NA EastBay February 2015

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

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HAPPILY COUPLED Creating Loving Relationships that Work

Healing the Heart Helpful Aids for Emerging from Grief

Ease ADHD Naturally

Nine Ways to Help Restore Calm and Focus

February 2015 | East Bay Area Edition | NAEastBay.com

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letterfrompublisher

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’ve kicked off the new year with more exercise injected into my weekly routine and a resolve to be more consistent. As a result, I am feeling stronger and excited to see what unfolds when I nurture my body with movement.

Although I’ve experimented with many forms of exercise over the years, I enjoyed experiencing a first at Pleasanton Pilates last month. Even though my usual routine involves strengthening and cardio, this one-day introductory class was an eye opener. I learned that done correctly, focused, mindful instruction designs a pace matched to individual needs. It can take time to see where an exercise is taking you, so I expected to gain a bit more awareness and connection with my body. As the session progressed, it became evident that muscles were waking up that hadn’t received much attention in a while. At the end of the day, my newfound stance felt solid, more rooted, like that of an agile child. It was an amazing feeling, both intrinsically familiar and empowering.

As an adult, I have suffered with back pain and other physical issues for years, a frustrating and confusing condition when I consider myself as inherently athletic. So, beginning to bring my body back into balance with Jillian Feulner and Nikki Fifles at their Pilates studio is highly encouraging.

February’s editorial focus on Enlightened Relationships and Healing from Grief addresses other topics equally vital to optimum health and happiness. Our article on ADHD can help make a difference for children and the entire family with nine natural helps that are far less invasive than medication. Natural aids for gentling grief also enable greater stability from which we can derive strength as we learn to better navigate through it. It’s encouraging to know of a healthy approach to dealing with loss and explore what can help in tangible ways.

Finally, we have the opportunity to welcome the first Holistic Chamber of Commerce to Northern California. The San Ramon chapter is a welcome unifying force for East Bay’s excellent alternative healing community; check it out at HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com/GoSanRamon. Let’s get involved and put the East Bay on the map.

All the best,

For more tips and tricks like us on Facebook!

Celeste Souza, Publisher

contact us Publisher/Editor Celeste Souza National Editor S. Alison Chabonais Proofreader Randy Kambic Writer Sandra Yeyati Tessa Rigdon Design & Production Stephen Blancett Kim Cerne Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales Anna Romano 239-530-1377

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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.

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contents

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

14 HAPPILY COUPLED

Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive

by Judith Fertig

18 EASE ADHD

NATURALLY

Nine Ways to Help Restore Calm and Focus

by Jenna Blumenfeld

19 CONSCIOUS DATING

14 18

Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online

by S. Alison Chabonais

20 WHEN YOUR

PET PASSES

A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing

by Julianne Hale

19

22 GENTLING GRIEF

Remedies to Heal the Heart

by Kathleen Barnes

Reach Your Target Market Contact Us M.T.O. Holistic Medical Center®

925-362-4686 • mtohmc.com 400 El Cerro Boulevard, Suite 105 Danville, CA 94526 (30 miles east of San Francisco)

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Place Your Ad Today!

Call Celeste (925) 557-7583 or Visit NAEastBay.com

6 newsbriefs 11 10 healthbriefs 12 globalbriefs 18 healthykids 12 19 wisewords 20 naturalpet 22 healingways 24 calendarofevents 13 26 ongoingcalendar 27 classifieds 28 resourceguide

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 925-557-7583 or email Ads@ NAEastBay.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: Editorial@ NAEastBay.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. calendar submissions Submit Calendar Events online at NAEastBay.com or email to: Calendar@NAEastBay.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month. regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

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

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Food Allergies?

ood allergies, particularly in children, are clearly on the rise. According to Dr. Hugh Sampson, a food allergy specialist at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in N.Y. “We are certain that in the future the number of food allergies are going to increase.”

Many food allergies are classified as “hidden” allergies due to the fact that an individual may be consuming a food, often times on a daily basis that they have no idea they are allergic to. Frequently symptoms such as stomache aches, irritable bowel syndrome, acid reflux, indigestion, heartburn, excessive gas and bloating are directly related to food allergies.

Additionally, conditions such as migraine headaches, chronic sinusitis, post nasal drip, rashes, eczema, chronic fatigue, ADD/ADHD, mood swings and difficulty losing weight in many cases can be caused by food allergies.

Fortunately, a new, advanced method of allergy elimination is now available in the United States. Developed over a ten year period in Australia, a new technology called Advanced Allergy Therapeutics (AAT) is giving new hope to millions of allergy sufferers.

AAT is an alternative method of treating allergies of all kinds including not only food allergies, but airborne allergens such as pollens, grasses, weeds, trees, molds, dust and dust mites as well as pet/animal/insect allergies, chemical sensitivities and physical contactants. Both the testing and treatments are 100% pain free and noninvasive, and is the ideal choice for those who would prefer not to take drugs, use steroidal inhalers and sprays or go through years of allergy shots.

Children especially appreciate the AAT approach over the traditional medical procedures that involve piercing the skin. AAT is safe and effective for people of all ages including infants and produces zero side effects.

AAT is now available in Pleasanton at the office of Dr James Stalker, DC located near Stoneridge Mall. For a limited time, Dr Stalker is offering the initial consultation and complete testing protocol, normally a fee of $125 for only $25 to anyone who would like to experience relief from their allergy symptoms without using drugs or shots. A limited number of appointments are available, so call 925-344Dr. J. Stalker, DC 5244 to schedule today.

www.AllergyReliefCenters.com natural awakenings

February 2015

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newsbriefs Take the 2015 Trail Challenge and Explore More East Bay Parks

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Berkeley-Based Business Provides Home Repairs For Low-Income Residents

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he Community Energy Services Corporation (CESC) is a nonprofit organization that provides no-cost energy, environmental and repair services to homeowners in need. CESC’s Home Repair Program provides free, high quality, major and minor home repairs for low-income residences in Berkeley, West Contra Costa County and Oakland.

Home Repair Program services include plumbing, electrical and carpentry repairs, furnace and minor roof repairs, and the installation of safety grab bars, handrails and ramps. Program eligibility is based on total annual income in relation to the number of residents in a home. Low-income renters, and homeowners, whose incomes are above the eligibility levels, may also qualify for partial services.

For more than 30 years, CESC has specialized in energy efficiency audits and installations, project management for lighting and refrigeration retrofits, solar technical and informational services, home repairs and home improvements designed to eliminate asthma triggers.

For more information, call 510-9810102 or visit EBEnergy.org.

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

it the ground hiking this year with the help of East Bay Regional Park District’s 2015 self-guided Trails Challenge, a free program for residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The annual program encourages trail trekkers of all ages and levels of fitness to discover new routes and to connect with the landscape. Once registered, participants have access to the new Trails Challenge e-Guidebook with detailed descriptions of this year’s featured trails.

The East Bay is a great place to get outdoors, but even longtime area residents may be surprised to learn that the East Bay Regional Park District comprises 119,000 acres of wilderness, shorelines,

preserves, award-winning recreational areas and over 1,250 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. For more than eight decades, the Oakland-based Regional Park District has acquired, managed and preserved parklands ideal for family-friendly, dog-friendly, active and affordable outings, including fresh-water swimming, boating and fishing, hiking, biking, golf and horseback riding. After a long day of activity, visitors can nosh in nature at one of more than 2,000 picnic tables and sleep under the stars at any of the Regional Park District’s 235 different family campsites and 42 youth campsites.

East Bay Regional Park District’s volunteer program is critical to the sustained health and beauty of the regional parks and provides one-time and ongoing projects for families, schools, civic groups and others seeking hands-on opportunities to help. Park patrons looking to further support regional parks can become members of the Regional Parks Foundation, and organization that ensures the parklands serve as natural and cultural destinations for generations to come. Members receive unlimited day-use parking, one annual dog pass, one free Black Diamond Mines Underground tour, fishing and swimming passes, camping discounts and free admission to Ardenwood Historic Farm, a 2014 Parents’ Press award-winner for Best Local Farm.

For more information and to register for the Trails Challenge, visit EBParks.org.

For volunteer opportunities, email Volunteers@EBParks.org.

KidFest Concord Celebrates 25th Year

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ay Area Festivals, Inc., presents its 25th Anniversary Bay Area KidFest, May 23 to 25, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. The three-day weekend of live entertainment, arts and crafts, rides and games is designed to stimulate learning, exploration and creativity in a child-centered, alcohol-free and smokeless environment.

KidFest features more than 20 attractions to delight youngsters and a food court to keep kids fueled for more fun.

The event features pony rides and a petting zoo, and a number of thrilling rides, including the zip line, Ferris wheel, EuroBungy trampoline and giant slide, reminding parents why KidFest Concord was voted “Best place to take your kids for fun,” by Claycord.com readers last year.

KidFest also nurtures the joy found in giving back by hosting a canned food collection for the the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano counties. Since 2010, Bay Area Festivals, Inc., has raised $60,000 in cash donations for community organizations and collected 30,000 pounds of canned foods for the Food Bank.

The cost of admission is $7 per person or $6 per person with a canned food. Neighboring Tesoro Refinery will donate $1 to the Food Bank for each can collected during KidFest. Event admission is free for children two-years-old and under and for Seniors. Rides and refreshments are not included in the price of admission. Location: Mt. Diablo High School, 2450 Grant Street, in downtown Concord. For more information, visit KidFestConcord.com.

First Annual Love Fest in Walnut Creek

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ove is in the air this month; breathe it in at the First Annual Love Fest, noon to 6 p.m., February 7, at the Walnut Creek Library. Event-goers will hear from Love Fest hostesses, Mai Vu and Dr. Jan Wesdorf, and eight other local experts on the topics of relationships, family, food and health, career, wealth and more in an upbeat, welcoming environment. The cost of admission begins at $15 per person. Love Fest loves literacy! Event proceeds support the Walnut Creek Library Foundation.

Location: 1644 N. Broadway. For more information, call 925-977-3340.

To register for this event, visit EventBrite. com and search Love Fest 2015.

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February 2015

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Unity of Tri-Valley Hosts Colorado-Based Singer/Songwriters

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nity of Tri-Valley in Dublin hosts a special service from 10 until 11:15 a.m., on February 8, titled The Heart of Harmony: Stay Tuned. The service includes music, meditation and a message from awardwinning singer/ songwriters, Jan Garrett and JD Martin, seasoned performers and creative guides who teach “with a twinkle” and inspire by example.

Jan Garrett Together and JD Martin for 20 years, the couple considers themselves to have an enlightened relationship. Garrett and Martin credit their success to being armed with heart, harmony, gratitude, kindness and well-developed senses of humor. Says the couple, “There’s a heart of harmony that we are all longing to tune into. It’s the direct experience of remembering, with great relief, who we really are. Our lyrics suggest a path. Our music takes us there.”

Garrett and Martin live and create their music in the mountains of Colorado near Aspen, but their harmony can be heard and felt far beyond the Rockies.

“Garrett and Martin’s performances and recordings are a spectacularly creative collection of heartsongs, inspired life lessons sung with ease and joy, reminding me again that every day is a gift,” says Paul Williams, a Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter.

Unity of Tri-Valley is a progressive, welcoming faith community that appeals to people who identify as spiritual but not religious. Reverend Karen Epps leads Unity’s Sunday Services.

newsbriefs Waldorf-inspired Singing Stones School Relocates to Walnut Creek

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ast summer, Singing Stones School made the move from Danville to its new location at 2491 San Miguel Drive in Walnut Creek, doubling student enrollment. “Our school’s growth is likely the result of word-of-mouth marketing by our wonderful community of staff and families,” says Erin Massengale, the school’s fundraising chairperson. “Our school appeals to parents who are looking for something a little different for their kids,” adds Massengale.

Singing Stones School provides kindergarten through high-school education and summer programs based on the Waldorf philosophy. While Singing Stones is new to Walnut Creek, the school’s Waldorf-inspired teaching methods are well-established. Developed a century ago by German educator, Rudolf Steiner, Waldorf education addresses the changing needs of the whole child during each phase of development, from early childhood through adolescence. Waldorf-trained teachers work consciously to create rhythm in the classroom, providing students with predictable daily and weekly schedules.

Early childhood teachers focus on students’ social development in a creative, play-based learning environment. “I am passionate about preserving my son’s childhood,” says Massengale, who is also the parent of a Singing Stones kindergartener. “School is four hours in my son’s day when he can just be himself—just be six. It’s wonderful.”

On his first day of first grade at Singing Stones, Massengale’s son will meet the teacher who will take him through eighth grade. Says Massengale, that continuity is very special and important to the individual child’s learning process, as teachers develop a deep understanding of each child and their unique abilities. “The same teacher who helps my son learn to read and write will teach him mathematics,” adds Massengale.

But Singing Stones students are hardly stuck in the classroom. A connection to nature and to the changing seasons is an important aspect of the school’s curriculum. Students engage in weekly gardening classes and take frequent hikes on the school’s expansive property. A special focus on eurythmy, a movement art developed by Steiner, keeps students physically active and has known therapeutic qualities. Says Massengale, “Kids thrive in this happy, healthy environment.”

For more information, call 925-948-5006 or visit SingingStones.org. See ad, page 13.

Location: 7567 Amador Valley Blvd., Ste. 108, Dublin. For more information, call 925-829-2733 or visit UnityOfTriValley. org. For more information about Jan Garrett and JD Martin, visit Garrett-Martin.com. See ad, page 30.

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Simple Ways to Support the Non-GMO Project

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n 2003, employees of The Natural Grocery Company, in Berkeley, decided its customers had the right to make informed choices about the foods they buy. That initiative became the Non-GMO Project, which combined forces in 2007 with a Canadian natural foods market. Today, the nonprofit collaborative is North America’s only third-party verification and labeling organization for food and products free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The Non-GMO Projects offers concerned consumers a few easy ways to get involved and stay informed. First, shop retail stores that support the Non-GMO Project and carry Non-GMO Project Verified brands. Second, submit a verification request if a favorite food or product is currently missing from the Non-GMO Project’s searchable online database of verified items.

To date, the Non-GMO Project has verified and labeled over 20,000 non-GMO products from 2,200 brands. Third, spread the word. Stay up-to-date and share the latest non-GMO news and developments, detailed on the organization’s blog, found at NonGMOProject.org/press/blog/. Finally, make a tax-deductible donation to support the continued work of the Non-GMO Project, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

In addition to its verification program, the Non-GMO Project, now based in Washington State, works to maintain an accurate list of at-risk agricultural ingredients, provide consumer education and build awareness about GMOs and their impact on health and food systems. With its roots in retail, the Non-GMO Project relies on the continued support of the retail industry and provides to retailers tools and resources to ensure the sustained availability of non-GMO foods and products.

For more information, visit NonGMOProject.org

Breema Weekend Workshop

The Art of Being Present Breema® bodywork & Self-Breema exercises are ideal ways to practice body-mind connection, and support us to become present, moment after moment.

Obstacles are

what you see when you take your eye off the goal. ~Chris Burke

February 7-8 • First-time student discounts • CE available

with Jon Schreiber

Director of the Breema Center and author of Waking Up to This Moment and Breema and the Nine Principles of Harmony

breema.com • (510) 428-0937 • center@breema.com Breema Center • 6076 Claremont, Oakland natural awakenings

February 2015

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healthbriefs

Satisfaction with Friendship is Hard to Come By

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Calcium and Vitamin D May Help Prevent Dental Decay

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study from Argentina’s Buenos Aires University has linked dental caries to low levels of calcium and vitamin D. Dental status and caries risk were assessed by determining the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth, the amount of plaque and the sugar intake of 106 women of the average age of 24.

Calcium levels were deficient among nearly 60 percent of the women, 70 percent had low blood levels of vitamin D, 72 percent consumed soft drinks daily and all of them presented gingivitis (gum disease). The third with the highest caries scores and decayed or missing teeth had significantly lower calcium intake and vitamin D levels and significantly higher intake of protein and soft drinks, plus significantly higher plaque and sugar intake compared with the rest of the women.

The researchers concluded that low calcium intake is associated with a high risk of dental caries and a greater severity of oral disease. “Adequate nutritional status of calcium and vitamin D could be an additional factor that may help preserve good oral health,” they state.

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study conducted by Edge Research and Sea Change Strategies found that less than a quarter of Americans are fully satisfied with their friendships, and almost two-thirds lack confidence in even their closest friends. Seniors (70 and over) and millennials/Gen Ys (16 to 34) are more likely to be extremely satisfied than Gen X-ers (35 to 49) or baby boomers (50 to 69), indicating the existence of a midlife friendship slump.

The research was based on a self-reported survey of 1,016 Americans ages 16 and up. Across all demographics, people that report they have more close friends feel happier and are more fulfilled than those that say they have few or no friends. The majority also prefer deeper friendships with fewer friends over just having more friends. Qualities that most people look for in friends are loyalty, honesty, goodness and reliability in a crisis. Among the attributes considered least important are similar political or religious views and physical attractiveness, which ranked last.

The use of social media appears unrelated to the number or quality of friendships or overall friendship satisfaction. People that attend religious services at least once a week are twice as likely to be completely satisfied with their friendships than those that rarely or never attend such services.

The researchers concluded, “Those seeking more fulfillment from their friendships should invest disproportionate time and energy in the relationships they consider close.”

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

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Mind-Body Therapies Stimulate the Immune System

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large statistical analysis of multiple studies on body-mind therapies such as meditation, tai chi, qigong and yoga found that the practices effectively reduce inflammation and show promise in modulating the immune system. Scientists at the Tufts University School of Medicine analyzed the results of 34 controlled scientific studies that collectively assessed 2,219 people.

Each study involved the use of at least one mind-body practice for between seven and 16 weeks and measured immune system health using multiple biological markers. Eighteen of the studies specifically examined inflammation factors, while seven evaluated antiviral-related immunity.

Nine of the studies measured C-reactive protein (CRP) levels—an indicator of cardiovascular-related inflammation.

The analysis revealed that mind-body therapies reduced CRP levels in subjects with high risk factors for cancer, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease. The scientists added that some of the research suggested that mind-body therapy may also increase immunity against viral infections.

A Healthy Approach to Intestinal Maintenance

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mall intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition in which too many and the wrong kinds of bacteria inhabit the small intestine, or small bowel, usually due to another condition that interferes with normal intestinal activity. Bacteria are allowed to stay overlong and multiply or even spread backward from the colon into the small intestine. The results may include constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, fatigue and even anemia, because iron and vitamin B12 are absorbed here.

Allopathic medicine usually kills off the overgrowth with antibiotics that tend to stay in the intestinal tract. The small intestine is then reseeded with healthy probiotics to establish the proper balance of gut bacteria essential to the absorption of nutrients and the production of some natural vitamins.

Steven Frank, founder of Nature’s Rite, advises that as a more natural alternative, some naturopathic practitioners are using an enhanced aqueous silver colloid to kill off the overgrowth before reseeding.

According to the Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, after using either technique, it helps to ingest herbs such as plantain, licorice, marshmallow and slippery elm bark, as well as aloe, to heal the damage.

For more information, call 888-465-4404 or visit NaturesRiteRemedies.com. See ad, page 2.

Large Study Expands View of Sodium Intake

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ietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, recommends that people 50 years old and younger keep their sodium intake lower than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, while those over 50 keep sodium ingestion below 1,500 mg. However, a large international study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals a different story.

Measuring levels of sodium and potassium excreted in the urine of 101,945 people between 35 and 70 years old from 17 low, middle and high-income countries, Canadian scientists found that consuming less than 3,000 mg of sodium per day was associated with a 77 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Consuming between 3,000 and 6,000 mg of sodium daily was linked to lower risks of both cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality, while consuming more than 7,000 mg daily was associated with a 54 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

The researchers added that current guidelines for sodium consumption have been based upon shorter studies that showed only modest results. They also determined that daily consumption of 1,500-plus mg of potassium related to a significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality.

Consuming less than 1,500 mg was linked to increased risk.

natural awakenings

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GMO Pushback Hawaii Lobbies for Anti-GMO Laws

The Aloha State enjoys a year-round growing season, with multiple harvests annually. Last year, the Hawaiian island of Kauai passed genetically modified organism (GMO) farming restrictions, but they were overturned in court.

Now, Maui County, which includes the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai, has approved a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically modified crops. The majority of Monsanto’s GMO corn seed sold to farmers in Argentina, Brazil and the U.S. comes from its Maui operation. If the law stands, Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences, another biotech firm with operations in Maui County, will need to seek alternatives.

Lawsuits have already been filed by both opponents of the ban and proponents that want rigorous enforcement built in. Michael Lilly, former attorney general of Hawaii, expects the new law to be struck down like the previous Kauai attempt on grounds that state law supersedes it, although appeals in that case are underway. Meanwhile, an injunction has stalled the whole process.

The message from anti-GMO forces is that although giant firms have deep pockets and many options, staunch determination to stem the tide of GMO crops worldwide may eventually bear the sweet fruit of victory.

Source: Grist

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

Greenwashing Conundrum Biodegradable Plastic Bags Are a Hoax

In 2010, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed recommendations for environmental marketing claims.

The agency has sent warning letters to 15 marketers informing them that their claims may be deceptive, and requested more scientific evidence that plastic bags labeled as biodegradable, or “oxodegradable”, implying the bag will break down in time when exposed to oxygen, were true to the claim. Because many bags are dumped in the low-oxygen environment of a landfill, the FTC considers those advertised benefits as dubious.

Joseph Greene, a professor at California State University, Chico, points out that oxodegradable should be amended to “oxofragmentable” to be more accurate, because the plastics just break into smaller and smaller pieces. Chemically, they don’t break down into anything less hazardous. In fact, if these plastic bags disintegrate in the ocean, the fragments will be about the right size for sea creatures to mistake them for plankton.

Source: Rabble.ca

Potent Promises

Climate Change Pledges Predict Progress President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping have both made ambitious pledges to combat climate change. Jinping pledged that China’s CO2 emissions would peak around 2030; the first time that Beijing has set such a target. Obama promised that by 2025, the U.S. will have reduced its emissions by 23 to 26 percent from 2005 levels, twice as much as Washington had previously offered.

The carbon emission deal that has been reached between China and the United States is a promising breakthrough. The world’s biggest economies account for one-third of the planet’s emissions, so their initiative should help persuade other countries to reach a global emissions agreement at a United Nations climate summit next year in Paris.

President Obama faces opposition in the Republican-controlled Congress, although aides say he can act unilaterally. Moreover, rapidly evolving energy conditions in the United States, from the increased supply of natural gas to the expansion of renewable energies, will ease the pain of carbon cuts.

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Portable Feast

Guess Who’s Delivering Dinner

www.EssentialWellnessHub.com e-mail: oils@essentialwellnesshub.com

A new service called Plated (Plated. com) is providing households the ability to prepare a fresh, homemade dinner without having to think about menu planning or grocery shopping.

The ingredients arrive at the door in a biodegradable box, pre-portioned and ready to cook in 30 minutes.

Customers browse a rotating menu of chef-designed recipes on the Plated website and select their favorites each week, add the number of plates to the shopping cart and set a delivery date. For the price of subscription to the service, they receive a box with perfectly portioned ingredients and detailed cooking instructions. Based in New York City, Plated delivers its subscription boxes to 47 states, with plans to further expand in the next year.

Source: Treehugger.com

Only do what your heart tells you. ~Princess Diana

natural awakenings

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wanderers falling in love to a married couple sharing domestic chores in her follow-up memoir, Committed: A Love Story.

Love Science

Happily Coupled Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive

by Judith Fertig

“To be fully seen by somebody… and be loved anyhow— this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

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t the conclusion of her bestselling memoir, Eat Pray Love, author Elizabeth Gilbert had fallen in love with Jose Nunes (called Felipe in the book), a Brazilian living in Indonesia.

The divorced Gilbert, reluctant to have her heart broken again, had vowed never to remarry… yet ultimately changed her mind when U.S. immigration law presented her with multiple choices: marry so they could live together in this country, stay single and live as ex-pat partners or say goodbye to Nunes.

Gilbert chose a marital partnership that suits the shared life they want: honest and, after years of travel, settled in one place. She says, “For the first time in my life, living in a small town with a lovely husband in an old house with

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a big garden and several pets, I feel absolutely rooted in a way I have never experienced before and never would have imagined even desiring. But it is what we want—at least for now—and we’re relishing that stability.” Gilbert records the process of going from two global

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The spark that ignites such a partnership is love, which is “primarily about connection,” says Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D., a positivity expert and author of Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become. “It’s vital to our health and happiness, affecting our brains and bodies at the cellular level.

“We were born to love,” emphasizes Fredrickson, who also serves as a psychology professor and director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The evidence comes from research that shows how our brain and nervous system are designed to enhance our chances of experiencing it.”

When we share positive emotions with another person, experience a synchrony between their biochemistry and behaviors and ours, plus exhibit mutual care, love can bloom, whether we stay happily single or decide to pursue a committed relationship. She calls this triple-action sequence “positivity resonance”. Love, she observes, is less a smooth, solid path than momentary experiences of connection.

Making Love Last

The more areas of connection we have with our partners, the more opportunities we have to positively resonate every day, adds Frederickson.

Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D., a psychology professor at California’s Santa Clara University and adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, agrees.

“Long-term relationships, like marriages, are partnerships in living,” according to Plante. “The vast majority of the time couples are together they’re not having hot sex, but are sharing a practical dayto-day life together.”

Shared activities aren’t always exciting or glamorous. Raising children, working, managing a home, cooking and cleaning, shopping, being with friends and family and the rest of regular daily living is where the rubber meets the road in relationship satisfaction, observes Plante. “If couples aren’t compatible in these areas, then the connection and attraction will inevitably atrophy, tensions emerge and too often, relationships fracture and fall apart.”

Compatibility means different things to different people, and requirements can change as individuals in a romantic partnership change over time.

Compatibility also means agreement that the relationship is worth the effort to nurture and sustain it.

Partnering Life’s Dance

Five couples in different stages of loving partnerships share how they make their special relationships work. The key to them all is shared values.

Doing everything together. For newlyweds Drs. Josh and Chelsea Axe, of Nashville, Tennessee, a mutual commitment to vigorous wellness and physical fitness keeps them together. Says Josh, “The healthy lifestyle I have chosen to live is so important that I need someone who is able to not just agree, but also partner with me.” Married in 2012, the two chiropractic physicians went on to co-found the BurstFIT interval training program and meld their professional, as well as personal, lives.

Chelsea notes, “There is truth to the phrase, ‘Couples that sweat together, stay together.’ When working out together, you share a specific energy you create while pushing yourself to your mental and physical limits. You have your partner right there doing it alongside you, knowing they’re supporting you; so when you each break through a mental or physical barrier in your workout, you step over together into a strength and confidence that carries over

“Seventy-five to 80 percent of all chemistry evaporates within six to eight months unless the relationship is significantly undergirded by deeper and more durable compatibility.” ~Neil Clarke Warren

into your marriage. Being a part of each other’s goals and the struggles to reach them unifies us.”

Remarks Josh, “I feel like we can both be successful individually, but when we’re a team, the outcome is synergistic.”

Chelsea adds, “It’s never a mindset of ‘me.’ It’s always ‘us.’”

Balancing work and play. Barbara and Bob Unell, of Leawood, Kansas, dated as teenagers, went their separate ways in college and then found each other again in their early 20s. “We went on a blind date in 1968 and both belted

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out songs on the car radio,” recalls Barbara. “I thought he had a great sense of humor and was fun to be with. All these years later, it feels like we’re still dating.

We’re crazy about each other.”

Both Barbara and Bob describe themselves as enthusiastic, playful, entrepreneurial, altruistic and geared toward creative projects, whether undertaken together or separately. “We’re both, ‘Let’s try this,’ sort of people,” says Barbara with a laugh.

When the Unells had twins, now grown, they realized there was no national publication addressing how to parent multiples, so they launched Twins magazine in 1984. Bob founded and managed an advertising agency while Barbara wrote bestselling parenting books, but the whole family traveled together on her speaking engagements.

In response to becoming a breast cancer survivor, Barbara founded the nonprofit Back in the Swing in 2000 to support survivorship care at cancer centers.

When they needed additional staff, Bob joined the team in 2009. One of the biggest things that Barbara has learned from Bob is, “You can make work fun.”

“Although we come from different backgrounds, Bob and I know the power of mutual respect, trust and kindness,” reflects Barbara. “Part of our connection is that we have shared history and never take each other for granted.”

Making long-distance work.

Lisa Ekus, who runs the full-service culinary talent agency The Lisa Ekus Group, in Hatfield, Massachusetts, had been married twice and already raised her two children when she met Atlanta Chef Virginia Willis. They got to know each other through culinary events and to their surprise, fell in love. Over the past six years they’ve evolved a relationship that works for them— keeping a deep personal connection, but main-

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taining separate residences.

Cookbook author Willis gardens, develops recipes and writes for her Food Network blog, “Down Home Comfort,” at Ekus’ New England compound in the summers; Ekus travels to the South during cold months. They also meet up as often as they can at conferences, food and wine festivals and other events during the rest of the year.

“We are both smart, professional women who love what we do, have strong ethics and a high level of selfexpectation in how we work,” says Ekus.

“We are also best friends and work together professionally. The respect we have for each other and our work is instrumental in our relationship.”

“We often joke about the North/ South, fast/slow cultural difference,” Ekus notes. “I’m more spontaneous; Virginia is more thoughtful in her responses. I tend to move fast and focus on checking off items, while Virginia is more about the journey and being in the moment. It often makes us each take stock and consider what we’re doing and saying.”

They make the geographic separation work despite its inherent longdistance complications via consistent communication, saying good morning and good night every day by phone and texting often. They hold regular agent/ author meetings to make professional plans and personal calendar meetings at least weekly, recognizing and respecting what is important to each of them.

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Bridging the age gap.

Karen and Dick Eagle, from St. Louis, Missouri, are 16 years apart in age, but are close in the ways that count. Both are strong-minded and still vie to get their own way even after 30 years of marriage. “We argue over the stupidest things, and then resolve our disagreements and realize how good we have it,” says Karen.

What first attracted them to each other—and keeps them together—is a love of playful fun and good times with friends. Karen remarks, “I knew Dick was ‘the one’ when he jumped flat-footed over a wingback chair at a friend’s house. That showed me that he was young at heart.”

Making ends meet. Eleven years ago, when family therapist Susan Franklin lost her husband, Michael, a university college professor, she felt bereft and overwhelmed. The pair had owned a country property near Cleveland, Ohio, where they boarded horses. Susan realized, “I couldn’t keep up with everything on my own,” and Jake Marshall, a musician friend of Michael’s, offered to help. Over time, Susan and Jake became close, and they now live together.

Although Jake is a great supporter in many ways, he’s not in a position to help financially. Susan depends on her late husband’s insurance and pension benefits, which she would lose if she remarries. “Jake is so laid back and easy to be with, I can relax,” says Susan.

Michael, on the other hand, always seemed to fill a room. Jake helps Susan with chores around the property and she is always there cheering him on from the front row when he performs at local venues.

Cultivating Care

Working out as a couple, sharing a creative project or making a gourmet meal together can do more than keep partners feeling connected. Shared activities also keep the positive experiences ongoing and resonating. “That special bond and the commitments people often build around it are the products of love, the results of the many smaller moments in which love infuses you,” maintains Fredrickson. Such moments not only accumulate, but can also be stored in memory and banked to feed a relationship during the tougher times.

“Love is something we should recultivate every day,” she says. A loving partnership is always a work in progress.

Judith Fertig is a freelance writer from Overland Park, KS.

BRINGING MORE THAN HOMEWORK HOME

By Ryan Hogan It’s the time of year when we send our kids back to school from the holidays. Unfortunately, while schools are good places to learn they are great places to catch a disease. In fact, children’s Upper respiratory illnesses (URI’s) cause more doctor visits and missed school days than any other illness in the US. Luckily, there are a few things you can do at home to help reduce the chances of your child getting sick at school this year.

sanitizer before eating snacks, lunch and after using a shared computer mouse, pencil sharpener, water fountain or other community objects.

Now, most people know we need to wash our hands, but one thing most people don’t really relate their health to is nasal hygiene. Using a saline spray with xylitol, such as Xlear Nasal Spray, is safe for all ages. Research has shown this natural sweetener is useful in preventing bacterial otitis media (ear infections), among other upper respiratory problems that are most likely to occur in fall and winter months. Additional xylitol studies have also shown a significant reduction in asthma attacks when a xylitol nasal spray is used on a daily basis.

Xylitol affects nose and throat bacteria in two ways:

HOW? Before we talk prevention, we need to know how infection spreads. Many childhood illnesses are caused by viruses and bacteria that are transferred from person to person. URI’s increase in fall and winter as we spend more time crowded indoors. All it takes is one sick child, going to school for the spread to begin. Small droplets from a child’s cough or sneeze travel through the air and land on surfaces like desks, doorknobs and people. These germs are easily spread when someone touches the contaminated object and then proceeds to touch their eyes, nose or mouth. Children’s immune systems are less mature than those of adults, so they’re more vulnerable to these germs. Washing your hands and your nasal passages and also keeping their hands away from their nose, eyes and mouth are the most preventative habits to form at a young age.

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Decreases the adherence of harmful bacteria on their surface cells.

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Stimulates the body’s own natural defense system

Since the average American child has six to ten colds a year, using a xylitol nasal spray is a safe and effective way to promote better upper respiratory health, year round.

FINAL HEALTHY TIPS In addition to frequent hand-washing, teach your child some other school health basics:

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Our best defense is to stop cold germs where they breed.

Good hand-washing is the most effective way to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading. Wash your hands after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, handling trash and prior to touching food to help eliminate germs. Soap and water should be used for 20 seconds (about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). Using alcohol-based hand cleaners is also effective. Remind your child to use the

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Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

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Give your child a package of tissues to keep in his or her desk.

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Encourage your child not to share water bottles, food or other personal items.

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Ask your child’s teacher to include hand-washing time before lunch or snacks.

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Have your whole family practice nasal hygiene and the use of xylitol saline spray like Xlear.

Even with all of these tips, your kids are bound to come down with something over the course of the school year. We all get sick at some point or another, forming healthier habits and maintaining a positive attitude is all we can do as parents.

For more information, please visit www.xlear.com.

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healthykids

bed may help. Reduce the dose if loose stools occur.

Boost B vitamins. Vitamins B6 and B12 are important building blocks for brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Deficiency can impair nerve cell communication, hindering memory, focus and attention. Encourage a child to eat B-packed organic foods like eggs, poultry, bell peppers, yams and spinach, and sprinkle B-vitamin-rich nutritional yeast on dishes like noodles and soup.

Naturopathic Doctor Laurie Brodsky, e-consultant, DrLaurieND.com, New York City.

EASE ADHD NATURALLY

Nine Ways to Help Restore Calm and Focus

by Jenna Blumenfeld

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lthough experts aren’t certain why it occurs, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 3 to 5 percent of school-age children, causing symptoms such as inattentiveness, frenetic activity, anxiety and forgetfulness. Kids with ADHD typically respond to drug prescriptions designed to provide calm and focus, but some carry unpleasant side effects like appetite changes and muscle spasms.

Experts suggest considering these natural options to complement an afflicted child’s integrative treatment plan.

Nutritionist Sara Vance, owner, Rebalance Life, San Diego, California.

for brain health. Children’s daily diets should contain omega-3-rich foods, such as chia, hemp, nuts and fatty fish.

For children 12 and older, supplement with fish oil containing 1,200 milligrams (mg) of (DHA) docosahexaenoic acid and (EPA) eicosapentaenoic acid combined.

Try magnesium. Low levels of magnesium, also known as the calming mineral, are associated with restless legs, anxiety and irritability—all of which can exacerbate ADHD. For kids ages 4 to 8, start with 130 mg of magnesium in the morning. If the child has trouble sleeping, another dose before

Up omega-3s. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that recent studies show kids with behavior problems have low blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a nutrient vital

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Give up gluten. Gluten is a complex, gooey conglomeration of many proteins that sticks to the digestive tract, often stimulating behavioral issues.

When gluten inflames a child’s digestive system, brain inflammation likely occurs, as well. Look for gluten-free pasta, bread, crackers and cookies made from rice, quinoa, flaxseed and non-GMO (genetically modified) corn.

Pair fats with food. Healthy brain function requires a proper ratio of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats to the more common inflammatory omega-6 fats (found in canola, soybean and corn oils). Encourage balance by eating omega-3 foods at mealtime, when the

gallbladder releases bile into the digestive system, allowing better omega-3 absorption.

Avoid processed foods. High-fructose corn syrup and artificial colors such as Yellow 5, Blue 1 and Red 40 are linked to increased hyperactivity in children.

Choose whole, real foods like whole grains and organic meats, vegetables and fruits. Use maple syrup rather than white sugar to sweeten foods—it’s fullflavored, so a little goes a long way.

Behavior Specialist Margit Crane, educator, GiftedWithADD. com, Seattle, Washington.

Lead by example. Parents have more power to handle their child’s ADHD than they think. Model the desired behaviors—if children are not allowed to eat in the living room, the rule should apply to the whole family. Maintaining consistent rules is vital.

Set boundaries. Many parents and teachers believe that boundaries for ADHD-laden kids, that are often sensitive by nature, may be harsh or limiting. But these children actually thrive with boundaries. Rather than offer kids unlimited choices, give them two or three options. This helps a child feel safe. Regard a troubled child as scared, rather than angry—this will enable parents and caregivers to speak to them with compassion.

Work with teachers. Some children with ADHD may have trouble fitting into traditional schools. When speaking with teachers, use collaborative words such as “partnership” to obtain healthy cooperation. Teachers have an entire class to attend to, not just this child; address them with respect and understanding, and everyone will ultimately benefit.

Jenna Blumenfeld is the senior food editor at New Hope Natural Media, in Boulder, Colorado.

Copyrighted 2014. Penton Media. 114554:1214BN.

wisewords

Conscious Dating

Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online

by S. Alison Chabonais

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ill Crosby, owner and founder of the Conscious Dating Network, has focused on spiritual development and meditation for more than 30 years. Working as a director for the granddaddy of the original onsite photo/ video dating companies, which included interviewing 6,000-plus singles, sparked a desire to create a venue for spiritually conscious singles to meet. So, 15 years ago, she created her flagship online dating site, SpiritualSingles.com. NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, launched two years ago as part of the network, shares the same database of members as SpiritualSingles.com and many affiliated conscious dating sites in the network.

Today, the Conscious Dating Network is the largest of its kind. From Mount Shasta, California, Crosby leads a team of specialists that care for members’ needs and provide a loving, inspiring site for singles to meet their beloveds.

How has online dating continued to evolve and what trends do you see now?

The stigma about meeting someone online has completely dissolved as success stories have become so common. It’s like shopping online—you can look at many different varieties and styles to find exactly what you are looking for, rather than physically searching store after store hoping to find something you like.

Technology has made a tremendous difference in price, accessibility and reach. Today, members post selfies as headshots, shoot their own videos and can access potential matches anywhere in the world.

I used to think longdistance relationships didn’t stand a chance.

However, with Skype and a willingness to relocate, many of our success stories start as long-distance connections. Video chatting is a great way to assess common values and get to know someone on a deep level before traveling to meet in person.

What distinguishes conscious dating sites like Natural AwakeningsSingles.com from mainstream sites?

Natural Awakenings Singles is a niche dating site for those that are conscious, spiritual and green. Singles with specific interests, passions and lifestyles usually prefer niche dating sites because they allow for more targeted search results, provided that the member database is large enough. Our database of more than 90,000 members globally is considered large for a niche. Mainstream sites may have more members; however, they require far more time and effort in sorting through profiles to find those with whom we might have something in common.

Natural Awakenings Singles is also much more generous than conventional pay models, in that free members can read and reply to personal messages and live instant messages sent from subscribing members. Most mainstream sites make members pay to read and reply to messages. Our primary goal is for our singles to become couples—to facilitate the tremendous amount of success our members experience, we do many things differently.

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Have you seen any overall differences in the success stories the Conscious Dating Network facilitates?

Yes, our members usually connect on a deeper, “soul-to-soul” level and tend to understand that chemistry comes in all shapes and sizes. Our success story couples oftentimes have the feeling that they are destined to be together.

We encourage members to listen to their inner guidance in regard to whom to contact, be grateful in advance and stay in their divine flow. When members tune in and act from this space, miracles happen.

Many of our “destined” couples go on to do amazing projects together, like opening retreat centers, writing books, facilitating workshops, starting intentional communities, creating nonprofit organizations and other beautiful ventures that neither of them would have necessarily done alone. The power of two seems to be exponentially greater.

What have proved to be your all-time favorite tips for online dating success?

By healing past traumas, loving and forgiving ourselves, and embodying our divine presence as much as possible, deep-seated feelings of unworthiness fall away and we emanate our true radiance, thus magnetizing a partner equally empowered and awake.

When we are in a place of personal power, there is no being shy or procrastinating. Imagine how it would be once you have met the love of your life, and focus on those feelings while browsing and reading profiles. When you notice a strong inner nudge to contact someone, do it.

If it’s not mutual, that’s OK; don’t take it personally. That’s part of the beauty of online dating; the pool is large, and when the feeling and knowingness is mutual, you might just be starting a life together.

“In-joy” the process, be positive and choose to make it a fun adventure!

Joining NaturalAwakeningSingles.com includes access to all members of all the Conscious Dating Network sites.

S. Alison Chabonais is the national content editor for Natural Awakenings magazines.

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naturalpet

When Your Pet Passes A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing

by Julianne Hale

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pet’s love is extraordinary because it is unconditional. It doesn’t have expectations, pass judgment or try to leverage guilt. It is rich in loyalty, trust and adoration. Domestic pets provide warmth, companionship and love, as well as purpose, fun and conversational gambits for family members. For lonely hearts, they are a lifeline, providing a physical, emotional and spiritual connection to life that may prove critical to survival and happiness.

Loving pets seem like an endless source of happiness while with us, but few outlive their owners. Loss is as much a part of having a pet as potty training and vaccinations. For some, the loss of a dog or cat is debilitating and the grieving process can take months.

Rev. Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend and a Unitarian Universalist minister in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contends that the depth of the relationship that we develop with pets emerges from the time we spend with them every day—exercising, feeding, grooming and even sleeping with them. The relationship is pure and uncomplicated, and the pain of separation can be especially intense and profound.

The challenge of pet loss is often

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complicated by the difficult decision to euthanize an aged or suffering animal.

“One of the hardest things about having a dog is that sometimes you have to decide to end its life,” says Jon Katz, of upstate New York, a New York Times bestselling author of many books about dogs, including Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die. “Our job as pet owners is to be an advocate for our pets, making sure they do not suffer.

Don’t poison the joy that you shared with your pet with guilt over your decisions,” he says. Katz recommends taking photos of pets and making intentional memories in the time leading up to parting to encourage closure.

The same kind of rituals we use to honor and say goodbye to other family members can likewise help ease the pain of a pet’s passing. Owners can gather with loved ones and friends to celebrate the life of their pet with a burial ceremony or memorial. Kowalski likes adding meaningful words. His book includes a variety of readings that pet owners can use in their rituals taken from poems, literature, the Bible and other sacred texts.

When a human friend or family member dies, compassion and empathy flows from everyone we meet, but many may not be aware of, or understand, the depth of grief associated

with a pet’s death. “Some people feel embarrassed or don’t understand that mourning a deceased pet is a normal process,” explains Julia Harris, a pet bereavement counselor from Ellijay, Georgia, and author of Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide.

Support is essential during times of grief, and it can be difficult to find an understanding friend to discuss it with. Several online communities are devoted to providing support. An Internet search of “pet loss support” yields a wealth of online resources.

In the same way that the belief in an afterlife comforts people of many faith traditions when a person passes, the possibility of the same destiny for pets can offer comfort. “Perhaps one of the most common questions I am asked is whether or not animals have a soul,” explains Harris. “I encourage people to know that the soul, like love, is eternal. It leaves the physical body, but the loving relationship continues.”

While there’s no standard timeline for the grieving process, it’s important to keep perspective. Excessive grief can lead to depression. “If the grief is interfering with life and your work, then you may need to seek professional help,” advises Katz.

Not even a parent is capable of providing the purely unconditional love we receive from pets. Kowalski views it as a sacred connection, observing that through the unconditional love and acceptance that we receive from our pets, we get a little glimpse of what God’s love must look like.

Julianne Hale is a writer and editor for Natural Awakenings and blogs about family life at AnotherGrayHair.

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Helping a Mourning Friend

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ere’s comforting advice from grief advocate Megan Devine for friends yearning to soothe a bereaved friend.

Don’t try to fix it: Don’t say anything that tries to fix the unfixable, and you’ll do fine. It’s an unfathomable relief to have a friend that doesn’t try to take the pain away.

Grief belongs to the griever: You have a supporting role, not the central role, in a friend’s grief, which is an entirely personal experience.

Anticipate, don’t ask: Don’t say, “Call me if you need anything,” because your friend won’t call; not because they don’t need support, but because identifying a need, figuring out who might fill it, and then reaching out to ask is beyond their energy level, capacity or interest. Instead, make concrete offers of practical assistance in doing normal tasks or chores for the friend and deliver on them.

Be willing to witness searing pain: Simply be quietly present. Acknowledge their state and stick with simple truths: “This hurts. I love you. I’m here.”

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healingways

Gentling

GRIEF

Remedies to Heal the Heart

by Kathleen Barnes

G

rief can arrive suddenly with the death of a loved one, serious illness, loss of a job, parental dementia or decaying relationship. In any case, it takes a toll.

“Grief encompasses all of our thoughts and feelings. Mourning is when we put them into action by talking, crying, perhaps doing rituals,” explains Tracy Riley, a licensed clinical social worker and grief counselor in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Grief isn’t something that’s over when you wake up one day,” Riley counsels. “It’s ridiculous when an employer gives you three days off and then expects everything to be fine.” She notes that time helps heal all wounds, but even a decade after losing a loved one, the pain can remain and life is never the same, although most of us learn to live with loss and move forward.

“Some things can’t be fixed,” concludes Megan Devine, a psychotherapist in Portland, Oregon, and author of the audio book, When Everything is Not Okay, who blogs at RefugeInGrief.com.

After witnessing the drowning death of her fiancé, she says, “I didn’t need to hear platitudes that everything would be OK. I needed something solid to hold

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onto when my whole world exploded.”

Physical Aids

An unexpected death and any emotional shock is an extreme stressor that causes the adrenal glands to release a flood of adrenaline. Tina Erwin, La Mesa, California author of The Lightworker’s Guide to Healing Grief, explains, “If you get a shock when someone close to you dies, your adrenal glands are blown out almost instantly and you are overwhelmed with adrenaline, much like we often see in people with post-traumatic stress disorder. You need to rebalance your body chemistry.”

Intense grief can sometimes show up as chest pain, a classic sign of heart attack, due to a temporary disruption of the heart’s normal pumping action from a surge in stress hormones, according to the National Institutes of Health. Yet Imperial College London scientists now have found that a recognizable “broken heart syndrome” may temporarily protect the heart from being overwhelmed with adrenaline.

“Healing the physical side of grief ultimately helps healing on an emotional level, too,” says Erwin. To assist

herself following the death of her 6-year-old niece from a sudden infection, she uses several Bach flower remedies for trauma—Rescue Remedy, to rebalance the flood of adrenaline; Star of Bethlehem, for shock and loss; and Mimulus, for fear and anxiety. “Combining a few drops of each of these in a water bottle or tea several times a day helps you regain a feeling of balance,” Erwin says.

She also likes drinking blood-cleansing noni juice to help wash adrenaline out of the body, and taking salt baths enhanced with lavender essential oil to literally “wash away the darkness.”

Emotional Aids

Riley views art and music therapy, plus journaling (a “personal roadmap” that helps chart her progress), as powerful healing tools. She’s also seen firsthand how animals can play a key role through the mourning process. Her miniature schnauzer intuitively approaches her clients that are anxious and grieving and gives them permission to pet him. “It puts people at ease,” she says. “Then they

Helping a Mourning Friend

can talk more freely about their pain.” Numerous studies, starting in the 1980s, show that stroking a furry pet lowers blood pressure.

Charting a Personal Course

For the bereaved (literally defined as “torn apart”), the symptoms of grief are meant to slow us down, advises Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D., director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and author of numerous related books, including Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart.

Society expects bereaved people to “carry on, keep their chins up, be glad they had him/her as long as they did or else be grateful that our loved one’s pain is over”— all platitudes that are more hurtful than helpful, says Wolfelt. Mourning takes time, but it also requires a social context, he explains. “It’s the shared response to loss. If you isolate yourself, you are grieving, not mourning. You can’t do this on your own. It’s bigger than you.”

For those that feel stuck or unable to move forward, experienced grief counselors may be able to help.

Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous health books, including Ten Best Ways to Manage Stress. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

H

ere’s comforting advice from grief advocate Megan Devine for friends yearning to soothe a bereaved friend.

Don’t try to fix it: Don’t say anything that tries to fix the unfixable, and you’ll do fine. It’s an unfathomable relief to have a friend that doesn’t try to take the pain away.

Grief belongs to the griever: You have a supporting role, not the central role, in a friend’s grief, which is an entirely personal experience.

Anticipate, don’t ask: Don’t say, “Call me if you need anything,” because your friend won’t call; not because they don’t need support, but because identifying a need, figuring out who might fill it, and then reaching out to ask is beyond their energy level, capacity or interest.

Instead, make concrete offers of practical assistance in doing normal tasks or chores for the friend and deliver on them.

Be willing to witness searing pain: Simply be quietly present. Acknowledge their state and stick with simple truths: “This hurts. I love you. I’m here.”

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calendarofevents All Calendar events for the March issue must be received by February 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NAEastBay.com or email Calendar@ NAEastBay.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Kodo | Berkeley 7pm. Explore the possibilities of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko. Kodo is moving in new directions for a vibrant living art-form. Come watch the dramatic ancient traditions with modern flair. $22-$58. Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley, Bancroft Way and Dana St. 510-642-9988.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Civic Center Art Exhibition | Berkeley 10am-5pm. 28 local artists have been selected for their works to be on exhibit. Visitors will be captivated by the beauty of such art work. Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center, 2180 Milvia St. BerkeleyArtCenter.org.

Just This Moment/Morning Self-Breema | Oakland 10:30-11:30am. Start the morning with simple, comfortable movements that can nurture vitality, and enliven your whole day. Self-Breema supports the aim to live in the present moment. $5/first class free to newcomers.

The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-4280937. Breema.com.

19th Century Lace | Berkeley Noon-6pm. In the 19th century, lace was a prize possession of royalty, dividing society into social classes. The intense skill was amazing. See how the focus was on the smallest of details. Stop by and visit this exhibition, you will be quite surprised. Free. Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, 2982 Adeline St. For more information call 510-843-7290.

Unifying the Heart and Mind | Oakland 7-8:30pm. Learn complete bodywork sequences to practice on friends and family. Discover principles to bring harmony to any activity. CE available. $10/first class free to newcomers. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Morning Self-Breema | Oakland 9:15-10am. By working with the nine principles as we do Self-Breema, we simplify the activity of mind and feelings, inviting a higher level of consciousness.

Classes are nurturing and energizing. $5/first class free to newcomers. The Breema Clinic, 6201 Florio St. 510428-1234. Clinic@Breema.com. BreemaHealth.com.

Family Story Time | Alameda 7pm. The whole family can enjoy this story time. It is suitable for children of all ages, with stories and songs.

Bay Farm Island Library, 3221 Mecartney Rd. 510-7477787.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Baby & Toddler Time | Berkeley 10:15am. Join us for songs, tickles, bounces and short stories for children 6 to 36 months of age. All children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Free.

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Central Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Please call 510-9816100 for more information.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Teens, Get Your Game On | Berkeley 4-5pm. All teens are welcome. Get your friends together and challenge them! We’ve got a brand new Wii U, to burn off some of that energy. There are also board or card games available. Stop by and have some fun. Free.

North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda. 510-9816250.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6

world around you. Bring the body, mind, and feelings to work together harmoniously. CE available. $10/ first class free to newcomers. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

Sensuality & Essential Oils | Pleasant Hill 6:15pm. A guide to using oils to heat things up! Essential oils respond to our body’s chemistry. Known for their healing and calming properties, essential oils are equally effective for stimulating other responses such as libido. By combining oils with a few simple techniques, you’re ready to ignite the body’s natural response.

Come discover how to reignite and spice things up under the sheets, with essential oils! Learn how to make your own natural oil blends. Seating is limited. $20/includes essential oil gift and educational booklet with tips and recipes. Register at Oils@EssentialWell nessHub.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 An Evening with Award-Winning Author Nayomi Munaweera | San Ramon

11-11:45am. This program is designed for children ages 3-5, with their parent or caregiver. Come join us for a half-hour of song, dance and play time. Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue Ave. 510-981-6280.

7pm. Nayomi Munaweera is a Sri Lankan-American author. Island of a Thousand Mirrors, her debut novel, has received rave reviews; so come out and meet her this evening. San Ramon Library, 100 Montgomery St. For further information call Carol Yuke at 925-973-2850.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12

Music & Movement | Berkeley

Winter Breema Intensive Weekend | Oakland

Story Hour | Berkeley

Saturday and Sunday. A Breema Intensive is an opportunity to support your wish to be more balanced and present, via practicing body-mind connection and universal principles. Beginners welcome. Many attendance options up to 6 days, CE available. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

5-6pm. Join us for a reading, signing, and book sale in the library, featuring Maria Hummel. Her poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have been in Poetry, The Sun, and Narrative, to name a few. This event is open to the public and for all audiences. UC Berkeley, Doe Memorial Library.

510-643-0397. StoryHour@Berkeley.edu.

Fremont Centerville Farmers Market | Fremont

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14

9am-1pm. The market is open all year round, right in the heart of Fremont. Enjoy seasonal items, or visit the historic Centerville Train Depot nearby. Bonde Way and Fremont Blvd. You may contact the Fremont Farmers Market Assoc at 800-549-5227. PetGuy2U@AOL.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Peter Nero Trio | Berkeley 7pm. Enjoy an evening with pianist Peter Nero, while he embraces the music of Gershwin. You will also see his imagination as he plays classical, blues, jazz, swing, as well as the standards from the Great American Songbook. $38-$86. UC Berkeley. To purchase tickets, please call 510-642-9988. If you would like more information contact 510-642-9121. RBarnes@CalPerformances.org. You may also purchase tickets at Tickets@ CalPerformances.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Community Sing-Along | Alameda 10:15-11am. This program is before the library’s open hours. Infants and toddlers will interact with parents or caregivers. Children will sing, dance, and have parachute time. Enter from the rear parking lot, garden entrance. Alameda Main Library, 1550 Oak St.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Being in Harmony with Ourselves and Life | Oakland 10-11:30am. Live in balance with yourself and the

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Valentine’s Day Aloe Tours | Walnut Creek 10am-3pm. This event focuses on the garden’s aloe collection. You’ll find hybrids which are not found anywhere else. The show that these winter bloomers put on, is absolutely stunning with their beautiful colors. $10/adults, $8/students and seniors over 65. The Ruth Bancroft Garden, 1552 Bancroft Rd. Contact Carol LePage with any questions at 925-944-9352. Clepage@ RuthBancroftGarden.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Sunday Suppers East Bay | Oakland 5-11pm. Restauranteur Charlie Hallowell has a new project called Sunday Suppers. This month, we will be supporting People’s Grocery. This series of suppers will assist in supporting local organizations in the East Bay area. The goal is to raise money for a different East Bay organization, working on behalf of the community. $100. Boot & Shoe Service, 3308 Grand Ave. If you’d like to purchase tickets, go to SundaySuppersFeb2015.

Com.BrownPaperTickets.com.

Unifying the Heart and Mind | Oakland 7-8:30pm. Learn complete bodywork sequences to practice on friends and family. Discover principles to bring harmony to any activity. CE available. $10/first class free to newcomers. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Morning Self-Breema | Oakland 9:15-10am. By working with the nine principles as we do Self-Breema, we simplify the activity of mind and feelings, inviting a higher level of consciousness.

Classes are nurturing and energizing. $5/first class free to newcomers. The Breema Clinic, 6201 Florio St. 510428-1234. Clinic@Breema.com. BreemaHealth.com.

Page Turners Senior Book Group | San Ramon 1:30-2:30 pm. Pick up a copy of the featured book at the front desk, sometime before we meet. This month’s title is A Constellation of Vital Phenomena. Then come join us for our discussion. Please register for this event.

Free. We meet at The Alcosta Senior & Community Center, 9300 Alcosta Blvd. Please call Carol Yuke with any questions at 925-973-2850.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Easy Steps to Claim & Optimize Your Google Plus Local Business Profile | Lafayette 8-9:30am. Learn how to put your business on the Google Map for a local search. By doing so, you will be claiming your Google Plus Local Business Profile.

If you have already claimed it, then it’s time to update.

Event is free, but seating is limited. Register online.

Lafayette Library and Learning Center (Arts & Science classroom), 3491 Diablo Blvd. Please enter from Plaza, off First St. For more information please call Robin 925-451-3069. Workshops@LafayetteChamber.org.

Saturday, February 21 Being in Harmony with Ourselves and Life | Oakland 10-11:30am. Live in balance with yourself and the world around you. Bring the body, mind, and feelings to work together harmoniously. CE available. $10/ first class free to newcomers. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Classes are nurturing and energizing. $5/first class free to newcomers. The Breema Clinic, 6201 Florio St. 510428-1234. Clinic@Breema.com. BreemaHealth.com.

March 10-12, 17-22, 24-29

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Step into the Tao | Los Angeles

Clayton Library Winter Business Series | Walnut Creek 6:30-7:30pm. Learn the history of Elaine’s Toffee Company. Janet Long will tell and discuss how she took a family toffee recipe and turned it into a successful, thriving business. For more information contact Doug Thomas at DThomas@CCCLib.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 We Love Legos | Alameda 3:30pm. We all love Legos! Just bring your imagination and your building skills. We will give you a suggested project, and the rest is up to you. For children in second grade and up. Free. West End Library, 788 Santa Clara Ave. Call 510-747-7767 with any questions.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Black Light Art Show | Danville

— PLAN AHEAD —

Tao healing miracles days will release sacred wisdom, practical techniques, and extraordinary blessings from the source. It will empower all souls to experience their own soul healing miracles, to transform all life. Courtyard and Residence Inn, 901 West Olympic Blvd. 888-339-6815. Register at DrSha.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28 Livermore Half Marathon & Family Funk | Livermore 8am. What could be more fun than running this 13.1 miles of beautiful scenery throughout Livermore Valley. You will be taking breaks and sipping, and tasting wine from 14 different wineries.

A great reward no matter what place you rank! $69-$109. City of Livermore, 1052 S Livermore Ave. 925-960-4000. E/Livermore-Half-MarathonTickets-11058413011.

7-9pm. Middle school-aged kids need some fun too.

Ages 9-14. Let yours come and enjoy friends, games, food, and have a good time. Every week is a different activity. Pizza and drinks included with your registration. Release forms are available for downloading. $10. Diablo Vista Middle School (Teen Center).

DanvilleRecGuide.com. Use barcode # 38918.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Being in Harmony with Ourselves and Life | Oakland 10-11:30am. Live in balance with yourself and the world around you. Bring the body, mind, and feelings to work together harmoniously. CE available. $10/ first class free to newcomers. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

Just This Moment/Morning Self-Breema | Oakland 10:30-11:30am. Start the morning with simple, comfortable movements that can nurture vitality, and enliven your whole day. Self-Breema supports the aim to live in the present moment. $5/first class free to newcomers.

The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-4280937. Breema.com.

Learn Microsoft Word | Alameda 6-7:30pm. Did you ever wish you could understand and navigate around your computer with more ease? Now is your chance. Learn to use more or all your computer has to offer. Free. Alameda Free Library, Computer Lab, 1550 Oak St. If you would like to know more about the class, please call 510-747-7709.

The success of your marketing message is about reaching the right number of qualified people...

Unifying the Heart and Mind | Oakland 7-8:30pm. Learn complete bodywork sequences to practice on friends and family. Discover principles to bring harmony to any activity. CE available. $10/first class free to newcomers. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUAY 24 Morning Self-Breema | Oakland 9:15-10am. By working with the nine principles as we do Self-Breema, we simplify the activity of mind and feelings, inviting a higher level of consciousness.

The various tools in Natural Awakenings are designed to get your message out to the most readers... who are in the right niche... in the most effective manner.

Call 925-557-7583 or Visit NAEastBay for details. natural awakenings

February 2015

25

ongoingcalendar All Calendar events for the March issue must be received by February 10 and adhere to our guidelines. Visit NAEastBay.com or email Calendar@NAEastBay.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

sunday Soul Sanctuary Dance | Berkeley 11am-1pm. All ages are welcome to dance to the blend of funk, soul, world music, positive hip-hop, reggae, dance classics, jazz, blues, electronica and other music to free the mind, body and soul. Wheelchair accessible.

No scented products please. Shoes optional. Donations accepted. Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave. SoulSanctuaryDance.com.

Nia | Berkeley 12-1pm. Also Friday at 8:45am. Expand your dance, increase your joy. Give your body the gift of learning the Nia language with teacher Alexis Mulhauser.

Namaste Yoga, 2820 7th St. Info@FloraMotion.net.

FloraMotion.net.

Community Lounge Rumba | Berkeley 3:30-6pm. 1 and 3 Sunday each month. Rumba is the word used for a group of related, community-oriented music and dance styles in Cuba. These jam sessions welcome drummers, singers and dancers who perform rumba. Free. La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 510-849-2568. LaPena.org. st

rd

Free Kundalini Meditation | Walnut Creek 5-6:30pm. Kundalini meditation is an ancient Tantric practice that allows each individual to deeply experience their own direct, inner connection to the divine.

Class includes shaktipat transmission, guided meditation and discussion. Scheduled appointment for introduction required for first-timers at 4pm. 2910 Camino Diablo.

510-917-2349. Ellen@TrikaShala.com.

Barefoot Boogie | Berkeley 7:30-11pm. Enjoy freestyle dancing in a casual, friendly environment. Boogie is a healthy alternative to the club scene. Smoke, scent and alcohol free. The first hour is slow music for stretching and unwinding, and then the pace picks up to an aerobic, ecstatic high. Our DJs play a great mix of Latin, African, Funk, R&B, Hip-Hop, Blues, house, pop, oldies, and more. This is real music for real people. $8-$15/sliding scale; $5/first-timers. 8th Street Studios, 2525 8th St at Dwight. SFBarefootBoogie.com.

monday East Bay Biodanza Class | Berkeley 7:30-10pm. Biodanza, which means Dance of Life, is a system that integrates music, movement and authentic interactions to provide experiences of intense perceptions, of being in the here and now. Mixed beginner/ intermediate level. Registration required. Sliding scale: $20-$25/single session; $65-$80/monthly pass. Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut St. Biodanza.us.

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. ~Aristotle

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tuesday Yoga at Bishop Ranch 15 | San Ramon 12:05-12:50pm. Also Thursday, same time. Take a midday break to reconnect with yourself while you relax and rejuvenate with 45 minutes of Gentle Yoga. Build strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. Deepen your self-awareness and inner peace. Please bring a mat.

All levels are welcome. Please arrive a few minutes early. $42/5 class package, $75/10 class package, $10/drop-in.

Bishop Ranch 15, 12667 Alcosta Blvd, Ste 135. 925-8956220. Info@EnchantedMats.com. EnchantedMats.com.

Yoga for Kids | Walnut Creek

4-4:45pm. Ages 4-8. These engaging classes explore yoga poses, cooperative games, breath, and relaxation exercises, as well as convey lessons in self-expression, body awareness, and social skills. Non-competitive and fun, the classes help students develop strength, flexibility, concentration and confidence. Cost varies. Bloom Retreat, 1444 S Main St. 925-939-6262. BloomRetreat.com.

Teens, Come and Make Some Things | Berkeley 4-5pm. Come to the library and express yourself through arts and crafts. It’s a laid back, self-paced workshop where you can have some fun, and meet and make new friends. South Branch Library, 1901 Russell St. 510-981-6260.

Team Lemon Run Club | Walnut Creek 6:30pm. This is a social and fun run for all levels of runners. Runs are 3 or 5 miles through downtown Walnut Creek and along local trails. Pace is moderate. Free. Lululemon, 1201-A S Main St. 925-274-1253. Lululemon. com/WalnutCreek.

Energy Therapy | San Jose 7:30-8:30pm. Come to the Silicon Valley’s office for a demo, of newly patented health tech that will improve your quality of life. 510-456-8654. Dopp75@gmail.com

wednesday Learn about Transcendental Meditation l Berkeley 12pm and 7:30pm at the Berkeley TM Center, 950 Gilman St.,#100, 510-872-2287.

All Ears Reading | Lafayette 3-4pm. Designed for kids 5-11 and grades K-8. Kids read aloud for 15 minutes to Ted, a sweet lab from ARF’s Pet Hug Pack. He’s a great listener! Bring your own book or choose one from the library. Reading to dogs has a calm influence on children and gives them confidence in their reading. Sign up for a 15-minute slot at the Information Desk. Free. Lafayette Library and Learning Center, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd. 925-385-2280.

LafayetteLib.org.

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Berkeley Juggling Club | Berkeley 6-8pm. The circus arts aren’t just for clowns anymore!

Learn things; including how to juggle, unicycle, aero-balance, slackline or just about anything you’ve seen under the big tent. Free. UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley. BerkeleyJuggling.org.

Forward Motion Group Run | Danville 6:30pm. All levels. Fall/winter routes through Danville neighborhoods available. Distances vary from a couple of miles to 8-10 miles, with approximately 30-50 runners. Free. Forward Motion Sports, 432 Hartz Ave. 925-820-9966.

TurnON San Francisco | San Francisco Preferred arrival: 7:15pm. Doors locked: 7:30pm.

Through three guided round-robin style games, you’ll express yourself and gain new (and maybe surprising) insight into yourself and others. All this in a room full of cool, fun people engaging in honest, humorous, playful conversation. Topics are based on thoughts that we only would have in our head. Singles and couples welcome. Registration preferred. Those without reservations will be put on a wait list until 7:20pm. 47 Moss St. 408-390-2095. Awakening360.com/event/99#sthash. ostqQT4Y.dpuf.

East Bay Biodanza Class | Berkeley 7:30-9:30pm. Also on Thursday. Beginner level, open to new participants. Biodanza, which means Dance of Life, is a system that integrates music, movement and authentic interactions to provide experiences of intense perceptions of being in the here and now. Sliding scale: $20-$25/single session; $65-$80/monthly pass. 415717-3578 or 415-505 9482. Jeffery Bihr Studio, 5390 Miles Ave. Biodanza.us.

thursday Beginner Computer Class | Berkeley 10-11am. Learn the basics of using a computer. You will be taught to correctly use a mouse, the keyboard, how to set up email, and also to search/surf the internet.

Free/drop-in classes. Central Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 510-981-6100.

Yoga at Bishop Ranch 15 | San Ramon 12:05-12:50pm. See Tuesday for details. Please arrive a few minutes early. $10/drop-in, $42/5 class package, $75/10 class package. 12667 Alcosta Blvd, Ste 135, (BR15). 925-895-6220. EnchantedMats.com.

Youth Yoga | Walnut Creek 3:45-4:30pm. Ages 5-8. 4:45-5:45pm. Ages 9-11.

Members and non-members welcome. This class is designed to work with pre-teens in developing a strong sense of self. Students are taught relaxation techniques, yoga postures and breathe work. Age appropriate activities are used to promote self-love, community, and an awareness of the environment. No yoga experience necessary. $12/class; $38/month. Yoga Works, 1131 Locust St, 2nd Fl. 925-478-7272. InfoNorCal@ YogaWorks.com.

Homework Cafe for Teens | Berkeley 4-5:30pm. Join us on Thursday if you would like a quiet place to study and do your homework. If you are a teen, middle school, or college student, come join us. Snacks will be served. South Branch Library, 1901 Russell St. 510-981-6260.

Weight Loss Class | Castro Valley 6-7 pm. Come to the Nature’s Sunshine Health Center weight loss class. $25/week. Nature’s Sunshine Health Center, 21709 Redwood Rd. 510-582-8482.

Change Your Water, Change Your Life | Walnut Creek 6:30-7:30pm. Join us for a presentation to learn how alkalized, ionic Kangan water can bring your body into a state of balance. Eliminating toxic pesticides and household chemicals from your daily life. RSVP. 925-609-4426.

Free Kundalini Meditation | Berkeley 7pm. See Sun listing for details. Free. Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way at 6th St. 510-486-8700. Ellen@ TrikaShala.com.

Lake Merritt Oneness Blessing and Meditation | Oakland 7-9pm. The purpose of Lake Merritt Oneness is to support the awakening of humanity; by cultivating direct experience of oneness consciousness through universal teachings, meditation and oneness blessings. The Oneness Blessing is the sacred technology that advances each person’s journey into the direct experience of awakening. This gift to humanity helps to deepen our personal connection to the divine. These blessings have catapulted many people from around the globe into an awakened state and deeper awareness. The Blessing allows us to completely experience and dissolve old hurts, fears, and worries. It also silences repetitive thinking.

Suffering decreases naturally. Lake Merritt Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave. LakeMerrittOneness.org East Bay Biodanza Class | Berkeley 7:30-9:30pm. Beginner level, open to new participants.

See Wednesday listing for details. Sliding scale: $20$25/single session; $65-$80/monthly pass. Jeffrey Bihr Studio, 5390 Miles Ave, Oakland. LauraLouc@gmail. com. KRohnem@GalileoWeb.org. Biodanza.us.

friday Nia | Oakland 8:45am. See Monday listing for details. Namaste Rockridge, 5416 College Ave. Info@FloraMotion.net.

FloraMotion.net.

Black Light Art Show | Danville 7-9pm. Middle school aged kids need some fun too.

Ages 9-14. Let yours come and enjoy friends, games, food, and have a good time. Every week is a different

activity. Pizza and drinks included with your registration. Release forms are available for downloading. $10.

Diablo Vista Middle School (Teen Center).

DanvilleRecGuide.com. Use barcode # 38918.

Drop-In Volleyball | Walnut Creek 7-10pm. Open to the first 45 participants. $5. Tice Valley Community Gymnasium, 2055 Tice Valley Blvd.

925-256-3572. WalnutCreekRec.org.

saturday DYBO/Dance Your Buts Off | Livermore 7:30am. Start the New Year with a new way to reduce stress, and shed some pounds. What is DYBO? It stands for Dance Your Buts Off. Not the butt you sit on, the buts you live in. $10/class, first class is free. Studio Dance Art Fit, 7 Airway Blvd. For questions contact Monica Ferris 925-550-6181. MonForReal@gmail.com.

Basement Pilates | Walnut Creek 9-10am. All levels welcome. Bring mat, towel and water for Pilates class by local instructor. Free. Sports Basement, 1881 Ygnacio Valley Rd. 925-941-6100.

Fun Run with Fleet Feet | Pleasanton 9am. Distances range from 2-8 miles, and is great for everyone with a pace from walkers on up. It’s always a fun time! 925-699-4926. EthanFalls@Comcast.net.

Mama Goose Story Time | Alameda 10am. Toddlers and babies are welcome with their parents or care givers, to join us at this story time. For about 20 minutes, enjoy songs, finger-plays, and age appropriate stories. We encourage the adults to participate in the activities. Free. Main Library, 1550 Oak St. If you have any questions, please call 510-747-7705.

Health & Awakening | Oakland 10-11:00am. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St, Suite 290. 510-637-0455. Info@ShaolinMaster.org.

Bloomin’ Belly Flow Prenatal Yoga | Walnut Creek 11am-12:15pm. See Wednesday for details. Bloom Retreat, 1444 S Main St. 925-939-6262. BloomRetreat.com.

DYBO/Dance Your Buts Off | Martinez 3pm. Start the New Year with a new way to reduce stress, and shed some pounds. What is DYBO? It stands for Dance Your Buts Off. Not the butt you sit on, the buts you live in. $10/class, first class is free. ATA Martial Arts Studio, 3811 Alhambra Ave, Martinez.

For questions contact Monica Ferris 925-550-6181.

MonForReal@gmail.com.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month. To place listing, email content to Classifieds@NAEastBay.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month.

Office Space and Treatment Rooms for lease Beautiful share reception area. Holistic and Medical atmosphere. Prime location in Pleasanton. Please call 925-600-0503.

We Hold Your Well-Being In Highest Regard

Sales Opportunity Looking for holistically minded person interested in a part time sales position for healthy living magazine. Commission only, independent contractor. Requires experience, car and insurance.

Info@NAEastBay.com

Cure ailing sales by advertising in Natural Awakenings’ March Animal Welfare Issue

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

925-557-7583

natural awakenings

February 2015

27

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Publisher@NAEastBay.com to request our media kit.

acupuncture EASTERN MEDICAL CENTER

Dr. Teresa Shen, LAc, PhD China 5933 Coronado Ln, Ste 100, Pleasanton 925-847-8889 EasternMedicalCenter.com Award-winning natural family healthcare clinic brings 5,000 years of traditional Chinese healing and 4 generations of expertise including acupuncture, acupressure, cupping and herbs.

See ad on page 9.

ALKALINE IONIZED WATER TAP INTO HEALTH

Elon Rosenthal 925-609-4426 TAPIntoHealth.com TheNewEraOfWater.org

Change your water, change your life. Treat your body to a 21day trial of healthy alkaline Kangen water—the advanced Japanese technology. Experience deep hydration at the cellular level. Expel toxins and acidic waste.

Improve immunity, digestion and elimination.

Return the body to homeostasis. Neutralize free radicals. Improve your sleep, energy and compliment. See ad on page 10.

AYURVEDA & HOMEOPATHY RASHANA SHARMA (BHMS, CCH, AWP) Chetna Center for Holistic Healing 500 Bollinger Canyon Wy, Ste A15, San Ramon DrRashana@gmail.com 925-255-5375 ChetnaCenter.com

Certified practitioner of homeopathy, ayurveda and Reiki serving the Bay Area for over 15 years. We provide safe and natural health care alternatives for all ages with concerns on digestive disorders, stress, anxiety, allergies, recurrent cough and cold, constipation, insomnia and other immune related issues. Therapy is designed and customized per individual’s unique body constitution and includes Natural and Herbal remedies, Diet & Lifestyle changes and Meditation. We also provide Reiki initiation and healing. Consultation can be given in person, or via Skype or phone.

BUSINESS CONSULTANT ZEST BUSINESS CONSULTING

Jennifer Martin Serving clients Worldwide from our California offices 415-375-0506 or 805-750-0506 Success@ZestBusinessConsulting.com ZestBusinessConsulting.com Are you a small business owner who feels frustrated or overwhelmed? Working too many hours and still not getting the results you want? We can help you create a thriving business that works for you. Call today for your Free, 30-minute strategy session.

MICHAEL REHL, DC

Chiropractic & Advanced Holistic Health Care 1280 Boulevard Way, Ste 211, Walnut Creek Michael@MichaelRehl.com MichaelRehl.com Offering a holistic approach to chiropractic care, Dr. Rehl incorporates nutrition, applied kinesiology and deep tissue work into his practice. By treating the whole body, Dr. Rehl’s treatment plan engages his patients so that they are an integral part of their healing process. See ad on page 31.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY MARCHELLE MILLIGAN, MS, CMT

3189 Danville Blvd., STE 250E Alamo 925-286-6237 TheRhythmWithin.org Craniosacral therapy encourages the body’s natural healing abilities and internal pharmacy to regain health and balance in a gentle way. CST can help with headaches, back pain, whiplash, TMJ, trauma, and sleep issues plus many more.

EDUCATION Singing Stones School 2491 San Miguel Dr. Walnut Creek, Ca 925-948-5006 SingingStones.org

Singing Stones School will provide an education based on the Waldorf philosophy from kindergarten through high school for children in the Tri-Valley area of Contra Costa County. It is holistic in nurturing the whole child and also in terms of its commitment to community. See ad on page 13.

chiropractor ALLERGY RELIEF ALLERGY RELIEF CENTERS James W. Stalker DC 5776 Stoneridge Mall Road #225 Pleasanton AllergyReliefCenters.com 925-344-5244

ad on page 5.

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Live your life free of allergy symptoms! Do it without drugs, needles or shots, sprays or inhalers, herbal remedies, supplements and no need to avoid substances. Safe and effective for adults and children. For more information on alternative allergy treatments contact us today. See

JANE H. BAXLEY, D.C.

Certified Advanced BioStructural Correction™ (ABC™) Practitioner 931 Hartz Way, Ste. 120, Danville 925-406-3222 JBaxleyDC@gmail.com DrJaneBaxley.com ABC™ is an innovative method of neuro-structural correction resulting in immediate and lasting improvement. Breathe easier and stand straighter with less effort starting with your first visit.

Patients report relief of neck and low back pain, headaches, sciatica, whiplash injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome and more.

Learn more by attending one of our workshops or visiting DrJaneBaxley.com.

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

healing center MASTER LAM, KAM CHUEN AND SONS 4005 Howe St, Piedmont, CA 94611 510-666-7889 HQ@LamAssociates.org LamKamChuen.org

A master with over 40 years healing experience. Specializing in neck, back and hip pain, sports injuries, repetitive sprain injuries and much more. Also, offers regular qiqong and tai chi classes.

Check our website for more information.

M.T.O. HOLISTIC MEDICAL CENTER 400 El Cerro Blvd, Ste 105, Danville 925-362-4686 Mtohmc.com

At M.T.O., licensed physicians merge rigorous diagnostic training with medically recognized healing modalities such as Acupuncture, Low Intensity Laser Therapy, Chelation, IV Mineral and Vitamin Infusions. Work with our medical staff to create an effective and individual treatment program in a rejuvenating natural setting. Experience a complimentary personal 20-minute consultation and tour of our holistic medical center in beautiful Danville. See ad on page 4.

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INTEGRATED HEALTH THERAPY

ESSENTIAL WELLNESS

CENTER FOR INTEGRATED HEALTH 203 Sycamore Valley Road West Danville, CA 94526 DrBanyas@CarolBanyasMD.com

Dr. Banyas offers a variety of treatments to assist in achieving mental wellness. From traditional therapies to complementary treatments and hands-on healing, the Center for Integrated Health is the place to receive some of the warmest therapy around.

holistic dentist NEW ERA DENTISTRY

Dr. David Partrite, DDS 520 La Gonda Way, Ste 103, Danville 925-837-3101 Info@NewEraDentistry.com NewEraDentistry.com Whole-body dentistry approach; David Partrite, DDS, facilitates your body’s detoxification through a mercury- and fluoride-free practice, utilizing the most bio-friendly materials and a clean, safe environment through filters and ionizers. From cosmetic dentistry to safe mercury filling removal to working closely with your other holistic practitioners, every visit is a health-promoting experience. See ad on page 15.

Colin Yoshida, DDS

Fremont Dentistry 3885 Beacon Ave Suite C Fremont 510-745-1800 FremontDentistry.com

Fremont Dentistry is a comprehensive holistic dental provider using options such as Ozone Therapy, safe mercury amalgam removal, Laser Gum Therapy, minimally invasive restorations, and an overall bio-dental health experience.

Give us a call to schedule your next holistic dental appointment today. See ad on page 31.

HYPNOTHERAPY Karuna Healing Center Karuna Jain, MS, C.Ht, Life Coach, Energy Healer 830, Stewart Drive, Suite 102 Sunnyvale, CA 94085 408-218-5887 KJ@Karuna-Healing.com Karuna-Healing.com

We o ff e r L i f e C o a c h i n g , Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Energy Healing sessions in person, via Skype or phone anywhere in the world. More information on our website.

Wellness Advocates 925-997-2226 Oils@EssentialWellnessHub.com Discover the power of dōTERRA essential oils: 100% pure Certifies Pure Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) essential oils. The safest, purest and most beneficial essential oils available today. Essential Wellness teaches informed self-care with the use of dōTERRA oils and encourages individuals to take a proactive role in medical care. Call today for your complimentary wellness session. See ad on page 13.

ROLFING/STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

nutritionist NUTRAPARTNERS

Kathy Napoli, Registered Dietician 3189 Danville Blvd, Ste 260, Alamo 925-831-3900 KNapoli@NutraPartners.com NutraPartners.com

MEDICINEVOLUTION

Restore health and vitality through personalized nutrition and lifestyle programs, including the 8-wk program Lighten Up. Kathy’s clients achieve increased energy; improved blood sugar and lipid levels; and relief from digestive issues and food allergies. With 20 years experience as a clinical nutritionist and nutrition consultant, Kathy teaches workshops throughout the Bay Area on topics such as Age-Proof Your Skin, Get Lean and Strong and Stop Inflammation. She holds a Masters of Arts in Holistic Health Education from JFK University.

Deemed a master by his peers, Chris Corrales’ 15 years of private practice have given him a reliable reputation as one of the best massage and bodywork practitioners in the Bay Area. His ability to discern and treat the causes of injury and imbalance has proven unique and profound. Chris’ application of Rolf Structural Integration empowers clients with a rich, insightful and rewarding personal experience that permeates their entire lives. See ad on page 2.

Chris Corrales 925-922-2246 Chris@MedicinEvolution.com MedicinEvolution.com

SOMATIC therapist personal development MEDIATE YOUR LIFE

413-230-3260 Connect@MediateYourLife.com MediateYourLife.com Build a better life, for yourself and others, by changing how you respond to conflict. Learn how to h a n d l e a l l o f l i f e ’s challenges with grace.

NEAL WINBLAD, MFT, SEP 780 Main St, Ste 201, Pleasanton 925-963-9786 NWinblad@NWinblad.com NWinblad.com

Somatic Experiencing is the gold standard for resolving complex trauma. In most cases trauma is quite easy to treat, doesn’t require a lot of talk and doesn’t need all the emotional catharsis so common in psychotherapy. Call me today for a free consultation and sample session. See ad on page 30.

Obstacles are what you see when you take your eye off the goal. ~Chris Burke natural awakenings

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SOUL HEALING SERVICES MASTER PEGGY WERNER 415-963-2470 Peggy.Werner@DrSha.com

Experience Soul Healing Miracles.

Heal the soul first, the mind and b o d y w i l l f o l l o w. K a r m a Cleansing and Soul Readings also available. Call for more information. See ad on page 21.

Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you. ~Loretta Young

SPIRITUAL CENTER

tHERMOGRAPHY

SPIRITUAL HEALING

EAST BAY THERMOGRAPHY

HOLLY M. COOK

925-354-4508 Sacredheartascension.com HollyMCook72@Gmail.com

Change your time line to fit your spiritual desires. Clear deep beliefs and trauma that hold you from moving into your true essence. Specializing to connect physical and emotional dis-ease with energy/soul blockages, Holly can help you move forward and clear the past allowing you to create a desired future. Her clients have experienced shifts in their consciousness, spiritual awakening, cleared family issues and have overcome physical and emotional pain. Explore a blended session of shamanism, theta healing, Reiki, chakra clearing and more.

Also available for phone sessions.

UNITY OF TRI-VALLEY

7567 Amador Valley Blvd, Suite 108, Dublin 925-829-2733 UnityOfTriValley.org

Chelle Weber, CTT 790 San Ramon Valley Blvd, Danville 925-389-9589 Chelle@EastBayThermography.com EastBayThermography.com

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) offers women and men a test of physiology to determine regions of inflammation and abnormal changes that could indicate further investigations are needed. A safe, non-invasive method for breast health screening, with no compression or radiation. FDA approved. East Bay Thermography is about helping women and men detect the possibility of breast cancer, muscular injuries/inflammation, pinched nerve, CRPS/RSD, arthritis, carpal tunnel, circulation problems, stroke risk, skin cancer, dental infection and thyroid issues.

Find joy in everything you choose to do. Every job, relationship, home... it’s your responsibility to love it or change it. ~Chuck Palahniuk

Are you seeking a progressive, welcoming community and consider yourself spiritual but not religious? We may be the perfect fit for you.

Symptoms Associated with Trauma: • Inability to make Dissociation

Feeling stressed, depressed, anxious? Is your relationship not meeting your desire for love and intimacy? Work issues?

Don’t have the self-confidence to get you where you want to go in life?

Trauma is often the cause.

I am certified in both Somatic Experiencing™ and NARM™ (NeuroAffective Relational Model), the two gold standards of trauma healing.

Trauma healing requires a mind-body approach not just talk therapy.

780 Main St. • Ste 201 • Pleasanton nwinblad.com/se • nwinblad@nwinblad.com 30

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

• Physical ailments • Hypervigilance • Hyperactivity • Nightmares and night terrors • Abrupt mood swings • Difficulty sleeping • Panic attacks • Avoidance behaviors • Attraction to dangerous situations • Frequent crying • Inability to love, nurture, or bond with others • Fear of dying, going crazy, or having shortened life

commitments • Chronic fatigue or very low physical energy • Immune system problems • Endocrine problems (e.g., low thyroid) • Psychosomatic illnesses, particularly headaches, neck and back problems, asthma, digestive, spastic colon, severe premenstrual syndrome • Depression, feelings of impending doom • Feelings of detachment, alienation, and isolation

First Session Half Price!

With this ad. A $75 Value.

925-963-9786 NEAL WINBLAD, MFT, SEP

Let us help in your move toward wellness.

We are respectfully conservative and practice minimally-invasive dentistry.

If you are a person who . . .

• Believes that the health of the mouth is intimately related to the health of the whole body

• Is looking for a dental practice that listens to you without judgment and will help you get what is important to you

• Places a high value on your oral health

• Understands that excellence is a choice that is made each day

Then we are a fit for you!

We are your lifelong dental health partner. We are dedicated to your health, your appearance, and your comfort.

TMJ • Periodontal • LANAP • Dental Implants • Mercury Free • Ozone Therapy

To Start Your Move Towards Wellness Call Dr. Colin Today 510-745-1800!

3885 Beacon Ave Ste. C • Fremont www.FremontDentistry.com

“I have gone to chiropractors for 30 years and have never had the relief that Dr. Rehl has provided.”

—Ann, Age 61 See our 5-Star reviews at

Colin Yoshida, DDS

Meet a chiropractor who will address more than just your symptoms . . .

Dr. Michael Rehl Good health is more than lack of pain. Your body is meant to thrive.

Dr. Michael Rehl provides holistic chiropractic treatments that go beyond alleviating symptoms. He helps your body return to optimal health.

In addition to gentle chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Rehl offers: • Muscle Testing • Applied Kinesiology • Integrated Wellness Plans • Nutrition Response Testing • Core Strengthening • Deep Tissue Work You will benefit from a more balanced body where pain and symptoms are alleviated, posture improves, movements are easier, and better health is achieved.

Don’t wait until you experience symptoms to start taking care of your body. Call today!

MENTION THIS WHEN Mention thisADad and MAKING AND RECEIVE receiveAPPOINTMENT a FREE chiropractic 50% OFF Chiropractic and Health & exam or health and nutrition Nutrition Consultation, Exam & Treatconsultation. ment.

Now $110 (Reg.(Reg. up to$155) $220).

New Patients Not valid insurance.

Not valid with Only. insurance.

Newwith patients only.

Expires February 28, 2015 Expires 12/31/14

1280 Boulevard Way Suite 211, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 | 925.330.3326 natural awakenings

February 2015

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