Natural Awakenings East Bay ~ November 2016

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feel good • live simply • laugh more

Preventing, Reversing and Managing

DIABETES NATURALLY Workplace Wisdom Mindfulness in Corporate Life

SENSITIVE CHILDREN How to Nurture Their Special Gifts

Transform Winter Blues Into

Spring Happy

November 2016 | East Bay Area Edition | NAEastBay.com

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letterfrompublisher

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

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eaders likely remember when many of the chronic diseases so common today were deemed rare in our experiences. My grandfather was the only one in my circle who had diabetes and he managed it successfully for 40 years. His secret was faithfully adhering to helpful lifestyle changes that included my grandmother’s naturally healthy cooking.

After being diagnosed in his early 40s, my grandfather immediately quit smoking and drinking cold turkey, a huge step for him. He also took to some daily exercise, whether it was walking the golf course with me or tooling around the neighborhood,

Each day, my grandmother would prepare separate meals for her spouse. Everything was always fresh, colorful and made with love.

A special bedtime snack was comprised of hard-boiled egg whites and a banana.

The egg yolks soaked into Italian bread crumbs appealed to the neighborhood blue jays.

When I began living with my grandparents at age 7, preparing the bedtime snack became my job. I thought it an important one and believe that it and other adventures in the kitchen with my grams was the genesis of my expression of love through food.

Choosing to live in a healthier way allowed this precious man to permanently regain his health and avoid succumbing to dependency on medications and other temporary aids. As a result, the rest of the family, too, learned to be mindful of our food choices based on how they support health.

In honor of National Diabetes Awareness Month, Linda Sechrist’s feature article, “Preventing, Reversing and Managing Diabetes Naturally,” offers useful insights and tips from experienced local practitioners.

It can be daunting to receive news of a health issue affecting us or a loved one that requires learning and change. One of the magazine’s goals is to provide a hopeful perspective that empowers readers to understand they have choices well beyond the mainstream status quo. Many challenges have the potential to become an opportunity to elevate our view and improve our health, taking our quality of life to the next level. We do have choices and if you’re like me, you’re curious about what they might be.

In good health,

Celeste Souza, Publisher

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

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $32 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

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contents

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

11 6 newsbriefs 10 eventspotlight 16 16 PREVENTING, 1 1 healthbriefs REVERSING AND MANAGING DIABETES 1 2 globalbriefs NATURALLY 1 5 businessspotlight 18 THE SENSITIVE 16 18 healthykids CHILD How to Nurture 20 healingways Special Gifts 20 2 1 wisewords

20 WORKPLACE 23 inspiration 13 WISDOM Mindfulness in 24 calendarofevents Corporate Life 26 ongoingcalendar

29 resourceguide 21 STEPHEN DINAN

by Linda Sechrist

by Maureen Healy

by April Thompson

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

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OUTLINES AMERICA'S NOBLE DESTINY

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Bridging Our Political Divide is Key

23 SELF-SUGGESTION

CAN TRANSFORM WINTER BLUES INTO SPRING HAPPY

by Michael Disend

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online at NAEastBay.com or email to: Calendar@NAEastBay.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month.

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newsbriefs Life Crafting Offers Free Strategy Session NO MERCURY • WHOLE BODY DENTISTRY

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All profound things and emotions of things

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oward Sambol is the creator and director of Life Crafting, a program that helps budding entrepreneurs clarify their purpose and passion, and launch their Howard Sambol ideal business. Right now, Sambol offers free strategy sessions to new clients, including holistic practitioners who are ready to create a breakthrough in their revenue and profitability.

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are preceded and attended by silence. ~Herman Melville

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Research Supports Herbal Menopause Relief

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atural Health International’s (NHI) Femmenessence™, an herbal formulation that has been shown in clinical studies to significantly reduce menopausal symptoms for up to 80 percent of women, is now available locally at Elliot's Natural Foods, 3347 El Camino Ave, Sacramento and Sunrise Natural Foods, 1950 Douglas Blvd, Roseville and 2160 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn.

According to a study in the Internatonal Journal of Biomedical Science, Maca-GOÔ, the proprietary ingredient in Femmenessence was observed to reduce: the frequency and severity of hot flashes, excessive sweating, interrupted sleep pattern, nervousness, depression, headaches and loss of libido/interest in sex. They further concluded that full benefit could only be achieved after two consecutive months of use.

“The transition to menopause should be relatively symptom free.

After all, it’s not an illness, despite what women have been led to believe,” says Jan Roberts, Pharmacist, Clinical Nutritionist and bestselling author.

According to a company spokesperson, “Femmenessence is organic, kosher, vegan, pure, global trade and environmentally friendly. By establishing infrastructure and manufacturing operations in Peru, NHI has created an industry with year-round employment while engaging in environmentally sustainable and organic farming practices. Femmenessence is packaged in the United States in a GMP, organic and kosher-certified facility utilizing oxygen-barrier blister packs, which keep the product stable for up to three years versus six months for packs or bottles.

To learn more about Femmenessence, visit NaturalHI.com.

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Get Cooking for Less with VitaClay Multi-Cooker

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itaClay Smart Organic Multi-Cooker is the slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and yogurt maker that Good Housekeeping Magazine named “Best Slow Cooker.” Right now, Natural Awakenings readers can receive 20 percent off VitaClay cookware with coupon code NAEB15.

Unique to this brand is an internal clay cook pot made of natural, unglazed Chinese Zisha clay that locks in nutrients and enzymes. The clay is known for its natural even heating and heat retention, and is often used to make teapots. Because the cooking surface is made of natural clay, no metals or nonstick additives can leach into the food as it cooks.

The clay cooking bowl promotes uniform cooking, and the double-lid design not only creates micro-pressure to maximize tender and flavorful food, but cuts slow-cooking energy and time in half. The computerized Smart Organic Multicooker allows a variety of programmable times to prepare most foods and recipes, and can keep foods warm for up to 20 hours.

VitaClay offers a variety of cookers, including a low-temperature model that preserves the probiotics that are so important in absorbing vital nutrients, making it a healthy choice for those who want to protect, support or heal their intestinal tract. Its a great gift for the holidays!

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You will never win if you never begin. ~Helen Rowland

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November 2016

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newsbriefs Do you have?

• Trouble sleeping • Anxiety/stress • Pain/stiffness • Lack of energy

It’s Now Legal to Share Seeds in California

• Menopause • Inflammation • Diabetes • Headaches

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VitaClay Smart Organic Multi-Cooker and nourishing because VitaClay seals in the enzymes with an ancient secret–organic unglazed Zisha Clay.

–Mike Fenster, Cardiologist/ Professional Chef/Author

overnor Jerry Brown recently signed into law the Seed Exchange Democracy Act, an amendment to the California Seed Law that promotes food security, urban agriculture and climate resilience by removing regulatory barriers to noncommercial seed sharing activities, including seed libraries.

Introduced by Assembly member Marc Levine (D-10), AB 1810 exempts non-commercial, seed-sharing activities from industrial labeling, testing and permitting requirements. Proponents say the new law will increase access to healthy and nutritious food by fostering stronger local seed systems and encouraging seed saving. Leading the advocacy efforts for this bill was a class of fourth-grade (now fifth-grade) students at Olive Elementary School, in Novato. Students testified to the importance of seed saving and sharing and biodiversity at the Assembly and Senate Agriculture Committees.

In addition, as part of its national Save Seed Sharing campaign, Oakland-based Sustainable Economies Law Center partnered with dozens of state and local organizations, including California Climate & Agriculture Network, California Guild, Center for Food Safety, and Community Alliance with Family Farmers. The effort was also supported by urban agriculture organizations, seed libraries and individual gardeners across the state who work to protect and promote healthy, resilient local food systems.

For more information, visit CA.gov.

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California Could Add Cancer Warning to Aspartame

T

he Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment recently announced an upcoming review of five potentially carcinogenic chemicals or chemical groups, including aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in many foods and beverages.

Aspartame and other chemicals will be discussed at 10 a.m. on November 15, at a meeting of California’s Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) in Sacramento. The CIC is the state’s committee on carcinogenicity for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65), which requires manufacturers to add warning labels to products “known by the state of California to cause cancer.”

Its uber-sweet flavor and low-calorie count made aspartame a popular food additive in the 1980s, and by 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aspartame as a general purpose sweetener. Despite some research that links long-term aspartame use to the development of certain blood cancers, brain tumors, obesity and other serious health conditions, the FDA considers aspartame safe. Californians will have their say on the matter this month.

Other chemicals and chemical groups up for discussion include asphalt/asphalt emissions associated with road paving, asphalt/asphalt emissions associated with roofing, methyl chloride, and pyrethroids vinyl acetate.

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

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November 2016

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eventspotlight Green Festival Expo Celebrates Sustainability

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merica’s largest and longest-running sustainability and green living event, Green Festival Expo, comes to the Embarcadero in San Francisco on November 11, 12 and 13. With a wide selection of products and services to work green, play green and live green, Green Festival Expo offers something for everyone.

Now in its 15th year, Green Festival Expo is a vibrant marketplace

where consumers are invited to browse tions, free yoga, educational activities and inspirational speakers. and buy sustainable products and services from more than 250 sponsors and exhibitors representing fashion, body Join us to shop, taste & enjoy – admission offered care, home and garden, transportafrom thousands of GreenFree Products for your is everyday lifeto atthose who bike to the Embarcadero, memtion, renewable energy services, and PIER NOVEMBER 11TH - 13TH of Sierra Club, Global Exchange personal wellness. The expo offers an 35 bers screening at our show - COWSPIRACY: The Sustainability Secret and Green America, kids age 16 and array of vegan, vegetarianExclusive and organic under, and students on Friday. To ease foods, hands-on cooking demonstrathe stress of parking, Green Fest has partnered with Parking Panda, an online parking reservations company.

Location: Pier 35, 1454 The Embarcadero, San Francisco. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit GreenFestivals.org. Natural Awakenings East Bay readers receive 20 percent off tickets with code SFNA16.

San Francisco Sustainable Fashion Week International Visit Parking Panda at ParkingPanda. partners with Green Festival to present our first annual Sustainable Fashion Market com. See ad, back page.

Other 2016 events

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& Healthy Beauty Trade Fair.

FREE for members of:

Enter promo code SFNA16 for 20% OFF TICKETS selected partners & sponsors include:

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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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healthbriefs

Silence De-Stresses the Brain

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Heavy TV Watching Linked to Poor Bone Health

Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock.com

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study published in the Journal for Bone and Mineral Research this summer suggests that excessive TV watching during childhood may be associated with lower bone mineral content in young adulthood.

The researchers followed 1,181 children over time and measured their weekly hours of TV watching at ages 5, 8, 10, 14, 17 and 20. The bone mineral content (BMC) of each was measured at age 20. The study found that individuals that routinely watched more than 14 hours a week had lower BMC for their whole body and in their arms than those that watched less. Higher BMC helps protect the body against osteoporosis later in life.

While all screen time should be monitored in children, TV appears to be the most harmful medium. A report published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine studied 111 children between the ages of 3 and 8 and measured their TV viewing and other screen time, as well as their blood pressure levels. The study linked higher blood pressure with excessive TV viewing, but did not find the same link between the condition and computer usage.

O

hio State University researchers have discovered a correlation between bacteria in the gut and behavior in toddlers. Scientists studied the bacterial microbes in stool samples from 77 girls and boys between the ages of 18 months and 27 months, while mothers filled out a questionnaire describing their children’s level of emotional reactivity.

The study found that positive behavioral traits occurred more frequently in children with the most diverse types of gut bacteria.

These included mood, curiosity, sociability and impulsivity. The correlation was particularly strong in boys.

Lisa Christian, Ph.D., a researcher with the Ohio State Institute for Behavioral Medicine research, and her coauthor, Microbiologist Michael Bailey, Ph.D., plan to use the information to help uncover some mysteries related to the origin of chronic illness. “There is substantial evidence that intestinal bacteria interact with stress hormones; the same hormones that have been implicated in chronic illnesses like obesity and asthma,” explains Christian. “A toddler’s temperament gives us a good idea of how they react to stress. This information, combined with an analysis of their gut microbiome, could ultimately help us to detect and prevent chronic health issues [from developing] earlier.”

Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com

donskarpo/Shutterstock.com

he human brain does not function optimally in society’s noise-filled environment. The brain, like the body, needs rest to function, and that comes with silence. A recent study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience discovered that the brain is able to integrate both internal and external information into a “conscious workspace” when resting. Constant distractions and noises can detract from the brain’s ability to process critical information.

Noise also elevates stress hormone levels within the brain. Research published earlier in Psychological Science examined the effects that the relocation of the main Munich airport, in Germany, had on children’s health and cognition. Gary W. Evans, researcher and professor of human ecology at Cornell University, notes that when exposed to constant noise, children develop a stress response that causes them to ignore it. The study’s subjects tuned out both harmful sounds and stimuli that they should be paying attention to, including speech. Silence has the opposite effect, releasing tension in brain and body.

Exposure to chronic noise can also hinder children’s cognitive development, according to a study from the World Health Organization and the European Commission Joint Research Centre; this includes language skills and reading ability.

To help counter modern noise pollution, attention restoration theory suggests that individuals placed in environments with lower levels of sensory input can recover some of the cognitive abilities they have lost.

Gut Bacteria Linked to Toddler Temperament

Source: Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science

natural awakenings

November 2016

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

Message Received

Conventional Grocery Chains Go Organic The Kroger grocery chain, with nearly 2,500 U.S. stores, including subsidiaries Ralphs, Fry’s, King Soopers and Food 4 Less, has decided to go all in on the organic food market as a follow-up to the 2012 release of its Simple Truth brand of organic foods. Kroger President Michael Ellis says, “We’re really just answering the customer’s call for more and better,” giving Whole Foods Market more competition.

Walmart has also begun to satisfy the growing health concerns of its shoppers by integrating organic options in its supermarkets. Now the challenge is for organic farming—which intentionally works to minimize agricultural impacts on the health of people and the planet—to meet the greater demand nationwide for healthier foods. Although implementation will vary depending on climate, experts advise that it begins with farms adopting healthy soil practices. It’s up to consumers to keep the momentum going.

Stoned Doggies As of June, half of the states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of medical marijuana for humans.

People wonder if it’s also suited for pets, too, and need to investigate the parameters and consequences carefully.

“It’s not legal in any state for veterinarians to prescribe or recommend medical marijuana,” says Dr. Carol Osborne, owner of Ohio’s Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center & Pet Clinic. “Done properly, it could have applications, but it’s not standardized, dosage amounts are unknown and without U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation, there’s no guarantee what you think you’re buying is what you get.

“Dogs that get into the stash or sneak-eat marijuana-laced food can experience wobbling when walking, trembling and potential seizures,” Osborne notes. “I haven’t heard of any cases of death, but as with any prescription drug, practice responsible ownership by keeping it out of the reach of curious children and pets.”

“THC [tetrahydrocannabinol] in marijuana produces the high,” explains Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Robert Silver, author of Medical Marijuana & Your Pet: The Definitive Guide. “Dogs are extremely sensitive to THC, much more so than any other species studied.”

Silver believes there are uses for cannabinoid oil, derived from hemp, which has very low levels of THC; pet owners in an end-of-life situation with no hope of recovery have used it to ease pain, stimulate appetite and add quality to final days.

Reference: Tinyurl.com/PetMedical MarijuanaGuide

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Arina P Habich/Shutterstock.com

Dangers vs. Benefits of Pet Marijuana

Source: Healthy-Holistic-Living.com

Stark Mark

Carbon Dioxide Passes Climate-Warming Threshold Record carbon dioxide levels will surpass the symbolic threshold of 400 parts per million (ppm) this year and will likely never fall below it again in our lifetimes, according to a new study published recently in the journal Nature Climate Change.

The findings highlight urgent concerns about global efforts to curb climate change as outlined in the Paris agreement negotiated last December and signed in April by nearly 170 nations. Carbon concentrations have passed the 400 ppm limit before, but never permanently.

The authors state, “In the longer term, a reduction in CO2 concentration would require substantial and sustained cuts in anthropogenic [humanly influenced] emissions to near zero.” The determined safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a maximum of around 350 ppm, according to climate advocates.

Source: Nature.com

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com

wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com

globalbriefs

Chemical Testing

Zoo Zapped

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is a new federal law that restricts animal testing and requires regulators to develop technologybased alternatives. It updates the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, which insisted non-animal tests be used whenever possible and established a precedent for developing animal-free testing, including vitro and silico (computer simulation) methods. Earlier this year, the John Hopkins University School of Medicine made strides in removing the use of animals from medical training and cosmetic testing.

Now all new chemicals will have to meet specific safety standards. Clothing, couches and cleaning products, among many other consumer goods, contain chemicals linked to cancer, Parkinson’s and other serious health problems, but are not routinely tested for safety. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will now have new authority to require testing with a legal mandate to review existing chemicals on the market.

Along with updating rules for tens of thousands of everyday chemicals, the law specifically sets safety standards for dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, asbestos and styrene. It aims to standardize on the national level what is currently a jumble of state rules governing an $800-billion-a-year industry.

The 140-year-old zoo in Buenos Aires is shutting down to give the animals a better life. Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta agrees with activists that keeping wild animals in captivity and on display is degrading, so the zoo’s 2,500 animals will be moved to more suitable living environments in nature reserves around the country.

Older animals and those too sick to be relocated will remain in their current home, but not displayed.

The 45-acre zoo will be transformed into an eco-park to give children a place to learn how to take care of and relate with the different species. It also will provide refuge and rehabilitation for animals rescued from illegal trafficking.

Buenos Aires Moves Animals to Nature Reserves

Sarunyu_foto/Shutterstock.com

FikMik/Shutterstock.com

Consumer and Animal Protections Update

Source: Ecowatch.com

Thanksgiving Lite

Turning the Tide for Turkeys

Source: FarmSanctuary.org/giving/adopt-a-turkey

Safer Citizens

Germany to Ban Fracking Permanently The German government has ruled to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for shale gas in the country, but will allow test drilling in certain circumstances, reports Reuters. The industry has lobbied to continue fracking, which involves blasting chemicals and water into underground rock formations to release trapped gas, but strong opposition has persisted throughout the nation, with a powerful green lobby warning of possible risks to drinking water. Germany follows France and Bulgaria, which have already permanently banned fracking.

natural awakenings

November 2016

txking/Shutterstock.com

photo courtesy of the Farm Sanctuary

Turkeys and Thanksgiving go together for 88 percent of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation. Each year, more than 46 million turkeys provide the entrée for gatherings, yielding leftovers for sandwiches, stew, chili, casseroles and turkey burgers. In 2011, 736 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the U.S., while a few lucky birds avoided the chopping block.

The pardoning of a White House turkey began in 1863 when President Lincoln’s son, Tad, interceded on behalf of the bird and its life was spared.

Now a tradition, two dressed birds and one live turkey are delivered to the White House each year.

The live bird is “pardoned” and lives out its life on a historical farm.

At the Farm Sanctuary, turkeys get sponsored or adopted instead of eaten.

“Turkeys are friendly and follow you around like puppy dogs. They’ll try to sit on your lap to be petted,” says Gene Baur, president and co-founder of the sanctuary’s New York and two California locations. “At our Celebration for the Turkeys, we feed them cranberries, pumpkin pie and squash. People visit to see them enjoy it. Guests’ snacks are vegan.”

Hundreds of turkeys have been adopted and given a lifelong home since the program’s inception in 1986. More than 8,000 people pledged to sponsor a turkey living at the sanctuary in a recent year, proving it’s not necessary to be a president to pardon a turkey.

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*Natural Awakenings recently received the prestigious FBR50 Franchise Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review.

businessspotlight A New Way to Enjoy a Traditional Beverage

by Gina Cronin

C

raftea is a new product on the market that is revolutionizing the way tea lovers make their favorite brews created by the joint efforts of the Keshav family, in Dallas, “My mom, Pratima, has been making chai every day for as long as I can remember, and whenever she was busy doing something else the milk would boil over and make a mess,” says Marketing and Community Relations Director Jamie Patel.

Fed up with constantly having to clean the stovetop, Pratima urged her engineer husband, Jitu Keshav, to invent a product that would make hers and other tea enthusiasts’ lives easier.

He got working, and three years later, there was a sleek prototype finished.

Just last year, Craftea hit the market and landed first place in the 2015 World Tea Awards Best New Product at the World Tea Expo.

What the family has manifested is a convenient, clean, consistent and customizable tea experience using innovative technology that allows anyone to make a masterful cup of their favorite tea. Anyone starting up their energy efficient Craftea can heat dairy or dairy substitutes like soy and almond milk without dealing with it burning or boiling over, using a proprietary vortex rotor technology that quietly and quickly extracts flavor and shuts off automatically according to the preset. This ensures that delicate teas and herbs are perfectly extracted and chai is silky, spicy and smooth every time with no overflow.

Whether using milk or water, the device can accommodate blends of fresh or dry herbs, spices and teas, as well as floral and fruit infusions. Green

tea, black tea, oolong, white tea and quick chai presets are programmed for ease of use. People can also get creative and customize presets that the machine will remember for the next time.

The all-in-one product also prevents the hazard of people forgetting about boiling water and leaving the burner on, because no burner is necessary.

The four-cup stainless steel jug keeps the tea hot for several hours or the jug can be placed in the refrigerator to make iced tea or a tea cocktail.

Only with loose tea can the full flavor in the leaves, herbs, flowers, fruits, roots, bark and spices be released. Many people do not gravitate toward loose teas because of the inconvenience of straining, but Craftea has a built-in strainer that allows full enjoyment of loose tea without the

hassle. “Tea bags constrain leaves from fully opening, and they are often massproduced and sit on a warehouse shelf gathering dust,” says Jamie. “By the time the teabag makes it’s way to your cup, it has lost the majority of its flavor, aroma, essential oils and healing potential.”

Positive health effects of loose teas can include detoxification, boosted metabolism, improved digestion, enhanced immune function, anti-inflammation and reduced rate of strokes and heart attack. There is a reason why tea is the second-most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. The company also sells its own Keshav Family Masala Chai Blend, as well as a rotating seasonal blend.

This gourmet beverage maker can be used at home or in the office and is dishwasher-safe, BPA-free and looks stylish on any kitchen countertop with its sleek and compact finish.

natural awakenings

Natural Awakenings readers receive $30 off the Craftea using the code “natural”. Get inspired with the many recipes on the company’s Facebook page.

For more information, visit Craftea.com. See ad, page 10.

November 2016

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Preventing, Reversing and Managing Diabetes Naturally

by Linda Sechrist

A

ttending to the miracle of our body’s metabolism—which consists of numerous processes that include the digestion of food for growth and energy—is critical to good health.

Diabetes, a metabolic disorder, is a serious threat to these processes as well as for any hope of anti-aging and longevity.

Types of Diabetes

There are four types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2, Gestational, and Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA).

In Type 1 (not caused by eating or lifestyle habits), the immune system destroys the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas.

Type 2, caused by lifestyle and eating habits, is a metabolic disorder in which the cells are unable to use insulin. Healthy lifestyle changes and better eating habits, if made when symptoms are first identified, may be able to reverse type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy, typically disappears afterwards. Women who had it are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life. LADA is autoimmune form of diabetes in which the death of the beta cells occurs over a

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span of years rather than rapidly.

The American Diabetes Association advises that 8.1 million of the 29.1 individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes were previously unaware and had not detected the earliest symptoms.

Early Symptoms

Telltale signs of diabetes are dry mouth, excessive thirst, frequent urination, constant hunger (even after meals), unusual weight gain or loss, and lack of energy. According to Registered Dietician Kathy Napoli, founder and owner of Nutra Partners, in Alamo, a significant number of clients detected no symptoms and only learned of their condition from a doctor ordered routine blood test. “I recommend an annual blood test of fasting blood glucose levels and suggest an A1C glycated hemoglobin blood test, which is a reading of blood sugar levels over a three-month period. Physical symptoms are important to note because Type 2 diabetics have the same signs,” says Napoli, nutritionist and owner of Nutra Partners, in Alamo.

“Fatigue after eating a meal can also be an indicator of pre-diabetes

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and diabetes. Managing the extra blood sugar level from poor food and drink choices requires a lot of energy and causes an inflammatory response.

If untreated, later symptoms may include numbness and tingling of the extremities (hands/feet), as well as the tingling pain or discomfort of neuropathy in the hands and feet. These can indicate nerve damage as a result of high blood sugar levels. “Complications caused by diabetes include heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, nerve damage, and vision problems,” explains Saskia Kleinert, a nutritionist and holistic integrative health practitioner who is also the director of Emeryville Health & Wellness Center, in Emeryville.

Blood Sugar (Glucose) Levels

Normal blood glucose levels vary throughout the day. For healthy individuals a fasting blood sugar level on awakening is less than 100 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dl) of blood. Before meals, normal levels are between 7099 mg/dl.

Individuals who have developed early stages of insulin resistance will not always experience high blood glucose levels, but without medical intervention those with Type 1 diabetes will experience extremely high glucose levels. Fasting glucose levels should vary between 100-125.

A fasting glucose level above 126 is an indicator that lifestyle changes are needed to avoid progression into full Type 2 diabetes.

High Risk Groups

Napoli and Kleinert cite high-risk groups for Type 2 diabetes: individuals who consume large amounts of simple carbohydrates and sugars, and those who have an exceedingly sedentary lifestyle that includes unhealthy processed foods.

Fluctuating Blood Sugar

Rollercoaster sugar levels are irritating to the nerves and weaken the lining of blood vessels. They contribute to neuropathies in the legs and lead to retinopathy. Fluctuations raise triglycer-

emphasis on the role of cardiovascular and resistance training exercises in reversing pre-diabetes and managing diabetes for diagnosed individuals.

“Exercise increases the muscle cell’s demand for glucose, moving glucose out of the blood and into muscle cells,” she explains.

DEC

Control and Reversal

ides, a type of fat (lipid) that circulates in the blood along with cholesterol.

Triglycerides are an important measure of heart health. An excessive amount of 200 to 499 mg/dl of blood can lead to a risk of stroke and heart attack.

An awareness of risk factors, such as a family history of diabetes, is important in early detection. “With this knowledge and fully informed by a medical professional regarding the necessary steps to prevent diabetes from progressing to the next stage, the individual knows what types of realistic changes can be supportive and how to go about making them,” says Jamie Coughlan, a Naturopathic Doctor who practices in Pleasanton and Pleasant Hill.

Making the most impactful choices is critical in the earliest stages. “Napoli, Kleinert and Coughlan educate patients and help them integrate dietary changes. Their patient education includes the necessity of eating low glycemic index foods and reducing blood glucose levels while increasing healthy fats such as nuts, avocado and olive oil.

Antioxidant rich plant foods are also a critically important component of an effective dietary plan. As experienced health practitioners, they are alarmed by the nationwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes as well as the increased number of teenagers in different stages of diabetes.

The Role of Exercise

Coughlan’s patient education includes

There is no quick fix for preventing and reversing diabetes. Restoration of health begins with the most important health lifestyle changes required—replacing processed and sugary foods with nutrient-dense whole foods, determining possible food sensitivities with an elimination diet, eating some protein with every meal, eliminating environmental toxins, performing a form of cardiovascular exercise and resistance training at least three to five times a week, and adding stressrelieving practices such as yoga, tai chi, or qigong.

Coughlan is an expert in herbs and supplements and often recommends several for managing, preventing or reversing diabetes. Herbs such as turmeric reduce inflammation and berberine can help cells use glucose efficiently. Supplements such as vitamin C, B complex, resveratrol and pycnogenol can raise antioxidant levels, which Coughlan advises most prediabetic and diabetic individuals are deficient in. “I prefer to recommend the dosage and usage on an individual basis,” advises Coughlan.

NutraPartners, 3189 Danville Blvd., Ste. 260, Alamo. 925831-3900. Visit Nutra Partners. com. See ad, page 31.

Emeryville Health & Wellness Center, 1240 Powell St., Emeryville, 510-653-8263, Integrative HealthNutrition.com  Iron Horse Naturopathic Medicine, Offices in Pleasanton and Pleasant Hill.

Call 925-362-4686 or visit DrJamieCoughlan.com.

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healthykids

THE SENSITIVE CHILD How to Nurture altanaka/Shutterstock.com

Special Gifts

by Maureen Healy

It is primarily parenting that decides whether the expression of sensitivity will be an advantage or a source of anxiety. ~Elaine Aron

H

ighly sensitive children need extra nurturing care so that they can learn to see their sensitivity as a strength and begin empowering themselves with tools to tap into their positive traits such as insight, creativity and empathy, while simultaneously learning how to manage their rich emotional lives.

Elaine Aron, Ph.D., a practicing psychotherapist in Mill Valley, California, who studies sensitivity using functional magnetic resonance imaging, advises, “A highly sensitive child is among the 15 to 20 percent born with a nervous system that’s highly aware and quick to react to everything.” She offers a free online questionnaire to help assess a child’s level of sensitivity at HSPerson.com/ test/highly-sensitive-child-test.

Highly sensitive children are incredibly responsive to their environments, from sounds and smells to the overall mood of people they encounter. Other indicators may range from a preference for quiet play to noticing details or asking many questions. With a sharpened sense of

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awareness, they are often gifted intellectually, creatively and emotionally, demonstrating genuine compassion early on.

The downside is that these intensely perceptive children can also be easily overwhelmed by crowds, noises, new situations or sudden changes. Criticism, defeat and the distress of others deeply affect them.

Parenting a highly sensitive child can be highly rewarding, but some parents find it exhausting. Special

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skills help in gracefully raising a healthy, happy and well-adjusted sensitive child without wearing ourselves out.

Accept, rather than seek to change them. Embracing a child as being highly sensitive is step one.

No one can change them into less sensitive, more traditional kids. Accept their specialness as part of the family’s shared journey.

See it as a gift. It’s easy to get frustrated or angry with a child if they continually cry, withdraw and shy away from social situations. Instead of viewing these behaviors as flaws, see them as providing the child a special gift. Sensitivity often characterizes artists, innovators, prodigies and great thinkers.

Partner up. Sensitive children respond far better to requests for desired behaviors when acting in partnership with the adults in their life. Harsh discipline can elicit emotional meltdowns and outbursts of energy in temper tantrums, crying or yelling. Partnering with a child includes learning to avoid their triggers and giving them ready tools to use when they feel overwhelmed, such as breathing exercises. Professional counselors can help shape the relationship.

Focus on strengths. Remembering that a highly sensitive child may be incredibly talented is essential when they are acting out. Training ourselves to see a child’s strengths first—such as their incredible creativ-

ity, perceptiveness and keen intellect—helps us accept their challenges, such as being overwhelmed, highly emotional, introverted at times, shy, picky about clothes and other preferences, or overly active.

Create calmness. It’s worth taking the time to create spaces that match a child’s sensibilities. Create a “peace corner” at home designed to deliver the serenity that highly sensitive children crave by using just the right lighting, colors, sounds and surroundings; elements might include headphones, favorite plush toys and coloring markers.

Instill inner discipline. Establishing gentle structure and clear limits with respect goes a long way.

Reasonable reminders of what’s needed now and why yield better results than shouting and warnings of consequences.

Connect with peers. Like everyone else, highly sensitive children are drawn to other “birds of a feather”, and getting these kids together to nurture each other’s strengths is good. It may mean some extra effort by parents to help a child find kids that get along together and make play dates.

A highly sensitive child can be steered in a helpful emotional direction by well-adjusted, happy and healthy sensitive adults. Sensitive children need especially good role models because they are learning how to use their incredible gifts in a world that sometimes doesn’t value their inherent worth.

Maureen Healy, of Santa Barbara, CA, runs a mentoring program for highly sensitive children based on her social and emotional learning curriculum for K-8 students, child psychology training and current scientific research. She is the author of Growing Happy Kids and The Energetic Keys to Indigo Kids (HighlySensitiveKids.com).

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. ~Karl Barth

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healingways

up. It’s emerged through people exploring the practices in their personal lives, and then bringing them to work.

WORKPLACE WISDOM

Dean Drobot/Shutterstock.com

Personal and Professional Benefits

Mindfulness in Corporate Life

by April Thompson

T

he workplace can be filled with stress, egos and distractions that challenge the productive and happy atmosphere we desire. Both employees and employers are adopting mindfulness to help cope and transform both themselves and their work environment.

Rooted in Eastern philosophies like Buddhism, most workplace mindfulness programs have stripped the techniques to a secular form more appealing to skeptics or adherents of other religions. The key practice—simply known as “sitting” or meditation—involves focusing our attention on our thoughts, breathing, emotions or bodily sensations for a set time period, while the term mindfulness refers to the ability to be aware of the present moment, whether meditating or in a business meeting.

While Fortune 500 companies like Procter & Gamble, Aetna and General Mills have instituted formal mindfulness programs, Michael Carroll, meditation teacher, executive coach and the author of Awake at Work, says that the mindfulness revolution has been largely seeded from the ground

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Jacqueline Gallo, operational excellence manager for Whitcraft Group, a manufacturing plant in Eastford, Connecticut, discovered meditation 12 years ago while seeking solace during a traumatic time. Today, Gallo does three short sits a week and occasionally participates in 10-day retreats. Whitcraft doesn’t offer meditation to employees, but Gallo says mindfulness enables her to be available to her staff and solve problems without getting “swept off my feet so easily by all the desires, agendas and emotions confronted at work.”

Carroll cautions that it’s not about trying to eliminate our own or others’ emotional agendas or personal biases at work; rather, individuals use mindfulness to become more conscious of and relaxed about them. “Meditation helps develop agility in viewing… to self-regulate, drop fixed mindsets, become self-aware,” explains Carroll, who has coached university presidents, CEOs and nonprofit executives in mindful leadership techniques. “You learn things from a competitor’s perspective or pick up on social cues you may miss if you instead had a fixed lens on a situation.”

Corporate Acceptance

While meditation may be on the upswing in the workplace, it was a battle to legitimize it, according to Tara Healey, program director for mindfulness-based learning at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC). A longtime meditation practitioner, Healey started the Mind the Moment program a decade ago while serving as an organizational capacity building consultant. Surveys had shown that employees were overwhelmed and dissatisfied, but lacked the skills to rectify their situation.

“The leadership said, ‘Great, let’s do it, but not tell anyone,’” relates Healey. She notes that meditation, a core component of her multifaceted mindfulness course covering everything from workplace stress to mindful listening, wasn’t accepted in the workplace at that point.

Today, 30 percent of her company’s 1,050 employees have completed a six-week class introducing them to the power of mindfulness; some go on to participate in a guided monthly group meditation practice or use company meditation rooms for individual practice. The health services company also offers the course to its member companies throughout New England. To date, more than 12,350 people in 174 companies have participated, encompassing varied fields from higher education and health to finance and technology. A survey of employees showed that initially 99 percent felt it was a good use of their time; another taken six months later found that 87 percent were still using the techniques.

HPHC informatics analyst Stephanie Oddleifson, who took the course nearly 10 years ago, says it transformed her way of thinking and behaving in the workplace and

wisewords

Stephen Dinan Outlines America’s Noble Destiny Bridging Our Political Divide is Key

by Mary Magline

furnished a set of practices she uses every day. In times of conflict, “I was so quick to make up stories in my head and jump to conclusions previously,” she says. “Now I’m able to pause before responding and observe my thoughts without getting caught up in them. I can diffuse tense situations with humor and not take things personally.”

Additional research substantiates the anecdotal evidence for meditation’s workplace benefits. In 2015, scientists from Canada’s University of British Columbia and Germany’s Chemnitz University of Technology compiled data from 20-plus neurology studies, finding significant correlations between meditation and areas of the brain related to capacities for selfregulation, introspection and complex thinking. A Rice University study specifically found a positive relationship between workplace mindfulness, job performance and employee retention.

While workplace mindfulness programs vary and may incorporate helpful talks, encouraging readings and group discussions, Healey and Carroll both caution that reading or talking about mindfulness or meditation is no substitute for the practice itself, which many find challenging. “You won’t taste the benefits just reading about it,” remarks Healey. “The practice will come into play come showtime.”

Connect with April Thompson, of Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.

S

tephen Dinan, founder and CEO of The Shift Network, is a champion of the transpartisan movement that seeks to transcend America’s current political climate to realize greater unity and understanding.

His new book, Sacred America, Sacred World: Fulfilling Our Mission in Service to All, offers innovative, practical solutions for engaging citizens in an emerging whole.

Dinan has forwarded thinking in his work with the Institute of Noetic Sciences, where he helped shape the Shift in Action and One Minute Shift programs, and with the Esalen Center for Theory & Research, a think tank he helped create to explore human potential frontiers. He is also an active member of the Evolutionary Leadership and Transformational Leadership councils.

What political problem tops the list if we’re to make progress on anything?

We all know that American politics suffers from extreme polarization. Just as the middle class has faded away from our economy, the bipartisan “middle” has dropped out of our political process. In the last two decades, moderates have become far less prominent, giving way to ideologues on both sides of the aisle. As a result, Congress is virtually unable to legislate, because politicians on the left and right insist they have

all the answers. They often refuse to work with the president if he is from the other party.

This childish behavior is a far cry from the bipartisan approach to solving problems that once made this country great. Our country is falling apart and we need to renew ourselves by finding a sacred vision of national unity.

The fast-growing transpartisan movement offers an answer that can be aided by perspectives of transpersonal psychology and a visionary spiritual dimension drawn from wisdom traditions of the East and West.

How is transpartisan best defined?

Transpartisan means that Americans can rise above damaging divisions. It provides hope that if we supply the right intention, we can hold to a vision that honors the ideals of a wide range of viewpoints. No one can be 100 percent right or 100 percent wrong, and we transcend limiting conservative and liberal categories by using dialogue and maturity in embracing the truths of all parties, while leaving behind their excesses and errors.

We can belong to any party and claim an important piece of the truth; a singular truth we stand for, such as liberty or social justice or economic growth, but it represents only a personal selection from a larger set of sacred

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American principles. To attain insight into these principles, we must move to an enlightened vision that honors all political perspectives, seeing each as a valuable, yet incomplete contribution toward the emerging whole.

Why have you called for a sacred America?

“Sacred” is a word that binds us together in the mystery of life and links us into a single human family in which ultimately no one is our enemy. A sacred worldview leads to a life filled with respect and reverence. It informs and enables us as we reach for our highest destiny as a country, not built on a desire to be number one, but a humble sense of calling, animated by a spirit of service to all.

America is being called to explore new frontiers politically, economically and spiritually, in service to our own citizens and the world. We are to embrace a path away from the waste and tragedy of war and toward universal health, sustainability and prosperity.

It requires the best of both progressive

and conservative values and a collaborative style of politics that seeks higher ground. Global accords and councils will replace the endless posturing of every military era.

novation and cultural expression, which tends to be a focus of progressives.

How can we replace political gridlock with a more perfect union?

What have you, as a progressive, learned from conservatives?

Conservatives tend to focus on preserving what has worked in the past, which is a useful function. In the human body, we have strong elements required for health that basically protect its homeostasis. Too much change happening too quickly can be dangerous to us.

Conservatives often play the same role in society, minimizing the risk of chaotic change and preserving core values, commitments and culture.

I’ve found that embracing conservative values and perspectives is a good form of cross-training in my role as a spiritually based CEO, where it’s imperative that I not risk everything on each new idea. A moderate path draws upon the best of conservative perspectives while opening to new possibilities for in-

The ultimate solution comes in personally building bridges of curiosity, respect and understanding, and recognizing that true, lasting answers to extremely complex problems require the best thinking of all parties and ideologies so that some hybridization of solutions happens.

We may not come to consensus on major issues, but we can come into deep dialogue and human exchange.

Extending a hand of friendship across the aisle is ultimately one of the most important things we can do as citizens.

The women members of the Senate have led the way in doing this, often creating breakthroughs through their personal connections with members of the other major party.

For more information visit: Stephen Dinan.com or TheShiftNetwork.com

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inspiration Self-Suggestion Can Transform Winter Blues into Spring Happy

by Michael Disend

T

o invoke the Universal must take time to go into the Healing Force through Light. The Intelligent Healing Self Suggestion may feel Power already flows through at first like trying on a new us like electricity and our outfit in front of a mirror, as we Self Suggestions are loving all have done. We face front, humble knocks on the Divine then sideways, move a bit here door. When the Divine door and there, smile, frown, and opens we will find ourselves change our expressions until charged with Life Energy we’re unexpectedly guided through each cell and nerve to the right feeling, the right as we learn and directly exgroove—when we know we Michael Disend perience the Spiritual, Mental look really, really great. and Natural Laws of Healing,

Self Suggestion is similar. We might which is our birthright. ask, does it work? Will I really heal?

Let’s give it a whirl with the winter How long does it take? The answers are blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) proven and simple. Yes, positive Self is a weather-caused depression that Suggestion, applied consistently, often in negatively affects brain patterns. It often conjunction with other natural healing happens in autumn, and can lead to modalities, will help us heal completely. sadness and fatigue. SAD directly affects Self suggestions can be spoken, whisabout half a million people—that’s about pered, sung or thought. We can express 10 to 20 percent of all Americans who them as we meditate, work-out, bicycle feel emotionally slammed as we head toor walk. Regardless of when we say ward the December 22 solstice. Research them, an impression is made on the indicates that causes of SAD include temsubconscious mind and, on a more pro- perature changes, less sunlight, increased found level, there is always a response work and holiday responsibilities, and from the Mighty Universal Intelligence. new allergens in the air.

Suggestion is of two sorts: First, the ones we give ourselves, and second, the Taking Steps Toward ones we receive from others. We can Spring Happy call them “the good, the bad, and the Self Suggestions may be uttered out ugly.” Self suggestion means we actually and wholeheartedly speak only GOOD, rejuvenating, positive, “living” words, sending them out into the ether where they reflect back to us from the Infinite Mirror. This allows Consciousness and Intelligence to do the healing work on Divine time, not on our schedules.

Authentic Healing rises straight from the heart center. It rises up and flowers like a lotus. But our hearts must open first, and that can take some time. It varies for each of us. Sincerity and patience are absolutely everything when it comes to Self Suggestion. We

loud or silently, during activities or at rest. Choose a time and place when you’re undisturbed. You can record Self Suggestions and listen to them, or say them aloud, in part or whole. Rest on a bed propped up with cushions, or on a reclining chair. Focus on your breathing until you feel very heavy, very relaxed, and more and more relaxed, almost as if you’re falling asleep. You’re so tired, so relaxed, so utterly comfortable. There is no need to move or fidget. You are at one with yourself as you repeat your Self Suggestions, knowing they’re having the effects you desire. Sleep will come when it’s ready, but this is neither sleeping nor waking. It’s a special state of deep receptivity in between the two.

Sample Self Suggestions

n All weather is good, and this good surrounds me and can never change or be lost. n I thrive in summer, spring, fall and winter, and draw inner strength and light from all seasons. n I learn lessons from weather conditions and do not rebel against them. n Spirit is all there is and there can be nothing but Spirit in all seasons. n There is peace and love abiding in each season, hot or cold, wet or dry, and I recognize and welcome the love, beauty, strength, wisdom and power of Mother Nature. n This day brings me nothing but joy. I am one with humanity—in the Garden of Humanity—and I welcome all seasons, all weather, with a Heart of Love.

Michael Disend is a Certified Consulting Hypnotist with Power Hynosis, with offices in Walnut Creek and San Francisco.

For more info, call 925-300-3122 or 415-440-8767 or visit PowerHypnosis. com.

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

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 Diwali Indian Dinner, Festival of Lights | Berkeley 6-8pm. An ancient springtime festival when you celebrate the triumph of light over the retreating dark by light the night with thousands of lanterns. Join us with a buffet of Indian food while the dining hall is transformed by hundreds of candles. Free/International House residents, $15 non-residents. 2nd Floor Dining Commons, International House at UC Berkeley, 2299 Piedmont Ave, Berkeley. More information at IHouse.

Berkeley.edu or AlamedaMagazin.com.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Holiday Food Drive | Berkeley 8:30am-6pm. This month the Therapeutic Recreation Program is holding a holiday food drive. They’re collecting non-perishable foods, and other such items for the Berkeley Food Pantry. Let’s all help each other every day, and during this holiday. Donations can be made at all City Community Centers, Pools and Recreation Customer Service Hub. Hours vary by location.

For more information and hours of each location, please call 510-981-6656.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Conservation Speaker: Helping Rhinos | Oakland 6:30-9pm. There are a lot of people out there that have quite a bit of compassion for elephants. However, you don’t usually hear that much talk about a Rhino, and they are the second most majestic animal in the world.

Join us to see what we’re doing to save these animals, and find out what you can do to help them also. All proceeds benefit Helping Rhinos. $12-$20. Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd, Oakland. OaklandZoo.org.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4 & SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 3rd Annual Indian Market | Oakland 3-9pm & 10am-4pm. A one-of-a-kind in our area.

Featuring over 20 local artists with items such as handwoven baskets, ceramic housewares, apparel, jewelry and so much more, the list goes on! Free. Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St, Oakland. 510318-8400. MuseumCa.org

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Roanne’s Race 2016 | Livermore 7:30am. A 5K run and walk, a 10K run and a kids’ fun run mile. This is an event for the community that offers something for everyone. A charitable event where all the proceeds are donated to support the Colon Cancer Alliance’s Under 50 research and awareness programs. $20-$60. Robertson Park, 3200 Robertson Park Rd, Across from Rodeo Parking, Livermore. Information at RoannesRace.com. Register at Active.com.

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Diablo Summit Stomp 30K/HalfMarathon/10K/5K | Walnut Creek 7:45am. Walkers and hikers are all welcome, as are all skill levels. While there are some hills and the courses are on trails, this event is like most of Brazen Racing events. Tough enough for the experienced runner, but friendly enough for the first-time trail runner. $48-$89.

Castle Rock Park, 1700 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut Creek. More information and registration at BrazenRacing.com or Active.com.

Lake Chabot Trail Run | Castro Valley 8am. Different events to choose from. 50K, Marathon, 30K, Half-Marathon, 5 Mile, and Kids race starting at 7:50am. You’ll be starting out at the Marina and travelling around the popular Lake Chabot reservoir and the surrounding hills. If you are a first-time trail runner, this will be a great experience. There will be fully stocked aid station every 4-5 miles. Expect fresh fruit, salty snacks, assorted candies, water and electrolyte sports drinks will be available. It is suggested that all runners carry a 20 oz. bottle of water with them for between aid stations. $15 plus $5 for park entry. Lake Chabot Regional Park, 17600 Lake Chabot Rd, Castro Valley.

Register at CoastalTrailRuns.com.

Breema: The Art of Being Present | Oakland 10-11:30am. Breema is an ideal vehicle to practice body-mind connection, the first step towards an actual taste of presence. $10/first class is free. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937.

Breema.com.

Modern Makers Patchwork Festival | Oakland 11am-5pm. If you enjoy crafting, tinkering, or maybe have some crazy genius type ideas, join us to show off your creation of accessories, clothing, jewelry, home goods, pet gear and so much more! Free. Jack London Square, Broadway & Embarcadero West, Oakland.

PatchWorkShow.com.

Urban Cycling Classroom Workshop |Berkeley 1-3pm. Adults and teens, come join us! Learn the rules of the road, and how to properly equip your bike and fit your helmet, avoid bicycle theft, riding after dark, and how to avoid crashes. This course is part of BEST, allowing ticketed cyclists to have their fines reduced. UC Berkeley, South Dr, Dwinelle Hall, Room 209, Berkeley. 510-642-6000. More information and registration at BikeEastBay.org.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6

ThetaHealing Manifesting & Abundance | Oakland 10am-5pm. Learn how to use the ThetaHealing technique to draw in the life that your heart desires.

Prerequisites: ThetaHealing Basics and Advanced.

Integrative Relational Energetics Institute, 300 27th St, Oakland. Register by calling 510-654-1405. Or go to IREInst.com.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Annual Holiday Boutique | Alameda 10am-4pm. A great way to get holiday shopping done

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

early. hand-crafted items such as soap, antiques, pottery, glass, vintage collectable, jewelry and clothing.

Proceeds will benefit a variety of charities. Free.

Albert H DeWitt Officers’ Club, 641 West Redline Ave, Alameda Point, Alameda. AlamedaCa.gov or AlamedaMagazine.com.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Exhibition of Landscapes, Cityscapes & Interiorscapes| Berkeley 6-9pm. Join us for an evening of art and culture.

Take in breathtaking scenes of paintings from a wide spectrum. Landscapes to cityscapes and everything in between. Large variety of pieces from artists all around the country. uBe Art, 2507 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley.

More information at SF.FunCheap.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Urban Cycling Workshop | Dublin 10am-noon. Adults and teens, come join us! Learn the rules of the road, and how to properly equip your bike and fit your helmet, avoid bicycle theft, riding after dark, and how to avoid crashes. All who participate will receive a free reflective vest. Class is free. Dublin Library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin. More information and registration at BikeEastBay.org.

Adult Learn-To-Ride Class | Oakland 10am-1pm. If you have never learned to ride a bike or would just like a refresher class, this is for you.

Whether you’re a teen or an adult, our patient instructors are here to assist you in this non-judgmental class, for adults and teens. Bikes and helmets are available to rent at a low cost. Class is free. Rockridge BART Station, 5660 College Ave, Oakland. More information and registration at BikeEastBay.org.

Meet in the Street | Castro Valley 3-9pm. The city will officially kick off the holiday season today with live music, an electric parade of lights and holiday shopping. In the parade, the kids will love the floats from the local service organizations, churches and schools. Don’t forget the antique cars, Irish Dancers, service dogs, motorcycles and lots more! Best of all, the finale will bring in Santa! Free.

Castro Valley Boulevard, Castro Valley.

CVMeetInTheStreet.org.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 Good-Guys Autumn Get-Together | Pleasanton 8am-4pm. If you’re into muscle cars, hot rods, model cars and bicycles, if you feel the need for speed, this is the place for you. Fun for the whole family, so come join us. $20-$17, $6/kids. Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave, Pleasanton. Information obtained at Good-Guys.com or Alameda magazine.com.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Super Moon Kayak Paddle | Oakland 4:30-7:30pm. Take yourself and your kayak and get away from the city lights. Go to the calm waters of the Oakland estuary and take in the view of the spectacular full moon! The moon won’t come this close to the earth again until 2034. Free. Jack London Square,

Broadway & Embarcadero, Oakland. CalKayak.com.

CalKayak.com.

Full Moon Tibetan Chanting Ceremony | Berkeley 8-9:30pm. The full moon, in many Buddhist lands is a time to gather for meditation and prayer. The Nyingma students and their friends, will be meeting on this evening, for that occasion. Join them in celebration.

Free. 1815 Highland Place, Berkeley. Please feel free to contact them at 510- 809–1000.

The Stunt Dog Experience | Livermore 2 & 6pm. You don’t want to miss this! Come and be amazed at the intelligence level of these dogs.

Unbelievable! Strength, stamina, flexibility and determination, just to name a few of the qualities it takes to endure the rigorous training these dogs are committed to. $40, $16/students 17 years of age and under. Livermore Performing Arts Center, 2400 First St, Livermore. 925-373-6100. StuntDogShow.com.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30

Urban Cycling 101 Road Class | Pleasanton 10am-3:30pm. We will be working in small groups with certified instructors. A helmet is required. Covering emergency maneuvers, to improve your handling skills. This day will definitely build your confidence!

Please note, a Classroom workshop is a prerequisite to this road class. For adults and teens, a half day of riding. Amador Recreation Center, 4455 Black Ave, Pleasanton. More information and registration at BikeEastBay.org.

Urban Cycling Classroom | Oakland 1-3pm. Certified instructors are teaching this fun workshop for teens and adults. Learn the rules of the roads, how to properly fit your helmet, avoid bike theft and how to prevent crashes. No bike is required. Class is free. All participants will receive a reflective vest.

Oakland Main Library, 125 14th Street, Oakland. More information and registration at BikeEastBay.org.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Alameda Holiday Kick-off 5K and 1 Mile Kids Run | Alameda 9am. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or this is your first event, you’re sure to enjoy the picturesque views of the Bay’s skyline and its’ bridge. You’ll be running a looped course that will be partially paved, and some dirt pathways. Don’t forget the post-race party with food and music. $15-$35. Harbor Bay Isle Club, 200 Packet Landing Rd, Alameda. More information and registration at Active.com.

Touching the Source, Opening the Heart | Oakland 10am-1pm. Practicing Breema can create openness in the heart, mind and body. This can support harmony in our lives. An experience of profound gratitude for all our relationships. $30, $25/pre-paid. CE for nurses, bodyworkers, MFTs & LCSWs. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937.

Breema.com.

! s U n i P

Pinterest.com/naeastbay/

Drumming for Rain | Walnut Creek 5-6pm. If there are “rain dances”, then there can be “rain drums”. Right? Bring your friends, family, or come alone. Everyone is welcome. Aside from your drums, rattles, shakers and any percussion instruments, don’t forget a pillow or mat to sit on. RSVP required.

Free. Location is near highways 680/24 Interchange or in Lafayette. Must Call! 925-932-2090.

Calendar A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events.

planahead SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 Bah Humbug! 5K Run & Walk | San Ramon This healthy and fun run or walk will have you going through San Ramon. Don’t miss the costume contest, while spreading holiday cheer. Awards ceremony, and lots of fun. More information to come. San Ramon Community Center at Central Park, 12501 Alcosta Blvd, San Ramon.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 Breema Retreat with Our Director | Graton 9:30am-5pm. Participating in a Breema workshop is a unique opportunity to experience a new way of moving, thinking and feeling. By applying what we learn, we can support an openhearted and open-minded posture toward life. CE for nurses, bodyworkers, MFTs and LCSWs. $70, $80/after November 21st. Graton Community Club. For more information, call 510-3794057. Contact is Laurar@Breema.com.

Two styles available:

Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. ~Henry Ward Beecher

n Calendar of Dated Events: Designed for events on a specific date of the month. 50 words. n Calendar of Ongoing Events: Designed for recurring events that fall on the same day each week. 25 words.

For more information visit our website: NAEastbay.com

925-557-7583 natural awakenings

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

sunday

specific needs. $10/suggested love offering. Unity of Tri-Valley, 7567 Amador Valley Blvd, #108, Dublin. 925-829-2733. UnityOfTriValley.org.

100+ Free-to-Play Tabletop Games | Berkeley

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.

Swarm Urban Farming Bike Ride with Fleet Farming | Oakland 9-11am. If you’ve been thinking about checking out Fleet Farming in your area, now is your chance!

A moving workshop done bi-weekly, that will let you get your hands dirty with seeding, tending beds, harvesting and other farming activities. We bike ride to all three of our farmlettes. Bottoms Up Community Garden, 814 Peralta St, Oakland.

More information at BikeEastBay.com. FB.com/ FleetFarmingOak. Play or Learn the Game of Go | Oakland 10am-5pm. Learn to play in just a few minutes, we’re happy to show you how. Ancient game, but still played by thousands today. Drop-ins welcome, RSVP preferred, by Saturday. Sponsored by North Oakland Go Club. Free. Black Spring Coffee Co, 2930 Telegraph Ave, Oakland. Contact Steve Bloom with questions. SteveBloom55@gmail.com.

MeetUp.com/North-Oakland-Go-Club.

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-1:30pm. 1st Sunday of every month. A sound-healing concert played by Shala. Everyone’s experience will be unique and suited to their own

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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, #108, Dublin. 925-829-2733.

UnityOfTriValley.org.

Community Lounge Rumba | Berkeley 3:30-6pm. 1 and 3 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. st

rd

Free Kundalini Meditation | Walnut Creek 5-6:30pm. Kundalini meditation is an ancient Tantric practice that allows each individual to deeply experience their 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

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

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.

monday Morning Fitness Classes | Oakland This program runs daily all weekdays. Start your day off feeling great, getting your metabolism revved for the day. If you choose to commit to several days in the week, you’ll have priority during sign-up. Email us questions and for more information. $25. Burn Pilates Oakland, 2101 Webster St, Ste 160, Oakland. Elizabeth, 510-788-4275.

BurnPilates@gmail.com.

Private Grocery Tour | EastBay 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.

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

Burn Pilates Morning Club | Oakland 6-8am. Start your day off right. Morning exercising gets the metabolism going. If you’re willing to make a commitment, this class meets daily until the end of December, multiple days per week. $25.

Burn Pilates Oakland, 2101 Webster St, Ste 160, Oakland. Call Elizabeth, 510-788-4275. BurnPilates@Gmail.com. BurnPilates.com/Locations/ Uptown-Oakland.

Radio Show-Life Insights Live, Personal Growth Radio 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 ½-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.

TAT (Tapas Acupressure Technique) Basics | 12:30-2pm. This is a distance class. Learn the basics of this simple and profound technique. This is one portion of the training needed to be a TAT Professional. $350. For more information or to register, contact 510-654-1405. IREInst.com.

Breema Bodywork & Principles: No Hurry/ No Pause | Oakland 7-8:30pm. This is a class to support deepening our experience with the Breema principles, and bringing them to our everyday lives. $10/first class is free. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

Community Healing Circle | Dublin.

7-8:30pm. First Monday of every month. Indi-

vidual and group healing techniques from various disciplines are demonstrated to re-align the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. Facilitated by Claudia Scott. $10/love offering. Unity of TriValley, 7567 Amador Valley Blvd, #108. 925-7845956. JoyOfHealing@ClaudiaJ.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 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.

Get started today with an eCourse, and join us live for guided meditation calls. Free. SufiUniversity. org/INFO. Yoga at Bishop Ranch 15 | San Ramon 12:05-12:50pm. Please arrive a few minutes early.

Take a midday break to reconnect with yourself while you relax and rejuvenate with gentle Hatha Yoga.

Build strength, flexibility, balance and coordination.

Deepen your self-awareness and inner peace. Please bring a mat. All levels are welcome. $42/5 class package, $75/10 class package. 12667 Alcosta Blvd, Ste 135, (BR15), San Ramon. ClarityWithSusan@ Gmail.com. ClarityWithSusan.com.

South Berkeley Farmers’ Market | Berkeley 2-6:30pm. Go outside the box, the big box stores that is. Enjoy fresh produce and products from the area. Not only is this a healthier way of living, but you’ll be supporting the local businesses in the area.

Adeline St and 63rd St, Berkeley.

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

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 South Main St, Walnut Creek.

925-274-1253. Lululemon.com/WalnutCreek.

Korean Zen Meditation | Oakland 7-9pm. Taught by Buddhist nun Jaguang Sunim.

A relaxed meditation to free yourself from life’s stress, and find your inner center of wisdom.

Dharma talk. Sitting and walking meditation, tea and discussion. By donation. Sixth Ancestor Zen Center, 100 Monte Cresta Ave, Oakland. 510 8444164. SixthAncestorZen.org.

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 ThetaHealing & New Offerings at IRE | Oakland & Modesto Not only distributors, we have displays of both doTerra Oils and Nikken products in both locations. IRE staff members are offering introductory sessions to instruct and support you. $50. We are available for your inquiries or registration at 510654-1405. Info@IREInst.com. IREInst.com.

Quiet the Mind & Open the Heart | Pleasanton 7pm. First Wednesday of the month. This workshop is for people looking for a life transformation and support, to build new healthy habits and routines.

You will have the opportunity to learn about connections and dependencies between our physical, mental, and spiritual bodies. The talks are 1½ hours, and include lecture, discussions, and practical exercises. Free. For more information, go to TheSacredHealingWell.com or MTHWellnessCenter.

MassageTherapy.com.

Transcendental Meditation | Berkeley Noon. Learn about transcendental meditation.

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

Gentle Yoga | Oakland 1-2pm. No experience needed. Wear comfortable clothes. Designed for women who have, or have had cancer. Class includes gentle asana practice, as well as restorative poses. Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph Ave, Oakland.

510-420-7900. WCRC.org.

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

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

408-390-2095. Awakening360.com.

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 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.

Yoga at Bishop Ranch 15 | San Ramon 12:05-12:50pm. Please arrive a few minutes early.

Take a midday break to reconnect with yourself while you relax and rejuvenate with gentle Hatha Yoga. Build strength, flexibility, balance and coordination. Deepen your self-awareness and inner peace. Please bring a mat. All levels are welcome. $42/5-class package, $75/10-class package. 12667 Alcosta Blvd, Ste 135, (BR15), San Ramon. Clar ityWithSusan@gmail.com. ClarityWithSusan.com.

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

Members and non-members welcome. This class is designed to work with pre-teens in developing a strong sense of self. Students are taught relaxation techniques, yoga postures and breathe work.

Age-appropriate activities are used to promote self-love, community and an awareness of the environment. No yoga experience necessary. $12/ class; $38/month. Yoga Works, 1131 Locust St, 2nd Flr, Walnut Creek. 925-478-7272. InfoNorCal@ YogaWorks.com.

Coloring Club | Dublin 5:30-6:30pm. Do you ever feel like you just need to calm down and unwind for a little while? Here is a great way to do just that! Color. That’s right, coloring can have such a calming effect over you, and relax for one hour, and do just that. Meet the third Thursday of every month. Please bring your supplies. Dublin Library, 200 Civic Plaza, Dublin.

925-803-7252. Any questions? Email A.Dunn@ DublinLibrary.org.

Weight-Loss Class | Castro Valley 6-7pm. 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 bless-

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ings. 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.

Game Night | Berkeley 7-11pm. Not sure what you feel like doing on a Thursday night? Open game night is the place to be! Your options are many with all types of board games, card games, miniature games, games of dice, or bring your own game. Open to all ages.

Free. 924 Gilman St, Berkeley. Information and confirmation is available at 924GameNight@ gmail.com.

Bellydance Class | Oakland 7:30pm. Build your self-confidence! This class is also a great low-impact workout focusing on basic bellydance steps, muscular technique, isolations and musicality. No experience required. Wear yoga pants, capris or shorts so instructor can see your leg positions. Tank top or another workout shirt.

You don’t have to expose your belly. Hip scarves are optional. Bare feet or thin-soled dance shoes. $25/3 classes for new students, $16/drop-in. Yoga Love Oakland, 3851 Market St, Oakland. Holistic Bellydance@gmail.com. HolisticBellydance.com.

Ballroom & Social Dance | Livermore 7:30pm. Join instructor Joallyn Bohn and learn the beginner steps to the Tango, (American style).

This class if for adult students. A partner is recommended but not required. Smooth-soled shoes are much better to war than rubber soled shoes. Free.

Organized by Livermore Area Rec & Park District, 522 South L St, Livermore. Register at Active.com.

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@GalileoWeb. org. Biodanza.us.

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

Parent’s Night Out | Emeryville 6-10:30pm. This is a great night out for everyone in 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.

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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, fundraisers 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. 925-484-2199.

PleasantonDowntown.net.

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. WalnutCreekRec.org.

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.

participate more fully in our lives. $10/first class is free. The Breema Center, 6076 Claremont Ave, Oakland. 510-428-0937. Breema.com.

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.

Morning Meditation | Berkeley 10:30-11:30am. Become focused. Learn to clear your mind. Remove the stress that is in your life!

An instructor with more than 15 years of experience is here to teach you what you need to know. North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, Berkeley. More information at 510-981-6250. BerkeleyPublicLibrary.org.

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.

Bellydance Class | Oakland Noon. Build your self-confidence! This class is also a great low-impact workout focusing on basic bellydance steps, muscular technique, isolations and musicality. No experience required. Wear yoga pants, capris or shorts so instructor can see your leg positions. Tank top or another workout shirt.

You don’t have to expose your belly. Hip scarves are optional. Bare feet or thin-soled dance shoes. $25/3 classes for new students, $16/drop-in. Yoga Love Oakland, 3851 Market St, Oakland. Holistic Bellydance@gmail.com.

Basement Pilates | Walnut Creek 9-10am. All levels welcome. Bring mat, towel and water for Pilates class by local instructor. Free.

Sports Basement, 1881 Ygnacio Valley Rd, 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 vegetables grown locally, and served on our tables.

What more is there to ask for? Free admission.

Railroad Ave, Municipal Parking Lot, Downtown Danville. 925-825-9090.

Farmers’ Market | Pleasanton 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.

925-484-2199.

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

Come Out of the Mind and into This Moment | Oakland 10-11:30am. Starting the 12th. Most of the time we are caught in our thoughts without even knowing it. Breema offers simple tools we can use to

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

Be thankful for

what you have; you’ll end up having more.

If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. ~Oprah Winfrey

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

ACUPUNCTURE EASTERN MEDICAL CENTER

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

See ad, page 7.

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.

BIOPHOTON LIGHT THERAPY BIOPHOTON SERVICES

Kathy McIntire 1151 Harbor Bay Parkway, Suite 100 Alameda, CA 94502 510- 217-8677 BiophotonServices.com Biophoton therapy restores the body’s ability to self-heal. This is done by influencing the biophotons (light) emissions of the body, neutralizing chaotic light and strengthening coherent light.

Causes of biophotons disruption range from whiplash/scars to environmental toxins, GMOs, heavy metals, electromagnetic radiation, etc.

BODY WORK THE BREEMA CENTER 6076 Claremont Avenue Oakland, CA 510-428-0937 Center@Breema.com Breema.com

Breema® is a simple, natural form of touch and body movement supported by universal principles that provides a unique approach to experiencing body-mind connection. The aim of Breema is to bring us to a tangible experience of presence that becomes our foundation for a new dimension of health and consciousness. See ad, page 9.

BUSINESS 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.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS SAN RAMON HOLISTIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HolisticChamberOfCommerce.com/ Ca-San-Ramon MeetUp.com/San-Ramon-Holistic-Chamber-of-Commerce We are an expanding organization representing holistic professionals, practitioners and businesses. We encourage and promote healthy living, and support the professionals and businesses that make it possible. Together, we can make a difference.

Want to be seen (and found) at The Holistic Chamber of Commerce- come and join this community and learn how folks can find you via the web and locally.

See ad, page 8.

CHIROPRACTOR JANE H. BAXLEY, D.C.

POSTURE PERFECT Certified Posture Expert Certified Advanced BioStructural Correction Practitioner 931 Hartz Way #120, Danville 925-406-3222 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, knee, and foot pain as well as increased energy, improved health, function, and sports performance.

HEALING ARTS CHIROPRACTIC

Katie Sokolski, D.C. 187 40th Street Way, Oakland, CA 94611 510-356-7832 Dr.Sokolski@gmail.com HealingArtsChiro.com 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 7.

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 3.

Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. ~Francis of Assisi

natural awakenings

November 2016

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HOLISTIC CAREGIVING

EDUCATION SINGING STONES SCHOOL

HOLISTIC CAREGIVERS

HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH ALEXANDRA LE NY HEALTH COACHING

2491 San Miguel Dr. Walnut Creek, Ca 925-948-5006 SingingStones.org

Leni Pratte 1-877-7800-CARE Info@HolisticCaregivers.net HolisticCaregivers.net

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.

Our holistic approach to caregiving offers wellness-oriented families a higher level of care sprinkled with holistic practices. We believe that the individual is multi-faceted with needs and wants beyond the basic standard of care in this industry.

From whole food nutrition to breathing exercises to meditation, we follow a program that is client and doctor-approved, with many options for growth and stimulation.

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.

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. ~Mother Teresa

HYPNOTHERAPY

UNIVERSITY OF SPIRITUAL HEALING & SUFISM (USHS) 800-238-3060, option 5 Outreach@SufiUniversity.org SufiUniversity.org

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.

HOLISTIC DENTIST FREMONT NATURAL DENTISTRY

HERBAL MEDICINE ANCIENT TRADITIONS HEALING Erin Massengale 624 Ferry St. Martinez, 94553 925-725-1067

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. Disease 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.

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ~E. E. Cummings 30

DR. Colin Yoshida, DDS Fremont Natural Dentistry 3885 Beacon Ave, Suite C Fremont 510-745-1800 FremontDentistry.com

Fremont Natural 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 biodental health experience. Give us a call to schedule your next holistic dental appointment today. See ad, page 19.

NEW ERA DENTISTRY

Dr. David Partrite, DDS 520 La Gonda Way, Ste 103, Danville 925-837-3101 Info@NewEraDentistry.com NewEraDentistry.com Whole-body dentistry approach; David Partrite, DDS, facilitates your body’s detoxification through a mercury- and fluoride-free practice, utilizing the most bio-friendly materials and a clean, safe environment through filters and ionizers. From cosmetic dentistry to safe mercury filling removal to working closely with your other holistic practitioners, every visit is a health-promoting experience. See ad, page 6.

East Bay Area | www.NAEastBay.com

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

ADVANCED HYPNOTHERAPY Barbara Lynn Allen, MS, CCHT, DCEP 510-528-4976 Berkeley, Ca 94709 therapymaster@earthlink.net AdvancedHypnotherapy.com

I offer a unique blend of hypnotherapy, energy therapy and wise counseling to quickly and permanently solve emotional, physical and relationship problems. With 25 years of experience, I rapidly clear your core issues while offering gentle relief from depression, anxiety and blocks to success. Call for your free phone consultation.

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, 21 years in business.

DRAKE BEAR STEPHEN, BA, CHT 925-348-3336 DrakeInnerprizes.com DrakeBearStephen@pacbell.net

Ever wonder who you were in a past life? Have you created your affirmation for the afterlife you want? Drake is a hypnotherapist and shamanic energy medicine practitioner that specializes in integrating past lives with present lives. Call for a free consultation today.

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.

ROLFING/STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION 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.

SOMATIC THERAPIST NEAL WINBLAD, MFT, SEP 780 Main St, Ste 201, Pleasanton 925-963-9786 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 22.

Call to place your ad 925-557-7583 NAEastBay.com

SPIRITUAL CENTER

BE EMPOWERED!

UNITY OF TRI-VALLEY

7567 Amador Valley Blvd, Suite 108, Dublin 925-829-2733 UnityOfTriValley.org We are a welcoming spiritual community for people of all faiths and backgrounds. Unity is a positive path for spiritual living. Whoever you are and wherever you are on your spiritual journey, YOU are welcome here!

A Beautiful Light 925-997-7518 Kathleen@A-Beautiful-Light.com A-Beautiful-Light.com Expand your potential!

Experience greater health and 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.

SPIRITUAL HEALING HOLLY M. COOK

WELLNESS CENTER

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

PLEASANTON FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER

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.

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.

The success of YOUR marketing message is about reaching the RIGHT NUMBER of qualified people...

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

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

November 2016

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