Natural Awakenings Magazine ~ February 2017

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February 2017 | West Michigan Edition | NaturalWestMichigan.com natural awakenings

February 2017

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A V OYA G E TO W E L L - B E I NG Book by Oct. 24TH for Best Rates & Availability

MARCH 11 - 18, 2017

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MICHAEL GREGER, M.D. Hailed as “the conscience of the food movement” by TIME Magazine, Baur is co-founder & president of Farm Sanctuary, an activist, popular speaker & author

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Founder of the Physicians Commitee for Responsible Medicine; author of Food for Life & Power Foods for the Brain; active health advocate

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contents 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 and services that support a healthy lifestyle.

12 globalbriefs 14 ecotip 16 SACRED PASSAGE 19 healingways

Conscious Dying as a

Transformative Healing Journey 20 fitbody 12 22 consciouseating 19 IN THE O-ZONE 24 wisewords Oxygen Therapy Heals a Host of Ills 26 inspiration 28 healthykids 16 20

FIT FOR LIFE 30 greenliving How to Stay Healthy, 14 32 chironews Flexible and Strong 34 naturalpet 4 1 calendar 22 INDOOR KITCHEN 45 naturaldirectory GARDENING Easy-Grow Microgreens Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more

by Linda Sechrist

by Valerie Burke

by Aimee Hughes

advertising & submissions 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.

NEWS BRIEFS & ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Email articles to: Publisher@NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for articles is the 5th of the month prior to publication. Submit News Briefs online at NaturalWestMichigan.com. Deadline for News Briefs is the 12th of the month prior to publication.

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Are Big on Nutrition

by Barbara Pleasant

22

24 TRANSFORMING THE

WAY WOMEN RELATE TO MEN

An Interview with Alison Armstrong

by April Thompson

26 KISSED BY KINDNESS

by Emily Esfahani Smith

28 KEEP DECAY AWAY Kids Do Best with Holistic Dentistry

28

by Linda Sechrist

30 SUSTAINABLY

STYLISH HOME

Relax into Nurturing Furnishings

by April Thompson

34 HEART-TO-HEART WITH A HORSE

Their Gentle Empathy Helps Us Heal

by Sandra Murphy

natural awakenings

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letterfrompublisher

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his month’s theme of Conscious Dying brought to mind my father’s death in 1991. He and I were close and I cherish the blessing of having six months to say a proper goodbye while learning more about the process of moving on, for which I will be forever grateful to our wonderful hospice care worker. She kindly spoke to our family about the natural process the body was undergoing so that it seemed less of a scary mystery.

contact us Publisher/Editor Pamela Gallina Editors S. Alison Chabonais Linda Sechrist

He had hospice care at home the last two months. Having returned to school then where I was taking a Native American literature class, I liked to stop by after school to read to him from the books like Crow and Weasel by Barry Lopez about how the crow flies from village to village carrying the stories of the people. Just so, family and friends dropping in to perch by his bedside told their stories, laughed and cried and let Dad know he was well loved.

We learned things about his life we’d never glimpsed before.

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. © 2017 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.

After Dad’s death I’d be driving an open cockpit car inherited from him or just walking along and I remember my own rather dramatic, close encounters with crows and felt again a wonderful closeness with my dad, like he was right there next to me. I felt such comfort sensing his presence still loving me. To this day whenever a group of crows fly near, I think of Dad and wonder what message is winging its way to me.

One passage I continue to find comforting in Crow and Weasel is: “Remember only this one thing,” said Badger. “The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other’s memory. This is how people care for themselves.”

To blessed, conscious living,

COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABILITY Natural Awakenings is locally owned and operated.

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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West Michigan Edition

Pamela Gallina, Publisher

Magazine of West Michigan

NaturalWestMichigan.com

NaturallyWestMI

NaturallyWestMI

Natural Awakenings Magazine of West Michigan

newsbriefs Inspired LifeGR Conference returns in 2017

T

he 2016 InspiredLifeGR Conference was a great success. Over 120 members of our Michigan community came together to inspire and be inspired by alternative healthcare professionals and businesses to gain knowledge about alternative ways of healthy living.

The InspiredLifeGR Conference returns on February 25 and 26, to the Wege ballroom at Aquinas College, to challenge participants to deepen their awareness of what true whole-ness means.

Founded by holistic health advocates, Kelly Hassberger, Chris Wheeler and Mary Johnson, this event will help participants understand that the physical makeup of our bodies is much more than meets the eye. Conference topics will include healing therapies such as: meditation, breath work, reiki, energy touch® and the ways nutrition affects us on an energetic level and will include 8 speakers, 2 panel discussions and multiple exhibitors.

“When we think about health and wellness we think of the mainstays such as: working out, sleep and nutrition.

When you think about real whole-ness, you have to consider other aspects of health including: mind, emotions, spiritual wellness and support systems. The 2016 conference was intended to inspire participants to explore alternative health practices towards total wellbeing. The 2017 conference will build upon where we left off and inspire attendees to deepen their awareness in all aspects of total body whole-ness.” – Dr. Kelly Hassberger, ND.

Leading local health experts will share how the connection of breath, energy, community, movement and mindset impact and benefit physical health. These interactive presentations will guide participants towards recognizing the root cause of conditions and dis-ease.

Event Cost: $160 ($100 student rate, email proof of enrollment to info@inspiredlifegr.com) For tickets, or sponsorship information visit: InspiredLifeGR.com See ad page 6.

Pilgrim Spirit Tours announces cultural immersion tour to China

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he Traditional Chinese Medicine Tour scheduled May 4 through 14 will provide not only immersion into one of the world’s oldest cultures, but it will also allow participants to gain insights into ancient Chinese medical treatments and procedures still practiced today.

Offered by Pilgrim Spirit Tours, an expression of Extended Grace, the tour will include visits to the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, a hutong as well as to a traditional Chinese hospital that practices acupuncture, massage, and herbal medicine. Qiyunshan Mountain, which is a holy peak of Taoism, and a visit with a Taoism priest area also on the agenda.

Additional highlights are meeting with scholars or a senior doctor of Xin An medicine, tai chi with Yijinjing master Wu Xinhua, visits to ancient villages, and spectacular scenery.

Commenting on an earlier Pilgrim Spirit Tours trip, Chrys Moelter-Gray says, “I’m thrilled I was able to go on this journey of a lifetime. I learned and lived so much in two weeks that will take me the rest of my life to express.”

The fee is $5,999 per person and includes airfare from Grand Rapids, all transportation, all accommodations, and most meals. A minimum of six participants is required with a maximum of 12. The reservation deposit of $100 is due Feb. 15. The deposit is refundable only if minimum participation is not met by Feb. 15.

For more information, send an e-mail to barbara@ extendedgrace.org or call 616-502-2078. See ad page 7.

Inspiring Women’s Herbal Conference in Wisconsin

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he sixth annual Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference, Honoring the Wise Women of the Past, Present and Future, will bring together international herbalists and authors for a gathering of the feminine June 9 through 11 at Camp Helen Brachman, in Almond, Wisconsin.

Speakers Tammi Sweet, Ubaka Hill, Lisa Ganora, Whapio and Robin Rose Bennett are just a few of the presenters in more than 60 workshops and plant walks. Kids Camp and Teen Spiral offer unique programming for the next generation of herbalists.

Three-day in-depth classes leading up to the conference include Clinical Herbalism, with Tammi Sweet; a Radical Doula program with Whapio, of the Matrona; and a Botanical Drawing Art Immersion, with Wendy Hollender.

Three-hour pre-conference workshops include Food and the Hunger for Connection, with Jessica Prentice; Herbal Pharmacy: Outside the Box Preparations, with Lisa Ganora; Healing Our Strong and Tender Hearts Spiritually, Emotionally and Physically, with Robin Rose Bennett; Music as Medicine, with Ubaka Hill; and Eldership, Peacekeeping and Holding Transformation, with Whapio. natural awakenings

February 2017

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newsbriefs

The conference village offers personal growth workshops, singing, dancing, plant walks, nourishing meals, swimming, campfires and magical “in-between” times. A Red Tent communal space invokes the spirit of generations of women and celebrates women’s inner wisdom.

Sponsored in part by Natural Awakenings magazine. For more information, visit MidwestWomensHerbal.com. Enter to win a free full conference ticket, including meals and lodging, at nachicago.com/CHI/Contests/. See ad page 23.

Resolve To Not Go On A Diet In 2017

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ieting can lead to obesity, disordered eating and eating disorders. Southwest Michigan Eating Disorder Association (SMEDA) will hold their annual fundraiser to raise funds for treatment and education for people suffering from eating disorders.

As we continue move into the New Year, reminders are everywhere that change and resolutions are in the air. Businesses are advertising the latest protein powder, newest fitness equipment and fancy gear to support every facet of the diet industry. For 2017 make this the year you resolve not to diet, because diets don’t work. For millions of people, this quick buy-in becomes the ultimate in short lived commitments. Let’s take the word diet itself, the first three letters spell the word, die. Diets are designed to phase out,

often very quickly, leaving behind the behaviors and habits that delivered each person to the body they live in today.

Instead of trading a battery of behavior for a brand new start, with enormous societal pressure, this is a great time to truly look inward and evaluate how you can honor your body, behavior and health.

Research has shown that chronic dieting can lead to disordered eating including binge eating, skipping meals regularly, self-induced vomiting, obsessive calorie counting, self-worth based on body shape and weight, misusing laxatives or diuretics, fasting or chronic restrained eating.

According to Sandra Aamodt, author of Why Diets Make Us Fat: The Unintended Consequences of our Obsession With Weight Loss, dieting can actually lead to obesity as well as disordered eating patterns. For some people, disordered eating patterns lead to full blown eating disorders including Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia Nervosa.

Reject the pull of the diet industry— every person deserves the powerful compassion of gradually learning to honor their body in a natural and powerful way. Learning to balance energy, body and lifestyle is the gift that each of us deserve.

To celebrate not dieting as well as to mark National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, the SMEDA will be holding a fundraising and community outreach event on February 11, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon. The event, at Riverview Launch in Kalamazoo, is a Coffee Tasting and brunch featuring many of our area’s premier coffee roasters. A silent auction of themed gift baskets, perfect for Valentine’s Day gift giving will also be part of the event. Education on eating disorders and community resources will be available. All funds raised at this event will support better treatment and outreach for people suffering from eating disorders in southwest Michigan.

Tickets for the event are $35 and can be purchased at the door and online at:southwestmichiganeatingdisorders.org/ new-products

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China

Traditional Chinese Medicine Tour May 4 - 14, 2017

*

Air from Grand Rapids, all accommodations, transportation and most meals — $5999 Highlights include: 

Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Hutong Visit



Traditional Chinese Hospital with acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine



Meet Chinese Medicine scholars or senior doctor of Xin`An Medicine



Tai chi with Tai chi Yijinjing Master--Wu Xinhua



Qiyunshan Mountain, a holy peak of Taoism and visit with Toaism priest



Ancient villages and spectacular scenery

Details at www.pilgrimspirittours.com Minimum of 6 participants required, maximum 12. Reserve your spot with a $100 deposit, returnable only if the minimum is not met by February 15, 2017.

Contact barbara@extendedgrace.org 616-502-2078

Ask about our cultural immersion experiences in: Kenya, Honduras and Egypt.

natural awakenings

February 2017

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yoga

healthbriefs

Infants Breathing Bad Air May Suffer as Teens

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nticipating surgery can be stressful, and many patients suffer from preoperative anxiety, which can cause serious health complications such as hypertension, rapid pulse and sugar metabolism changes. Israeli researchers from the University of Haifa have found that complementary medicine, combined with standard use of anti-anxiety drugs prior to entering the operating room, can significantly reduce preoperative anxiety levels and improve outcomes.

Researchers divided 360 preoperative patients ages 17 and up into three groups: those receiving standard care for preoperative anxiety; those receiving standard care along with complementary therapy, featuring acupuncture, reflexology, individual guided imagery or a combination of the latter two; and those receiving standard care combined with generic guided imagery via a recording.

Anxiety levels were measured preoperatively before and after the intervention on a scale of one to 10, with scores of four or more constituting intermediate or higherlevel anxiety.

The study found that complementary therapy in combination with standard care produced a 60 percent reduction in anxiety, with the mean score dropping from 5.54 to 2.32. Combining standard care with reflexology and guided imagery provided the best relief, reducing anxiety by an average of 4.22 points. Patients receiving only standard care experienced a slight rise in their average anxiety level.

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Reflexology and Imagery Relieve Preoperative Anxiety

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study from the Karolinska Institute of Environmental Medicine, in Stockholm, analyzed data on air pollution exposure and lung function in the first and 15th years of life among 2,415 adolescents in Sweden. The researchers focused on nitrogen oxide in vehicle exhaust and particulate matter from road erosion, using road traffic, topography and weather conditions to classify pollution levels. They compared this data to the level of difficulty the teens experienced getting air through their peripheral airways, termed “resistance”.

The study found that breathing problems increased for teenagers each time their exposure as infants to such pollution increased by 10 micrograms per cubic meter, with the strongest association occurring in male subjects with asthma at age 16. The same increase was not present in relation to their exposure to traffic pollution as teenagers.

Lead author Erica S. Schultz, Ph.D., says, “An increasing number of studies demonstrate the importance of airway periphery for lung health. It’s concerning that the effect from the first year of life seems to be long-lasting, although we don’t yet know the full clinical implications.”

Fenugreek Eases Menopause

randomized, doubleblind study from the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Research, in Bangalore, India, has found that an extract of fenugreek husk (FHE) called FenuSMART can provide relief from common symptoms of menopause, including night sweats, insomnia, headaches, hot flashes and mood swings.

Researchers studied 88 menopausal women between the ages of 45 and 58. Half were given one gram of FHE per day for 90 days while the other half received a placebo. The study measured the impact the supplement had on the subjects’ menopausal symptoms through weekly telephone sessions.

At the study’s end, approximately 32 percent of the women in the FHE group reported no hot flashes, while the placebo subjects saw the frequency of theirs reduced from three to five per day to one or two. Additionally, the subjects that took FHE experienced a 57 percent reduction in night sweats, a 68 percent abatement of mood swings, a 75 percent drop in insomnia and 58 percent fewer headaches.

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Chinese Herbs Lessen Postpartum Blues

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study from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, in Beijing, reports that Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) can be an effective treatment for patients with postpartum depression. Traditional Chinese Medicine advocates herbal treatments based on underlying issues.

Researchers analyzed data from 47 clinical trials encompassing 3,795 participants between the ages of 18 and 43 suffering from postpartum depression. The study pooled results into three categories: CHM versus placebo, CHM versus routine treatments (antidepressants) and CHM plus routine treatments versus only routine treatments.

The study found that using Chinese herbs combined with antidepressants is the most effective approach, noting that CHM is a safe, effective alternative for patients unable or unwilling to take antidepressants.

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February 2017

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healthbriefs

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September 2016 survey from Packaged Facts, a division of Market Research Group, LLC, showed that as much as 20 percent of the U.S. adult population is cutting back on supplement use due to consumption of fortified foods. Despite this trend, nutritional supplement sales nationwide are projected to increase by $1.5 billion in just two years to $16 billion in 2018.

Fortified foods contain extra nutrients added by manufacturers such as cereal fortified with iron, milk with added vitamin D and pasta enhanced with folic acid.

While the original intent of these additives was to improve nutritional deficiencies in people without access to foods that naturally contain these nutrients, consequences now include an overabundance of particular nutrients for some and poor food choices due to a dependence on fortified foods for others. Ingesting naturally occurring nutrients in unfortified foods allows each nutrient to be absorbed together with the other vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients contained in that food, enabling them to work together within the body, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

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Aloe Vera Juice Allays Diabetes

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esearchers from the David Grant Medical Center, at Travis Air Force Base, in Fairfield, California, have found that oral doses of aloe vera can reduce fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which indicates the average glucose level over the previous three months, in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Data from nine clinical studies that included 89 diabetes patients were analyzed. Findings suggest that patients with a fasting blood glucose level of more than 200 milligrams per deciliter experienced the greatest benefits from the aloe vera.

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Fortified Foods Cut Into Supplement Use

The Wonders of Bone Broth

by Amy Nadeau

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n the last couple of years, bone broth has been in the news a lot, touted as the newest and latest culinary and health fad. Food manufacturers have started selling it in co-ops and grocery stores as if it’s a brand new phenomenon. In fact, human beings have been making and consuming bone broth since the discovery of fire.

Just a few generations ago, our grandparents would have used the leftover bones, skin, meat and fat from the family dinner to make rich, flavorful broth, stretching the weekly food budget into healthful and warming soups and stews, long before the availability of salt-ridden, commercially made canned broths and chemically laden cubes of dried broth flavoring composed mainly of MSG. Homemade bone broth is full of powerful nutrition making it a true superfood.

Some of the benefits of sipping longsimmered broth are: Improved Gut Health - Bone broth contains copious quantities of gelatin, which lines the mucosal lining of the stomach, soothing and healing the digestive tract and easing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and acid reflux.

Healthy Skin - Collagen is another compound found in abundance in bone broth. One of the many things collagen does is keep the skin supple and firm. Bone broth also contains hyaluronic acid—the same thing found in many expensive skin creams—which promotes healthy skin and cell rejuvenation from the inside.

Relief from Arthritis Pain - Two components of bone broth—glucosamine and chondroitin—are very effective arthritis

remedies. These substances help build and maintain the integrity of cartilage, the rubbery substance acting as a cushion between the joints.

Easily Absorbed Minerals and Amino Acids - When bones are simmered for many hours, the minerals and amino acids are liquidated, making them very easy for the body to absorb.

Bone broth is very rich in the minerals magnesium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus, as well as the amino acids proline, arginine, glycine and glutamine. The benefits of these minerals and protein promote good health throughout the body.

HOW TO MAKE BONE BROTH Bone broth is very easy to make. The most difficult thing about it is waiting for it to be finished so that you can drink it. Here is a basic tutorial for chicken bone broth: • Use a combination of fresh meaty bones like chicken backs, necks and feet as well as leftover bones from roasted chicken. It’s best to use bones from animals that have been naturally raised without hormones or antibiotics, pastured and organic if possible. You will need about five pounds of bones.

• Place the bones in an eight quart pot with a large onion cut in half, a whole head of garlic cut in half, three stalks of chopped celery, three chopped carrots, three bay leaves, one tablespoon of black peppercorns and a small bunch of parsley.

• Add ¼ cup of raw apple cider vinegar. The vinegar helps to pull all of the goodness out of the bones.

• Cover the bones and vegetables with cold filtered water to about three inches below the top of the pot. Place the pot on the stove and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down so that the broth is just barely simmering and let it cook for at least eight hours. The longer you cook the bones the better, so you can leave them on the stove for up to 24 hours, adding water as needed to keep the level of liquid about four inches below the top of the pot.

• Strain the bones and vegetables out of the stock and then chill the stock. A layer of fat will form on top of your broth which can be removed just before use.

• Your bone broth is now ready. Use it to make soups and sauces or to just warm up with a pinch of salt and drink. For an added health bonus, stir a spoonful of coconut oil into the hot broth. This is a great way to start a cold winter morning in Minnesota—with a warm cup of bone broth every day.

Amy Nadeau is a nutritional therapist, personal chef/caterer and educator who has worked in the food industry for more than 30 years. Nutritional therapy is an individualized approach to wellness and disease prevention through a traditional diet based on whole, unprocessed, nutrient-dense foods, proper supplementation and lifestyle changes. Nadeau works with people locally in the Twin Cities metro area as well as virtually. For more information, call 612-239-7525, email ChefAmyNutrition@gmail.com or visit ChefAmyNutrition.com.

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February 2017

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

Heave Ho

Abandoned and lost fishing gear such as traps, crab pots and nets litter the ocean floor in coastal areas worldwide, continuing to attract, entrap and kill fish and other marine life. The Associated Press reports that global nonprofits, governments and companies are engaged in efforts to retrieve and recycle as many of the items as possible to protect the environment, save marine life and reduce hazards to marine navigation.

A 2009 United Nations report estimated there are 640,000 tons of discarded fishing nets deep below the ocean surface worldwide. Recommended solutions include degradable panels on traps that break down and allow trapped marine life to escape. International agreements prohibit dumping fishing equipment at sea; yet in England, small vessels can amass landfill charges of roughly $700 per year, giving them an incentive to ditch broken gear.

Pascal van Erp, a Dutch diver alarmed by the amount of equipment he’s encountered, founded the Ghost Fishing Foundation to tackle the issue. He says, “It’s found in all seas, oceans and inland waters at all depths, along the beach and under the sand. I don’t think the problem can be resolved completely, but we can keep it from getting worse by showing the problem to the public and the authorities.” Industry experts and scientists estimate that commercial fishermen annually lose about 10 percent of their traps due to bad weather.

NRG Stadium: Big Game Sustainability

Free Fuel

Hydrogen Conversion From Water Making Gains Scientists at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, in Stockholm, report that they have finally unlocked a major barrier to exploiting a renewable energy source through extracting pure hydrogen from water. Because the best-performing catalysts for electrochemical oxidation, or “water splitting”, are expensive precious metals, the research team led by KTH Professor Licheng Sun developed molecular catalysts for water oxidation with an efficiency approaching that of natural photosynthesis comprising common, abundant elements, all of which could help change the economics of large-scale hydrogen fuel production.

Meanwhile, Daniel Nocera, a professor of energy at Harvard University, and Pamela Silver, a professor of biochemistry and systems biology at Harvard Medical School, have co-created a system that uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria to produce liquid fuels. Their paper, whose lead authors include post-doctoral fellow Chong Liu and graduate student Brendan Colón, was recently published in Science.

“This is a true artificial photosynthesis system,” says Nocera. “Previously, people were using artificial photosynthesis for water-splitting, but this is a true A-to-Z system, and we’ve greatly exceeded the efficiency of photosynthesis in nature.”

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Abandoned and Lost Fishing Gear Pollutes the Seas

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What a winning team... sustainability and football! NRG Stadium is home to the NFL’s Houston Texans and the host site of this year’s biggest game (Super Bowl 51), on Sunday, February 5. This beautiful, and relatively new, state-ofthe-art sports and entertainment venue was constructed with sustainability and environmental impact in mind. Built

by NRG, the leading integrated power company in the U.S., the stadium is one of four facilities nestled within the 350-acre NRG Park complex. The park offers numerous sustainable ecofriendly features, including nearly 600 solar panels, four solar panel canopies and an electric vehicle parking area featuring NRG EVgo charging stations.

NRG Stadium also has integrated LED field and stadium lighting, making the facility more energy efficient. In fact, it is one of the first professional football venues to install LED field lighting.

The NRG company has received several awards for its industry leadership and nationwide “econrg” initiatives, which are fashioned and designed to meet the challenges of climate change, clean air and the protection of natural resources.

For more information, visit nrgpark. com/nrg-stadium or nrg.com.

Veggie Tales

Selfies Promote Animal Cruelty and Death Zachary Crockett, of Pricenomics.com, has found that since 2014, 49 people were killed in attempts to take pictures of themselves with wild creatures. Although there are no statistics on how many animals have been harmed due to selfies, wildlife organizations such as Care for the Wild International are appealing to the public to stop using animals as props.

Visitors to China’s Yunnan Wild Animal Park lured captive peacocks from their enclosure and grabbed them by their tails. The birds died as a result. Another group of people at a beach in Argentina was filmed mobbing a baby Franciscana dolphin, an endangered species, while taking pictures, resulting in its death likely through shock and severe dehydration from being removed from the water for too long.

Due to the high demand by tourists to take pictures with wild animals, special photographic settings are popping up in Mexico, Europe and Morocco. However, the Association for British Travel Agents stated that no legitimate sanctuary would allow animals to be used as photo props.

Fungus Among Us Genetically Altered Mushrooms Approved for Consumption

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Watch the Birdie

Bevan Young/Shutterstock.com

A recent study from the University of Western Australia has found that plants regularly react to and emit sounds through a series of clicks produced by their roots, and that such inter-flora communication may be essential to their survival. Evolutionary biologist Monica Gagliano, who made the discovery, listened to the roots of young corn plants and found that they regularly produced sounds in the range of 220Hz, a frequency audible to the human ear.

Plants have been shown to influence each other in many ways through nanomechanical oscillations on a molecular scale. Gagliano remarks, “Scientists also know that plants use volatile chemicals to communicate with each other.”

Another biological research team under the direction of Professor Olaf Kruse, Ph.D., scientific director of the Center for Biotechnology at Germany’s Bielefeld University, has shown that green algae not only engages in photosynthesis, but also has an alternative source of energy: It can draw it from other plants (Nature Communications).

Gagliano comments, “Considering that entire forests are all interconnected by networks of fungi, maybe plants are using fungi the way we use the Internet.”

Repurposed Pallets

Texas Company Turns Wood Waste into Furniture Nearly 2 billion wooden pallets are currently in circulation in the U.S., consuming around 50 percent of the country’s annual hardwood harvest and representing more than 90 percent of the world’s shipping waste. PalletSmart, in Fort Worth, Texas, has been making furniture, home decor and custom projects out of repurposed pallets and other reclaimed material since 2012.

Company co-founder John Zaskoda says, “As with any business, we are looking to grow, but want to be smart about it. For now, we are staying put, taking custom residential and commercial orders and producing top-notch furniture.”

He sees the endeavor as proof that with hard work and consistency it’s possible to make trash into treasure.

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Plants Communicate with Sound

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is a new method of editing genomes of farm animals and food crops.

White button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) that have been genetically modified to delay the natural browning process are the first CRISPRedited organisms to receive approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Yinong Yang, a plant pathologist from Penn State University, crafted the modified mushrooms by targeting the family of genes responsible for the browning effect seen in produce when sliced and exposed to oxygen.

Yang was able to reduce the browning enzyme’s work by 30 percent and was granted approval from the USDA because no foreign or altered DNA was integrated into the mushroom genome. The department only assesses whether there’s a risk that the new modified variety of an organism could become a weed or “pest” to other plants.

The mushrooms may still be subject to Food and Drug Administration or Environmental Protection Agency regulations. The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine are in discussions about developing a new set of rules for the biotech industry in the next five to 10 years.

Source: Nature.com

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February 2017

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ecotip Laundry List

Your Journey Towards Wellness Begins Here

(269) 366-4146 AlignedCare.net 14

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Following eco-friendly laundry tips can save on energy, water usage and utility bills, making it good for both the planet and the bank account. The laundry results, too, may be better for some loads.

RealSimple.com advises that 90 percent of the energy consumed while running a wash load is used to heat the water, so the average household can eliminate as much as 350 pounds of carbon emissions and save about $40 annually by turning the knob to cold. It also notes that some protein-heavy stains, like perspiration and blood, can become more set into the fabric when washed in hot water, which can also shrink synthetic fibers.

For sweat stains, DIYNatural.com suggests combining two tablespoons of cream of tartar, a few drops of lemon essential oil and water to make a paste. Mix and spread it on the stain, and then rub it in and let dry. Another prelaundry option is to pour or spray a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide onto the stain and then soak for about 30 minutes.

Mildly soiled laundry doesn’t necessarily need hot water for adequate cleaning, reports the Mother Nature Network. It advises pre-soaking heavily soiled laundry in cold water for about an hour, adding four tablespoons of baking soda to loosen dirt and grime.

“Responding quickly to stains always helps,” says Steve Boorstein, a Boulder, Colorado, clothing-care expert on his ClothingDoctor.com website. “For washable clothing, flush the stained area with cool water to remove any solid matter. Never rub the stain in order to avoid driving it deeper into the fabric.”

Conserve more energy as well as water by always assembling a full load of laundry. Appliance performance can also make an eco-difference. Energy Star estimates that water savings of between 40 and 75 percent can be achieved with front-loading machines instead of top-loaders. Line drying wins over a clothes dryer in terms of freshness, energy use and kindness to the environment.

Start with biodegradable and phosphate-free detergents made from plant- and vegetable-based ingredients.

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Cool Tips to Save Money and Energy

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February 2017

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PASSAGE Conscious Dying as a Transformative Healing Journey

by Linda Sechrist

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hen properly viewed, the thresholds of all of life’s transitional moments can be both emotionally and spiritually rewarding.

Whether it involves marriage or birth, job loss or illness, gleaning insight from the experience can yield fresh perspective on how to live life more fully today, if we remain mindful and lovingly attentive through the process.

Like birth, death is a transition we can wisely prepare for. In recent years, compassionate individuals and grassroots movements have emerged to help us conduct ourselves, heal and grow from losing a loved one or face our own passing. An increasing number of initiatives support a new model in palliative care that treats death not as a failure, but an expected aspect of

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the human experience. Each in its own way advocates for a grace-filled passage supported by dignified, caring and compassionate practices.

Profound Shift

The Conscious Dying Institute, in Boulder, Colorado, aims to restore death and dying to its natural place in the sacred circle of life. Its end-of-life literacy curriculum and certificate training programs are helping to create a new, wisdombased culture of healing teachers and end-of-life doulas that serve among the frontline caregivers and companions providing the comfort people want and need most. Founded by Tarron Estes, a healing artist, poet, Caritas coach and transformational learning educator, the institute is grounded in love, spiritual

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SACRED

openness, compassion and a universal field of consciousness.

“Training is open to nurses, physicians, clinicians, caregivers, family members, healthcare teams and anyone else interested in exploring what it means to die consciously,” says Estes.

It attends to the provider’s inner awakening and helps them strengthen their ability to give spiritual, emotional, physical and practical care to anyone, helping to relieve pain, regardless of diagnosis.

“Rather than curative care, it’s all about seeking to increase precious, meaningful moments, a sense of spiritual sanctity, beauty, interconnectedness and appreciation of life for the families and patients they serve. An end-of-life doula at bedside assures that families and loved ones can focus on what is most important,” explains Estes, who believes that our true nature lives within us as an unblemished jewel.

Helping individuals become comfortable talking about death is the work of Dr. Karen Wyatt, of Dillon, Colorado, founder of the End of Life University, an online interview series with end-of-life care experts. She provides a trustworthy loving environment in monthly death cafés. The author of What Really Matters: 7 Lessons for Living from the Stories of Dying expands the conversation through related articles and podcasts at eolUniversity.com.

Death cafés benefit from Wyatt’s experience as a hospice doctor. “There is never an agenda. Of the 10 to 12 people that generally join in, one is always a new caller, recently awakened to the idea of conscious dying or their own mortality. They’re seeking information and someone to talk to because family and friends aren’t interested.

Some already embracing their mortality wish to explore their thoughts with others. Some callers join just to listen,” advises Wyatt.

Because death in the West has become a commercialized, medical event with funeral home packages the norm, Wyatt recommends the National Home Funeral Alliance to those interested in a deeper understanding of options and resources for a gentler model. The nonprofit, grassroots movement and its members, such as Sacred Crossings, in Los Angeles, seek to restore the lost

Exploring the Mystery

For more than 40 years, philosopher, psychologist and physician Raymond Moody’s life work has been acknowledging the mysteries and validating the unexplainable events at the end of life. His seminal bestseller Life After Life appeared in 1975. Lisa Smartt’s mentorship by Moody led them to co-found FinalWordsProject.org. She’s also authored Words at the Threshold, a study of the nonsensical, metaphorical and paradoxical language and visions of the dying.

Moody and Smartt agree that by better understanding the unique language patterns related to end of life we can share more deeply and build bridges with our beloveds throughout the dying process. “When we do so, we offer greater support to the dying and ameliorate our own experience of loss as they cross the threshold,” remarks Smartt. Like William Peters, founder of the Shared Crossings Project, in Santa Barbara, California, they caution that compassionate etiquette during events at death is important.

“Assume that levels of awareness exist in the dying so that our energy and presence are felt and our voices heard,” advises Moody. “Respect your words and actions, regardless of the person’s state of consciousness. Be a compassionate listener and validate their vision. Don’t pretend to intellectualize or explain anything.”

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art and healing ritual of a home funeral by preserving the rights of families to provide home after-death care.

Supporting and educating interested families is the mission of Sacred Crossings founder Rev. Olivia Rosemarie Bareham. The certified death midwife and home funeral guide draws from her experiences as an auxiliary nurse and hospice volunteer to assist families with end-of-life planning, death midwifery and arrangements for an at-home vigil and funeral, as well as cremation and burial choices.

“We also offer sacred singing to help ease a loved one’s transition. Music by a bedside soloist or choir before, during and after death can be deeply relaxing and comforting, and even provide pain relief,” advises Bareham.

We rediscover that in order to die well, we must live well. Dying gracefully is the result of a mindful, day-to-day journey—a culmination of informed choices, honest discussions and deference to the hallowed fragility of nature’s life-death cycles. ~William Rosa

Dianne Gray, president and executive director of the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation, also owns Hospice and Healthcare Communications. “The dying often wish to leave here surrounded by peace and harmony. They choose to let go of contentiousness and often wish family members would do the same, which is facilitated by mapping out Advance Directives according to the final wishes of the patient,” says Gray.

Questions she frequently addresses in public talks and Death Over Dinner party conversations include: the necessity of finishing unfinished business; bringing closure to unresolved relationship issues; finding words to express our compassion; soothing the sense of impending loss; and managing to take only love with us to the other side, yet leave enough of it behind to help loved ones through their grieving process. She cautions that no matter how well we plan for death, things don’t always go as planned.

“Sometimes no matter how many advance care conversations have taken place, discord can dismantle the best laid plans. It requires the tough work of compassionate communications. Friends and families need to remember that this is the patient’s end-of-life experience, not theirs. It is possible to find peace in the midst of conflict, understanding that the one leaving overwhelmingly wishes for a peaceful passing, including peace within the family.”

The Death Over Dinner initiative, founded by Michael Hebb in 2013, has been hosted by groups in more than 20 countries to help people engage in conversations on “how we want to die”—the most vital and costly discussion Americans aren’t having (DeathOverDinner.org/stories).

Practical Plans

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and its 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy program offer a free downloadable national Guide to Financial Decisions: Implementing an End-of-Life Plan at Tinyurl.com/EssentialPlanNeeds.

It includes basic descriptions of issues that arise as we age beyond retirement and details the critical documents needed for the individual, dependents, property, assets, estate planning, wills and trusts. It also addresses issues related to advance, treatment and do-notresuscitate directives, insurance, types of funerals and costs, and Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits. Guidelines suggest consulting with a certified public accountant or personal financial planning specialist.

The latest innovation is the blessing of a living funeral, a celebration of life while the honoree is present to hear the eulogies, praises and farewells before they depart.

AgingWithDignity.org provides a downloadable Five Wishes document, a popular advance directive, or living will that covers personal, spiritual, medical and legal aspects. It’s easy to use and can serve as a family guide to prompt conversations about personal care preferences in the event of serious illness.

New York Times journalist Mark Leibovich wrote about how Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy chose to spend his final weeks in pursuit of a “good ending.” As death approached,

natural awakenings

February 2017

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As many as 80 percent of us say we want to die at home.

Writing Our Legacy

~CNN

by Linda Sechrist

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

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I

n their books Caring for the Dying and Having the Last Say, authors Henry FerskoWeiss and Alan Gelb, respectively, advocate reviewing our life and writing a short narrative to explore its value as we approach our final act of Earth’s play.

Processing experiences from the past and what they mean at this juncture presents us an opportunity to achieve greater clarity and integrate them in a positive way in our life story. According to Fersko-Weiss, it has the power to reduce depression, increase life satisfaction, promote acceptance of self and enhance integrity of spirit, no matter what phase of life we are in.

The harvesting of life experiences should reflect our true humanity—flaws and all—and what we’ve learned through mistakes and failures, as well as triumphs. Conveying a compelling mythic family story, values we’ve lived by and our embrace of meaningful relationships will help the people we know understand that, for all its difficulties and complexities, life is worth living.

Our narrative, whether recorded as an essay or scripted video, becomes an act of praise for the gift of the life we’ve led, imperfect as it may have been. It can also serve as a potential keepsake that passes along life lessons and values from one generation to another.

Gelb suggests that summing up what’s most important to us in 500 to 1,000 words can be an experience to savor and enjoy at a reflective time in life, an opportunity to capture our legacy and even serve as our own eulogy.

When we want a loved one no longer here to feel near to us and hear them one last time, it’s a way for them to literally have the last say, he adds.

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Kennedy told friends that he wanted to take stock of his life and enjoy the gift of his remaining days with the people he loved most. As a result, he continued enjoying his morning ritual of reading newspapers while drinking coffee, playing with his dogs, watching James Bond movies with his wife and holding family dinners and sing-alongs near nightly. He reveled in his bedside view of Nantucket Sound, sailed when he could and ate lots of his favorite ice cream. His mantra was, “Every day is a gift.”

“As our time winds down, we all seek comfort in simple pleasures—companionship, everyday routines, the taste of good food, the warmth of sunlight on our faces,” remarks Boston’s Dr. Atul Gawande in Being Mortal. “If we strive in our final months for independence, companionship, mindful attention, dignity, wisdom, joy, love and freedom from pain, we have the power to make those days less miserable, confusing and frightening.”

In these many ways, we can manage to gently embrace and tenderly navigate life’s final transition with grace and love.

healingways

In the O-Zone Oxygen Therapy Heals a Host of Ills

A

s safe and trusted as hyperbaric (high pressure) oxygen therapy, ozone therapy also harnesses the healing power of oxygen. Since the 1950s, its popularity has increased around the world.

Today, more than 45,000 physicians in 50 countries administer ozone therapy to address ailments ranging from endodontic infections and herniated disk pain to arterial plaque and Lyme disease.

According to the American Academy of Ozonotherapy, the widespread medical use of ozone began in Germany and has since spread across Europe as an alternative treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The academy notes that allopathic physicians caution against ozone therapy largely due to misinformation and a lack of understanding regarding its efficacy, side effects, expense and safety, even though published international studies as well as U.S. clinical trials have shown it can be used instead of more expensive and dangerous methods such as surgery or pharmaceuticals.

Therapeutic ozone has a sound safety record and no toxic effects have been observed from proper clinical use (Journal of the American Medical Association). Occasional reported side effects are slight

weakness, dizziness or drowsiness for short periods of time during or after treatment. Rare allergic skin reactions like nettle rash are possible with local applications, although occurrences are mild and quick to resolve.

Ozone is an oxidant.

Ozone therapy, like exercise, creates health benefits by delivering measured doses of oxidative stress that activate the body’s internal antioxidant systems. The primary natural enzyme in ozone therapy is superoxide dismutase, which stimulates another enzyme called telomerase that keeps DNA young by maintaining the telomere at the end of each DNA strand.

A study from Cuba’s University of Havana of herniated disc patients found that ozone therapy provided both oxidative protection and pain relief. Such properties make medical ozone therapy a safe and effective treatment for many infections.

It’s been shown to be particularly effective for sinus and endodontic infections (Iranian Endodonics Journal), osteonecrosis of the jaw, ear infections, hepatitis (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine), cystitis, HIV, intestinal and blood infections and Lyme disease. Staff of the Sophia Health Institute, in Woodinville, Washington, report remarkably fast results treating such chronic complex infections by

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by Valerie Burke

following intensive intravenous (IV) ozone protocols, with individualized systemic support.

Ozonotherapy is a prime treatment for infections, especially viral. Leading experts in oxidative therapy Dr. Robert Rowen, who practices in Santa Rosa, California, and Dr. Howard Robins, director of The Healing Center, in New York City, had good success administering treatment during the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone. In addition to many patients helped, “It’s been reported that ozone therapy rapidly cured five patients with Ebola during the outbreak,” says Rowen.

Ozone therapy is now used to relieve arthritis, neuropathy, degenerative joint and disk disease, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. A pilot study led by the Universidad de Granada, Spain, saw improvement in the physical and depressive symptoms of fibromyalgia.

“Ozone is also effective in treating osteoarthritic knees and, via injection, arthritic hips,” says Rowen. Other individuals describe their experiences of overcoming various diseases using ozone therapy at YouTube.com/user/ RobertRowenMD/videos.

One of the most impressive evidence-based applications is relief from the pain of herniated disks, particularly lumbar. More than one meta-analysis deemed ozone treatment an effective and extremely safe procedure, with pain and functional outcomes equal to or better than surgery and far lower complication rates (less than 0.1 percent), along with significantly shorter recovery times (Pain Physician; American Journal of Neuroradiology).

According to the Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, oxygen/ ozone therapy used in dentistry offers three fundamental forms of applications to treat oral tissue—ozonated water, ozonated olive oil and oxygen/ozone gas. Ozonated water and olive oil have proved to be an ideal delivery system.

Non-toxic and simple to generate, ozone therapy is coming of age as a viable option for both the treatment and prevention of illnesses.

Valerie Burke is a freelance health writer in Olympia, Washington, versed in integrative medicine with a master’s degree in nursing science.

natural awakenings

February 2017

19

FIT FOR LIFE How to Stay Healthy, Flexible and Strong

by Aimee Hughes

W

“

on

Natural Awakenings Magazine of West Michigan

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hen thinking about the best forms of exercise as we enter midlife and beyond, we should first clarify some myths and preconceptions,” says Michael Spitzer, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, biochemist, fitness expert and author of Fitness at 40, 50, 60 and Beyond. “In our society, there’s a mindset that once we pass our 40th year, it’s all downhill from there.

Our metabolism slows and we gain weight, lose mobility and flexibility, deal with more aches and pains, experience shortness of breath and the list goes on.”

According to Spitzer, this all can happen, but it’s more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than destiny. “Research with older people at both rehabilitation and nursing centers tells us that the human body wasn’t designed to begin a major decline in function until age 70, barring major illness or accidents along the way. Most of individual decline is due to lifestyle choices, not nature’s plan.”

Spitzer teaches his clients that weight training is essential for every age group. “After age 30, most people lose between 0.5 to 1 percent of lean muscle fiber per year, which directly affects the basal metabolic rate. Much like a car engine, the more lean muscle mass

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we have, the more energy our ‘engine’ uses, even when idling. If not prevented, by age 50, for example, we may have lost as much as 20 percent of the lean muscle fiber we had when we were 30.”

He also recommends regular cardiovascular exercise. “Do a good round of cardio inside your target heart rate zone for 30 minutes at least three times a week. It’s vital for lung and heart health, the primary benefit of cardio exercise as opposed to just burning calories.”

“For those in their 40s, I recommend high-intensity interval training such as burst training, along with a mind-body practice like power yoga or budokon,” says Nelson Pahl, of Northfield, Minnesota, managing editor of Longevity Times. “Vinyasa yoga, tai chi and cycling are ideal during our 50s, while hatha yoga, tai chi, or qigong and hiking work well in our 60s.”

“Most of my clients are 70 and up,” notes Gwyneth Jones, an active aging specialist at the Carriage Club, in Kansas City, Missouri, who also trains physical therapists, rehabilitation specialists and movement educators. “They enjoy mixing up their daily exercise routines and look forward

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fitbody

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to the support and encouragement of their classmates. Discussions include lighthearted wordplay and questions about anatomy and physiology.”

Pahl urges everyone at every age, “Consume only whole foods, always.”

He rarely drinks alcohol and begins every day with yoga and qigong.

“Also, be sure to stay well hydrated,” adds Jones. “This will keep your joints healthy, skin clear and moist, digestion more efficient and detoxification of organ systems more effective. Add fresh lemon if you like.”

Physical fitness is only one aspect of aging gracefully. Spiritual growth lifts and lightens any mental and emotional load, while supporting physical well-being.

Spitzer also recommends, “Reading, learning to play a musical instrument, crafting activities, computer strategy games or doing other

activities that require concentration or new problem-solving skills; all help the mind stay tuned up and sharp.” It’s always healthy to break out of normal routines and comfort zones, venture into new worlds, volunteer and do what makes our heart soar.

Jones advises, “Choose activities that feel good, refreshing, include people you enjoy, and are done in pleasant environments. Don’t forget to revel in sunshine or a good book on a rainy day.

Listen to music, play music, sing and dance every day.”

Maturity brings benefits we can embrace with delight when we bring loving attention and happy novelty to life.

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.

natural awakenings

February 2017

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INDOOR KITCHEN GARDENING

Easy-Grow Microgreens Are Big on Nutrition

by Barbara Pleasant

NaturallyWestMI

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ast, fun to grow and packed with flavor and nutrition, tender young microgreens can go from seed to table in as little as a week. Close cousins to edible sprouts, microgreens are grown in potting soil or seed-starting mixes instead of plain water. They customarily grow beyond the sprout stage until they have produced a true leaf or two. After that, harvesting is a simple matter of snipping off fresh greens.

“You don’t need a green thumb to grow microgreens, only patience and persistence,” says Mark Mathew Braunstein, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, author of Microgreen Garden. Even first-timers can expect good results. For example, the thin shoots grown from popcorn taste like a more vibrant form of sweet corn, and pea shoots work well in wraps, salads and virtually any Asian dish.

Like high-fiber wheatgrass, “Microgreens are great for juicing, either by themselves or mixed with other veggies,” says Rita Galchus (aka Sprout Lady Rita), proprietor of The Sprout House, in Lake Katrine, New York, which sells organic seeds for microgreens and sprouts. “You can add a handful of microgreens to a smoothie to ramp up the nutrition without changing its taste or texture,” she notes.

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Good Picks

The seeds of dozens of plants from alfalfa to wheat can be grown as microgreens. If seeking to maximize nutrition, put red cabbage and cilantro on the planting list. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Quality Laboratory, in Beltsville, Maryland, tested the nutritional properties of 25 microgreens; red cabbage, cilantro, garnet amaranth and green daikon radish had the highest concentrations of vitamin C, carotenoids, and vitamins K and E, respectively. Microgreens generally provide three times as much nutrition per weight as the same food eaten in its mature state.

“People underestimate the intense flavor of microgreens and might try planting mustard greens or radish varieties even if they don’t like spicy flavors,” say Elizabeth Millard, an organic farmer in Northfield, Minnesota, and author of Indoor Kitchen Gardening.

For beginners, large seeds that sprout quickly such as sunflowers, buckwheat and snow peas are good choices because they produce big, robust sprouts with mild flavor.

Many people also grow microgreens for their pets. “Cats tend to prefer mild, sweet-tasting microgreens such as red

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consciouseating

Clean Greens

Microgreens grow so fast that there’s little time for them to run into trouble.

Commercial growers use large trays, but home gardeners can also use pretty coffee mugs or tofu boxes rescued from the recycling bin. Drainage holes in the container bottoms work well when growing beets or other slow-sprouting seeds, but are less important for fastgrowing sunflowers or wheat.

Work only with organic seeds.

Seeds sold for sprouting or bulk grains from a local health food store cost much less than the larger, robust seeds produced for gardening. Soak seeds in water overnight to jump-start germination. Place an inch or so of potting soil or seed-starting mix in the container, and then scatter the plump seeds on top. “A common beginner’s error is to sow seeds too thickly,” says Braunstein.

Sown seeds should not touch each other, with most spaced about onequarter-inch apart. Spritz with water and cover with a plate or plastic wrap.

At the first signs of sprouting, water and move the pot to a sunny spot near a bright window or within two inches of a bright grow light. Dribble in small amounts of water to maintain moisture

Organic Seed Sources Check with these online companies for any seeds unavailable locally.

SproutHouse.com, 800-777-6887 SproutPeople.org, 415-640-1280 OrganicSproutingSeeds.com akepong srichaichana/Shutterstock.com

clover, alfalfa and flax seed,” advises Galchus. “They also love grasses grown from hard wheat, whole barley and rye. Cats cannot digest the grass, but use it to bring up indigestible matter that might be lodged in their stomachs.”

over the next few days. To harvest, cut in bunches about one-half inch above the soil line. Microgreens store well in the refrigerator for a couple of days, but are best eaten fresh.

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February 2017

23

wisewords

Transforming the Way Women Relate to Men An Interview with Alison Armstrong

by April Thompson

F

or 25 years, relationship expert Alison Armstrong has worked to evolve society by changing the way women relate to men. Her yearning to understand the opposite sex was born from personal challenges, including a failed marriage in her 20s. She began studying men on her own, at the age of 30, beginning with the question, “What if men are responding to women?” What started out as a personal inquiry has become a lifelong pursuit and she’s shared her findings with millions of men and women worldwide.

Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of PAX Programs, addresses gender differences, sexuality and relationships.

She has written three books, including The Queen’s Code, and speaks to interpersonal insights through workshops, webinars and teleclasses, including free recordings and articles at UnderstandMen.com.

Armstrong and her second husband have been happily married for 23 years and now live in Colorado.

Which core differences between men and women cause everyday misunderstandings?

The biggest source of mischief is denying that differences exist at all. Both men and women tend to assume that each is a version of the other, which creates significant misunderstandings.

We interact with our partners by doing 24

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or saying what works for us. When that doesn’t get the response we’re expecting, we usually draw incorrect conclusions and act in counterproductive ways.

For example, men and women relate to feelings differently.

Women often make life decisions based on their feelings about something or someone.

To men, who tend to rely on facts and set aside feelings, this approach can seem irrational, and relating to women as irrational has predictably bad outcomes.

Where does a couple best start to heal the communication divide?

The most powerful thing men and women can do is to address misunderstandings with openness and curiosity rather than assuming we know why our partner did or said something. We should ask ourselves, “What if there’s a good reason for that?” Don’t assume that what’s true for her is also true for him, and vice versa.

Once a couple chooses to give each other the benefit of the doubt, a few simple changes can further open up communication. Saying “I need” instead of “I want” will make a huge difference. Because being “needy” is considered unattractive, women avoid this word, not realizing that it connects with a man’s instinct to provide.

When asking for something, it’s important to say what it would

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provide us. For him, there needs to be a reward equal to or greater than the energy he’ll have to expend. Years ago, I described to my husband in colorful detail the experience of falling into the toilet in the middle of the night; he took it upon himself to make sure that never again happens to the women he loves.

What’s the secret to navigating partners’ differing needs and drives for physical intimacy?

The secret is to stop leaving our sex lives to the whims of biology, or making decisions based on whether we “feel like it.” Waiting for a time when both partners feel like it, the kids are at Grandma’s and we’re not too tired leads to sex happening too rarely. Delicious sexual partnerships begin when we decide to stop waiting and instead work on creating the circumstances that put us in the mood.

One example is learning to offer “dessert”. Using the desire for food as a metaphor for the desire for sex, we’re often trying to eat together when only one partner is hungry. But dessert sounds delicious anytime; examples might be massage or kissing or other physical activities. Find out what reliably perks up a partner’s interest and put that on the menu.

How can a woman satisfy a man’s desire to provide without sacrificing her independence?

American culture tells women that being low-maintenance matters most.

Yet, when we allow our partners to fulfill our needs, it can help us unlock our own greatness, as well as theirs. Men are driven to provide for their loved ones and denying them such opportunities takes away their life’s pursuit, which can be emasculating.

By asking for what we need, women create opportunities for partnership, satisfaction and fulfillment for both partners. When we allow the men in our life to contribute to us and learn to receive graciously, we discover that it doesn’t diminish our power.

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

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inspiration

by Emily Esfahani Smith

P

sychologist Ty Tashiro reports in The Science of Happily Ever After that only three in 10 couples remain in healthy, happy marriages.

Psychologist John Gottman, in New York City, has studied couples for four decades seeking to understand successful relationships. He and his psychologist wife, Julie, founded The Gottman Institute that helps couples build and maintain loving, healthy relationships based on scientific studies.

Using data from his Love Lab at the University of Washington, John separated thousands of couples into two groups: masters (still happy after six years) and disasters (separated or chronically unhappy in their marriages).

One of Gottman’s studies watched 130 newlywed vacationing couples and found that partners regularly made bids for connection, requesting responses

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from their mate. Choices to “turn toward” or “turn away” revealed the level of engagement and respect in the relationship. Couples that divorced within six years had shown “turn toward” bids a third of the time while couples still together responded to their partner’s emotional need nine times out of 10.

An integral element is the spirit couples bring to the relationship: kindness and generosity or contempt, criticism and hostility.

“There’s a key habit of mind that the masters have,” Gottman explains. “They are scanning the social environment for things they can appreciate and express thanks for. Disasters are scanning for partners’ mistakes.”

People focused on criticizing miss 50 percent of positive things their partners are doing and see negativity when it’s absent. Deliberately ignoring their partner

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Masson/Shutterstock.com

KISSED BY KINDNESS

or responding minimally to opportunities for small moments of emotional connection devalues and kills a relationship.

Kindness, conversely, glues couples together, making each partner feel cared for, understood, validated and loved. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found that the more someone receives or witnesses kindness, the more they will be kind themselves, creating upward spirals of love and generosity.

Practicing kindness during a fight is vital. Letting contempt and aggression spiral out of control during a conflict can inflict irrevocable damage. “Kindness doesn’t mean that we don’t express anger,” Julie explains, “But it informs how we choose to express it. You can either throw spears or explain why you’re hurt and angry, which is the kinder path.”

Kindness can also solidify the backbone of a relationship by being generous about our partner’s intention and avoiding misinterpreting what’s motivating their behavior. “Even if it’s executed poorly, appreciate the intent,” Tashiro advises.

Clearly, if we want to have a stable, healthy relationship, exercise kindness early and often and let a spirit of generosity guide happy years together.

Emily Esfahani Smith is the author of The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters. Connect at EmilyEsfahaniSmith. com or on Twitter @emesfahanismith.

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Kids Do Best with Holistic Dentistry

by Linda Sechrist

A

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616-604-0480 28

West Michigan Edition

ccording to a 2012 New York Times story, “Preschoolers in Surgery for a Mouthful of Cavities,” more dentists nationwide are recommending that children be administered general anesthesia at hospitals due to the severity of decay.

Such extensive dental work on children is largely preventable. Wise parents encourage their children to develop healthy habits such as brushing teeth at least twice a day; eating fewer sugary snacks and brushing afterwards; limiting fruit juice intake to four ounces a day; and sucking on bacteria-killing xylitol lollipops. Such a routine combined with an initial dentist visit by their first birthday can reduce dental costs, including hospital treatment for extreme decay that can cost thousands of dollars.

Other ways to reduce the too-common incidence of six to 10 childhood cavities include breastfeeding only until baby teeth erupt; avoiding transmission of an anaerobic oral bacteria carried in saliva that’s the leading cause of tooth

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decay; early interceptive treatment to avoid crowding of teeth; and consulting a nutritionist.

Breastfeeding

Andie Pearson, a doctor of dental medicine and owner of Gaimed Dental Spa, in Wilmette, Illinois, tells mothers that in the descent through the birth canal, their baby ingests the bacteria necessary to digest breast milk. As teeth later emerge, their gut bacteria also become able to digest solid food. “By the time a child has all 20 baby teeth, between 18 and 30 months, they no longer have the microbial ecology for digesting breast milk and should be weaned. Researchers from the University of CaliforniaBerkeley have found that the more frequently a mother breastfed her child beyond the second birthday during the day, the greater the child’s risk of severe early tooth decay,” says Pearson.

Development of facial muscles and bone structure is dependent on chewing and gnawing. “Teething rings facilitate chewing that builds stronger

Kiselev Andrey Valerevich/Shutterstock.com

your

teeth and creates better alignment,” she explains. If childhood tooth growth is delayed, Pearson often suggests a chiropractic adjustment if all other developmental areas are normal. “It can help the body relax so that teeth erupt naturally,” she advises.

Mouth-to-Mouth Susan Maples, a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Total Health Dentistry, in Holt, Michigan, notes that Streptococcus mutans is the leading reason children are hospitalized today. “Cavities are formed when the rate of decay of the teeth caused by the lactic acid produced by the bacteria exceeds the rate of repair initiated by the phosphate and calcium ions in saliva,” she explains.

The unwanted bacteria is transmitted through saliva, which is why adults should avoid licking spoons or tasting foods before offering them to children between the ages of 1 and 3. “This type of bacteria thrives on sugar, so children shouldn’t have lots of sugary drinks and sweet treats,” says Maples. Mouth kissing presents a similar risk.

Early Intervention

Kris Kammer, a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Gums of Steel Oral Hygiene Transformation, in Middleton, Wisconsin, learned early in his career to avoid mercury amalgam fillings and early extractions of bicuspids for orthodontic purposes, and that xylitol reduces buildup of plaque bacterial biofilm on teeth. A study published in the Journal of Dental Research, supported by findings of a metastudy appearing in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry “shows that regular use of xylitol over six months significantly reduces the Streptococcus mutans population,” he says.

He also suggests early interceptive treatments which can be performed by general dentists. “Parents don’t need to wait for children’s teeth to come in crooked and crowded.

These issues can be addressed with a removable appliance that expands the arch in the roof dome, influences bone growth and makes room for incoming teeth,” says Kammer. Early proper diet may also help prevent

crowding of teeth as well as malocclusion, or misalignment of upper and lower teeth, according to Pearson.

Role Modeling “Parents play a pivotal role in their children’s dental hygiene. They influence how their children care for their teeth, behave in the dentist’s office and feel about dental visits,” advises Pentti Nupponen, a doctor of dental medicine and owner of the Halifax Center for Holistic & Cosmetic Dentistry, in Halifax, Pennsylvania.

Children should be made familiar with dentistry and taught that they are responsible for their dental hygiene from around age 1. Nupponen explains his gentle method: “I encourage mothers to bring their children along for dental appointments so that they can watch me from their mother’s lap. Generally, by the time they are alone in my chair, they aren’t frightened.”

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

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Sustainably Stylish Home Relax into Nurturing Furnishings

by April Thompson

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W

e all relish a cozy nest, whether that means lightfilled views, the embrace of form-fitting sofas and chairs or plush rugs that snuggle bare feet. A beautiful, comfortable home that reflects our personal style and embodies our values can be achieved by learning the origin of furnishings and investing in sustainably made pieces that will stand the test of time, say experts.

“Furnishing a home ethically doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort or style,” says JD Doliner, a business consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina. Doliner’s home is graced with 18th- and 19th-century antiques, organic cotton mattresses, comfy custom-made chairs from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood and handmade wool rugs certified childlabor-free by GoodWeave. “They give me peace of mind as a humanitarian and environmentalist,” she says.

Signs of Progress

Debbie Hindman, marketing director for Associates III Interior Design, in Denver, is working with increasingly knowledgeable clients like Doliner asking for sustainably sourced products. Manufacturers, in turn, are upping transparency about product origins, realizing it can provide a competitive edge, she notes.

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“We look at the story behind a product and make sure that it aligns with both our company’s and clients’ values,” says Hindman, a co-author of Sustainable Residential Interiors. “We ask questions like, ‘Are workers paid a fair wage? Was the product made with local materials? What is the story behind the company’s founding?’”

The Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) coalition of manufacturers, retailers and designers partners with businesses and informs consumers to increase environmentally responsible choices in the marketplace. Its 400 members commit to sustainability and transparency in their business practices and submit an annual action plan showing such efforts. Headquartered in Edenton, North Carolina, the council strives to minimize industry carbon emissions and remove unsustainable materials and harmful chemical ingredients from residential and commercial furnishings.

“The residential furnishings industry frequently takes raw materials from one continent, processes and manufactures on another to be consumed on yet another, leaving a huge environmental footprint,” says Susan Inglis, the council’s executive director. As the third largest consumer of wood, these manufacturers bear significant responsibility for preserv-

melis/Shutterstock.com

greenliving

ing the world’s forest ecosystems and fighting deforestation, reports Inglis.

Savvy Shoppers

To make informed decisions, furniture shoppers need to ask how, where, from what and by whom a potential purchase is made. Lisa Beres, a healthy home expert and former interior designer in Newport Coast, California, and author of Just Green It! advises not taking product claims at face value. Ask if the product has earned a certification like the Global Organic Textile Standard for fabrics or GreenGuard, which verifies low levels of chemical emissions.

Not all natural products are sustainably produced; cotton, for example, is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. Look for certified organic cotton as a responsible textile choice. Beres also suggests renewable fiber sources like bamboo or hemp. “Natural latex is a sound alternative to foam fillers, offering good support and dust mite resistance,” says Beres.

Specific animal-based products like down feathers used in bedding can provoke allergies and be produced inhumanely, Beres cautions. Products certified to the Responsible Down Standard, which protects the wellbeing and welfare of geese tapped for their manufacture, offer a humane choice for fluffy down comforters.

Look for well-crafted furniture made from locally sourced, reclaimed

or FSC-certified wood instead of particleboard, which usually contains formaldehyde and may be made from unsustainably harvested wood.

Sustainable furnishings are both better for the planet and can make a home distinctive. Natural pieces like a countertop made from reclaimed, rough-hewn wood provide a unique beauty that mass-manufactured pieces can’t match and also showcase the material’s natural form and feeling.

Her firm promotes durable, timeless pieces over trendy furnishings that a client might discard in a few years.

When it’s time to retire a piece of furniture, find a new home for it, whether by donating to a charity or reselling through a consignment store.

While cutting corners on home furnishing choices can be tempting, especially when shopping on a budget, remember that today’s quality pieces may become tomorrow’s cherished heirlooms.

“Some will spend money on the latest gadget, but hesitate to invest in a great piece of furniture or a quality mattress they’ll spend much of their life sitting or sleeping on,” says Beres. “It’s not a splurge; you’re investing in your health and protecting Earth’s precious resources. It all comes full circle.”

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

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oday’s mass-produced furniture may contain hidden chemicals such as formaldehyde-based adhesives, flame retardants and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) linked to serious health issues. Researchers from the Natural Resources Defense Council found 45 toxic chemicals in indoor dust, 10 of which were present in at least 90 percent of households sampled. “These chemicals enter the air as materials in the furnishings break down,” explains healthy home expert Lisa Beres. “Because we spend an average of 90 percent of our lives indoors, the exposure to harmful chemicals is troubling.”

Beres advises shoppers to be wary of synthetic fabrics, which not only consume nonrenewable resources like petroleum, but may also contain toxic dyes, heavy metals or chemicals like Teflon. Foam and other fillings in mattresses, sofas and chairs are often a hidden source of off-gassing VOCs.

The Sustainable Furnishing Council’s seal of approval and member list at SustainableFurnishings.org are a good place to start to find companies committed to offering healthier alternatives that include transparency and responsibility in their manufacturing practices.

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February 2017

31

chironews Vaccine Choice, Informed Consent

By Dr. Dan Gleason

A

s soon as someone chooses to become a doctor’s patient and a doctor agrees to become their physician, a relationship is formed and number factors come into play. Many things are spelled out in the signed consent form or are dictated by law. Other elements like the Hippocratic Oath are assumed. Informed consent, based on the moral and legal premise of human autonomy, is the foundation of this doctor patient relationship. As the patient you must give your voluntary consent for treatment for most medical tests and procedures. The legal term for failing to obtain informed consent before performing a test or procedure is called battery, which is a form of assault.

Who is responsible for the informing? Who is responsible for the accuracy of the information? The doctor should provide an explanation, data and resources for further inquiry; basically supporting her or his reasoning. Medical doctors are trained in medicine. In addition to their formal training, they are influenced by the pharmaceutical industry in many subtle and overt ways. As a patient, you

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need be pro-active and do your own research, so that you are confident in your decision to proceed or opt out.

This is where a second opinion, particularly from a different type of practitioner, can be invaluable. The Internet is an amazing source of information, both accurate and inaccurate. While it may be daunting to wade through the maze of conflicting opinions, it is ultimately you, the patient who bears the responsibility and deals with the results and consequences.

One of the most pressing, current examples, of how informed consent comes into play, is in deciding whether or not to vaccinate yourself or your children. State laws often mandate vaccines as a prerequisite to attending public schools or to work in certain government jobs. There is disagreement, often vigorous and heated, as to whether vaccines are safe and effective.

The pro-vaccine view is available at: Center for Disease Control (CDC.gov), which also lists vaccine ingredients including mercury, aluminum, MSG, Roundup, formaldehyde and human embryonic tissue (WI-38).

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Two vaccine-choice resources are: The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC.org) and Vaccines Revealed (VaccinesRevealed.com). Those who question the safety and effectiveness of vaccines are often labeled “Vaccine Deniers”, much like “Climate Change Deniers”, which is really not a good analogy, as these two issues are not at all comparable. There are thousands of scientists measuring temperatures worldwide, studying polar ice caps, glaciers, ocean currents and rising ocean levels, while conclusive studies on vaccinated vs. unvaccinated populations have not been done, repeated and confirmed. Most parents who resist the full vaccine schedule are well educated and have done their research.

They have made this incredibly difficult decision, after much soul searching and they have decided which, if any, vaccinations make sense for themselves and their children. And, what about “herd immunity” the public health argument?

This hypothesis has not been proven.

Outbreaks of infectious disease still occur in populations with 98% vaccination rates. Parents and vaccine–questioners argue that adequate studies have not been done in order to make these kinds of major decisions.

No matter where you fall on the pro- vs. anti-vaccination spectrum, informed consent is the foundation of the doctor patient relationship. Doctors must respect your right to make the final decision about any and all medical interventions for yourself and your children.

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”.

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natural awakenings

February 2017

33

HEART-TO-HEART WITH A HORSE

Their Gentle Empathy Helps Us Heal

by Sandra Murphy

P

hysical therapists have long used horses to help patients improve balance or strengthen core muscles.

Now they’re helping to teach empathy.

Given a horse’s significant size, sometimes distracting surroundings and the need for safety, humans need to learn

the animal’s non-verbal cues, and to regulate their own. Close interaction without riding is proving to be helpful for those dealing with addictions, trauma and grief, and for employees to improve their communication and teamwork skills.

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naturalpet

co-founders of Equus, in Santa Fe, work with both individuals and organizations. Strachan emphasizes, “This isn’t magic. Horses reflect our feelings back to us. If we’re nervous, the horse will be more skittish.”

“We’ve had executives arrive with cell phones firmly in hand and leave holding soggy tissues instead,” comments Wendorf. “For them, it was unexpectedly emotional.”

For addicts caught up in a debilitating cycle, “Equine therapy gets the brain firing in a new direction,” says Constance Scharff, Ph.D., director of addiction research at Cliffside Malibu, in California. “Patients may say they’re fine when they’re not, but you can’t lie to a horse. They have boundaries; if you’re angry, a horse won’t tolerate your behavior and will walk away.”

Scharff notes, “Equine therapy is complementary to psychotherapy medicine, and one tool we use in approaching addiction. Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can be the underlying issue, so we can address it, to understand why the person became an addict.”

Wendorf relates the story of an 18-year-old client facing body image issues. “Five horses approached her and touched her with their noses on her arms and legs. Where they touched was where she had been cutting herself to try to relieve her emotional pain.”

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“People feel a powerful connection when they let down their defenses and a horse responds,” says Sheryl Jordan, equestrian director at Salamander Resort & Spa, in Middleburg, Virginia. “Our Equi-Spective life lessons program brings self-awareness and the power to better control emotions. During the session, they may hug, pet and cry on the horse, but they leave the corral smiling.”

The program teamed up with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) serving bereaved military families. Kelly Griffith, a surviving sister of U.S. Marine Corps Major Samuel Griffith, points to the power of equine therapy in a video at Tinyurl.com/ Equi-SpectiveVideo.

Susan Wight, a former professional steeplechase rider and ambassador for TAPS in Leesburg, Virginia, says, “My husband was my riding coach. When he passed away, I was numb when facing decisions, but at the session, it felt like one of the horses was the one to choose.

The initial flood of emotions and memories from being around horses again wasn’t pretty, but empathy is a specific language, and I’m grateful for the opportunity. Horses are a huge part of my life.”

At Ranch Hand Rescue Counseling Center & Animal Sanctuary, in South Argyle, Texas, founder Bob Williams considers animal therapy a ministry.

“We rescue abused and neglected farm animals, including horses that come into play when patients are not responding to usual therapies,” he says. “It’s important for damaged people to learn to live in the light, and our partnering with the special needs animals helps put them on the emotional path to health.” The res-

cue’s mission is to provide hope, healing and a sense of security for children and adults that have suffered severe trauma such as abuse, domestic violence and witnessing violent death (Tinyurl.com/ RanchHandRescueVideo).

Riding Beyond’s four-session program, in Ashland, Oregon, is free to women recovering from the rigors of breast cancer treatment. Expenses are covered by donations from the community. German research published in the journal Psycho-Oncology reported that 82 percent of participating breast cancer patients studied displayed symptoms of PTSD following diagnosis.

“They often don’t want to touch or be touched, and have trouble with friendships and intimate relationships; issues that can cripple a woman’s life,” says Trish Broersma, founding director and a certified therapeutic riding professional at Riding Beyond (Tinyurl. com/RidingBeyondVideo). “The medical team that saved their lives doesn’t treat these issues.”

The first client, unfamiliar with horses, met Mystic, who touched her on the site of the former tumor. She says, “Even weeks later, when I brought her image to mind when stressed, sad or even happy, it brought feelings of contentment, peace and well-being.”

Horses have been serving humans in many ways for centuries. Equine therapy shows they have even more to give if we are open to receive.

The most worthwhile thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.

~Robert Baden-Powell

Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

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Sacred Pilgrimage to Egypt with Rae Chandran

March 31 – April 9, 2017 10 days / 9 nights Cost: $3,800 - $4,200 (airfare not included)

T

his magical retreat offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience Egypt with a custom guided program led by internationally renowned channeler and author Rae Chandran that combines nature, history, adventure and spiritual experiences in some of the most magnificent spots in the world.

Experience daily channelings, meditations, intention ceremonies, activations and initiations in power spots guided by Chandran. Some of the places that will be visited include the Great Pyramids (private two-hour visit), Initiation in King’s chamber, Sphinx, Temple of Sekhmet and 7 Gates (private visit), Channeling in Abydos, Sakkara and Memphis, Valley of the Kings and Hatshepsut Temple, Hathor Temple, Alabaster Mosque, Coptic Church and the Cairo Museum, Isis Temple, Temple of Horus and Komombo Temple and many more.

Chandran is a teacher, channeler and energy healer.

He has been on the path of self-discovery for more than three decades and through the awakenings and understandings he has had over these years, he shares these truths to all the people he comes in contact with.

He teaches these truths through the various workshops he conducts in many parts of the world like Japan, USA, Brazil, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Shanghai, India and Vietnam. He also leads people to power spots and power vortexes in countries like Egypt, Israel, Greece and Morocco.

Chandran is the author of five books. The content of all of these books is completely channeled.

Spiritual Retreat in Israel – July 2017

Meditations, Initiations and Channelings

To register for the Egypt or Israel tour or for more information, call Susan Deflavis Winters at 239-340-1036 or email Panguswf@gmail.com 36

For more about Rae West Michigan Editioninformation NaturalWestMichigan.com

Chandran, visit RaeChandran.com

2. Installing the good. Rick Hanson, Ph.D.—psychologist and neuroscientist— suggests stopping for 10 to 20 seconds when something good or beautiful comes up. Dwell on it with all your senses. That simple act changes your brain and begins to build up your happiness circuits.

Born for Our Times: A Guide to Feeding the Good Wolf

3. Exercise—it’s practically a panacea.

4. Eat more plants and fewer crap carbs. If you make your gut bacteria happy and diverse by feeding them well, they will release the neurotransmitters of joy, equanimity and well-being.

by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.

W

e are living in what Mark Twain called interesting times. Polls report that the majority of Americans are experiencing anxiety, depression and stress. If you’re one of them, I want to support the emergence of your Wise Mind. Staying calm in the chaos is the root of wisdom in these challenging times.

Do you recall the parable of the two wolves? A grandfather tells his grandson that all humans have two wolves battling inside themselves. The good wolf is kind, creative, brave and ready to act when the time is right. The other wolf is greedy, judgmental, hateful and filled with fear. The grandson thinks about this and then asks, “Which wolf will win?” The grandfather says, “Whichever one you feed.”

Research in mind-body medicine and positive psychology prove the point. Focusing on the positive can help keep stress in check. But more than that, it helps rewire our mindbody system for resilience, happiness and creativity.

Thinking about change as a time of breakthrough, rather than breakdown, is a basic necessity for staying calm and centered. The late Ilya Prigogine, a mathematician and physicist at the University of Texas at Austin, won a Nobel Prize in 1977 for his Theory of Dissipative Structures. Whether we are talking about an atom or a solar system, disruption leads to re-creation. The energy released when an old system crumbles, frees the energy to reconfigure at a higher level of function. That’s the image to hold in mind during these times of rapid change.

The journey from breakdown to breakthrough is a classic rite of passage comprising three parts: 1. Separation: the ground beneath us gives way and uncertainty prevails.

2. Liminality: the time between no longer and not yet. The old system is defunct but a new one has not yet emerged. This passage is rife with both danger and opportunity.

It is a time for grief, reflection, soul searching, finding allies and mentors, and working together.

3. Return: when the crisis passes, there is a return to an improved level of equilibrium.

The most important skills for navigating the liminal time in which we are living boil down to the care and feeding of the good wolf. Rather than triggering the fight, flight or freeze response in the brain’s amygdala (emotional survival center), staying mindful and present brings an evolutionarily more recent part of the brain online, the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain witnesses without becoming attached and reactive. It is goal directed, clear and capable of mediating the constant internal conversation that goes on inside between the two wolves.

How to fire up your wise prefrontal cortex?

1. Benefit finding. It sure beats fault finding. So if you catch yourself complaining, take a few deep breaths and focus on one thing that is good. At the very least, you are still breathing—that’s certainly a fine thing.

5. Appreciate someone—give them a compliment that is true. You’ll share a smile and that will lift you both up.

6. Find a dog or a cat to stroke and cuddle. Failing that, take care of a plant or two. Give it water, food, love, light. Life loves life.

And... as you start the new year, take a few minutes to retrospect the year that has passed, and give thanks for five things in 2016. Gratitude is the best antidote for stress.

Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., is a Harvardtrained cell biologist, licensed psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of 16 books, living in Santa Fe, NM. Connect with her at JoanBorysenko.com or Facebook.com/ JoanBorysenkoCommunity.

The Sophia Institute will present Borysenko and Born for These Times on February 24 and 25 at Lance Hall, 150 Meeting St., Charleston. The Sophia Institute is a center of learning that provides innovative programs that foster the rise of the feminine, cultivating wisdom and mindfulness, for a more just, sustainable and flourishing world.

Register at TheSophiaInstitute.org/ events/born-these-times.

It’s Not the End of the World: Developing Resilience in Times of Change, Hay House, Carlsbad 2009

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A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell

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February 2017

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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 $200. 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.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1

Guided Meditation and Healing Circle – 7-8pm.

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. Holistic Care Approach, 3368 Beltline Ct, NE, Grand Rapids. Info: laurie@ healinginamerica-midwest.com or 269-908-1016.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4

Prosperity Class – 10-11:30am. Monthly prosperity group meetings are held the 1st Saturday of the month from 10-11:30am. We will listen to a prosperity story, engage in discussion and create affirmations for our prosperity. This meeting will catapult your mind and provide a new way of prosperous thinking. Spirit Space, 3493 Bluestar Hwy, Saugatuck. Info: Call 616-886-2716, thespiritspace@gmail.com Creating Conscious Relationships Workshops – Noon – 5pm. Discover how the Law of Attraction works in relationships. Why relationship patterns continue even when it’s not what you want. The characteristics of a Higher Consciousness Relationship The elements critical to having healthy relationships. A clear understanding of successful communication skills. How we heal our childhood wounds through relationships. $75. Spirit Space, 3493 Bluestar Hwy, Saugatuck. Info: thespiritspace@gmail.com, 616-886-2716.

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.

WEDNESDAY FEBRAURY 8

Identifying and Releasing Trapped Emotions in the Body – 7:15pm. Come learn how certain emotions get trapped in specific organs & will dive into “YOUR” current bodily imbalances and match them to corresponding emotions. We will identify means of releasing these stagnant energy patterns as a way to heal “YOURself.” You will leave with options for cleansing yourself from past trauma that no longer serves you. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids. Contact Heather to register at 616-232-2638.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 9

The Art of Essential Oils – 6-7:30pm. Come learn the chemistry behind the oils, the methods of using essential oils, and how to custom blend oils and the do’s and don’ts with carrier oils. $20 per person. The Remedy House 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids.

Info and register: 616-443-4225.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12

Reiki Share – 1-3pm. Come check out what Reiki is all about, and have a mini session done. Open to those that know Reiki and those that don’t.

Donations welcome. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids. Info and to register 616-443-4225.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16

Wisdom Circle with the Mahavidyas – 7-8:30pm.

The Tantric Wisdom Goddesses--known as the Mahavidyas--will be the subject of a 10 month women’s circle with meetings on the third Thursday January-October of 2017. Each Goddess will be explored as she relates to the stages of a woman’s life. Pre-registration by 1/15 for the series, which will include a book. $15 drop in/$100 for 10 month series. On The Path Yoga, 701 E. Savidge #3 Spring Lake. Info: at OnThePathYoga.com or sandy@ OnThePathYoga.com, 616-935-7028.

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. Donation for local charity. Location:450 Meadow Run, Suite 400, Hastings. Info: laurie@ healinginamerica-midwest.com or 269-908-1016.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 19

Writing Circle – 10am-Noon. 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, 3355 Eagle Park Dr NE, Suite 108, Grand Rapids. Info and Register at VoiceandVessel.com.

Reiki I & II Class – 9am-5pm - Introduction to Reiki, become attuned to the universal energy, learn how to give treatment to self and others and meet your Reiki guide. Class fee is $250. The fee includes a $50 deposit due at registration. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids.

Info and to register call 616-443-4225.

Inspire! Event – 1pm. Celebrating ALL Love is the topic for the February Inspire! and Deeper Dive events. Panelists are Justin Raha, Grand Finale Desserts & Pastries; Jessica Cole Roginson, The Lakeshore LGBTQ Faith Initiative; and Jennifer Boodt and Ashleigh Higgs, Spring Lake High School LGBTQ+. Barbara Lee Van Horssen will facilitate and present the chit-chat. The Rev. Dan Anderson will lead music. Participants will be able to purchase $5 equality stickers to support LGBTQ+ rights.

Donations of used computer equipment and cell phones benefits e-Quip: Technology for People. The gathering includes small-group discussion, music, refreshment, and socializing. Extended Grace, Ferrysburg City Hall building, 17290 Roosevelt Rd, Ridge St entrance. Info: e-mail to barbara@ extendedgrace.org or call 616-502-2078

MONDAY FEBRUARY 20

Power of Being – 6- 8:30 pm. Mondays through March 6. What causes you to feel stuck, trapped or overwhelmed? Do you notice your energy being drained by it all? This class offers information, exercises and tools to answer these questions and more. Learn effective ways to shift your thinking and energy, that unlocks your potential and to live your true self. David Schroeder, LMSW, CPC. $55.

Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada. Info: Unitycsg.org or 616-682-7812, office@ unitycsg.org Writing Workshop – 6-8pm. Get tools and support to discover the stories you carry. All experience levels are welcomed in this 4-¬week series, led by a Certified Leader of the Amherst Writers & Artists Method. An energizing and supportive approach to writing. $125. Voice & Vessel, 3355 Eagle Park Dr NE, Suite 108, Grand Rapids. For Info and Register at: VoiceandVessel.com.

The Power of Being: Unblocking Blocks to Potential – 6-8:30pm. What causes you to feel stuck, trapped or overwhelmed? Do you notice your energy being drained by it all? This class offers information, exercises and tools to answer these questions and more. Learn effective ways to shift your thinking and energy, that unlocks your potential and to live your true self. David Schroeder, LMSW, CPC, Day/Time: 3 Mondays, February 20, 21 and March 6. $55.00.

Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr SE, Ada. Info: www.Unitycsg.org or 616-682-7812.

Deeper Dive – 6pm. provides in-depth discussion of the Feb 19 Inspire! Topic. Celebrating ALL Love, is

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February 2017

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an opportunity for participants to join in small- and large-group discussions of LGBTQ+ issues, how to address them, and how to help solve them. Panelists are Justin Raha, Grand Finale Desserts & Pastries; Jessica Cole Roginson, The Lakeshore LGBTQ Faith Initiative; and Jennifer Boodt and Ashleigh Higgs, Spring Lake High School LGBTQ+. Barbara Lee Van Horssen will facilitate the discussion. Extended Grace, Ferrysburg City Hall building, 17290 Roosevelt Rd, Ridge St entrance. lindabengston@ att.net or616-502-2078.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25

Inspired Life GR – 8:30am-4:30pm. Feb 25 & 26. 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.

Mindfulness & Meditation Class – 3-3:45pm. On the last Sunday of every month Sherry Petro-Surdel from Spirit Space in Saugatuck will join us for a class in enrich and deepen our Mindfulness and Meditation practice. Each month will focus on a different aspect. Please join us at 3:00 pm for a 45 minute practice for only $10.00. Bodhi Tree Yoga & wellness Studio 208 W 18th St, Holland. Info: 616-392-7580 or mibodhitree.com Ancestral Clearing/Emotional Release Class – 1-4 p.m. Learn how to identify and release limiting beliefs and patterns , including ancestral “baggage claim”, so you can live life of freedom, fulfillment and happiness! Essential oils are incorporated, too for MOST powerful release. Grand Rapids. Must RSVP by Feb.14th by calling Ilka at 616-259-7509.

For more info: IlkasHealthyHeaven.com.

Advanced Reiki Class – 9am-5pm. Enhance energy work to a new level. Learn how to perform psychic surgery, and how to set up and utilize a crystal grid with energy work. Class fee is $275. The fee includes a $50 deposit due at registration. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids. Call to register - 616-443-4225.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27

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 Power of Being – 6-8:30 pm. Mondays February 20, 27 & March 6. What causes you to feel stuck, trapped or overwhelmed? Do you notice your energy being drained by it all? This class offers information, exercises and tools to answer these questions and more.

Learn effective ways to shift your thinking and energy, that unlocks your potential and to live your true self.

David Schroeder, LMSW, CPC. $55. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr. SE, Ada. Info: Unitycsg.org or 616-682-7812, office@unitycsg.org

West Michigan Edition

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.

savethedate March 7 Integrative Health Spring Speaker Series – March 7, 14, 21 & 28, 2017 – 6:30pm – 8pm.

Every Tuesday in March. The Donnelly Center at Aquinas College, Universal Health Solutions, Grand Rapids. Info: UHSMI.com

savethedate March 10-12

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26

42

savethedate

MAR Food Sensitivities Plus: Holistic Eye Care

Our Readers are Seeking Providers & Services for Addressing Dietary Concerns & Natural Vision Care

West Michigan Women’s Expo – Fri. 10-8, Sat. 10-8, & Sun. 11-5. Celebrating 19 years!

DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids. For info: KohlerExpo.com

savethedate March 25 & 26 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

savethedate June 9-11 Midwest Women’s Herbal Conference – Honoring the Wise Women of the Past, Present and Future. Speakers: Tammi Sweet, Ubaka Hill, Lisa Ganora, Whapio, and Robin Rose Bennett and many more. Over 60 workshops and Plant walks, Kids’ camp and Teen Spiral. Includes pre-conference classes and workshops. Personal growth workshops, singing, dancing, plant walks, meals, swimming, red tent communal space and more. Enter to win a free full conference ticket, including meals & lodging, at NA/Chicago. com/CHI/Contests. Contest ends Mar 31. Camp Helen Brachman, Almond, WI. For more info: MidwestWomensHerbal.com

NaturalWestMichigan.com

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

616-604-0480

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

Tuesday

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.

A Course in Miracles – 6:30-8pm. 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. Unity Center for Spiritual Growth, 6025 Ada Dr SE, Ada. Info: www.Unitycsg.org.

616-682-7812.

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

Monday Healthy Lifestyle/Weightloss Clinic – 6-7:30pm.

Enroll Now for our 13 week Healthy Lifestyle/ Weight-loss program where you receive personalized coaching from a naturopath to help achieve your goals. Space is limited. $249. The Remedy House 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids. Register by calling 616-443-4225.

Total Control Classes – 6-7:15pm. Looking for a new type of exercise? Total Control is a unique, medically based pelvic health program for women of all ages and fitness levels. The class focuses on core and pelvic floor strength and awareness and includes education on pelvic and bladder health.

This total-body workout incorporates pelvic floor exercises with gentle stretches and strength moves based in yoga and Pilates to improve back, core, and pelvic floor strength. Classes meet for seven weeks: Feb. 6-March 20. $49 with scholarships available. Mercy Health Lakes Village, Harvey St, Muskegon. For info: millermarla76@gmail. com 231-727-7944.

A practice of A Course in Miracles – 7-8:30pm.

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.

Beginner Yoga series – 7:15-8:15 pm. New to Yoga or want to reconnect to Yoga... this class is for you. Our intention is for you to discover a lifelong love for yoga. Please visit our website for complete class description. $70 for class only or $100 for class and a One month Unlimited Yoga to start when series if finished. Pre-registration required.

Bodhi Tree Yoga & wellness studio, 208 W 18th Street, Holland. Info: 616-392-7580 or lorainegriff@ yahoo.com 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.

Wednesday Healthy Lifestyle/Weightloss Clinic – 6-7:30pm.

Enroll Now for our 13 week Healthy Lifestyle/ Weight-loss program where you receive personalized coaching from a naturopath to help achieve your goals. Space is limited. $249. The Remedy House, 5150 Northland Dr, Grand Rapids. Register by calling 616-443-4225.

A Course in Miracles – 9:30-11am. 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: office@ unitycsg.org or 616-682-7812, Unitycsg.org. $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. 616-3659176. 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.

all ages and fitness levels can benefit from this unique exercise and education program. Classes meet for seven weeks: Feb. 8-March 22. $49 Scholarships available. Mercy Health Lakes Village, Harvey St, Muskegon. Info: 231-727-7944 or millermarla76@gmail.com

Thursday Total Control classes – 10-11am. Reconnect with your feminine energy, strengthen your core, pelvic floor and lower back, and gain valuable information for lifelong pelvic health. Women of all ages and fitness levels can benefit from this unique exercise and education program. Classes meet for seven weeks: Feb. 9-March 23. $49 Scholarships available. Mercy Health Lakes Village, Harvey St. Muskegon. Info: 231-727-7944 or millermarla76@gmail.com

Friday Outrageous Openness Book Study – 10amNoon. We will join in discussion and art expression following Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver. We meet Fridays from January 27 through March 17. This book brings a breath of irreverent fresh air; it is spot on and hilarious as well as exhilarating as it exposes freedom from dogmatic beliefs. $25 for art supplies, Bring your own book or $16 extra to buy it from us. Spirit Space, event location 20 Wilderness Dr, Saugatuck. Info: TheSpiritSpace@gmail.com or 616-886-2716.

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

Total Control classes – 1-2:15pm. Reconnect with your feminine energy, strengthen your core, pelvic floor and lower back, and gain valuable information for lifelong pelvic health. Women of

natural awakenings

February 2017

43

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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 29.

BODYWORK BLACK TORTOISE QIGONG, LLC

Sally Austin 233 Fulton E, Suite 114B Grand Rapids 616-293-5768 – BlackTortoiseQigong.com BlackTortoiseQigong@gmail.com A practice of gentle dynamic movements that can be done lying, sitting or standing, built for you to use daily and promote your health and well-being. Promotes empowerment, wellness, spirit connection, awareness, confidence.

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 14.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE 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.

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.

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.

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.

ESSENTIAL OILS BE YOUNG ESSENTIAL OILS Clara VanderZouwen 616-481-8587 BeYoungth.com/partners/claravz Independent Sharing partner Keto OS (get your Ketones) WinItNow@PruvitNow.com clara.vanderzouwen@gmail.com

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!

MOONDROP HERBALS, LLC

Cottage of Natural Elements 351 Cummings, NW Grand Rapids 616-735-1285 • MoondropHerbals.com

TRICIA E. GOSLING

Holistic Energy Therapies 616-481-9074 HolisticEnergyTherapies.net 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.

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.

YOUNG LIVING ESSENTIAL OILS

DIET/NUTRITION SERVANT HEART

MicroLife Nutritionals by Vasayo VasayoBelle@gmail.com 616-481-8587 • ServantHeart.Vasayo.com Superior Bio-availability with Advanced Liposome delivery technology: Our proprietary Liposomal-encapsulation technology ensures vastly improved nutrient delivery and absorption within the body over traditional supplements.

Marilyn York Independent Distributor 1-877-436-2299, ext. 2 YoungLiving.org/NaturalHealth4u

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 15.

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VITALITY HEALTHCARE

HAKOMI THERAPY

Dr. Steven Osterhout 5717 Oakland Drive, Portage 269- 323-4473 - Drochiro.com

KEN PORTER CST, CHT 3355 Eagle Park Dr. NE Ste. 107, Grand Rapids 616-262-3848 BodyAndSoulGR.com

Hakomi Therapy can truly change your life. It’s a mindfulnessbased, experiential therapy for transforming the unconscious patterns that keep you from the love, joy, and fulfillment you deserve. Offered with exquisite care and attentiveness.

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 33.

HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER THE WELLNESS FORUM 616-430-2291 WellnessForum.com

Educational programs for personal health improvement.

Workplace wellness programs. Wellness Forum Foundation focused on school nutrition and children’s health. National conferences.

HEALTH / WELLNESS CENTER THE HEALING CENTER

Bob Huttinga PA-C & Rev. Barbara Huttinga 332 S. Lincoln Ave., Lakeview 989-352-6500 TheHealingCenterOfLakeview.com 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 34.

Vitality Healthcare offers a cutting-edge approach to medicine. We integrate the best medical approaches with the most advanced natural therapies to address the underlying causes of poor health. We offer: Physical and Functional Medicine / Chiropractic and Massage / Metabolic and Hormone Evaluations / Nutrition and Detoxification / Food Sensitivity and GI Issue Testing / Medical and Natural Weight Loss. Our highly-qualified team of doctors, nutritionists and therapists have extensive training to serve all your healthcare needs.

HOLISTIC HEALTH A SENSE OF FLOW

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 34.

LGBTQIA COUNSELING ADVANCED COUNSELING AND THERAPY SERVICES, PLC Sue Dilsworth, Ph.D, ERYT-500 2020 Raybrook Ave. SE, Suite 305 Grand Rapids, MI 49546 (Corner of Burton and E. Beltline) 616-307-1617 HeartsJourneyWellness.com

Psychological services tailored to meet the needs of the individual. Through various treatment modalities, you will have an opportunity to explore life patterns, address immediate personal challenges, and explore alternative ways of dealing with personal conflict/ turmoil, moving you on to a healthier, happier life.

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LIFE COACH 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 26.

MASSAGE THERAPY 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.

MOBILE MASSAGE WORKS Dania Vandermeer, LMT 3234 S. Westnedge Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49008 541-325-1429 MobileMassageWorks.com

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.

MIDWIFERY FULL CIRCLE MIDWIFERY SERVICE, INC.

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.

SALON SERVICES CJ’S STUDIO SALON

5286 Plainfield Ave, NE, Grand Rapids 616-364-9191 CjsStudioSalon.com 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

SKIN CARE LAKESHORE NATURAL SKIN CARE

BVI SCHOOL OF AYURVEDA

10500 Chicago Drive Holland Twp • Zeeland 231-557-3619 LakeshoreNaturalSkinCare.com

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.).

NATUROPATHIC INSTITUTE OF THERAPIES & EDUCATION

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.

THERMOGRAPHY

503 East Broadway St, Mt. Pleasant 989-773-1714 Contact@NaturopathicInstitute.info NaturopathicInstitute.info

ADVANCED THERMAL IMAGING OF WEST MICHIGAN

Educational programs offered: Natural Health Program: four years (one weekend a month); Massage Therapy Program: one year (two weekends a month); Holistic Doula Practitioner Program: six months (one weekend a month).

Individual classes available. See ad, page 25.

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.

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COMING IN MARCH - THE 7th ANNUAL

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