Natural Awakenings Knoxville Feb 2015

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Happily Coupled

Creating Loving Relationships that Work

P L A N E T

FREE

Good Diet Feng Shui Good Mood Home Fixes Eating Well Heads Off Depression

How to Brighten Up Every Room

February 2015 | Knoxville | NaturallyKnoxville.com

WE HOLD YOUR WELL-BEING IN THE HIGHEST REGARD

Cure ailing sales by advertising in Natural Awakenings’

March Animal Welfare Issue Reach pet and animal lovers including: • Animal Organizations

• Pen and Shed Builders

• Pet Stores

• Fencing Suppliers

• Pet Food Vendors

• Stables

• Kennels

• Pet Health Practitioners/Therapists

• Trainers and Handlers

• Lawn-Care Specialists

• Pet Sitters and Caregivers

• Veterinarians — and this just scratches the surface

423-517-0128 knoxvillena@epbfi.com

Reset your life. Feel the good vibrations. Release tension and experience the deep peace that sound healing brings to the body.

Call Mebbie Jackson to schedule your Acutonics session today! 865-679-9642

“ “ “ “

Out of all of the “alternative” modalities I have experienced, this is by far the most grounding, relaxing, centering. It is also the most gentle.” -Tatum L.

My session with Mebbie helped me release some of the trauma after my mother passed.” -Linda B. My body and brain did a happy dance for days after my treatment with Mebbie!” -Pam B. I was vibrating with energy for hours!” -Leslie D.

KICK OFF THE

GROWING SEASON “INSPIRING” “SO WELL ORGANIZED” “BETTER EVERY YEAR!” “EXCELLENT”

Saturday & Sunday March 7-8, 2015 UNCA Campus • Asheville, NC

Pre-Conference events on Friday, March 6.

More than 70 sessions per day in themed tracks: Gardening • Soils • Livestock • Primitive Skills • Permaculture • Herbs • Alternative Energy • Sustainable Forestry • Homesteading • Cooking • Poultry • Farmers I • Farmers II. New for 2015: Mushrooms & Food Resilience

Keynote Address with

Dr. Elaine Ingham, world-renowned soil biologist

Presented by:

Plus....Exhibitor Show, Local Food, Silent Auction, Seed & Plant Exchange, & Kids Programs

Providing Organic Education Since 1993

• www.organicgrowersschool.org

publisher’sletter

I contact us Publishers Bob & Melinda Varboncoeur Copy Editor Allison Gorman Design & Production Steffi Karwoth Advertising Sales Bob Varboncoeur 423-667-0980 knoxvillena@epbfi.com To contact Natural Awakenings Knoxville: PO Box 154 Signal Mountain, TN 37377 Phone: 423-517-0128 Fax: 877-541-4350 knoxvillena@epbfi.com NaturallyKnoxville.com For National Advertising: 239-449-8309

© 2015 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.

f people had told us when we married that we would end up running a small business together, we would have said they were crazy. Our professional trajectories seemed wildly different. But something happened over the next 20 years. There were dogs and kids and moves and mortgages (and more dogs), and—as any parent can tell you—way too much to do some days, on way too little sleep. What had begun as a slow sailboat ride had turned into a trip on a bullet train. And so we stopped the train and got off. When our heads quit spinning, we realized that the journey had acted as a centrifuge, helping us sort out what was most important to us. We found that despite our obvious differences, we valued the same things—not money or “stuff” as much as nature, nourishment, health and especially family (dogs, too), and the time to appreciate them. So here we are now, living the dream. Correction: living our dream. And we couldn’t be happier. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, our feature story spills the secrets of other “Happily Coupled” people. As you’ve probably already guessed—Natural Awakenings readers tend to be an astute bunch—none of those secrets involves chocolate, roses or jewelry. (Okay, we were a little surprised about the chocolate.) Instead they involve the less-glamorous things that constitute 99 percent of life. Read the full story, page 14, to learn how five couples are happily navigating life’s journey together. Part of life’s journey, of course, is death, and for many of us, the first death we’ll experience in a profound way is that of a beloved pet. If you’re a pet owner, we encourage you to read our Natural Pet column, “When Your Pet Passes” (page 24), which offers tools for coping with a grief that often goes unacknowledged and therefore unaddressed. (Parents, make sure to read the sidebar on helping kids cope.) On a brighter note, we have excellent news for anyone who forgot to make New Year’s resolutions: if you dropped the ball when the ball dropped, you get a do-over. The Chinese New Year starts in February, and our resident feng shui expert, Dr. Nancy Canestaro, has given us her advice for making the best—and avoiding the worst—of the Year of the Sheep. See her article, page 12, and our companion article on “Eco Feng Shui,” page 18. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Together

we can strengthen our community!

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

Knoxville

Support our advertisers! Thank you! NaturallyKnoxville.com

contents 9

6 newsbriefs 9 ecotip

10 healthbriefs 1 1 globalbriefs

18 greenliving 20 consciouseating 22 fitbody 23 wisewords

24 naturalpet 25 localcalendar

26 classifieds

29 resourceguide

advertising & submissions

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

12 Feng Shui

Remedies for 2015

The Year of the Sheep by Nancy C. Canestaro, DArch

14 HAPPILY COUPLED Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive by Judith Fertig

17 Log Plugging New Frontiers in Romantic Play by Cathy Scott

18 ECO FENG SHUI

Tips to Bring More Positive Energy into Your Home by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

How to Advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 423-517-0128 or email knoxvillena@epbfi.com. Deadline for space reservation is the 10th of the month prior to publication.

20 HAPPY MEALS

Eating Healthy Foods Fights Off Depression

18 22

by Lane Vail

News Briefs & article submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: knoxvillena@epbfi.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month prior to publication.

calendar submissions Email calendar events to: knoxvillena@epbfi.com. Calendar deadline: the 10th of the month prior to publication.

regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 1-239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 1-239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

NaturallyKnoxville.com NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

22 FITNESS FINDS

Locate the Best Workout Space for You by Debra Melani

23 CONSCIOUS DATING Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online

by S. Alison Chabonais

24 WHEN YOUR

PET PASSES

A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing by Julianne Hale

natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs Organic Growers School Spring Conference March 7-8

egistration is now open for the 22nd annual Organic Growers School Spring Conference, which will be held March 7-8 at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. The conference, which is open to the public, is expected to draw more than 2,000 gardeners, farmers and “foodies” for a weekend of workshops for beginning backyard growers to advanced commercial farmers, plus a trade show, seed exchange, silent auction and children’s program, and pre-conference, on-farm events. The Organic Growers School Spring Conference is the largest locally run sustainability conference in the Southeast. It provides practical, regionally appropriate workshops on organic growing, permaculture, homesteading, urban farming and rural living. This year’s conference offers 70 sessions per day in themed tracks including Gardening, Soils, Livestock, Primitive Skills, Permaculture, Herbs, Alternative Energy, Sustainable Forestry, Homesteading, Cooking, Poultry and Farmers I and II. New tracks for 2015 include Mushrooms and Food Resilience. In conjunction with the conference is the Organic Growers School’s 11th annual children’s program for kids aged 7 to 12, a supervised, full-day event that focuses on the importance of the environment and alternative energy sources. Children will explore the environment through hands-on activities involving plants, animals, insects and food. Space is limited; the cost is $30 per child per day. The cost of early-bird registration for the conference is $45 for March 7 and $40 for March 8. Registration is an additional $15 after January 30 or at the door. Register online at Organic GrowersSchool.org, or request a mailed registration form via meredith@organicgrowersschool.org or 828-668-2127. See ad page 3.

Creative Reuse Centers Turn Trash into Art

here is a green movement sweeping the nation that is taking recycling to a whole new level of interesting. “With the explosion of popular crafting websites such as Etsy and Pinterest, individuals with an artistic mindset have led the way in showing mainstream folks how to turn trash into art—and make a buck or two at the same time,” says Gina Kelly, owner of Hidden Gems Recycling in Knoxville. Creative reuse centers, or CRCs, are “combination craft store, thrift store, garage sale and trash dumpster,” Kelly says.

Knoxville

NaturallyKnoxville.com

Predominantly nonprofit centers created to promote recycling in the arts community, CRCs have a positive environmental impact by actively diverting materials from local landfills. They also create “green-collar” jobs. “CRCs have been around for years,” Kelly says, “but they are gaining in popularity and also evolving to include workshops, festivals and gallery showings for the artists who reuse the CRCs’ materials in their projects.” There are more than 50 CRCs in the United States, she says. Although Hidden Gems Recycling’s primary focus is the recycling of Styrofoam, the company is holding a series of creative reuse sales in 2015 to test the creative waters in the Knoxville area, Kelly says. For details about its next sale, click on Events on its website, HiddenGemsRecycling.com, or visit Hidden Gems Recycling’s Facebook page. Visit ReuseAlliance.org for a directory of Creative Reuse Centers across the United States. See resource listing page 30.

Global Harmony Tour Comes to Tennessee

raveheart Women has added Tennessee to its Global Harmony Tour, which will facilitate a Harmony Circle in more than fifty cities worldwide. The Tennessee Harmony Circle will take place February 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mount Olive Baptist Church, located at 1601 Dandridge Avenue in Knoxville. “The event is free, the experience is priceless, and coming together soul-to-soul is transformative,” says Patti Alcamo, who will host the circle. “Harmony Circles are life-changing events and a revolutionary way to create peace,” Alcamo says. “During a Harmony Circle, women practice bonding techniques in a tranquil environment. They transcend all the labels that usually divide them, such as race, class or religion. The experience promotes personal healing, authenticity, empowerment, unity and harmony.” For more than three years, Braveheart Women’s Harmony Tours have been bringing the transformational joy of the Harmony Circle into the hearts and homes of women throughout the world, Alcamo says. “Previous tours included stops in conflict-ridden Israel and Palestine and allowed Israeli, Palestinian and western women to come together as sisters and create peace,” she says. “Braveheart Women welcomes all women to the Tennessee Harmony Circle. It is an opportunity to meet others on the same journey and reclaim one’s power to create peace.” RSVP in advance online at Be.braveheartwomen.com/ht2015/ or Meetup.com/Creating-Peace-in-Knoxville/. For more information, contact Patti Alcamo via her website, HolisticMediator.com. See ad inside back cover.

Need to buy some time?

Yoga Teacher Training at Liberation Nashville

We’ll give it to y u

for free!!

Pick-up & Delivery* Call 865-607-7464 for more information

Crown Cleaners. A tradition of excellence for over 40 years. 6300 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 | 865.584.7464 9409 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37922 | 865.539.6040

✒

The Write Place

✒

Writing Workshops for Women CALL FOR DETAILS

865-660-4799 The secret of getting ahead is getting started. —Agatha Christie

✒

iberation Nashville is now registering for its winter/spring 200-hour Nashville Yoga Teacher Training, which will take place March 2-8, 13-15 and 27-29; April 10-12 and 24-26; and May 4-10. “This program is a powerful acceleration of growth on all levels and an opportunity to study and transform your yoga and your life,” says Liberation Nashville owner Raquel Bueno, who will teach the course with Saul David Raye. By its very definition, yoga means “to bring together”—a concept that inspires and informs how yoga is taught, learned and practiced, Bueno says. “Even practicing on our own allows us to connect,” she says. “Through the heart-lens, through movement, through the study of yoga’s principles, we bring the body and heart into greater union.” She explains that asana—or the yoga posture—allows us to more deeply know the power and beauty of our bodies; meditation allows us to quiet the mind and connect inward; and mantra allows us to “transmute our vibration into tangible transformation.” “Realization comes with patient practice and study of all,” she says. “A complete practice brings together the physical, spiritual and mental components of yoga, and elevates the yogi to a state of grace, a place where we are fully generous and loving. Yoga teacher trainings allow us the opportunity to step into this heart space while rooted strongly in a foundation of support and appreciation.”

FREE

✒

Judy Bingham, M.S. • Maryville, TN • www.judybingham.net

Curious to know what essential oil your body is asking for? Then call and schedule your Biometric Zyto Scan. Just $20 during the month of February

Liberation Nashville is located at 2907 12th Ave. S. #4, Nashville. For more information about yoga classes or teacher trainings, contact the studio at 310-8499761 or visit LiberationNashville.com or RitamHealingArts.com. See ad page 12. natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs Center for Peace Hosts Healing Workshop

avid Arms, known as “That Energy Guy,” will lead a healing workshop February 14 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Center for Peace, a holistic, nondenominational spiritual center located in Seymour, Tennessee. The presentation will be followed by individual healing sessions. “Healing and Its Connection to Your Path” will be the topic of Arms’ presentation. “When we work on healing our physical and mental bodies, we are cleansing our spiritual body of energies that interfere with our abilities,” he says. “They keep our vibrations down, thus interfering with us reaching our full potential as immaculate, powerful and spiritual beings. There are many aspects of this for us to cleanse, and it isn’t limited to our health, but we have a large percentage of it done when we eliminate those energies interfering with our health. We will discuss this journey a bit deeper, and I will try to expand our understanding as I perceive it.” The presentation fee is $25. Individual healing sessions of 45-60 minutes cost $50. Those wishing to schedule a healing session should do so in advance, if possible. For more information, contact Patti MacFee at 865-250-1988. The Center for Peace is located at 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN, about 45 minutes from downtown Knoxville. For more information about the CFP, call 865458-3070 or visit CenterForPeace.us. See ad page 21.

CHEO Hosts Energy Medicine, Natural Healing Talks

he Knoxville Group of CHEO, the Complementary Health Educational Organization, will host a panel discussion of energy medicine for its monthly educational program on February 9, and the Loudon/Monroe Group will host a presentation on “Natural Solutions for Life-Threatening Diseases” on February 25. Both programs begin at 7 p.m., preceded by a 6:30 p.m. meet and greet. “Energy Medicine: What’s It All About?” will feature Suzanne Jonas, EdD, sound therapist; Bill Picket, Tai Chi for Health master trainer; and Jean Wilhoite, RN, holistic nurse. The program will be held in the ParkWest Medical Center Classroom, 9330 ParkWest Boulevard, Knoxville. Panelists will explain and demonstrate how ambient energy in our environment, our innate life-force energy (chi), and the energy we create intentionally with various energy modalities and receive from energy practitioners can positively affect our well-being. The program will include a Q&A and energy mini-sessions. Door prizes are a Healing Touch session with Wilhoite, a Musical Medicine CD by Jonas, and a Tai Chi for Health DVD by Pickett. The Loudon-Monroe program will be presented by Barry Sunshine, DC, who will explain natural, practical ways to reduce the risk of—or to deal with—coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. He has served East Tennessee since 1972 with his Sunshine Chiropractic Health Clinics in Knoxville and Maryville. As a doorprize, he is offering a complimentary massage from the Sunshine Health Clinic. The program will be held at Rarity Bay Community Center, 150 Rarity Bay Parkway, Vonore, Tennessee. For more information, visit CHEOKnox.org. See resource listing page 30.

Knoxville

NaturallyKnoxville.com

Freequency: Michele Williams, Meredith Whitehead, and Kirk Whitehead

Unity Transformation Hosts Freequency February 22

nity Transformation will host the musical trio Freequency—Michele Williams, Meredith Whitehead and Kirk Whitehead—at its Sunday-morning service February 22. The band will start at 10:45 a.m. and provide special music during the service. “Freequency has been a popular trio in the Knoxville area since 2008,” says Unity Transformation’s Rev. Lora Beth Gilbreath. “They have a beautiful three-part harmony, and we are excited to have them back with us.” During the month of February, Gilbreath’s Sunday lessons will focus on Unity’s classic book How to Let God Help You by Myrtle Fillmore. Myrtle’s diagnosis of tuberculosis in the late 1880s prompted her and her husband, Charles, to go to a New Thought lecture in Kansas City, Missouri. She came home with a transformative “new thought” and affirmation: “I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit sickness.” Her subsequent healing attracted people to her for teaching and healing. Hence Unity’s prayer ministry, Silent Unity, was birthed in 1890 and has continued since that time in nonstop prayer. “This book expresses the wisdom and sweetness of Myrtle Fillmore’s teachings,” Gilbreath says. Unity Transformation, which is branded through Unity Worldwide Ministries, meets every Sunday at 10:55 a.m. at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, directly across the street from Books-A-Million. Unity is known for its inspirational magazine Daily Word (DailyWord.com) and for its 24/7 prayer ministry Silent Unity (1-800-NOW-PRAY or SilentUnity.org). For more information about Unity Transformation, call Gilbreath at 865-809-5207 or visit UnityTransformation.org. See ad page 18.

coverartist

ecotip Eco-Fireplace Tips

Best Ways to Enjoy Greener Indoor and Outdoor Fires

Four Hearts Mac Worthington Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, cover artist Mac Worthington cites a number of powerful influences on his bold art, from a creative upbringing to his experiences in the military. Worthington’s father, John “Jack” Worthington, was well-known for his bronze sculptures; specifically, busts of movie stars and sports figures in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in Canton. His mother, Marion Worthington, was skilled in enameling and silver work. Serving in the jungles of Vietnam at age 19, Worthington interpreted the emotive experiences of war into powerful expressions of art, further influenced by the music of the 1960s. A self-taught welder, Worthington uses steel, iron and aluminum to create massive outdoor sculptures. Worthington has participated in more than 100 exhibits across the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. He maintains a prominent gallery in the arts district of Columbus, Ohio, as well as a sculpture park at his private estate in rural Delaware County. View the artist’s portfolio at MacWorthington.com.

Our inclination to position ourselves near fire is a year-round lure nationwide. Yet, the traditional ingredient in both indoor fireplaces in the north and outdoor fire pits in the south should give shivers to the eco-minded. In addition to causing considerable air pollution, wood smoke contains carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulates that can aggravate asthma, allergies and other health conditions. Eco-friendly firelogs—many made of recycled biomass products like compressed wood sawdust, ground nutshells and other ingredients—provide low-emission and petroleum-free alternatives to cordwood. According to GreenAmerica.org, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends manufactured logs over wood to cut air pollutants. Major manufacturers noted by ApartmentTherapy.com include Java, which uses coffee grounds; Energy Log briquettes made from recycled mill waste; and TerraCycle, ShredMaster Ltd. and CleanFlame, all of which use recycled and repurposed cardboard. In addition to producing greater heat, some of these logs even produce a natural crackling sound without throwing sparks. Inserts—basically a stove that fits into existing fireplaces—provide a genuine fireside feeling, but with green benefits. An EPA-certified stove or insert is built to burn cleaner and more efficiently, dramatically reducing fine particle emissions and pollution over older models. However, while a propane gas stove insert burns even cleaner and is easier to operate, it uses nonrenewable fuel. Consider wood pellet models that burn ultra-compressed wood and biomass of olive, corn and cherry pits. Outdoor steel fire pits that can burn firelogs have grown popular in warmer regions, and equipment manufacturers have responded. Tripods suspend swivel and free-standing grills over the pit for direct cooking or to hold cast iron kettles. Special outdoor tables also afford a gathering spot around friendly flames. Avoid gas and electric models as eco-no-nos. If real wood is a must, be selective. Firewood that looks a little rough is more likely to come from over-mature trees of the kind that can be removed without affecting the health of its forest (WoodHeat.org). Product packages of Pioneer Processors firewood attest that it “never uses endangered wood species and always purchases from well-managed forests.”

Harmony with Nature Wellness of Body Peace of Mind Come join us for a quiet weekend getaway or consider us the perfect venue for your next group event, workshop, retreat, or family reunion.

www.WellBeingCC.org

423-626-9000 natural awakenings

patty@WellBeingCC.org February 2015

healthbriefs

Satisfaction with Friendship is Hard to Come By

study conducted by Edge Research and Sea Change Strategies found that less than a quarter of Americans are fully satisfied with their friendships, and almost two-thirds lack confidence in even their closest friends. Seniors (70 and over) and millennials/Gen Ys (16 to 34) are more likely to be extremely satisfied than Gen X-ers (35 to 49) or baby boomers (50 to 69), indicating the existence of a midlife friendship slump. The research was based on a self-reported survey of 1,016 Americans ages 16 and up. Across all demographics, people that report they have more close friends feel happier and are more fulfilled than those that say they have few or no friends. The majority also prefer deeper friendships with fewer friends over just having more friends. Qualities that most people look for in friends are loyalty, honesty, goodness and reliability in a crisis. Among the attributes considered least important are similar political or religious views and physical attractiveness, which ranked last. The use of social media appears unrelated to the number or quality of friendships or overall friendship satisfaction. People that attend religious services at least once a week are twice as likely to be completely satisfied with their friendships than those that rarely or never attend such services. The researchers concluded, “Those seeking more fulfillment from their friendships should invest disproportionate time and energy in the relationships they consider close.”

Marriage is Good for the Heart

esearch from the New York University School of Medicine found that married people have significantly less cardiovascular disease (CVD) than those that are divorced, widowed or otherwise single. The study used data on the rates of CVD from the health surveys of more than 3.5 million men and women collected at 20,000 U.S. medical centers. Married people under 50 had 12 percent lower incidence of heart disease than single people. Married couples between 51 and 60 years old had a 7 percent lower risk, while those over 60 had a 4 percent lower risk. The results were presented at the 2014 scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology. Researcher and cardiologist Jeffrey Berger recommends that doctors show increased diligence for single patients: “If one of my patients is recently widowed or divorced, I’m increasingly vigilant about examining them for signs of any type of cardiovascular disease and depression,” he says.

Knoxville

NaturallyKnoxville.com

Large Study Expands View of Sodium Intake

ietary Guidelines for Americans, published by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, recommends that people 50 years old and younger keep their sodium intake lower than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, while those over 50 keep sodium ingestion below 1,500 mg. However, a large international study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals a different story. Measuring levels of sodium and potassium excreted in the urine of 101,945 people between 35 and 70 years old from 17 low, middle and high-income countries, Canadian scientists found that consuming less than 3,000 mg of sodium per day was associated with a 77 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Consuming between 3,000 and 6,000 mg of sodium daily was linked to lower risks of both cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality, while consuming more than 7,000 mg daily was associated with a 54 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The researchers added that current guidelines for sodium consumption have been based upon shorter studies that showed only modest results. They also determined that daily consumption of 1,500-plus mg of potassium related to a significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality. Consuming less than 1,500 mg was linked to increased risk.

globalbriefs

Greenwashing Conundrum

News and resources to inspire con-

In 2010, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed recommendations for environmental marketing claims. The agency has sent warning letters to 15 marketers informing them that their claims may be deceptive, and requested more scientific evidence that plastic bags labeled as biodegradable, or “oxodegradable”, implying the bag will break down in time when exposed to oxygen, were true to the claim. Because many bags are dumped in the low-oxygen environment of a landfill, the FTC considers those advertised benefits as dubious. Joseph Greene, a professor at California State University, Chico, points out that oxodegradable should be amended to “oxofragmentable” to be more accurate, because the plastics just break into smaller and smaller pieces. Chemically, they don’t break down into anything less hazardous. In fact, if these plastic bags disintegrate in the ocean, the fragments will be about the right size for sea creatures to mistake them for plankton. Source: Rabble.ca

cerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.

Living Together

2014 Global Peace Index The world has become less peaceful over the last seven years, according to the 2014 Global Peace Index. It measures peace in 162 countries according to 22 indicators that gauge both the absence and fear of violence. This is the seventh year the index has been produced. Results from the 2014 Global Peace Index show that since 2008, 111 countries have deteriorated in levels of peace, while 51 increased. Europe retains its position as the most peaceful region, with 14 of the top 20 most peaceful countries. The world has become significantly less peaceful over the last year, mainly due to a rise in terrorist activity, conflicts being fought, and refugees and other displaced people. As for the human toll, 500 million people live in countries at risk of instability and conflict, 200 million of whom live below the poverty line. The global economic impact of violence reached $9.8 trillion last year, equal to twice the total gross domestic product of Africa. Visit VisionOfHumanity.org to explore the interactive peace map and download the report. Watch a video at Tinyurl.com/GlobalPeaceVideo.

Biodegradable Plastic Bags Are a Hoax

Forward Leap

Batteries that Last 1,000 Years A group of Swedish researchers has discovered an unconventional way to give new life to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from iPhones to electric cars, using pine resin and alfalfa seeds. The researchers plan to take up to two years to improve the chemistry of the product, and claim that the recycled batteries could last up to 1,000 years, according to researcher David Brandell. It has been estimated that demand for the batteries from automobile manufacturers could explode up to 400 percent in the next six years. The researchers see the technology as a global antidote to current methods for recycling manufactured Li-ion batteries that are energy-intensive and require toxic materials to manufacture. Source: EnvironmentGuru.com

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Break Up Congested Lymph Promote Weight Loss Reduce Fluid Retention Support Immune System

Calming and Relaxing

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Call Overton to Schedule a Treatment

865-966-1509

620 N, Campbell Station Rd Suite 23 Knoxville, TN 37934 www.leasnhs.com

natural awakenings

February 2015

Feng Shui Remedies for 2015

The Year of the Sheep by Nancy C. Canestaro, DArch

great way to celebrate the New Year is typically with a resolution or two. How about making one of those resolutions to take best advantage of the energies (chi) flowing through your home or workplace? Now is the perfect time to do it, since the an-

nual energies shift every February. Rearranging your furniture may not be enough. You might need to relocate some daily activities to another place in your home. Several energies are quite good this year, so spend as much time in those locations as possible. Other

Gentle Touch Therapeutic Massage

presents

200 hr

NASHVILLE YOGA TEACHER TRAINING

WINTER/SPRING 2015 ght by .... sau l davi d tau rayE & raqu el bu en o .... Module 1 March 2-8 'Embodiment’ Module 2 March 13-15 Module 3 March 27-29 Module 4 April 10-12 Module 5 April 24-26 Module 6 May 4-10 - 'Transformation' During this powerful time of awakening on our beloved planet, we are each being called to step into our light and power and share our gifts with humanity. This program is a powerful acceleration of growth on all levels and an opportunity to study and transform your Yoga and your life. Please visit: www.ritamhealingarts.com www.liberationnashville.com

Knoxville

energies could be detrimental and should be remedied or avoided. Beneficial energies move into the East, North and potentially the NW areas of your home in 2015. Disruptive energies are in a portion of the SW and the NE, as well as the entire SE and West portions. Here’s how to find these compassoriented areas. Divide a floor plan of your home into nine equal parts (eight peripheral spaces and the center area). Refer to the diagram to the right. Here’s the good news on the energies around you this year. The North area offers abundant energy (8-Earth). Fire it up with some red. The energy in the East (1-Water) fosters fame and fortune for the year; adding blue or black helps. Be sure to spend some time there every day. Now the bad news on the energies in 2015. Most of the SW (218 to 248 degrees) has good energy for future wealth. However, avoid digging, renovating or making noise outside in one particular SW direction, from 202 to 217 degrees. Follow the same suggestions for an

NaturallyKnoxville.com

Because you deserve a time to relax. Because you deserve to feel great. Because you deserve a healthy body. Call today to schedule your time 865-691-1565 or visit www.gentletouchtherapeutic.com Located at 220 S. Peters Road, Suite 102 – Knoxville, TN

Marty Austin, MS, LMT Certified In: CranioSacral Therapy - CST Infant CranioSacral Therapy Manual Lymphatic Drainage - MLD NeuroMuscular Therapy - NMT Russian Medical Massage Therapy

2015 Feng Shui Energy Map Front of House SE

Hang a string of six I-Ching coins in this area for 2-Earth. (Illness)

Add wavy blue art or rug, or three stalks of bamboo in glass, for 7-Metal. (Arguing)

Tai Sui/Grand Duke. Don’t orient bed SW. No renovating, noise, digging. 9-Fire

Try dark, wavy blue or black here for 1-Water. (Fame and Fortune)

Add some red in this area for 3-Wood. (Conflict or Loss Potential)

Add six-tube metal wind chime or chiming clock for 5-Earth. (Obstacles or Misfortune)

Sui Po opposes Grand Duke. Don’t sit facing SW. No digging or noise here. 6-Metal

Abundance is here in 2015. Try adding a little red for 8-Earth. (Fame/Fortune)

Add blue, black for 4-Wood. (Scholarly, Artistic, Men Attracted to Women)

We Hold Your Well-Being In Highest Regard

Back of House with moving metal unfavorable area When the “Cranky or the sound of a in the NE, 22 to chiming clock. 37 degrees. If a Old Emperor” gets The enerdoor comes into aroused, you could have gies mentioned your home there, above describe avoid using it— problems, especially yearly influences and for goodness’ only. There are sake don’t slam it. health-related ones. also energies that When the “Cranky reside in every home based on the Old Emperor” gets aroused, you could twenty-year period in which it was built have health-related problems. If you and its orientation on the land. Only a can’t avoid digging there, at least hang a six-tube hollow metal wind chime complete feng shui analysis can address these permanent energy patterns. between the excavation and the house. With this information, I wish you Inside, avoid renovating or making noise in the two areas we just health, harmony and prosperity in 2015! discussed. Don’t face those directions while working or place the head of your bed there. The energy could be Nancy C. Canestaro practices the art and science of feng shui full-time in quite disruptive. Next, add Fire or red in the center the Knoxville area. Call 865-789-5856 for a consultation in area of your house; its 3-Wood energy could be contentious. You could argue your home or place of work. Visit her website, or worry too much in this location. FengShuiFYI.com, for Finally, it’s important to remedy the West sector with the detrimental articles and a lecture/ 5-Earth energy, which brings a potential workshop schedule. See ad page 29. for obstacles and misfortune. Remedy

Cure ailing sales by advertising in Natural Awakenings’ March Animal Welfare Issue

To advertise or participate in our next issue, call

423-517-0128

natural awakenings

February 2015

Happily Coupled Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive by Judith Fertig

“To be fully seen by somebody… and be loved anyhow— this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

t the conclusion of her bestselling memoir, Eat Pray Love, author Elizabeth Gilbert had fallen in love with Jose Nunes (called Felipe in the book), a Brazilian living in Indonesia. The divorced Gilbert, reluctant to have her heart broken again, had vowed never to remarry… yet ultimately changed her mind when U.S. immigration law presented her with multiple choices: marry so they could live together in this country, stay single and live as ex-pat partners or say goodbye to Nunes. Gilbert chose a marital partnership that suits the shared life they want: honest and, after years of travel, settled in one place. She says, “For the first time in my life, living in a small town with a lovely husband in an old house with

Knoxville

a big garden and several pets, I feel absolutely rooted in a way I have never experienced before and never would have imagined even desiring. But it is what we want—at least for now—and we’re relishing that stability.” Gilbert records the process of going from two global wanderers falling in love to a married couple sharing domestic chores in her follow-up memoir, Committed: A Love Story.

Love Science

The spark that ignites such a partnership is love, which is “primarily about connection,” says Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D., a positivity expert and author of Love 2.0: How Our Supreme Emotion Affects Everything We Feel, Think, Do, and Become. “It’s vital to our health

NaturallyKnoxville.com

and happiness, affecting our brains and bodies at the cellular level. “We were born to love,” emphasizes Fredrickson, who also serves as a psychology professor and director of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “The evidence comes from research that shows how our brain and nervous system are designed to enhance our chances of experiencing it.” When we share positive emotions with another person, experience a synchrony between their biochemistry and behaviors and ours, plus exhibit mutual care, love can bloom, whether we stay happily single or decide to pursue a committed relationship. She calls this triple-action sequence “positivity resonance”. Love, she observes, is less a smooth, solid path than momentary experiences of connection.

Making Love Last

The more areas of connection we have with our partners, the more opportunities we have to positively resonate every day, adds Frederickson. Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D., a psychology professor at California’s Santa Clara University and adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, agrees. “Long-term relationships, like marriages, are partnerships in living,” according to Plante. “The vast majority of the time couples are together they’re not having hot sex, but are sharing a practical day-to-day life together.” Shared activities aren’t always exciting or glamorous. Raising children, working, managing a home, cooking and cleaning, shopping, being with friends and family and the rest of regular daily living is where the rubber meets the road in relationship satisfaction, observes Plante. “If couples aren’t compatible in these areas, then the connection and attraction will inevitably atrophy, tensions emerge and too often, relationships fracture and fall apart.” Compatibility means different things to different people, and requirements can change as individuals in a romantic partnership change over time.

Compatibility also means agreement that the relationship is worth the effort to nurture and sustain it.

Partnering Life’s Dance

Five couples in different stages of loving partnerships share how they make their special relationships work. The key to them all is shared values. Doing everything together. For newlyweds Drs. Josh and Chelsea Axe, of Nashville, Tennessee, a mutual commitment to vigorous wellness and physical fitness keeps them together. Says Josh, “The healthy lifestyle I have chosen to live is so important that I need someone who is able to not just agree, but also partner with me.” Married in 2012, the two chiropractic physicians went on to co-found the BurstFIT interval training program and meld their professional, as well as personal, lives. Chelsea notes, “There is truth to the phrase, ‘Couples that sweat together, stay together.’ When working out together, you share a specific energy you create while pushing yourself to your mental and physical limits. You have your partner right there doing it alongside you, knowing they’re supporting you; so when you each break through a mental or physical barrier in your workout, you step over together into a strength and confidence that carries over into your marriage. Being a part of each other’s goals and the struggles to reach them unifies us.” Remarks Josh, “I feel like we can both be successful individually, but when we’re a team, the outcome is synergistic.”

“Seventy-five to 80 percent of all chemistry evaporates within six to eight months unless the relationship is significantly undergirded by deeper and more durable compatibility.” ~ Neil Clark Warren Chelsea adds, “It’s never a mindset of ‘me.’ It’s always ‘us.’” Balancing work and play. Barbara and Bob Unell, of Leawood, Kansas, dated as teenagers, went their separate ways in college and then found each other again in their early 20s. “We went on a blind date in 1968 and both belted out songs on the car radio,” recalls Barbara. “I thought he had a great sense of humor and was fun to be with. All these years later, it feels like we’re still dating. We’re crazy about each other.” Both Barbara and Bob describe themselves as enthusiastic, playful, entrepreneurial, altruistic and geared toward creative projects, whether undertaken together or separately. “We’re both, ‘Let’s try this,’ sort of people,” says Barbara with a laugh. When the Unells had twins, now grown, they realized there was no

national publication addressing how to parent multiples, so they launched Twins magazine in 1984. Bob founded and managed an advertising agency while Barbara wrote bestselling parenting books, but the whole family traveled together on her speaking engagements. In response to becoming a breast cancer survivor, Barbara founded the nonprofit Back in the Swing in 2000 to support survivorship care at cancer centers. When they needed additional staff, Bob joined the team in 2009. One of the biggest things that Barbara has learned from Bob is, “You can make work fun.” “Although we come from different backgrounds, Bob and I know the power of mutual respect, trust and kindness,” reflects Barbara. “Part of our connection is that we have shared history and never take each other for granted.” Making long-distance work. Lisa Ekus, who runs the full-service culinary talent agency The Lisa Ekus Group, in Hatfield, Massachusetts, had been married twice and already raised her two children when she met Atlanta Chef Virginia Willis. They got to know each other through culinary events and to their surprise, fell in love. Over the past six years they’ve evolved a relationship that works for them—keeping a deep personal connection, but maintaining separate residences. Cookbook author Willis gardens, develops recipes and writes for her Food

Sanaatana Ministries Reverend Samantha Hutton-Metheney

Wedding Ceremonies Commitment Ceremonies Baptisms House Blessings/Clearings Funeral/Burial Ceremonies Ordanined by Universal Life Church

sanaatanaministeries.org 865-456-0058

Unique personalized ceremonies for life’s important transitions. Lic. Marriage & Family Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, EMDR specialist, Ordained Minister 2931 Essary Dr., Knoxville • 865-456-0058

natural awakenings

February 2015

Network blog, “Down “Marriages based on have it,” says Karen. What first Home Comfort,” at a mutual desire to attracted them to each Ekus’ New England compound in the serve and inspire grow other—and keeps them together—is a summers; Ekus travels continually in richness love of playful fun to the South during cold months. They and beauty, and are and good times with friends. Karen realso meet up as often a benediction to all marks, “I knew Dick as they can at conferences, food and wine who know of them.” was ‘the one’ when he jumped flat-footed festivals and other over a wingback chair events during the rest ~ Meher Baba at a friend’s house. of the year. That showed me that he was young at “We are both smart, professional heart.” women who love what we do, have Making ends meet. Eleven years strong ethics and a high level of self-ex- ago, when family therapist Susan Frankpectation in how we work,” says Ekus. lin lost her husband, Michael, a univer“We are also best friends and work sity college professor, she felt bereft and together professionally. The respect we overwhelmed. The pair had owned a have for each other and our work is country property near Cleveland, Ohio, instrumental in our relationship.” where they boarded horses. Susan real “We often joke about the North/ ized, “I couldn’t keep up with everySouth, fast/slow cultural difference,” thing on my own,” and Jake Marshall, a Ekus notes. “I’m more spontaneous; musician friend of Michael’s, offered to Virginia is more thoughtful in her responses. I tend to move fast and focus help. Over time, Susan and Jake became close, and they now live together. on checking off items, while Virginia Although Jake is a great supporter is more about the journey and being in many ways, he’s not in a position to in the moment. It often makes us each help financially. Susan depends on her take stock and consider what we’re late husband’s insurance and pension doing and saying.” They make the geographic separa- benefits, which she would lose if she remarries. “Jake is so laid back and easy tion work despite its inherent longto be with, I can relax,” says Susan. distance complications via consistent Michael, on the other hand, always communication, saying good morning seemed to fill a room. Jake helps Susan and good night every day by phone with chores around the property and she and texting often. They hold regular is always there cheering him on from agent/author meetings to make profesthe front row when he performs at local sional plans and personal calendar venues. meetings at least weekly, recognizing and respecting what is important to each of Cultivating Care them. Working out as a couple, sharing a Bridging the age creative project or gap. Karen and Dick making a gourmet Eagle, from St. Louis, meal together can Missouri, are 16 do more than keep years apart in age, partners feeling conbut are close in the nected. Shared acways that count. tivities also keep the Both are strongpositive experiences minded and still vie to ongoing and resoget their own way even nating. “That special after 30 years of marbond and the comriage. “We argue over the mitments people often stupidest things, and then build around it are the resolve our disagreements products of love, the and realize how good we

Knoxville

NaturallyKnoxville.com

results of the many smaller moments in which love infuses you,” maintains Fredrickson. Such moments not only accumulate, but can also be stored in memory and banked to feed a relationship during the tougher times. “Love is something we should recultivate every day,” she says. A loving partnership is always a work in progress. Judith Fertig is a freelance writer from Overland Park, KS.

Conscious Compatibility

eil Clark Warren, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the eHarmony relationship website, believes there are at least 29 personality dimensions—such as anger management skills, intelligence, feelings about children, energy and ambition—that comprise who we are and play a role in maintaining a relationship. Key personality dimensions include interests and activities, guiding principles and philosophies, expressions of emotional experience, tendencies toward togetherness and separateness, goals and familial and other relationships. Warren suggests categorizing desired qualities in a mate into three lists: non-negotiables, qualities that are top priority and deal breakers; semi-negotiables that are important, yet flexible secondary priorities; and negotiables that are subject to tradeoffs for more important qualities.

Log Plugging New Frontiers in Romantic Play by Cathy Scott

apart, in staggered rows 1 to 2 inches re you looking for a way to apart. spice up your Valentine’s Day • Insert mushroom plugs and hammer weekend? Tired of the same old them into the holes until flush with dinner-and-a-movie date? Try log plugthe surface of the log. ging! You might be surprised how much • Cover holes with cheese wax that’s you enjoy power drilling and hammerbeen melted in a double boiler or ing your plugs into wood. It can even be crockpot. fun for the whole family. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time All there is left You might be surprised to use log plugging to do is find an as a reason to enjoy how much you enjoy power outdoor spot to the outdoors and let the mushroom the smell of freshly drilling and hammering mycelium grow. drilled wood. Logs should not your plugs into wood. Growing be in contact with mushrooms on the bare ground, where competing fungi logs is easy and, for most people, a new lurk, waiting to move in on your yummy adventure. For beginners we recomlog. They should be placed in a shaded, mend Shiitake plugs; they are the easiest damp area that’s sheltered from the mushrooms to grow in logs and require little maintenance. Here’s what you’ll need: • 2- to 3-foot freshly cut hardwood log(s) (oak is preferable for Shiitake) • mushroom plugs* • wax* • power drill • 5/16th-inch drill bit • double boiler or old crockpot *available at EverythingMushrooms.com Here’s what you do: • Drill holes in log(s) 4 to 5 inches

wind. Logs will need to receive rainfall unless you regularly soak them. A northfacing wall that’s out of the wind is a good place, as is under a shady tree. Depending on conditions, mushrooms will appear in six to ten months. After the first harvest, rest the logs for a couple months. After they have rested, soak them overnight in water to initiate flush, or just keep an eye out for mushrooms after rain. Enjoy the fruits of your Valentine’s holiday in stir-fries, grilled, sautéed or in a variety of recipes (find several at EverythingMushrooms. com). A rule of thumb is that the logs will last one year for every inch in diameter. Growing mushrooms is the kind of out-of-the-box activity that can keep your relationship fresh and thriving. Not only is it active and fun, but you are also working together to create a better garden and achieve better health. All mushrooms are good for you: they are high in vitamins, minerals and protein, are low in calories, and have no fat. Shiitake, in particular, have been shown in scientific studies to lower cholesterol and contain anti-tumor properties. So keep on plugging! Cathy Scott is chief science officer for Knoxville-based Everything Mushrooms. For more information about log plugging, visit EverythingMushrooms.com/whenis-the-best-time-to-plug-logs-and-othernitty-gritty-on-mushroom-log-cultivation/. See ad back cover.

Health Shoppe 865-693-4909 Suburban Plaza 8025 Kingston Pike, Knoxville Mon-Sat 10-8 • Sun 1-6

30% OFF

entire purchase with this ad excluding sale items

Vitamins • Natural Foods • Herbs • Books Sports Nutrition • Health & Beauty natural awakenings

February 2015

greenliving

arrangement, uses and tone of each room while bringing beneficial green changes home.

Feng Shui Basics

Eco Feng Shui Tips to Bring More Positive Energy into Your Home by Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist

hen we’re hungry for change, we may feel the impulse to spruce up our living spaces. Rooms that feel cluttered, drab and unappealing drag on our energy. Applying the basic inspired tenets of the ancient Chinese art and science of feng shui can

transform and re-energize any space, improving the way we feel. Translated as “wind and water,” feng shui—which has been creating healthy and harmonious environments since its origins 3,000 years ago—can activate our rethinking the

When considering how to apply feng shui principles, it helps to have a trained practitioner make a map, or bagua, analyzing how energy, or chi, moves through a building. They will determine ways to help chi flow and settle in appropriate places to support all aspects of life. Recommended alterations typically start with furniture placement, color choices and key accessorizing. Sample bagua maps are available online for referencing. While a complete feng shui treatment may require major revamping, we can also take some low-cost steps to immediately create more harmony while eliminating toxins that are unhealthy and disrupt the energy flow.

Bring in Green

“Bringing natural elements into a space will aid the circulation of chi, help achieve a balance and yield an indoor environment of peace and calm,” says feng shui practitioner Maureen Calamia, owner of Luminous Spaces, in St. James, New York. Feng shui categorizes the natural elements as water, metal, fire, earth and wood, reflected in items like stones,

Rev. Lora Beth Gillbreath We ekly Sunday ser v ices 10:55 at Open Chord 8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, 37919 (Directly across the street from Books-A-Million) A Positive Path For Spiritual Living

( 865) 809-5207 www.unitytransformation.org unitytransformation@gmail.com P.O. Box 32703, Knoxville, TN 37930 18

Knoxville

NaturallyKnoxville.com

plants and water features, as well as art and wall decorations and paint colors. Filling a home with living plants is favored by many feng shui experts. “Surround yourself with green plants, including cuttings from the yard,” advises Debra Duneier, a feng shui master practitioner, certified ecodesigner and author of EcoChi: Designing the Human Experience, in New York City. “They bring energy and life force into your home, while also filtering the air you breathe.” If adding plants isn’t feasible, she recommends picking up some fresh flowers each week. Remember to change the water every day and dispose of the flowers at the first sign of wilting (dying flowers bring negative energy).

“Feng shui is the original eco-science.” ~ Will LeStrange for rehab projects. For good feng shui, smudging with dried sage cleanses any negative energy leftover from previous owners. Furnishings and fabrics. Mainstream furniture is typically treated with toxic flame retardant, so always ask how furniture has been treated before purchasing. Seek out nontoxic and natural materials like natural rubber mattresses and hemp or organic cotton shower curtains and window coverings.

Banish Toxic Materials

“Healthy indoor air quality is an essential aspect of good feng shui,” attests Alisa Rose Seidlitz, an eco feng shui consultant/designer, certified green building and interiors professional and owner of Ambiance Eco, in Berkeley, California. “Materials used inside our homes, such as cleaning products and furnishings, can either contribute significantly to poor air quality or support positive feng shui.” Indoor air quality is significantly impacted by furnishings and décor. When seeking out the cleanest, greenest options, pay special attention to: Cleaning products. Safely discard toxic cleaning chemicals by taking them to hazardous waste pickup sites. Many household jobs can be done with vinegar and baking soda. Paint. Revisions in wall, trim and furniture colors quickly freshen a room and bring new energy, especially when they align with Earth’s natural elements. Avoid conventional paint, which contains dangerous volatile organic compounds (VOC) that off-gas into the air. Look for widely available zero-VOC brands. Other options include displaying art or colorful wall hangings. Flooring. Many toxins lurk in conventional carpeting and adhesives used to lay wood or tile floors. Look for natural wool rugs, reclaimed wood and zero-VOC floor adhesives. Preserve resources and alter the energy in a space by repurposing reclaimed materials

Follow Your Joy

Feng shui is multifaceted, but at its center is a search for balance and harmony. When making changes at home, it’s good to know we can follow our instincts and add things that bring us joy. Feng shui experts provide guidance in choosing colors and elements, but each of us is ultimately the best judge of what feels best for our own space. “I often ask my clients: What kind of message are you sending yourself?” says Duneier. “You can use your space to send yourself a message of a beautiful, abundant and healthy life.” Sarah Tarver-Wahlquist, a writer from Tucson, Arizona, also freelances for GreenAmerica.org.

Color Me Feng Shui

ere’s a quick primer on the colors associated with each of the five natural elements and ways to bring them into a home. Seek a balance of all five in each room, appropriate to its use. Wood Water Earth Metal Fire

green, brown blue, black earth tones, soft yellows/oranges white, gray red, purple, bright yellows/oranges

living plants, wood, flowers water features, running fountains, glass brick, tile, ceramics rocks, stones sunlight

Professional Feng Shui Consultations Nancy C. Canestaro, Doctorate of Architecture

Providing residential and commercial Feng Shui using classical Chinese formulas Twenty-years experience and thousands of clients across the U. S. Studied under three internationally recognized Feng Shui Masters Author of numerous books and published articles on Feng Shui

Nancy C. Canestaro,

D.ARCH.

865-789-5856 / www.fengshuiladies.com

Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you. ~Loretta Young

natural awakenings

February 2015

consciouseating

Empower Your Spiritual & Personal Growth

HAPPY MEALS Eating Healthy Foods Fights Off Depression by Lane Vail

Join us for classes or call to schedule your own personal wellness assessment

Crystal Peace Center 865-200-9582 205 Court St. Maryville, TN 37804 crystal.peace@aol.com crystalpeacecenter.com

See this month’s calendar listings for all events.

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

~Mother Teresa

Together

we can build

a stronger community!

Support our advertisers! Thank you,

dvertisements for antidepressants abound, yet a recent analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the benefits of treating mildly or moderately depressed individuals with these drugs “may be minimal or nonexistent” compared with a placebo. Most physicians agree that at least part of the prevention of and recovery from depression can be addressed through diet. “Every molecule in the brain begins as food,” says Dr. Drew Ramsey, author of The Happiness Diet and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. “Food choice is the biggest puzzle piece patients have under their control.” Ramsey describes the modern American diet as being overwhelmed with highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates, omega-6 fats and sugar. His food philosophy serves as an overall prescription for mental health: “Eat food that comes from farms and not factories; simple, recognizable human food.” Registered Dietitian Kathie Swift, an integrative clinical nutritionist in Lennox, Massachusetts, and author of The Swift Diet, agrees that food is powerful medicine. She recommends a balanced, flexitarian diet founded on plants, but including high-quality, animal-sourced foods. Just shifting our processed-foods to whole-foods ratio yields an improved mood, Swift says, which continues to motivate dietary change.

Prebiotic/Probiotic Potential Recent science suggests a deeper meaning to the “gut feeling” adage. Bacteria

Knoxville

NaturallyKnoxville.com

in the gut and neurochemicals in the brain communicate intimately and bidirectionally via the vagus nerve, explains Swift. Altering the gut’s microbial population, whether from chronic stress, antibiotic overuse or nutritional deficiencies, can change brain chemistry and thereby influence mood, mental clarity and sleep, she says. In 2013, Canadian researchers altered both the neurochemicals and behavior in mice by switching their intestinal microbiota; anxious mice given the microbes of intrepid mice became braver, and vice versa. Another small study in the British Journal of Nutrition showed a decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms in volunteers taking probiotics for a month. Essentially, says Swift, “We have a brain in the belly,” which must be nourished by both prebiotics (soluble fiber) and probiotics (fermented food). “Fiber is the quintessential substance to feed the lovely community of bugs in the gut,” says Swift, “while fermented foods interact with resident bacteria and give them a boost.” She recommends a variety of vegetables as a primary source of fiber, especially legumes, along with fruits, nuts, cheese and the occasional gluten-free whole grain. Probiotic foods include fermented vegetables, kefir, yogurt with live active cultures and apple cider vinegar.

B Happy

Most psychiatric medications target feel-good neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, says Ramsey, but the body also manufactures

these chemicals naturally during the methylation cycle, a B-vitamin-dependent neurological process. “B vitamins are superstars of the brain,” Ramsey says. “Think of them as lubrication for the brain’s gears.” Folate, or vitamin B9 is particularly important to healthy nervous system functioning. A meta-analysis of 15,000 people reported in the Journal of Epidemiology associated low folate with a higher risk of depression. Dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and Swiss chard are high in B vitamins, as are beets, eggs, lentils, beans and whole grains; helpful fruits include papaya, avocado and berries.

Omega-3s Please

“It’s a horrible notion that fat is bad,” says Ramsey. Swift agrees, noting, “We need a major renovation and reeducation of this important neuro-nutrient.” The integrity of a neuron cell membrane, which Swift describes as “a beautiful and fluid layer of lipids,” is crucial for brain health because it dictates communication among neurotransmitters. “The fat we eat becomes the fat of our cell membranes,” she says. “So nourish your membranes with adequate amounts of the right types of fat.” Long-chain omega-3s (DHA) docosahexaenoic acid and (EPA) eicosapentaenoic acid build and protect neurons, help prevent cognitive decline with age and can boost overall mood and mental performance, says Ramsey. A study in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry found that treating depressed patients with omega-3 EPA was as equally effective as Prozac. “DHA and EPA are the two most important fats for brain health on the planet, period,” states Ramsey. Foods rich in omega-3s include fatty seafood like salmon, mussels and oysters, plus sea vegetables, walnuts, flaxseed and grass-fed beef. For vegetarians and vegans, Ramsey recommends an algal DHA supplement. Focusing on feeding the brain doesn’t preclude staving off heart disease, obesity or diabetes. “Follow the rules of eating for brain health,” Ramsey says, “and you’ll also be slim, energized, focused and resilient.” It’s all a recipe for happiness. Lane Vail is a freelance writer and blogger at DiscoveringHomemaking.com.

A HOLISTIC SPIRITUAL CENTER

Inner peace through ancient wisdom

Sweat Lodges  Fire Ceremony  Messiah Training  Drumming Circle  Workshops and more! See this month’s calendar section for all event listings or visit us online! (865) 428-3070



www.centerforpeace.us



Seymour, TN

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. ~Aristotle

NO CASH? NO PROBLEM!

– gazines a m our ertsing for your busine r v e d a v ss. eli u free d o u If you have reliable transportation Yo give y and would like to work with us for a few days at the end of each month We delivering our magazines, then we will trade for ad space in our healthy living publication.

423-517-0128 KnoxvilleNA@epbfi.com

natural awakenings

February 2015

fitbody

FITNESS FINDS Locate the Best Workout Space for You by Debra Melani

ix years ago, Sherry Salmons, of Oak Ridge, Illinois, was perplexed by her “glowing, smiling, energetic” neighbor that worked full time while raising three young children, yet never seemed drained. Finally, she asked: “What’s your secret?” The answer was a life-changing visit by Salmons to a nearby holistic fitness studio. Lucking into good recommendations can whittle down the multitude of choices available at 32,000 U.S. health clubs and studios, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association. With the dual trends of niche studios and low-cost fitness centers fueling a diverse burst in workout options, club-seekers should apply their sleuthing skills before deciding on something that can prove so pivotal to their health. Clue #1: Location and hours. If a facility isn’t near home or work, people won’t go, says Jim White, an American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) health fitness specialist, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. “Our time is so valuable that going to the gym can’t be a hassle.” Check online and list nearby facilities and hours, scratching off any that aren’t open at convenient times. Clue #2: Know what you need. Some people have absolute necessities for fitness success. “For instance, avid swimmers need a pool,” says Grace DeSimone, an ACSM personal trainer in New York City. “That’s going to reduce their choices considerably.” Other nonnegotiable provisions might be a yoga

Knoxville

studio, indoor track or child care. Clue #3: Gym rat or newbie? A fitness facility that costs pennies a day might seem like an obvious choice, but not if our fitness level and knowledge are near zero. “A lot of people don’t know what to do in a gym,” observes White, who owns personal training studios in Virginia. “We’re especially for those who want their hands held or want to see results fast.” Niche studios focused on modalities from kick boxing to dance therapy can offer added guidance. DeSimone notes that other reputable facilities will likewise have accredited trainers, often at a low cost. Larger facilities also may offer more options for a newbie to try out before settling on what they like, she says. Clue #4: Take a test drive. Make use of trial periods and guest passes. “Get a feel for the culture,” says Chris Freytag, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise and a personal trainer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “People are more likely to stay motivated in an environment that inspires them and with people that motivate them,” Freytag says. During on-site visits, do we feel at home among kindred spirits our own age? Is the facility clean and secure? Clue #5: Look at the equipment. If the gym doesn’t have the equipment we want to use, whether it’s Pilates or TRX equipment, free weights or Kettlebells, then move on. A gym worth joining will

NaturallyKnoxville.com

have plenty of up-to-date equipment that follows the latest fitness trends and works properly, says White. Clue #6: Investigate the staff. Checking out the staff is key for those seeking specialized guidance, such as yoga, martial arts or personal training. Look for trainers and instructors available to help that are certified by a reputable program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Investigating key employees’ backgrounds, including acupuncturists and massage therapists, is crucial. Clue #7: Sign with caution. Avoid signing long-term, complicated contracts, which are rare these days, DeSimone counsels. “Don’t be overwhelmed by a high-pressured sales pitch; just stand your ground, because those people are at your service.” White recommends making sure the price includes expected services; feel free to negotiate, especially with initial fees. Understand all policies, especially cancellation clauses, and use a credit card, which is easier to correct if problems arise, adds DeSimone. Although Salmons was lucky, with her neighbor’s recommendation leading her to her perfect studio, people should investigate to find their ideal fit. “It starts when you walk in the door,” Salmons says about her attraction to The Balance Fitness Studio. “The space is open, exposed and it’s got this very clean, feng shui energy.” Not a traditional, iron-pumping, music-blasting gym fan, Salmons prefers Pilates, but participates in all of the studio’s offerings, including massage, acupuncture and nutrition classes. While finding the right club has boosted her fitness level, she notes that the real magic has come in the form of revitalized energy. “It’s changed me in all aspects of my life. When I leave, I feel mentally focused, emotionally balanced and refreshed. It’s kind of transformational.” Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fitness from Lyons, CO. Connect at Debra Melani.com or DMelani@msn.com.

wisewords

Conscious Dating Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online by S. Alison Chabonais

ill Crosby, owner and founder of the Conscious Dating Network, has focused on spiritual development and meditation for more than 30 years. Working as a director for the granddaddy of the original onsite photo/video dating companies, which included interviewing 6,000-plus singles, sparked a desire to create a venue for spiritually conscious singles to meet. So, 15 years ago, she created her flagship online dating site, SpiritualSingles.com. NaturalAwakeningsSingles.com, launched two years ago as part of the network, shares the same database of members as SpiritualSingles.com and many affiliated conscious dating sites in the network. Today, the Conscious Dating Network is the largest of its kind. From Mount Shasta, California, Crosby leads a team of specialists that care for members’ needs and provide a loving, inspiring site for singles to meet their beloveds.

How has online dating continued to evolve and what trends do you see now? The stigma about meeting someone online has completely dissolved as success stories have become so common. It’s like shopping online—you can look at many different varieties and styles to find exactly what you are looking for, rather than physically searching store after store hoping to find something you like. Technology has made a tremendous difference in price, accessibility and reach. Today, members post selfies as headshots, shoot their own videos and can access potential matches anywhere in the world.

I used to think longdistance relationships didn’t stand a chance. However, with Skype and a willingness to relocate, many of our success stories start as long-distance connections. Video chatting is a great way to assess common values and get to know someone on a deep level before traveling to meet in person.

What distinguishes conscious dating sites like Natural AwakeningsSingles.com from mainstream sites? Natural Awakenings Singles is a niche dating site for those that are conscious, spiritual and green. Singles with specific interests, passions and lifestyles usually prefer niche dating sites because they allow for more targeted search results, provided that the member database is large enough. Our database of more than 90,000 members globally is considered large for a niche. Mainstream sites may have more members; however, they require far more time and effort in sorting through profiles to find those with whom we might have something in common. Natural Awakenings Singles is also much more generous than conventional pay models, in that free members can read and reply to personal messages and live instant messages sent from subscribing members. Most mainstream sites make members pay to read and reply to messages. Our primary goal is for our singles to become couples—to facilitate the tremendous amount of success our members experience, we do many things differently.

Have you seen any overall differences in the success stories the Conscious Dating Network facilitates? Yes, our members usually connect on a deeper, “soul-to-soul” level and tend to understand that chemistry comes in all shapes and sizes. Our success story couples oftentimes have the feeling that they are destined to be together. We encourage members to listen to their inner guidance in regard to whom to contact, be grateful in advance and stay in their divine flow. When members tune in and act from this space, miracles happen. Many of our “destined” couples go on to do amazing projects together, like opening retreat centers, writing books, facilitating workshops, starting intentional communities, creating nonprofit organizations and other beautiful ventures that neither of them would have necessarily done alone. The power of two seems to be exponentially greater.

What have proved to be your all-time favorite tips for online dating success? By healing past traumas, loving and forgiving ourselves, and embodying our divine presence as much as possible, deep-seated feelings of unworthiness fall away and we emanate our true radiance, thus magnetizing a partner equally empowered and awake. When we are in a place of personal power, there is no being shy or procrastinating. Imagine how it would be once you have met the love of your life, and focus on those feelings while browsing and reading profiles. When you notice a strong inner nudge to contact someone, do it. If it’s not mutual, that’s OK; don’t take it personally. That’s part of the beauty of online dating; the pool is large, and when the feeling and knowingness is mutual, you might just be starting a life together. “In-joy” the process, be positive and choose to make it a fun adventure! Joining NaturalAwakeningSingles. com includes access to all members of all the Conscious Dating Network sites. S. Alison Chabonais is the national content editor for Natural Awakenings magazines.

natural awakenings

February 2015

naturalpet

When Your Pet Passes A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing

by Julianne Hale

pet’s love is extraordinary because it is unconditional. It doesn’t have expectations, pass judgment or try to leverage guilt. It is rich in loyalty, trust and adoration. Domestic pets provide warmth, companionship and love, as well as purpose, fun and conversational gambits for family members. For lonely hearts, they are a lifeline, providing a physical, emotional and spiritual connection to life that may prove critical to survival and happiness. Loving pets seem like an endless source of happiness while with us, but few outlive their owners. Loss is as much a part of having a pet as potty training. For some, the loss of a dog or cat is debilitating and the grieving

process can take months. Rev. Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend and a Unitarian Universalist minister in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contends that the depth of the relationship that we develop with pets emerges from the time we spend with them every day—exercising, feeding, grooming and even sleeping with them. The relationship is pure and uncomplicated, and the pain of separation can be especially intense and profound. The challenge of pet loss is often complicated by the difficult decision to euthanize an aged or suffering animal. “One of the hardest things about having a dog is that sometimes you have to decide to end its life,” says Jon Katz,

100% Private Pet Cremations Eco-Friendly Burial Containers

Faithful Friend Pet Crematory and Funeral Home 423.790.5700 faithfulfriendpets.com

Knoxville

NaturallyKnoxville.com

of upstate New York, a New York Times bestselling author of many books about dogs, including Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die. “Our job as pet owners is to be an advocate for our pets, making sure they do not suffer. Don’t poison the joy that you shared with your pet with guilt over your decisions,” he says. Katz recommends taking photos of pets and making intentional memories in the time leading up to parting to encourage closure. The same kind of rituals we use to honor and say goodbye to other family members can likewise help ease the pain of a pet’s passing. Owners can gather with loved ones and friends to celebrate the life of their pet with a burial ceremony or memorial. Kowalski likes adding meaningful words. His book includes a variety of readings that pet owners can use in their rituals taken from poems, literature, the Bible and other sacred texts. When a human friend or family member dies, compassion and empathy flows from everyone we meet, but many may not be aware of, or understand, the depth of grief associated with a pet’s death. “Some people feel embarrassed or don’t understand that mourning a deceased pet is a normal process,” explains Julia Harris, a pet bereavement counselor from Ellijay, Georgia, and author of Pet Loss: A Spiritual Guide. Support is essential during times of grief, and it can be difficult to find an understanding friend to discuss it with. Several online communities are devoted to providing support. An Internet search of “pet loss support” yields a wealth of online resources. In the same way that the belief in an afterlife comforts people of many faith traditions when a person passes, the possibility of the same destiny for pets can offer comfort. “Perhaps one of the most common questions I am asked is whether or not animals have a soul,” explains Harris. “I encourage people to know that the soul, like love, is eternal. It leaves the physical body, but the loving relationship continues.” While there’s no standard timeline for the grieving process, it’s important

to keep perspective. Excessive grief can lead to depression. “If the grief is interfering with life and your work, then you may need to seek professional help,” advises Katz. Not even a parent is capable of providing the purely unconditional love we receive from pets. Kowalski views it as a sacred connection, observing that through the unconditional love and acceptance that we receive from our pets, we get a little glimpse of what God’s love must look like. Julianne Hale is a writer and editor for Natural Awakenings and blogs about family life at AnotherGrayHair. WordPress.com.

calendarofevents NOTE: All Calendar events must be received by February 10 (for the March issue) and adhere to our guidelines. Email KnoxvilleNA@epbfi.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 How to Let God Help You: Part 1 – 10:55am at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. Unity Transformation will focus on Chapters 1-5 from How to Let God Help You by Myrtle Fillmore. Info: 865-809-5207 or UnityTransformation@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 “Drumming, Meditation and Channeling” – 7:30-9pm. Weekly gathering. Donation. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or 865-428-3070.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Write to Grow – 9-11:30am. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: JudyBingham.net or 865-660-4799.

Helping Children Cope

or many children, the loss of a beloved pet is their first exposure to death, and age-appropriate honesty is the best policy for helping them through this difficult time. Rev. Gary Kowalski advises parents and caregivers to reassure kids that the death of an animal is not something they have to fear, and let them know that the animal is not in pain, is not sleeping and is in a peaceful place. He cautions parents against speaking euphemistically about death to young children. Involving children in the planning of a memorial service for a pet can be therapeutic. Let them talk openly about their favorite memories together and their sadness. Bereavement counselor Julia Harris encourages parents to share stories from their faith traditions that address afterlife. “These stories can help your child best understand that God continues to watch over their pet,” she contends. “This provides a sense of security that the pet is safe and remains with your child in spirit and memory.”

Write Now – 12:30-3:00pm. Creative writing workshop following the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Learn about the craft. Gain perspective on your writing and confidence in your voice. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: JudyBingham.net or 865-660-4799.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Change Your Diet, Change Your Life – Feb. 6, 6pm-Feb. 8, 3pm. Learn how to look good, feel great and make easy, healthy, affordable meals. $279/pp at Well Being Conference Center in Tazewell, TN. Info: Tamara, 423-626-8776 or yogabytamara@ gmail.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Sweat Lodge – 10:30am. Experience a deeper spiritual awareness through this ancient form of prayer and purification. Donation. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or 865-428-3070. Fire Ceremony – 6:45pm-7:45pm. Ceremonial fire is perfect for insight, releasing and transmuting what no longer serves you. Center for Peace, 880 GravesDelozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace. us or Katy Koontz at 865-693-9845.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 How to Let God Help You: Part 2 – 10:55am at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. Unity Transformation will focus on Chapters 6-9 from How to Let God Help You by Myrtle Fillmore. Info: 865-809-5207 or UnityTransformation@gmail.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9 “Energy Medicine: What’s It All About?” – 7pm (6:30 meet & greet). Knoxville CHEO hosts energy medicine panelists: sound therapist, Tai Chi for Health master trainer, holistic nurse. Includes

Q&A and mini-sessions. ParkWest Medical Center Classroom, 9330 ParkWest Boulevard, Knoxville. Info: CHEOKnox.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Write to Grow – 6:45-9pm. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. Second Tuesday evenings at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: JudyBingham.net or 865-660-4799.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Astrology Class – 6:45-8:45pm. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for specific class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology. com or 865-719-2049.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 David Arms – 10am-11:30am. Topic: Healing and its connection to your path. $25 fee. Healing sessions to follow, $50. Center for Peace, 880 GravesDelozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace. us or Patti MacFee at 865-250-1988.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Reiki Level 1 Class – 10am-4:30pm. Introduction to Reiki, a powerful system of energy healing, with focus on healing the self. Receive the Level 1 attunement, learn the principles of Reiki and practice on yourself and your classmates. 428 East Scott Ave, #104, Knoxville. $125. Preregistration required. Info: 865-705-2525 or TheresaRichardson.com. How to Let God Help You: Part 3 – 10:55am at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. Unity Transformation will focus on Chapters 10-14 from How to Let God Help You by Myrtle Fillmore. Info: 865-809-5207 or UnityTransformation@gmail.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Write to Grow – 9-11:30am. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: JudyBingham.net or 865-660-4799. Write Now – 12:30-3:00pm. Creative writing workshop following the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Learn about the craft. Gain perspective on your writing and confidence in your voice. First, third and fifth Wednesdays at The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: JudyBingham.net or 865-660-4799.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Sweat Lodge – 7pm. Experience a deeper spiritual awareness through this ancient form of prayer and purification. Donation. Center for Peace, 880 Graves-Delozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace.us or 865-428-3070.

natural awakenings

February 2015

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Top Ten Pain Releasers – 9am-6pm. 8 CE hours. $125 if paid by 2/14/15 or $150 thereafter. Charles West, LMT, 318 Erin Dr., #5, Knoxville. Info: MassageWorksTN.com or 865-694-3144. An Introduction to Astrology Part 1 – 1:453:45pm. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for details. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology.com or 865-719-2049.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Unity Transformation Special Music – 10:45am. Knoxville-based trio Freequency will provide special music for Unity Transformation at Open Chord.,8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville. Info: 865809-5207 or UnityTransformation@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Braveheart Women Global Harmony Tour – 6:30pm. Experience personal healing, authenticity, empowerment and unity in a harmony circle. Free. Mount Olive Baptist Church, 1601 Dandridge Ave., Knoxville. RSVP: Be.braveheartwomen.com/ ht2015/ or Meetup.com/Creating-Peace-in-Knoxville/. Info: Patti Alcamo via HolisticMediator.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 “Natural Solutions for Life-Threatening Diseases” – 7pm (6:30 meet & greet). Loudon-Monroe CHEO hosts Barry Sunshine, DC, who will explain natural, practical ways to deal with or reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Rarity Bay Community Center, 150 Rarity Bay Pkwy., Vonore, TN. Info: CHEOKnox.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Muscle Energy Technique – 9am-6pm. 8 CE hours. $125 if paid by 2/14/15 or $150 thereafter. Charles West, LMT, 318 Erin Dr., #5, Knoxville. Info: MassageWorksTN.com or 865-694-3144. An Introduction to Astrology Part 2 – 10:45am12:45pm. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for details. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology.com or 865-719-2049.

save the date MONDAY, MARCH 2 Yoga Teacher Training at Liberation Nashville – Winter/spring 200-hour Nashville Yoga Teacher Training will take place March 2-8, 13-15 and 2729; April 10-12 and 24-26; and May 4-10. Taught by Raquel Bueno and Saul David Raye. Liberation Nashville, 2907 12th Ave. S. #4, Nashville, TN. Info: 310-849-9761, LiberationNashville.com or RitamHealingArts.com.

SATURDAY, MARCH 7 TN Massage Law and Professional Ethics – 1-5pm. 2 CE hours each. $40 for one if paid by 2/21/15 or $50 thereafter. $70 for both if paid by 2/21/15 or $90 thereafter. Charles West, LMT, 318 Erin Dr., #5, Knoxville. Info: MassageWorksTN. com or 865-694-3144. Organic Growers School Spring Conference – March 7-8. Workshops for gardeners, farmers and “foodies” of all experience levels. Trade show, seed exchange, silent auction, children’s program. University of North Carolina-Asheville. Early-bird registration $45 for March 7 and $40 for March 8. Registration is an additional $15 after January 30 or at the door. Registration and info: OrganicGrowersSchool.org, meredith@organicgrowersschool.org or 828-668-2127.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 Touch for Health 1 – March 14-15, 9am-6pm. 15 CE hours. $250 if paid by 2/28/15 or $300 thereafter. Charles West, LMT, 318 Erin Dr., #5, Knoxville. Info: MassageWorksTN.com or 865-694-3144.

SATURDAY, MAY 2 Powell River Kayak and Canoe Regatta – A 12mile charity race on the beautiful Powell River in Claiborne County, TN. Prize money for 10 event categories. Starts at Well Being Conference Center. Benefits Pat Summitt Foundation. Info: Facebook. com/PowellRiverRegatta.

classifieds BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY SPREAD YOUR WINGS - Add a Rejuvenation Studio to your EXISTING beauty, fitness, or health/wellness business. Bring in new customers, gain revenue from several sources, and your customers will love it! For more information, call: 864-569-8631.

FOR RENT OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE in established West Knoxville complementary/alternative wellness center with professional, peaceful environment. 12 x 14 room suited for massage therapy, energy work, acupuncture, similar therapies. Furnished or unfurnished. Full- or part-time. Monthly rate. Pamela Nine, 865531-9086 or PamelaNine.com.

For Sale Comfort Craft Table for sale: Model 800 with stool, bolsters, extra side-lying & sports/therapy bolsters, top shape #3, used, good condition, asking $2500. List: $6950. Shipping not available, you must come get it in Knoxville. See pic at massageworkstn.com. Charles West, 865-694-3144.

HELP WANTED Can’t afford to advertise? Interested in distributing Natural Awakenings magazine? Trade your time for that critical advertising you need. Call 423-517-0128 or email KnoxvilleNA@epbfi.com.

advertisersindex Company

Page

Celestial Harmonics................................................................. 3 Center for Peace/The............................................................. 21 Crown Cleaners......................................................................... 7 Crystal Peace Center.............................................................20 Eddie’s Health Shoppe............................................................ 17 Everything Mushrooms......................................................... 32 Faithful Friend..........................................................................24 Feng Shui Design......................................................................19 Gentle Touch Therapeutic...................................................... 12 Harmony Tour / The Holistic Mediator.............................. 32

Knoxville

NaturallyKnoxville.com

Company

Page

Hemp Monkeys ......................................................................... 7 Lea’s Natural Health Solutions.............................................. 11 Liberation Yoga Nashville...................................................... 12 Organic Growers School.......................................................... 3 Sanaatana Ministires...............................................................15 Unity Transformation..............................................................18 Well Being Conference Center............................................... 9 Write Place/The......................................................................... 7 Xlear...................................................................................27 & 31

-- advertorial --

BRINGING MORE THAN HOMEWORK HOME By Ryan Hogan It’s the time of year when we send our kids back to school from the holidays. Unfortunately, while schools are good places to learn they are great places to catch a disease. In fact, children’s Upper respiratory illnesses (URI’s) cause more doctor visits and missed school days than any other illness in the US. Luckily, there are a few things you can do at home to help reduce the chances of your child getting sick at school this year.

sanitizer before eating snacks, lunch and after using a shared computer mouse, pencil sharpener, water fountain or other community objects. Now, most people know we need to wash our hands, but one thing most people don’t really relate their health to is nasal hygiene. Using a saline spray with xylitol, such as Xlear Nasal Spray, is safe for all ages. Research has shown this natural sweetener is useful in preventing bacterial otitis media (ear infections), among other upper respiratory problems that are most likely to occur in fall and winter months. Additional xylitol studies have also shown a significant reduction in asthma attacks when a xylitol nasal spray is used on a daily basis. Xylitol affects nose and throat bacteria in two ways:

HOW? Before we talk prevention, we need to know how infection spreads. Many childhood illnesses are caused by viruses and bacteria that are transferred from person to person. URI’s increase in fall and winter as we spend more time crowded indoors. All it takes is one sick child, going to school for the spread to begin. Small droplets from a child’s cough or sneeze travel through the air and land on surfaces like desks, doorknobs and people. These germs are easily spread when someone touches the contaminated object and then proceeds to touch their eyes, nose or mouth. Children’s immune systems are less mature than those of adults, so they’re more vulnerable to these germs. Washing your hands and your nasal passages and also keeping their hands away from their nose, eyes and mouth are the most preventative habits to form at a young age.

•

Decreases the adherence of harmful bacteria on their surface cells.

•

Stimulates the body’s own natural defense system

Since the average American child has six to ten colds a year, using a xylitol nasal spray is a safe and effective way to promote better upper respiratory health, year round. FINAL HEALTHY TIPS In addition to frequent hand-washing, teach your child some other school health basics:

WHAT CAN YOU DO? Our best defense is to stop cold germs where they breed. Good hand-washing is the most effective way to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading. Wash your hands after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, handling trash and prior to touching food to help eliminate germs. Soap and water should be used for 20 seconds (about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). Using alcohol-based hand cleaners is also effective. Remind your child to use the

•

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

•

Give your child a package of tissues to keep in his or her desk.

•

Encourage your child not to share water bottles, food or other personal items.

•

Ask your child’s teacher to include hand-washing time before lunch or snacks.

•

Have your whole family practice nasal hygiene and the use of xylitol saline spray like Xlear.

Even with all of these tips, your kids are bound to come down with something over the course of the school year. We all get sick at some point or another, forming healthier habits and maintaining a positive attitude is all we can do as parents. For more information, please visit www.xlear.com.

ongoingevents sunday

ed in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: 865-660-4799 or JudyBingham.net.

saturday

Unity Transformation – 10:55 a.m. at Open Chord, 8502 Kingston Pike, with Rev. Lora Beth Gilbreath. Join us each Sunday for music, meditation and Unity teachings with practical tools for healthy living. Info: 865-809-5207 or UnityTransformation@ gmail.com.

Belly Dancing at Bohemian Baby – 9:30am. Join DeLacey Ault for her new class offerings at Bohemian Baby Wednesday mornings at 9:30 or Thursday evenings at 6. One-month series $45 or single drop-in for $15 throughout January. 6907 Kingston Pk., Unit 4, Knoxville. Registration: 865-588-1105.

Eckankar Center Sunday events – 11am. First Sunday of month: worship service. Second Sunday: spiritual truths for personal growth discussion. Third Sunday: book discussion, Journey of Soul by Harold Klemp. Fourth Sunday: HU Sing. Eckankar Center of Knoxville, 301 Gallaher View Rd., Ste. 226, Knoxville. Info: 865-622-7685 or Eck-Tenn.org.

Write Now – 12:30-3pm. First, third and fifth Wednesdays. Creative writing workshop following the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Learn about the craft. Gain perspective on your writing and confidence in your voice. The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: 865-660-4799 or JudyBingham.net.

Intuitive Readings with Theresa Richardson – Explore your options and opportunities for growth and enlightenment. Readings address work, relationships, life purpose and how to align with your most positive future. Questions welcome. Call for appointments. Info: 865-705-2525 or TheresaRichardson.com.

monday

Energy Therapy & EFT Practitioners’ Mastermind (Live Call) – 4-5:15pm. First and third Wednesdays. Join other health & wellness Practitioners as Dr. Anne Merkel leads powerful Mastermind sessions using energy therapy to enhance your life & practice. Monthly series of two live calls, Mastermind, notes & recordings, email support: $76. Register: is.gd/PractitionerMastermind. Info: 1-877-262-2276.

Women’s Sacred Circle – 6:30-8pm. Every second and fourth Monday. Gather around the circle as women share, grow and support each other. Light refreshments available. $5 per class. Crystal Peace Center, 205 Court St., Maryville, TN. Info: 865-2009582 or crystal.peace@aol.com. Gentle Yoga Flow – 7-8pm. Every first and third Monday. Stretch and strengthen; perfect for beginners as well as more experienced yoga practitioners. Instructor Jill Hawn offers modifications to suit all levels ofexperience. $10 per class. Crystal Peace Center, 205 Court St., Maryville, TN. Info: 865200-9582 or crystal.peace@aol.com.

tuesday 8 Move Tai Chi – 11am-noon or 6-7:15pm. Delivers physical/mental benefits in as few moves as possible. Taught by certified instructors from Clear’s Tai Chi. Clear’s Silat & Street Kung Fu, 113 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. $69 for six weeks. Info: Richard Clear or Roland Jackson, 865-379-9997 or MaryvilleTaiChi.com. Mat Pilates with Susie Kaplar – 5:30-6:30pm. First class free, then $10 per session (half price if you bring a friend). Drop-ins welcome. Arnstein Jewish Community Center, 6800 Deane Hill Dr., Knoxville. Info: Susie Kaplar, 661-803-1526. Breastfeeding Support Circle – 6pm. Lactation consultant will discuss any breastfeeding problems or questions. Moms Café-style supportive place to bring your baby to socialize with other mothers. Bohemian Baby, 6907 Kingston Pk. Unit 4, Knoxville. Info: 865-588-1105 Drumming, Meditation & Channeling – 7:309pm. Donation. Center for Peace, 880 GravesDelozier Rd., Seymour, TN. Info: CenterForPeace. us or 865-428-3070.

wednesday Write to Grow – 9-11:30am. First, third and fifth Wednesdays. Writing workshop for women interest-

Knoxville

thursday Burn, Baby Burn! – 10:30am. Kim Day Training is in store in our spacious classroom to offer mommy and baby fitness. Bring your little one to help you work away those winter blahs. $10. Drop-ins welcome. Bohemian Baby, 6907 Kingston Pk., Unit 4, Knoxville. Info: 865-588-1105. 8 Move Tai Chi – 11am-noon or 6-7:15pm. Delivers physical/mental benefits in as few moves as possible. Taught by certified instructors from Clear’s Tai Chi. Clear’s Silat & Street Kung Fu, 113 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. $69 for six weeks. Info: Richard Clear or Roland Jackson, 865-379-9997 or MaryvilleTaiChi.com. Mat Pilates with Susie Kaplar – 5:30-6:30pm. First class free, then $8 per session (half price if you bring a friend). Drop-ins welcome. Arnstein Jewish Community Center, 6800 Deane Hill Dr., Knoxville. Info: 661-803-1526 or susiekaplar@gmail.com. Tapping for Weight Loss – 7-8pm. First of and third Thursdays. Learn how to eliminate the self sabotaging thoughts that keep you from the slim body you want. Join Instructor Nancy Allen , LMT. $7 per class. Crystal Peace Center,205 Court. St.,Maryville, TN,Info: 865-200-9582 or crystal. peace@aol.com.

friday Write Now – 9-11:30pm first and third Fridays. Creative writing workshop following the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Method. Learn about the craft. Gain perspective on your writing and confidence in your voice. The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: 865-660-4799 or JudyBingham.net.

NaturallyKnoxville.com

weekly Intuitive Counseling Sessions with Pamela Nine – Receive relationship, life-lesson, career and lifepurpose guidance and further your personal, professional and spiritual growth through professional intuitive counseling. By appointment at Nine Wellness Centre, 3113 Gose Cove Ln., Knoxville. Info and appointments: 865-531-9086, PamelaNine@ msn.com, PamelaNine.com.

monthly Write to Grow – 6:45-9pm. Every second Tuesday. Writing workshop for women interested in developing a deeper sense of self through writing. The Write Place, 2611 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN. Info: 865-660-4799 or JudyBingham.net. Astrology Class – 6:45-8:45pm. Every second Thursday. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for exact dates and class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology.com or 865-719-2049. Astrology Class – 1:45-3:45pm. Various Saturdays. Please see Radiant Light Astrology website for exact dates and class topics. Classes are held at The Oasis Institute, 4928 Homberg Dr., Knoxville. Info: RadiantLightAstrology.com or 865-719-2049. Spiritual Apprenticeship Program – Advance your personal, professional and spiritual path; promote healing; develop inner awareness, intuitive and mediumship abilities through a one-on-one learning experience. Available for 3- and 6-month terms. Limited-time discount. Pamela Nine, Nine Wellness Centre. Info: 865-531-9086, PamelaNine@msn. com, PamelaNine.com. Monthly meeting of Holistic Moms Network, Knoxville – 11am. Follow the natural path to parenting. Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at Bohemian Baby, 6907 Kingston Pk., Unit 4, Knoxville. Info: Mary at 865-356-7987 or KnoxHMNLeadership@gmail.com. Autoimmune Coaching & Energy Therapy Support Call – 4-5:15pm. Second Wednesdays. Dr. Anne Merkel shares information and solutions for people experiencing autoimmune disorders, to naturally address their condition and support healing. Free. Notes and past month recordings provided when you register at is.gd/autoimmunegroup. Info: 1-877-262-2276.

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in this directory each month, email KnoxvilleNA@epbfi.com or call 423-517-0128.

BIRTH CENTER LISA ROSS BIRTH & WOMEN’S CENTER 1925 Ailor Ave. • Knoxville, TN 865-524-4422 LisaRossCenter.org

Certified nurse-midwives in a nationally accredited freestanding birth center. Gynecology care, full-scope maternity and postpartum care with birth center, waterbirth and hospital delivery options. Complimentary services include breastfeeding support/lactation consultations, well-baby care and peer support.

Bodywork MASSAGEWORKS

Charles West, LMT, TFH, MAT 318 Erin Dr. #5 • Knoxville, TN 37919 865-694-3144 MassageWorksTN.com Move better, feel better, live better. Bodywork for pain and stress relief since 1994. A c u p r e s s u r e , To u c h f o r Health® kinesiology, structural alignment, stress relief, relaxation, chair massage, cupping, Tai chi. Classes for LMTs, everyone.

THE RETREAT, LLC

Massage and Skincare Allyson Harris, LMT, LE 318 Erin Dr. #5 Knoxville, TN 37919 TheRetreatLLC.MassageTherapy.com Offering relaxation through Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone and pregnancy massage. Skin care is fresh, healing and holistic. Wonderful for all skin types. Please visit website for full menu, gift certificates and appointments.

Conscious Living

Energy Therapy ANNE MERKEL, PhD

HEMP MONKEYS

Energy Psychology/Naturopathy 706-374-6460 877-262-2276 ArielaGroup.com MyEFTCoach.com

Amanda Keller & Amber Keirn 4928 Homberg Dr. Ste. A1 Knoxville, TN 37919 865-474-1340 Info@HempMonkeysOnline.com Hemp Monkeys is an eclectic and unique shop that specializes in hemp and bamboo clothing, hemp oil soaps, lotions, handmade jewelry, Himalayan salt lamps, and Indonesian and Balinese décor and jewelry. See ad, page 7.

Specializing in addressing autoimmune disorders and certifying health & wellness practitioners to adopt energy therapy modalities, Dr. Anne Merkel assists you by phone, in person, and via numerous online self-study packages, leading you to conscious transformation, wellness, release of trauma.

Emotion Code LEA’S NATURAL HEALTH SOLUTIONS, LLC

Linda Lea, Natural Health Professional, RCR, CCA, HTSM 620 N. Campbell Station Rd. #23 Farragut, TN 37934 865-966-1509 LeasNHS.com

Feng Shui FENG SHUI DESIGN

Dr. Nancy C. Canestaro 6920 Lark Ln. • Knoxville, TN 37919 865-789-5856 FengShuifyi.com Nancy helps you find health, harmony, prosperity for home/ office. With 2+ decades of experience, she will study your property and produce a report with recommendations for enhancements, remedies. Contact her about lecturing for your group. See ad, page 19.

Lea’s Natural Health Solutions offers e m o t i o n a l empowerment and spiritual maturity processes including The Emotion Code, designed to eliminate hidden emotional baggage and selfsabotaging beliefs and behaviors that prevent you from giving and receiving love freely. See ad, page 11.

GREEN DRY CLEANERS Energy Healing ROCK AND PINE HEALING Rev. Carol Bodeau, PhD Maryville, TN 865-233-7402 RockAndPineHealing.com

Restoring wholeness and renewing harmony for body, heart, mind, spirit. Rev. Carol Bodeau is an experienced interfaith minister and healer offering spiritual guidance, intuitive counseling, Reiki and crystal healing, wilderness quests and rites of passage.

CROWN CLEANERS

9409 Northshore Dr. • Knoxville, TN 37922 865-539-6040 6300 Kingston Pk. • Knoxville, TN 37919 865-584-7464 CrownCleaners.com More than 40 years as Knoxville’s premier dry cleaners. Traditional customer service meets state-of-the-art technology. Eco-friendly dry cleaning equipment and solutions produce superior results. Register online for free pickup/delivery of dry cleaning, laundry, alterations. See ad, page 7.

natural awakenings

February 2015

READINGS AND REIKI

Health Foods & Nutrition

Theresa Richardson 428 East Scott Ave, Suite 104 Knoxville, TN, 37917 865-705-2525 Info@TheresaRichardson.com TheresaRichardson.com

EVERYTHING MUSHROOMS

1004 Sevier Ave. • Knoxville, TN 37920 865-329-7566 Info@EverythingMushrooms.com EverythingMushrooms.com Complete mushroom s u p p l y, g i f t s a n d r e s o u r c e c e n t e r. Gourmet mushroom foods, mushroom logs, books and much more. For workshops, check website or call for current schedule. See ad, page 32.

Holistic Health Care CHEO of GREATER KNOXVILLE AREA Complementary Health Education Organization PO Box 22511 • Knoxville, TN 37933 423-884-6031 CheoKnox.org

Theresa is an intuitive healer/ teacher whose services include readings, Reiki sessions and a variety of classes. Her intention is to facilitate transformation and alignment with the soul’s wisdom. In-person, phone or long-distance healing sessions available.

Recycling HIDDEN GEMS RECYCLING 2810 Hoitt Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917 865-742-1151 HiddenGemsRecycling.com

Discover your options for wellness using holistic and integrative approaches. Free Holistic Resource Directory available. Monthly educational programs 7pm every second Monday (Knoxville) and fourth Wednesday (Loudon/Monroe). Meet & Greet at 6:30pm. Details at CheoKnox.org

Offering commercial and residential recycling of Styrofoam packaging. Drop-off and pick-up services offered. See website for details. Serving Knoxville and surrounding communities.

Retreat Centers

CRYSTAL PEACE CENTER

WELL BEING CONFERENCE CENTER

205 Court St. Maryville, TN 37804 865-200-9582 crystal.peace@aol.com CrystalPeaceCenter.com

Don Oakley & Patty Bottari Oakley, Directors Tazewell, TN 37879 423-626-9000 WellBeingCC.org Hour north of Knoxville,160 acres surrounded by 2½ miles of Powell River. Perfect for quiet getaway, vacation, group event, retreat, workshop. Our mission is promoting mind/ body wellness, harmony with nature. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit. See ad, page 9.

The Crystal Peace Center (CPC) offers a variety of alternative healing services, classes, pathways for progression, and tools of empowerment to support your spiritual and personal growth. Contact the CPC to schedule a wellness assessment/treatment. See ad, page 20.

SOUND HEALING

NINE WELLNESS CENTRE

CELESTIAL HARMONICS

Pamela Nine, PhD 3113 Gose Cove Ln. • Knoxville, TN 37931 865-531-9086 PamelaNine@msn.com PamelaNine.com

Mebbie Jackson 865-679-9642 Mebane8@mac.com

Pamela Nine, PhD, owner of Nine Wellness Centre, is an internationally recognized professional intuitive counselor and educator with 25+ years’ experience. Services include spiritual apprenticeship program, educational courses, life and business coaching, and personal and telephone intuitive counseling by appointment.

Knoxville

880 Graves-Delozier Rd. Seymour, TN 37865 865-428-3070 CenterForPeace.us

Aholistic spiritual center applying ancient wisdom traditions such a s c e r e m o n y, dance, shamanic practice, sweat lodges, meditation, chanting and prayer in the modern world. See ad, page 21.

OASIS INSTITUTE: A CENTER FOR ATTITUDINAL HEALING Stephen Anthony, Executive Director 4928 Homberg Dr. Ste. A-4 Knoxville, TN 37919-5100 865-588-7707 OasisInstitute@OasisInstitute.org OasisInstitute.org

OASIS Institute is a nonsectarian, nonprofit spiritual organization established in 1995. Our mission is to provide a meeting place for groups that will facilitate the well-being of people of all backgrounds.

UNITY TRANSFORMATION

Rev. Lora Beth Gilbreath 865-809-5207 UnityTransformation@gmail.com UnityTransformation.org Sunday morning and midweek activities. Host of the internet “radio” broadcast “Hooked on Classics” through UnityOnlineRadio.org. Affiliated with Unity Worldwide Ministries. See ad, page 18.

Weight Loss

Intuitive Counseling

Spiritual Centers THE CENTER FOR PEACE

Acutonics is a healing modality that uses tuning forks on acupuncture points to facilitate a healing response in the body. Clients report a strong release of tension and stress from the body after each session. See ad, page 3.

NaturallyKnoxville.com

SABA ASSOCIATES

Steve and Kim Back, Executive Platinum Directors 865-257-4999 skback.lovemyace.com Saba’s new exclusive ACE formula contains the top five most effective weight-loss ingredients scientifically formulated into one pill. Raspberry Ketone, Green Coffee Bean Extract, Saffron Extract, Konjac Root Extract, Garcinia Cambogia Extract. All of this in one capsule! Call for your FREE sample today.

Create Peace with us

Braveheart Women’s Global

Harmony Tour 2015 Tennessee Harmony Circle

The Event is FREE, the Experience is Priceless ~ Coming together Soul-to-Soul is Transformative

Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at the Mount Olive Baptist Church 1601 Dandridge Ave., Knoxville, TN at 6:30pm Please RSVP online

Hosted By:

be.braveheartwomen.com/ht2015 For more information visit www.HolisticMediator.com

a Grow healthy, medicinal mushrooms at home a Mushroom logs, spawn, and ready to grow kits a Dried reishi, shiitake, maitake, chaga mushroom Kombucha starters and more Showroom Hours: Wednesday - Friday 10:00 pm - 6:00 pm Saturday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

1004 Sevier Ave, • Knoxville TN 37920 • 865.329.7566

everythingmushrooms.com