Natural Awakenings ~ East Bay February 2016

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WHY FRIENDS MATTER How Friendship Shapes and Enriches Our Lives

Alyssa Milano’s Anti-Aging Secrets Natural Lifestyle Choices Keep Her Young

ANCIENT

GRAINS For Modern Palates

Your Mouth Tells a Story

Oral Health Offers Clues to Whole-Body Health

February 2016 | East Bay Area Edition | NAEastBay.com

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letterfrompublisher Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty. ~Albert Einstein

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kicked off 2016 with an exhilarating nature experience that I can’t stop talking about. Two girlfriends and I took my daughter, Kaila, to Vision Quest Safari, in Salinas, for her 22nd birthday. First opened as a kennel, it evolved into a facility for the humane care of entertainment animals before transitioning into a bed and breakfast, zoo and animal rescue sanctuary in 2012.

We stayed in the Big Cat House, a cozy tent cabin overlooking the elephant playground. Hearing animal calls and other sounds continued throughout the evening under a night sky. Our The Girls adventurous Pachyderm Package tour included bathing an elephant, a visit with all the animals and breakfast delivered to our cabin by elephants the next morning. We loved the hands-on part of our visit so much, we also signed up to feed the big cats dinner and give the four elephants their bedtime snacks.

Bathing Pachyderm Paula, age 50, created a heart connection for me. Intelligent eyes complemented her beautifully long eyelashes and sweet, gentle soul.

Her best friend, Christie, age 35, had to be nearby the whole time as they’ll cry if they can’t see each other. The other two stunningly amazing elephants, Butch and Buffy, now ages 43 and 33, respectively, were the first elephants to arrive at the facility.

The whole sanctuary emanates comfort and nurture to all it touches, including two water buffalo, an ostrich and zebra. The tour guide’s narrative about each animal’s character had us in stitches laughing as we observed firsthand how each plays an intriguing role in ensuring their home playground stays peaceful.

All of us on the Salinas safari committed to a reunion visit next year with our newfound friends even before we underwent withdrawal upon our return home.

May your February surprise you with an equally special experience with those you love.

All the best,

Celeste Souza, Publisher

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

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16 THE POWER

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OF FRIENDSHIP It Sustains, Nourishes and Supports Us

by Judith Fertig

20 ANCIENT GRAINS

FOR MODERN PALATES Gluten-Free and Eco-Friendly Grains Gain Favor

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by Judith Fertig

22 ALYSSA MILANO’S

ANTI-AGING SECRETS

Her Natural Lifestyle Choices Keep Her Young

by Gerry Strauss

24 YOUR MOUTH

TELLS A STORY

Functional Dentistry Connects Oral Health to Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease

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by Linda Sechrist

26 MINDFUL MINUTES FOR LITTLE ONES

Yoga Helps Kids Focus and Relax

by Julianne Hale

28 GLIDING ACROSS SNOWSCAPES

Cross-Country Ski to Explore Winter’s Wonders

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newsbriefs E4 Health & Wellness Offers 90 DAYS TO A.L.I.V.E. Program That Can Potentially Reverse Type 2 Diabetes

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or people living with Type 2 diabetes, the potential for a pain-free life of optimal health is limited, even nonexistent. There’s the never-ending, ever-complicated maintenance of the disease, along with life-altering problems and dangers that can accompany its progression—all without the possibility of a cure. But what if optimal health can be achieved? E4 Health & Wellness offers hope to people with Type 2 diabetes.

E4 is the avowed life mission of John Vargas Eddy. His E4 vision and practice is an organization based on the principles of health, ethics, sustainability and spirituality dedicated to sound, alternative, research-based solutions and results for sufferers of chronic diseases.

The current focus of E4 Health & Wellness is

the reversal of Type 2 diabetes.

Enter the 90 DAYS TO A.L.I.V.E. program. “We want to show people they have more viable options and choices than they may know about in dealing with Type 2 diabetes, and even reversing it,” says Eddy. The program is a safe, serious, proven alternative to pills and insulin. Among its results is the real possibility of stable blood sugar in 90 days. Says participant, S.L., “In just six weeks, I achieved reversal of diabetes! Lowered total cholesterol over 80 points. Weight loss of 25 pounds.”

The program’s list of credentialed professionals includes: a Ph.D. and expert in lifestyle medicine with over 25 years of success in reversing diabetes; an internationally known dietitian who successfully proved diabetes reversal in the Marshall Islands, where over 38 percent of adults have Type 2 diabetes; a registered dietician; and a board-certified diabetes educator.

90 DAYS TO A.L.I.V.E. is about healthy, attainable, sustainable results. E4 Health & Wellness is about hope.

For more information, call 415-200-1650 or visit E4Balance.org.

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• 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

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Healing Arts Chiropractic Hosts Free Demo of New Health and Wellness Technology

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ealing Arts Chiropractic, in Oakland, now offers a new technology that utilizes an electronic hand scanner to quickly and painlessly collect information about patients’ potential health needs. Join Dr. Katie Sokolski from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on February 24 for a free demonstration of the new ZYTO technology. Regular cost for a ZYTO scan is $25.

ZYTO technology relies on an array of biocommunication principles and concepts that provide users with deeper insight and information regarding their health and wellness.

On a basic level, ZYTO technology is designed to energetically ask the body questions and analyze the body’s specific responses. ZYTO technology helps both Sokolski and her Katie Sokolski patients get a visual as to what’s happening on the inside.

Following the four-minute, noninvasive ZYTO scan, patients receive a report highlighting areas in the body that potentially need attention.

The scan covers nutritional needs, spinal misalignments, meridian, organ and gland imbalances. Based on the feedback it receives from the body, ZYTO may also make recommendations for various therapies, including yoga, massage and acupuncture. Sokolski’s consultation includes recommendations for supplements and referrals for any out-of-house therapies if needed.

beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood. ~Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Location: 187 40th Street Way, Oakland. For more information, call 510-356-7832, email Dr.Sokolski@gmail.com or visit HealingArtsChiro.com. See ad, page 9.

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February 2016

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newsbriefs New Law Allows Bicycle Traffic School as Alternative for Ticketed Cyclists

KidFest Concord, Where Kids and Community Come Together

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ay Area Festivals, Inc. presents Bay Area KidFest, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 28 and 29, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 30, in downtown Concord. The three-day weekend of live entertainment, arts and crafts, rides and games is designed to stimulate learning, exploration and creativity in a childcentered, alcohol-free and smokeless environment. KidFest also serves as a showcase for community groups dedicated to creating healthier communities.

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 a Ferris wheel, EuroBungy trampoline, Bobble Lagoon and giant slide, reminding parents why KidFest Concord was voted “Best Community Event” by Claycord.com readers in 2014.

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. events have raised $60,000 in cash donations for community organizations and collected 30,000 pounds of canned foods for the Food Bank.

Cost: $10 for two days. Location: 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco. The event is free for children 12 years and under who are accompanied by adult. For more information, call Jerry Tomlinson at 415-383-7837, email Jerry@CrystalFair.com or visit CrystalFair.com.

Cost: $7 per person or $6 per person with a canned food item. Event admission is free for children 2 years old and under for seniors who are 65 and older. Rides and refreshments are not included in the price of admission. Location: 2450 Grant St., Concord.

For more information, visit KidFestConcord. com.

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s of January, a new California law enables police departments to offer bicycle safety school in place of monetary fines for individuals ticketed while bicycling. Local advocacy nonprofit, Bike East Bay, worked to pass Assembly Bill 902 in partnership with the California Bicycle Coalition. Assembly Members Richard Bloom and David Chiu brought it to the state legislature in 2015, writing:

“Ticketed cyclists should be allowed to attend a ‘bicycle traffic school’ class and have their fine reduced, which would turn a purely monetary penalty into a valuable educational opportunity, especially for people who would be unlikely to attend a bicycle safety class on their own volition.”

Bike East Bay Education Director, Robert Prinz, is eager to work with law enforcement to set up opportunities locally. Says Prinz, “We have had great success bringing free bike classes to thousands of individuals every year, including through our existing ticket diversion program on the UC Berkeley campus.

Expensive tickets can discourage people from biking altogether, so an alternative program which provides useful information in a supportive environment is much more likely to have a positive impact.”

A previous version of this law, California Vehicle Code section 42005.3, made diversion programs available to youth bicyclists, while the new law extends the same opportunity to adults. However, the provision is only available if local police or county courts choose to implement it. Advocacy organizations like Bike East Bay are reaching out to police departments, elected officials, and community groups around the East Bay to raise awareness and support for bicycle traffic school programs.

For more information, visit BikeEastBay.org/BikeTrafficSchool.

The Great San Francisco Crystal Fair Shines in its 29th Year

he Great San Francisco Crystal Fair comes to the Fort Mason Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on February 27 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on February 28.

Now in its 29th year, the Crystal Fair boasts more than 40 vendors with displays of crystals, beads and jewelry, and healing arts practitioners offering massage, psychic readings, aura photos and more.

The Bay Area’s first Crystal Fair was held in Fort Mason in 1987. Six years later, Walnut Creek hosted the first Contra Costa Crystal Fair. Crystal Fairs take place three times each year in both San Francisco and in Walnut Creek.

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Take the 2016 Trail Challenge and Explore More East Bay Parks

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it the ground hiking this year with the help of East Bay Regional Park District’s 2016 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. This year, registration is not required. Participants are encouraged to simply download the 2016 guidebook, pick a trail and start exploring.

The East Bay is a great place to get outdoors, but even longtime area residents may be surprised to learn that East Bay Regional Park District comprises 119,000 acres of wilderness, shorelines, preserves, awardwinning recreational areas and over 1,250 miles of trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. For more than eight decades, the Oakland-based organization acquired, man-

aged and preserved parklands ideal for family-friendly, dogfriendly, 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, an 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.

For more information, visit EBParks.org. For volunteer opportunities, email Volunteers@EBParks.org.

Do you have?

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February 2016

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healthbriefs

Olive Oil Compound Kills Cancer Cells

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Kids Get Fewer Cavities When Mothers Chew Xylitol Gum

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esearch published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry has concluded mothers that chew natural xylitol gum regularly will significantly reduce oral infections of mutans streptococcus bacteria in their infants. Five research teams and 11 randomized studies of 601 mothers and their children showed 46 percent fewer infections of the bacteria, which is the central species responsible for dental caries and periodontal disease. The studies included children that were 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months old.

Other research supports the claim of xylitol’s beneficial nature.

A study from the University of Manchester, in England, analyzing data from 4,216 schoolchildren, showed that using toothpaste containing xylitol with fluoride resulted in 13 percent less tooth decay than using toothpaste with fluoride only.

esearchers from Rutgers University have found that an ingredient in olive oil will kill cancer cells in under an hour. The researchers tested a compound called oleocanthal, a central component of extra virgin olive oil, and found that it caused the premature death of cancer cells in the laboratory by puncturing cancer cell vesicles, called lysosomes.

“We needed to determine if oleocanthal was targeting that protein and causing the cells to die,” says Paul Breslin, Ph.D., a professor of nutritional sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers and co-author of the study, published in Molecular and Cellular Oncology.

The research also found that the olive oil compound didn’t damage healthy cells. Breslin states that the compound merely “put them to sleep” for a day, after which they resumed their normal, healthy functioning.

Senior author David Foster, Ph.D., of Hunter College, points out that additional studies are necessary to determine if the compound halts tumor growth.

“We also need to understand why it is that cancerous cells are more sensitive to oleocanthal than non-cancerous cells,” he says.

Breema: The Art of Being Present $ Weekend workshop February 6-7 $ Ongoing weekly classes Come out of the mind, into this moment with touch, movement, and Breema’s transformational philosophy.

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• First-time student discounts • CE available for Feb 6-7

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

Note: Xylitol is toxic to dogs; if ingested, consult a veterinarian.

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

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Bifidobacteria Probiotic Fends Off Colds and Flu

Kids Learn Social Skills Through Pretending and Joking

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n a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers found that supplementing with bifidobacteria probiotics will reduce colds and flu. The study followed 581 college students for six weeks as they prepared for their final exams. During the study period, the students consumed a placebo or a daily supplement with one of three probiotics, including Bifidobacterium bifidum.

The students given the bifidum supplement experienced significantly fewer cold or flu infections, and when they did succumb, the infection was generally less severe. The other probiotic supplements did not reduce colds or flu compared to the placebo for the six weeks.

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High-Fructose Sweetener Aggravates Asthma and Bronchitis

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large study from the New York Medical College and the University of Massachusetts found that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is linked to a greater risk of asthma and chronic bronchitis. The research included 2,801 people between the ages of 20 and 55 years old. The scientists utilized health data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2003 to 2006 to compare people with a history of chronic bronchitis.

The study measured the types of soft drinks consumed, eliminating risks related to known asthma relationships such as smoking. The researchers found those that drank five or more HFCS-containing sodas per week had an 80 percent increased incidence of chronic bronchitis. Greater intake of HFCS has also been linked with higher risk of other health conditions, including diabetes and obesity.

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esearch published in the journal Cognitive Science has found that toddlers with parents that played with them using humor and fantasy gained increased skills for learning, imagining and bonding, along with thinking in abstract ways.

The researchers tested children between 16 and 24 months old in two phases. The first utilized action play among 25 kids and the second utilized verbal play among 40 children. The parents and children pretended to do activities such as washing their hands with no soap or creating situations using a toy.

During the second phase, the children and parents played around jokingly by using words, identifying things in funny ways and making believe they were doing things.

The researchers found that joking and pretend play allowed the kids to distinguish cues that helped them communicate and develop skills to understand intentions. The study also found that older toddlers relied more on verbal cues to understand pretending and joking communications.

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

Ocean Wear

Adidas Using Plastic Ocean Debris to Make Shoes

Seeing Change

Young Children Can Unlearn Racial Sterotyping New research by Paul Quinn, a professor of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Delaware, and his collaborators across the globe, have found a simple exercise that can undo the unconscious racial biases that may begin to develop as early as infancy.

Quinn learned that 3-montholds begin showing a visual preference for the same race they see most often in their daily lives. By 9 months, infants not only distinguish racial categories, but also become less able to tell different individuals apart if they are members of a less-familiar race.

In the experiment, the scientists morphed together photos of African and Asian faces to create ambiguous images that looked equally African and Asian. As a result, Quinn reports, “At 9 months, they didn’t respond to the differences between the African and Asian categories, but instead they had two less discriminatory broad categories; ‘own race’ and ‘other race’. We think it might be a precursor to an initial ‘in group/ out group’ differentiation and suggest that perceptual and social processing of faces may overlap, even in infants.”

Source: LaboratoryEquipment.com

Athletic shoemaker Adidas has teamed up with New York-based Parley for the Oceans, a multidisciplinary organization with a passion for protecting the oceans, to make footwear out of garbage. Available soon, the soft upper part of the shoe is knitted entirely from waste and debris pulled from the ocean, including yarn and fibers—just some of the estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of trash in the sea. With no extra material left over, nothing goes to waste; the shoes also incorporate illegal fishing nets taken from poachers.

Adidas executive Eric Liedtke suggests the technology could move beyond shoes and find its way to T-shirts, shorts and other apparel. A full line of similar consumer-ready products will be integrated into the Adidas line this year.

The larger issue goes beyond recycling and repurposing to avoid waste altogether. Plastic takes more than 450 years to decompose, so conservationists and researchers at Parley for the Oceans hope to re-imagine plastics by designing a renewable solution. In cleaning up our oceans, we protect ecosystems, food sources, jobs and local economies.

Source: Upworthy

Green Goalposts

Super Bowl Eco-Stadium Gains National Spotlight The 50th Super Bowl will take place February 7 at the brand-new Levi’s Stadium, in Santa Clara, outside San Francisco, and the anniversary isn’t the only thing that’s historic. As part of a trend toward sustainability in athletic facilities, it’s the greenest and most technologically advanced professional football stadium in the U.S. The structure is designed to support sustainability, located on a site with accessible public transportation plus a bike path to encourage fans to pedal to and from games. Its predominantly open and airy, environmentally friendly building plan also takes advantage of the Silicon Valley climate. One outstanding feature is the green roof atop the suite tower on the west side of the stadium. Another is the three solar bridges connecting the main parking area to the stadium that generate energy from hundreds of solar panels.

All of the wood used was repurposed from a local airplane hangar at Moffett Field, in Mountain View, California, and other reclaimed building products were used where possible. Reclaimed water sources serve potable and non-potable uses, including playing field irrigation. The local suppliers providing farm-to-table food menus also are required to practice composting and recycling to the greatest extent possible.

For more information, visit LevisStadium.com.

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Lions Untamed

Shrine Circus Ends Wild Animal Acts Bill Cunningham, CEO of Dallas-based Fun Time Shows, the largest Shrine Circus producer in the country, says he’ll no longer produce shows featuring elephants, tigers, lions or other wild animals. Cunningham says, “These animals are very special; we cohabit the Earth with them and they are deserving of our respect and awe. They’re not here to perform tricks for our entertainment.”

He says, “I’ve tried to listen to the mothers that said they didn’t want their kids to grow up and learn that the animals they saw had been probed, poked, prodded and chained to a floor.” The move has received an outpouring of support from outside the industry, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Cunningham’s Shrine Circuses will still feature high wire acts, human cannonballs, trapeze artists and motorcycle tricks, along with performing horses and dogs.

“The horses and dogs act in true collaboration with their owners,” says Cunningham. “We feel the audience still wants to see domestic animals.”

Source: GreenSourceDFW.org

Nice Spice

McCormick Going Non-GMO McCormick, the world’s largest spice company, plans to eliminate almost all genetically modified (GMO) ingredients from their product line by 2016. In response to increased consumer demand for healthier options, 80 percent of its overall gourmet herb and spice business in the U.S. will be both organic and non-GMO by 2016, as well as all McCormick-branded herbs, spices and extracts sold in the U.S.

They will voluntarily label the updated products to inform consumers as part of a commitment to transparency and consumer education. The first product introduced, a non-GMO vanilla extract, is already available.

McCormick also uses steam treatments in its processing to preserve the health benefits of spices instead of the ionizing irradiation used by competitors.

Although food radiation is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some studies link it to significant health problems.

“Our consumers are increasingly interested in quality flavors with pure ingredients in their food,” says McCormick President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Kurzius. “Our efforts prove that we are listening to consumers and are committed to continuing to evolve.”

Pioneering Aspen Ski Town Runs Entirely on Renewables

Aspen, Colorado, with a population of 7,000, has become the third municipality in the country, along with Burlington, Vermont, and Greensburg, Kansas, to receive all of its power from renewable sources. Its energy portfolio now consists primarily of wind power and hydroelectric, with smaller contributions from solar and geothermal.

The development reflects a decade-long effort made possible in part by a significant drop in the price of renewable energy and new government regulations that internalize some of the pollution costs of fossil fuels, making energy sources like coal increasingly uncompetitive. More than one-third of American coal plants have been shut down in the past six years and new carbon rules make it possible that no new coal plants will ever be built in the U.S. Source: ThinkProgress.org

Source: NaturalNews.com

Being listened to is so close to being loved that most people cannot tell the difference. ~David Augsberg

Natural Awakenings East Bay natural awakenings

February 2016

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Intravenous & Intramuscular

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ecotip Eco-Cappuccino

Reducing Coffee Shop Waste For many, getting a coffee to go at a favorite spot on the way to work or while dropping the kids off at school and running errands is a weekday ritual.

It also warms up the body on cold mornings in northern regions this time of year.

The java might taste even better if we reduce the amount of waste traditionally involved. Here are a few ways to better cherish Earth’s resources.

Avoid the paper cup; carry a reusable thermos or insulated bottle instead as a matter of routine. Author and activist Beth Terry, in her book Plastic Free: How I Kicked the Habit and How You Can Too suggests both stainless steel beverage containers and mugs. She also recommends glass mason jars and points out that EcoJarz recently began making stainless steel caps and lids instead of plastic.

Learn more at MyPlasticFreeLife.com. Terry further cites the unhealthy aspects of continual use of paper cups because, “Many are lined with plastic, and the plastic lids are often the equivalent of Styrofoam.”

If caught without a favorite reusable container, Treehugger.com’s Katherine Martinko recommends at least giving an old paper cup one more turn. “It’s not a zero waste solution, but if you’ve already got a paper cup in your car or kitchen, you might as well extend its life. Wash and hand it over the next time you get a coffee,” she suggests. “It will still do the job.”

For those that add cream, milk or sugar to coffee, consider the waste involved just in the plastic and wood stirrers provided by the shop that are tossed in the trash after serving their one-time function. “Avoid all of them,” advises Terry. “Carry a clean utensil in the car,” such as a bamboo tableware or a spork (combination spoon and fork). Cutting down or weaning off of dairy, sugar and especially sugar substitutes is another healthful move.

actionalert Action Alert: Petition to Stop Porter Ranch Gas Leak

A

new petition urges President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop a massive gas leak in Los Angeles’ Porter Ranch community, and to halt the expansion of fracking and gas infrastructure that could cause future environmental disasters. The petition is coordinated by CREDO, a social change organization that supports activism and provides funds to progressive nonprofits.

Since October 23, an uncontrolled leak at Southern California Gas Co.’s Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in Porter Ranch has released an estimated 50 tons per hour of the greenhouse gas methane into the air and displaced thousands of nearby residents.

According to the petition: “Methane is 86 times more potent in our atmosphere over 20 years than

portation and the Department of Justice to assist the state’s emergency response.

Californians are urged to join efforts that will stop the Porter Ranch gas leak and help prevent future climate catastrophes. carbon dioxide. While it generates electricity with lower carbon emissions than coal, the massive leakage of unburned methane straight into the atmosphere cancels out those climate benefits—and could make gas even worse than coal at hastening global warming.”

On January 6, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency, and later that month, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer made their voices heard, calling on the EPA, the Department of Trans-

To view and sign the petition to stop the Porter Ranch gas leak, visit CREDOAction.com.

natural awakenings

February 2016

15

THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP It Sustains, Nourishes and Supports Us

by Judith Fertig

For a reason, a season or a lifetime, friends help us cope with challenges, motivate our best work and celebrate life. Friendships take many forms, crossing generations and self-imposed boundaries, and even spring up between unlikely confidants.

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hildhood friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck collaborated on the Oscar-winning screenplay for Good Will Hunting. Fierce tennis competitors Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki like to get together for a gal-pal getaway after a major match.

Country music artists Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood married following an 18-year friendship; “We had a lot more in common than I ever dreamed we did,” says Brooks.

Rafts of research confirm how friendship enriches us. Carlin Flora, of New York City, spent years as a Psychology Today writer and editor before penning Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are. She notes that among the varied and perhaps unforeseen benefits, friendships can help us

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“shed pounds, sleep better, stop smoking and even survive a major illness.”

An ongoing, two-decade-plus study of nearly 1,500 seniors by the Flinders University Centre for Ageing Studies, in Australia, found those with a large network of friends outliving others with the fewest friends by 22 percent. The University of Chicago National Opinion Research Center also reports people with five or more close friends as 50 percent more likely to describe themselves as “very happy” than those maintaining fewer confidants.

“Friends past and present play powerful and often unappreciated roles in determining our sense of self and the direction of our lives,” says Flora. “Even in a supposedly meritocratic society, friends give jobs

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and assignments to each other, so having friends that share your career interests and aspirations can get you much farther than you could ever get on your own.”

Make New Friends, Keep the Old Today, making and keeping friends can be challenging, due to distance, frequent life changes, overprotective parenting and substituting social media for more intimate face time. It all makes friendship more fluid than we might realize, says Shasta Nelson, the San Francisco founder of GirlFriendCircles.com, a women’s friendship matching site and author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen: The Guide to Creating a Meaningful Circle of Girlfriends, plus the upcoming book, Frientimacy, about deepening such relationships.

“Most of us replace half of our close friends every seven years,” says Nelson. Although this might seem alarming, she considers it a natural ebb and flow. “We all need a couple of very close friends, while others that come and go might just be what we currently need—at work or school, among first-time parents, in a new neighborhood, starting a job, in retirement or during some other life change,” she says.

Canadian Greg Tjosvold, a married middle school teacher in Vancouver, Canada, has enjoyed great friendships with women, including his wife, partly because he doesn’t relate to men’s generally competitive nature and interest in sports. But when a close female friend moved away, he wanted to expand his circle to include men. He joined a group called The Barley Brethren that sample craft beers and talk about life. Although not into suds, he values “having a safe and enjoyable place to discuss deep issues, victories and temporary setbacks.” He admits, “That’s over-simplification, though.” Finding a group of men he can feel a part of has validated him, making this unique man still feel like one of the guys.

Nelson categorizes the concen-

tric circles of developing friendship as starting with a mutually agreeable acquaintance or contact, and then moving emotionally closer with someone that we find similarities with. Then the original bond can enter the confirmed friend category. A group of friends, like a longtime book club, can constitute a community. The highest level is the committed friend that has evolved into a trusted and valuable life companion.

Sarah Huntsman Reed, a medical counselor in Kansas City, Missouri, has such a lifelong friend. She met Doug Reed, now a pharmacist, when both were in their high school musical, Once Upon a Mattress. Reed had a great sense of humor, Sarah remembers.

“He’s still the most honest yet kindest person I’ve met,” she says. Soon, their mothers became friends, too, and the two teens would pair up for family weddings. Then she went to college and married and he moved away; yet they stayed in touch through mutual friends and their moms, catching up in person when he returned to his hometown.

Seventeen years after they first met, by which time Sarah was divorced, the two discussed taking their friendship to the next level and soon married. “It was a big decision to commit, because we knew so much about

each other,” she says. “But we prefer each other’s company, and it was the best thing we ever did.”

Safety Net In trying times, friends can surround us with positive energy, says Madisyn Taylor, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the spiritual blog DailyOm, in Ashland, Oregon. “The people we love form a protective barrier that buffers and shields us from many of the world’s more crippling blows,” including receiving hurtful slights from others.

How we make friends has been altered by today’s social landscape, which includes working parents and Amber Alerts. The days of children freely roaming their neighborhood discovering friends to play with are, unfortunately, over, says Jennifer S. White, a Toledo, Ohio, blogger and author of The Art of Parenting: Love Letters from a Mother.

“My long-term friendships from childhood were all built around being neighbors and playing together just because we wanted to,” recalls White.

With today’s safety concerns and work-life challenges, parents now set up playdates, a more structured, less organic way of fostering childhood friendships, and they must be proactive to ensure success.

White has some misgivings about this modern-day approach. “When I think about that one little gleaming seed of truth at the heart of why, it’s often because I don’t think it’s fair that I have to be a popular ‘playdate mom’ for my kid to have some friends.”

Besties and Buddies Hallmarks of good friendship include staying in touch and being consistently positive and vulnerable, so as we reveal ourselves over time, we can be authentic with each other.

Automatic playdates—with siblings—often enhance family ties through lifelong friendships. Sally Ekus is a culinary talent representative in Florence, Massachusetts. Her younger sister, Amelia, is the general manager of Twitter Cafe, in New York City, and lives in Brooklyn.

Both foodies have knife-and-fork tattoos.

Sally is more into meal ingredients and preparation, while Amelia loves pouring wine and making sure everyone is comfortable.

How to Make Good Friends

by Shasta Nelson

Three Necessary Ingredients

Both friendship and romantic bonds are developed when three things occur: We feel satisfied, which happens when an interaction has more positivity than negativity. We feel safe, which comes when we commit to consistent time with each other. We feel seen, which we experience when we practice revealing ourselves and expressing vulnerability.

Here’s a formula for creating meaningful connections: Positivity + Consistency + Vulnerability = Frientimacy.

Two Steps

It usually takes most people six to eight interactions with someone new before they start feeling like friends.

The sooner they schedule such occasions, the sooner the rewards. c Be open to making new friends. c Make the first move; repeat.

One Ratio

To keep a friendship going, remember that it has to have a positivity-to-negativity ratio of at least five-to-one. That means sharing five times more fun and feel-good moments than stressors that can range from disappointments and frustrations to jealousies. By definition, to be and keep a good friend requires that both parties bring satisfying positivity to the relationship.

Source: Adapted from Frientimacy: How to Deepen Friendships for Lifelong Intimacy by Shasta Nelson; scheduled for release in March.

natural awakenings

February 2016

17

coverartist

We Are All in This Together Kelly Simpson Cover artist and schoolteacher Kelly Simpson paints exclusively with acrylics and pure color, maintaining that white “dilutes the passion and fierceness of a painting.” The artist covers a wide array

of subjects with her vibrant palette, from still-life renderings of fruits and flowers to abstracts and portraits.

Simpson’s grandmother taught her

to paint at an early age, and she later returned to the art form after developing health issues. “It started out as a therapeutic activity, but then became something greater. I like to take ugly events and transform them into something positive,” she says.

Much of her inspiration comes from stories in the news or her elementary school students, many coming to the U.S. to escape conflict in their home countries. “I like to portray cultures working together,” she says, depicting multicultural women linking arms across the globe, as on this month’s cover.

Simpson’s work has appeared across the Pacific Northwest and graced the pages of a children’s coloring book, an Indian college magazine and booklets promoting women’s issues. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her family and a chocolate Labrador.

“Together,” says Sally, “we create total hospitality, from lavish Passover seders to Friday nights with friends.”

She notes that her sister is the only other person who understands what the world looks like through the Ekus girls’ perspective.

Some adults might never meet face-to-face, but become friends via social media. American Jamie Schler, co-owner of the Hotel Diderot, in Chinon, France, with her native-born husband, says, “Social media [especially Facebook posts] is how I meet and make personal friends and keep in touch on a daily basis. As an expat, this is important because I often feel far from family and friends that understand me, share common interests and ideas and speak the same language—and I don’t necessarily mean English.” Her high-tech circle ranges from hometown pals to new friends in the food community and political forums. She raves, “It’s a place where I find them all at the same time!”

Nelson remarks, “No one is saying Facebook should replace visits, nights out and phone calls, but in a world where most of us wish we felt closer to a few more people, it doesn’t hurt to use every tool at our disposal for creating connections.”

Differences in age needn’t be a hurdle in forging friendships. Candelaria Silva-Collins, an arts marketing professional in Boston, attended area social gatherings where she regularly encountered a museum director and

Visit the artist’s portfolio at KellysArtFromTheSoul.com.

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Everyone from contemporary scientists to ancient philosophers agrees that having strong social bonds is probably the most meaningful contributor to happiness. ~Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project his wife. “They seemed like a fantastic couple,” she says, and began a friendship with the older woman, despite their being from different generations.

“My friend teaches me a lot about being vital and vibrant,” she says.

Expanding Circles

Becoming friends with people of different ages, languages and social standing gives us a spiritual workout, advises Nelson. With a master’s degree in divinity, Nelson views friendship as a type of health club in which we develop our empathy, forgiveness and compassion muscles through practice. “Friendships are the way we become better people,” she says.

Furthermore, the process, especially with people unlike us, leads to a better world. “Being able to inherently care for people we know makes it easier to do the same for people we’ve not met yet,” says Nelson. World peace happens one friend at a time.

Freelance writer Judith Fertig also blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot. com from Overland Park, KS.

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natural awakenings

February 2016

19

consciouseating

Ancient Grains for Modern Palates Gluten-Free and Eco-Friendly Grains Gain Favor

by Judith Fertig

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n c i e n t g ra i n s a r e m a k i n g a comeback. Grown since Neolithic times about 10,000 years ago, varieties of barley, corn, millet and rice have helped assuage the hunger of many communities.

Today, yellow millet, dark red wholegrain sorghum, brown quinoa and exotic black rice can help alleviate food shortages.

According to Harry Balzer, an expert surveyor of food and diet trends with The NPD Group, concerns about grains and gluten have prompted about a third of Americans to try to cut back on both since 2012. About 1 percent of the population has celiac disease, estimates the Celiac Disease Foundation, but many more prefer not to eat gluten.

Many ancient grains are naturally gluten-free, including amaranth,

buckwheat, millet, quinoa, rice and teff.

“Some think that a grain-free way of eating is healthier and also better for the planet,” says food writer Maria Speck, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, author of Ancient Grains for Modern Meals and Simply Ancient Grains.

“But that may be too simplistic, a characteristic of many diet trends.”

Better for Our Health

Whole grains fill us up and provide fiber, both necessary for maintaining optimum digestion and weight, says Kathleen Barnes, a widely published natural health expert in Brevard, North Carolina.

Eating more whole grains has been previously associated with a lower risk of major diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,

Natural Awakenings recommends using organic and non-GMO (genetically modified) ingredients whenever possible.

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based on studies by the University of Minnesota and Lund University, in Sweden. Qi Sun, assistant professor in the Harvard School of Public Health department of nutrition, agrees that whole grains are one of the major healthful foods for prevention of major chronic diseases. He’s the lead author of a new Harvard study of data associating consumption of whole grains with a 9 percent reduction in overall mortality and up to 15 percent fewer cardiovascular fatalities during two 25-year-long research initiatives that followed 74,000 woman and 43,000 men. The researchers cited substituting whole grains for refined grains and red meat as likely contributors to longer life.

“Whole grains are nutritional powerhouses, packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, beneficial fiber and even some protein,” observes Speck. With a German father and a Greek mother, she grew up in two cultures where grains are a part of everyday meals. “We eat them because they taste good.”

Better for Local Farmers

Sourcing and eating more organic and GMO-free whole grains (absent modified genetics) can help support local farmers, Speck maintains. Choose barley from Four Star Farms, in Massachusetts; heirloom grits from Anson Mills, in South Carolina; quinoa from White Mountain Farm, in Colorado; or heirloom Japanese rice from Koda Farms, in California.

Better for the Planet

Ancient grains require fewer natural resources to plant, grow and harvest.

According to the Water Footprint Network, a pound of beef, millet and rice require 1,851, 568 and 300 gallons of water, respectively, to produce.

Substituting grains in diets is a sustainable alternative to meat, and they grow on grasslands that now inefficiently support livestock. According to University of Cambridge Professor of Engineering David MacKay, it takes about 25 times more energy to produce one calorie of beef than one calorie of natural grain.

Ancient grains can add variety

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFood AndLifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

Favorite Ancient Grains

by Maria Speck

I

t’s best to cook up a batch of ancient grains ahead on the weekend for use during a busy week. To inject more color and flavor, add a pinch of saffron to turn the cooking water golden, or cook the grains in pomegranate juice.

Cooked grain keeps in the refrigerator for up to seven days, ready to enhance salads, soups, yogurt or desserts.

Amaranth. The seed head of pigweed, amaranth can be baked into a custard or added to a soup. Grown by the Aztecs, iron- and protein-rich amaranth can be popped raw in a skillet like popcorn, and then added as garnish to soups and salads.

Buckwheat. The seeds of a plant related to rhubarb and grown in northern climates, buckwheat can be ground into flour for savory French crepes or simmered whole in soup.

Quinoa. Grown at high altitudes, quinoa has become a popular addition to salads or yogurt, as well as its own side dish.

Millet. A tiny, drought-tolerant grain, millet can be added to bread dough for texture or cooked as a healthy breakfast with toasted almonds and cardamom.

Teff. From Ethiopia, the flour of this tiny grain is fermented and used to make the flatbread known as injera.

Try a teff waffle with caramelized pineapple.

Source: Adapted from Simply Ancient Grains by Maria Speck.

Cooking with Ancient Grains Buckwheat and Beet Soup Yields: 4 servings 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1½ cups chopped red onion (1 medium) ¾ tsp fine sea salt 2 tsp minced garlic (2 cloves) ¼ tsp dried thyme ¾ tsp dried savory or ½ tsp more dried thyme ¾ cup raw buckwheat groats (not kasha) 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 cups raw shredded beets, preferably red (1 large or 2 small) 1 to 2 tsp honey 1 cup purified water (approximately) 2 tsp sherry vinegar, or more as needed Horseradish Yogurt ¾ cup whole milk or 2% Greek yogurt 3 Tbsp retail horseradish, with liquid ¼ tsp fine sea salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper To make the soup, heat a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Swirl in the oil and wait until it shimmers.

Add the onion and ¼ tsp of the salt.

Stir occasionally, until the onion just starts to brown at the edges, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and the herbs thyme and savory, and then cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Watch closely, so as not to burn the pieces.

Stir in the buckwheat groats and cook, stirring occasionally and monitoring, until the grains take on some color, about 2 minutes.

Photo by Erin Kunkel © 2015

and flavor to meals and a wealth of them are as close as the gluten-free aisle of a neighborhood grocery or health food store.

Add the broth (beware of splatter), the remaining ½ tsp salt and the pepper and bring to a boil, scraping the bottom of the pan.

Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer, cover and cook until the buckwheat is tender, about 15 minutes.

While it simmers, prepare the horseradish yogurt topping: Combine the horseradish, salt and pepper in a small bowl and beat until smooth using a fork. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.

To finish, stir in the beets and 1 tsp of the honey and then add about 1 cup of water to reach a preferred consistency.

Remove the pot from the heat, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften.

Add the vinegar and taste for seasoning. Depending on the beets’ sweetness, maybe add another teaspoon of honey and a bit more vinegar to balance it, and perhaps a tad more salt and pepper.

The seasoning is forgiving because the topping will bring the flavors together.

Ladle the soup into four bowls, garnish with a dollop of the yogurt topping and serve at once.

natural awakenings

February 2016

21

Cardamom-Infused Black Rice Porridge with Blueberries and Pistachios

wisewords

Alyssa Milano’s Anti-Aging Secrets

Yields: 4 to 6 servings Black Rice ¾ cup black rice 2 whole green cardamom pods 1½ cups boiling purified water Porridge 1 cup half-and-half, plus more as needed 3 Tbsp maple syrup, or more as needed ¾ tsp ground cardamom 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 4 to 6 Tbsp pomegranate seeds, for garnish 3 Tbsp lightly toasted chopped plain pistachios, for garnish Start the rice the night before: Add the rice and cardamom pods to a large, heavy saucepan. Pour over the boiling water, cover and let sit at room temperature or overnight (or chill, covered, for up to 2 days).

The next morning, make the porridge: Add 1 cup of half-and-half, the maple syrup and ground cardamom to the saucepan with the rice, cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Uncover, decrease the heat to retain a lively simmer, and cook, stirring once occasionally, until the rice is tender with a slight chew, 5 to 7 minutes.

Remove the cardamom pods, if preferred. Add the blueberries and simmer gently until they are warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes more.

To finish, add ¼ to ½ cup more halfand-half to reach a desired consistency. Taste for sweetness and adjust with more maple syrup if needed.

Divide between 4 to 6 breakfast bowls. Top each bowl with 1 tablespoon of pomegranate seeds and 1 teaspoon of chopped pistachios.

Serve warm.

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Her Natural Lifestyle Choices Keep Her Young

by Gerry Strauss

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lyssa Milano has grown up, and most of us have grown up with her. From her days as preteen tomboy Samantha Miceli on Who’s the Boss? to witchy woman Phoebe Halliwell on Charmed, the actress has been a vibrant, relatable and beautiful persona we’ve come to know via television. She was even named a UNICEF ambassador in 2004. Today, with a young family, her Touch licensed sports apparel line, and the wisdom that accompanies adulthood, her commitment to a natural, ecofriendly lifestyle has become another hallmark of her life.

What connection do you see between eating organic foods and maintaining the energy level that your busy life requires?

I think everything that you put into your body has a connection to how well we function in daily life. As a mom of two, eating organic is a priority; when organic is not an option, it’s about finding the healthiest accessible choices.

I eat tomatoes like other people eat fruit and love papaya. I would put avocado on anything. I also like to cook with healthful herbs and spices

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like garlic and onions, which is natural for an Italian like me.

We keep genetically modified foods out of our house.

Which fitness habits embodied by others have you made your own?

In my Who’s the Boss? days, Tony Danza and Judith Light were always active and athletic. Tony would bring in a tap dance teacher and Judith a private trainer during lunch breaks. Being tutored on the set, I had no physical education classes or sports activities, so it was superimportant for me to see how selfmotivated they were to stay fit and in shape. Their example instilled a desire to take care of myself as an adult.

What role does nature play in your daily life?

I love being outside in my organic garden three or more times a week.

Also, the kids and I regularly head outside, which is an easy place to keep them happily and healthfully occupied without my having to jump through hoops.

As an advocate of breastfeeding, which benefits do

you think are especially good for mother and child?

In the beginning, a primary benefit is giving your child quality nourishment, including healthy antibodies and other goodies to support health. As they start eating solids, it’s still about maintaining that intimate connection until they’re ready to be weaned and you’re ready to surrender this last physical bond.

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How do you balance family life with your acting career?

It’s a hard balance for anyone, especially one who’s detail-oriented and a bit of a perfectionist, like me. The most important thing is to be in the moment, doing the best I can every day. I’ve also learned to be kind to myself when I’m failing to do so or something is annoying me due to some unfortunate imbalance.

Let Us Help in Your Move Toward Wellness

How do you and your husband keep both your friendship and love vibrant?

We work hard at maintaining a good and healthy marriage, which can be tested in tough times. I believe that it’s vital to have the ability to laugh; you have to find humor in things, reminding yourself and each other that there is something funny in every daily activity, no matter how mundane or hard. When there’s no time to eat together or be intimate, shared laughter is an easy thing to achieve together. Done daily, it can only make the marriage stronger.

We enjoy date nights once or twice a week when my parents take care of the kids. I’ll put on mascara and change out of yoga pants, even if we’re just hanging out together. Then we do little things like asking how each other’s day went and caring about the answer. We also look for ways we can help each other throughout the week.

What actions does your family emphasize in being stewards of the Earth?

We try to be as eco-friendly as possible, including having lights on timers, conserving water and being kind to animals. I cannot stress how important it is to visit a farm and organic gardens and orchards with children so that they see where their food comes from. We can’t take good food for granted.

In addition to a naturally healthy lifestyle, what else do you credit for your enduring youthfulness?

My secret is happiness. I’ve always said that as long as my laugh lines are deeper than my frown lines, I’m living a good life.

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Gerry Strauss is a freelance writer in Hamilton, NJ. Connect at GerryStrauss@aol.com. natural awakenings

February 2016

23

healingways

Respiratory Health Links

YOUR MOUTH TELLS A STORY

Functional Dentistry Connects Oral Health to Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease

by Linda Sechrist

T

he focus of functional medicine— whole person health care—easily expands to include dentists trained in oral systemic health. Currently embraced by a small percentage of today’s farsighted dentists and doctors, this relatively new field of prevention and wellness views the mouth as a key portal when considering the status of the whole body. Similar to the way doctors of Oriental medicine assess the heart’s pulse to help diagnose health issues throughout the body, these systemic health dentists consider the gums, tongue, teeth and throat to be key signals of overall health.

American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH) Executive Director Bobbie Delsasso was a periodontal hygienist for more than 30 years before becoming a consultant and public speaker on the larger perspective. “I taught patients about the importance of good nutrition and alerted them to consult their physician regarding what their mouth health might indicate about their body’s health,” she says. While the academy educates dental professionals to understand the internal workings of nutrition and what the mouth reveals about overall well-being, “Less than 6 percent of physicians even learn adequate basics of nutrition in medical schools,” she notes.

Cardiovascular Health Links

Oral/Systemic Connection, based on a course designed for medical professionals by physician Bradley Bale and Amy Doneen, an advanced registered nurse practitioner, co-founders of the Bale/ Doneen Method for the prevention of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. Mike Milligan, a doctor of dental medicine, founder of Eastland Dental Center, in Bloomington, Illinois, and AAOSH president, explains that heart attack and stroke are triggered by an inflammatory process which can be initiated or exacerbated by periodontal disease and abscessed teeth.

Thomas Nabors, a doctor of dental surgery and an authority in molecular analysis and genetic risk assessment for periodontal diseases, provides clinical proof that supports the growing association between medicine and dentistry. “Since our inaugural AAOSH conference [in 2010], Bradley, Amy and Tom have continued to provide the current science and clinical backdrop to the oral/systemic connection to cardiovascular wellness,” says Milligan.

Beyond nutrition, academy curricula for dentists now include such titles as Arteriology and Vascular Inflammation – The

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Other vital advances in oral systemic health involve treating airway concerns such as snoring and sleep apnea. “Snoring is typically caused by muscles and tissues relaxing in the throat and mouth, resulting in decreased space in the airway passage and vibration of tissues.

Eventually, individuals can develop sleep apnea, which can also result in hypertension and other problems,” advises Milligan.

In sleep apnea, the sleeper’s breathing pauses often or produces hypopnea, slowed or shallow breathing for 10 or more seconds at a time.

Fewer than five episodes per hour is normal, with five to 15 considered mild apnea, 15 to 30 moderate and more than 30 severe.

Although 20 percent of Americans may have sleep apnea—typically associated with insomnia, tiredness and less oxygen in the body—95 percent of affected individuals go undiagnosed.

To help, Milligan suggests that before going to bed we lower the thermostat in the bedroom and avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, watching television or working on a computer.

Improved breathing helps assuage snoring, sleep apnea, asthma, hay fever and nasal congestion. Milligan cites Patrick McKeown’s work, explained in his book The Oxygen Advantage.

An authority on the Buteyko Breathing Method, McKeown explains how improved breathing dramatically improves oxygenation, releases more energy and supports lifelong health and well-being.

Muscle retraining using orofacial myofunctional therapy can help prevent sleep apnea and also abate temporomandibular joint disorders. This new field is concerned with orofacial functional patterns and postures when teeth are apart, their status 95 percent of each day and night. It also retrains muscles to keep the tongue at the roof of the mouth and the lips together to prevent breathing through the mouth, correct swallowing function and eliminate poor oral habits such as thumb sucking.

Three mechanical treatments for sleep apnea include mandibular advancement oral devices used to move the lower jaw forward, a continuous positive airway pressure machine to aid airway functioning, or surgery, which is the last resort. “The real opportunity for catching and preventing this is with children 5 to 10 years old, when their jaws are developing,” says Milligan.

He further cites links discovered between the mouth and brain. “Oral spirochetes, which normally live in the mouth, have been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Dr. Judith Miklossy, from the International Association for Alzheimer’s, spoke at an AAOSH conference about the link between oral bacteria and dementia, and Garth Ehrlich, Ph.D., professor of microbiology, immunology and otolaryngology at Drexel University College of Medicine, addressed rheumatoid arthritis and certain types of cancers.

All of these links are more than enough reasons why good oral hygiene is essential to good health,” says Milligan.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.

This article highlights just a few of the ways that dentists today are positively affecting the health and lives of their patients. Dentists are more than the drill-and-fill stereotype of the past. ~ Dr. Colin Yoshida, DDS

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February 2016

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healthykids

Mindful Minutes for Little Ones Yoga Helps Kids Focus and Relax

by Julianne Hale

A

merican kids’ school, after-school and weekend schedules now rival the hectic pace of their multitasking parents. Like their adult counterparts, youngsters need time to decompress from the pressures of life and be present in their own skin, and yoga provides the tools to accomplish this.

Most adults take to their yoga mat to create harmony in their body and mind, increase flexibility and balance, build muscle tone and strength, and because it makes them feel great.

These same benefits apply to children as their developing bodies and minds respond to yoga on a deep level, both on and off the mat.

Start with Watching Breath “Breathing and mindfulness practices are important for children,” explains Mariam Gates, the Santa Cruz, California, creator of the Kid Power Yoga Program and author of Good Morning Yoga and the upcoming Good Night Yoga. “There is so much that

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

children are not in control of in their everyday lives; to give them a way to physically process their experience, to self-soothe and find their own internal source of strength, is crucial.”

“Having kids experience simply paying attention to their breath as it comes all the way in and moves all the way out can serve them well in every area of their lives going forward,” says Gates. In the classroom, it transfers to learning skills benefited by the ability to focus.

From toddlers to teens, children can have a difficult time processing and controlling their emotions, which are vital life skills. Carla Tantillo, founder of Mindful Practices, a Chicago-area wellness organization, has found that yoga and the

practice of mindfulness help children express themselves in constructive ways. She observes, “In any situation, especially in communities where reactivity, impulsiveness and violent solutions are modeled, yoga empowers children to pause and take a breath so they can own what’s happened, move through it and move on.”

“I like yoga because it makes me feel like there is calm all around me,” says 8-year-old Biko Cooper.

Dee Marie, the Boulder, Colorado, founder and executive director of Calming Kids, a nonprofit program that integrates yoga into the classroom to foster a nonviolent atmosphere, says, “When a child learns through yoga how to feel a sense of themselves and begins to understand their self-worth and stand tall in their power, they can begin to regulate their breath and their emotions.”

These invaluable skills stay with children through adulthood.

Step into Yoga Together

Educators are starting to take notice of yoga’s benefits for children, including those with attention deficit disorders or autism, but yoga practice is still rare among school-age children. As encouragement, “Make it fun,” advises Gates. “It’s essential to create experiences that feel accessible and enjoyable for kids. They must feel empowered to do it themselves and take over the experience.”

Six-year-old Carmen Wheeler likes doing yoga with her dad.

“Yoga gets me feeling strong and it really calms me down,” she says. Music can help children relax and focus during their practice. Soothing basic instrumentals are good to start; an Internet search for yoga music for kids reveals many options.

Parents can assist by incorporating yoga into a child’s daily bedtime ritual.

“Do whatever they are willing to do with them,” counsels Marie.

“Start by lying on the

bedroom floor, doing stretches and focusing on breathing. Then move to the bed and teach some relaxation and visualization techniques.”

Marie cautions parents against insisting that their child’s yoga practice mirror their own. “We have to meet children where they are.” Adults think that yoga has to look a certain way, but sometimes children don’t necessarily want to do the postures we’re familiar with. The best teaching reaches each individual child in a way that resonates with them because yoga is a lifestyle, not an exercise regimen,” she says. Yoga novices and parents that prefer specific guidance can take advantage of local studio classes for children and families or use DVDs, online streaming services and instruction books.

Kevin Day, age 5, regularly starts his days with a Boat pose. “I like it because you can do it with a friend,” he says.

Lisa Flynn, the Dover, New Hampshire, founder and chief executive officer of ChildLight Yoga and Yoga 4 Classrooms, is optimistic about the future. “In 10 years, I envision social and emotional learning, yoga, and mindfulness integrated at every school and mandated by educational policy,” she says. In addition to improved physical, social, emotional and cognitive health and wellness of the students, teachers and parents, she foresees “a positive shift in the overall school climate.”

Julianne Hale is a freelance writer and Natural Awakenings franchise magazine editor in Cleveland, TN.

Cultivating Mindfulness in the Classroom

by Julianne Hale

W

hen Scott Frauenheim, director of the Chicago International Charter School (CICS) West Belden, noticed that some students in his kindergarten through eighth grade urban classrooms were not fully engaged, he decided to focus the 2014-2015 school year on mindfulness for both students and faculty. He enlisted the help of Mindful Practices, a Chicago-based school wellness organization founded by Carla Tantillo.

Using the strategies Tantillo recommends in her book Cooling Down Your Classroom, teachers were taught to involve students in mindful minutes—short bursts of simple yoga poses, breathing exercises and other

techniques—to cultivate mindfulness. The initiative proved to be powerful and helpful, explains Frauenheim. “Soon students were able to identify areas of personal need throughout the day and cultivate mindfulness within themselves using what they learned.”

The program concluded last year, but CICS West Belden teachers and students continue to use designated time to practice mindfulness in the morning and as a classroom mental reset when they notice that students are distracted or unfocused during the day.

Mindful Practices’ innovative programs have achieved similar success in other elementary, middle and high schools in the Chicago area.

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February 2016

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fitbody

ticipants on a 55K course from Cable to Hayward, Wisconsin (Birkie.com).

Any Season Warm-ups

Gliding Across Snowscapes

Cross-Country Ski to Explore Winter’s Wonders

by Randy Kambic

W

hile downhill Alpine skiing offers spurts of intense action in-between times spent driving to and from resorts and standing in line at lifts, all that’s needed for Nordic cross-country skiing is a few inches of snow and strap-on skis to transform any nearby park, wooded trail or spacious backyard into a quiet, serene eco-playground. The similar dry-land recreation of Nordic walking that uses poles can be enjoyed year-round.

Ski Season Techniques

Both the standard Nordic form of what’s also known as free-heel skiing and the more challenging Telemark style, able to incorporate hilly terrains, have northern European roots. Cross-country skis are longer and thinner than downhill versions. Instead of placing the entire foot in a bulky, stiff boot affixed to an alpine ski, only the toe section of a sneaker-like boot adheres to a crosscountry ski, enabling a fuller gliding motion.

Gliding over relatively flat ter-

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rain while leaning slightly forward, it’s important to keep weight evenly distributed over both skis. Continuously moving ahead in a left-right-left-right motion with a long gait creates a fullbody workout as each opposing arm plants a pole and pushes on it to carry the skier into the next step.

Cross-country skis aren’t made for sudden stops, so stay alert; gentle, side-to-side skidding employing both legs or turning the front of both skis inward to form a triangle effects stopping. With experience, the skis can be used more like long ice skates, pushing both ahead and outward on them to move slightly faster on wide, groomed, flat surfaces.

Vermont native Bill Koch, the only American to win an Olympic crosscountry ski medal—silver at the 1976 Innsbruck Games—helped popularize the recreational sport in America. On February 20, the 2016 Slumberland American Birkebeiner, North America’s largest annual cross-country ski race, is expected to attract about 10,000 par-

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

“Many of the movement patterns of Alpine and Nordic skiing are similar,” explains Michael Wood, chief fitness officer of Koko FitClub (KokoFitClub.com), which is reflected in a new eight-week Snow Sports program at many of its 130 locations in 30 states. “Our Smartraining equipment offers more than 100 different exercises, many of them ideal for preparing for cross-country skiing, like the squat, hip extension, and trunk and hip rotation.”

For post-ski stretching, he and club coaches often recommend yoga-type flows like downward dog, child pose and the one-legged pigeon move. “We like to customize programs to enhance dynamic stretching, intensive knee analysis and specific routines to improve individual performance,” says Wood.

Winter Weight Loss

Outdoor winter recreation can help shed pounds. Harley Pasternak, a celebrity trainer, nutrition expert and author, recently reported in Health magazine, “Being outdoors in the cold air enables your body to burn more calories as it makes an effort to warm up. When you’re chilled, you shiver and shake, which is your body’s way of warming itself by increasing its resting metabolic rate.”

Pasternak says that spending time outdoors in cold weather can increase calories burned by as much as 30 percent and advises, “Take up ice skating, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.”

Anytime, Anywhere Walking Nordic walking, launched in Finland in the late 1990s and since spread throughout Europe, incorporates some motions similar to cross-country skiing. Walking while using special poles on dry land or at the beach extends associated health and fitness benefits year-round. Initiated 11 years ago, the American Nordic Walking Association (anwa.us), based in Palisades, California, conducts classes and other events nationwide.

Founder, president and master

coach Bernd Zimmerman reports significant growth in its popularity in recent years. “Both cross-country skiing and Nordic walking are great full-body workouts that use 90 percent of your muscles and treat both the upper and lower parts of the body like machines.”

Suitable for all ages, including those that have balance or health issues or can’t run anymore, the walking poles act as extensions of the hands. Their rubber or metal tips work on any surface, such as streets, sidewalks, gravel, sand, dirt or grass. Compared to regular walking, Zimmerman says

the Nordic style burns up to 40 percent more calories, tones the arms and upper body, reduces stress on knees and joints, and safely boosts the intensity of exercises to yield additional heart and lung benefits.

Ski and general sports equipment retailers that sell and rent equipment also host informative clinics.

Check out local retailers for local ski club group outings.

It’s more than just green.

It’s FUN!

Randy Kambic is an Estero, FL, freelance writer and editor, including for Natural Awakenings.

Winter Trips for the Intrepid

E

nthusiasts that have built up stamina might consider taking a multi-day backcountry or mountainous trek along marked trails. Overnight stays are offered in lodges, huts or cabins, with many providing cross-country equipment and showshoes. Here are some examples of the awaiting adventures.

California and Nevada Many clubs in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Las Vegas offer overnight bus trips to cross-country trails in the Lake Tahoe and Sierra Nevada areas. (BackcountrySkiTours.com) Colorado The nonprofit 10th Mountain Division Hut Association was one of the first to establish a hut-to-hut system, encompassing 350 miles of trails in the Rocky Mountains. (Huts.org) Minnesota Boundary Country Trekking offers stays at various lodges along cross-country trails in northern Minnesota. (BoundaryCountry.com) Quebec A few hours’ drive from New England borders lies plenty of ungroomed backcountry terrain with stunning views along the 78-mile, 15-hut network in the Chic-Chic Mountains, near the Gaspé Peninsula Gaspésie Park. (sepaq.com) Vermont Try Blueberry Lake Cross Country Center, in East Warren.

(BlueberryLakeSkiVt.com) Wisconsin Visit Seth Peterson Cottage Conservancy, in Reedsburg. (SethPeterson.org)

Natural Awakenings’ new digital magazine Click weblinks Jump to specific articles Enjoy Flash files

To receive Natural Awakenings in your inbox FREE each month, simply send your email address to Publisher@NAEastBay.com (It’s that easy) natural awakenings

February 2016

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inspiration

DEEP LISTENING Our Wholehearted Attention Is Our Greatest Gift

by Kay Lindahl

P

erhaps one of the most precious and powerful gifts we give another person is to really listen to them with quiet, fascinated attention and our whole being; fully present. Deep listening occurs at the heart level, and we must ask ourselves how often we listen to each other so completely. Such listening is a creative force. We expand, ideas come to life and grow and we remember who we are. It brings forth our inner spirit, intelligence, or true self, and opens up the space for us to thrive.

Sometimes we have to do a lot of listening before another’s inner being feels replenished. Some people just need to talk and go on and on, usually in a superficial, nervous manner. This often happens because they have not been truly listened to. Patience is required to be a listening presence for such a person long enough that they get to their center point of tranquility and peace. The results of such listening are extraordinary. Some would call them miracles.

Listening well takes time, skill and a readiness to slow down to afford time for reflection and to let go of expectations, judgments, boredom, self-assertiveness and defensiveness. When two people listen deeply to one another, we sense that we are present not only to each other, but also to something beyond our individual selves; something spiritual, holy or sacred.

Once we experience the depth of being listened to like this, we naturally begin to listen to be present with another. We notice what occurs when we interrupt someone and when we don’t.

We watch what unfolds when another stops speaking and we ask, “Is there anything else?”

Listening is an art that calls for practice. Imagine if we all spent just a few minutes each day choosing to practice the art of listening; of being fully present with the person we are with.

Being truly listened to and understood yields a sigh of contentment and joy.

Love is life. And if you

miss love, you miss life. ~Leo Buscaglia

Kay Lindahl, of Long Beach, CA, is the author of The Sacred Art of Listening, from which this was adapted with permission from SkyLight Paths Publishing.

Effective Listening Practices

by Kay Lindahl

Pay attention to the environment.

Stop other activities to listen. Clear your desk. Turn off background noise or move to a quiet corner.

Be present. Listen with an open, appreciative and curious mind rather than evaluating what’s being said. Put your own agenda aside.

Stop talking. One person speaks at a time without interruption.

Listen for understanding. No one is required to agree with or believe what they hear. Let empathy and compassion take the lead; put yourself in their shoes.

Ask for clarification. It can help a listener understand what’s being expressed.

Pause before speaking. Allow the speaker to complete their thought, and then wait a few seconds before responding. Also ask, “Is there anything else?” There almost always is.

Listen to yourself. Inquire of your inner voice, “What wants to be expressed next?”

Signal that they’ve been heard. Encouraging body language includes empathetic facial expressions, nodding and sympathetic postures.

Adapted from The Top Ten Powerful Listening Practices on the author’s website SacredListening. com.

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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.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Valentine Bingo for Moms | San Ramon

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6

Moscow Festival Ballet Romeo and Juliet | Livermore

Dash for Cash Bocce Satellite Tournament | Livermore

Enjoy the infamous story of Romeo and Juliet by the Moscow Festival Ballet. Be enthralled with exceptional dancers and classical choreography. $59/$42, $16/students 17 and under. Bankhead Theatre, 2400 First St, Livermore. 925-373-6800.

LivermorePerformingArts.org.

8am-4pm. Novice players come out and put your skill and talent to the test. Not only will you gain self-confidence and have fun, but you’ll have a chance at winning $10,000 in prize money. Campo di Bocce, 175 E Vineyard Ave, Livermore. 925-249-9800. CampoDiBocce. com, CampoDiBocce.com/Dash-For-Cash-Tournament.

Urban Cycling 101 Classroom Workshop | Berkeley

TedxBerkeley | Berkeley

6:30-8:30pm. This is meant to be fun while you learn the basic rules of the road. Learn to fit your helmet properly, what equipment should be on your bike, how to avoid theft, riding when it’s dark, and how to avoid a crash.

This workshop is intended for adults and teens. No bike is needed. Dwinelle Hall, Room 209, UC Berkeley. For more information please go to BikeEastBay.org.

10am-5pm. Come join the thousands of attendees for a mind blowing discussion, presentation, and performance that will change your way of thinking about the world we live in. Tickets must be purchased in advance, none will be sold at the door. Zellerbach Hall, 101 Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley. TinyURL.com, tinyurl.com/TEDxBerkeleyTwitter, TedxBerkeley.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Lost in the Woods - Sour Beer Party | Oakland

Street Fest | Walnut Creek 5-8pm. The evening festivities are for all ages. Enjoy live entertainment, arts and crafts, a variety of treats, food trucks galore, and so much more. Ride your bike to the event and the valet attendant will park your bike securely. Free parking in downtown garages after 5pm.

Too many fun things to list! Cypress Street, (Between Main St & Locust St), Walnut Creek. For more information go to WalnutCreekDowntown.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Mini Bouncers T & T | Livermore 9:30-10:15am. For ages 3 to 5. Have your child learn tumbling and trampoline skills. Children of all levels, boys and girls, will learn confidence while exercising.

Clothing must not have buttons. No snaps, zippers, and socks must be worn. Parents or guardians must fill out a waiver. $107. Springtime Tumbling & Trampoline, 5715 Southfront Rd, Bldg D, Livermore. For questions please call 925-456-0110. Register at Active.com.

Waiver at TumblingAndTrampoline.com.

Shop Local Day and Night | Danville 10am-7pm. With the local stores and restaurants being open extra hours, don’t miss the opportunity to visit historic downtown Danville. Residents and visitor are able to shop, dine and play, and to see all that the merchants have to offer. Bring your friends and family. Historic Downtown Danville, Downtown Hartz Ave, Danville.

DiscoverDanvilleCA.com, Danville.CA.gov.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Foreign Film - The Lives of Others | San Ramon 7pm. For adults 18 and over. This movie is R rated.

Subtitles in German. $10/refreshments included. Front Row Theater, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon.

For more information call 925-973-3343.

SanRamonPerformingArts.com.

6-9pm. A fun way to start out the new year. A party for New Belgium Brewing to release their new wood-aged sour beers for this year. Come sample some of our beers.

A free bike valet is available. Free/donations benefit Bike East Bay. Lost & Found, 2040 Telegraph Ave, Oakland.

More information and tickets at EventBrite.com.

Paws in Need Valentine Crab Feed | Livermore 6-10pm. Enjoy a delicious dinner of crab, pasta, salad, bread, dessert and beverage, all while assisting lovable animals and their less than fortunate owners, who may not be able to afford such things as spay/neuter surgery, or needed emergency care. $40. Shrine Event Center, 70 Lindbergh Ave, Livermore. 925-323-8417.

Paws-In-Need.org.

Frederica von Stade | Livermore 6:30-8:30pm. Enjoy a nice evening out of fine wines, hors d’oeuvres, and the beautiful music of Frederica von Stade. Don’t miss out on the personal interview with her. Mertes Center, Las Positas College, 3000 Campus Hill Dr, Livermore. LivermoreValleyOpera.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6 & SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Breema Winter Intensive Weekend | Oakland Start time varies by day. Breema offers a practical way to establish true body-mind connection, by unifying the energies of mind, body, and feelings to support being present. CE available for nurses, massage therapists, and bodyworkers. $140/first-time attendees. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937.

Breema.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Super Bowl at Jack London Square | Oakland If you’re not able to get to the game, come join us at one of our many restaurants and enjoy the perfect game day. Enjoy great food with great friends. Jack London Square, Embarcadero West, Oakland. 510-645-9292.

JackLondonSquare.com.

Have some chocolate, have some Bingo, and have some fun. This Bingo is for the Moms. Prizes awarded are paperback romance books. Registration is not required, but seating is limited. Sorry, no dads or children at this event. Dougherty Station Library, 17017 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon. You may contact Dougherty Station Library, 925-973-3380.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Inspired to Ride: BTCEB Fundraiser | Oakland 3pm. Bring some friends, family, or come alone. See two great bicycle movies and help support Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay. The movies paying are Tailhead and Inspired to Ride. $12/advance, $15/at door.

Grand Lake Theatre, 3200 Grand Ave, Oakland. Advance tickets available at ImAthlete.com. BTCEB.org.

Teen Game Day | Oakland 3:30-5pm. A great way for your teen to be with peers in a safe environment. Play cards, crafts, and board games, and even have a snack, all as an after class activity.

Free and open to all teens. Oakland Library, Asian Branch, 388 9th St, Ste 190, Oakland. 510-238-3400.

OalandLibrary.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Alameda County Home & Garden Show | Pleasanton Noon. Come out and enjoy the largest home and garden show in the area. Get ideas for windows, kitchens, heating and air, and anything else you might like to take on around the house. If you own a home, or are dreaming of buying one, don’t miss this event. Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton. 925426-7600. AlamedaCountyFair.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Adult Learn to Ride | Oakland 10am-1pm. Adults and teens. If you haven’t ridden a bike in a long time, or if you have never learned at all, here is your chance. A trained instructor who is friendly and patient will help you get started. Rental bikes and helmets are available at a low cost. Rockridge BART, West side parking lot, (near corner of Shafter Ave and Forest St) Oakland. Contact 510-845-7433 x2. Robert@ BikeEastBay.org.

Jack Of All Trades | Oakland 11am-5pm. The square will be filled with a mixture of vendors. See antique dealers, collectors, indie designers, live music, and DIY workshops. Event is for all ages.

Free to the public. Jack London Square, Embarcadero West, Oakland. 510-645-9292. JackLondonSquare.com.

Urban Cycling 101 Classroom Workshop | Oakland 1-3pm. Have fun learning the basic rules of the road by a certified instructor of the League of American Bicyclists. Indoor workshop designed for adults and teens.

No bicycle is needed. Attendees receive a reflective vest for participation. 81st Ave Branch Library, 1021 81st Ave, Oakland. Register at BikeEastBay.org.

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Webinar Series: The Food, Body, Spirit Connection

Indie Innovators | Pleasant Hill

12-week webinar series. Join Debra Mastura Graugnard for this journey of exploration, and together we will examine your relationship with food, your eating habits, and your body. Bring gentle, compassionate healing to your belly and your heart. Deepen your commitment to your body as a holy temple. 800-238-3060 opt 5.

SufiUniversity.org/Distance-Learning/Webinars/.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 West Ham United International Academy Soccer Camp | Piedmont 9am-12:30pm. For ages 7 to 15 years of age. Program is co-ed. Help your child gain confidence. Players learn technique, speed, and agility. Let your child develop a passion for the game that only comes from practice and repetition. Starting at $290. Linda Beach Playfield, 333 Linda Ave, Piedmont. Register at Active.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 Alameda Point Clean-Up Day | Alameda 9am-noon. The city will be sponsoring a clean-up day to help conserve the wildlife and the environment of our area. Volunteers are needed. Proper attire is required (closed-toe, sturdy shoes). Bring your own bucket or bag, and wear work gloves. Refreshments and snacks will follow. Those under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent. Main St Shoreline Parking Lot, Main St and Navy Way, Alameda. 650-438-8780.

RCampos@Alumni.Haas.org. Alameda-MLK-Shoreline-Cleanup.EventBrite.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.

CAREGIVERS WANTED Caregivers wanted for a Holistic Home Care Agency.

We are looking for loving, patient and compassionate individuals who are trainable and coachable in the areas of whole food nutrition and holistic practices and lifestyle. It will be a good fit for someone who is also looking to get healthy using natural means. We are looking for someone who is professional and holds high ethics and integrity. Elderly caregiving experience preferable. Compensation: hourly. Please email your resume to Info@HolisticCaregivers.com.

Call 925-557-7583 to Place Your Ad

10:15am-12:15pm. Designed for middle- and highschool-aged children. Learn and explore the world of multimedia art and design. Create projects of your own, with a real world application. This is eligable for Volunteer Hours. Pleasant Hill Library, 1750 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill. Contact person is Monica, 925-646-6434.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Urban Cycling 101 Road Class | Alameda 9am-2:30pm. This is the second part of Urban Cycling 101. Working in small groups learn to safely share the road with others by improving your handling skills and emergency maneuvers. You must attend a classroom workshop prior to going on the road. A functional bike and helmet are required. Each participant will receive a free set of Planet Bike lights. Academy of Alameda, 401 Pacific Ave, Alameda. If you’re not able to attend a classroom workshop contact the Director, Robert@ BikeEastBay.org. Register at BikeEastBay.com.

Breema: The Art of Being Present | Oakland 10-11:30am. Class taught by Jon Schreiber, Director of the Breema Center. Connect with others while deepening your connection to yourself. Breema is the perfect practice for anyone wishing to be more present, and to have a more harmonious relationship to all life. $10/ drop in, first class free. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Fort to Fort 10K | San Francisco 8am. Registration begins, race to follow. An out and back course that is flat but scenic. Race is held rain or shine. $5/18 and over, $3/11 to 17, free/10 and under.

Great Meadow, Fort Mason, 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco. Call for information 415-978-0837. DSERunClub@AOL.com. DSERunners.com, Active.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Fly Fishing Show | Pleasanton 10am. This event is for all ages, and for persons of any fly fishing ability. There will be demonstrations for all levels. See what’s new in rods, lines reels, accessories and apparel. Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton. 814-443-3638. FlyFishingShow.com.

Smart Cycling Basics Workshop | Berkeley 11am-noon. A great way to start out biking and keeping yourself safe. Learn to properly fit a helmet, what gear should always be on your bike and much more.

Berkeley Library Claremont Branch, 2940 Benvenue Ave, Berkeley. For information or questions contact 510-845-7433 x2. Robert@BikeEastBay.org.

Lunar New Year Celebration | Oakland 11am-3pm. Known as the Spring Festival in Chinese culture, the Lunar New Year is noted as being the most important holiday in that part of the world. Enjoy demonstrations of Gung Fu Qi Gong, Chinese folk dancing, and more. Free to public. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Pacific Renaissance Plaza, Oakland. 510-637-0455.

Dancing With the Stars | San Ramon 8pm. Music by the band of Lady K, and the Kings of Swing. Competitors are of varying ages, levels, and styles. If you have two left feet, or if you’ve been cutting a rug for many years, you’re apt to have a ball at this event. If you choose not to dance, tables and chairs are available for spectators. $20/adults, $8/youth. San Ramon Community Center, 12501 Alcosta Blvd, San Ramon. Information available at 925-973-3343. Parks@ SanRamon.CA.gov.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Windmill 10K | San Francisco 8am. Registration and check-in begin. 9am race begins. This is an out and back course, letting you run the east and west sides of the park. Uphill, flat, downhill, and flat terrain. This race will start and finish near the Dutch Windmill. Event is held rain or shine. $5/early registration, 18 and older, $3/early registration, 11-17 years of age. Golden Gate Park, John F Kennedy Dr and Great Highway San Francisco. More information is available at 415-978-0837. DSERunclub@aol.com.

DSERunners.com.

Needle Crafters | San Leandro 1:30-3:45pm. If you enjoy any type of needle crafts, such as knitting, crocheting, needle point, you’re welcome to join us. While working on our individual projects, we discuss movies, books, and everyday life.

Fun and casual, so come and relax. If you are a beginner and would like to learn more, this is the place. Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Breema: The Art of Being Present | Oakland 10-11:30am. Class taught by Jon Schreiber, Director of the Breema Center. Connect with others while deepening your connection to yourself. Breema is the perfect practice for anyone wishing to be more present, and have a more harmonious relationship to all life. $10/ drop in, first class free. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

Ceramic Image Transfers | Berkeley 10am-noon. This is a co-ed class, for ages 18 and over.

This transfer workshop will be instructed by Nathan. $60/students, $75/regular rate. Berkeley Art Studio, Sproul Plaza (César Chávez Student Center), University of California, Berkeley. You may register at Active.com.

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East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Alexandra Le Ny, CHC. 925-858-2133. Alexand raLeNy@Yahoo.com. AlexandraLeNy.com.

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Radio Show-Life Insights Live, Personal Growth Radio

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 Tibetan Nyingma Meditation | Berkeley 9am. One of the best ways to take care of yourself, is through meditation. All are welcome to clear your mind, and to grow with inner tranquility. Each session has a brief instruction of Nyingma meditation, then silent sitting. Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Place, Berkeley. For prices or more information, please contact 510-809-1000.

Community Sing & Meet Up | Oakland 11am. Meets the 4th Sunday of the month. Join in with us to sing, laugh, think, and listen, and build your community together. Speakers from local science and humanities communities typically offer a way to donate to local organizations. Free. Oakland Peace Center, 111 Fairmount Ave, Oakland.

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, Berkeley. SoulSanctuaryDance.com.

Nia | Berkeley Noon-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, Berkeley.

Info@FloraMotion.net. FloraMotion.net.

Crystal Singing Bowl Concert | Dublin Noon-1:30 pm. 1st Sunday of every month. A sound-healing concert played by Shala. Everyone’s experience will be unique and suited to their own specific needs. $10/suggested love offering. Unity of Tri-Valley, 7567 Amador Valley Blvd, Ste 108, Dublin. 925-829-2733. UnityOfTriValley.org.

100+ Free-to-Play Tabletop Games | Berkeley Noon-6pm. Meet the 3rd Sunday of every month.

If you’re into board games new or old, come out and join in on the fun. Maybe you’re a designer of games, or a play tester? All are welcome here. Food and drinks are available next door. Free. Games of Berkeley, 2151 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley. 510-5407822. More information is available at Events@ GamesOfBerkeley.com.

Needle Crafters | San Leandro 1:30-3:45pm. If you enjoy any type of needle crafts, such as knitting, crocheting, needle point, you’re welcome to join us. While working on our individual projects, we discuss movies, books, and everyday life. Fun and casual, so come and relax.

If you are a beginner and would like to learn more,

this is the place. Main Library, 300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro.

Shamanic Drum Circle | Dublin 3-4:15pm. Second Sunday of every month. With Ashleigh Pevey. A trained clinical certified hypnotherapist, Shamanic healer and Reiki practitioner.

Drumming helps you gain access to your inner guidance and learn to work with your helping spirits. Enhance your relationship with yourself and spirit. Move from just trusting that your guides are there, to knowing and working with them. Allow the mystery of life to unfold. One of the great benefits of shamanic journeying is learning that we are never alone, and are loved unconditionally. $10-25/ suggested love offering. Unity of Tri-Valley, 7567 Amador Valley Blvd, suite 108, Dublin. 925-8292733. UnityOfTriValley.org.

Community Lounge Rumba | Berkeley 3:30-6pm. 1st and 3rd Sunday each month. Rumba is the word used for a group of related communityoriented 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, Berkeley. 510-849-2568.

LaPena.org.

Free Kundalini Meditation | Walnut Creek 5-6:30pm. Kundalini meditation is an ancient Tantric practice that allows each individual to deeply experience their direct, inner connection to the divine. Class includes shaktipat transmission, guided meditation and discussion. Scheduled appointment for introduction is required for first-timers at 4pm.

2910 Camino Diablo, Walnut Creek. 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, Berkeley.

SFBarefootBoogie.com.

7-8am. This week featuring Practical Mystic, Scout Bartlett. This will be replayed on Wednesdays from 7-8am. Various topics of self-understanding, personal growth and spiritual perception discussed.

A 2-1/2 minute group meditation each Monday at 7:30am. We are on the air broadcasting to the Bay Area on KEST, 1450AM. Simulcast and archived for later listening on IfIdKnownThen.com.

Laugh Together for Happiness & Health | Oakland 6:30-7:30pm. Meets 2nd & 4th Mondays, except major holidays. Oakland Lifefire Laughter Yoga, combines playful easy laughter exercises with yogic breathing to lift your mood, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and boost your immune system. All while you have fun. Wear comfortable clothing for easier laughing. Drop-ins welcome.

Free/donations accepted. Kaiser Permanente Medical Building, 3701 Broadway, 2nd Fl Conf Rm, Oakland. (Between 38th & W MacArthur). 415505-7941. MeetUp.com/OaklandLaughterClub.

LaughterYoga.org.

Breema: Presence and Wisdom | Oakland 7-8:30pm. Beginning February 15. The purpose of practicing Breema is to support being present and remaining present. Working with body-mind connection nurtures a new way of being, to bring to any activity. $10/drop in, first class free. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland.

510-428-0937. Breema.com.

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, Berkeley. Biodanza.us.

tuesday Heart Centered Meditation | East Bay 10am. Are you seeking spiritual healing and renewal? Discover an ancient Sufi meditation practice to cleanse your heart of the blocks that keep you from living in conscious connection to divine love. Join us live for guided meditation calls. Free e-Course.

800-238-3060, option 5. SufiUniversity.org/INFO. Teens, Come and Make Some Things | Berkeley

monday Private Grocery Tour | East Bay Need help navigating your health food store? Discover new foods and create quick, easy, healthy delicious meals. Budget and kid-friendly. The easiest investment to make you get started on your health journey. 60-minute private Grocery Tour. $125/complete grocery lists, menus and recipes.

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, Berkeley. 510-981-6260.

Yoga Classes at the Hospital | Alameda 5:30-6:30pm. Learn to relax, strengthen, and totally stretch your body, with this gentle approach of yoga movements. $40/8 weekly sessions, $6/per

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class. Alameda Hospital, 2070 Clinton Ave, 1st Flr, Conference Room C, Alameda.

Team Lemon Run Club | Walnut Creek 6:30pm. 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, Walnut Creek. 925274-1253. Lululemon.com/WalnutCreek.

Comedy at the Layover | Oakland 8-10pm. The last Tuesday of every month. Grab your friends, your spouse, any one you choose, and head on out. Be ready for fun and laughs with comedians from HBO, Comedy Central, and Late Night TV. Must be 21 and over. RSVP is requested. Free admission. The Layover, 157 Franklin St, Oakland.

For information and updates call 510-834-1517.

wednesday Transcendental Meditation | Berkeley Noon. Learn about transcendental meditation.

Berkeley TM Center, 950 Gilman St, #100, Berkeley. 510-872-2287. Berkeley@TM.org.

Homework Help Center | Livermore 2-5pm. Sometimes kids just need a little help with their homework. We have an adult in the room to provide assistance and answer their questions. We also have computers, a color printer and supplies available for the students to use. All ages welcome. Livermore Public Library, Rincon branch, 725 Rincon Ave, Livermore. For more details call 925-373-5540.

Eco Studio | Pleasant Hill 3-5pm. This program is designed for teen 12-17 years of age. It’s let by a local recycling educator and artist. Learn sewing machine skills and create up-cycled items from previous items. Articles created here will go towards the Teen Advisory Group’s annual Art, Jazz, and Wine Festival donation drive. This will benefit your local library.

Contra Costa County Library, 1750 Oak Park Blvd, Pleasant Hill. 925-46-6434. More information available at CCLib.org.

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. Jeffery Bihr Studio, 5390 Miles Ave, Berkeley. 415-717-3578 or 415505 9482. Biodanza.us.

thursday Webinar Series: Spiritual Healing for Physical Illness | East Bay Beginning January 21. 6-week webinar series. Join Susan Rahima Schmall, PhD and RN, to learn how a spiritual connection affects illness as it manifests in the physical, emotional and mental bodies. Learn how spiritual healing can be incorporated to bring about complete healing for the physical body.

She is passionate about helping students develop their own unique gifts as healers and human beings. 800-238-3060, option 5. SufiUniversity.org/ Distance-Learning/Webinars/.

Mini Bouncers T & T | Livermore 9:30-10:15am. For ages 3 to 5. Have your child learn tumbling and trampoline skills. Children of all levels, boys and girls, will learn confidence while exercising. Clothing must not have buttons.

No snaps, zippers, and socks must be worn. Parents or guardians must fill out a waiver. $107. Springtime Tumbling & Trampoline, 5715 Southfront Rd, Bldg D, Livermore. For questions please call 925-456-0110. Register at Active.com. Waiver at TumblingAndTrampoline.com.

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, Berkeley. 510-981-6100.

Musical Storytime | Castro Valley

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.

Turn ON San Francisco | San Francisco

Yoga at Bishop Ranch 15 | San Ramon

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, San Francisco. 408-390-2095. Awakening360.com/ event/99#sthash.ostqQT4Y.dpuf.

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), San Ramon. 925-895-6220.

EnchantedMats.com.

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Yoga Classes at the Hospital | Alameda 5:30-6:30pm. Learn to relax, strengthen, and totally stretch your body, with this gentle approach of yoga movements. $40/8 weekly sessions, $6/per class. Alameda Hospital, 2070 Clinton Ave, 1st Flr, Conference Room C, Alameda.

Weight Loss Class | Castro Valley

10:30-11:30am. This weekly class is recommended for children ages 5 and under. You’ll enjoy watching your child singing, listening, playing and learning, with other children while they see that books can be so much fun. Free admission. Castro Valley Library, 3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley. More information is available at 510-667-7900.

Berkeley Juggling Club | Berkeley

environment. No yoga experience necessary. $12/ class; $38/month. Yoga Works, 1131 Locust St, 2nd Fl, Walnut Creek. 925-478-7272. InfoNorCal@ YogaWorks.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

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

6-7 pm. Come to the Nature’s Sunshine Health Center weight loss class. We are currently working on a one-on-one basis. $25/week. Nature’s Sunshine Health Center, 21709 Redwood Rd, Castro Valley. Please call to schedule your appointment at 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, Berkeley. 510-4868700. 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, Oakland. 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, Berkeley. LauraLouc@gmail.com. KRohnem@Galileo Web.org. Biodanza.us.

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

Mindful Meditation | Contra Costa 4pm. If you’re feeling the stress of everyday life all through the week, try removing that stress through calm, soothing, meditation. Class is for adults, 18

years and older. Pinole Library, 2935 Pinole Valley Rd, Pinole. 510-758-2741.

Ambient, and the list goes on. You don’t want to miss this. $15. Studio 12, 2525 8th St, Berkeley.

Parent’s Night Out | Emeryville 6-10:30pm. This is a great night out for everyone in the the entire family. Children’s ages are 4 and up, and must be potty trained. The kids get to jump, frolic, flip, while in a safe environment. Then they can enjoy pizza and an appropriate movie. All while parents get a night out. $35. Head Over Heels Athletic Arts, 4701 Doyle St, Bldg F, Emeryville.

For questions and more information please call 510-655-1265. Diedra@HohAthleticArts.com.

HOHAthleticArts.com.

Concert in the Park | Pleasanton 7-8:30pm. Enjoy an eclectic mix of music from the 50’s, 60’s, rock, and soul. West Grand Boulevard has performed for a countless number of people at weddings, festivals, fund raisers, and clubs. Support your local restaurants by picking up some dinner to bring with you. Concert is free. Lions Wayside Park, 4401 First St, Pleasanton.

Drop-In Volleyball | Walnut Creek 7-10pm. Open to the first 45 participants. $5. Tice Valley Community Gymnasium, 2055 Tice Valley Blvd, Walnut Creek. 925-256-3572. Walnut CreekRec.org.

Ecstatic Dance, Dance Jam | Berkeley 8:30-11:30pm. It doesn’t get any better than this!

All ages welcome to this no-alcohol, no shoes event. Great sound from professional DJ’s, using fantastic equipment. Dance the night away on bamboo floors, listening to Soul, Disco, Techno, Funk,

bles grown locally, and served on our tables. What more is there to ask for? Free admission. Railroad Ave, Municipal Parking Lot, Downtown Danville.

Farmers’ Market | Pleasanton

saturday Webinar Series: The Degrees of Woman in Sufism Join Susan Rahima Schmall to learn how spiritual connection affects illness as it manifests in the physical, emotional and mental bodies. Incorporate spiritual healing for the physical body. Gifted at creating a safe nurturing space for people with physical illness and emotional pain can find peace.

She is passionate about helping students develop their own gifts as healers and human beings.

SufiUniversity.org/Distance-Learning/Webinars/.

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.

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, Walnut Creek. 925-941-6100.

Farmers’ Market | Danville 9am-1pm. One of the best things about living in California is our fresh produce. Fruits and vegeta-

9am-1pm. Stop by and visit the market that offers a diversity of fresh fruits and vegetables. Open year round, every Saturday. Rain or shine, you can purchase the freshest items from the farmers that planted and harvested these crops. Downtown Pleasanton, E Angela St, Pleasanton.

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

Castro Valley Farmers’ Market | Castro Valley 10am-2pm. Join us very week for the freshest and the best produce and baked goods our state has to offer. Many vendors to choose from. Open all year round. Castro Valley BART Station, Redwood Rd and Norbridge, Castro Valley. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call Ron Radini, 510-745-7100.

Bloomin’ Belly Flow Prenatal Yoga | Walnut Creek 11am-12:15pm. See Wednesday for details. Bloom Retreat, 1444 S Main St, Walnut Creek. 925-9396262. BloomRetreat.com.

One loyal friend is worth 10,000 relatives. ~Euripides

... Support our Advertisers For every $100 you spend LOCALLY, $68 comes back to our community.

Reach Your Target Market Place Your Ad Today!

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

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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.

BUSINESS

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, page 27.

Savvy Selling NOW! Leslie Ellis 925-338-2924 office 925-299-1920 mobile

As a healer, you love helping people! Do you enjoy the business side of your practice? I work with entrepreneurs to help them become more comfortable with all aspects of sales. If you are going to be wildly successful, you need to be good at selling!

Contact me for a free strategy session. Leslie@ SavvySellingNow.com or 925-338-2924.

ALKALINE IONIZED WATER chiropractor

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, page 11.

AYURVEDA & HOMEOPATHY RASHANA RAUNIAR SHARMA (BHMS, CCH, AWP)

Chetna Center for Health and Wellness 110 Ryan Industrial Ct, Suite #1 San Ramon, CA – 94583 925- 255- 5375 ChetnaCenter. com Certified practitioner of Ayurveda, Homeopathy 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 issues, 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.

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JANE H. BAXLEY, D.C.

In Balance Chiropractic Certified Advanced BioStructural Correction™ (ABC™) Practitioner ML830 Cold Laser Therapy 931 Hartz Way #120, Danville 925-406-3222 JBaxleyDC@gmail.com DrJaneBaxley.com Dr. Baxley combines cutting-edge postural and pain management technologies with ergonomic training to provide immediate and lasting improvement. Breathe easier and stand straighter with less effort starting with your first visit.

Patients report relief of issues including neck & low back pain, knee & foot pain, sciatica, whiplash and carpal tunnel syndrome in addition to improved health, function, and sports performance.

HEALING ARTS CHIROPRACTIC

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, page 7.

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, page 2.

Katie Sokolski, D.C. 187 40th Street Way, Oakland, CA 94611 510-356-7832 Dr.Sokolski@gmail.com HealingArtsChiro.com

University of Spiritual Healing & Sufism (USHS)

Healing Arts Chiropractic offers a whole-body approach to wellness that utilizes applied kinesiology, personalized nutrition programs and massage therapy. Our holistic treatment plans are designed to facilitate wellness from the inside -what you feed your body, as well as the outside—keeping your mind, body and spirit moving in a healthy way. See ad, page 9.

USHS offers transformational programs for those who want to be agents of divinely-guided healing.

Programs are based on establishing a deep connection with Divine Love, then opening to streams of healing light from God, transforming physical illness and emotional pain into states of greater health and spiritual wholeness. See ad, page 15.

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

800-238-3060, option 5 Outreach@SufiUniversity.org SufiUniversity.org

ENERGY HEALING Sarianna Smith, RN, CHT Energy Healer Walnut Creek, CA 561-324-5344 SariannaS@gmail.com

Many modalities for healing: Acupressure, Cupping, Life Activations, Energy healing, Hypnotherapy and more.

Energetic Integration DEBRA MOORE

415-320-4041 Dmoneness@gmail.com AlunaHeart.com A private session will identify and dissolve energy-backed programs allowing a return to your authentic nature. Working through the heart and higher self, the energetic process takes you from where you are stressed, out of alignment in your life, with your emotions, or with pain in the body to being released & integrated.

Session by phone or in Vallejo, CA, office.

ESOTERIC HEALING Gentle Touch Healing

Bonnie K. Dysinger M.Msc., CPEH, CHHP, C.Ht. 517-281-1706 GTheal.com Esoteric Healing and Reiki healing facilitator, practitioner, and teacher. Promotes health, well-being, emotional, and mental balance. Distance or inperson sessions. See website for additional information.

healing center 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, page 14.

Herbal Medicine

HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH

Ancient Traditions Healing

ALEXANDRA LE NY HEALTH COACHING

Erin Massengale 125B Town and Country Drive Danville, 94526 925-725-1067

925-858-2133 AlexandraLeNy@yahoo.com AlexandraLeNy.com

Health reflects how one is balanced in the different expressions of ourselves; mind, body and soul and our perception of life experiences, our environment and our food. Dis-ease in any of these categories will in some degree be reflected in all others. Dis-ease healed naturally leaves a person stronger. Integrating herbs and healing modalities of the greatest healing systems and cultures in the world; Western, Ayurvedic, Chinese Traditions and Shamanism, I work with individuals to achieve and maintain vital health, wellness and longevity.

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 healthpromoting experience. See ad, page 25.

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, page 23.

As a certified Health Coach with the AADP, clients are guided in improving their health and happiness through dietary and lifestyle changes.

With support and direction we focus on balancing their primary foods (work, relationships, spirituality and exercise) and secondary foods (diet).

This is achieved through a holistic approach on health, taking into account diet, lifestyle, environmental toxins, and disease prevention. Healing is supported through knowledge in nutrition, supplements, herbs, aromatherapy and homeopathic options.

HOLISTIC VETERINARIAN ALTERNATIVES FOR ANIMALS Jennifer Luna-Repose, DVM 919 Moraga Road, Lafayette 925-283-6160 AlternativesForAnimals@gmail.com Alternatives4Animals.com

We are one of the few veterinary clinics in the Bay Area that is exclusively dedicated to Holistic Medicine. We offer acupuncture, chiropractic, Chinese herbal medicine, homeopathy, Bioresonance therapy, nutrition, flower essences and laser therapy.

Our treatments address the whole animal and the root cause of disease, not just the symptoms.

HYPNOTHERAPY

ARLENE THOMPSON CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPIST, C.Ht., M.Ed. 925-485-7997 Pleasanton Arlene_Thompson@att.net ThompsonHypnotherapy.com

Get rid of blocks to your personal growth, by harnessing the power of your subconscious to reach your goals. Full-service, individualized hypnotherapy, 19 years in business.

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Intuitive Whole Health

ROLFING/STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION

Susan Z Rich

SZRich@aol.com 407-862-6902 SZRWhitewings.com Jusuru.com/szrich Learn to listen and communicate with your body, mind, emotions and spiritual insight. Changing your thought processes and belief systems to bring about self-empowerment. Take charge of your life, your health and find inner peace. A strong and compassionate approach to life's challenges will give you an authentic long life journey with a healthy body, joyful relationships and rewarding creativity.

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. ~Elie Wiesel

nutritionist NUTRAPARTNERS

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

MEDICINEVOLUTION

Chris Corrales 925-922-2246 Chris@MedicinEvolution.com MedicinEvolution.com 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, page 5.

SOMATIC therapist 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, page 6.

SPIRITUAL CENTER UNITY OF TRI-VALLEY

HOLLY M. COOK

925-354-4508 SacredHeartAscension.com Holly@SacredHeartAscenion.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.

A Beautiful Light

925-997-7518 Kathleen@A-Beautiful-Light.com A-Beautiful-Light.com Expand your potential! Experience greater health & empowerment in mind, body & soul with these once secret, ancient lineage classes, activations & healings. Proven for over 3,000 years, these ancient wisdoms create transformation & greater energetic flow in all areas of life. Kathleen is a Healer, Guide & Ritual Master in the Modern Mystery School from the lineage of King Salomon.

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

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

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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.

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SPIRITUAL HEALING

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

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

WELLNESS CENTER PLEASANTON FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER Kathleen Beaulieu, CMT, IMT 1491 Cedarwood Ln, Ste A Pleasanton 925-600-0503 Kathleen@PleasantonWellness.com PleasantonWellness.com

Discover your body’s healing potential. Nutritional and diagnostic counseling for lifestyle changes including weight loss, gastrointestinal, thyroid, hormone, allergies and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Expert massage therapy, 20 years experience specializing in pregnancy, automobile injuries and post-surgery recovery.

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