H E A L T H Y
L I V I N G
H E A L T H Y
P L A N E T
feel good • live simply • laugh more
URBAN PLANTING City Gardens and Edible Landscapes
Recycling for Re-Use
FREE
SPECIAL Pet Care Issue What You Need to Know for Healthy Happy Pets
Blue Bin Contents Help the Planet
FITNESS MYTHS DEBUNKED 11 Vital Truths
March 2013 | West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com natural awakenings
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contents 9 5 newsbriefs 9 healthbriefs 1 1 globalbriefs 13 ecotip 14 wisewords 17 inspiration 18 naturalpet 22 greenliving 11 28 fitbody 30 healthykids 18 32 consciouseating 36 healingways 41 calendar 44 naturaldirectory 47 classifieds
Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle.
14 WALKING THE TALK Marlane Barnes Fosters Rescue Dogs by Sandra Murphy
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17 EMPATHY
How to Be a Healing Presence by Margret Aldrich
18 CRITTER COMPANION Adoptions For Any Family by Sandra Murphy
22 RECYCLING EVERYDAY
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REFUSE What Happens after the
Blue Bin is Emptied by Avery Mack
advertising & submissions How to Advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 616-656-9232 or email: Publisher@ NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for space reservation is the 12th of each month prior to publication.
News Briefs & article submissions Email articles to: Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for articles is the 5th of the month prior to publication. Submit News Briefs online at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for news briefs is the 12th of the month prior to publication.
calendar submissions Submit Calendar Events online at: NaturalWestMichigan.com. Calendar deadline is the 15th of the month prior to publication.
WHERE TO PICK UP NATURAL AWAKENINGS If you enjoyed this magazine and would like to know where you can pick up a free copy in your area, please contact us at 616656-9232 or email us at: publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com
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24 URBAN GARDENING TAKES ROOT
Feeding Ourselves Well by John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist
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28 FITNESS MYTHS DEBUNKED
11 Vital Truths by Lynda Bassett
30 HELPING CHILDREN CONCENTRATE
How the Food They Eat Effects Them by Bessheen Baker, ND
32 THE BETTER
BRAIN DIET Eat Right To Stay Sharp
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by Lisa Marshall
36 HOW TRIGLYCERIDES TAKE A TOLL
Beyond Cholesterol by James Occhiogrosso
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contact us Publishers Kyle & Amy Hass Assistant Publisher Amanda Merritt Editors S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist Design & Production Interactive Media Design Scott Carvey Printer Stafford Media Solutions Natural Awakenings 484 Sunmeadow Dr. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 Phone: 616-656-9232 Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com
www.NaturalWestMichigan.com
Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (12 issues) to the above address. © 2013 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.
Committed to Sustainability Natural Awakenings is locally owned and operated.
his month’s issue explores two of my favorite things—pets and food. I have always felt a special connection with animals. Growing up, my pets were my friends when no one else was around; they were also family. They taught me how to be responsible, what unconditional love is and how to be more patient and compassionate. Between the ages of 5 and 10, I had three major kidney surgeries and each time it was loving and caring about special pets that encouraged me to get back on my feet again. I remember when I was 7 I had wanted a kitten badly for what seemed forever, but my step dad at the time hated cats. Then, shortly after I came home from the hospital for the second time, my parents surprised me with a new black kitten, hoping that it would help me recuperate faster. I did enjoy a speedy recovery (with a minor setback when he accidentally jumped right on my stitches—ouch!), and my step dad ended up loving that cat. The third surgery was a doozie. Fortunately, a retired parade horse lived down the street that I greeted every day on my way to and from school, stopping to pet her and offer treats. I grew to love that Palomino horse as if she were my own. After a four-month hiatus from school recuperating from my final surgery, lo and behold, one day I looked out my window and there in the backyard stood Charro, the most beautiful golden horse I had ever seen. My parents bought her for me! I wasn’t yet well enough to go outside to see her, but just knowing that she was there waiting for me to recover made me stronger and stronger each day. As a child, I knew that animals were destined to play a role in my future and ended up majoring in marine biology. I was fortunate to volunteer at Florida’s Mote Marine Laboratory, in Sarasota, and later worked at Sea World, in Orlando. Working with animals as a career was liberating and I continue to cherish future possibilities. For now, Thai, our Chihuahua fills the bill. I deem him a perfect companion and he is sitting in his bed on my office desk as I write. This issue also has a focus on Food, which is another favorite of mine. We live a pretty simple life other than when it comes to food. Our family splurge is prioritizing an all organic diet when grocery shopping. We also love to check out local healthy dining restaurants. We have our favorites around town depending on what we are in the mood for, but we also like to try new things, whether cooking at home or traveling. A great meal with good friends is so satisfying. Everyone has their priorities in life; for us feeding our bodies with good, healthy food is among the best. We hope you enjoy this issue as much as we have enjoyed putting it together. Cheers,
Natural Awakenings is printed on 100% recycled newsprint with soy based ink.
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Amy & Kyle Hass Publishers NaturalWestMichigan.com
newsbriefs Power to the People NoGMO4Michigan
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oGMO4Michigan’s goal is to provide education to the citizens of Michigan regarding the direct correlation between the food they eat and the possible health related consequences. The vast majority of Michigan consumers have no idea what is in the food they are eating. It is our mission to educate those wishing to maintain an optimal level of health by eating naturally grown crops and to have informed choices about what they eat and feed their families. The integrity of our state’s food nutritional value and safety regarding consumption of commercially grown food, sold in traditional markets, is no longer protected by the current laws at the federal, state or local levels. Harmful trans-genetic modification of our food supply has introduced pesticides, bacteria and viruses into every cell of every genetically modified ingredient used ubiquitously in processed foods without our knowledge. The government has failed to sufficiently test the impact of GMOs on human health and denies the documented scientific studies that have been done which clearly demonstrate a need for further testing before deeming trans-genetic modification of food for consumption by humans to be safe. Knowledge is power, and NoGMO4Michigan wants to give the power back to the people of Michigan. Our citizens have the right to know what is in our food. Our organization strives to provide them with the education and with that knowledge, the power to choose what they eat. To learn more visit www.nogmo4michigan.org, or visit the Facebook page - NoGMO4Michigan.
Health Retreats
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pend your money and time wisely with the education that can help save your life and prevent or reverse chronic disease. Excellent meals, recipes, demos, hands on cooking & more. Transforming health retreats are held at Arundel Mansion in South Haven, MI. Upcoming
events include book, weekend accommodations, classroom sessions, cooking classes, all meals and written materials for $395. • April 12-14, 2013 - Reversing Diabetes • April 19-21, 2013 - The Cancer Project: Cancer Prevention & Survival Mark your calendars for the 10-Day Detoxing Week from April 12-21st. Come on a Friday and leave the following Sunday. 10 days of “clean” foods, smoothies, fresh veggies, raw soups, etc. Includes book, weekend accommodations, “classroom” sessions, cooking classes, all meals and written materials, DVD, group sessions, day passes to our 8 million dollar Wellness Facility with Yoga, Pilates, Spin, sauna, whirlpool, pool classes, treadmills, free weights and more. Pricing breakdown for this week is as follows: • $1,250 Shared twin bed room rate • $1,650 Private room, shared bath • $1,950 Private room, private bath For more information visit www.VeganGal.com or Contact Jill at 269-906-2226. See ad page 29.
Houzz’s 2013 ‘Best Of Houzz’ Award
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nnual Survey and Analysis of 11 Million Monthly Users Reveals Top-Rated U.S. Professionals. Align Design LLC has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design. Align Design LLC was chosen by the more than 11 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community. The Houzz “Best Of Houzz” award for 2013 is given in two categories: Customer Satisfaction and Design. Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals. Shawn Merkel, Principal at Align Design LLC is
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honored to receive the award. “I am passionately committed to a deep understanding of my clients’ intentions for their space. Knowing that I have satisfied that desire is my greatest reward”. Align Design provides full service interior design for your home or business, focusing on creating better environments by using a holistic approach and incorporating Feng Shui and eco-friendly practices. By supporting a deep understanding of her clients’ needs with the foundation of her training, Shawn creates spaces that allow the users to resonate, and find grace, within their space. Consultations are available by calling 616-916-1071 or visiting aligndesigngr.com. Link to her Houzz ideabooks at www.houzz.com/pro/shawn-stehlik-merkel/align-designllc. See ad page 20 & 46.
Giving Back to Grand Rapids
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n Wednesday, March 13th, Dr. Schafer is “Giving Back to Grand Rapids”. For one day only, you can receive a new patient exam and x-ray in exchange for specific food items that will be donated to Kids’ Food Basket. Existing patients can get their usual chiropractic treatment in exchange for the same. Visit www. GRChiroSpa.com or the check out the ‘Wish List’ at www. KidsFoodBasket.org for more details on which food items are needed. Please call 616-301-3000 to schedule an appointment. Due to federal regulations, this offer does not apply to Medicare patients. Schafer Chiropractic and Healing Spa is located at 1801 Breton St SE in Grand Rapids. See ad page 21, 31, 44 & 46.
Placenta Encapsulation Comes to the Women’s Expo
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fter Birth Service (ABS) will be at the West Michigan Women’s Expo at DeVos Place, March 8-10 in booths 238 and 239. While raising awareness for the many benefits of placenta encapsulation, they’ll be offering their herbal and homeopathic remedies, custom Bach Flower
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remedies, and an introductory session of Quantum Biofeedback. They will also offer a breast feeding station within their booth – a first for the Women’s Expo! ABS is the largest and most experienced placenta encapsulator in Michigan. Owners Melissa Williams (CNHP and Certified Colon Hydrotherapist) and Cathy Knight (ND, MH, CBT), believe using the placenta for a mother’s post-partum recovery complements their naturopathic training and mindset. They have served hundreds of clients in Michigan and northern Ohio, many of them for repeat pregnancies! Clients consistently report excellent energy, elevated mood, plentiful lactation and a speedy postpartum recovery. They offer a full complement of placenta services including capsules, tincture, children’s remedy, salve, broth, artwork and a cord keepsake. For those clients who are not able to use their placenta, they offer “Placenta Plan B” tincture, which has shown to provide many of the same benefits of the placenta. ABS enjoys serving the whole family with complementary products and services, including herbal products, homeopathic solutions, Quantum Biofeedback and custom Bach Flower emotional remedies. For more information on any of the products or services offered by After Birth Service visit www.afterbirthservice. com. Please join a community of natural mommies and “like” them on Facebook. See ad page 43.
Additional Services Now Offered
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fter nearly 17 years of providing relaxing and remedial Reiki and essential oil therapies, Heavenly Healings Holistic Health Services is now offering reflexology, iridology consultations, and basic massage therapy. Jodi Jenks started her journey in holistic health over 25 years ago with her own homeopathic doctor, Mary Hardy. “Holistic health has become a passion of mine since meeting Hardy. I really worked hard in understanding how to live and lead a healthy lifestyle physically, emotionally and mentally”, Jodi Jenks stated Jenks. She began her holistic
training by learning Reiki and all about Essential Oils but always strived to do more. This led her to being a journey as student at Naturopathic Institute of Therapies and Education (NITE) in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Heavenly Healings Holistic Health Services is offering a NEW preferred customer rewards program where clients can take advantage of 40% savings on a package of services. “Come share in my passions where I can show you the beauty, serenity, and restorative qualities of holistic healing services”, says Jenks. For more information visit www.heavenlyhealings.org. Contact Jodi at pawahania@gmail.com or call 616-4434225. See ad page 7 & 45.
Sustainability Conference
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oday’s environment presents us with a number of challenges and opportunities to becoming a more sustainable society. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, an environmental education center in Hastings, Michigan, is hosting a Sustainability Conference on Saturday, March 16 to help individuals face the environmental and social challenges around them and find the solutions that will help our communities become more sustainable. This year’s conference will address current environmental issues that are relevant to everyone. The conference will explore ways that individuals, organizations, and communities are working to build a more sustainable future. It will also help participants be better prepared to face ecological challenges while still identifying opportunities to become a proactive force for positive global change. Breakout sessions fit into three broad categories; sustainability in communities and organizations, energy, and personal action. Individual sessions will cover backyard wildlife habitat, fracking, renewable energy, and sustainability on campus, among others. Keynote speakers include: Peter Sinclair and Robin Mather. Cost is $40 for Members, $50 for Non-Members and
$20 for Students. To register for the conference, please visit cedarcreekinstitute.org or call 269-721-4190. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 West Cloverdale Rd in Hastings. See ad page 29.
Stress Method Focuses on Simplicity & Speed
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n 2010, Elle Ingalls was researching mental toughness techniques for her sons’ baseball team when she made a startling discovery. “I used the methods myself, and I stopped triggering the fight-or-flight stress response. The painful eczema on my hands went away for the first time in 35 years. Stress fat disappeared. I stopped complaining and arguing, and my energy went to an entirely new level,” she said. Since then, Elle has created a system of simple mental and physical tools for stress. A gifted speaker and coach, she has taught the method to nearly 1,000 adults and teens. The results have been “astounding.” She focuses on speed and simplicity. “I zero in on the moment your mind first goes into stress mode. You have a few seconds to interrupt the process before stress hormones are released.” You can learn her techniques at her retreats, through individual or group coaching, or through a video e-course she has created. Registration is open for retreats on March 15-16 and April 19-20 (Friday evening plus Saturday morning) at elegant Greencrest Manor, 6174 Halbert Road, north of Battle Creek. Seven hours of instruction, lodging optional at a 20% discount. Information on coaching and on-line video e-courses is available at www.Pressure-Free.com or calling 269-8323573. See ad page 33.
Spiral Tradition Spring Detox
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raditional Naturopath Vanessa Allen and Natural Healer Cody Westendorf are offering a 5 weekend guided experience in detoxing, juice fasting and long term
Harmony ‘n Health Colon Hydrotherapy
Mary A. DeLange C.C.T. C.M.T. 616-456-5033
Some Benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy: ~ Remove Toxic Waste from ones body ~ Eradicate Constipation ~ Removes Stomach Bloat ~ Increase ones Energy
Therapeutic Massage also available
Mary@HarmonynHealth.net
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integration. If you have ever wanted to do a juice fast and felt unsure about how to go about it the right way... this class is for you. Immerse yourself in knowledge for transitioning into a healthier diet, including integration for seasonal fasts and detoxes into the future. You are provided with a full outline and plan for a 5-7 day juice fast that you can adjust to your own length of time. During the three weekends leading up to the fast, you will receive a full outline and explanation to build you up to the juice fast so that you get the most profound results. For the duration of this program, Allen and Westendorf will also share with you the most up to date dietary information, including handouts, recipes, and suggested reading. The outcome will be a powerful experience in detoxification as well as the knowledge to transition into a healthier diet and the knowledge to continue to implement seasonal fasts and detoxes into your life. All classes will be held in the Muskegon/Grand Haven area. Cost for the program is only $729 with a $200 deposit due at time of registration. Full payment is due by March 18th. First class is March 24th so contact Vanessa Allen today at 231–571–7724 or via email at Vanessa@spiraltradition.com with questions or to register. For a complete schedule visit www.SpiralTradition.com. See ad page 13 & 46.
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Natural Awakenings Offers New Dating Website
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atural Awakenings is premiering a new online dating site, NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, in partnership with the Conscious Dating Network, the Internet’s largest and oldest conscious/spiritual/green dating site. Niche, online dating offers singles an efficient way to screen and date potential partners that share similar values and interests and are ready to be in a loving relationship. NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com is designed to facilitate this enlightened way of meeting, dating and connecting. The site will allow singles to join, create a full profile, upload photos and videos, send hellos, indicate interest, and even read and reply to private messages and IMs, all for free. Upgrading, which allows members to initiate personally written messages and IM’s, is inexpensive compared to other online dating sites, with packages ranging from $7.97/ month to $16.97/month. Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. CEO Sharon Bruckman says, “I’m really excited about this new alliance, which enables us to offer our 80-plus Natural Awakenings publishers around the country yet another way to help their readers connect with like-minded people, this time for the purpose of creating conscious relationships. I can’t wait to hear the new love stories!” For more information visit NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com.
healthbriefs
Battle of the Bulge
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ccording to the American Heart Association, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese today, nearly triple the rate in 1963. A new report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation advises that if adult obesity rates continue on their current trajectories, by 2030, 13 states could have rates above 60 percent; 39 states above 50 percent; and all 50 states above 44 percent. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity, based on research at 10 universities, points to the use of hormones in factory meat production as a major reason for this trend. Pesticides are another culprit; the average American is exposed to 10 to 13 different types each day via food, beverages and drinking water, and nine of the 10 most commonly used are endocrine disrupters linked to weight gain. Genetically modified U.S. food crops are also sprayed heavily with biocides. Findings presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science linked bisphenol A (BPA)—an industrial chemical contained in plastic soda, drinking and baby bottles—with abnormal estrogen function. To win the battle of the bulge, Americans need to eat balanced diets and exercise regularly, but additional steps can further help: choose organic, grass-fed meat instead of corn-fed; use glass instead of plastic containers for beverages and food storage; avoid canned food unless the label states BPA-free; and consume yogurt daily or take a high-quality probiotic to help restore healthy intestinal flora.
Drinks Tied to Tooth Trouble
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hen replacing lost fluids during or after a workout, consider how beverage choices can affect the health of teeth. A recent study published in General Dentistry, the journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, found that increased consumption of sports and energy drinks is causing irreversible damage to teeth, especially among adolescents. A reported 30 to 50 percent of U.S. teens regularly imbibe energy drinks, and as many as 62 percent down at least one sports drink a day. “Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ than soda,” says Associate Professor Poonam Jain, lead author of the study, who serves as director of community and preventive dentistry at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. “Most of these patients are shocked to learn that the drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid.” In testing the effect of acidity levels on samples of human tooth enamel immersed in 13 sports and nine energy beverages, researchers found that damage to enamel was evident after only five days of exposure. Moreover, energy drinks were twice as harmful as sports drinks. “These drinks erode or thin out the enamel of the teeth, leaving them more susceptible to decay and sensitivity,” says Jain.
Why We Might Need More Vitamin C
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esearchers at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, a leading global authority on the role of vitamin C in optimum health, forward compelling evidence that the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin C should be raised to 200 milligrams per day for U.S. adults, up from its current levels of 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. The RDA of vitamin C is less than half of what it should be, scientists argue, because medical experts insist on evaluating this natural, but critical, nutrient in the same way they do for pharmaceutical drugs, and consequently reach faulty conclusions. The researchers base their recommendations on studies showing that higher levels of vitamin C could help reduce chronic health problems including heart disease, stroke and cancer, as well as underlying causal issues such as high blood pressure, chronic inflammation, poor immune response and atherosclerosis. Even at the current low RDA, U.S. and Canadian studies have found that a quarter to a third of the total population is marginally deficient in vitamin C and up to a fifth of those in such groups as students, smokers and older adults are severely deficient in it.
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PET INSURANCE COMPARE PLANS AND BENEFITS
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he checkbook should never stand in the way of obtaining the best possible care for a beloved pet, but only 1 percent of America’s 100 million eligible pets are insured,” says Rob Jackson, co-founder of Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, in Bellevue, Washington. Health insurance is widely available for pets in case of accident or illness. Experts note that informal diagnosis can be difficult when the patient can’t say how much pain they feel or where it is located. While veterinarians perform tests to identify a problem, associated costs can extend beyond a family’s budget. Iva Burks, of Port Angeles, Washington, where she’s the county director of health and human services, recalls, “Years ago, we adopted Kelsi, a rescue Scottie who ate a toy and had to have surgery; we were relieved that insurance covered about half the cost. Three months later, she was diagnosed with lymphosarcoma and then had chemo over a two-year period; insurance paid about $10,000 toward our expenses.”
Bran, Burks’ current Scottie companion, was diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma last year. “So far, he’s had two surgeries and chemotherapy and reached a cap on benefits at about $8,000,” she notes. Costs, benefits and approaches vary by company, policy, coverage, deductibles and clauses about preexisting conditions. Petplan (GoPetPlan. com) includes veterinary exam fees and any alternative/holistic therapies recommended and administered by a veterinarian. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI at PetInsurance.com) insures dogs, cats, birds and exotics such as chinchillas, hedgehogs and potbellied pigs. Healthy Paws (HealthyPawsPetInsurance.com) provides unlimited benefits, with no incident, annual or lifetime caps. Most plans average $25 to $35 a month, with $100 to $1,000 deductibles; riders for extra coverage are available. As in choosing any potential insurance, it’s wise to compare benefits and read the fine print to find the plan that’s the best fit to meet a family’s current and future needs.
Yogurt Hinders Hypertension
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ating yogurt could reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, or hypertension, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association 2012 Scientific Sessions. During their 15-year study, researchers followed more than 2,000 volunteers that did not initially have high blood pressure and reported on their yogurt consumption at three intervals. Participants that routinely consumed at least one six-ounce cup of low-fat yogurt every three days were 31 percent less likely to develop hypertension. 10
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Not So Nice Rice
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ew research by the nonprofit Consumers Union (CU), which publishes Consumer Reports, may cause us to reconsider what we place in our steamer or cookpot. Rice—a staple of many diets, vegetarian or not—is frequently contaminated with arsenic, a known carcinogen that is also believed to interfere with fetal development. Rice contains more arsenic than grains like oats or wheat because it is grown in water-flooded conditions, and so more readily absorbs the heavy metal from soil or water than most plants. Even most U.S.-grown rice comes from the south-central region, where crops such as cotton were heavily treated with arsenical pesticides for decades. Thus, some organically grown rice in the region is impacted, as well. CU analysis of more than 200 samples of both organic and conventionally grown rice and rice products on U.S. grocery shelves found that nearly all contained some level of arsenic; many with alarmingly high amounts. There is no federal standard for arsenic in food, but there is a limit of 10 parts per billion in drinking water, and CU researchers found that one serving of contaminated rice may have as much arsenic as an entire day’s worth of water. To reduce the risk of exposure, rinse rice grains thoroughly before cooking and follow the Asian practice of preparing it with extra water to absorb arsenic and/or pesticide residues; and then drain the excess water before serving. See CU’s chart of arsenic levels in tested rice products at Tinyurl.com/ ArsenicReport.
globalbriefs
Superior Soil
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Organic Farming Sustains Earth’s Richness
Windy Woes
Solving Wind Power’s Hidden Pollution Problem The U.S. Department of Energy reports that although wind power accounts for just over 4 percent of domestic electrical generation, it comprises a third of all new electric capacity. Even with the freedom from coal or oil that wind power creates, a major component of the generating devices, the turbine blades, has its own carbon footprint that needs examining. Some of the blades are as long as a football field, and the metal, fiberglass or carbon composites must be mined, refined, manufactured and transported, all consuming energy and creating materials that are difficult to recycle when they reach the end of their usefulness and are replaced. Christopher Niezrecki, a member of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell Wind Energy Research Group, estimates the United States will have as many as 170,000 wind turbines by 2030, creating more than 34,000 discarded blades each year. The next generation of blade material may come from natural cellulose fibers and bio-based plastics derived from soybean, linseed and other vegetable oils, instead of oil-based polymers. A $1.9 million National Science Foundation grant is funding the research. Source: FastCoexist.com
Dishpan Plants
Waste Water Cuts Fertilizer Use The effluent created by household sinks, washing machines and showers, known as gray water, could provide a new, lowcost source of irrigation for landscape plants that cuts down on the amount of fertilizer required to maintain them. The nonprofit Water Environmental Research Foundation’s (WERF) new report shows that many plants used for landscaping benefit from the use of gray water (Tinyurl.com/graywaterreport). The study looked at seven homes in Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas with new and longstanding gray water systems that recycle wastewater to irrigate outdoor plants. Although the soil irrigated with gray water showed higher levels of cleaners, antimicrobials and sodium compared with areas irrigated with fresh water, there was enough nitrogen present in gray water to reduce or eliminate the need for additional fertilizers. Not all plants responded positively, but WERF Communications Director Carrie Capuco says, “Gray water can be successfully used with the right plant choices.” Guidelines include heavily mulching the area where gray water is supplied to minimize contact with pets.
Famed as the happiest country on Earth, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan is now aiming to become 100 percent organic, phasing out artificial chemicals in farming in the next 10 years. Agence France-Presse reports that Bhutan currently sends rare mushrooms to Japan, vegetables to up-market hotels in Thailand, its highly prized apples to India and red rice to the United States. Jurmi Dorji, of southern Bhutan’s 103-member Daga Shingdrey Pshogpa farmers’ association, says their members are in favor of the policy. “More than a decade ago, people realized that the chemicals were not good for farming,” he says. “I cannot say everyone has stopped using chemicals, but almost 90 percent have.” An international metastudy published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science that analyzed 74 studies on soils in fields under organic or conventional farming practices has found that over time, the carbon content in the organic fields significantly increased. For farmers everywhere, that means organic agriculture results in a richer, more productive soil, with plenty of humus, which is conducive to higher yields. Peter Melchett, policy director at Britain’s Organic Soil Association, says a primary benefit of a country becoming 100 percent organic is an assurance of quality to consumers that creates both an international reputation and associated market advantage.
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Better Cafeterias
School Lunches Improving Nationwide
coverartist
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) 2012 School Lunch Report Card found that public school districts in Florida, Maryland, Tennessee and Nebraska rose above federal guidelines for serving healthy school lunches, with some in Georgia and Missouri also receiving good marks. But most schools nationwide can improve. PCRM dietitians analyzed elementary school meals at 22 districts participating in the National School Lunch Program. The average grade is now a B (84.4) compared with the national C+ average (78.7) in 2008. Schools delivering poor grades still offer chicken-fried steak fingers, breaded catfish, pork nuggets and other high-cholesterol menu items. To read the complete report, visit HealthySchoolLunches.org.
Comforting Companions The Therapeutic Power of Pets
Some people find it easier to talk to a pet than to relatives, so a visit from a therapy animal when they are confined at home or in a hospital or nursing facility is welcome. A dog or cat provides a warm body, unconditional acceptance and asks nothing in return. Patients are reminded of pets they previously enjoyed and get a laugh or simply distraction from illness and pain. On one recent hospice visit in New Bern, North Carolina, when Frosty and owner Lee Juslin, a retired copywriter, entered a quiet room crowded with a nurse and relatives, the Scottish terrier laid her head on the dying woman’s lap. “Oh, my little meatball,” she said, rubbing the dog’s head. Everyone smiled and laughed. In California, Nancy Denen, a retired high school counselor and teacher of deaf and hard of hearing students attending San Diego’s Poway Unified School District, takes her calico cat, Moorea, to see patients of Elizabeth Hospice, based in Escondido. One of Moorea’s favorites was a 92-year-old man whose dying wish was to pet a cat again; they visited every week for a year. “Moorea always leaves patients smiling and calmer,” says Denen. Both therapy teams are certified and insured through Love on a Leash, a California-based pet-provided therapy organization. Teams around the country visit hospice patients in their respective regions. There’s also the need to help seniors that own pets. “For patients that have a pet but become unable to care for them on a day-to-day basis, giving up the pet can be traumatic,” says Dr. Delana Taylor-McNac, a veterinarian and licensed professional counselor who oversees Pet Peace of Mind grants for Banfield Charitable Trust (BanfieldCharitableTrust.org/grants). She states, “We give grants to nonprofit hospice facilities that partner with animal lovers to provide food, litter, exercise, pet sitting and trips to the vet or groomer.” This allows people to complete their lives with the comfort and companionship of a pet without worrying about its current or future needs. She also notes, “When patients participate in decisions about their pet’s future, they can find it easier to discuss their own end-of-life decisions.” Local hospices, humane societies, social workers, Visiting Nurse Association agencies (vnaa.org), Love on a Leash (LoveOnALeash.org), Pet Partners (DeltaSociety.org) and Therapy Dogs International (tdi-dog.org) can help find a therapy service or provide information about becoming a visiting team. 12
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Farmers’ Market Sarah Wilkins Born and raised in New Zealand, Sarah Wilkins graduated with a degree in art and then began to travel the world working as a freelance illustrator. She now lives in Paris and spends her time creating illustrations using a unique combination of sharp-eyed visual wit, sophisticated color and graceful hand lettering. Working mostly in acrylic paints, Wilkins has a whimsical and elegant style with a refreshing, painterly feel. She also uses gouache, pencil, ink, collage and her computer. Her images—soft, fanciful and often surreal—are imbued with a wealth of symbolism. Wilkins’ work has been featured around the world in magazines and advertising campaigns, airports and museums and on book jackets, the sides of buildings, tote bags and children’s toys. View the artist’s portfolio at SarahWilkins.net.
ecotip Toilet to Table Fertilizing Our Food with Human Waste Using sewage sludge as fertilizer on the land that grows our food and feeds our livestock is legal, but critics question the safety of the practice. United Sludge-Free Alliance founder Darree Sicher says, “Most people flush the toilet and assume the waste is being taken care of properly, but many times, the industry is simply performing a toxic transfer.” Everything that is flushed down the drains of residential and commercial properties combines at local water treatment plants, including chemicals, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pathogens and poisons. Water is then treated and the extracted pollutants are concentrated in the residual sludge that remains. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that more than 7 million tons of sludge (biosolids) are generated each year in the United States—half is applied to farms, parks, playgrounds, golf courses and forests in all 50 states. Biosolids are also sold as bagged fertilizer to homeowners. Until the use of biosolids as fertilizer is more strictly regulated and foods are labeled as sludge-free, consumers should consider buying organic foods. When buying from local growers, ask about the use of biosolids on their fields. Also, raise awareness among state and federal officials to outlaw such questionable practices and lobby local officials to continue the trend toward sludgefree public areas. A far safer use of waste is “poop to power” projects that harvest energy from sludge to produce heat, fuel and electricity, which Sicher reports have been widely used in Germany and Sweden for 30 years. For more information, including sludge-free fertilizer brands and downloadable brochures, call 610-823-8258 or visit USludgeFree.org.
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wisewords
animal. We want every adoption to be the best match possible.
WALKING THE TALK Marlane Barnes Fosters Rescue Dogs by Sandra Murphy
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ctress Marlane Barnes recently made her feature film debut as Maggie of the Irish Coven, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II, building on a growing résumé of films, TV and theater credits. A current resident of Los Angeles, she actively supports the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society, a local no-kill facility, and serves as national spokesperson for Spay First. To date, her foster dogs include India, Birdie, Archie and Wally, with more to come.
Why is fostering rescue dogs important? Fostering is a good way to find the right dog for your personality and circumstances. Dogs aren’t accessories, chosen on looks alone. Fostering allows you to see what breed, size, temperament and activity level works best. When India, the first dog I fostered, was adopted, she went to a home that suited her nature and needs. Birdie, a 6-year-old golden retriever-beagle mix,
came to me when her shelter time was up. After two months, Birdie was placed with a family that was willing to deal with an older dog’s health issues, and it’s worked out well for all parties.
What do you try to teach the dogs to make them more adoptable? We take a lot of walks during our six to eight weeks together. Teaching them to sit, be petted, take treats gently and behave well on a leash all helps. I also expose them to new experiences. We visit the coffee shop, meet kids and take hikes; in these ways, I learn what the individual dog enjoys. It takes some of the guesswork out of the equation. Fostering is like a halfway house for dogs; after living with them, I can vouch for them, as well as voice any concerns about the family situation. I feel strongly that the dog must be treated as part of the family, whose schedule has to work with having a dog, and that dog in particular. It’s a matter of finding the right person for the
Who takes care of your foster dog when you are at work? I have a group of creative friends who jump in to help. It’s easy to ask them to help with a foster dog because it lets them be part of the rescue. That way, they are doing a favor more for the dog than for me.
How do spay/neuter programs benefit shelter animals? When I was 10, I volunteered at the Humane Society in Fort Smith, Arkansas, so being the spokesperson for Spay First is a natural fit. High volume/low cost spay/neuter programs are the fastest way to reduce pet overpopulation and the number of animals ending up in shelters. Every year, taxpayers spend billions of dollars to house, euthanize and dispose of millions of animals. Spay/neuter is a commonsense way to permanently solve the problem. Spay First works to keep the cost less than $50, especially in rural and lower income areas, and actively campaigns to make this a community priority around the country.
How can caring people help? Donate money or items found on a shelter or rescue unit’s wish list. Walk a shelter dog to keep it social and active. Foster a dog to see if having a dog fits and enhances your life. The rescue group pays the bills, support is available and it’s a good way to explore the possibility of adoption. Once you know for sure, adopt. Also talk about the benefits of fostering and adopting dogs and the importance of affordable spay/neuter programs for dogs and cats in your community. Spread the word that it is not okay to buy a puppy or kitten in a store when we are discarding millions of shelter animals each year that desperately need homes. Puppies are cute, but older dogs already are what they’re going to be— what you see is what you happily get. For more information or to make a donation, visit SpayFirst.org. Sandra Murphy is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings magazines.
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Moondrop Herbals, Cottage of Natural Elements
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estled among the many great local shops that the Standale area hosts, Moondrop Herbals, Cottage of Natural Elements is a hidden treasure with much to offer, including bulk herbs, raw materials, containers, herbal and aromatherapy preparations, candles, spa accessories, gifts, personal blending services, an on-site reference library and even short and long-term space rental. Owner, Linda Snow, makes herbal and aromatherapy bath and body products and also offers raw materials to those that want to make their own products. Moondrop Herbals, open since March of 2012, focuses on the use of raw materials which are ethically and responsibly harvested, omitting the use of synthetic fragrances or coloring, organically grown whenever possible and, with a few noted exceptions in water-based preparations, containing no synthetic preservatives. Snow pointed out that just using herbs for cooking or teas or making a bath salt goes a long way in benefitting your sense of well-being, which in turn helps you to stay healthier. “If you’re happier, you tend to be healthier,” said Snow. That being said, it is important to pay attention to what we put into and on our bodies. There are many people that are quickly becoming aware of this importance, and it is these people, those seeking selfdiscovery and an education, that excite Snow. She spoke of the large companies that have the potential to own patented rights to our food sources through genetically modified organisms that are the source of genetically modified foods. As a result of the rise of this controversial subject, people are stepping up and looking to see what they can discover and begin to take a little bit of control of their own bodies. Snow recommends reading between the lines these days wherever you look for “natural news”. She keeps a book collection that houses many books unavailable even in book stores, to educate her customers instead of sending them to online information. Snow said, “If we start now, there’s no telling where we’ll end up. We’ll be able to take care of ourselves before it’s lost. It’s scary that while this is happening, the access to information on this stuff is shrinking and/or becoming unreliable.” It is the self-discovery aspect that initially grasped Snow’s attention and drew her into herbs and essential oils for her own personal use. Amidst a time of hopeful change in her life, Snow started listening to a friend of hers that was working on obtaining her masters in Naturopathy at the time and she began taking some herbs to ease her anxiety and help her sleep. Snow testified, “I was in a little shop one day and found a bottle of
Community Spotlight
by Amanda Merritt
an essential oil blend, bought it and that was the only way I quit smoking.” It was as simple as carrying a bottle of an essential oil blend with her that enabled Snow to continue to see positive change in her life. From there, she took herbal medicine classes and studied aromatherapy, anatomy and physiology on her own. She hit the kitchen in 1997 and started studying and playing. “What really does it for me is exploring it and finding this stuff out on my own. I don’t treat people. I just help people explore and find it out for themselves too,” said Snow. Her interest for a long time was in aromatherapy, but since opening the shop she’s gotten back into her interest in herbs as well. Snow also said of the art that she has for sale, she likes meeting the local artists as well as collectively helping each other out and bringing them all together in one place. “The more local products I can offer, the happier I will be. I try to make sure they’re fair trade and that they’re safe.” Aside from the importance of self-discovery and all that Moondrop Herbals, Cottage of Natural Elements has to offer in that realm, the store also clearly provides a boost to the surrounding community. As alluded to above, Snow truly believes that community is huge and there is a large need to bring communities back through small businesses, supporting each other, buying local and really knowing each other. That being said, Moondrop Herbals also incorporates local art, emphasizing nature and/or repurposed materials, for sale as well as vintage resale. Snow draws from the surrounding community to feed right back into it with her products and those that her partnering vendors have to offer as well, such as jewelry, artwork and other various products. Moondrop Herbals, Cottage of Natural Elements is a delightful place to stop in and begin to discover for yourself what this gem in the Standale community has to offer, and how even one small change could potentially alter your entire life. It worked for Snow, it could work for you, and she is eagerly excited to help you along the way. For more information or to inquire about renting studio space, stop by Moondrop Herbals, Cottage of Natural Elements at 351 Cummings NW, Grand Rapids, call 616-735-1285 or visit www.moondropherbals.com. NAN members receive $5.00 off $25.00 or more in purchases. See ad page 6 & 44. Amanda Merritt is a recent graduate of Cornerstone University with a degree in Communication Arts and Journalism/Public Relations. You can contact her at mandi.merritt@hotmail.com. natural awakenings
March 2013
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Masters of
s ta e
a g o Y Piandl
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yoga
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with a
view Practice Yoga Overlooking Versluis Lake
www.expressionsofgraceyoga.com 5270 Northland Drive NE | Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 616-361-8580
inspiration The Gift of Empathy
How to Be a Healing Presence
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Call 616.656.9232 to be a par t of this exclusive directory!
by Margret Aldrich
hen someone is suffering, it can be agonizing just to listen—we feel compelled to jump in with advice or stories of our own trials, filling any awkward space or moments of silent air with word upon word. The first rule of empathy, however, is listening in silence. Miki Kashtan, writing for the Tikkun Daily interfaith blog, points out that giving our full presence is the most important step in practicing true empathy, and it doesn’t require us to utter a thing: “There is a high correlation between one person’s listening presence and the other person’s sense of not being alone, and this is communicated without words. We can be present with someone whose language we don’t understand, who speaks about circumstances we have never experienced or whose reactions are baffling to us. It’s a soul orientation and intentionality to simply be with another.” When we achieve full presence, empathic understanding follows, Kashtan continues. “Full empathic presence includes the breaking open of our heart to take in another’s humanity. We listen to their words and their story, and allow ourselves to be affected by the experience of what it would be like. “Then we understand. Empathic understanding is different from empathic presence. We can have presence across any barrier, and it’s still a gift. If we also understand, even without saying anything, I believe the other person’s sense of being heard increases, and they are even less alone with the weight of their experience.”
There are signs that empathy might be on the decline, with narcissism elbowing it out of our modern lives. As reported in the Utne Reader, University of Michigan Psychologist Sara Konrath, Ph.D., found that empathy levels among college students measured on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index plummeted between 1979 and 2009. The greatest drops were in empathic concern and perspective-taking—the ability to imagine another person’s point of view. But don’t yet lament the death of human compassion. According to scientific studies, empathy is built into us. In recent research at the University of Southern California, Professor Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, Ph.D., pinpointed where and how the brain generates empathy, regarding it as a naturally occurring emotion. “It appears that both the intuitive and rationalizing parts of the brain work in tandem to create the sensation of empathy,” Aziz-Zadeh told The Times of India. “People do it automatically.” However we get to that utterly tuned-in, selfless state of empathy, providing a listening ear, giving our full presence and being moved by another can be gifts not only to the others, but to ourselves, as well. Concludes Kashtan, “Allowing into our heart the other person’s suffering doesn’t mean we suffer with them, because that means shifting the focus of our attention to our own experience. Rather, it means that we recognize the experience as fully human, and behold the beauty of it in all its aspects, even when difficult.” Margret Aldrich is a former associate editor of Utne Reader.
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naturalpet
Critter Companions
Alternative Adoptions Fit for Families by Sandra Murphy
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hile dogs, cats, fish and birds populate most pet homes, other animals can be just as much fun to own.
Rabbits
“Rabbits are social and love routine. Be late with dinner and a bunny will show displeasure by stomping its feet,” says Pamela Hood, founder of Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue, a state-licensed shelter in Foster, Rhode Island. Her four rules for happy, active bunnies are: Find a veterinarian that knows rabbits,
adopt rather than buy, get a bonded pair and spay/neuter them. Since 2000, Sweet Binks has rescued more than 1,700 rabbits as recaptured strays or from shelters meant for dogs and cats. Bunnies can live more than 14 years. “Rabbits eat more than just carrots. Pellets should be timothy hay-based, not alfalfa, for adult rabbits,” explains Hood. “But limit the amount. Hay should be 85 to 90 percent of their diet, because the side-to-side chewing of hay keeps teeth worn down to a livable length and ensures proper digestion.” Rabbits can be litter box-trained and run free if the home is pet-proofed. For example, keep electrical cords out of reach or covered with plastic tubing. A lonely, bored bunny can be destructive, so provide wooden and chemicalfree wicker toys for chewing. Play with them daily, although most shy away from cuddling. Bonded pairs need to be in sight of one another.
Miniature Horses
Miniature horses are not to be confused with Shetland ponies. Minis are fully 18
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grown horses, bred for pulling carts, not riding. They require the same care as a larger horse and make good therapy animals. An adult mini is about the same size as a standard-sized horse’s newborn foal—about 34 to 38 inches tall at the withers (between the shoulder blades), although some are smaller. “Trained minis are good, gentle interpreters of emotion,” says Veronique Matthews, founder of Hearts & Hooves, a nonprofit equine therapy organization in Austin, Texas. “We visit abused or autistic kindergarten-age children with a ratio of one child, one horse, one handler.” Walking on a handheld leash, a mini can help a child to cope with fear and anxiety.
Alpaca
A few years ago, alpacas were regarded as the next moneymakers when breeding and sales brought high prices for fleece, along with their waste, sold as soil-enriching manure. After the trend peaked, many herds were sold, often to ill-suited owners, and some needed rescuing. Michelle Zumwalt, a job consultant for people with disabilities in Spanish Lake, Missouri, has hosted rescued alpacas for eight years; the number fluctuates, based on new arrivals and adoptions. “There are enough of them to help supply local organic farms with fertilizer,” says Zumwalt. “These gentle creatures feel safest in numbers; when in danger, they will kick or spit.”
Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs are likeable for their social, nonaggressive character, ease in handling and low maintenance. All crabs are born in the ocean, although some species leave the water as adults. Pet crabs in the United States are either Caribbean land crabs or the faster and more agile Ecuadorian crabs, which require access to both salt and fresh water. A 10-gallon fish tank with sand of a consistency suitable for castle building that’s three or four times deeper than the height of the largest crab works well. Crabs can grow to six inches in length and live 10 years or more, although they don’t reproduce in captivity. As colony animals, they’re much happier in a group.
Hermit crabs periodically need to replace the shell they carry on their back. Provide a shell that is 10 to 15 percent larger and watch as the crab tries it on for size. When crabs molt their underside ectoskeleton, they burrow beneath the sand for four to eight weeks; place these crabs in a separate tank. “Because crabs are scavengers, we feed them chicken, turkey, seaweed, scrambled eggs and fish. They love carrots, bell peppers, kiwi and coconut,” says Christine Richards, a maintenance management analyst and hermit crab caregiver in Montgomery Village, Maryland. “Crabs are nocturnal, so use a small flashlight to watch their antics,” she adds. “They love to climb.”
Chinchillas
Chinchillas, another night creature, can live up to 20 years. A round body, tiny hands and large ears make them easy to love, remarks Christina Pierce, a federal examiner of financial institutions in Little Rock, Arkansas. “My chin, Gizmo, wants to be where the commotion is and likes to travel,” she laughs. A specialty vet is required for chinchillas, with attention given to their teeth, which grow throughout their life. Give them things to chew on and fresh hay to help file down teeth. Gizmo’s favorite chews are willow twigs, peanuts in the shell, alfalfa sticks and lava blocks. “A twice-daily dust bath keeps his fur clean,” notes Pierce, “plus, it’s fun to watch.” It seems that everyone can find a pet that’s perfect for them. It’s just a matter of thinking outside the litter box. Sandra Murphy is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings. natural awakenings
March 2013
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Your surroundings subtly affect your emotional, physical and mental state.
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Making Scents of Nose Work Practical Fun for Pooches and People by Isabelle Reilly
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f things regularly disappear around the house or even around town, consider asking the family dog for help. All dogs love to sniff. Teaching them to target specific odors among the many scents in the air and on the ground, known as nose work, is not as difficult as it might seem; plus it’s a lot of fun to do. Nose work, which began as core training for specialized narcotics, bomb, arson and search-and-rescue dogs, is now an everyman’s sport, complete with local and national competitions and recognized levels of accomplishment. Yet people participate simply for the camaraderie; it requires no previous skill on the part of handlers and provides mutual mental and physical exercise, as well ever-fresh ways to enhance the human/canine partnership. Wendi Faircloth, director of training at Villa La Paws, in Phoenix, Arizona, remarks, “In this game, we don’t teach the dog. We learn from him and trust the dog knows what he’s doing.” This builds an incredible bond between the dog and owner.
Any Dog Can Do It
While bloodhounds and beagles are well-known for their olfactory abilities, any dog can achieve success at any age. Weather isn’t a factor, either. Nose work is particularly good for shy, timid dogs. “It gives the dog something else 20
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Dogs out-sniff humans 45 to one; people have 5 million olfactory cells, while dogs have 225 million. Source: WiseGeek.com
to think about, instead of obsessing on their fear,” says Faircloth. “Use the dog’s fun button—a favorite toy or treat—as a reward,” advises Catherine O’Donnell, director of training at The Ranch for Canine Training and Behavior, in Dripping Springs, Texas. “There are fewer distractions from tracking the target scent if you start indoors, and it’s also good exercise for rainy days or when traveling. If daily walks are hard for older dogs, nose work can provide mental stimulation without as much physical exertion.” Initiate a game by placing three paper cups upside down and hiding a
treat under one. Change the positions of the cups—then have the dog identify the treat’s final location. Retiree Elizabeth Lundell’s three basenji hunting dogs, at home in Germantown, Maryland, have different agendas: it builds confidence in Joey, a blind elderly dog; his daughter Amelia is in it for the food; while Professor, the juvenile male with a short attention span, simply likes solving puzzles. Jaime Van Wye, founder and CEO of Zoom Room Dog Agility Training Center and Canine Social Club, headquartered in Los Angeles, advises, “Nose work competitions generally start with a birch scent, but for fun and initial home training, mint is less intense and more familiar.”
Now Up the Ante
First, assemble different-sized empty, open-topped boxes or boxes with lids or flaps. Take one and make a fuss, so the dog is curious. Put a treat inside and ask him to, “Find it!” Reward him with another treat and praise. Repeat a couple of times and add another box with a treat. Then, add boxes, some with treats, some without, so the dog learns to use his nose, rather than his eyes, to find them. Next, put a lid on the boxes or close a flap. Place one box inside another, and then stack them. As the dog searches, he’ll use his mind as much as
his nose. At first, he’ll tire quickly, so work in short bursts. Gradually making the hunt more difficult also makes it more entertaining for the animal. Once a pet reliably locates hidden treats, add another scent. To introduce it, put a drop of essential oil in a jar and swirl it around. Add cotton swabs and close the jar. They don’t need to touch the oil—the cotton will absorb the odor. A dog can detect scents that humans cannot, so there’s no need to overdo it. Cut the swabs in half and hide them in selected boxes with the treats. As he figures this out, use fewer treats and give rewards for finding the box with the nonfood scent. Van Wye suggests, “Once the dog can find the scent, use it on practical things, like the cloth cover used for a cell phone.” Use double-sided tape to attach a heavy piece of scented cloth to the TV remote. Attach a small fabric pocket stuffed with scented cotton to a keychain. Lightly scent a fabric neck cord paired with eyeglasses; pick a calming aromatherapy oil fragrance. For a favorite pooch and person, nose work is one big game of hideand-seek and another fun way to play together, with added benefits.
Stay-Fit Reward Strategies
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f the dog eats dry food, use a portion or all of his dinner as nose work rewards. As a special treat, use low-fat hot dogs, like turkey dogs, sliced wafer thin. Place them on several layers of paper towels and microwave in short bursts until the moisture has evaporated. Turn as needed. This leaves a strongly scented disc of hot dog. In a zip-style storage bag, mix crunchy O-shaped oat cereal and a few of the weenie wafers. Seal the bag so the O’s absorb the hot dog odor and become a higher value reward.
Learn more at nacsw.net. Isabelle Reilly is both a freelance writer and pet sitter in St. Louis, MO.
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greenliving
it uses less fuel to keep the tar at a pourable temperature. Switching from traditional hot asphalt technology also reduces emissions.
Transforming Aluminum and Glass
RECYCLING EVERYDAY REFUSE What Happens after the Blue Bin is Emptied by Avery Mack
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ach blue recycle bin filled with plastic, aluminum, glass, paper and cardboard helps the environment, because it reduces landfill, takes less energy to repurpose materials than to make new ones and gently reminds us that thoughtful consumption is healthier for people and the planet. But what do all those recyclables turn into?
Repurposed Plastics
Plastic milk jugs turn into colorful playthings at Green Toys, of Mill Valley, California. Repurposing one pound of recycled milk jugs instead of making new plastic saves enough energy to run a computer for a month. All packaging is made from recycled content and printed with soy ink, so it can go into the blue bin again. GreenToys.com’s online counter shows the number of containers recycled—more than 10 million to date. Fila Golf’s Principal Designer Nancy Robitaille says, “Recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a core Fila cooling fabric, 22
West Michigan Edition
is used throughout our collection. Each fully recycled PET garment reuses about two-and-a-half 20-ounce plastic pop bottles.” Patagonia customers are encouraged to return their old coat when buying a new one. Coats in good condition are given to people in need; the PET fleece lining from retired coats is sent to ReFleece, in Somerville, Massachusetts, where it is cleaned and turned into recyclable protective cases for iPads, e-readers and cell phones. “We expect to make 10,000 cases this year from 2,000 jackets,” says Jennifer Fellers, ReFleece’s CEO. “We use low heat to press the cases into shape.” Vancouver, Canada, which plans to be the greenest city in the world by 2020, includes recycled plastic from bags and water bottles in laying down warm asphalt mix for roads because
NaturalWestMichigan.com
In 2012, Do Something.org partnered with Alcoa to challenge teens to recycle aluminum cans. For every 50 cans collected during a two-month period, they were awarded a chance to win a $5,000 scholarship. The sponsors note that recycling one can saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours. The final total was 1,152,569 cans kept out of landfills. “Aluminum can be recycled an infinite number of times,” says Beth Schmitt, director of recycling programs for Alcoa, which has centers nationwide and cash-back programs for community fundraisers. “We remelt the collected cans, then roll out coils of new can sheets. This process can be repeated without any loss of strength—that’s why we call aluminum the ‘miracle metal.’ If every American recycled just one more can per week, we would remove 17 billion cans from landfills each year.” Wine bottles become designer drinking glasses at Rolf Glass, in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania. “Our designs give used bottles a second life,” says owner Rolf Poeting. Refresh Glass, of Phoenix, Arizona, salvages and preps the bottles. “Then, our glass cutting and diamond-wheel engraving technology transforms them into sophisticated Glacier Glass,” continues Poeting. “This seems to be a trend in many industries, to find additional uses for another company’s recycled products.” Rewined, of Charleston, South Carolina, also exemplifies this principle. It uses wine bottles to hold their soy-based, cotton-wicked candles,
roofing from old newspapers or magazines and cardboard, made durable by infusing it with asphalt. It’s placed atop existing roofs, which means no discarded shingles. Each day, 40 to 50 tons of recycled paper goods find new life in Ondura products, available at most home improvement stores. Sound inside Buick Lacrosse and Verano vehicles is dampened via a ceiling material made partly from reused cardboard shipping boxes. Paint sludge from General Motors’ Lansing, Michigan, Grand River assembly plant becomes durable plastic shipping containers for Chevrolet Volt and Cruze engine components. Some 200 miles of absorbent polypropylene sleeves, used to soak up a recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, were converted into air deflectors for the Volt, preventing 212,500 pounds of waste from entering landfills. As part of its community outreach, 250 shipping crates from GM’s Orion assembly plant became raised garden beds for a Southwest Detroit community garden. A
which provide 60 to 80 hours of winescented burn.
Second Life for Paper
Purina’s Yesterday’s News and Second Nature litter for cats and dogs, respectively, is made from recycled paper and absorbs waste upward from the bottom of the litter box for easier cleaning. The unscented litter pellets are three times as absorbent as clay, non-toxic and nearly dust-free. Hedgehogs, mice, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs and reptiles also like Yesterday’s News for bedding. On average, 44 million pounds of paper are annually recycled for these products. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States annually generates 11 million tons of asphalt shingle waste, mostly from reroofing tear-offs and new installation scrap, comprising 8 percent of construction waste. Each recycled ton saves a barrel of oil. OFIC North America, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, creates its Ondura corrugated
local entrepreneur turned donated sound absorption material into coats that also serve as sleeping bags for the homeless.
Old Tires Transformed
The Rubber Manufacturers Association reports that Americans discard 300 million tires each year, each one having consumed about seven gallons of oil in its manufacture and poised to add to Earth’s landfills. Lehigh Technologies’ micronized rubber powder (MRP), made by freezedrying discarded tires and pulverizing them into a fine powder, changes the equation. MRP is now used in many items, from new tires, roads and building materials to shoes. It feels good to place used items in the blue bin instead of the trash, knowing that more and more companies are helping to put these resources to good use. Connect with freelance writer Avery Mack at AveryMack@mindspring.com.
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Feeding Ourselves Well
Urban Gardening Takes Root
70 percent of these gardens are in urban or suburban areas. “We’re seeing a new crop of farmers that defy stereotypes,” observes David Tracey, owner of EcoUrbanist environmental design in Vancouver, Canada, and author of Urban Agriculture. “Some are office workers leaving unsatisfying jobs, techie types learning the trade in universities and back-to-theland folks that happen to live in cities. Others are activists taking on the industrial farm system, folks adopting trends or entrepreneurs that see opportunities in the rising prices of quality food and the proximity of millions of customers.”
Opportunities and Pitfalls
by John D. Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist
“I
n just one-twelfth of an acre, including lots of paths and a compost heap, our family grows the vast majority of the fresh vegetables we need, plus a decent chunk of our fruits and berries,” says Erica Strauss. “It’s not a huge garden, but we still feel nearly overwhelmed with the harvest in late August.” Her family of four tends a diversity of edibles on their urban lot in a suburb of Seattle, Washington. Word has spread because Strauss writes about her experiences via Northwest Edible Life, a blog about food growing, cooking and urban homesteading. “Every kid on the block has picked an Asian pear off my espalier and munched on raw green beans,” she notes. “Even picky eaters seem pretty interested when they can pick tasty treats right from the tree or vine.” We don’t need to live in a rural area or on a farm to grow our own food. By the close of World War II, nearly 40 percent of all fruits and vegetables supplying Americans stateside were grown in victory gardens in the communities in which they were consumed.
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Today, these small plots are often termed kitchen gardens, comprising parts of household lawns, schoolyards, balconies, patios and rooftops. Fresh taste and the security of local food supplies in case of manmade or natural upheavals are drawing more people to gardening.
Garden Cities
“Urbanization, a major demographic trend, has implications for how we grow and consume food,” observes Roger Doiron, founder of Kitchen Gardeners International. “If we agree that feeding more people fresh, local foods is a priority, we’re going to need to landscape and, in many cases, retrofit urban and suburban areas for increased food production.” Millions of Americans now participate in growing mainstay foods. According to a 2009 study by the National Gardening Association, 31 percent of all U.S. households grew food for their families in 2008, and more have since the economic downturn. Bruce Butterfield, the association’s research director, estimates that nearly
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Urban gardening has unexpected advantages in its use of organic waste like coffee grounds from a local coffee house and rainwater from area rooftops. Converting lawns at schools, churches and empty city lots into community gardens fosters community connections, improves access to affordable nutritious foods and creates employment opportunities. A widespread challenge to the trend is dealing with the quality of urban soil and testing for possible toxins. Often, urban soil must be improved using compost and other nutrients before plants can prosper. A nearby irrigation source is also required. “One potential problem for urban gardeners may be the community reaction to an edible landscape,” admits Strauss. “In some cities, edible gardens in the front yard or even the common parking strip are celebrated and even officially encouraged. But in communities where lawn is still king and city codes regarding vegetation are vague and open to interpretation, one complaint from an anonymous neighbor can become an exhausting political and legal fight.”
Feeding Community
Community gardens often transform vacant lots and other marginal land into green growing places. In Chicago, The Peterson Garden Project, an awardwinning nonprofit program, has been turning unsightly empty lots into raisedbeds in which residents learn to grow their own food since 2010. “Nationally, it’s been found that having a community garden on unused
land increases property values, decreases crime and promotes a sense of unity with neighbors and others,” explains LaManda Joy, president and founder of the project. “We work with property owners on the short-term use of their land to enhance the community in which they eventually plan to develop.” “Participating in a community garden serves up a lot of individual victories,” says Joy. “Improved health and nutrition, learning a new skill, teaching kids where food comes from, productive exercise, mental well-being, connecting with others and saving money—community gardens help make all of this possible.”
Being Prepared
“How many recalls have we seen because some food item has been contaminated and people have suffered or died as a result? I am concerned about the safety and security of our food supply,” says Wendy Brown, whose family tends a quarter-acre garden with raised and landscaped beds and containers wrapped around their home plus an onsite greenhouse in a beach resort suburb of Portland, Maine. “As a mother, it concerns me that I might feed my children something that will hurt them. High-fructose corn syrup, genetically engineered crops and BPA-lined cans
are all making headlines. It just seems smarter to grow it myself; that way, we have more control over what our family is eating.” Brown is one of more than 3 million Americans that are following FEMA recommendations in preparing for any event that might disrupt food supplies. Her book, Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs, shares everything her family has done to safeguard themselves, including growing produce, caring for animals and canning, freezing, drying, cold storage or fermenting foods for later use. “For me, it’s more about being prepared for the everyday things that are happening, like increases in food and fuel prices or a loss of family income,” Brown says. “If we’re growing at least some of our own food, I have a lot less to worry about when such things happen.” The family also keeps rabbits and ducks, plus egg-laying and meat-providing chickens that can total 40 animals in the summer at their “nanofarm”. These also supply natural fertilizer for the crops. Nearby beehives provide 20 pounds of honey each year. Because the foods they produce are solely for their personal use, the Browns are exempt from regulatory restrictions. “Our neighbors love what we’re doing,” says Brown, whose house is close enough they can chat across their
Helpful Resources Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council, FoodShed.net Green Restaurant Association, DineGreen.com Kitchen Gardeners International, KGI.org Northwest Edible Life, NWEdible.com The Peterson Garden Project, PetersonGarden.org Uncommon Ground, UncommonGround.com Urban Farm Online, UrbanFarmOnline.com Urban Gardens, UrbanGardensWeb.com natural awakenings
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“With some effort, urban gardeners can grow great vegetables anyplace that affords enough light and warmth,” advises Strauss, who gardens primarily in raised beds in her front and back yards. “I garden on the scale I do because I love it. It’s both relaxing and challenging, and we eat well.” Urban gardening methods are as diverse as the growing conditions, space limitations and financial resources of the gardener. “Lasagna” gardening—layering newspaper or cardboard and other organic materials on top—can be effective in urban areas because it involves no digging or tilling. Just as with making compost, alternate between brown and green layers. Once the materials break down, add plants to the newly created growing bed. Urban dwellers with limited space may employ square-foot gardening, intensively growing plants in raised beds using a growing medium of vermiculite, peat moss and compost. This method can yield fewer weeds and is easier on the back. “It’s an easy concept to grasp for new gardeners,” remarks Joy. “We use it to both maximize output in a small area and ensure healthy, organic, contaminant-free soil.” Rooftop gardens are becoming more common as larger agricultural operations use them to grow income crops. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers anyone that sells more than $1,000 of produce to neighbors or area restaurants a farmer, rather than a gardener, so regulations may apply. For renters, just a few tomato
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plants in a well-maintained container on a patio or deck can yield as much as 50 pounds of tomatoes by taking advantage of its microclimate, influenced by wind blocks, heated surfaces and reflected light from windows. Urban gardening is also thriving indoors in terrariums, window boxes and small greenhouses. Even partially lit rooms can support certain vegetables or herbs with grow lights. Aquaponic gardening, a closed-loop system that involves both fish and vegetables, expands the self-sufficient possibilities of a hydroponic system of growing plants fed by liquid nutrients.
Feeding Ourselves
With more than 80 percent of Americans currently living in urban and suburban areas, the questionable nutrition of many mass-produced foods, increasing pesticide and herbicide use by nonorganic farmers, greenhouse gas emissions from food transport and weather patterns altered by climate change, it’s past time to take back some control. Operating our own gardens and preparing our own meals turns us back into producers, not merely consumers. “For the most part, we’re just average suburbanites,” concludes Brown. “We just choose to have less lawn and more garden. A huge benefit is that we need less income because we’re buying less at the grocery store. Our goal is to semi-retire in our mid-50s—not because we’ve made a bunch of money, but because we’ve needed less money to live along the way.” John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, co-authors of Farmstead Chef (FarmsteadChef.com), ECOpreneuring and Rural Renaissance, operate the award-winning Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast, in Browntown, WI. They grow 70 percent of their organic food; the cost savings helped them become mortgage-free in their mid-40s.
Practical Peace W
ith her sparkling blue eyes and ready smile, local business owner and book author Elizabeth Beau’s enthusiasm is contagious, fed by the trials and tribulations of life conquered, and spiritual growth and renewal. She is quick to point out, though, that it has been a long and diverse journey to reach where she is now - emotionally, spiritually, and professionally. “I was born in Grand Rapids, and after being gone for 35 years I moved back a couple of years ago,” she said, with laughter in her voice, “My life has really come full circle.” A year and a half ago she launched a series of workshops – Practical Peace – that are taught in the Grand Rapids area and co-wrote Fourteen Inches to Peace, published this past September. The book is now the focal point of the workshops where she shares - among many other things - seven simple steps to help students journey from ego consciousness to spirit consciousness, or more simply as she would say “from head to heart”. Her interest in the things taught in the workshops – finding authenticity in life, the tools and methods to achieve spiritual growth, and how by finding inner peace people can live to their fullest potential and not be controlled by their own egos – really began when she was in her mid-teens. “At 16 I had an intense interest in the movements of the 1970’s, because there were so many things that were fascinating, like Transcendental Meditation, Bhagavad Gita (Hindu scripture that introduces philosophical issues), astral projection and astral travel,” she remembered. “They all seemed to give meaning to life.” Through a series of accidents she left that behind, entering the world of Math and Science, eventually teaching at the community college level. It wasn’t until she was married and raising her children (now 29, 33, and 35) that she returned to those interests and began a period of spiritual growth. She attended classes for Licensed Teachers at Unity Village, part of the Unity Worldwide Ministries in Missouri, and later returned to school to receive her Masters in Physics. “Merging the two different subjects – spirituality and the physical sciences made a lot of sense for me,” Beau explained. After returning to West Michigan several years ago and purchasing a home on the Grand River in Grand Haven, Beau taught at Grand Rapids Community College. “It was just so good to be back,” she said. “I did really feel like I returned home.” She retired from teaching two years ago, beginning another leg of her journey that revisited her early interest in spirituality. “I joined Fountain Street Church, and jumped in with both feet,” she said with a smile. “I joined the choir, and the Grow the Soul Committee.” There she met Committee Chairman Mark Walstrom (currently co-facilitator) and it was the beginning of so many new things in Beau’s life, all positive. “Looking for signs that I’m on the right path is important to me, and this so easily fell in place that I knew it was where I was supposed to be and was heading in the right direction,” explained Beau. She attended a class taught by David Mutchler that really
Community Spotlight
by Kim Racette
jumpstarted her awareness and excitement. “He was teaching Beyond the Ego and it was life changing for me,” she shared. “It gave me a way to be aware of my own internal climate, and I found that instead of being angry or withholding forgiveness in life, I can choose to be at peace.” This was the awareness of the ego that she had been looking for in her life, and she realized that her story of change might help others to help themselves. “David had written several books, and asked me to work with him on a new one,” she explained. “We were still facilitating our classes, and he recognized my ability to move deeper into spirit consciousness. We ended up combining information about the program with a series of questions and answers for those reading the book.” They called it 14 Inches To Peace because that is the distance from the head to the heart. It was published this past fall by Balboa Publisher, and is also available through various booksellers. Mutchler no longer co-teaches with Beau, and his departure as well as the publication of the book prompted her to change the name of the class to Practical Peace, with the book as a tool to help participants find their own practical peace. “There is a method that can help people to find what I have found,” she said with conviction. “There are two parts that work together, beginning with an intensive Foundations Course that lays the groundwork, and an Application/Integration Course that helps to actually give the tools to build this method into people’s lives.” Beau explained that when classes begin it’s a “roomful of strangers” but that doesn’t last long. “By the time the classes end I have a new group of friends,” she said with a smile. “We have such a bond, and an intimate knowledge of each other.” Another workshop – Living Peace – is ongoing during the month to all those who have completed the other two workshops. A serious study of A Course in Miracles is also offered to graduates of the workshops and has had a serious impact on Beau’s growth and development. “When my kids were small I was introduced to the 12 Steps (AA) and A Course in Miracles was a natural next step. It can be a good starting point because it introduces much of the common language and concepts used in Practical Peace,” she said. “This method can help anyone - no matter where they may be in their personal process – to find joy and compassion in life.” For mor e information about Practical Peace, upcoming classes and locations, visit the website at www.12inchestopeace.com, or email Beau at Elizabethbeau55@gmail.com. See ad page 47. Kim Racette lives in Kentwood, and writes for several local publications, as well as DressMeDaddy.com. She can be reached at kim.racette@yahoo.com. natural awakenings
March 2013
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fitbody
shows. “People can save thousands of dollars by combining five to 10 exercises into a burst-training workout routine,” which will burn calories and increase muscle mass, says Joe Vennare, co-founder of the Hybrid Athlete, a fitness website.
Myth 4: Too Late to Start Many people feel they are too old or out-of-shape to even begin to exercise, or are intimidated by the idea of stepping into a yoga studio or gym. “Stop wasting time reading diet books and use that time to go for a walk,” advises Exercise Physiologist Jason Karp, Ph.D., author of Running for Women and Running a Marathon for Dummies. “In other words, get moving any way you can.”
FITNESS MYTHS
DEBUNKED 11 VITAL TRUTHS by Lynda Bassett
T
he U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has concluded that more than a third of Americans today are overweight. Yet it also reports that at least 30 percent of us don’t exercise at all, perhaps partly due to persistent fitness myths.
Myth 1: Lack of Opportunity Even the busiest person can fit in some exercise by making simple changes in their daily routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, do squats while watching television, deliver a message in person instead of via email, take a desk break to stretch or stand while talking on the phone. Even fidgeting is beneficial. The point is to be as active as possible during otherwise sedentary hours.
Myth 2: No Time The CDC recommends that each week, adults should exercise 150 minutes—the average duration of a movie—but not all at once. To make it easy, break it up into various exercise activities in daily, vigorous, 10-minute chunks.
Myth 3: Unaffordable Activities like walking, bicycling and even jumping rope can be done virtually anywhere, anytime. Individuals can create a basic home fitness center with a jump rope, set of dumbbells and not much more. Borrow an exercise video or DVD from the library or follow one of the many television fitness 28
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Myth 5: No Pain, No Gain Suffering isn’t required. In fact, feeling pain can indicate possible injury or burnout. Still, consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program. “Do not hurt yourself,” says Charla McMillian, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, attorney and president of FitBoot – Basic Training for Professionals, in San Francisco. “Rather, aim for a point of gentle discomfort,” she advises.
Myth 6: Must Break a Sweat Perspiring is related to the duration and intensity of the exercise, but some people just sweat more than others. “How much (or little) you sweat does not correlate with how many calories you are expending,” assures Jessica Matthews, an experienced registered yoga teacher and an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise.
Myth 7: Dieting is Enough Women especially fall prey to the myth that they don’t need to exercise if they are a certain dress size. Even those at a healthy weight can be in greater danger of contracting disease and shortened lifespan than obese individuals that regularly participate in physical activity, according to a recent study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, in Bethesda, Maryland. Health experts recommend combining regular activity with consuming lean proteins, healthy fats, limited starches and no added sugars.
Myth 8: Stretch Before Exercising New research from the American Council on Exercise recommends stretching at the end of a workout. “It is safer and more effective to stretch muscles that are properly warmed and more pliable,” says Matthews, who also recommends beginning a workout with
simple movements such as arm circles and leg swings. She notes, “Stretching can help to improve posture and flexibility, plus reduce overall stress.”
Myth 9: Crunches Cut Belly Fat There’s no such thing as spot reducing. While crunches strengthen abdominal muscles, they will not shrink your waistline, says Karp. Instead, try exercises such as squats, lunges and yoga plank holds or kettlebell repetitions to lose stubborn belly fat.
Myth 10: Women Using Weights Get Bulky The truth is that most weightlifting women won’t end up with a big, bulky physique because they have less testosterone, are smaller in size and have less muscle tissue than men, advises Matthews. “Any kind of strength training will help improve bone density, increase muscle mass and decrease body fat in both men and women.”
Myth 11: Exercise is Hard Physical activity should be fun. It’s best to start simply, add a variety of physical activities and challenges and keep at it. Schedule time for exercise and treat it like any other daily appointment; don’t cancel it. Alexander Cortes, a nationally certified strength and conditioning coach with Ultimate Fighting Championship Gym, in Corona, California, concludes, “When health is a priority, exercise is the most important appointment you can keep.” Lynda Bassett is a freelance writer near Boston, MA. Connect at LyndaBassett.com.
natural awakenings
March 2013
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healthykids
Helping Children Concentrate by Bessheen Baker, ND; Director of Education, Naturopathic Institute
B
less the children of the toxic generation! Especially bless, the boys whose glandular make- up allows them to be more susceptible to the poisons of heavy metals from herbicides, pesticides, food coloring and a fast food nation. Not to say that girls are not being heavily affected, it just manifests differently for each and every one of us. It’s fair to say that 70% of these beautiful children who come into Herbs etc for help with concentration and focus concerns are boys. Over the years, we’ve seen the most amazing and brilliant young people suffer from conditions that didn’t exist or were not nearly so intense 30 years ago. This article is for all the amazing, beautiful children growing up in the sea of environmental poisons to help them swim to clearer waters. Start with the food! Here are two great examples. One boy, intelligent and kind hearted, was helped by a fellow naturopath and instructor at the Naturopathic Institute: his problem, extreme violence. He would get into such a rage that his father would have to pin him to the floor until the rage would pass. He was a threat to others and to himself. The problem; High Fructose Corn Syrup! Every time he consumed it, his behavior went completely out of his own control. The naturopath helped the family to identify the problem. Corn syrup, especially high fructose corn syrup, causes behavioral problem and allergies in many children and adults. He is in complete recovery; although avoiding High Fructose Corn Syrup is not easy, this young man knows it is worth it. If he accidentally consumes some while out with extended family or friends, he immediately feels the rage returning. He candidly discussed the guilt and remorse he felt from these episodes and how glad he is to be feeling normal. For another boy, eight years old, the problem was once again the food. He had trouble sitting still in school, trouble concentrating, and would have fits of poor behavior. Using a non-invasive assessment tool called Muscle Response Testing, we were able 30
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to determine his food allergens without needles or scratch testing. He was very intolerant of wheat, dairy, peanuts, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and food colorings which can contain mercury and aluminum. These foods were removed, and the wheat was replaced with a similar but generally non-reactive grain called spelt; the milk was replaced with rice and almond milk (some cheeses and butter were allowed); and peanuts and peanut butter were replaced with almonds and almond butter. Within the first week, there were noticeable changes. By the end of one month his teachers had reported amazing results, and his parents slowly removed his prescription behavioral medications. Keep in mind that food is the first place to look. If you are not sure about a particular food, do the pulse test. Take the child’s resting pulse rate (usually 60-80 beats per minute), then have them consume a suspected food. If the food is a problem, the pulse rate can rise between 10 to 30 beats per minute. Think about this: how would you feel if you ate a wheat product 3 times per day and it “wired” your entire body. Would you have trouble sitting still and concentrating? Would you behave a little differently? Now, avoid the foods that rev up the body. Further help can be obtained by seeing a naturopath to confirm your finding using Muscle Response Testing. Additionally these children and adults are found to be deficient in Essential Fatty Acids. Often, a 8-12 year old may need up to two tablespoons per day of Flax Seed Oil, Super GLA, Borage oil, or other blends of these nerve soothing Essential Fatty Acids. We have had great success using vitamins that are known as anti-oxidants and herbs like Passion Flower which is used for hyper activity in Italy, Valerian which nourishes the nerves, and the mineral Magnesium in a liquid form which allows the body to relax and the nerves to be cooled. Another great natural remedy is to use distilled flowers. Clematis is used for the absent minded professor; Vine for the overly intense personality; Blackberry for the lack of interest in the present moment and Madia for a lack of follow through. Blends of the above are also made that can be sprayed under the tongue for easy use. The point is that there is hope for anyone suffering from learning and behavioral problems. Drugs don’t have to be the answer. It’s time to empower people through education and nutrition. Let’s learn what’s really in processed food, which foods heal the body, and how to find and prepare the foods that bring about a generation of healthy children. Bessheen Baker, ND, is the Founder and Director of Education at Naturopathic Institute of Therapies & Education (NITE), located at 503 East Broadway, Mt. Pleasant, MI. 48858. Visit www.nite-mtp.com or call 989-773-1714. See ad page 2.
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consciouseating
The Better Brain Diet Eat Right To Stay Sharp by Lisa Marshall
W
ith 5.4 million Americans already living with Alzheimer’s disease, one in five suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the 2012 failure of several targeted pharmaceutical drug trials, many brain health experts are now focusing on food as a critical defense against dementia. “Over the past several years, there have been many well-designed scientific studies that show you are what you eat when it comes to preserving and improving memory,” says Dr. Richard Isaacson, associate professor of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of The Alzheimer’s Diet. In recent years, studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and Archives of Neurology have shown that people on a Mediterranean-type diet—high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fatty fish and low in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats—tend to fend off cognitive decline longer and be less prone to developing full-blown Alzheimer’s. Several small, but promising clinical trials further suggest that even people that have already begun to suffer memory loss may be able to slow or mildly reverse it via nutritional changes. Here’s how.
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Switch to slow-burning carbs: Mounting evidence indicates that the constant insulin spikes from eating refined carbohydrates like white bread or sugarsweetened sodas can eventually impair the metabolization of sugar (similar to Type 2 diabetes), effecting blood vessel damage and hastened aging. A high-carb diet has also been linked to increased levels of beta-amyloid, a fibrous plaque that harms brain cells. A 2012 Mayo Clinic study of 1,230 people ages 70 to 89 found that those that ate the most carbs had four times the risk of developing MCI than those that ate the least. Inversely, a small study by University of Cincinnati researchers found that when adults with MCI were placed on a low-carb diet for six weeks, their memory improved. Isaacson recommends switching to slow-burning, low-glycemic index carbohydrates, which keep blood sugars at bay. Substitute whole grains and vegetables for white rice, pastas and sugary fruits. Water down juices or forego them altogether. Choose fats wisely: Arizona neurologist Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, co-author of The Alzheimer’s Prevention Cookbook, points to numerous studies suggesting a link between saturated fat in butter, cooking oil, cheese and processed
meats and increased risk of Alzheimer’s. “In animals, it seems to promote amyloid production in the brain,” he says. In contrast, those that eat more fatty fish such as herring, halibut and wild-caught salmon that are rich in the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acid DHA, are at lower risk. Sabbagh notes that DHA, when it’s a steady part of the diet, plays a critical role in forming the protective “skin of the brain” known as the bilipid membrane, and may possibly offset production of plaque in the brain, thus slowing its progression during the earliest stages of dementia. Aim for three weekly servings of fatty fish. Vegetarians can alternatively consider supplementing meals with 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams daily of DHA, says Isaacson. Eat more berries and kale: In general, antioxidant-rich fruits (especially berries) and vegetables are major preventers of oxidative stress—the cell-damaging process that occurs naturally in the brain as we age. One recent study published in the Annals of Neurology found that women eating high amounts of blueberries and strawberries were able to stave off cognitive decline 2.5 years longer than those that did not. Rich in antioxidant flavonoids, blueberries may even have what Sabbagh terms, “specific antiAlzheimer’s and cell-saving properties.” Isaacson highlights the helpful-
ness of kale and green leafy vegetables, which are loaded with antioxidants and brain-boosting B vitamins. One recent University of Oxford study in the UK of 266 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment found that those taking a blend of vitamins B12, B6 and folate daily showed significantly less brain shrinkage over a two-year period than those that did not. Spice up: Sabbagh notes that India has some of the lowest worldwide rates of Alzheimer’s. One possible reason is the population’s love of curry. Curcumin, a compound found in the curry-flavoring spice turmeric, is another potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. He recommends sprinkling one teaspoon of curcumin on our food every day and cooking with antioxidantrich cloves, oregano, thyme, rosemary and cinnamon. A 2011 Israeli study at Tel Aviv University found that plaque deposits dissolved and memory and learning behaviors improved in animals given a potent cinnamon extract. Begin a brain-healthy diet as early as possible. “Brain changes can start 25 years before the onset of dementia symptoms,” says Sabbagh. “It’s the end result of a long process, so don’t wait. Start your prevention plan today.” Lisa Marshall is a freelance health writer outside of Boulder, CO. Connect at Lisa@LisaAnnMarshall.com.
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DISH UP VARIETY Treat Your Dog to Good Health and Good Taste by Wendy Bedwell-Wilson
“Broiled chicken, brown rice and steamed broccoli again?”
W
hen you sit down to dinner, you prefer some variety, and so does your dog, who may well inquire, “What, kibble again?” Day after day of the same mix of protein, carbohydrates, fats and veggies can hamper any appetite, human or canine. But a diet packed with different food types can make eating more enjoyable. Before concocting your own dog food blends, it helps to learn more about potential ingredients and the benefits of a varied diet, as well as how to successfully introduce new foods.
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Healthful Variety
By definition, a varied diet is dense in nutrients and changes regularly; a decided departure from the stick-to-the-samefood routine encouraged by dog food experts of the past. Dr. Sean Delaney, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist in Davis, California, says that today’s varied diet for dogs should resemble a cornucopia, filled with healthy meats, whole grains, legumes, dairy, fruits and vegetables. “For optimum health, it’s better to have the food in a natural, unprocessed state,” he says.
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To start, dogs require 12 amino acids in their diets, so foods that contain all of them would provide the best quality protein for dogs, advises Dr. Rebecca Remillard, Ph.D., a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and founder of Veterinary Nutritional Consultations, in Holliston, Massachusetts. “Egg and liver are of the highest protein quality because of their amino acid profiles,” she advises. A varied diet even reduces the chances of dogs developing an allergy to certain foods, like chicken or wheat, adds Delaney. “Feeding a dog food that’s not commonly used in the pet food industry—a food that he’s naïve to—reduces the potential that the animal will develop an allergic reaction to it.”
Shopping for Choices
Dr. Tracy Lord, a holistic veterinarian based at the Animal Clinic and Wellness Center, in Williamsburg, Virginia, says that older theories once claimed that dogs would become picky eaters or experience indigestion on a varied diet, but that perspective has since been questioned. To the contrary, variety brings excitement and interest to the table— or the bowl. For instance, Lord points out, “If you feed your child a dinner of chicken, broccoli, brown rice and cantaloupe, you can pat yourself on the back for providing a well-balanced nutritious meal. But if you feed this same meal to your child three times a day throughout his life, you would start to see nutritional deficiencies.” Plus, no one would be surprised to hear that the child is tiring of it. The same holds true for dogs, she says. Their bodies appreciate the different sources of nutrition, while their taste buds respond to delicious change-ups. One popular type of varied diet centers on taking commercially prepared, top-quality, frozen, canned or dry foods and simply rotating them, as long as the owner provides a consistent number of calories. This approach will ensure that a dog receives the right balance of nutrients, says Remillard. She explains that, “Federally regulated, commercially prepared foods have processing methods and quality assurance programs that limit the potential for food-borne illnesses in pets and offer guarantees, a nutritional profile and bioavailability of nutrients. Remillard further notes, however, that not all products are equal when it comes to highly
desirable ingredients, so as with any other processed food, consumers must read labels. Varied diets also may be prepared at home. That’s where home chefs can get creative with different types of meats, grains and vegetables, but they should follow guidelines prepared by a trained nutritionist, Remillard cautions. “Unless properly formulated by a nutritionist, diets developed at home are not likely to be complete and balanced,” she says. “The nutritional profile of any diet—including homemade diets—depends on how the recipe was formulated, the nutrient content of the ingredients and how the owner prepares the food. Homemade diets may also contain contaminants and food-borne microbes if the owner isn’t careful.” Sometimes, just adding a little something special to a dog’s bowl will give him the variety he’s craving. For example, “If we’re making something our dog loves, like grilled salmon or ahi, we’ll cook a little piece for her and give her a little less kibble in her dish,” relates Alyce Edmondton, who lives in Redmond, Washington. “We always share our dog-safe leftovers with her. We figure that if it’s good for us, it’s good for her, too.” Wendy Bedwell-Wilson’s healthy living pet articles regularly appear in national and international magazines. Her latest of six books on dogs, Shih Tzu, is part of the DogLife series. Connect at PetWriter@live.com.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU? by Wendy Bedwell-Wilson If you would like to incorporate a varied diet into your dog’s eating routine, here are five expert tips for doing so safely and successfully.
1
Choose different main ingredients: If you’re primarily relying on a chicken and rice diet, switch the pooch to something completely different, like a duck and sweet potato or bison and barley diet, advises Veterinarian Sean Delaney.
2
It’s okay to change brands: Although some food manufacturers have developed a food line designed to rotate among items, you can always try out different brands and formulas. Stick to the high-quality mixes for optimal nutrition, says Veterinarian Tracy Lord.
3
Change the menu regularly: If you plan to rotate a dog’s commercially prepared diet, consider buying a new blend each time you shop, advises Veterinarian Rebecca Remillard.
4
Switch slowly: For a smooth transition between foods, slowly increase the amount of new food while decreasing the old, counsels Lord. The process should take about a week.
5
Take note of portions and calories: Delaney advises that a good way to ensure that a dog stays youthfully slim and trim is to calculate an appropriate calorie count and portions of the new foods.
natural awakenings
March 2013
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healingways
Coming in April Natural Awakenings’
SPECIAL ISSUE GREEN LIVING Celebrate the possibilities of sustained healthy living on a flourishing Earth.
Beyond Cholesterol
How Triglycerides Take a Toll by James Occhiogrosso
F
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West Michigan Edition
or many adults, an annual physical involves routine blood tests, followed by a discussion of cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, along with prescribed treatment ranging from improved nutrition and exercise to drugs. Triglycerides tend to be relegated to a minor mention—if they are discussed at all—yet regulating triglyceride levels can improve health.
and impaired blood flow associated with cardiovascular disease. (Impaired blood flow also effects male erectile function.) Several recent studies, including one in the Annals of Internal Medicine, also suggest these could instigate the metabolic syndrome associated with the onset of diabetes and atherosclerosis, which can lead to stroke and cardiovascular disease.
Why Triglycerides Count
Triglycerides, a normal component of blood, are introduced into the body by the fat in foods. Some are produced in the liver as the body’s response to a diet high in simple sugars or carbohydrates—especially hydrogenated oils and trans-fats. Evidence reported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute suggests that very high intakes of carbohydrates are accompanied by a rise in triglycerides, noting that, “Carbohydrate intakes should be limited to 60 percent of total calories.” Many research scientists agree that the main cause for high triglyceride
“High triglyceride levels usually accompany low HDL (good) cholesterol levels and often accompany tendencies toward high blood pressure and central (abdominal) obesity. These are the markers of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, very common disorders underlying obesity and increased risks of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes,” explains Dr. Andrew Weil on his website, DrWeil.com. While high triglyceride levels are not conclusively linked to the development of any specific disease, they are associated with the narrowing of arteries
NaturalWestMichigan.com
What Creates Triglycerides?
levels is the Standard American Diet, notoriously high in sugars and simple carbohydrates, trans-fats and saturated animal fats, and far too low in complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals; specifically, vitamins A, B, C, D and especially E, plus the minerals selenium, magnesium, silicon and chromium. Sugars added to soft drinks and food products, especially those containing high-fructose corn syrup, also raise triglyceride levels significantly. Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! and national medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, observes, “The average American gets about 150 pounds of sugar added to his/her diet each year from processed food, causing fatigue, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and a host of other problems.” Animal fats, like those in farm-raised red meats, typically contain a skewed ratio of the fats known as omega-3 and omega-6, with the latter dominating by nearly 20:1; a ratio also found in commercial packaged foods and baked goods. Many studies show such a high omega-6/omega-3 ratio tends to promote disease. Eating oily fish and healthy plant
oils such as cold-pressed virgin olive and coconut oil, nuts, seeds and minimally prepared foods provides a more balanced ratio of omega fatty acids.
Lowering Triglyceride Levels
Part of today’s medical paradigm focuses on lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. As a result, many patients and doctors worry about cholesterol levels, but ignore triglycerides. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a triglyceride level of 100 milligrams per deciliter or less; about one-third of the population currently exceeds this. While drugs can help, the AHA does not recommend drug therapy except for people that have severe levels (more than 500mg/dL), which can increase the risk of acute pancreatitis. For those with high, but not severe levels, dietary and other lifestyle changes can be effective in lowering triglyceride levels. Logically, reducing consumption of red meat and processed foods, especially those containing trans-fats, and increasing consumption of complex carbohydrates from whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes is recommended. AHA studies further show that daily sup-
plementation of fish oil and full-spectrum vitamin E can reduce serum triglyceride levels significantly. In one study, fish oil containing at least 1,000 to 3,000 mg of omega-3 decreased such concentrations by 25 to 30 percent. In a 2009 study of a nationally representative group of 5,610 people published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. Earl S. Ford, of the U. S. Centers for Disease Control, found that about one-third had triglyceride levels above 150 mg/dL—considered somewhat high—while almost another 20 percent had high levels of 200-plus mg/dL. Always consult a knowledgeable health practitioner prior to beginning a new regimen. Just as with managing any aspect of health, care is required and knowledge is power. James Occhiogrosso, a natural health practitioner and master herbalist, specializes in salivary hormone testing and natural hormone balancing. His latest book is Your Prostate, Your Libido, Your Life. Find relevant articles at HealthNaturallyToday.com. Connect at 239-498-1547 or DrJim@Health NaturallyToday.com.
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March 2013
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One in Eight and 20 Liters
O
ne in eight people do not have access to clean water. According to the Mayo Clinic, cholera, a bacterial disease, is usually spread through contaminated water and causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Left untreated, cholera can be fatal in a matter of hours even in previously healthy people. The last major outbreak in the United States was in 1911, but other countries have not been fortunate enough to avoid such outbreaks. As a matter of fact, just five years ago in 2008, a cholera outbreak in Masaka, Rwanda killed over 500 people. From that moment on, an organization called 20 Liters set out to make clean water a reality for some of the most vulnerable members of the Masaka community. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) found that 783 million people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water. To put this in perspective, that’s more than two and a half times the United States population. The people of Masaka obtain their water from the Nyabarongo River that runs along the border of their town. This is both their main source of water as well as their main source of water related diseases. Less than 1% of the people in this region have running water, so, in essence, they have no alternative but to utilize this river. 20 Liters Executive Director Brian Mucci said, “We work in an area where people have access to water, it’s just polluted water. The commute is still a part of the daily routine, but in addition to the walk, it’s also dirty. One of our core focuses is to make dirty water clean.” Upon walking to the Nyabarongo River, the Rwandans of Masaka fill their Jerry Cans with 20 liters (the namesake of the organization) of non-filtered water before carrying the 44 pound load back to their homes. 20 liters is the amount of water the World Health Organization states as the minimum recommended amount needed per day for adequate hydration and hygiene. However, the 20 liters necessary per day cannot be laced with pollution, bacteria, etc., or the purpose of gathering a healthy amount of 38
West Michigan Edition
NaturalWestMichigan.com
by Amanda Merritt
water quickly becomes unhealthy. It is here that the organization seeking to put an end to this problem, 20 liters at a time, steps in. By supplying and installing slow-sand filters and rainwater cisterns, 20 Liters has been able to provide long-term solutions that engage and empower the local people. Rainwater cisterns can catch up to 10,000 liters of water per month and will serve 100 families. Costing roughly $3,200 for materials and labor, one rainwater harvesting system can remain functional with little upkeep for around 10 years. Contrary to what is typically pictured of Africa, Rwanda actually has a 9-month rainy season, providing 40-50 inches of rain per year. Five inches of rain alone is enough to fill a 10,000-liter cistern. Rooftop rainwater harvesting makes access to water much easier; as the rural and urban locations available for cisterns reduce the time spent traveling to collect water from the river. Many churches that host rainwater cisterns either give the water away or sell if for half the market rate. Proceeds are then given to the poorest members of the community for school fees, uniforms and other unaffordable costs. One slow-sand filter costs only $140 for parts and installation, and serves up to four families for ten years. 20 liters explains, “The sand in the filter does two things: it strains out the larger particles like sediment, parasites and amebas, and then it acts as a home for bacteria. When the sand is fully colonized by bacteria, which happens after about three weeks, the colonized bacteria are capable of destroying 90 to 95% of the bacteria in the water poured through it.” The supplies necessary for the production of such slowsand filters as described above are all found in Rwanda, and the construction requires no electricity. The households that utilize the filters are taught how and required to take part in building the filter they will depend on, empowering them to be self-sufficient and address their own needs. Masaka, Rwanda may be 7,602 miles away from West Michigan, but we West Michigan residents have the ability to help the Rwandans in an incredible way by contributing to the efforts of this West Michigan based organization. As 20 liters says, “For the price of a couple CDs, two movie tickets, or a few cups of coffee, [$20] you could create access to clean water for one person for up ten years.” As previously mentioned $140 buys a Slow-Sand Filter, which can serve up to 25 people and $3,200 buys a Rainwater Harvesting System, which can serve up to 500 people during the rainy season. An entire village could be provided with access to clean water for just $8,000. Donating money to 20 Liters gives people access to a vital resource that we take advantage of every day. Donations can be made online at 20liters.org, by text (text 20Liters to 85944 to give a $10 donation, reply yes to
confirm) or by mailing a check made out to 20 Liters to 3501 Fairlanes Ave SW Grandville, MI 49418. You can also stop in to Clique Coffee Bar located at 1600 East Beltline Ave Suite 118 in Grand Rapids where their tips are frequently donated directly to 20 Liters. You can also participate in the 7th annual Walk for Water. The event started with a little girl with a big heart that was having a birthday party and instead of getting gifts, she asked to use her birthday to raise a small amount of money to help others gain access to clean water. This year the Walk for Water will take place on April 27, 2013 at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids. Mucci said, “Our goal in the experience is to give everybody a chance to do, one day out of each year, what 731 million people of the world have to do each day. You bring an empty container, walk to a water source, fill the container, bring the water back, filter it and drink it. It’s a tangible experience for people to grasp the concept.” Register online at 20liters.org to take part in the 2013 Walk for Water. To date, 20 Liters has provided clean water to over 18,000 people in Masaka, Rwanda and is expanding their program to include a plan to provide clean water to over 87,000 people in Rwanda by 2015. At the conclusion of this three year plan, 20 Liters will have expanded into four new sectors along the Nyabarongo River including Gahanga, Ntarama, Mwogo and Juru. This progress will be made possible by the invention of “SAM”. SAM combines the slow-sand filtration method with a .2 micron fiber filter, making a water filtration system that is both cheaper and easier to build. That being said, SAM allows for more filters in less time for less money. 20 Liters notes, “SAM 2’s feature the same concept of 2-stage filtering, but are larger highcapacity models, which cost $2000 per unit (for materials, training, and on-going follow-up) and are able to provide clean water for approximately 400 people for 10 years. SAM 3’s then are smaller versions of this same model that will be placed in households for a single family’s use. Each of these filters costs approximately $100 for materials, training, and follow-up.” With this new system and donations to the organization, 20 Liters will be able to provide clean water to 73,500 people in just three years. The next time you get a glass of water at the sink, take a shower, wash your hands, water your lawn, wash your dishes or use water in any other way, consider what life would be like without access to that clean water. One in eight people do not have access to clean water—that is 12.5% of the world, and we often do not even give our water or its source a second thought. Visit 20liters.org for more information and for details on how to get involved and/or donate. Also, join 20 Liters on World Water day on March 22nd for a free screening of Last Call at the Oasis at the Wealthy Theatre. Amanda Merritt is a recent graduate of Cornerstone University with a degree in Communication Arts and Journalism/Public Relations. You can contact her at mandi.merritt@hotmail.com. natural awakenings
March 2013
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All Month Long Spiral Tradition Spring Detox - Traditional Naturopath Vanessa Allen and Natural Healer Cody Westendorf are offering a 5 weekend guided experience in detoxing, juice fasting and long term integration. Cost is $729. $200 deposit due at registration. Full payment due March 18th. Vanessa Allen: 231–571–7724 or Vanessa@spiraltradition. com with questions or to register. For info visit www.SpiralTradition.com.
Saturday, March 2
Backyard Sugarin’: Processing Maple Syrup Workshop- 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Want to make some LOCAL maple syrup? Come learn the entire process of harvesting, processing and enjoying Michigan syrup. Lunch provided. Costs $40 members/ $48 nonmembers. Adult and Teens only please. Space is limited to 15 people. RSVP 616-735-6240. Grand Rapids. Bija Prenatal Yoga- 12:00-1:15pm. There are many benefits of practicing yoga during pregnancy including increased body awareness, strength, and spinal alignment. Please join us as you and your baby move into fullness! $10. Call 616-935-7028 or visit OnThePathYoga.com. 617 E. Savidge Ste A, Spring Lake.
Monday, March 4
Story Time Hike: Sugarbush- 2:00-3:30 pm. Learn about sugarbush through a squirrel’s perspective through a puppet show. After, go on a short hike to discover what comes out of these special trees. Program for age’s birth to 7 years old. $5 Members, $6 Non-members Limit 30 people. RSVP 616-7356240. Grand Rapids. Guided Meditation and Healing Circle - 7:45-8:45 pm. Escape from stress and discover an inner world of calm, peace & joy through guided meditation, and energy healing from Healing in America-trained healers. $5. Satya Yoga, 133 Butler St., Saugatuck. 269-929-6796
Tuesday, March 5
WMEAC Film Series: Seeds of Freedom- 6:009:00pm. Seeds of Freedom documents the impacts of the industrial agricultural system on world biodiversity, cultural traditions and practices, and livelihoods. At Grand Rapids Public Museum, 72 Pearl St NW, Grand Rapids. Improving Academic Performance- 7:00pm. Stress management expert Elle Ingalls shares her simple steps to reduce test anxiety and improve academic performance in a free one-hour talk. Middle school students - adults. 269-832-3573 or email elle@Pressure-Free.com to reserve seats. Free. Greencrest Manor, 6174 Halbert Road, Battle Creek.
Wednesday, March 6
Guided Meditation and Healing Circle - 7:00-8:00 pm. Escape from stress and discover an inner world of calm, peace & joy through guided meditation, and energy healing from Healing in America-trained healers. $5 donation. Holistic Care Approach, 3368 Beltline Ct., NE, Grand Rapids.
Eckhart Tolle Evening Meditation Group – 7:008:00pm. Join us for stillness and silent meditation, and explore the teachings of Eckhart Tolle through a video - facilitated by Paul Schroeder. Free. Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE; Grand Rapids.
Thursday, March 7
Trigger Point Massage- 6:00pm. Dr. Michael Kwast, DC, CSCS is presenting on Trigger Point Massage. Workshop participants will learn what a trigger point is, what causes them, how to prevent them, how to get rid of them. 4150 East Beltline, Grand Rapids. Limited to first 30 callers. RSVP to 616-447-9888.
Friday, March 8
West Michigan Women’s Expo- 10-8 (Fri); 10-6 (Sat); 11-5 (Sun). Features exhibits and seminars on healthcare, finance, food, vacation/travel, fashion, jewelry, weight loss, home remodeling and improvements, beauty, fitness, and on-site spa services. Open to the public. Tickets at the door. For information or to exhibit, call 616-532-8833 or visit www. kohlerexpo.com. Grand Rapids. Restorative Yoga w/ Jessica Roodvoets- 6:308:00pm. Let go and enjoy supported poses that deepen relaxation and restore energy. Pre-register $18, $25 at the door. Expressions of Grace Yoga, 5270 Northland Dr NE, Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.
Saturday, March 9
Spring Bridal Show of West Michigan- 10:00 am-5:00 pm (Saturday), 11:00 am-5:00 pm (Sunday). Save time and money with one-stop wedding planning and shopping all under one roof. Visit our website www.kohlerexpo.com and enter for a chance to win $100. Tickets at the door. DeVos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids. Sugarbush Festival- 9:00 am-5:00 pm. Come join us for our annual Sugarbush Festival. Let’s celebrate the first local harvest- Maple Syrup. See our website for more details: www.blandfordnaturecenter.org. Come one, come all. No need to RSVP. $5 Members, $6 Non-members. Grand Rapids.
Sunday, March 10
Healthy Feet & Happy Bodies- 3:00-5:00pm. Learn how your feet affect and reflect your daily postural habits and overall health through alignment principles and Reflexology. Discover the sources of foot pain as well as techniques for relief. $25. Register online at OnThePathYoga.com or call 616-935-7028. 617 E. Savidge Ste A, Spring Lake.
Wednesday, March 13
Eckhart Tolle Meditation Group 12:00-1:00pm. Take time out for peace in your busy life. Join facilitator Patrick Duiven for silent meditation followed by an Eckhart Tolle DVD. This group is very informal and newcomers are always welcome. Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain Street NE; Grand Rapids. Toxic Ingredient Makeover- 5:30-6:45pm. Want to detox your skin care regime? Join us for this fun &
informative workshop where you’ll learn about the good, the bad, and the ugly ingredients in cosmetics we use daily! Registration fee $10, required by March 6. 616-419-8115. Sérendipité Organiques, 944 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids.
Friday, March 15
Stress-Free Wellness Retreat- 7:00-10:00pm. Experience Pressure-Free Living’s full course with founder Elle Ingalls. She shares her fast, simple method to stop the release of stress hormones and free your mind and body for optimal health and performance. Register at www.Pressure-Free.com or call 269-832-3573. $297. Greencrest Manor, 6174 Halbert Road, Battle Creek.
Saturday, March 16
Sustainability Conference- 8:30-4:00pm. Conference will address current environmental issues that are relevant to everyone. The conference will explore ways that individuals, organizations, and communities are working to build a more sustainable future. $40/ Members, $50/Non-Members, $20/ Students. To register visit cedarcreekinstitute.org or call 269-721-4190. Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, 701 West Cloverdale Rd in Hastings. Stress-Free Wellness Retreat- 9:00-2:00pm. Experience Pressure-Free Living’s full course with founder Elle Ingalls. She shares her fast, simple method to stop the release of stress hormones and free your mind and body for optimal health and performance. Register at www.Pressure-Free.com or call 269-832-3573. $297. Greencrest Manor, 6174 Halbert Road, Battle Creek. Medicine Cabinet Makeover- 11:00am. This FREE class will empower you to take charge of your healthcare with self- directed medicinal oils that you can utilize everyday to improve your body’s chemistry and natural defenses. Zyto scan offered before class. Free. Call 616-634-8500 to register. Serenity4Life, 944 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids. Yoga for Men w/ Brent Doornbos- 6:30-8:30pm. Join Brent for a energetic class that focuses on a practice designed specifically for men. Pre-register $18, $25 at the door. Expressions of Grace Yoga, 5270 Northland Dr NE, Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.
Monday, March 18
Heavenly Healings Holistic Health Services Open House – 4:00-6:00pm.Come share and learn about Young Living Essential Oils, my services and classes. Come sample products & services. It is a free event. Call Jodi with any questions @ 616-4434225 or email heavenlyhealings@yahoo.com. 4434 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids.
Tuesday, March 19
Urban Homesteading- 7:00-8:30 pm. Small area, big results. The Beerhorst family takes their talents beyond the arts and music, right to their backyard. They will discuss their experience and success with backyard food production in their own urban lot. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church 134 N. Division, Grand Rapids. Improving Athletic Performance- 7:00pm. Performance coach Elle Ingalls gives fast, easy-to-learn tips on optimizing your athletic performance and boosting your immune system for greater health in a free one-hour talk. Call 269-832-3573 or email
natural awakenings
March 2013
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elle@Pressure-Free.com to reserve seats. Free. Greencrest Manor, 6174 Halbert Road, Battle Creek.
Thursday, March 21
to help kids find focus and develop positive body awareness. $10. Reservations recommended; call 616-935-7028. 617 E. Savidge Ste A, Spring Lake.
Spring Equinox Celebration- 6:00-7:30 pm. Bring the family out to celebrate the change in the seasons. Learn what makes the season change, make a spring craft and play a game that imitates animal behaviors. All ages welcome. $5 members/ $6 non-members. Limit to 30 participants. RSVP 616-735-6240. Grand Rapids.
Tuesday, March 26
Friday, March 22
Yoga and the Martial Arts with Mike Hardenburgh- 6:30-9:00pm. Explore the intertwined histories of these two practices. Pre-register $20, $25 at the door. Expressions of Grace Yoga, 5270 Northland Dr NE, Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.
Restore Your Body’s Balance- 7:00-8:15pm. Want to restore your body to a state of health? Learn about the importance of bioavailability, and the science of Biomimicry. Registration fee $10, required by March 19th. 616-419-8115. Sérendipité Organiques, 944 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids.
Saturday, March 23
Wednesday, March 27
Toxic Ingredient Makeover- 5:30-6:45pm. Want to detox your skin care regime? Join us for this fun & informative workshop where you’ll learn about the good, the bad, and the ugly ingredients in cosmetics we use daily! Registration fee $10, required by March 19. 616-419-8115. Sérendipité Organiques, 944 Cherry St SE, Grand Rapids.
Reiki I & II Class- 9:00-5:00pm. Become attuned and learn how to give treatment to self and others. $200 includes manual and the $50 deposit required to register. 8 CE Hours. Call Jodi at 616-443-4225 to register or email heavenlyhealings@yahoo.com. 4434 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids.
Essentials Oil Basics- 5:30-6:30pm. Ever wonder about the benefits of Essential Oils? Learn how to get started on your path towards wellness. Registration fee $10, required by March 20th. 616419-8115. Sérendipité Organiques, 944 Cherry St. Grand Rapids.
Healthseekers Free Class- 10:30-11:30am. There is a high level of vitality and healing beyond the absence of pain. Find out how homeopathy & chiropractic are a perfect fit, restoring balance & optimizing functioning of your entire system down to the cellular--and vibrational--level. www.angeltouchfamilychiropractic.com. 231-670-0179. Muskegon.
Reiki Share- 6:30-8:30pm. Come share & learn about Reiki. Open to all that care to share Reiki, and those who would like to try receiving Reiki. No charge - donations are welcome. Call or email if questions – 616-443-4225 or heavenlyhealings@ yahoo.com. 4434 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids.
Spring Cleanse Workshop- 1:00-5:00pm. Spring cleaning isn’t just about windows; learn the benefits of whole body cleansing with Anne VanderHoek, Naturopathic Therapist. She will discuss 3 different types of cleanses and the importance of working with a knowledgeable therapist. $35; call 616-4020268 RSVP. 617 E. Savidge Ste A, Spring Lake.
Thursday, March 28
Two Part Workshop * Basic Soul Age Characteristics & Life Themes- Guest Reverand Laura MacLachlan presents a two part workshop, “Basic Soul Age Characteristics” and “Life Themes – Why You Are Who You Are”, $25. Following the workshop from 2pm - 5pm Rev Laura provides 30 minute psychic readings, $50. Register today 616-531-1339. info@thecopticcenter.org Intro to the Shamanic Journey with Andrew Groggel- 6:30-9:00pm. We will cover a basic introduction to shamanism, learn the ‘basics’ of the shamanic journey, share sacred space together and have the chance to go on 2 or 3 journeys while listening to live drumming. $30. Expressions of Grace Yoga, 5270 Northland Dr NE, Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580.
Sunday, March 24
Essential Oil Training: I (Basic)- 10:00am12:00pm & II (Everyday Oils) at 12-2 pm & III (Raindrop) at 2:30-4:30 pm. Learn the basics of the benefits and uses of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. $25 per class includes class materials & pre-registration required. 6 CE Hours. Call Jodi at 616-443-4225 or heavenlyhealings@yahoo.com. 4434 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids. Zoo Zen Yoga for Kids- 2:00-3:00pm. A class designed for kids aged 5-10 to learn about healthy, non-competitive physical movement. Yoga is known
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Human Placenta Services--How, Why, WOW! - 6:30pm. Pregnant? Know someone who is? This class will present an entertaining and informative look at the human placenta: How it’s formed, why it’s essential to fetal growth and WOW--women use it for WHAT! $5/ includes two of our hand-made herbal products. Seating is limited; RSVP-616-8215266. Faith Works, 806 W. State Street, Stanton.
Saturday, March 30
Healthseekers Free Class- 10:30-11:30am. There is a high level of vitality and healing beyond the absence of pain. Find out how homeopathy & chiropractic are a perfect fit, restoring balance & optimizing functioning of your entire system down to the cellular--and vibrational--level. www.angeltouchfamilychiropractic.com. 231-670-0179. Muskegon. Yin Yoga & Yoga Nidra at Expressions of Grace Yoga with Brent Doornbos & Jessica Roodvoets6:00-8:00pm. An evening of quiet practice and meditation. Yin Yoga focuses on holding asanas in a relaxed manner in order to stretch connective tissues and enhance meditation. $30. www.expressionsofgraceyoga.com. 5270 Northland Dr. NE, Grand Rapids. 616-361-8580
Sunday, March 31
Easter message from Mata Yoganandaji and Satsanga- 10:15am. We warmly welcome everyone to join us ~ sharing in Song~Chants, inspired thoughts, and Mataji’s Message and Blessing, followed by Pure Meditation for as long as you wish. These are such beautiful times with many deep healings, please feel free to tell others. Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre, 7187 Drumheller Rd, Bath.
NaturalWestMichigan.com
savethedate Save The Date Events - Must be submitted online each month at NaturalWestMichigan. com. Events priced $80 or above require a corresponding display ad. There is a $45 charge per listing, up to 50 words. If you are a current advertiser, distribution site or non-profit you just use this listing in place of one of your free listings for a $25 charge.
savethedate April 12-14 Reversing Diabetes - Includes book, weekend accommodations, “classroom” sessions, cooking classes, all meals and written materials for $395. Held at the Arundel Mansion in South Haven, Michigan (@2 hour drive from Chicago). Call Jill for more information 269-906-2226.
savethedate April 12-21 10 Day “Detoxing” Week - 10 days of “clean” foods, smoothies, fresh veggies, raw soups, etc. Includes book, weekend accommodations, “classroom” sessions, cooking classes, all meals and written materials, DVD, group sessions and day passes to our 8 million dollar Wellness Facility. Held at the Arundel Mansion in South Haven, Michigan. Call Jill for information 269-906-2226.
savethedate April 19-21 The Cancer Project: Cancer Prevention and Survival - $395 Includes book, weekend accommodations, “classroom” sessions, cooking classes, all meals and written materials. Held at the Arundel Mansion in South Haven, Michigan. Call Jill for more information 269906-2226.
savethedate May 4 Makeup Fearlessly with Sappho Organic Cosmetics - 11:00-5:00pm. Free Toxic Free Makeover Fun was had by everyone who attended the February event, and this one promises to be even better with Steve from Sappho in attendance. Call Teri at Sérendipité Organiques 616-419-8115 to RSVP. Sérendipité Organiques, 944 Cherry St SE Grand Rapids.
This world is but a canvas to our imagination. —Henry David Thoreau
ongoingevents Note: Visit www.NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. Events must be re-submitted each month by the 15th of the month. Events subject to change, please call ahead.
Oils Classes- 6:30-8:00 pm. Every 3rd Thursday with Barb Huttinga. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.
Sunday
Teachings of the Sweet Medicine Sundance Path w/ Marie Moon Star Seeker. $10. Owl Hawk Clan. Open Mind in Rockford. 616-447-0128.
Passage Meditation as Taught by Eknath Easwaran- 7:00pm. Meditation can be used within each person’s own cultural & religious background to relieve stress, heal relationships, release deeper resources and realize one’s highest potential. 616636-4023 www.easwaran.org. Unity of Grand Rapids. 1711 Walker Ave NW, Grand Rapids.
Sunday Worship and Youth Services- 10:30am. Variety of classes held weekly. A warm, welcoming, New Thought, spiritual community, inclusive and accepting of all, honoring diversity, for those seeking spiritual truth. 1711 Walker Ave. NW, Grand Rapids. www.unityofgrandrapids.org
Mystic Angel Classes- 7:00-8:30 pm. With Denise Iwanwi. $15.00. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.
Friday
Wednesday
Village Farmers Market- 1:00-7:00 pm. Buy fresh & local from producers that utilize organic farming practices -eggs, meats, cheese, fruits & vegetables, organic Michigan milk and more. Please visit us on Facebook. Spring Lake. 616-935-7312.
Intro Class- 4:00-5:30pm. 90 minute class. Not sure if pole dancing is for you? “Test the waters” before signing up for our 8 week sessions. Visit www.flirtfitnessgr.com to reserve your spot! $30. Flirt Fitness, 415 Norwood St, Grand Rapids. 616-723-7350. The Coptic Center Sunday Series- 6:00pm. An ongoing series of inspirational speakers, centering and music as we explore of Universal Truths. See www. TheCopticCenter.org for complete listing of events. O-381 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids. Inspiring Talk by Mata Yogananda- 7:00pm. Spiritual Talk, Pure Meditation & Silent Prayer, with Winged Prayer ~ for all in need at 9pm. We welcome all. Please come and stay as long as you wish. Self Realization Meditation Healing Centre, 7187 Drumheller Rd, Bath.
Monday $30 Off BioMeridian Assessments- State-of-the-art profiling and tracking of all 58 meridians in the body with take-home computer generated results to assess progress. Grand Rapids. 616-365-9176. Visit Integrativenutritionaltherapies.com for more info.
Tuesday Gentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman- 7:459:00 am & 9:15-10:30 am. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for more information. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St. Montague. 231-740-6662. On Being a Spirit having a Physical Experience6:30 pm. 2nd & 4th Tuesdays. From the Shamanic
$30 Off BioMeridian Assessments- State-of-the-art profiling and tracking of all 58 meridians in the body with take-home computer generated results to assess progress. Grand Rapids. 616-365-9176. Visit Integrativenutritionaltherapies.com for more info. A Course in Miracles Class- 6:00-8:00 pm. With Cindy Barry. Free will offering. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. 989-352-6500. Metta: The Practice of Lovingkindness – 7:008:30pm. 3rd Wednesday of March, April & May. Janice Lynne Lundy will facilitate. Sessions will have a brief teaching, a 25-minute meditation session, Q & A and socializing. $10. Call to register 616-643-0373. Dominican Center at Marywood, 2025 Fulton Street East, Grand Rapids. The Practice of “A Course In Miracles”- 7:008:30 pm. Learn “miracle-mindedness”, the Course’s simple method of opening to and sharing love. Happier relationships, joy and peace result. Free. Fountain Street Church, Grand Rapids. 616-458-5095.
Thursday Chair Yoga- 4:00-5:00pm. 2nd Thurs of March, April, May, June & Aug. Chair Yoga is a safe and supportive class where you will gently move your body using a chair to help you cultivate flexibility, strength, and balance. $10. Dominican Center at Marywood, 2025 Fulton Street East, Grand Rapids. Spiritual Classes- 6:00-7:30 pm. Astrology, numerology, tarot, etc with Gail Brumeister. $15.00. The Healing Center. Lakeview. TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com. 989-352-6500.
Saturday Gentle Hatha Yoga with Mitch Coleman – 9:0010:15 am & 10:30-11:45 am. Drop-ins welcome. Visit WhiteRiverYoga.com for info. Classes meet at White River Yoga Studio. Montague. 231-740-6662. Sweetwater Local Foods Market- 9:00 am-1:00 pm. Hackley Health at the Lakes building on Harvey Street. We are indoors if the weather is bad. We are a double up bucks and bridge card market. Hesperia. 231-861-2234. Intro Class- 12:30-2:00pm. 90 minute intro pole dancing class. Not sure if pole dancing is for you? This class gives you a chance to test the waters! $30. Flirt Fitness, 415 Norwood St, Grand Rapids. 616-723-7350.
Get people back into the kitchen and combat the trend toward processed food and fast food. —Dr. Andrew Weil
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thenaturaldirectory ...connecting you to the leaders in natural health and green living in West Michigan. To find out how you can be included in The Natural Directory log-on to www.NaturalWestMichigan.com/advertising.
BODY CARE PRODUCTS
WHOLISTIC KINESIOLOGY HEALTH SERVICES, LLC Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 www.WKHealthServices.com
MOONDROP HERBALS, LLC Cottage of Natural Elements 351 Cummings NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534 616-735-1285 www.MoondropHerbals.com
•Body & Comfort Care products made naturally since 1998 •Essential Oil Blending & Consulting •Bulk herbs, oils, etc. by the ounce •Candles, Spa accessories, Unique gifts •Reference Library •Practitioner discounts •Workspace Rental & Consignment. See ad page 6.
SÉRENDIPITÉ ORGANIQUES, LLC Teri Kelley- Owner 944 Cherry St SE Grand Rapids, 49506 616-419-8115 www.serendipiteorganiques.com
The only retail location in Michigan to exclusively carry organic, non-toxic products scoring ‘Low Hazard, 0-2’ on ewg.org/ skindeep! Product lines are Zum Clean, Face Naturals, Rejuva Minerals Makeup, Elemental Herbs Sunscreen, and Sappho Organic Cosmetics. See ad page 26.
BODYWORK LIGHTRAYS
CranioSacral Therapy (CST)/Reiki Master Jamie VanDam 4456 Miramar Ave. NE Grand Rapids, 49525 616-365-9113
CST is a gentle noninvasive form of body work that addresses the bones of the head, spinal column and sacrum. The goal is to release compression in these areas which alleviate pain and stress.
Certified Massage Therapist offering Therapeutic, Hot Stone & Matrix Massage. Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist, Certified Matrix Energetics Practitioner, Reconnection Healing Practitioner, Certified Herbalist, Certified Acutonics Practitioner, and a Certified Reflexologist. See ad page 19.
BUILDING / CONSTRUCTION DLH CONCEPTS
Kyle Hass Licensed Residential Home Builder dlhconcepts@gmail.com 616-299-5815
Locally owned and operated. Specializing in building quality livable and affordable new homes that are Energy Efficient and utilize Green Building practices. Unmatched efficiencies and uncompromising quality. Call today for a fee quote.
chiropractic care DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Ronda VanderWall 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville 616-531-6050 www.DynamicChiro.com
Family owned and operated in the heart of downtown Grandville, Dynamic Family Chiropractic focuses on lifestyle improvements through living a maximized life. A safe and natural approach to health through the combination of exercise, nutrition, detoxification and chiropractic care.
GASLIGHT FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC 2249 Wealthy St. SE, Suite #240 East Grand Rapids, 49506 616-458-CFIT (2348) GaslightChiro@gmail.com www.GaslightChiro.com
Look for this symbol throughout Natural Awakenings for Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) providers offering savings to NAN members.
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Experience an individualized, holistic healthcare approach! We combine spinal adjustments, Contact Reflex & Nutrition Response (Muscle Testing), Whole Food Supplementation Orthotics, Massage & Aromatherapy. Common conditions we see include: Chronic Fatigue, Headaches, IBS, Back & Neck pain and Fibromyalgia.
NaturalWestMichigan.com
SCHAFER CHIROPRACTIC AND HEALING SPA
Dr. Andrew Schafer 1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-301-3000 Tr e a t i n g m u s c u l o s k e l e t a l conditions, but specializing in b ac k p a in , n eck p ain , a n d headaches. Also offering physical therapy, massage therapy, and postural awareness. Most insurances accepted. Breton Village area. www.grchirospa. com. See ad pages 21 & 31.
cleaning pRoDucts NATURAL HEALTH 4 TODAY, LLC
Clara VanderZouwen, NORWEX Consultant 616-698-6148 claravz@sbcglobal.net www.NaturalHealth4Today.com Imagine cleaning with only water! Improve the quality of your life with Norwex products by radically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning. Save Time & Money.
cOlon hydrotherapy HARMONY ’N HEALTH
Mary De Lange, CCT., CMT. 1003 Maryland Av., N.E. Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 www.harmonynhealth.net Certified therapist since 1991 offering colon therapy in a sterile and professional environment. Using a holistic approach colonics relieve constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloat, poor digestion, back pain, body odor and more. See ad page 7.
TRICIA E. GOSLING
Natural Health & Healing Center 723 Kenmoor SE Grand Rapids 49546 616-481-9074 www.holisticenergytherapies.net Offering an advanced clientcentered dimension of colonics: gentle, safe and effective. Eliminate toxins and enhance well-being. 16 years of experience. Also offering Quantum Biofeedback sessions. I-ACT certified Instructor.
dentistry / holistic DENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER
Dr. Kevin P. Flood DDS 616-974-4990 www.FloodTheDentist.com Comprehensive Holistic Dental Services – Amalgam Removal & Replacement. Bio-Compatible, metal-free materials, Low-Dose Digital X-Rays, Gentle Anesthesia, Dentistry for Diabetes, TMJ, Chronic Head & Neck pain and Non Surgical Perio. See ad page 48.
HEAVENLY HEALINGS HOLISTIC HEALTH SERVICES
HEALTH HUTT
Grand Haven 616-846-3026 Muskegon 231-739-1568 North Muskegon 231-744-0852 www.HealthHutt.net
Jodi Jenks - Reiki Master 4434 Knapp St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 www.heavenlyhealings.org
I am a Reiki Master that also does Essential Oil therapies including Raindrop Therapy, Emotional Clearing and Spiritual Journey work. Call or email for appointments or questions, 616-443-4225 or heavenlyhealings@yahoo.com. See ad page 7.
AMA~DEUS®
Elizabeth Cosmos Grand Rapids: 616-648-3354 elizabethcosmos@sbcglobal.net www.ama-deus-international.com
Ama Deus® healing energy method is a hand mediated technique aligned with love. The energy helps to enhance one’s own and others growth and awareness or physical and emotional healing. See ad page 47.
MATRIX ENERGETICS
Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 www.WKHealthServices.com Matrix Energetics is a system used to heal, transform and create new possibilities in your life. Using the principles of quantum physics and subtle e n e rg y d u r i n g a M a t r i x Energetics session we are able to enter into different realties and download new possibilities for your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual selves. See ad page 19.
essential oils BE YOUNG ESSENTIAL OILS Clara VanderZouwen 616-698-6148 claravz@sbcglobal.net www.NaturalHealth4Today.com
Learn how to address issues of Pain, Stress, Hormone Imbalance, Weight Management, ADD, Allergies, Diabetes & more with Essential Oils, Ionic Foot Baths, BioEnergy scans, Nutritional & NEW Earthing products! Free monthly classes.
holistic health centers THE HEALING CENTER
Bob Huttinga PA-C & Rev. Barbara Huttinga 332 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview 989-352-6500 www.TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com
HAKOMI THERAPY KEN PORTER CST, CHT
energy healing
Natural & organic foods, vitamins & herbs, sports nutrition, gluten free food, natural body and homecare products. Open 7 days a week. See ad page 19.
534 Fountain NE Grand Rapids MI 49503 616-262-3848 www.BodyandSoulGR.com
Hakomi Therapy can truly change your life. It’s a mindfulnessbased, experiential therapy for transforming the unconscious patterns that keep you from the love, joy, and fulfillment you deserve. Offered with exquisite care and attentiveness.
health education center THE WELLNESS FORUM
Affordable, natural approach to better health. Certified nutritional consultant with 22 years experience. Offering select, high quality vitamins, minerals, herbs, children’s products, essential oils, homeopathics, weight loss and more. Professional discounts and senior pricing. www.affordablenutrition.com. See ad in page 25.
WEST MICHIGAN PAIN MANAGEMENT THERAPY CENTER P.L.L.C. Herbert Schlichting M.S., CPT., OPT. 6745 E. Fulton, Suite A, Ada 616-706-6132 wmpmtc@gmail.com
4990 Cascade Road, Grand Rapids 616-430-2291 www.WellnessForum.com Educational programs for personal health improvement - Workplace wellness programs - Wellness Forum Foundation focused on school nutrition and children’s health - National conferences.
health food stores
We offer various neuromuscular therapy treatments pertaining to acute or chronic condition. We o f f e r p h y s i c a l f i t n e s s training in our own facility. Our focus is to eliminate pain while educating patients own ways to prevent injuries.
homeopathy
AFFORDABLE NUTRITION
Joel D. Manning, CNC®, Owner 4693 Wilson Ave. SW Suite 1, Grandville 616-667-1346 Joel@Affordable-Nutrition.com
BOB HUTTINGA PA-C
332 S. Lincoln Ave, Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com
Affordable, natural approach to better health. Certified nutritional consultant with 22 years experience. Offering select, high quality vitamins, minerals, herbs, children’s products, essential oils, homeopathics, weight loss and more. Professional discounts and senior pricing. www.affordable-nutrition.com.
A Certified Physician Assistant since 1976, specializing in naturopathic and homeopathic care, ApoE Gene Diet and Family care. Also, certified Silva Method instructor. We take most insurances. See ad page 25.
Look for this symbol throughout Natural Awakenings for Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) providers offering savings to NAN members. natural awakenings
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insurance HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS TEAM Rachael Larabel 616-329-6178 rlarabel@aplanforeveryone.com www.aplanforeveryone.com
HANDS ON HEALING PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE THERAPY LLC Pattie Kooy, CMMT, CMT, HTP 5286 Plainfield NE Plainfield Twp, MI 49525 616-648-7217
Professional massage therapist offering Medical Massage, Manual Therapy, Hot Stone, Healing Touch Therapy, Essential Oils, Infrared heat lamp, Bio-energetic Therapy, Hot castor oil packs, Chinese herbal liniments & Detox Massage. Mention ad for $10 off hour massage.
Local independent agent representing providers of dental, health, and accident insurance for individuals and small business. Products are compliant with healthcare reform, offer free preventive care, and dental benefits with no waiting period.
interior design services ALIGn DESIGN, llc
Shawn Merkel, ASID, IIDA 616-916-1071 shawnmerk@gmail.com www.Aligndesigngr.com
HARMONY ‘N HEALTH
Mary De Lange, CCT., CMT. 1003 Maryland Ave NE, Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 www.harmonynhealth.net Over 21 years of professional experience and trained in a complete range of modalities. Whether you are seeking relaxation, renewal, or treatment for a specific condition, Mary will help find an approach that is helpful for you. See ad page 7.
Align your space to be a true reflection of who you are. Specializing in Wholistic design, repurposing and Feng Shui. Full service Residential and commercial Interior design. See ad page 20.
SCHAFER CHIROPRACTIC AND HEALING SPA
kinesiology
Sheri Beth Schafer, CMT, Ayurvedic Bodyworker, Reiki Master 1801 Breton SE Grand Rapids, MI 49506 616-301-3000
WHOLISTIC KINESIOLOGY HEALTH SERVICES, LLC Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 www.WKHealthServices.com
Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist, Certified Matrix E n e rg e t i c s P r a c t i t i o n e r, Certified Massage Therapist, Reconnection Healing Practitioner, Certified Herbalist, Certified Acutonics Practitioner and Certified Reflexologist. Specializing in muscle testing, massage, energy medicine, nutritional counseling, lectures and classes. See ad page 19.
massage therapy DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & MASSAGE THERAPY
We have multiple certified massage therapists offering relaxation, prenatal, deep tissue massage, and medical massage. We also offer Reiki, chakra balancing, and Ayurvedic bodywork. Breton Village area. www.grchirospa. com. See ad page 21 & 31.
meditation BJORN ATRI WILLOBEE
Grand Rapids, MI 801-557-2723 atri@thebrightpath.com www.meditationmichigan.com
Jaci Timmermans, MT 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville, MI 49418 616-531-6050 I offer Swedish massage with Integrated Te c h n i q u e s , c h o s e n specifically to your unique body. Relieve those tired and sore muscles and rejuvenate! Call for ongoing monthly specials and discounts. www. DynamicChiro.com
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NaturalWestMichigan.com
Experience simple, effortless techniques that allow you to move into a direct experience of inner peace, happiness and clear mental chatter with our free meditation meet up groups. Personal coaching, courses and weekend workshops available.
midwifery FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY SERVICE, INC. Patrice Bobier CPM Hesperia: 231-861-2234 www.FullCircleMidwifery.com
In private practice since 1982 specializing in homebirth. Over 1200 births attended. Offering midwifery care that maintains a family-centered safe birth experience. Empowering women to stay healthy during pregnancy, give birth naturally and parent in the best ways.
NATUROPATHY
SPIRAL TRADITION NATUROPATHIC WELLNESS
Vanessa Allen, Traditional Naturopath 231-571-7724 Vanessa@SpiralTradition.com www.SpiralTradition.com
Naturopathic Consults, Herbal Medicine, Client Centered Massage, Therapeutic Energy Wo r k , D i g e s t i v e H e a l t h , Nutritional Counseling, Primary Care, Child and Baby Wellness, Classes, Cleanses and Workshops. Muskegon/Grand Haven area. “Heal Thy Self – Heal Thy World”. See ad page 13.
salon services CJ’S STUDIO SALON
5286 Plainfield Ave., NE Grand Rapids 49525 616-364-9191 www.CjsStudioSalon.com
I am an award winning Hair Stylist with 30 years Advanced Education. We use and sell Organic Hair Care Products, including Organic Hair Color. We also offer Ionic Detox Foot Baths.
school / education INSTITUTE OF SANATIVE ARTS
0-11279 Tallmadge Woods Dr., Grand Rapids, MI 49534 616-791-0472 Sanative.isa@sbcglobal.net www.sanativetranquility.com State licensed school for massage and bodywork. High quality, affordable 6 month certification course with small class sizes. NCBTMB CE courses in Bamboo-Fusion®, cupping and more. Convenient to Grand Rapids, Standale, Walker and Allendale areas.
NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION
195 calories
• NON-DAIRY • 10g PROTEIN • 100% NATURAL • GLUTEN-FREE INGREDIENTS
503 E. Broadway St Mt. Pleasant, MI. 48858 989-773-1714 www.nite-mtp.com
Educational Programs: Natural Health 1-4 Years (one weekend per month), Holistic Labor Companion – Doula 6 months (1 weekend per month), Massage Therapy 1 Year (2 weekends per month), Individual Classes available. Over 15 years of excellence. See ad page 2.
sPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION PRACTICAL PEACE
Elizabeth Beau elizabethbeau55@gmail.com www.14inchestopeace.com
Practical Peace is a catalyst for Spiritual Transformation. We offer weekend classes to help you move from ego-consciousness to Spiritual Awareness to become a more authentic “you”. For more information contact Barbra at barbra14peace@gmail.com.
classifieds To place a Classified Listing: Email listing to Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com. Must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publication. $1.00 per word; must be pre-paid.
CLASSES Energy Healings and Training, Reiki & Urevia Healings/Classes - held near Hastings at Subtle Energies w/ Ken & Dana Gray. Learn a variety of techniques that can heal your life. Reiki I & Urevia Practitioner classes are eligible for NAN 20% discount. Visit www.reikiconnect.com for more information.
YUM!
NOW IN THREE FLAVORS
Find them at 100+ local retailers like Harvest Health, Health Hutt, Earth’s Edge, The Orchard Markets, all WESCO gas stations and all 197 MEIJER locations! *growing list of retailers found on our website:
EcoTrekBars.com
FOR SALE Hardy Dam/Muskegon River near - 80 acres, 6 bedroom home, outbuildings; garage, barn. Fishing and hunting area. Robb Breen: 1-231-327-1147. robbreen@sbcglobal.net Northwest Grand Rapids Commercial Building1058 Richmond NW, Grand Rapids, MI. Current use is a full service salon on the main floor and a spacious 3 bedroom apartment on the 2nd floor. Great location on Richmond with steady traffic and across from the popular Richmond Park. Only $150,000! Call Jeff Blahnik at Five Star Real Estate 616-791-1500 or visit JeffBlahnik. com for more information.
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NaturalWestMichigan.com