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December 2016 | West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com natural awakenings
December 2016
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A V OYA G E TO W E L L - B E I NG
MARCH 11 - 18, 2017
Join our 14th annual Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise for 7 nights on the luxurious MSC Divina, one of the most ecologically-friendly and elegant cruise liners on the seas. Bask in gracious Italian hospitality and service all while enjoying inspiring lectures and vegan natural foods prepared by our own chefs. Departing from Miami, FL and sailing to lush Ocho Rios, Jamaica; historic Georgetown, Cayman Islands; sunny Cozumel, Mexico; & the paradise of Nassau, Bahamas. Learn more about the classes, cuisine and itinerary at holisticholidayatsea.com.
Chosen by National Geographic Traveler as
ONE OF THE 1 00 BEST WORLDWIDE VACATIONS TO ENRICH YOUR LIFE
FEATURING WORLD-RENOWNED CHEFS, TEACHERS & HEALERS Co-author of The China Study and author of Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition; featured in the film Forks Over Knives
T. COLIN CAMPBELL, PH.D.
Physician, author, & internationally-recognized speaker on nutrition; founded NutritionFacts.org; spoke at Congress, on Dr. Oz, & the Colbert Report
MICHAEL GREGER, M.D. Creator of the popular vegan food blogs HealthyHappyLife.com and FindingVegan.com; author of two best-selling cookbooks
Best-selling author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease; starred in the film Forks Over Knives; featured on CNN’s special The Last Heart Attack
CALDWELL ESSELSTYN, JR. M.D.
KATHY PATALSKY
FOOD OPTIONS FOR EVERYONE - VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE, OIL-FREE AND SHIP’S MENU SWIM, SNORKEL AND KAYAK IN THE CRYSTAL WATERS OF THE CARIBBEAN AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY SHIP DAILY YOGA, MEDITATION, PILATES, QI GONG, DO-IN, RUNNING, FITNESS & BODY BUILDING CLASSES 45 TEACHERS • 145 LECTURES & WORKSHOPS 11 COOKING & BOOTCAMP CLASSES CEU & CME CREDITS AVAILABLE
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DANCING, SOCIALS & SINGLES EVENT VEGAN PIZZA & ICE CREAM PARTIES CANCER SUPPORT GROUP & RECOVERY PANEL PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS & TREATMENTS West Michigan Edition AVAILABLE NaturalWestMichigan.com
Founder of the Physicians Commitee for Responsible Medicine; author of Food for Life & Power Foods for the Brain; active health advocate
NEAL BARNARD, M.D. Emmy Award-winning author of seven bestselling cookbooks; host of the television show Christina Cooks; health educator for 25+ years
CHRISTINA PIRELLO
LEARN MORE holisticholidayatsea.com info@holisticholidayatsea.com 1-800-496-0989 (Toll Free US) 1-828-749-9537 Holistic Holiday at Sea holisticholidayatsea.com/blog
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1-877-844-7977 (Toll Free US) 1-305-443-0542 Option 1 for program information Option 2 for travel agent All reservations for our holistic group must be made through Lorraine Travel
contents Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more 8 5 newsbriefs balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal 8 healthbriefs growth, green living, creative expression and the products 10 globalbriefs and services that support a healthy lifestyle. 1 3 ecotip 16 healingways 14 LOVING LARGE 18 fitbody Scientists Say We’re All Connected 10 22 consciouseating 14 24 wisewords 16 HEAL ADRENAL 25 inspiration FATIGUE NATURALLY Practical Ways to Regain Vitality 26 chironews 28 healthykids 18 FITNESS 2017 30 greenliving New Year’s Resolutions 34 naturalpet that Stick 41 calendar 42 classifieds 22 HEALTHY HOLIDAY 13 45 naturaldirectory LIBATIONS Restorative Drinks Revive Good Cheer 22 advertising & submissions by Linda Sechrist
by Linda Sechrist
by Aimee Hughes
by Judith Fertig
HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 616-604-0480 or email: Publisher@ NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for space reservation is the 12th of each month prior to publication.
24 KRISTA TIPPETT ON OUR EVOLVING SPIRITUALITY
NEWS BRIEFS & ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
Why it Evokes Hope
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.
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CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit Calendar Events online at: NaturalWestMichigan.com. Calendar deadline is the 15th of the month prior to publication.
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by Randy Kambic
HEART LIVES
by Lyric Benson Fergusson
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28 MERRY MUNCHING
Sugar-Free Treats Kids Love by Judith Fertig
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30 A GORGEOUSLY
GREENER HOLIDAY
Fresh Thinking About Décor by Avery Mack
34 FETCH, STRETCH, DANCE Make Your Dog an Exercise Buddy by Sandra Murphy
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letterfrompublisher Let Your Love Light Shine
contact us Publisher/Editor Pamela Gallina Editors S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist Design & Production Interactive Media Design Scott Carvey Printer Stafford Media Solutions Natural Awakenings P.O. Box 330 Spring Lake, MI 49456 Phone: 616-604-0480 Fax: 616-855-4202 Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com
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Subscriptions are available by sending $30 (12 issues) to the above address. © 2016 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing. Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.
COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY
In the run-up to this holiday season, I’ve been reflecting on the tools that I use to keep my life in balance. It’s obvious that ruminating on the past can make us feel depressed or melancholy and worrying about the future (aka ingratitude in advance) can make us feel anxious. So I’ve been exploring ingredients that I’ve come to see contribute to a happy sense of balance for me and here’s where I’ve arrived so far. Practicing mindfulness is a biggie, which I believe serves as a key to discovering new reasons for joy as well as unlocking the issues behind many health and other problems. I love finding joy in simple things that make up my day; magnifying the good even in everyday routines and tasks can be satisfying. Making each moment count is key. I’ve found that slowing up and staying in the moment enables me to better listen to what others say and cherish something about them; it helps me think twice before communicating anything hurtful; it reminds me that small acts of kindness can lift someone’s life, including my own. Sometimes we help others in ways we may never know by being a living example of honesty, compassion, enthusiasm or orderliness. Putting our ego aside works wonders in opening up possibilities for inner authenticity and greatness. Time and again I’ve experienced how surrendering control to a greater power opens the door to gratitude and grace. Bonding as a community is a delightful way to bring life into perspective. We all love belonging to a tribe of good people. Interpersonal connections are the spice of life and give meaning to our world. It’s a universal principle that what we send out into the universe returns to us fourfold, so during this holy season of light, let us remind ourselves wherever we go that when we spread peace and love we feel peaceful and loved. To conscious living,
Natural Awakenings is locally owned and operated. Pamela Gallina, Publisher
Natural Awakenings
Never Glossy. Always Green. Natural Awakenings practices environmental sustainability by printing on post-consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink. This choice avoids the toxic chemicals and high energy costs of producing shiny, coated paper that is hard to recycle.
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newsbriefs Voice and Vessel Writers Workshop
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f you’re looking for a space and time that will help you pause and set a creative intention, attend the Voice and Vessel Writing Circle on Monday December 12 from 6 to 8 pm. Join the group in their new space for this inspiring reflective writing circle. The session will include readings, writing prompts, and creative practices to help you connect with your voice and stories. All experience levels are welcomed. Cost of workshop $10.
U.S. and in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. “Our devoted family of publishers, supported by advertisers, informs readers of many national and local resources that offer paths to a happier, healthier and longer life,” says Bruckman. “Our active and growing readership has helped increase interest in naturally healthy living that has impacted mainstream America and is beneficial for Earth and its inhabitants.” For a list of locations where Natural Awakenings is published or to learn more about franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. See ad, page 44.
Visit Voice & Vessel, at their new address 3355 Eagle Park Dr NE, Suite 108, Grand Rapids. Info and register at VoiceandVessel.com or 616-350-6210 or emily@ voiceandvessel.com See ad page 31.
Gift, Get, Give Back Event
I Natural Awakenings Family of Franchises Keeps Growing
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atural Awakenings Publishing Corp. (NAPC) welcomed four new publishers to a November training session at the corporate headquarters in Naples, Florida. The NAPC staff spent several days with these entrepreneurs, discussing the ins and outs of publishing a new Natural Awakenings edition in Spokane, Washington, and taking over publication of existing magazines in Oklahoma City, Wayne County, Michigan, and Volusia and Flagler counties, Florida. Founded by Chief Executive Officer Sharon Bruckman with a single edition in Naples in 1994, Natural Awakenings has grown to become one of the largest, free, local, healthy living publications in the world, serving 4 million readers each month via 95 magazines published in cities across the
f you are looking for unique gifts for the special people in your life and interested in spending an evening of pampering during the craziness of the holidays, we have the perfect event for you. Join Grand Rapids Natural Health for their first Gift, Get, Give event! Your $10 entrance fee includes a demonstration on making your own sugar body scrub with Holistic Esthetician, Lauren Ramey and clean hot cocoa in a jar with Health Coach, Andrea Hop, all to be taken home with you. Enjoy being pampered and grabbing a healthy snack or sip while letting vendors, including Fresh Coast Candles, Blondie’s Designs, Marie Le Mode Boutique, Breads and Bows, and more, take care of you. Most importantly, take a moment to give back to our community by entering a raffle with many exciting prizes. All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club Grand Rapids Commonwealth. Grab a friend and join in the pampering, sips, snacks, gifts, and giving back to our community! For more information: visit online at GRNaturalHealth.com or call 616-264-6556. Grand Rapids Natural Health is located at: 638 Fulton St W Suite B, Grand Rapids. See ad page 10. natural awakenings
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newsbriefs Now the Real Work Begins steadiness in the classic postures. Lakeshore Yoga is open seven days a week.
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ust because the elections are over, doesn’t mean that our work is done. It’s just beginning. Join the WMEAC Action Network to ensure your voice is heard. Becoming a part of this network will mean they will alert you to local issues happening in your state or your community. If you’re looking for a way to get involved and feel like you’re actually doing something, this is a good place to start. By joining this Action Network you will be working alongside other environmental activists to ensure the protection of West Michigan. They will be asking for small actions like signing petitions or writing short letters to your legislators to ensure your community’s voice is heard.
Lakeshore Yoga Center is located at 235 Fulton, Suite 200A, Grand Haven. For their regular schedule and more information: LakeshoreYoga.com or 616-844-1900. See ad page 20.
The West Michigan Environmental Action Council is located at 1007 Lake Dr. SE, Grand Rapids. Info: WMEAC.org or info@wmeac.org or 616-451-3051. To join the action network go to actionnetwork.org
Namaste – Shop – Away
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oin the Lakeshore Yoga team on Friday, December 2 from 5-8pm for an evening of holiday celebration. This event will feature Global Peace Tree fair trade gifts, local artisans, jewelry, zafu meditation cushions, essential oils, Christmas ornaments, music, munchies and more! Lakeshore Yoga has a dedicated and passionate group of yoga instructors, who are always there to support you, and your yoga practice. No matter your age, ability, injury, size or condition, they assist to modify postures as required to encourage students to develop a deeper awareness and
Subtle Energies & D-Rose Institute of Urevia® Healing Usui Reiki, Karuna® Reiki, Urevia® Healing, Spirituality & Integrated Health Classes Classes offer life and spiritual skills for wisdon, healing of self and others, and happiness.
Learning in a retreat like setting, on a beautiful private lake, providing nourishment, peace, growth, education, and healing. Individual healing sessions are available by appt. Serving SW Michigan.
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6 Tips to Uplift the World, Starting with your Self By Ashley Carter Youngblood, LLMSW, LLMFT, CADC
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hen was the last time you turned on the T.V., listened to the radio, or browsed social media and were overwhelmed by the amount of good things going on in the world? It’s not likely. Each day we are greeted with stories of hatred, loss, and betrayal. So, how on earth is humanity supposed to thrive, let alone survive, with such conditions? Given that I talk to people for a living, I feel that I have a unique window to the soul of humanity. People don’t come to see me when things are going right. They want to explore what is going wrong. They need to be uplifted. This is not a unique experience. We all need to be uplifted, especially when the voices reminding us of what is going wrong in the world are louder than those that quietly whisper what is going right. So, where do we start? Here are 6 tips I have seen be effective in helping others stay uplifted. 1) Listen to your body – When do you feel the most uplifted? What are you doing? Who is around you? What are you thinking about? Tap into that internal wisdom. Our bodies are a marker for our emotional health. We just have to listen. If you feel sick to your stomach when you watch the news, notice it. If you feel energized and motivated after meeting for coffee with a good friend, be mindful of that, too. However, this is only a start. One must also… 2) Heed its wisdom! – It is one thing to practice awareness and notice when we feel restricted. But, it is another thing to change thoughts and actions to support what feels best. If it feels gross, don’t do it. Don’t add com-
mentary to it. Simply accept it. For lovers of social media, I am now speaking directly to you. Please use this awareness when you are interacting with social media. Forums like Facebook and Twitter are a power. Choose to use them for good. If scrolling through your news feed makes you anxious, stop. Give yourself permission to unlike, unfriend, or unfollow those who do not uplift you. Consider only following things that are inspirational. Or, maybe you excuse yourself from social media altogether. People, or communities like social media, do one of two things for us: they either make us better or drag us down. Choose wisely what you expose yourself to. Don’t only listen to your body, act on it. Make the choice that allows you to stay uplifted. 3) Care for your Self – Because it’s hard to feel uplifted when we are tired or ill, part of caring for ourselves is listening to our bodies. However, caring for our Self goes beyond that. If you don’t care for your Self, no one else will. So, it is up to you to be as physically, emotionally, and financially (to name a few) healthy as you can be. Resilience is rooted in wellness. So, do what makes you well in every aspect of your life. Watch a funny movie. Start an exercise routine outside in order to connect with nature. Make those healthy meals you know how to make. 4) Focus on gratitude – A powerful way to uplift your spirit is to remind yourself of what you already have. Instead of reviewing all of the things going wrong, make a list of the things going right. Construct a gratitude list daily or
have some fun with it and add to a list over time to see how long it can get. Review it when you are feeling hopeless. Don’t repeat any items. List even the smallest things you are thankful for, like having light traffic on the way to work. It may sound difficult at first but I have seen such an exercise transform people’s perspective on life. Psychologically speaking, we tend to see only what we are looking for. So, choose to be on the lookout for things going right. 5) Connect with others who are like-minded – To uplift ourselves we may need to seek out others who just don’t make us feel crazy. Find an academic, spiritual, or political community that supports you and your values and gives you purpose. Or, volunteer to be an advocate for those who are having a difficult time speaking for or uplifting themselves. 6) Explore empathy. - When perplexed by tragedy, before perpetuating hatred and fear, remember that hurt people hurt people. Practice empathy by exploring four perspectives. 1. What is your perception? 2. What is the other person’s perspective? 3. How would a third party see it? 4. What insight would a complete bird’s eye view offer? As Maya Angelou observed, “Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet”. This is where uplifting humanity leaves us. If you want change, make it! But, to uplift humanity we have to start with ourselves. We have to care for ourselves so that we can stay resilient and focused in making the changes that we can make. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” This is not a request. It’s a requirement. We cannot immediately change the world. But, we can do what is in our power: change our Selves. And, we can let that change carry into the world. Ashley Carter Youngblood is both a clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist who practices at Meaningful Connections Counseling in Kalamazoo. Her specialties include holistic health, mindfulness, anxiety, trauma, couples counseling, spiritual/ cultural issues, and women’s issues. Find out much more about her at her website, Kalamazoo-counseling.com
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“MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA HOW GOOD THEIR BODY IS DESIGNED TO FEEL.” Kevin Trudeau
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A Cup of Peppermint Tea Boosts Alertness
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esearchers from Northumbria University, in England, have discovered that drinking peppermint tea can improve working and long-term memory. After 180 healthy adults filled out questionnaires about their mood, they were selected at random to consume one of three drinks—peppermint tea, chamomile tea or water—and then rested for 20 minutes. The subjects were then tested for memory and other cognitive factors and given a second mood questionnaire. Those that drank peppermint tea exhibited improvements in both types of memory and were more alert than the other two groups. The participants that drank chamomile tea displayed reductions in both memory and attention functions compared to the others. Researcher Mark Moss, Ph.D., notes, “The enhancing and arousing effects of peppermint and the calming, sedative effects of chamomile observed in this study are in keeping with the claimed properties of these herbs and suggest beneficial effects can be drawn from their use.”
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esearchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health have found that individuals living close to a natural gas hydraulic fracking site have a significantly higher occurrence of asthma attacks. The study examined health records from the Geisinger Health System, a healthcare provider in Pennsylvania, where the fracking industry has experienced incredible growth of more than 9.000 natural gas wells in the past decade. The records of more than 35,000 Geisinger asthma patients between the ages of 5 and 90 were studied between 2005 and 2012. Patients that reported attacks were mapped and studied in relation to the fracking well locations, and the results compared with other patients not reporting attacks in the same year. The researchers discovered that those that lived in close proximity to multiple or larger active natural gas wells were 1.5 to four times more likely to experience asthma attacks. Brian S. Schwartz, a medical doctor and a professor in the Department of Environmental Health Services at the Bloomberg School, in Baltimore, Maryland, was the senior author of the study. He states, “We are concerned with the growing number of studies that have observed health effects associated with this industry. We believe it’s time to take a more cautious approach to [fracking] well development with an eye on environmental and public health impacts.”
Don’t let the past steal your present. ~Taylor Caldwell
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Fracking Linked to Asthma Attacks
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ranberries, a staple on most holiday tables, can help women reduce their risk of urinary tract infections (UTI). A recent study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research tested the impact of consuming whole-cranberry fruit powder on women that had experienced two or more UTIs in the previous 12 months. Of the 182 study participants, 89 were given 500 milligrams of the cranberry powder daily for six months. The remaining 93 women ingested a placebo. The cranberry group reported significantly fewer infections than the placebo group. In addition, it took the women in the cranberry group more time to develop a first UTI than the women in the control group.
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esearchers from the University of São Paulo Medical School, in Brazil, have found high levels of tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing in the ear, and hearing loss in adolescents that use ear bud speakers. They examined the hearing of 170 students between the ages of 11 and 17 and asked them about their experiences with tinnitus in the previous year. More than half of the respondents had experienced the condition. The principal investigator for the study, Tanit Ganz Sanchez, an associate professor of otolaryngology at the medical school, notes that the prevalence of tinnitus among adolescents should be viewed as an early warning of a serious hearing loss risk. She says, “If this teenage generation continues to expose themselves to very high noise levels, they’ll probably suffer from hearing loss by the time they’re 30 or 40.”
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Teens Hooked on Ear Buds Prone to Tinnitus
Bright Lights Encourage Healthy Eating
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esearch published in the Journal of Marketing Research links bright light to healthier food choices. The study observed 160 diners at four separate metropolitan locations of a chain dinner restaurant between 6 and 8 p.m. Two of the restaurants used bright lighting (250 lux luminance) and the other two locations had dim lighting (25 lux luminance). The researchers found that diners at the well-lit locations were more likely to choose healthy options such as baked or grilled fish and chicken than the patrons at the dimly lit restaurants. These results were replicated in a laboratory test of 700 college students where scientists attributed students’ healthier choices to the alert feelings that being in a bright room elicits.
Why Some Kids Grow Up with Fewer Allergies
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study in the journal Pediatrics, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, has found that the common childhood habits of thumb sucking and nail biting can reduce the risk of adolescent and adult allergies. Researchers followed more than 1,000 individuals from 5 through 32 years old, monitoring these two habits at ages 5, 7, 9 and 11. The subjects were tested for allergies at 13 using a skin-prick test and again at 32. Of all participants, 31 percent were frequent thumb suckers and nail biters, and those children had a lower incidence of allergic reactions than the others. These results support a hygiene hypothesis suggesting that early exposure to microbial organisms reduces the risk of developing allergies.
Relieve Stress and Anxiety Call Today to Schedule Your Massage Appointment 5260 Kalamazoo Ave SE Kentwood, MI. 49508 616.827.2350 www.NaturalChoiceChiro.com
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December 2016
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Cranberries Reduce Urinary Tract Infections
globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
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Ocean Watch
Sea Mammals Update 2016 was a mixed year for whales and dolphins and by extension, humans. Marine Biologist Sylvia Earle states the importance of ocean health this way: “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. The ocean is the blue heart of the planet. There’s still time, but not a lot, to turn things around.” Scientists have discovered a new, black-colored species of whale that’s onethird the size of a Baird’s beaked whale. Yet to be named, it’s rarely seen, feeding in deep canyons in the Bering Sea. The oldest-known orca whale, Granny, at 105, swims Washington’s coastline. Wild orcas usually live 60 to 80 years; captives, 40 years at most. Iceberg, the only known adult white orca, age 22, was spotted in Russian coastal waters earlier this year. In 2013, a Korean marine park retrained five dolphins to feed naturally and released them into the sea, where they rejoined their original pod. Recent sightings found them thriving, affording hope for the 2,900 dolphins in marine parks, aquariums and zoos worldwide. Pink dolphins in Hong Kong’s bustling harbor remain endangered. In 2003, there were 158; by 2014, only 61. The Baiji River dolphin, only found in China, has been declared extinct. Vaquitas, small porpoises in the Gulf of California, declined from 97 in 2014 to 60 this year, most drowned in commercial fishing nets; it may be extinct by 2018.
Bye-Bye Birdies
North American Species at High Risk Dima Oana Gabriela/Shutterstock.com
The 2016 annual Audubon Great Backyard Bird Count in February (Audubon. org/content/2014-great-backyard-birdcount-summary) and a report compiled by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (StateOfTheBirds.org/2016) show that more than a third of all North American bird species are at risk of becoming extinct unless significant action is taken, especially ocean and tropical birds. The governments of Canada, the United States and Mexico created the North American Bird Conservation Initiative in 1999. More than half the species that rely on oceans and tropical forests are on a special watch list because of small and declining populations, limited ranges and severe threats to their habitats. The report pinpoints invasive predators such as rats and cats on nesting islands, as well as overfishing, pollution and climate change. Ways to address the problem include removing predators, expanding protected marine areas and reducing the amount of plastic products that end up in the ocean and can trap or choke birds. Many species such as long-distance migratory shore birds in coastal, grassland and arid habitats are declining steeply. The main causes are rising sea levels, coastal development, encroaching human activity and oil spills. 10
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Good Move
Officials Urge Chinese to Cut Meat Consumption
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Chinese officials have announced dietary guidelines designed to reduce the country’s meat consumption by 50 percent. The campaign includes a series of billboards and advertisements featuring American celebrities Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron. “China’s move to cut meat consumption in half would not only have a huge impact on public health, it is also a massive leadership step towards drastically reducing carbon emissions and reaching the goals set out in the Paris agreement,” says Cameron. Source: EcoWatch.com
Extinction Scenario
Missouri Debuts Energy-Generating Pavers
Humans an Endangered Species
Missouri is rolling out a set of energy-generating photovoltaic pavers along a section of the iconic Route 66 highway in a sidewalk pilot project—the first on a public right of way—in the U.S. The street pavers were developed by Solar Roadways, a company created by inventors Scott and Julie Brusaw, which raised more than $2.2 million in crowdfunding in 2014 to bring their technology to market. The Brusaws claim that replacing all of America’s roads and parking lots with their solar pavers would generate more than three times what the country consumed in electricity in 2009. The Missouri Department of Transportation considered their own crowdfunding campaign to support their energy experiment; plans called for the hexagonal solar panels to be fully installed and operational by the end of this year.
The UK-based nonprofit Global Challenges Foundation’s annual report on global catastrophic risk (Tinyurl.com/ GlobalExtinctionReport) has found that the risk of human extinction is higher than we might expect. The Stern Review (Tinyurl.com/The-Stern-Review), the British premier government report on the economics of climate change, estimates a 0.1 percent risk of human extinction every year. “We don’t expect any of the events that we describe to happen in any specific 10-year period. They might—but on balance, they probably won’t,” says Sebastian Farquhar, director of the Global Priorities Project. United Nations-approved climate models estimate that temperatures might rise six to 10 degrees Celsius, which pushes the probability of extinction beyond 3 percent, even with a considerable decrease in carbon emissions. Nuclear war, natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, genetic engineering gone awry and pandemic plagues figure in too, but the biggest threat might be the ever-increasing human population. According to a paper published in the journal Nature by Elizabeth Hadly, a professor of environmental biology at Stanford University, such growth has followed the trajectory of a typical invasive species and suggests there may be a looming global population downturn. Still, humans are capable of exponentially growing their population several times over through the invention of new technologies and cultural shifts, regardless of Earth’s natural carrying capacity.
courtesy of Solar Roadways
Solar Sidewalk
Greening Planet
Satellites Reveal Unexpected Plant Growth The study Greening of the Earth and its Drivers, published by an international team in the journal Nature Climate Change, shows significant greening of a quarter to onehalf of the Earth’s vegetated lands based on satellite data from the past 33 years. This represents an increase in leaves on plants and trees that produce sugars using sunlight energy to mix atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) with water and nutrients from the soil. These sugars are the source of food, fiber and fuel for life on Earth. More sugars are produced when there is more of this greenhouse gas in the air in a process called CO2 fertilization. About 85 percent of the Earth’s land is free of ice and covered by vegetation, currently encompassing 32 percent of the planet’s total surface area. Lead author Dr. Zaichun Zhu, a researcher from Peking University, in China, states, “The greening over the past 33 years reported in this study is equivalent to adding a green continent about two times the size of mainland USA, and has the ability to fundamentally change the cycling of water and carbon in the climate system.” The effect may serve as a carbon sink to help counter climate change. Source: Boston University
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Source: NBC
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Norway Bans Deforestation Products The Norwegian Parliament Standing Committee on Energy and Environment has pledged that the government will follow a deforestation-free public procurement policy, meaning that any product that contributes to deforestation will not be used by the country as part of an Action Plan on Nature Diversity. Rainforest Foundation Norway was the main lobbying influence behind this recommendation and has worked for years to bring the pledge into existence. “This is an important victory in the fight to protect the rainforest,” says Nils Hermann Ranum, head of policy and campaign for the committee. “Over the last few years, a number of companies have committed to cease the procurement of goods that can be linked to destruction of the rainforest. Until now, this has not been matched by similar commitments from governments. The Norwegian state is now following suit and making the same demands when it comes to public procurements.” Deforestation is estimated to comprise about 15 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and disrupting natural cycles and livelihoods, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Removal of trees can disrupt a region’s water cycle, resulting in changes in precipitation and river flow that also contribute to erosion. Source: EcoWatch.com
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Venezuela has passed a law that imposes some of the world’s toughest regulations on genetically modified organisms (GMO) and patenting of seeds in order to consolidate national food sovereignty, regulate the production of hybrid seed, reject the production, distribution and import of GMO seeds and ban transgenic seed research. Canada’s Centre for Research on Globalization describes it as one of the most progressive seed laws in the world. The country intends to establish a national seed system to implement the new law. The group will monitor and sanction any agricultural violations, with a focus on the protection of traditional seeds.
Patient Pets
Hospital Allows Cats and Dogs Pet dogs and cats are visiting with their seriously ill owners, reducing stress and improving morale, at the Juravinski Hospital, in Hamilton, Ontario. The Zachary’s Paws for Healing program, the first of its kind in Canada, was founded by Zachary Noble and his aunt, Donna Jenkins. Before each visit, the animals are thoroughly cleaned so as not to introduce harmful germs, and brought in on covered, wheeled carts away from all other patients during their one-hour weekly visits. The all-volunteer program plans to offer foster care to pet owners that enter the hospital for treatment. Learn more at ZacharysPawsForHealing.com. 12
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ecotip Eco-Toy Story
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During the holiday gift buying season, it’s good to recall the days of old-fashioned toys. Simple, wooden toys made with non-toxic paints are far safer than those sprayed with varnishes and paints containing lead and volatile organic compounds. Plastics can emit unhealthy chemicals used during manufacturing, which also produces environmental pollution. Pieces can break off, possibly injuring soft skin, or be consumed by toddlers with dangerous results. A recent report by Environment California, a research and policy center, found that products designed for babies and young children, such as soft plastic teethers, bath accessories and others, contain phthalates. Many toys require batteries containing heavy metals like mercury and cadmium. ChasingGreen.org recommends eco-conscious makers of toys available at GreatGreenBaby.com, including organic cotton stuffed animals; BabyBunz.com, featuring sustainably harvested cherry wood rattles and organic Egyptian cotton animals; and GreenToys.com, with play meal cookware and serving pieces made from bioplastic, consisting of a corn and starch resin. Here are other factors to consider. Educational toys can “enhance language, conceptual understanding and numerical and spatial cognition,” according to a study in the journal Mind, Brain and Education. Six-to-8-year-olds can gain an appreciation for archaeology playing with Smithsonian toys available at Barnes & Noble and BarnesAndNoble.com. PristinePlanet.com sells wood puzzles, solar-powered robots and board games from the Golden Gate National Park Conservancy. The Discovery Channel Store has safe toys and books for kids. Follow age guidelines in choosing gifts, advises Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Toy Industry Association. “Age-grading has nothing to do with how smart a child is—it’s based on the developmental skills and abilities at a given age and the specific features of a toy.” Practice conservation while saving money by canvassing thrift and consignment shops for classic card and board games.
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LOVING LARGE Scientists Say We’re All Connected by Linda Sechrist
T
rue love is not something reserved exclusively for soulmates, couples, children, friends or family. Observations by sages for millennia and by enlightened scientists more recently are increasingly aligned with the point of view articulated by renowned meditation teacher Jack Kornfield that true love and awareness—a sense of universal connectivity and the idea that divinity, or the sacred, is found in all things—are indistinguishable.
Scientific View
This state of being, generally denoted by strong feelings of love or acceptance toward others, brings us into contact with universal energy which connects all of humanity with the natural world. Clues to our united commonality are explored in two 21st-century books, Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become, by Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D., and A General Theory of Love, by medical doctors Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini and Richard Lannon. These authors explore the brain science that’s related to love and awareness. 14
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Although trying to grasp love intellectually may be like eating soup with a fork, the authors of A General Theory of Love cite feelings as a good starting point. Fredrickson describes love as “the momentary upwelling of three tightly interwoven events: a sharing of one or more positive emotions between you and another; a biochemical synchrony between your and the other person’s biochemistry and behaviors; and a reflected motive to invest in each other’s well-being that brings mutual care.” Fredrickson, director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, believes love is a complex physiological response; a “positivity resonance.” She describes key factors in love’s ability to biologically transform us as oxytocin, a hormone active in social bonding and attachments, and the vagus nerve deep within the brain stem that connects with numerous organs, including the lead “character” in this relationship, the heart. The neural synchrony of positivity resonance between the brains of two individuals is a connected oneness that
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Cosmic View
During their 30-year friendship, Bob Staretz collaborated with astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Sc.D., the lunar module pilot on Apollo 14 and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, to research and write “The Quantum Hologram and the Nature of Consciousness,” published in the Journal of Cosmology. Their scientific theory explains how all of creation learns, self-corrects and evolves as a selforganizing, interconnected holistic system through love. “Without exception, everything in nature exists and works together in total balance, resonance and harmony, interacting as one. From this perspective, Edgar and I reached the obvious conclusion—the organizing principle of the cosmos is agape love, an ultimate form of unconditional love that accepts all things existing in nature without regard to conditions, expectations, shortcomings, flaws or faults,” explains Staretz. The former executive director of Eternea, an organization focused on spiritually transformative experiences and the study of consciousness, Staretz says individuals that undergo such an experience attest that loving one another and all
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Fredrickson notes is far more ubiquitous than previously thought possible. Her research shows that it requires only connection, not the intimacy or shared history that comes with any special bonds. Micro-moments of the connected oneness we feel as life-giving reverberations occur via shared smiles or laughter, a common compassion or an engaging story. Humans all hunger for such moments. The prerequisites are perceived safety and authentic sensory connection with another, even if it’s fleeting. In Fredrickson’s perspective, such neural coupling is a biological manifestation of oneness in which a habitual focus on “me” expands to a life-expanding “we”.
of nature, of which we are a part, is the central reason for our existence. Anita Moorjani’s latest book, What If This Is Heaven? reiterates the life lesson she learned from her dramatic near-death experience in which she identified herself as a state of pure consciousness connected with everything in the cosmos. She clearly heard: “Your only work is to love yourself, value yourself and embody this truth of self-worth and self-love so that you can be love in action. That is true service, to yourself and to those who surround you.” This message continues with her, and she explains that by not loving ourselves, we are denying the part of God that expresses itself through us. An overarching insight from her lifechanging journey is, “Unconditional love is a state of being, not an emotion. It’s not just one side of the coin—it’s the whole coin.”
If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. ~William Blake
How-to Resources Interest in this deeper perspective led The Shift Network, which offers online transformative education, to host a recent Advanced Teachings for Truly Loving Yourself with Margaret Paul, P.h.D., co-author of Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved By You? Many others are working to spread the word about a larger sense of lifegiving love, including Cleveland, Ohio, intuitive psychologist Debra L. Reble, Ph.D., author of Being Love: How Loving Yourself Creates Ripples of Transformation in Your Relationships and the World. She says, “Our soul’s purpose is to be and express love. We dream of love, yearn for love and make love, but rarely do we realize that we are love, a source of divine energy.” Reba Linker, a New York City life coach and author, hosts a Leaders in Self-Love Facebook page and the Paint Yourself into The Picture online coaching show. Linker’s philosophy on love resembles that of New Thought leader Michael Beckwith, minister, author and founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, in Culver City, California—
to discern that our true nature is love is to know that we are created in the very image and likeness of love, the essence of life itself. Gary Sinclair, author of Healing Memories in Seconds, views his life from an altitude of oceanic oneness. His 35 years of study in a field that uses energy to heal spirit, mind and body led him to develop Soul Link, a memory energy therapy. His work is changing the face of therapy for those with post-traumatic stress disorder and led to the revelation, “Love pulls whatever it touches to its highest potential.” Teaching what he knows “beyond a shadow of a doubt” helps to shift his students’ worldview. “All of creation is made up of electromagnetic energy vibrating at different frequencies. We are energy beings who can learn to manage our energy to heal ourselves. We are all connected by omnipres-
ence, the energy of love, a heart connection of life. Consciously choosing this awareness allows us to be ‘love living life.’” Kamini Desai, director of education for the Amrit Yoga Institute, in Salt Springs, Florida, lends her yogic perspective to love. “We are each a wave on the ocean of existence. Even though we are separate waves, we carry the essence of the same ocean. When that essence manifests in us as spirit, its quality is a healing force of love surrounding our cells, causing our heart to beat and regenerating our organs. This intelligence guides and directs the universe in the same manner that it heals and maintains our body. In yoga, we learn to listen to its subtle voice so that we can follow its urges and energetic impulses to the source from which it springs.” The perceptions of California’s HeartMath Institute founder Doc Childre, dedicated to helping people access their intuitive insight and heart intelligence, are generally aligned with those of Fredrickson. Both approaches recognize how order and balance in the nervous system and smooth, harmonious and coherent heart rhythms enhance our ability to clearly perceive a far larger universe of experience. The ensuing connections widen the windows of perception to view ourselves as no longer separate, but part of a unified whole. Accumulated micro-moments of love communicated through synchronized gazes, touches and vocalizations forge a shared subjective appreciation of connection and oneness. We feel ourselves embodying positive resonance and experience easier and more immediate rapport in familial, familiar and even new relationships. We discover abundant opportunities to feel love, loved and loving as we make ourselves available to them. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.
natural awakenings
December 2016
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Heal Adrenal Fatigue
NATURALLY Practical Ways to Regain Vitality by Linda Sechrist
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atigue due to physical or mental exertion is common in those beleaguered by stress, poor eating habits and insomnia, struggling to balance the
needs of family and career and too often using caffeine and other stimulants to artificially rebound energy. James L. Wilson, Ph.D., a doctor of
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chiropractic and naturopathy, educates medical professionals about an even more serious health issue he identifies as “adrenal fatigue”; it’s characterized by below-optimal adrenal function induced by an overload of such stressors. Our two walnut-sized adrenal glands, one atop each kidney, produce vital hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and many other functions, including how the body deals with stress.
Identifying the Core Issue
In his book, Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome, Wilson sheds light on the scope of the problem. “The fact that adrenal fatigue is unrecognized by conventional medicine has left millions of people suffering from an untreated problem that interferes with their ability to function normally and capacity to enjoy life. For those whose adrenal glands are ‘running on empty’, even something as basic as happiness seems almost out of reach,” comments Wilson, who resides in Tucson, Arizona. Individuals suffering from adrenal fatigue are most concerned about their low moods, energy, mental acuity and libido, for which conventional medicine typically prescribes antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs. These medications do nothing to revive adrenal functioning. This faulty condition also affects weight gain and a propensity toward the development of some diseases, including fibromyalgia. “Your resiliency, energy, endurance and very life depend on the proper functioning of the adrenals,” Wilson says. We’ve inherited our sympathetic nervous system and its stress response of fight-or-flight from our prehistoric ancestors. It hasn’t evolved to differentiate between an acute threat to survival and the chronic threats from looming deadlines, financial pressures and other modern-day worries. “The adrenal stress response to physical danger or any perceived psychological threat is identical—the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine responsible for cascading physiological reactions,” explains Dr. Vijay Jain, who treats fatigue from an integrative perspective at his Mind Body Wellness Center, in Palm Coast, Florida.
Suggested Treatments
Adrenal fatigue is mainly a self-induced health problem that doesn’t just appear. It results from an accumulation of ongoing choices that we can change. Jain applies ayurvedic principles to reestablish balance in the body’s three prominent mind-body types that influence personal well-being. These are known as vata, pitta and kapha. For people primarily characterized by vata and pitta typology, fatigue is the result of being overactive and burning the candle at both ends. For those with kapha constitutions, fatigue is the outcome of a sedentary lifestyle with insufficient movement and eating the wrong foods for them. He further recommends getting more sleep with regular bedtimes, practices such as yoga nidra meditation, pranayama (yogic breathing) and a slower-paced yoga practice with longerheld meditative poses, as well as massage and a diet designed to restore our biological energies, or doshas, to a balanced state. “Depending on a patient’s constitution I advise some to slow down and burn 50 percent less of their candle, while I tell others to increase their physical activity and improve their diet.” Jain also recommends a type of ayurvedic purification and detoxification treatment that involves a series of five therapies including massage and herbal treatments. Performed in sequence, these allow the body and mind to drop into a state of peacefulness. Acupuncture treatments are also helpful, along with a regimen of adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng, schisandra and ashwagandha, according to Jain. In Happy Healthy Thyroid: The Essential Steps to Healing Naturally, author Andrea Beaman writes about how she recovered naturally from adrenal fatigue. To restore energy and vitality to the body, she further recommends the healing practices of hatha yoga, qigong and tai chi. “These modalities build energy, whereas power yoga, and cardiovascular exercises drain energy in fatigued individuals,” advises Beaman. She notes that it can take six months to two years to restore desired energy levels. Beaman counsels individuals with behavioral characteristics that make it more challenging to burn less of their candle.
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She grabs their attention with the critical nature of their situation. “‘You are in and out of life in a blink. If you’re exhausted at age 48, how are you going to live a vibrant, happy and exuberant life right up to the finish line?’ That generally works,” she says. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Connect at ItsAllAboutWe.com.
More Tips to Beat Fatigue by Linda Sechrist
T
he earliest signs of adrenal fatigue are low energy and the need for several strong shots of caffeine to kick-start the morning or get through an afternoon slump. If these symptoms arise, take steps to begin nourishing, restoring and de-stressing the adrenal glands. Eliminate stressors. Reevaluate daily schedules to make room for a regular session of yoga, meditation, tai chi or qigong. Establish a regular sleeping schedule aligned with the body’s natural cycle. Slipping between the sheets no later than 10 p.m. can mean better and deeper rest. Make dietary changes, starting with 40 grams of protein each morning. Limit the intake of stimulants, including caffeine. Eliminate sugar and processed grains. Add adaptogenic herbs and organic coconut and olive oils to dishes and food preparation. Eat nutritious foods such as greens and brightly colored vegetables. As a result, blood sugar and insulin levels will take fewer rollercoaster rides, easing the work of the adrenals. Refrain from over-exercising. Excessive cardio or endurance training is hard on the adrenals, so substitute more relaxing forms of exercise. Practice calming mindfulness and deep, controlled, diaphragmatic breathing.
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FITNESS 2017 New Year’s Resolutions that Stick by Aimee Hughes
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very January, we rally our hopes, vowing that this time our New Year’s resolutions will finally stick. However, “If you don’t have a plan, plan to fail,” says Kansas City, Missouri, personal trainer Jake Albracht. We can make our health and fitness goals for 2017 a reality instead of just wishful thinking. Find a good trainer. “A personal trainer provides a helpful base of knowledge because the hardest part for most people is a lack of planning and diligence in following up. Trainers can step in to help a client achieve their goals,” says Albracht. Jeanne Rankin, assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington, adds, “A personal trainer can also help you set lofty goals that you wouldn’t have considered on your own due to fear of failure in achieving them.” Secure personal attention. Individual attention is invaluable. Albracht notes, “There’s nothing like the instant feedback with technique, information and support that one-on-one training provides.” Rankin adds, “In ongoing individual evaluation, a personal trainer can see exactly what’s going well and what
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isn’t, providing a better assessment than in a group.” “Group settings can also be positive and mimic a team environment, but a one-on-one relationship allows for a deeper bond of trust. Sometimes that can make all the difference in the world,” Albracht explains. Ask questions. If engaging a personal trainer isn’t in our available budget, they are often willing to answer a few burning fitness questions. Most of us have had volunteer teachers at some point in our lives that expected nothing in return because they loved sharing what they know. It’s a slower process, but can be a viable option. Set realistic goals. “I tell clients that structuring a program of specific goals will always trump a non-structured program,” says Albracht. “They need to fill out a goals sheet and develop a personal model that is repeatable, sustainable and successful. We use the SMART acronym for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely.” Sometimes writing things down is just what’s needed to make them actually happen. “When you look at pictures of famous people in magazines, realize
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that the images have been Photoshopped. They also have access to the best and most expensive resources in the world, and looking good is their job,” reminds Rankin. “Set a goal, and then set a bunch of small, achievable, measurable and quantifiable steps along the way that’ll push you towards that bigger goal.” For example, If the goal is to lose 50 pounds in a year, then maybe shoot to lose 30 pounds in the first six months and 20 in the second six months. “Breaking it up into what feels doable for you is key,” says Rankin. Establish intentions. Krysten Clark, a Los Angeles personal trainer, yoga teacher and founder of Yogva Nutrition, uses the SMART elements along with establishing an intention for each session. She states, “It’s important to recognize what ‘being healthy’ means to you. I always have my clients set an intention for their workout in the moment, which allows them to be fully present with what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. Connecting with their ‘why’ proves powerful in a day-to-day practice.” She also strives to bring mindfulness into any fitness workout that evolves from a mind-body connection. The accompanying sense of self-compassion furthers progress in the neverending process of personal growth and healthy living. Acquire a fitness posse. An accountability partner can be a friend or a personal trainer—someone that’s only a phone call away. Rankin observes, “If you know that you are letting someone down by not working out, then you are more likely to stick to a plan, especially if you’re paying that person.” Hit the reset button if needed. “Set a deadline to attain a goal and work backwards from there to achieve it,” advises Albracht. “If the goal is missed, reassess and plan again.” Be patient and forgive yourself as often as necessary if slip-ups occur. The ultimate results of feeling good and healthier provide their own payoff. Aimee Hughes, a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO, is a doctor of naturopathy and consultant for the Yandara Yoga Institute. Connect at ChezAimee@ gmail.com.
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Healthy Holiday Restorative Drinks Revive Good Cheer by Judith Fertig
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uring jam-packed special occasions like holidays, our drinks should multitask, too. We need festive tipples to refresh us without overdoing it, restore equilibrium if we overeat or drink or revive us when we’re feeling low from a seasonal cold or flu. In addition to traditional offerings that family and friends might expect, why not add a new and improved signature drink to everyone’s repertoire? These feel-good beverages, featuring winter fruits high in vitamin C, anthocyanins, therapeutic herbs and fresh ginger, deliver delicious boosts to help us feel our best.
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Refresh
The season of hospitality is happily also the season of pomegranates, blood oranges and Meyer lemons (a sweeter, thin-skinned, aromatic variety). These vibrant fruits give a taste of good cheer to anything we can pour, shake, muddle or simmer. Whether we offer fresh-squeezed blood orange juice in the morning, a nonalcoholic cocktail of pomegranate juice and sparkling water, or a squeeze of Meyer lemon juice in a hot toddy or tea, the tart flavor is a sure pick-me-up. The red color in antioxidant-rich blood oranges and pomegranates indicates the presence of anthocyanins, compounds that might help prevent cancer and heart disease, as well as treat eye disorders, according to an article published in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. Meyer lemons are a good source of vitamin C, essential for producing collagen needed to support the formation of new bone, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
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Restore
After an evening of over-imbibing, our systems need to reboot. The stomach needs help in processing alcohol, plus we may be dehydrated and feeling a little queasy. Filtered water, coconut water or a sweet, caffeine-free coffee or carbonated beverage of the lemon-lime variety rehydrate, as well as help our digestive system break down and flush out the alcohol. According to Registered Dietitian Aicacia Young, in Austin, Texas, founder of ClimbHealthy.com, the simple act of drinking water before we go to bed can assist in the recovery process. Research published in the Food & Function journal found that lemonlime soda helps the body metabolize alcohol better by speeding up its ability to process the compound aldehyde dehydrogenase, the main cause of hangover symptoms. For nausea and motion sickness, ginger or peppermint tea can help, according to studies in the American Journal of Physiology and the French Prescrire International.
Revive
Sometimes the stress of holiday to-dos, often combined with travel, can lower the resilience of our immune system. When we feel symptoms of a cold or flu coming on, the classic hot toddy can help us feel human again. The alcohol in whiskey is a natural decongestant; plus, it helps get us to sleep. Honey soothes and perky lemon juice gives us hope that we’ll feel better the next day. Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS. Connect at JudithFertig.com.
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LIBATIONS
Perk-Me-Ups
Seasonal Drinks that Revitalize
and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain out the ginger slices and serve in a mug.
Blood Orange French 75 Yields: 1 serving In a champagne flute, pour a jigger of gin, the juice of half a blood orange and a squeeze of Meyer lemon juice. Top up with champagne. Courtesy of Kathryne Taylor, a whole foods and vegetarian blogger; Search CookieAndKate.com.
Holiday Sangria Yields: 8 servings Combine 1 liter of cabernet sauvignon, a quart of pomegranate juice, ¼ cup agave nectar, 1 thinly sliced Meyer lemon and 1 thinly sliced pear in a pitcher. Add ice and stir. Pour into glasses to serve.
Courtesy of Judith Fertig, Alfresco FoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.
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The best holiday drinks are festive and taste great. They should also be easy to fix. Here are five to get us started.
Meyer Lemon Hot Toddy Yields: 1 serving Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Stir in the juice of half a Meyer lemon, a tablespoon or two of honey and a jigger of whiskey. Serve hot in a mug. Courtesy of Judith Fertig, Alfresco FoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.
Fresh Hot Peppermint Tea Yields: 1 serving
He who has not
Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. While it’s boiling, place 7 to 10 fresh organic mint leaves in a tea cup. Pour the hot water over the mint leaves and let them steep in the cup for 5 minutes. Strain out leaves as desired, and enjoy. Courtesy of Heather Crosby, author of YumUniverse: Infinite Possibilities for a Gluten-Free, Plant-Powerful, WholeFood Lifestyle; YumUniverse.com/ fresh-peppermint-tea.
Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. ~Roy L. Smith
Fresh Hot Ginger Tea Yields: 2 servings Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, and then add 1 small knob of fresh ginger, precut into thin slices. Reduce the heat
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natural awakenings
December 2016
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wisewords
Krista Tippett on Our Evolving Spirituality Why it Evokes Hope by Randy Kambic
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rista Tippett helps us ponder the meaning of life as host and executive producer of On Being, the award-winning weekly radio program and podcast produced in Minneapolis for more than 400 public radio stations. The bestselling author of Einstein’s God: Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit has been acclaimed for thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence. Her latest book, Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living, reflects upon how spirituality intersects with science, technology, health, art and politics. This daughter of a Southern Baptist minister first launched her show, originally titled Speaking of Faith (also the title of her first book), on Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media in 2003. Today, Tippett continues to discuss faith, spirit, inner growth and what it is to be human with leading authors, thought leaders and pioneering change makers. She also hosts online classes and a blog.
How has On Being evolved to reflect existing dimensions of spirituality that have proven surprising? I am fascinated with how spiritual life and religious identity have evolved in the last decade. This part of life is more fluid than it’s ever been in human history. We are the first generation that didn’t inherit religious identity like we 24
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do a hometown. We craft our spiritual lives and choose our faith, even if it’s the faith of our families. In many that don’t claim a religious affiliation, especially Millennials, I encounter a spiritual curiosity and ethical passion akin to religion at its best. Because seekers dwell both inside and outside of traditions, my life of conversation stretches beyond boundaries in ways I did not expect when I began. I also never imagined that I’d interview physicists, evolutionary biologists and neuroscientists exploring territory previously reserved for theologians and philosophers. Together, they are illuminating the ancient questions related to our place in the cosmos; the nature of human freedom and consciousness; even beauty and the reality of mystery.
Which guests do you feel have resonated the most with listeners and why? A show that seems to have touched more people most deeply is my interview with the Irish poet, philosopher and author John O’Donohue just before he died in his early 50s. He radiated such an unusual combination of qualities: wisdom, tenderness and playfulness; mysticism, theology and a raw Celtic earthiness. He’s someone who could speak of God with great wildness, strangeness—and authority. He inspired with his vision of beauty as a human calling and somehow embodied it for
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the listener. I meet all kinds of people that keep that show on their playlist and listen again and again. In general, my favorite guest is the most recent person interviewed. At the moment, it’s Jimmy Wales, the Wikipedia co-founder, who stunned me with his insistence on kindness as the virtue that’s made this nonprofit’s ethos and accomplishments possible. Another is civil rights veteran Ruby Sales, who wisely works to uplift the human drama of our political/social moment, like the way we must come to be as articulate about what we love as about what outrages us.
How do you see people’s awakening sensibilities influencing local and global issues? I am drawn to the notion that we are in the adolescence of our species. The globe right now is like a map of the teenage brain, prone to recklessness and destruction in places and simultaneously possessing vast potentials for creativity and advances. So many are relentless in telling the story of destruction that it seriously colors how we tell the story of our time. I stand among those shining a light on the abundant beauty, goodness and courage in our world so these become more visible and evident at a global level.
Are you optimistic about the future? I am hopeful about the future. My life of meaningful conversation has led me to re-imagine the meaning of hope. It has nothing to do with wishful thinking, but rests on the lives of beauty and goodness I see everywhere I turn. It’s a choice—a more exacting and courageous choice than cynicism or resignation. The pain and fear alive in the world surface as anger and violence, and some of us are called to be calmers of fear. We must create the world we want our children to inhabit and do so together. Hope isn’t an option on this path; it is one of our primary resources for getting there. Randy Kambic is a freelance writer and editor in Estero, FL, and regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.
Live as Your Heart Lives
Chinnapong/Shutterstock.com
inspiration
by Lyric Benson Fergusson
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here your mind wavers, your heart overcomes.
Your heart can tame any monster, your heart can devour any fear. Your heart’s chivalry is incomparable. Your heart’s genius outsmarts what’s written on parchment or etched on stone tablets. Your heart sees an ogre as an angel, Just waiting to be born… (with a soft kiss). Are you brave enough to pucker up? Your mind would rather run from sleeping tigers that had, several decades ago, promised to eat you, than face the unknowns of life. Your heart knows that overwhelming darkness is a miracle waiting to happen. Which lens do you choose to see this world through? Your heart or your mind? Baby, it’s all about perspective. Source: French Kissing God, a collection of poems by Lyric Benson Fergusson (FrenchKissingGod.com). natural awakenings
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chironews Avoiding Dementia is Truly Uplifting By Dr. Dan Gleason
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fter spending last weekend at a seminar on longevity, I looked for connections with this month’s topic, Uplifting Humanity. One step towards elevating humanity is to extend the healthy, productive years of women and men who belong to the 76,000,000 baby boomers comprising one quarter of the US population. Dementia is now considered to be “Diabetes of the Brain”. Our chances of contracting Alzheimer’s Disease increase by 6% each year after the age of 65. At this rate, half of all Americans who reach the age of 85 will have dementia. If we don’t stem this tide it will soon overwhelm our resources. While many pharmaceuticals have been patented and more are in the works, it is unlikely that drug therapy will significantly impact this and other degenerative diseases including: • Heart disease • Cancer • Arthritis • Autoimmune disease • Diabetes • Obesity
There is a large amount of research into what is causing this problem and what interventions we can take in our everyday life. Nobel laureates Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak discovered how telomeres, amino acid “caps” at the end of our chromosomes, protect them from deterioration. In 2003, Richard Cawthon discovered that the length of our telomeres can acurately
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What is it?
How can I address it?
Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals, including peroxides and superoxides that damage cells and telomeres. Excess iron, copper, smoking and certain chemicals can create oxidative stress.
Oxidation can be reduced by avoiding smoking, iron and copper supplements. Check serum iron levels and if possible give blood regularly. Take antioxidants like vitamin A, C, E, selenium, and beta-carotene.
Inflammation is necessary to initiate healing but excessive inflammation due to infection, toxic exposure, sugar consumption and smoking it can significantly damage your body and your telomeres. Any disease ending in “itis” is due to inflammation. Omega 6’s increase inflammation and Omega 3’s lower it.
Inflammation is regulated to a large degree by the fats we eat. Avoid vegetable oils, margarine, Crisco, deep fried foods, mayonnaise, and grains in general. Eating corn, soy and animals that are fed corn and soy are also very inflammatory. Unless you eat fish 4X/ week, supplementing with fish oil is necessary to balance your Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio. Supplement with fish, flax and black currant seed oils.
Glycation is a browning process that adds sugars to proteins in foods such as donuts, barbequed meats, cake and dark colored soda pop. Wrinkles are an example of glycation that we can actually see.
Glycation is caused by consumption of sugars, carbs and foods that have been browned using heat or chemicals. As much as possible, eliminate these foods from your diet.
Methylation is involved in epigenetic DNA expression that controls how we excrete toxins and produce stress hormones like dopamine and adrenalin. It is affected by toxic exposure, stress, and B vitamin deficiency.
Methylation can be corrected by detoxification, stress reduction and supplementation with B vitamins particularly B6, B12 and folate. Chiropractic adjustments can also help to reduce stress hormones.
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determine our biological age. In fact you can go to www. teloyears.com and order a test kit for $89 to see what your biological age is. Our telomeres are shortened by four factors: • Oxidation • Inflammation • Glycation • Methylation Like a high school reunion photo, a physiological snapshot of 954 people born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1972 and 1973 shows that time has been kinder to some. The calendar indicated that they were all 38 years old at the time of the study, but their biological ages ranged from 28 to 61. This research was published in the July, 2015 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Taking fish oil had the most positive effect on telomere length and smoking had the worst effect. A daily 20oz. soda decreased life expectancy by 4.6 years and regular exercise lengthened life expectancy by 4.4 years. Here are ten things you can do to live a longer, healthier life: 1. Eat organic food 2. Eat three times per day max and avoid eating between meals or after supper 3. Drink pure water (reverse osmosis or distilled) 4. Don’t cook or eat out of plastic 5. Eat a lower carb, moderate protein, high fat diet (healthy fats only) 6. Avoid empty sugars and starches 7. Avoid processed and heated fats from corn, soy, cottonseed, and vegetable oil 8. Supplement with Vit D, K2, Magnesium, fish oil, and a quality multivitamin 9. Exercise daily 10. Use stress reduction techniques like yoga, meditation, gratitude, and Chiropractic 11. Limit exposure to electromagnetic fields like WIFI and cell phone (turn off when not in use) How many of these things do you do presently? How many can you start to incorporate into your everyday living? In addition to being a doctor of chiropractic and applied kinesiology, Dan is a 4th generation builder— he correlates the two sensibilities in his approach, “A person’s health is similar to that of building a foundation for a home in that if one uses good quality products and methodology, you build your health to combat disease in the same way you build the foundation of your home to protect you from the elements”. Dr Dan Gleason is the owner of The Gleason Center located at 19084 North Fruitport Road in Spring Lake. For more info: go to TheGleasonCenter.com or call 616-8465410. See ad page 45.
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inspired by The Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum Fairy.
healthykids
MERRY MUNCHING Sugar-Free Treats Kids Love by Judith Fertig
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hen sugar was a commodHealthier Holiday Snacks ity only the wealthy could Mothers Amy Roskelley and Natalie afford, “visions of sugarMonson, of Provo, Utah, agree that raisplums” danced in the heads of chiling healthy kids is a challenge. Dealing dren ensconced in Clement Moore’s with picky eaters, getting family mem’Twas the Night Before Christmas. bers to exercise and sourcing organic Now, cheap candy is everywhere and baby care products are all in a day’s not all that special. What is special work for them. It’s why they founded is making memories aligned with SuperHealthyKids.com. Subscribers contemporary traditions while enjoying naturally sweet, healthy treats that have access to meal plans, recipes and healthy parenting tips. Recent advice kids will remember helping to create. includes ditching prepackaged popcorn “It’s important to limit sugary snacks, even during the holidays,” says (listing unpronounceable ingredients) and instead making the treat at home— Claire McCarthy, a Boston Children’s Hospital pediatrician, Harvard Medical popping kernels in coconut oil and School assistant professor of pediatrics topping the result with maple snickerand senior editor for Harvard Health doodle flavorings. Publications. She is also a mother of Many moms turn to online boards elementary school kids. “We need to for party ideas. Fun photos posted use the opportunity—any opportunity there guide kids in creating naturally these days—to teach children and sweet treats, such as fresh fruit skewfamilies about eating healthy.” ers shaped like elves or magic wands Natural Awakenings recommends using organic and non-GMO (genetically modified) ingredients whenever possible.
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“Building a gingerbread house is a time-honored tradition for many families,” says Jacquie Fisher, a Kansas City, Missouri, mom who masterminds the educational blog and kid-friendly adventure postings at KCEdventures. com. Learning to construct the edible structure is intriguing fun. “Testing out how to balance the walls, construct a roof and put together a fun little structure is the perfect intro to some basic physics principles,” she notes. Because she’s not a fan of sugar icing and candy add-ons, Fisher’s kids connect over how to make Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s stable with whole-wheat graham crackers “glued” together with a homemade maple caramel mixed with coconut milk. They decorate using dried fruit, nuts, dry cereal and flaked coconut.
Christmas Stocking Stuffer and Hanukkah Gelt For healthy alternatives to sugary candy, savvy parents source sweet treats made with 100 percent fruit juice and fair trade chocolate available at health food stores and markets. Registered Dietitian Abbie Gellman, in New York City, reinvents the Hanukkah gelt, or foil-wrapped chocolate coins, that Jewish children traditionally receive. She flattens dried apricots with a kitchen mallet, dips them in melted dark chocolate and then sprinkles the treats with sea salt. We can always make wonderful memories true to the spirit of holiday traditions, and do it today in a healthier way. Judith Fertig writes cookbooks and foodie fiction from Overland Park, KS (JudithFertig.com).
Gina Smith/Shutterstock.com
Kzenon/Shutterstock.com
Gingerbread House Update
Sugarplums Update photo by Stephen Blancett
Healthy Sweets for Kids Apricot Gelt
Yields: 12 servings (6 pieces per person)
Fruit Skewer Elves
1½ lb dried apricots 1 lb dark chocolate chips 1 Tbsp coarse sea salt
Yields: 12 servings
12 cocktail sticks or short bamboo skewers 12 seedless green grapes 12 strawberries, hulled 1 firm banana, peeled and cut into 12 thin rounds 1 mozzarella stick, cut into 12 rounds
Using a heavy skillet or mallet, flatten apricots to ¼-inch thickness and set aside. Place chocolate in the top of a doubleboiler over simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted.
Popcorn: 1 tsp coconut oil, melted ½ cup popcorn kernels
Dip each apricot in chocolate, coating ½ to ¾ of the apricot. Place on wire racks set over parchment or wax paper and sprinkle with sea salt. Let stand until set.
Maple Snickerdoodle Topping: 1 Tbsp coconut oil 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup ½ tsp cinnamon Sea salt to taste
Transfer apricots to baking sheets lined with parchment or wax paper and refrigerate until firm. The gelt may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to three days.
Heat the coconut oil in a medium saucepan, with a lid, over medium heat. Add 3 kernels of popcorn and wait for them to pop. Once the test kernels start to pop, add the rest, cover and allow to pop, shaking occasionally until popping slows to a near stop.
Adapted from a recipe by Abbie Gellman, SPECertified.com/blog/view/ apricot-gelt-recipe.
Yields: About 5 cups
For each skewer, thread a green grape to the bottom of the skewer to create the elf face. Top with a round banana slice to make the pale trim around the hat, then an upside-down hulled strawberry to form the pointy hat. Add a mozzarella round to make the pompom at the point of the hat. Serve right away.
photo by Stephen Blancett
Maple Snickerdoodle Popcorn
Holiday Fairy Wands Yields: 12 servings
Pour the popcorn into a large bowl and set aside.
12 long bamboo skewers 24 seedless green grapes 12 chunks of fresh pineapple 12 strawberries, hulled 2 starfruit (carambola), cut into 12 slices
Serve immediately making additional sea salt available. Courtesy of Amy Roskelley and Natalie Monson, SuperHealthyKids.com/ maple-snickerdoodle-popcorn.
iuliia_n/Shutterstock.com
For the topping, whisk together the coconut oil, maple syrup and cinnamon, until well combined. Pour over the popcorn and mix well. Sprinkle the top with a few pinches of sea salt, mix again and taste.
For each skewer, thread a green grape 3 inches from the bottom of the skewer, leaving room to hold the wand. Next, thread a chunk of pineapple, then another grape. Thread a strawberry, pointed end up. Add a slice of starfruit to make the star on the end of the wand. Serve immediately.
natural awakenings
December 2016
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Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?
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A Gorgeously Greener Holiday
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Fresh Thinking About Décor by Avery Mack
N
ature’s holiday decorations can transcend cliché pine wreaths or farmed trees to make highly personalized indoor décor that supersedes traditional greenery. Yet mistletoe, holly leaves and berries, eucalyptus, poinsettias, tree needles, acorns and a cut tree’s water reservoir can be harmful to both pets and children. Here are some better choices.
The Tree
For smaller spaces or to make a statement, try grouping topiary trees of varying heights draped with solar twinkle lights and small ornaments or fresh flowers to create a focal point in a bay window. “A lemon-lime cypress lends another burst of unexpected color on an entry hall table,” says freelance floral designer Janet Corrao, in Nutley, New Jersey. “It smells good, too.” Plants six inches tall work well. Corrao suggests setting the pots in colorful, inexpensive metal buckets from craft stores for added glamour. Unless deemed a hazard to active kids or pets, set up a mid-sized stepstool on a table or open a six-foot 30
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ladder in a corner and hang ornaments down the center space; add garlands and lights and set potted flowers and small gift boxes on the steps. Search “alternative Christmas trees” at Pinterest. com for more ideas. Another option uses hedge-like plants in lieu of a tree. Consider an English or Japanese boxwood plant or evergreen lilly pilly, and then trim to the desired size and shape. Plant it outdoors as weather and climate permit.
The Table
“While we were working on a photo shoot, the photographer decided to include a Christmas scene. I was able to add fresh greenery from the property to the red ornaments and white orchids that I’d brought along. It made a striking centerpiece running the entire length of the table,” says florist Angie Zimmerman, of Angie Zimmerman Designs, in El Dorado Hills, California. “For the fireplace mantel I used branches with red berries to add height on either side of the central mirror and then duplicated the centerpiece design between them.” A festive table can be dressed with appealing edibles. Use a bread wreath
Galina Grebenyuk/Shutterstock.com
M-Ac, LMT, ADS, HHC
photo courtesy of Angie Zimmerman Designs
as a base and stud it with skewered basil leaves, cherry tomatoes and small balls of fresh mozzarella cheese for an easy, self-serve, Caprese appetizer. A colorful dish of balsamic dressing or another dip in the center, along with small plates and holiday napkins, completes the offering. For a sit-down dinner variant, place a few Caprese skewers in small, clear, glass vases along the table with individual finger bowls of dip. Flatleafed green parsley sprigs add another special touch. Zimmerman further suggests using deep-red Roma apples, cored, as candle holders. Make living place cards with small
pots of herbs. Chalkboard paint identifies the plant and guest seating. Also consider colorful painted pots sporting a small cactus. Transform oranges into aromatic pomanders by scoring the rinds with a citrus stripper in a spiral, circle or other pattern. Use a small nail to make holes and stud the fruits with whole cloves. Adding seasonal greenery and sterilized pine cones makes a beautiful and fragrant centerpiece.
The Front Door
“I love to use pine cones for centerpieces,” Corrao says. “Our weather is cold enough that I don’t have to worry about bugs when collecting cones in the neighborhood.” For warmer climates, bake the pine cones for 30 minutes in a 200-degree oven to melt excess sap, kill insects and fully open them. Sold online or in kitchenware stores, a bay leaf wreath offers cheer at the door. After the holidays, hang it in the kitchen for easy access. “Kumquats, lemons, tangerines, small oranges and crabapples add color to green wreaths,” notes Corrao.
Garlands
For many, Christmas demands the smell of fresh pine boughs. Spice up the traditional greenery with carnations or other light-hued flowers colored with the juices of fresh, canned or frozen fruits and veggies—red from cranberries, beets and cherries; yellow and orange from yellow onions and carrots; purple from blackberries; green from spinach; pink from strawberries; and blue from red cabbage or blueberries. Freshly cut the flower stems and put them in the liquid from crushed produce or the can to absorb color. Hang garlands out of reach of young children and pets. Navjot Kaur, of Navjot Designs, in Chicago, says, “We all have greenery in our yard or patio gardens that can be used for the holidays. It’s fun to alter the design based upon what is available.” Imagination and inspiration can spark new, greener traditions. Connect with the freelance writer via AveryMack@mindspring.com.
Wood & Saw
REMODELING AND HOME BUILDING Toxic-Free | Energy Efficient | Sustainable 616.834.2480 WoodandSaw.com Holland, MI natural awakenings
December 2016
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Feng Shui Contributes to Efficient Living, and a Green Economy
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ontributing towards a green economy starts at your living and working spaces. Your space could be a small cubicle at the office, a room in your home, your apartment, house, or even your car. Feng Shui is the way to live in sync and harmony with your surrounding environment. It helps you to harness the best energies from your surroundings for a beneficial flow of energy in your space. Feng Shui is the system to arrange a living or working space using appropriate materials for appropriate areas. It helps you to make the best use of your space, the best use of your resources, the best use of your home deco and accessories as well as reduce wasted space.
Cache Bache - Clutter and Recycling Resource Depletion and Energy Conservation: Eliminating clutter is a main emphasis in Feng Shui. I always advise people to get rid of clutter and to have organized and clean spaces. A room full of clutter: boxes of papers, old clothes, an exercise machine that 32
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is not used, appliances that are broken, old newspapers and magazines is stagnant energy. Stagnant energy in any part of your home may cause for serious obstacles and create problems in certain parts of your life – possibly your finances, or relationships, something job related, ruin communication with family members, cause health problems, and bring misfortunes. Stagnant energy in a home is like a clogged artery in the heart of a human body. Using this example to illustrate, when an artery is clogged, flow of blood is not optimum and doing anything becomes difficult. In a home, when flow of energy is blocked, many difficulties could start popping up in your life, as bad energy accumulates and your potential gets limited. Many people are overwhelmed by years of clutter at home. How do you start to eliminate clutter, and how can you use this process to reduce resource depletion and improve energy conservation? Recycling is a wonderful method to eliminate clutter to start creating a flow of positive energy in your space. Old files, paper, magazines and news-
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papers may be recycled. Recycling paper instead of making it from new material generates 74 percent less air pollution and uses 50 percent less water! (EPA, 2008) Unused appliances, electronic items or furniture may be donated to charities for a new life. Old clothes and shoes may also be given away. Remember, something you do not use anymore may be useful to someone else. When you get rid of unused items in your space, you are making space for new and better things to enter your home, as well as new opportunities to enter your life. If you do not get rid of the old, new cannot come in! When the flow of energy in your space is favorable, lives can feel more in order and less troublesome, allowing the ability to live in peace and harmony, be more energized, well rested, creative, productive and happy.
Environmental Pollution and Degradation: Polluted air is unfavorable, stagnant energy, a polluted river is blockage, and mountains of trash are obstacles. If your house is surrounded by
dying trees, a dirty and polluted river or clogged drains filled with trash, it is considered to be bad Feng Shui. On the other hand, if you open your windows and have a nice, clean view of growing trees, fresh smells and clean air, it is considered to be good Feng Shui. Good Feng Shui translates to good fortune in every area of your life – prosperity, good finances, good health, good relationships, peace, harmony, stability, security and overall wellbeing.
How to Participate in the Green Economy with the Use of Good Feng Shui: There is energy in everything and everyone – everybody can do their part to make an overall positive difference. A proper Advanced Feng Shui analysis in a home can help the owner to have the most efficient and favorable layout to enable them to utilize their space efficiently and minimize wasted space. This also allows them to do their part in taking steps to contribute to a green, thriving economy. Favorable Feng Shui positioning and arrangements in your home can improve flows of energy and can help you to choose the most optimum use of materials. Correct placement and improved flow of energy can improve the economic standing of a family or a business. Feng Shui always emphasizes the protection of relationships and protection of income with a stable and balanced space.
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An Interspiritual Church
An Alternative to Traditional Religion Radically Inclusive
naturalpet
Fetch, Stretch, Dance Make Your Dog an Exercise Buddy by Sandra Murphy
Sunday Worship: 10:30am Wednesday Discussion & Meditation: 6:00pm Barna Tanko/Shutterstock.com
Pastor Sherry Petro-Surdel 3493 Blue Star Highway Saugatuck, MI. 49453 616-836-1555 www.Spirit-Space.org
M
run together fast. After arriving at the goal, ask for another sit. “Our favorite time to go is before 7 a.m. to avoid cars and when the asphalt isn’t too hot for his paws,” says Monica Weintraub, a food and travel blogger currently working from Beijing, China. “Carl loves the burst of energy, and we both build muscle.” A backyard agility course can complement or even substitute for walks. It’s easy to make with weave poles, jumps and tunnels. Vary the order of the obstacles and run alongside the dog to call out each one. When it’s excessively wet, cold and icy or hot outside, create an indoor agility course. Use blankets and upturned chairs for tunnels, cardboard boxes to designate a weaving trot and a
Sean Nel/Shutterstock.com
an and woman’s best four-legged friend can activate and energize even the most reluctant couch potato or exhausted owner, making the family dog an excellent exercise buddy. Regardless of how lax we may be, everyone feels better after some kind of workout. A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology confirms that working up a sweat outdoors affords an appealing boost of energy, enjoyment and improved state of mind. Dogs love routine, so they’ll be waiting by the door for their daily walks. Make each outing mindful by letting the pet choose the route and pace. While they stop to sniff, do hamstring stretches by leaning against a wall, fence or tree. Once the warm-up portion is completed, add sprints to burn more calories. Ask for a sit, pick a goal a short distance away and then give the cue to
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hula hoop for jumps. Set it up on top of rugs that foster firm footing. Balance can also be improved with exercise balls. While some dogs only see a soccer game, others try to balance on the ball, strengthening core muscles like their humans. Learning doga, or yoga for dogs, incorporates a canine’s natural trainability, flexibility, mimicry of human moves and desire to please. Kristen Corral, who’s also certified in animal massage, teaches Anima yoga fusion classes for people and pets of all ages in Las Vegas. “Anima means an expression of one’s true inner self,” she explains. “We work on balance and never force the dogs into poses. They’re excited during the first sessions, but as you move and breathe together, it becomes a calming and relaxing activity.” Floor exercises with the help of a dog also helps strengthen core muscles. Do leg lifts and teach the pet to walk under a raised leg to ensure it stays raised for the proper amount of
time. Incorporate fetch games with situps; throw the toy when sitting up and accept it back while reclining. Alternate arms—the dominant one has better aim, while the other one adds steps for the dog as it runs to fetch an errant toss. For chair exercises, use a toy to lure the dog under the chair, moving it from side-to-side, simultaneously working the waistline. Fetch lets the dog chase the toy before dropping it in front of the chair, giving the owner’s core muscles a workout when bending to pick it up each time. Dogs love to play hide-and-seek. It’s easy with two people; one holds the dog while the other hides. If solo, teach the pet to sit until a timer goes off before starting the hunt. “I ask Felix, my mixed-breed dog, to hold a sit-stay while I go hide,” says Chantelle Wallace, a professional writer who volunteers to exercise animals at Skyline Pet Care and Fitness, in Austin, Texas. “Hide and seek activates both mental focus and physical exercise.” Dancing to favorite tunes ex-
pends lots of energy. Dogs may perform obedience moves to the beat or, like humans, dance like nobody’s watching. Scientists at the University of Missouri are among those that have found that music improves moods, too. Teaching a dog to help around the house impresses everybody and takes advantage of bad weather to catch up on chores. They can tour a laundry basket to bedrooms, pick up trash or place items for recycling in a bin. Select individual items to be carried up or down stairs for a muscular workout. Take some tips from Jesse, a most helpful dog, at Tinyurl.com/ HouseholdHelpPooch. When our will to exercise is wavering, an eager dog will help keep an exercise routine interesting and on track. The dog’s goal is always to have fun with their favorite person. Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.
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2017
editorial calendar JANUARY
health & wellness
plus: affordable complementary care FEBRUARY
conscious dying
plus: children’s dental health MARCH
food sensitivities
plus: holistic eye health APRIL
eco-yards
plus: medical massage MAY
natural pregnancy & childbirth plus: women rising JUNE
chronic pain remedies
plus: hybrid vehicles update JULY
natural detox options plus: true prosperity AUGUST
rethinking cancer
plus: reframing autism SEPTEMBER
graceful aging plus: yoga OCTOBER
transformative travel plus: chiropractic NOVEMBER
diabetes prevention & reversal plus: silent retreats DECEMBER
uplifting humanity plus: holidays
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Healing takes courage, and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it. ~Tori Amos
The Path You Have Always Wanted! Accepting Registrations for March 2017! Naturopathy
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Spreading Light and Love to Over 4 Million Readers s from Through 90+ Publication Center n Caribbea Coast to Coast and-thBeregen /Passaic, NJ Huntsville, AL Gulf Coast AL/MS Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ East Bay Area, CA San Diego, CA Boulder/Ft. Collins, CO Denver, CO Fairfield County , CT Har tford, CT New Haven/Middlesex, CT Washington, DC Daytona/Volusia/ Flagler, FL - NW FL Emerald Coast - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Jacksonville/ St. Augustine, FL - Melbourne/Vero, FL - Miami & theFlorida Key s - Naples/Ft. Myers, FL - Nor th Central FL - Orlando, FL - Palm Beach, FL - Peace River, FL - Sarasota, FL - Tampa/St. Pete., FL - Treasure Coast, FL - Atlanta, GA - Hawaiian Islands - Chicago, IL IL - Chicago Western Suburbs, IN - Indianapolis, - Baton Rouge, LA - Lafayette, LA - New Orleans, LA - Boston, MA - Ann Arbor, MI - East Michigan - Wayne County , MI - Western MI - Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN - Charlotte, NC - Lake Norman, NC - Raleigh/Durham/ Chapel Hill, NC
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calendarofevents
$ave Time & Energy! Please call in advance to ensure that the event you’re interested in is still available.
ALL MONTH LONG
BVI School of Ayurveda Accepting Applications: Ayurvedic Consultant Certificate Program. Webinar and On-Site Courses, one weekend a month. State Licensed. NAMA Member. The Sambodh Society, Inc. 6363 N. 24th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49004. Info and Catalog. AyurvedaMichigan.org or 269-381-4946 Complementary Consultation – A consultation is a conversation, not an examination and certainly not a high-pressure sales pitch. After all, we aren’t the right office for everyone, so doesn’t it make sense to discover that before you begin a relationship with our practice? Brain and Body Chiropractic, 833 E 16th St, Ste 175, Holland. Info & Appointments: 616-202-6368 New Client Gift – New Consultation Clients get a Welcome Gift worth over $300. Schedule a consultation with Dr. LeAnn Fritz, ND and you’re entitled to this welcome bag of products to get you started, absolutely FREE! Mention this ad to receive your gift. New Hope Health, 10373 Riverview Dr, Plainwell. Info: 269-204-6525 Joy to the World – Mon -Fri 9:30am-7:30pm; Sat 10am-5pm. Give the gift of glowing, vibrant health! We carry natural, personal care products and essential oils. Many choices for allergy-friendly meals and desserts! Vital Nutrition, 169 Marcell Dr NE, Rockford. Info: chatterbocks1963@gmail.com or 616-433-9333
FRIDAY DECMBER 2
Namaste-Shop-Away – 5-8pm. Join us for an evening of holiday celebration. We will feature Global Peace Tree fair trade gifts, local artisans, jewelry, Zafu cushions, essential oils, Christmas ornaments, music, munchies and more! Lakeshore Yoga Center, 235 Fulton, Suite 200A, Grand Haven. Info: LakeshoreYoga.com or 616-844-1900
SATURDAY DECEMBER 3
Community Quiet Day & Labyrinth Walk – 10am-3pm. Doors will be open for contemplation, centering prayer, healing prayer and walking meditation. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, this day will be what you need it to be. Come & go as your day allows and add stillness to the often hectic holiday season. Refreshment for body and spirit. Donations only. St.Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1006 Third Street, across from Hackley Park in Muskegon. For more info: Call Linda at 231-7440377 or lindareynolds21@comcast.net Prosperity Class – 10-11:30am. Our monthly prosperity group meetings are held the 1st Saturday of the month. We will listen to a prosperity story, engage in discussion and create affirmations for our prosperity. This meeting will catapult your mind and
Visit NaturalWestMichigan.com for guidelines and to submit entries. All Calendar events must be submitted online by the 15th of the month prior to publication.
provide a new way of prosperous thinking. Love Offering. Spirit Space, 3493 Bluestar Hwy, Saugatuck. Info: thespiritspace@gmail.com or 616-886-2716
SUNDAY DECEMBER 4
The Muteflutes in Concert – 6:30-8:30pm. Wonderful musicians, composers and performing artists creating acoustic folk to soaring post rock, using numerous instrumentations and seamless vocal harmonies. An evening of joy-filled music for your enjoyment! Tickets available at the door. Love offering/$20.00 suggested. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada. Info: go to Unitycsg.org for details.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 6
Discovering the Internet – 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. Using the Internet can be an intimidating experience for many people. In this class, you will learn how the Internet works and basic definitions for the most common Internet terms. Discover tips and tricks on how to protect your information and identity while searching, shopping and surfing the web. Free. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch, 111 Library St NE, Grand Rapids. Info: jhight@grpl.org or 616-988-5400
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7
Upcycled Clothing Sale – 10a - 7p. Visit artist Maranda Shear and her gypsy style line of clothing featuring original hand drawn artwork inspired by nature and mehndi design. Find the perfect gift or order a custom portrait or design. Moondrop Herbals, 351 Cummings Ave., NW, Grand Rapids. Info: linda@moondropherbals.com or 616-735-1285. Guided Meditation and Healing Circle – 7-8 pm. Escape from stress and discover an inner world of calm, peace & joy through guided meditation, and energy therapy from Healing in America-Trained Practitioners. $5 Donation. Healing in America, location of event: Holistic Care Approach, 3368 Beltline Ct., NE, Grand Rapids. Info: laurie@ healinginamerica-midwest.com or 269-908-1016
THURSDAY DECEMBER 8
Give, Get, and Give Back – 6:30pm-8:30pm. Join Grand Rapids Natural Health for their first Gift, Get, Give event! Entrance fee includes a demonstration on making your own sugar body scrub that you take home. Vendors include Fresh Coast Candles, Blondie’s Designs, Marie Le Mode Boutique, Breads and Bows, and more. Give back to our community by entering a raffle with all proceeds donated to the Boys and Girls Club Grand Rapids Commonwealth. Grab a friend and join us for pampering, sips, snacks, gifts, and giving back. $10. Grand Rapids Natural Health, 638 Fulton St. W, Suite B, Grand Rapids. Info: GRNaturalHealth.com or 616-264-6556
SATURDAY DECEMBER 10
Jewelry Trunk Show – 10am–2pm. Jewelry artist Sue Van Dame, a Michigan Native hand textures sterling, brass, copper and steel, and incorporates all natural stones and pearls into her one-of-a-kind pieces. Turquoise and other bright stones make frequent appearances. Moondrop Herbals, 351 Cummings Ave., NW, Grand Rapids. Info: linda@ moondropherbals.com or 616-735-1285 Getting Started with Lynda.com – 1-2 pm. Need advanced-level help with Excel? Want to learn how to use new Adobe software? Interested in travel photography? With Lynda.com and your library card, you can pick up a new hobby or begin training for a new career with the help of engaging online tutorials from industry experts. Tutorials cover a wide range of skills and topics in the fields of business, technology, and the arts. This introductory class will walk you through the steps of signing up for this service and allow you time to explore all that Lynda.com has to offer. Free. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Library, 111 Library St. NE, Grand Rapids. Info: CustomerService@grpl.org or 6169885400
SUNDAY DECEMBER 11
Healing Oils of the Bible class – 12-3:30pm. Need energy for the Holidays? Come to this high-energy, highly interactive class! Space is limited. Grand Rapids. For more info: go to IlkasHealthyHeaven.com and RSVP by calling Ilka at 616-259-7509.
MONDAY DECEMBER 12
Writing Circle – 6 to 8 pm. Looking for a space that will help you pause and set creative intentions? Join us for a reflective writing circle. Includes readings, writing prompts, and creative practices to connect with your voice and stories. All experience levels are welcomed. $10. Voice & Vessel, at our New Address 3355 Eagle Park Dr NE, Suite 108; Grand Rapids. Info and register at VoiceandVessel.com or 616-3506210 or emily@voiceandvessel.com Read So Hard Book Club – 7-8:30 pm. Do you read so hard you have callouses on your fingers from flipping pages? Share your passion for reading and great discussions with the Read So Hard book club! This club is intended for people in their 20s & 30s, but all are welcome. No registration required. Stop by the Info Desk at the Main Library to check out a copy of the next featured book, including audiobooks. Don’t forget about downloadable eBooks on Overdrive too! December’s selection: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. FREE. Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch. Location of event: Harmony Hall, 401 Stocking Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Info: jhight@grpl.org or 616-988-5400.
natural awakenings
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THURSDAY DECEMBER 15
Guided Meditation and Healing Circle – 7-8 pm. Escape from stress and discover an inner world of calm, peace & joy through guided meditation, and energy therapy from Healing in America-Trained Practitioners. $5 Donation- Healing in America -Michigan. Location of event: 450 Meadow Run - Suite 400, Hastings, MI 49058. Info: laurie@ healinginamerica-midwest.com or 269-908-1016
SUNDAY DECEMBER 18
Inspire! – 1 p.m. Join the community discussion of “The Invisible Poor” and learn ways you can help throughout the year. Please bring a donation for The People Center in Spring Lake. Donations of used electronic equipment and cell phones are also accepted for E-Quip: Tech for the People. Free. Extended Grace. Location of event: Ferrysburg City Hall building, 17290 Roosevelt Rd., Ridge Street entrance. Info: lindabengston@att.net or 616-842-8703
MONDAY DECEMBER 19
Deeper Dive – 6pm. Will provide opportunities for in-depth discussion of “The Invisible Poor,” the topic of the Dec. 18 Inspire! event. Accepting donations for The People Center as well as electronic equipment and cell phones for E-Quip: Tech for the People. Free. Extended Grace. Location of event: Ferrysburg City Hall building, 17290 Roosevelt Rd., Ridge Street entrance. Info: lindabengston@ att.net or 616-842-8703
SATURDAY DECEMBER 24
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – 5-6 pm. All are welcome! Join us as we express gratitude while we celebrate the holiday season. Our traditional candlelight service is a time for song and readings. It is also a time when we remember our loved ones who are no longer with us by lighting a candle in their memory. Free. Spirit Space, 3493 Bluestart Hwy, Saugatuck. Info: thespiritspace@gmail.com or 616-886-2716
MONDAY DECEMBER 26
Ama-Deus Among Us – Last Monday of each month. Alternates between 1-3pm and 6-8pm. Energy healing forum. Meditation/healing sessions for balancing and replenishing. Open to Ama-Deus participants and those interested in experiencing Ama-Deus healing method. Love offering. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr SE, Ada. Info: Kim at kimgo@me.com
savethedate January 21, 2017 WHOLE U GR Expo – 10am-4pm. Join a network of like-minded people working together at Whole U GR for an intimate expo that focuses on mind, body & spirit- a day filled with exhibitors, speakers and workshops. Tickets on sale now. For more information, go to WholeUGR.com Grand Rapids. Kids & Family Expo – 10:00am - 5:00pm. Ride a Zip Line through the DeVos Place! Family Bonding Activities, Education & Fun! By the time January rolls around families will have cabin fever, and this Expo will encourage families to come play, celebrate, get active, explore, build, learn, and discover. Tickets at the door: $7 for adults and $3 (children 3-15). Kohler Expos, Inc. DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. Info: go to KidsAndFamilyExpo.com or kaylee@ kohlerexpo.com or 616-532-8833
February 25 & 26 Inspired Life GR – 8:30am-4:30pm. 2nd Annual Health and wellness conference featuring holistic health experts driven to share and educate how the connection of breath, energy, community, movement and mindset impact and benefit physical health. This deeper awareness allows for individual work to be done and transforms positive spiritual and emotional health for our Michigan communities and beyond. Discount if registered by Dec 31 and for Students. Location: Aquinas College, Wege Ballroom, 1607 Robinson Rd SE, Grand Rapids. Info and register: InspiredLifeGR.com.
March 25 & 26
Save The Date Events
Must be submitted online each month at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Events priced $80 or more require a corresponding display ad. There is a $40 charge per listing, up to 50 words. Current advertisers, distribution sites or nonprofits, use this listing in place of your two free listings.
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West Michigan Edition
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.
HELP WANTED MASSAGE THERAPIST - Must be licensed and very well experienced. $30/Hr. We provide everything including a gorgeous water view and hydraulic table that is handicap accessible. Must be able to work Mon, Wed, Fri afternoons and every other Saturday. Dr. Burcon will work closely with you on difficult cases in order learn the nuances of his patients. Must be able to perform deep tissue massage, and we have some calls for CranioSacral therapy. If you are knowledgeable in developing x-rays or have experience as a chiropractic assistant, the income is increased. We also have a generous bonus program. Burcon Chiropractic, 3501 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE, Suite 252, Grand Rapids. Fax resume to 616-575-9995 or e-mail to DrBurcon@yahoo.com. For more info: 616575-9990 or BurconChiropractic.com
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Body Mind & Spirit Expo – 3rd Annual Holistic Expo in Kalamazoo, professional mediums, intuitive’s, healers & more gathered under one roof. Free lectures & prize giveaways. Admission $10 per day, 12 & under free. Wings Event Center, 3600 Vanrick Dr. Kalamazoo. Info: HealingBodyandSpirit.com
NaturalWestMichigan.com
C hange your thoughts and you change your world. ~Norman Vincent Peale
ongoingevents Note: Visit 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.
Sunday Hot Yoga – 5-6:15pm. Sweat with this active, energetic, athletic style of yoga with traditional poses in a hot room. Not recommended for people with heart or lung conditions or those not engaged in regular exercise. $12 drop-in. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale. Info:HeartsJourneyWellness.com. or info@ HeartsJourneyWellness.com Spirit Space Sunday Worship – 10:30am. An interfaith, non-denominational gathering place for worship and spiritual enrichment. Join for inspiring messages called Reasoning’s. Spirit Space, 3493 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck. Info: 616-836-1555 or Spirit-Space.org Sunday Series – 6pm. Explore spirituality, universal truths, self-mastery and balanced, positive, loving and joyful living with The Coptic Center and their ongoing offering of enlightening ministers, teachers and guest presenters. Love offering. 0-381 Lake Michigan Dr, Grand Rapids. Info: TheCopticCenter.org Community Yoga class – 9-10am. $5.00 donation goes towards the charity of the month. Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio, 208 W. 18th Street, Holland. Info: call 616-392-7580 or go to MiBodhiTree.com
Monday Chair Yoga – 10:30-11:30. Incorporate movements and breathing exercises designed to assist with relaxation and increase mobility, balance, and strength. A chair and other props will be used to safely modify this yoga class for all fitness and mobility levels. This class is a great gentle option
for those who use a cane or walker, have limited mobility, or have recent injuries. Special $10.00 per class. Bodhi Tree Yoga & Wellness Studio, 208 W. 18th Street, Holland. Info: call 616-3927580 or go to MiBodhiTree.com The Practice of A Course in Miracles –78:30pm. Learn miracle-mindedness. Got joy? This is how to have it. Hint: You already do. All are welcome. Free. Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE, Grand Rapids. 616-458-5095
Tuesday Honest Weight Loss and Health issues – 10am. Answers to Weight Loss & Its Repetitious Circle. You can WIN! Cost $45.00. HEALTH COACH GREEN MEDICINE. Since 1979 Joan Carr Gendron. Grand Rapids. Info: Call 616-264-7744 Gentle Hatha Yoga – 7:45-9am & 9:15-10:30am. With Mitch Coleman. Drop-ins welcome. White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St., Montague. Info: 231-740-6662 or WhiteRiverYoga.com A Course in Miracles – 6:30-8:00. A complete self-study spiritual thought system. It teaches that the way to universal peace is by undoing guilt through forgiving others. The Course focuses on the healing of relationships and making them holy. It expresses a non-sectarian, non-denominational spirituality. Love offering. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada. Info: Unitycsg.org or 616.682.7812 or office@unitycsg.org
Wednesday Essential Oils Class – 6:30-8:30 pm. Meet and discuss a variety of subjects including the use of Essential Oils for spiritual growth and heal-
ing. Every other week will be a support group discussion. Facilitated by Allegra Miller, Plant Wisdom, Quantum Wellness Educator. Love Offering. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada. Info: contact Allegra_Miller@ yahoo.com or 616-682-7812 $20 off BioMeridian Assessments – Food allergies, environmental allergies, organ function and real food menus and shopping lists for families that are healthy and kid-approved. Grand Rapids. 616-365-9176. IntegrativeNutritionalTherapies.com Meditation – 6-7pm. Join together for meditation that begins and ends with live, native flute music. Attend the full hour or any portion of the meeting. Spirit Space, 3493 Blue Star Hwy, Saugatuck. Info: 616-836-1555 or Spirit-Space.org
Saturday Beginning Yoga – 8:30-9:45am. This class will introduce you to basic postures, breathing techniques, and mindfulness with an emphasis on building body awareness. Gentle yet relaxing in nature, you will leave feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and having a greater sense of health and well-being. $12 drop-in. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale. Info: visit us at HeartsJourneyWellness.com or info@ HeartsJourneyWellness.com Hot Yoga – 10:15-11:30am. Sweat with this active, energetic, athletic style of yoga with traditional poses in a hot room. Not recommended for people with heart or lung conditions or those not engaged in regular exercise. $12 drop-in. Hearts Journey Wellness Center, 6189 Lake Michigan Dr, Allendale. Info:HeartsJourneyWellness.com. or info@HeartsJourneyWellness.com Gentle Hatha Yoga – 915-10:15am & 1112:15am. With Mitch Coleman. Drop-ins welcome. White River Yoga Studio, 8724 Ferry St, Montague. 231-740-6662. Info: WhiteRiverYoga.com. Sweetwater Local Foods Market – 9am-1pm. A double-up bucks and bridge card market. Hackley Health at the Lakes building on Harvey St. Located inside during inclement weather. Muskegon. 231-861-2234
Stay Informed Throughout The Month @ NaturalWestMichigan.com
natural awakenings
December 2016
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ENERGY HEALING MATRIX ENERGETICS
...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 NaturalWestMichigan.com/advertising.
ACUPUNCTURE GRAND WELLNESS
Vikki Nestico, R.Ac. Located at Renewal Skin Spa 6080 28th St. SE, Grand Rapids 616-940-1177 • GrandWellness.net At Grand Wellness, we focus on a holistic approach to wellness, promoting healing through acupuncture, herbal therapy and lifestyle modifications. Call to set up a free consultation to discuss how Chinese medicine can help your specific health concerns. See ad, page 39.
BUILDING/CONSTRUCTION WOOD & SAW
Andrew Gielczyk Licensed Builder 616-834-2480 • WoodAndSaw.com Wood & Saw is focused on creating a sustainable high quality of life for our clients. Building simple, costeffective, energy-efficient, toxic-free homes and remodels that achieve the healthiest possible indoor air quality. See ad, page 31.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE BRAIN & BODY CHIROPRACTIC Drs. Lily & Kody Semrow Holland • 616-202-6368 Brain-BodyHealth.com
Our doctors provide a comprehensive solution to resolving problems of the spine and nervous system. Dr. Semrow is one of 400 doctors in the country certified in the functional neurology protocol for neuro-structural correction. See ad, page 33.
DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Ronda VanderWall 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville 616-531-6050 • 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.
Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 ASenseOfFlow.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 energy during a Matrix Energetics session we are able to enter into different realties and download new possibilities for your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual selves.
THE GLEASON CENTER
Dr. Dan Gleason 19084 North Fruitport Road Spring Lake, MI 49456 TheGleasonCenter.com 616-846-5410 An alternative, holistic approach combining chiropractic and kinesiology as well as the latest in metabolic and hormone testing. Using a variety of techniques, we work with our patients to determine the scope and duration of care that’s right for each individual.
RACKHAM CHIROPRACTIC PLUS
Dr. Denise Rackham 9396 Greenville Rd. Greenville, MI 48838 616-754-7717 doc-rackham@hotmail.com TheGreenvilleChiropractor.com Dr. Rackham has developed a unique adjusting technique that is special for the relief of headaches. Your Complete Alternative H e a l t h c a r e C e n t e r. Services include: Chiropractic, Massage, Acupuncture, Hydro Colonic Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Weight Loss program, Foot Bath Detox.
COLON HYDROTHERAPY HARMONY ’N HEALTH
Mary De Lange, CCT, LMT 1003 Maryland Ave, N.E., Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 • HarmonyNHealth.net Certified therapist since 1991 offering colon therapy in a sterile and professional environment. Using a holistic approach, colonics relieve constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, poor digestion, back pain, body odor and more. See ad, page 33.
TRICIA E. GOSLING
Holistic Energy Therapies 616-481-9074 HolisticEnergyTherapies.net
ESSENTIAL OILS BE YOUNG ESSENTIAL OILS Clara VanderZouwen 616-481-8587 BeYoungth.com/partners/claravz Independent Sharing partner Keto OS (get your Ketones) TotalHealth4Today.pruvitnow.com ClaraVz@sbcglobal.net
Be Young Essential Oils are exclusive E.O.B.B.D. guaranteed 100% pure & safe for your entire family and pets! Wondering what to use? Just call or email me, I’m here to educate you! Now offering Keto OS. Ketones flowing through your body within 60 minutes!
BODY BIZ, INC.
Rick Hayhurst Wellness Services & Education 100 Blue Star Highway, Suite D, Douglas 269-568-5556 or 888-489-9660 Info@BodyBizInc.Biz • BodyBizInc.Biz Young Living essential oils are time tested, researched based formulas that support every aspect of living. As seen on the Today Show, essential oils impact all areas of being by enhancing a positive emotional state, bringing mental clarity, supporting physical wellness, home cleaners, skin care and promoting a deep spiritual awareness. Income opportunities available! Member #: 3886397. See ad, page 48.
MOONDROP HERBALS, LLC
Offering an advanced clientcentered dimension of colonics since 1996: gentle, safe and effective. Eliminate toxins and enhance well-being. Also offering Quantum Biofeedback sessions. I-ACT certified Instructor.
Cottage of Natural Elements 351 Cummings, NW Grand Rapids 616-735-1285 • MoondropHerbals.com
natural awakenings
Your local source for all things natural and botanical. Essential oils, bulk herbs, tea, hand-crafted bath & body products, raw ingredients, containers, local artwork, unique gifts. Practitioner discounts. Space rental and artisan consignment. See ad, page 22.
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YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS Marilyn York Independent Distributor 1-877-436-2299, ext. 2 YoungLiving.org/NaturalHealth4u
THE HEALING CENTER
Become an Independent Distributor. Discover the high potency of therapeutically authentic essential oils from Young Living. Enhance your own health, as well as others who seek holistic wellness options. Free training. See ad, page 19.
HAKOMI THERAPY KEN PORTER CST, CHT
Naturopathic/Holistic Practitioners and retail health store. Natural health consultations, classes, oils, h e r b s , h o m e o p a t h y, hypnosis, foods, candles, crystals, books, CD’s, massage, reflexology, emotional clearing, raindrop therapy, foot detox, DOT/CDL health cards for truck drivers. See ad, page 17.
A SENSE OF FLOW
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.
HEALING SERVICES THE REMEDY HOUSE
Jodi Jenks Natural Health Practitioner, Reiki Master 616-443-4225 TheRemedyHouse.org Certified in bodywork, lymphatic drainage, raindrop therapy, CranioSacral, reflexology, iridology, natural health consultations including a zyto bio-communication scan. Emotional clearing with essential oils and energy work, reiki, Energy Touch. See ad, page 31.
HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER THE WELLNESS FORUM 616-430-2291 WellnessForum.com
Barbara Zvirzdinis, WK, CMT 616-581-3885 ASenseOfFlow.com Certified Matrix Energetics Practitioner, Certified Wholistic Kinesiologist, 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.
HOMEOPATHY BOB HUTTINGA PA-C
332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com A Certified PA since 1976, Bob Huttinga practices both traditional and homeopathic care. He finds the cause and the homeopathic remedy. Most insurance accepted, except Priority Health, Blue Care Network or Medicaid. See ad, page 17.
LIFE COACH
Educational programs for personal health improvement. Workplace wellness programs. Wellness Forum Foundation focused on school nutrition and children’s health. National conferences.
West Michigan Edition
Bob Huttinga PA-C & Rev. Barbara Huttinga 332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com
HOLISTIC HEALTH
3355 Eagle Park Dr. NE Ste. 107, Grand Rapids 616-262-3848 BodyAndSoulGR.com
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HEALTH / WELLNESS CENTER
LIA COACHING AND CONSULTING Pamela Gallina, MA CMC 616-433-6720 PamGallina@LIAConsulting.org LIAConsulting.org
Pam works with highly – motivated individuals as they focus on their complex life agendas and aim for their very best life-work balance. This provides a powerful framework for building more effective relationships while maintaining a balanced and fulfilling personal life. See ad, page 34.
NaturalWestMichigan.com
MASSAGE THERAPY BODY BIZ, INC.
Rick Hayhurst Wellness Services & Education 100 Blue Star Highway, Suite D, Douglas 269-568-5556 or 888-489-9660 Info@BodyBizInc.Biz • BodyBizInc.Biz Welcome to Community Massage at Body Biz, Inc. The Massage School in Douglas, Michigan, where students gift their time to raise money for our Scholarship Fund. Your $40 donation is used for tuition assistance. Your donation at work means future jobs for students who, with your help, can improve personal circumstance through short-term training for a long-term career! For your donation, you’ll receive a 55 Minute Student Massage Therapy Session for stress management and/or to reduce soft tissue pain and dysfunction. See ad, page 48.
BODY BIZ, INC.
Rick Hayhurst Wellness Services & Education 100 Blue Star Highway, Suite D, Douglas 269-568-5556 or 888-489-9660 Info@BodyBizInc.Biz • BodyBizInc.Biz As a Clinical Massage Therapist with 25 years of training and experience, Rick Hayhurst supports patients back to health from a whole person perspective. Through following conversational and visual cues, each session is a unique journey of discovery inviting underlying traumas to be revealed. Sessions are about creating positive change, or healing, and may include any or all of the following tools: traditional massage and bodywork, guided imagery, wellness and energy coaching, quietude, breath work, work with colors, and specific vibrational frequencies or energies. See ad, page 48.
DYNAMIC FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC & MASSAGE THERAPY Jaci Timmermans, MT 4072 Chicago Drive, Grandville 616-531-6050 DynamicChiro.com
Offering Swedish massage with integrated techniques, chosen specifically for your unique body. Relieve those tired and sore muscles and rejuvenate. Call for on-going monthly specials and discounts.
HARMONY ‘N HEALTH
Mary De Lange, CCT., LMT. 1003 Maryland Ave. NE, Grand Rapids 616-456-5033 HarmonyNHealth.net Over 24 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 33.
ONCOLOGYLMT
Dania Vandermeer, LMT 3234 S. Westnedge Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49008 541-325-1429
Licensed Massage Therapist offering 5 years experience in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Chinese Cupping, Pregnancy and newly trained in Oncology Massage. Personalized Massage experience with stretching homework to provide balance and stress management.
MEDITATION/ENERGY WORK BODY BIZ, INC.
Rick Hayhurst Wellness Services & Education 100 Blue Star Highway, Suite D, Douglas 269-568-5556 or 888-489-9660 Info@BodyBizInc.Biz • BodyBizInc.Biz Meditation is an opportunity to receive energy, or vibratory frequencies, that can support you in your daily life. If you’re managing stress, pain, or the various demands of life, meditation can support you by bringing in the energies needed to nurture and nourish each aspect. As we meditate, together we’ll balance our bodies, clear unneeded and unwanted energies and traumas and then go on a journey to receive the desired vibratory frequencies. See ad, page 48.
MIDWIFERY FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY SERVICE, INC.
PERSONAL GROWTH IN THE HEART COUNSELING, PLLC Laurie Schmit, LMSW Grand Rapids, 49505 616-426-9226 Facebook.com/InTheHeartCounseling
Transformative counseling, workshops, energywork, breathwork, rebirthing and emotional clearing, all with confidential, caring support. Collaborative, active and affirming approach for adults wanting to break free and move into true authentic living. Close to downtown Grand Rapids.
SALON SERVICES CJ’S STUDIO SALON
5286 Plainfield Ave, NE, Grand Rapids 616-364-9191 CjsStudioSalon.com
BVI SCHOOL OF AYURVEDA Ruth Small, Ph.D., Director 269-381-4946 Ayurveda@SambodhSociety.us AyurvedaMichigan.org
School of Ayurveda. State licensed. Certificate program for healthcare professionals, doctors, nurses, yoga teachers, wellness educators, massage therapists, holistic health specialists, chiropractors, dieticians and those seeking to learn selfhealth-care. Instructors highly qualified (B.A.M.S.).
SKIN CARE LAKESHORE NATURAL SKIN CARE 10500 Chicago Drive Holland Twp • Zeeland 231-557-3619 LakeshoreNaturalSkinCare.com
Specializing in advanced, customized skin care with Elina Organics. Facials, body treatments, needle-free Mesotherapy, TriPolarRF, DermaLaser, Facial Hydratherapy, Oxygen Facial Therapy, LED, microdermabrasion, bamboo massage, Raindrop, reiki and more. See ad, page 35.
An award-winning hair stylist with 30 years advanced education, that uses and sells organic hair care products as well as uses a professional line of organic hair color. Ionic Detox Foot Baths also available.
SCHOOL / EDUCATION BODY BIZ, INC.
Rick Hayhurst Wellness Services & Education 100 Blue Star Highway, Suite D, Douglas 269-568-5556 or 888-489-9660 Info@BodyBizInc.Biz • BodyBizInc.Biz Remember those days at Summer Camp where you were with your friends all day long; where you had classes, but it didn’t feel like school; where you were enriched by experiences unique to camp; where you look back fondly on the memories? Massage School is very much like summer camp. New friends, new experiences, and new skills; all the while, discovering new parts of yourself! Flexible schedule and financial plans available! See ad, page 48.
THERMOGRAPHY ADVANCED THERMAL IMAGING OF WEST MICHIGAN Julie Bennett 616-724-6368 AdvancedThermalImagingllc.com
Thermography is a safe, tested, painless, and effective procedure providing information for breast cancer risk assessment, breast cancer prevention and early detection, possible hormone imbalance, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, musculoskeletal inflammation, and neurological problems.
Patrice Bobier CPM Hesperia: 231-861-2234 Jennifer Holshoe Grand Rapids area: 616-318-1825 FullCircleMidwifery.com In private practice since 1982 - specializing in home birth and a team approach. Over 1,550 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. Free initial consultations including prenatal check-up.
Success is finding
satisfaction in giving a little more than you take. ~Christopher Reeve natural awakenings
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Start Your New Path become a MASSAGE THERAPIST
Learn from industry experts about a rewarding career in Massage Therapy!
Touching Lives, one Body aT a Time Call Today for an Appointment! ClassEs offErED...
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Call: 269.568.5556 or 888.489.9660 or Visit us at: 48
West Michigan Edition 100 Blue Star
BodyBizInc.biz
to lEarn morE!
NaturalWestMichigan.com Highway, Suite D, Douglas, Michigan 49406 • info@bodybizinc.biz