CypressAreaAcupuncture.com

At Cypress Area Acupuncture, I strive to provide quality health care at affordable prices. I believe that I am your partner in helping you obtain optimal health. I provide treatments in a relaxing atmosphere where you will seldom, if ever, have to wait and you will never feel rushed. Questions are always welcome and I will do everything possible to make your treatments comfortable and relaxing. See ad on page 10.

AYURVEDA AYUSH WAVE-AYURVEDA AND YOGA 15263 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77478 281-870-2772 AyushWave.com

Experience what people in India have known about for centuries, the healing power of Ayurveda. Ayush Wave Ayurveda Wellness and Yoga is the new, alternative and holistic wellness center in Sugar Land. Our focus is on providing alternative therapies to chronic diseases using Ayurveda, the form of traditional medicine from India in a spa environment. To learn more visit our website or call today for a consultation. Present this ad at our Grand Opening on July 15 and receive a $50 gift card! Limit one.

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email cindy@naturalawakeningsmag.com to request our media kit. COACHING ABOLISH YOUR INNER SABATOUR!

Houston, Texas October 14-16 tinamarie.com

Learn how to transform negativity in your life; people, jobs, health concerns, memories all into emblems of peace, calm and power. Over the past five years, the powerful transformation toolset has been experienced by thousands in private sessions, in workshops and now ABOLISH YOUR INNER SABOTEUR – THE EXPERIENCE is being released. See ad on page 14

BLISSFUL QUESTS

Positive change starts now! 832-628-4113 http://blissfulquests.com/

Welcome to the start of something wonderful! Our mission is to empower you with the skills needed to transform the quality of your life. This can be accomplished through Heal Your Life® Coaching and Workshops and the Grief Recovery® Outreach Program. Free Monthly Affirmation Gathering will not be meeting in June or July. Next meeting will be announced. See ad on page 29

BIOLOGICAL DENISTRY

ENERBODYBALANCE

832-423-8318 enerbodybalance.com cecilia@enerbodybalance.com

Cecilia Straub Timon, EEMCP, has used and t a u g h t E d e n E n e rg y Medicine with her clients for several years. She started with Reiki and Brain Gym and applied these in the classroom as a schoolteacher. She now uses Eden Energy Medicine and tapping as well in her work with clients. She uses noninvasive techniques derived from ancient healing practices to relive tension and pain and increase energy and vitality. Based on the work of Donna Eden, author of Energy Medicine and Energy Medicine for Women.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE DR. BOBBIE STOWE, DC

2400 Augusta Dr., Ste. 210 Houston, TX 77057 713-667-6656 FunctionalMedicineOfHouston.com

Practicing Functional Medicine, offering lab tests to find causes of pain, disease, imbalances, dysfunctions, and Natural, Safe, Holistic protocols to address their ROOT CAUSE(s). See ad on page 2.

Make Summer Memories

MARILYN K. JONES, DDS

Houston Dental Health Center 800 Bering Dr. Houston, TX 77057 712-785-7767 MarilynKJonesDDS.com

Natural Dentistry supports the body and the mind by finding the cause of dental problems. The dental examination includes noticing systemic and habitual influences. Setting the stage for the body to heal itself includes removing infection and toxins, correcting structure, and providing the best dental materials for you which will promote an outstanding environment for your overall health. Dentistry is my true love and as a true Biological Dentist, I combine modern technology, safe protection protocols, advanced knowledge of biological dentistry and medicine, and a patient-centric approach to enhance the wellness of all my patients. See ad on page 35.

ENERGY MEDICINE

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July 2016

GYMS

HOLISTIC FAIR MARVA MASON’S HOLISTIC FAIR

HOUSTON GYM

1501 DURHAM STREET HOUSTON, TX 77007 713-880-9191 HoustonGym.com

La Quinta Inn-Galleria 1625 West 610 Loop Houston, TX 77027 PsychicFairs.com

Twenty years ago, Houston Gym opened as an alternative to big, impersonal fitness centers with staffs of high-pressure salespeople. We built a facility that boasts NEW state-of -the-art equipment, yet retains the casual feel of a neighborhood gym. Simply put, Houston Gym is a place for people who are serious about achieving physical fitness. M-F: 5a-11p, Sat & Sun: 8a-8p. Call for a FREE Trial Pass.

HAIR DESIGN VENUS HAIR DESIGN

361 West 19th Street Houston, TX 77008 713-868-4725 venushairhouston.com

Venus Hair Design is a must-see place on 19th Street in The Heights. Venus and her staff are proud to be able to provide their customers of any age with any style, from a trim to a Mohawk. She is a wizard at color. If you live in or are visiting The Heights be sure to drop by, say hi and check out her Art Car, the Venus Hairse.

Houston’s largest and longest continually running holistic fair is held on the first Saturday of each month from 10 am until 5 pm. Featuring readers, alternative health practitioners and vendors. Admission is free. Come and join the fun!

HOLISTIC SHOP THE CHAKRA HAVEN

402 East Main Street Tomball, TX 77375 346-234-7754 facebook.com/thechakra.heven

A cute little shop just outside the Old Town Tomball district. Featuring: candles, crystals, jewelry, oils, incense, herbs and more. Also by appointment only: meditation classes, tarot readings a n d C h r i s t i a n n u m e r o l o g y. Meditation 101 each Wednesday at 6-7pm. Call for more information.

HOMEOPATHIC AUNT ALBERTA’S REMEDY

HEALING MINDY KING

Certified Quantum-Touch®, Heal Your Life® mindy@sweetsimplehealing.com 281-684-1956 SweetSimpleHealing.com

Leadership Training for individuals and corporations; Grief Recovery; Quantum To u c h ® I n s t r u c t o r a n d Practitioner, Heal Your Life® Teacher and Coach; fun workshops with LMT CEU’s available. See Ad on page 13.

HEAL YOUR LIFE HEAL YOUR LIFE WORKSHOP LEADER TRAINING

Patricia J. Crane, Ph.D. and Rick Nichols Authors, speakers, trainers of Heal Your Life programs Patricia@heartinspired.com (800) 969-4584

Become a licensed workshop leader in Louise Hay’s p h i l o s o p h y. C o m p l e t e manuals and materials provided plus follow-up. Cost includes hotel lodging in San Diego and meals. This training is approved by Louise and Hay House. October 22-29. www.healyourlifetraining.com/ teacher-training

Houston

Homeopathic Pain Relief Cream 973-715-9097 www.healnbloom.com

Try Aunt Alberta’s Remedy to ease joint and muscular aches and pains from sciatica, gout, arthritis, neuralgia, fibromyalgia and more. Great buy a 4oz jar for $15. See website for more options. All natural ingredients! Refer a friend and get 10% OFF your purchase. Read what people are saying about Aunt Alberta’s Remedy at our website.

HOLISTIC HOMEOPATHY FOR WELLNESS ANUSHA THIAGARAJAN 4100 Westheimer, Suite 233 Houston, TX 77027 7335 TX-6, Suite 200 Missouri City, TX 77459 Holistichomeopathy.net 832-671-2631

Integrating Mind, Body and Spirit Homeopathy is an art and science. The word “homeopathy” is derived from the Greek words homeos “similar” and pathos, “disease”. Homeopathy means “to treat with a remedy that produces an effect similar to that of the disease”. Anusha Thiagarajan practices traditional homeopathy with offices both in Houston and Missouri City. Visit her website for more information and call her today for a consulation.

www.NaturalAwakenings-Houston.com

INTUITIVE COUNSELOR CHUCK MURPHY SPIRITUAL INTUITIVE

La Quinta-Galleria 1625 West 610 Loop Houston, TX 77027 ChuckMurphy.me

Let me help you discover your unique place in creation. In person readings at Marva’s Fair on the 1st Saturday of each month. Visit my website for information about phone and SKYPE readings. Mention this ad for a 10% discount.

JULIE PARKER

FACE READING YourInnerBlueprint.com 832-305-5498

Each individual is born with their own personal blueprint. The secrets of your inner nature and your own potential are beautifully and perfectly inscribed in the features and lines of your face. Face Reading is an ancient branch of Chinese Medicine, originally used as a diagnostic tool, it provides clues regarding an individual’s personality patterns, their inherent strengths and weaknesses, where they tend to excel and where they might face challenges. Let me help you find answers to your questions about relationships, career, dating, self-improvement or other areas of your life.

ION FOOT DETOX HEAL WITH NATURAL HERBS

“The Hippest Little Place in Humble” 404 Avenue E Humble, TX 77338 281-227-0435 HealWithNaturalHerbs.com

Looking for a nice peaceful place to just hang out. Well, you’ve found it. We feature ion foot detox, chair massage, an oxygen bar, herbal teas, essential oils and much more. Come by for the Lady’s Tea or the Gentlemen’s Mini-Golf and you won’t want to leave.

LIFELINE TECHNIQUE MARY BETH HAUBRICH, CLP Certified LifeLine Practitioner 2245 Texas Drive, Suite 300 Sugar Land, TX 77479 864-266-8501 marybethhaubrich@gmail.com JoyfulHealingArts.com

The LifeLine Technique® is a way to access the subconscious programs of the mind so we can create sustainable change at the root of painful and stressful patterns. We use muscle reflex testing and a conscious intention to harmonize the subconscious reactive patterns of emotion, facilitating the body’s innate ability to heal, regenerate, and thrive. Are you ready to transform pain into power, fear into courage, and live fully in the present moment? If so, Grab the LifeLine! Call Mary Beth today. Sessions available in person, via phone or Skype.

MEDICAL INTUITIVE INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES FOR NATURAL HEALING & WELLNESS LIN WEISS MH, CYT Holistic Healer Medical/ Spiritual Intuitive Master Teacher Houston, Texas 77025 713-858-8595 linweiss@earthlink.net conscioushealingnow.com

Through her WHOLE-istic approach, Lin weaves inspired wisdom with proven healing traditions for integrating mind/ body & soul. ALL NATURAL, ALL THE TIME, she specializes in Homeopathy; Bio-energetic Healing; Neuro-chemical Analysis/ Balance; Chakra Attunement; Nutrition Therapies; Orchid Essences; Zero Energy Balance & more. Addressing a wide range of symptoms, ie: Allergies; ADD/ADHD; OCD: Arthritis; Autistic Spectrum; Chronic Fatigue; Depression; Detoxification; Fibromyalgia; MS; Parkinsons: Trauma Release, etc. Classes: Intuitive Development and Psychology of the Chakras!

CHUNG TAI ZEN CENTER OF HOUSTON

Chan/Zen Meditation Classes Guided by Ordained Zen Masters of Chung Tai Chan Monastery. No fees. Donations are welcome. No prior experience required for beginners. 12129 Bellaire Blvd., Houston 77072 281-568-1568 • zen@cthouston.org CTHouston.org

Beginning Meditation: (A) Wed, 7:30–9:30pm. (B) Sat, 10am– noon. Children Meditation: Sat 10am–12pm - For children ages 4–12 and parents. Half-day Retreat: Sun., July 3, 9am-noon. Sun., August 21, 9am-noon. Three Refuges Ceremony, Sun., July 24, 1:30-2:30pm. Meditation Workshop: Sun., July 10, 10-11am. Blessing Ceremony: Sun., July 31, 10am-noon. Check the web site (event calendar) for the most current information. See ad on page 27.

DAWN MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR TIBETAN BUDDHISM 2010 Naomi Street, Suite A Houston, TX 77054 Dawnmountain.org

Join us every Sunday morning from 11:00 to 12:00 for free, guided meditation suitable for everyone. Led by senior dawn mountain members of the Dawn Mountain sangha (community), this meditation offers a chance to take a mindful pause from your busy life, enjoy serenity and fellowship, and learn a bit more about Buddhist practice at Dawn Mountain. See ad on page 2161.

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 4040 West Bellfort Street Houston, TX 77025 713-666-1408 GraceInHouston.org

We are a welcoming Christian community sharing our spiritual journeys through worship, fellowship and outreach. Grounded in both Episcopal worship and ancient practices, we are faithful to the rich traditions of our church while also open to creative expressions of our faith in worship and ministries.

MEDITATION CARMEL TEMPLE

1208 Pennsylvania Street South Houston 77587 713-944-014 CarmelTemple.org

Carmel Temple is a quiet sanctuary far away from the outer world of seeming chaos. It is a place of peace, healing, study, teaching, meditation, love, warmth, and friendship. Opened in 1970, Carmel Temple is a loving place made available for all seekers of the Light. Join us in this welcoming environment, where enlightenment, healing, and especially love are found. See ad on page 6.

THE HINES CENTER FOR SPIRITUALITY AND PRAYER 500 Fannin Street Houston, TX 77002 713-590-3320 HinesCenter.org

The Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer is a co-created response to the community’s longing for rich spiritual formation and expression. The center will provide a wide variety of opportunities to know and experience God. We will provide classes, lectures, workshops, and programmed group settings to foster connection, understanding, and compassion for self, other, and the mystery that beautifully and expansively holds us. See ad on page 11.

UNITY OF HOUSTON 2929 Unity Drive Houston TX 77057 713-782-4050 UnityHouston.org

Unity of Houston offers p o si t i v e , p r a c tic a l teachings that support spiritual evolution and abundant living. The Unity movement is open and welcoming of all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability or sexual orientation. We take an extremely positive approach to life, emphasizing our Oneness in God and the goodness in people and all of life. We believe… ”Life is meant to be good!”

UNIVERSAL DOOR MEDITATION CENTER 2619 Charles Lane Sugar Land, TX 77498 281-565-9718 UniversalDoor.org

Are you ready to Wake Up? Discover Awake mind through Zen meditation. Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien guides students to apply this life-changing tool in all situations. Find out how Awake mind can transform stress, struggles, health issues, and conflicts that you thought were unchangeable facts of life! Tue: Meditation 101, 7-8pm, FREE Drop In Class. Thurs: Meditation Class: Discovering the Awake Within. 7-9pm*. Sun: Movement Meditation for Healing Mind and Body. 9:30-10:30am* Sun: Fall Youth and Teen Program 11am-12:30n*. * = requires pre-registration/class fee. See our ad on page 10.

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

July 2016

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NATURAL FOOD GRACE’S NUTRITION MARKET

1421 Spring Cypress Rd. Spring, TX 77373. 281-353-6630 facebook.com/Graces-Nutrition-Market

Grace’s Nutrition Market, your friendly neighborhood health store, packed full of well-seasoned knowledge, friendly advice, and goodies, has been in the same Spring, Texas location for upwards to 40 years, and current owner for at least 20 years. We specialize in any nutritional needs you may encounter in your daily life, from the common cold, to weight loss, or even full body nutritional counseling. Grace’s is home to a wonderful pair, Robyn and Beverly, our Iridologist and Nutritionist. Iridology appointments are available throughout the week, or to just come talk to for good quality you can trust.

NATURAL OPTOMETRY DR. SUSAN MOSS, OD

5218 Cedar Street, Suite A Bellaire, TX 77401 713-524-2525 eyesareprecious@gmail.com YourEyesArePrecious.com

Did you know that affordable and e f f e c t i v e N AT U R A L e y e treatments are available? Dr. Sue Moss has been helping people improve their vision naturally for 25 years. Call today for an appointment.

NATURAL WATER FILTRATION & TREATMENT ACCENT NATURAL WATER

Whole House Water Treatment 23206 I-45 North Spring, TX 77373 281-773-5441 AccentH20.com

DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S I N Y O U R WAT E R ? Houston has the 6th worst water in the country. Our system takes out chlorine, pesticides and more. Plus, we treat and condition the water to make it healthier for your family. More than a water softener, table top unit or RO alone. Healthy water from every faucet or shower. Member BBB-A+ rating since the 80’s. Call Henry 281-773-5441

ORGANICALLY GROWN PRODUCE PLANT IT FORWARD

“a farm in every neighborhood” 832-983-0405 farmshareprogram@plant-it-forward.org Plant-it-forward.org

Join the Farm Share Program Today! Enjoy your own weekly box of our local, organically grown produce by enrolling in our Farm Share Program. Get 6-8 different varieties, enough for a family of 3-5 each week. Purchase a 5-week mini-season for $132, a perfect gift for your health-conscious loved ones or purchase a 20-week season for $507. Sign-up today for the Winter-Spring 2016 Season! See ad on page 9.

ORGANIC RESORT & SPA DEER LAKE LODGE AND SPA

10500 Deer Lake Lode Rd. Montgomery Tx 77316 936-647-1383 DeerLakeLodge.com

All natural, organic, resort and spa. Semi-fast juicing cleanse, raw food classes, yoga, life enhancement classes, and a variety of natural spa and salon services. See ad on page 28.

REIKI CLAUDIA AUTRY, REIKI PRACTITIONER

(by appointment only) 281-849-4610 cautry@gmail.com ClaudiaAutry.com

We l c o m e t o y o u r transformation! Whether you are looking to change habits such as smoking or weight or looking to find better ways of relaxing and increasing the joy in your life, I can help you. I have a variety of modalities, including hypnosis, reiki, ThetaHealing and customized essential oil blends and affirmations which can be combined or used individually. Together we form a partnership for your growth!

REIKI TRAINING

THERMOGRAPHY

REIKI MASTER JULIA CARROLL, PH.D.

THERMAL IMAGING SERVICES

Julia was the first Reiki Master in the State of Texas, has written 5 healing books and has had university based Reiki research published. She taught psychology at the University of Houston for 12 years and in addition to teaching and practicing Reiki also does counseling. Her education includes a post-grad degree in Art Therapy which she also teaches and utilizes in her healing practice. Julia teaches NUREIKI, which is an accelerated form of Reiki, incorporating both Reiki I and Reiki II in the same class. Her book, NU-REIKI ONENESS, is free to read on her website.

No Compression, No Radiation, Painless. Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging or Thermography, creates images that illustrate heat patterns in the body. The thermal images are analyzed for abnormalities that may be signs of disease in the body. Thermography can be conducted onsite at your business through Thermal Imaging Services for Corporate Wellness. Locations in: Houston, Lake Charles, LA, Katy, Beaumont, The Woodlands, Tyler and Kingwood. Call for current schedule and to make an appointment. See ad on page 31.

SCHOOL of HEALING ARTS 713-822-7380 julia@juliacarroll1.com JuliaCarroll1.com

RETREATS THE BEAUTIFUL ROAD HOME:

Understanding the Process of Death & Dying Saint John’s Retreat Center Montgomery, Texas 936-597-5757 whiteaglelodge.org

OCTOBER 7 -12, 2016. This retreat will seek to share the gentle journey which occurs as the soul moves out of the physical body -- what might be expected after the death of the physical -- and the new life which awaits. There will be sessions on understanding the process of grief and on helping those whom we love through this transition. One of the important facets of the White Eagle work is that of working with the souls who need help to light their passage from the earth. Together we will be learning through group healing work, how we might help. 5 day retreat cost is $725 including meals and lodging. See our website for more details.

TAPPING THRIVE TAPPING.

Spectrum Center 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205 Houston, TX 77018. HelenRacz.com

Using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to create Thrive Consciousness with Helen Racz every Thursday Night 7-8:30 pm at the new Spectrum Center. EFT is a form of acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments but without the invasiveness of needles. Claim your wholeness! How good can you feel? FREE, donations accepted. Spectrum Center at the Preserve 2060 North Loop West, Suite 205 77018 http:// spectrumcenter-houston.com/our-history/ map-and-directions/

natural awakenings

Angel Marlow, CNHP, CAHC, CCT 3300 Chimney Rock, Ste. 208 713-621-4406 angel@thermalimagingtexas.com ThermalImaingTexas.com

YOGA NAMASTE YOGA

1275 Eldridge Parkway Houston, TX 77077 281-928-6951 Namasteyogahouston.com

We are a “boutique” Yoga Studio conveniently located in the heart of the Energy Corridor in West Houston, we offer a variety of yoga classes and styles to cater for the needs of our community. Our classes are small giving us an opportunity to develop a relationship with all our students getting to know their name and enjoying a chat after class over tea is part of who we are. We offer classes for first timers as well as experienced Yogis. Our schedule includes Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Yin Yoga, Mindful Meditation, Kids and Prenatal yoga and private classes, there is a class for everyone in the family!!! As part of giving back to the community and doing “our bit” we have a Community Class every Sunday at 9:45am, we have been offering the class ever since we started as we believe everyone should have an opportunity to practice and enjoy yoga.

YOGA FOR MENTAL & PHYSICAL HAPPINESS

FACILITATED BY LIN WEISS, Certified Yoga Therapist Integrative Hatha Yoga, Saturdays @ 9:30am Bellaire, Texas 713-858-8595 linweiss@earthlink.net conscioushealingnow.com

Lin Weiss is the founder/owner of Yoga for Mental & Physical Happiness. Her passion for yoga is evidenced by her warm & personable teaching style. Small classes afford individual instruction for students of any level, making progress attainable & real. Lin loves helping students use yoga to find balance & overcome limitations. Her classes are at the same time energizing, & relaxing, as she focuses on creating a supportive & joyful environment for her students. Private sessions available by appt.

July 2016

Houston