February 2015 by Natural Awakenings of Southern Maine

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

FREE

HAPPILY COUPLED Creating Loving Relationships that Work

FITNESS FINDS Healing the Heart Helpful Aids for Emerging from Grief

Discovering a Workout that Works for You

February 2015 | Southern Maine Edition | MaineAwakenings.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 • Fencing Suppliers • Kennels • Lawn-Care Specialists

• Pen and Shed Builders • Pet Stores • Pet Food Vendors • Stables • Pet Health Practitioners/Therapists • Trainers and Handlers • Pet Sitters and Caregivers • Veterinarians — and this just scratches the surface

contents 9

5 newsbriefs 9 healthbriefs 10 community spotlight

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.

10 REDISCOVERING YOURSELF:

1 1 ecotip

Vast Horizons Horizons Center for Personal Growth Offers Homegrown Healing

12 globalbriefs 14 fitbody 2 1 healingways

24 wisewords 25 calendar

by Jessie Shiers

11 14

30 resourceguide 31 classifieds

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: News@MaineAwakenings.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Coordinator@MaineAwakenings.com. Deadline for calendar: the 5th of the month. 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 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

Best Ways to Enjoy Greener Indoor and Outdoor Fires

FITNESS FINDS

Locate the Best Workout Space for You by Debra Melani

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 207-615-3675 or email Ads@MaineAwakenings.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

ECO-FIREPLACE TIPS

HAPPILY COUPLED

Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive by Judith Fertig

5 TIPS FOR ALLEVIATING ANXIETY by Svetla Popova

GENTLING GRIEF Remedies to Heal the Heart

by Kathleen Barnes

22 MAINE ARTIST

EMBRACES CHINESE “ACCENT” IN HER WORK by Amy Paradysz

24 CONSCIOUS DATING Jill Crosby on Looking for Love Online by S. Alison Chabonais

MaineAwakenings.com natural awakenings

February 2015

letterfrompublisher

contact us Publisher Debjani Das Editors S. Alison Chabonais Sean Lynch Shonali Das Linda Sechrist Contributing Writers Sean Lynch Amy Paradysz Jessie Shiers Contributing Photographers Gregg Hryniewicz Amy Paradysz Ad Designer Helene Leininger Design & Production Lisa Avery Printer Trumbull Printing Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales 239-530-1377 Natural Awakenings of Southern Maine P. O. Box 7769, Portland, ME 04112 Phone: 207-615-3675 Fax: 207-221-1005 MaineAwakenings.com Facebook.com/MaineAwakeningsMag ©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.

SUBSCRIPTIONS To sign up for a copy of our monthly digital magazine, email Publisher@MaineAwakenings.com. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

Southern Maine

“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing… not healing, not curing… that is a friend who cares.” ~Henri Nouwen

eera and I met a dozen years ago working on an archaeological excavation with other students from Central Connecticut State University. We were researching the role the property played during the 18th century. We knew for sure that it had served as a tavern at some point based on dusty remains found in the latrine. Yep, I was knee deep in a 300-year-old toilet, Keera right there with me. July’s muggy heat had me thinking up ways to escape to someplace with air conditioning and running water. When the opportunity to do records research at town hall surfaced, Keera and I jumped to volunteer, metaphorically knocking aside anything that would block us from the tedious task of “paper excavation.” Once we stepped into the building’s cool air, fingernails caked in dirt and boots blanketed in unmentionable filth, we decided it was in the best interest of the group that we perform the most intense and thorough paper excavation the school would ever see. Of course, this mostly happened on days when the temperature exceeded 95 F, or it rained… or if we wanted to munch lunch at one of CT’s famous pizzerias instead of the melted remains of whatever we’d packed. This is how I met my forever friend. A forever friend is an essential lifeline, especially when we lose someone we love. Family can be great, and I’ve been blessed with a close and loving clan that makes life easier. But I can’t imagine emerging from the passing of my mother without Keera. Everyone needs such a friend to help us face life’s traumas and travel the road of recovery. When I lost my mother in 2006, I didn’t want to talk about it because talking made it real. I wanted to wallow in despair and act irrationally, making myself a nightmare to be around. Yet Keera made herself available every day for countless weeks. She sat in silence with me as a reminder that I wasn’t alone. She quietly let herself feel the pain that encompassed my whole being almost as though she willed it off of me to provide relief. In my worst of times, including the later loss of a sister, she has always been there for me. Kathleen Barnes’ article “Gentling Grief: Remedies to Heal the Heart” shares a more in-depth look at what happens to us during bereavement. We lighten the mood and welcome Valentine’s Day with insightful tips for creating lasting relationships in Judith Fertig’s feature article, “Happily Coupled: Creating Loving Relationships that Thrive.” May we always tell loved ones how much we appreciate and delight in them. Let’s cheers to building relationships with caring family and friends that stand the test of time. May we all be someone’s forever friend. Om Shanti Om,

Debjani Das, Publisher MaineAwakenings.com

Life Counselor Helen Thorgalsen Joins Riverbend Wellness in Arundel

newsbriefs Bright Star World Dance: Two Nights, Two Different Shows

ith everything from belly dance to Rwandan dance, Bright Star World Dance is celebrating its one-year anniversary at its new location on High Street in Portland with two nights of diverse performances. The family-friendly shows bring together diverse cultures and cultivates unity through dance, featuring a variety of styles including contemporary ballet and Chinese ribbon dance. The shows will be at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.), February 27 and 28. Only 32 tickets are available per show and are available for purchase for $15 at www.BrightStarWorldDance.com. Cost: $15. Location: 108 High St., Portland, on the third ﬂoor, above the Little Tap House. For more information, call 207-370-5830.

Workshop on Polarity Processing and Setting Goals

ast Horizons Center for Personal Growth in Yarmouth is offering a workshop, “Polarity Processing Techniques: The Unification of Our Split Consciousness,” from 1-4p.m. on February 28. Polarity processing allows a more fluid consciousness and an ability to go with the flow, dealing with changing in daily life, according to workshop leader Audrey McMorrow, a certified life coach with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in holistic counseling. “It frees us from being stuck in the past and from struggling with our goals for the future,” McMorrow says. Preregistration is required for this discussion-based workshop limited to 10 participants. Cost: $60. Location: Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth, 81 Bridge St., Suite 109, Yarmouth. For more information or to register, call Audrey at 207-650-8052, email Audrey@vasthorizons.com or visit VastHorizons.com. See ad, page 20.

ife counselor, Helen Thorgalsen, D.C. Edu, has joined Riverbend Wellness Center located on Route 1 in Arundel, where she brings her experience and expertise to the growing field of wellness. Thorgalsen will be seeing clients at Riverbend Wellness Center, which is also the home of Boucher Family Chiropractic and other wellness practitioners. “My favorite thing is to help clients shift their perspective for that ah-ha moment,” Thorgalsen says. A former client says, “Helen is a deeply caring, discerning, and inspiring counselor who can quickly assess a life situation and make very practical and constructive suggestions that lead to great insights and empowerment. She helps you to look at ways in which you can cast off self-doubt and live a life filled with abundance, gratitude and grace.” Riverbend Wellness also offers chiropractic, massage, interactive body work, yoga and CrossFit. Location: 1009 Portland Road, Arundel. For more information, visit www. riverbendwellnesscenter.com or call 207-467-3391.

Take Note

Moonlit Snowshoe Walk in Wells

it the trails as the sun goes down for a guided snowshoe trek to Laudholm Beach. The walk will take place at Wells Reserve at Laudholm from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on March 4. Listen to lunar folklore and learn about the moon’s effect on our oceans. Snowshoes will be available. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight with a red filter if you have one.

Cost: $5 per member, $7 per non-member, and $15 for a family of three or more. Location: 342 Laudholm Farm Road, Wells. To register (required), call 207-646-1555.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23 8-Week Empowerment Group Coaching Class– Feb 23-Apr 13. 6-8pm. This class will make you aware of how your own energetic alignment and knowledge of the Law of Attraction is key to manifesting any goal. The class includes discussion, education and homework. $400/ register by Feb 16; $425/register after Feb 16. Kusum Institute, 185 US Route 1, Scarborough. Info: 207-653-9792 or BethKoehlerLifeCoach.com. Register: KusumInstitute.com.

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February 2015

WHY AN ORGANIC MATTRESS IS RIGHT FOR YOU

newsbriefs Charles A. Francis Makes Mindfulness Meditation Simple

While we sleep, our immune system recovers and prepares for the day ahead. If your mattress is filled with airborne allergens and chemical toxins, your immune system will battle these rather than repair itself. Regular bedding & mattresses are laden with polyurethane foam, toxic flame retardants, and water or stain resistant chemicals.

Organic Innerspring Mattresses Our cotton innerspring mattresses are made with organic cotton batting and organic wool — free from chemicals and pesticides! Great for those who are chemically sensitive or allergic to latex. A good fit for families on a budget because an innerspring is generally less expensive than a latex mattress.

Natural Latex Organic Mattresses When it comes to latex there’s “natural” and then there’s “all natural”. We sell only “all natural” latex mattresses so you sleep chemical-free. Beware mattress stores online and in your neighborhood selling “natural” or “green” or “sustainable” foam mattresses. This is “green wash” marketing hype.

FIND A HUGE SELECTION OF THE BEST ORGANIC MATTRESSES IN THE WORLD

TheCleanBedroom TM

The Finest Organic Mattresses & Bedding in the World, all in one place

Portland at 477 Fore Street | 207.517.3500 Kittery at 5 Shapleigh Road | 207.703.0743 www.thecleanbedroom.com

any people are coming to the realization that searching for happiness through achievements and material possessions simply adds to their rising stress, only bringing them more chaos and unhappiness. The practice of mindfulness meditation offers an alternate road to happiness and inner peace. Charles A. Francis, mindfulness meditation expert and author of Mindfulness Meditation Made Simple: Your Guide to Finding True Inner Peace, is passionate about helping novices and seekers learn about mindfulness meditation. In his book, he details how to start or join a meditation group that will enhance your life and health. As co-founder of the Mindfulness Meditation Institute, he’s seen the number of members in his own organization grow to more than 65,000 worldwide. Using 10 practical steps, Francis shows how to transform one’s own well-being, and that of friends, family and community through mindfulness meditation. He also discusses tips and hints for strengthening one’s commitment to meditation, alternative modes of practice, including writing and walking, how to improve concentration through mediation and how to overcome the challenging aspects of practice. Francis uses a multi-faceted approach to the mindfulness meditation, and he also teaches individuals, develops programs for organizations, and leads workshops and retreats. Learn more or purchase the book at MindfulnessMeditationInstitute.org.

Save the Date: Maine Restaurant “Week” March 1-14

o longer just a seven-day event, Maine Restaurant “Week” allows plenty of time to check out the dozens of participating restaurants statewide. For the first two weeks of March, three-course menus will be offered at $25 to $55, depending on the restaurant. Some offer $15 lunches. In addition, several Maine Restaurant Week events in Southern Maine highlight food, drink and fun—and raise money for Preble Street homeless shelter and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine. Events include a breakfast competition, pancake races, and a Chef-Am bowling tournament. The Signature Food and Cocktail Pairing Event will be March 8, at Prime Mercedes-Benz in Scarborough. If you’ve never eaten in a car dealership, get ready to be impressed. For more information, visit MaineRestaurantWeek.com.

Southern Maine

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Run Away With the Circus, But Stay Close To Home: Circus Conservatory Comes to Maine

f you’ve ever been enchanted by elaborate circus production, wowed by acrobats’ looping dives, feared for the spinal cords of aerial artists, or even wanted to tiptoe across a low-level tightrope, you’re in very good luck. Circus Conservatory of America, a unique institution of higher education offering academic and performance instruction in circus arts, has recently established its campus on Thompson’s Point in Portland. Besides enrolling full-time students in a Bachelor of Fine Arts program (inaugural class will begin September 2016), CCA has opened its facilities for weekly classes for all neophyte tumblers, climbers, leapers and jugglers. Beginning in January, Circus America, the recreational program of the CCA, will hold weekly lessons—available as drop-in or multiple-class packages—in Adult Aerial, Juggle Jam, Flexibility Conditioning, Chinese Pole, Handstand Fundamentals, Partner Acrobatics and more. Rates vary, and most classes start between 3:30 and 7 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekends; there is also a comprehensive list of programs for children and young adults—all available on CircusConservatory.org. Planting itself in Portland makes CCA accessible to a wide-range of aspiring artists and performers from around the world, and, during winter months when sidewalks are especially treacherous, gives locals opportunities to move, play and practice in creative ways. Whether you’ve dreamt of running away with the circus but balked at the transient lifestyle, or just want to get out from the cold for some indoor exercise, Circus Conservatory of America is a truly unique experience. Cost: Varies depending on course. Location: The Circus Conservatory of America, Thompson’s Point, Portland. For more information or to register, visit CircusConservatory.org, or call 207-337-1699.

Correction:

Kath Bartlett

In our January issue, the article “Healthy Eating for the Cool Months” was written by Kath Bartlett, MS, Lac, a Chinese Herbalist located in Scarborough and owner of Bartlett Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, which provides healing services to patients located in the Greater Portland area. You can reach Bartlett by calling 207-219-0848 or visiting BartlettAcupuncture.com.

Do You Know Which Supplements And Vitamins Are Good For You? Are the supplements & vitamins you are now taking interacting with one another? What Does Nutrition Have To Do With Chiropractic Care? The goal of chiropractic care is to help patients achieve total health & balance with their body. This includes recommendations on nutritional supplements & healthy food choices. We provide structured nutritional program based upon your individual needs.

Learn more! Schedule a visit today. 800.610.1199 | www.alebrocenter.com 135 Rogers Road • Kittery, ME Kittery’s Holistic Wellness Center since 1976 natural awakenings

February 2015

newsbriefs New Portland Yoga Studio Blends Physical and Spiritual Practices

here’s a new yoga studio in Portland: Niraj Yoga, at 648 Congress Street. Owners Kathleen Savoy and Melissa Fox are both certified yoga instructors with more than 500 hours of Vinyasa and Hatha yoga training. This new studio offers yoga students the opportunity for a full-spectrum experience, strengthening the body and soul from inside out. Combining the physical aspects of poses with spiritual themes linked with the ancient Hindu aspects of yoga such as chanting, harmonium, and finding balance throughout life, Niraj Yoga addresses the needs of those looking for more than just exercise from their yoga workout. Niraj Yoga offers classes in a variety of levels and styles, Monday through Saturday, with times starting as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 5:30 p.m. Classes are offered in a variety of levels and styles. Cost: $9 per class. Location: 648 Congress Street. For more information, visit NirajYoga.com or call 207-747-9172.

Group Coaching for a More Joyful Life

eth Koehler, a certified life coach, licensed massage therapist, and advanced polarity therapy practitioner, is offering an eight-week group coaching session starting from 6-8 p.m., February 23. Come with a goal or desire, work to discover what’s holding you back, and learn tools to move toward a happier, more joyful life. Participants will gain confidence and be supported by the group. The class Beth Koehler includes discussion and homework. There will be lots of support and laughter. The cost is $400 if registered by Feb. 16, $425 after Feb. 16. Each student will also receive a one-hour private coaching session with Koehler, worth $90. Cost: $400 if registered by Feb. 16. Location: Kusum Institute, 185 US Route 1, Scarborough. For more information or to register, visit KusumInstitute.com or call 207-653-9792. See ad, page 15.

Free Podcast: Surviving the New Age Apocalypse

ayleen Hayden, a Reiki-master teacher based in Portland, has a free podcast to help listeners rediscover their most authentic selves and to begin living in a way that feels supported and completely in alignment with their highest good and greatest desires. New episodes are uploaded on Fridays and are approximately 25 minutes. For more information, visit JayleenHayden.com/podcast. 8

Southern Maine

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Juicy-Joyful Writing Workshop: How to Squeeze More Joy from Your Already Messy Life

riter Phyllis Capanna, who is working on her third book, How to Squeeze More Joy from Your Phyllis Capanna Already Messy Life, is leading a “Juicy-Joyful Writing Workshop” in Yarmouth from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 7. The workshop is for anyone with a fast pen, an empty notebook, an open heart or a sense of adventure. Capanna will teach an easy way to circumvent your inner critic and get something down on paper. Through a series of exercises interspersed with readings, the group will delve into the topic of joy: what it is and how to create more. Phyllis Capanna, M.A., OTR/L, has facilitated writing, improvisation, drumming and therapeutic groups for more than 25 years as a healthcare provider, musician and teacher. She writes about spirituality, recovery and creativity at www.PhyllisCapanna.com. Cost: $10. Location: Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth, Sparhawk Mill, 81 Bridge St., Yarmouth. Park in the lower parking lot; building is in the back. For more information or to register, email Phyllis at Phyllomania@gmail.com or visit VastHorizons.com. See ad, page 20.

News to share?

Submit information online at MaineAwakenings.com or call 207-615-3675

Submittal deadline is the 5th of the month.

healthbriefs

Mind-Body Therapies Stimulate the Immune System

large statistical analysis of multiple studies on body-mind therapies such as meditation, tai chi, qigong and yoga found that the practices effectively reduce inflammation and show promise in modulating the immune system. Scientists at the Tufts University School of Medicine analyzed the results of 34 controlled scientific studies that collectively assessed 2,219 people. Each study involved the use of at least one mind-body practice for between seven and 16 weeks and measured immune system health using multiple biological markers. Eighteen of the studies specifically examined inflammation factors, while seven evaluated antiviral-related immunity. Nine of the studies measured C-reactive protein (CRP) levels—an indicator of cardiovascular-related inflammation. The analysis revealed that mind-body therapies reduced CRP levels in subjects with high risk factors for cancer, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease. The scientists added that some of the research suggested that mindbody therapy may also increase immunity against viral infections.

Calcium and Vitamin D May Help Prevent Dental Decay

study from Argentina’s Buenos Aires University has linked dental caries to low levels of calcium and vitamin D. Dental status and caries risk were assessed by determining the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth, the amount of plaque and the sugar intake of 106 women of the average age of 24. Calcium levels were deficient among nearly 60 percent of the women, 70 percent had low blood levels of vitamin D, 72 percent consumed soft drinks daily and all of them presented gingivitis (gum disease). The third with the highest caries scores and decayed or missing teeth had significantly lower calcium intake and vitamin D levels and significantly higher intake of protein and soft drinks, plus significantly higher plaque and sugar intake compared with the rest of the women. The researchers concluded that low calcium intake is associated with a high risk of dental caries and a greater severity of oral disease. “Adequate nutritional status of calcium and vitamin D could be an additional factor that may help preserve good oral health,” they state.

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 selfreported 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.”

natural awakenings

February 2015

communityspotlight

Rediscovering Yourself: Vast Horizons Horizons Center for Personal Growth Offers Homegrown Healing By Jessie Shiers

Audrey McMorrow

udrey McMorrow is a Couples Coach and Psychosynthesis Life Coach practicing at Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth. In 2014, she and her partner Bodhi Simpson, a creative arts therapist, joined together to open the center in Yarmouth. In 2010, McMorrow was just finishing up her graduate studies at Rhode Island’s Salve Regina University when she came to Portland on vacation with her husband, and they fell in love with the entire state. “The people up here are a different breed,” she says. “They are warm and welcoming and genuine. By the second day, we were calling realtors.” After moving to Maine, McMorrow was looking for a space to open her practice in the Portland area when she happened upon Sparhawk Mill in Yarmouth. “I laid eyes on Sparhawk Mill and said, ‘Wow, that’s it,’” she recalls. “I literally took a picture of it at that moment—and that picture is on my website. 10

Southern Maine

“I had advertised for someone to share my office space part-time,” McMorrow says, “But when Bodhi and I met, we clicked right away and realized we could do more together as partners; we subsequently created the center. We knew Sparhawk Mill was the right location because we both were separately drawn to it.” The partners have since completely renovated their space within the Sparhawk Mill complex. “When we’ve got the window open, the river is directly below us so you’ve always got that backdrop of rushing water,” McMorrow says. “We’ve tried to create a spa-like feeling of calm and serenity. Everyone that comes in here says it’s just so soothing. When we’re here, we don’t want to leave.” McMorrow came to therapeutic work late in life. “I came from a very poor background,” she explains. “I always wanted to go to college but never had the opportunity to do that. I was

MaineAwakenings.com

always very good at organization, which kept the money coming in. So I would do things like executive assistant, court reporting, corporate meeting planner. But there was always something inherently unsatisfying in all that work.” After years struggling in unsatisfying careers, McMorrow was at an impasse. “It suddenly occurred to me that I was asking the wrong part of me, ‘What should I do?’ I was asking the survivor part—the part that was concerned about making ends meet. So I decided to ask a higher part of me, and the answer was immediate: ‘You want to be a therapist.’ It came together all at once and it was perfect. And I have never wavered from that path.” McMorrow’s life coaching work is based on the Psychosynthesis model, which she describes as a transpersonal psychology of mind, body, and spirit that focuses not on what needs fixing, but rather on what is trying to emerge

within the individual. “I serve as their guide and partner to discover together whether their goals come from an authentic, present-day part of them rather than from a wounded or fearful place from the past,” McMorrow explains. “I help the client rediscover what holds meaning for them, which can lead to uncovering their purpose in life. We work toward identifying and utilizing the client’s resources, both inner and outer. Each step along the way gets broken down into simple, do-able actions.” In addition to working with individuals, McMorrow works with couples in all stages of their relationship—from a relatively newly formed couple that wants to establish a good foundation, to a troubled partnership that needs some support and repair, to a permanently broken one in which the individuals wish to separate amicably. “The primary goal with couples is bringing conscious awareness and selfresponsibility into the relationship, as well as intimacy,” McMorrow explains. “Intimacy means different things to different people; to me it’s more about communication and trust and being able to relate on a deeper level, which allows one to be vulnerable.” In addition to these main therapeutic practices, McMorrow also hosts workshops such as the bi-weekly Women’s Thrive Groups where women discover what allows them to thrive in the world. She says, “This might include discovering inner strengths, learning to embrace and love themselves (warts and all), and discovering new tools for personal development.” On February 28, look for a workshop on Polarity Processing—“a series of processes that helps us pull out of polarization and into a place of middle ground,” McMorrow explains. She’s currently developing a workshop on working with the shadow—the parts that we’ve rejected in ourselves or that we don’t even know are in us. “Developing our ability to work with those parts is incredibly powerful,” she says. See the website for more information or contact the center directly to preregister.

ecotip Eco-Fireplace Tips

Best Ways to Enjoy Greener Indoor and Outdoor Fires 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.”

Location: Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth, 81 Bridge St., Suite 109, Yarmouth. Call (207) 650-8052, or visit www.vasthorizons.com. See ad, page 20. natural awakenings

February 2015

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

European Eco-Cooperation Linking Oceans and Human Health

EurOcean 2014, convened by the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Marine Board, the European Commission and three Italian partner institutions—the National Research Council, National Inter-university Consortium for Ocean Science and the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics—has issued the first of 18 priorities cited in a declaration that adds momentum to a European Marine Board report, Linking Oceans and Human Health (Tinyurl.com/ OceansAndHealth). Participants identified four high-level policy goals: valuing the ocean; capitalizing on European leadership; advancing ocean knowledge; and breaking scientific barriers. Newly discovered toxic nanoparticles and swelling micro-plastic marine pollution, with concerns emerging about higher seawater temperatures incubating chemical carcinogens, pose several new perils to human health. Jan Mees, chair of the European Marine Board, states, “To truly progress our knowledge, European scientists across a broad range of disciplines and domains must make a quantum leap towards holistic approaches and integrated research on a scale that will help us to much better understand, protect, manage and sustainably exploit the seas and oceans that surround us. This is a grand challenge; not just in Europe, but for human society as a whole.” Source: Eurocean2014.eu

Potent Promises

Climate Change Pledges Predict Progress President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping have both made ambitious pledges to combat climate change. Jinping pledged that China’s CO2 emissions would peak around 2030; the first time that Beijing has set such a target. Obama promised that by 2025, the U.S. will have reduced its emissions by 23 to 26 percent from 2005 levels, twice as much as Washington had previously offered. The carbon emission deal that has been reached between China and the United States is a promising breakthrough. The world’s biggest economies account for one-third of the planet’s emissions, so their initiative should help persuade other countries to reach a global emissions agreement at a United Nations climate summit next year in Paris. President Obama faces opposition in the Republican-controlled Congress, although aides say he can act unilaterally. Moreover, rapidly evolving energy conditions in the United States, from the increased supply of natural gas to the expansion of renewable energies, will ease the pain of carbon cuts. 12

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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.

When Chicago University psychologists surveyed 20,000 people who were married between 2005 and 2012, they found that a third had met online. Half of them met through Internet dating, the rest via chat rooms and social networking sites. Of all the couples still married, those who met online rated themselves happier.

BRINGING MORE THAN HOMEWORK HOME By Ryan Hogan It’s that time of year when we’re sending our kids back to school. 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.

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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: •

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.

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

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

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

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

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

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. 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.

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Clue #1: Location and hours. If a facility isn’t near home or work, people won’t go, says Jim White, an American

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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 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 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’ back-

grounds, 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.

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ne of the latest trends for health-seekers is joining more than one club. Mixing it up can be a good way to go, says Jim White, owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios, in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. “A lot of people are leaving the big-box gyms for more of an a la carte menu,” White says. “I have a client that strength trains with me in the mornings and then goes to spinning, barre and yoga studios in the afternoons.” Up to 90 percent of small studio members belong to more than one club, according to the 2014 International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association’s annual industry trend report. That can both lessen monotony and provide a wellrounded fitness routine, White says.

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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

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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

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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.” 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 un-

“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 Warren Clarke dertaken 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 Network blog, “Down Home Comfort,” at Ekus’ New England compound in the summers; Ekus travels to the South during cold months. They also meet up as often as they can at conferences, food and wine festivals and other events during the rest of the year. “We are both smart, professional women who love what we do, have strong ethics and a high level of self-expectation in how we work,” says Ekus. “We are also best friends and work together professionally. The respect we have for each other and our work is instrumental in our relationship.” “We often joke about the North/ South, fast/slow cultural difference,” Ekus notes. “I’m more spontaneous; Virginia is more thoughtful in her responses. I tend to move fast and focus on checking off items, while Virginia is more about the journey and being in the moment. It often makes us each take stock and consider what we’re doing and saying.” They make the geographic separation work despite its inherent longdistance complications via consistent communication, saying good morning and good night every day by phone and texting often. They hold regular agent/author meetings to make professional plans and personal calendar meetings at least weekly, recognizing and respecting what is important to each of them.

Bridging the age gap. Karen and Dick Eagle, from St. Louis, Missouri, are 16 years apart in age, but are close in the ways that count. Both are strongminded and still vie to get their own way even after 30 years of marriage. “We argue over the stupidest things, natural awakenings

February 2015

and then resolve our disagreements and realize how good we have it,” says Karen. What first attracted them to each other—and keeps them together—is a love of playful fun and good times with friends. Karen remarks, “I knew Dick was ‘the one’ when he jumped flat-footed over a wingback chair at a friend’s house. That showed me that he was young at heart.”

Cultivating Care

Working out as a couple, sharing a creative project or making a gourmet meal together can do more than keep partners feeling connected. Shared activities also keep the positive experiences ongoing and resonating. “That special bond and the commitments people often build around it are the products of love, the 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.

5 Tips

for Alleviating Anxiety By Svetla Popova

ow that the gently send them off by major holidays thinking “Later,” and are over and continue listening to your the old calendar year breathing. Doing this is wrapped up, most of exercise for even just two us think “Now I can reminutes delivers marvellax.” For many people, ous relaxation. however, relaxation is still elusive. Schedules 3. The shortest breathare overpopulated, and ing technique: Look up tax season is coming, while you inhale through too, bringing a lot of the nose. Look down (and Svetla Popova, LCPC worry along with it. slump a little bit) while The rat race continues, you exhale (somewhat the world spins too fast, and we reloudly) through the mouth. Pause. main stressed. When we are stressed Take a normal breath while you raise out, we enter the tunnel vision of your eyes to a neutral position (to eye survival; we miss opportunities, our level)—and that’s it. creativity becomes depleted and we make ourselves sick. So, what may 4. Stop! Delete!: Use these simple, be the answer? Relax, of course. This firm, resolute phrases with yourself is usually easier said than done, but when you catch negative thoughts or here are five suggestions for quick feelings cycling through. relief from anxiety throughout your day and night. 5. And last but not least, SHAKE IT OFF (literally): When you feel shakes 1. EFT (Emotional Freedom Techor jitters, find a private place and start nique), also known as Tapping: Tap shaking your body vigorously, exagon specific acupressure points while gerating the motions. In a few mingiving a healing message to the subutes you will feel calm and free. And conscious. The method significantly it is even better if you have friends and reduces the stress-hormone levels put on some energetic music—shaking in our body in about five minutes. it off now becomes a party! Pop musiShort instructions are needed to learn cians do not even realize that they are the basic application, which is well contributing to a powerful psychologiworth it. cal technique, and making it fun.

2. Listen to your breathing: Sit and lower your eyes (don’t close them) while listening and paying attention to your breathing. Quiet places are best, but if you cannot find one, you can still do the exercise in public while those around you are none the wiser of what you are doing. If thoughts and noises come to you, 18

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Svetla Popova, LCPC, owns and operates the practice Accelerated Counseling LLC, which treats children, teenagers, adults and couples. In addition to being a licensed counselor, she is trained and certified in EMDR, Reiki, and EFT, and can be reached at 207761-3883 or at AcceleratedCounseling. com. See ad, page 7.

natural awakenings

February 2015

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the flood of adrenaline; Star of Bethlehem, for shock and loss; and Mimulus, for fear and anxiety. “Combining a few drops of each of these in a water bottle or tea several times a day helps you regain a feeling of balance,” Erwin says. She also likes drinking bloodcleansing noni juice to help wash adrenaline out of the body, and taking salt baths enhanced with lavender essential oil to literally “wash away the darkness.”

Gentling

GRIEF Remedies to

Emotional Aids

Heal the Heart by Kathleen Barnes

rief can arrive suddenly with the death of a loved one, serious illness, loss of a job, parental dementia or decaying relationship. In any case, it takes a toll. “Grief encompasses all of our thoughts and feelings. Mourning is when we put them into action by talking, crying, perhaps doing rituals,” explains Tracy Riley, a licensed clinical social worker and grief counselor in Jacksonville, Florida. “Grief isn’t something that’s over when you wake up one day,” Riley counsels. “It’s ridiculous when an employer gives you three days off and then expects everything to be fine.” She notes that time helps heal all wounds, but even a decade after losing a loved one, the pain can remain and life is never the same, although most of us learn to live with loss and move forward. “Some things can’t be fixed,” concludes Megan Devine, a psychotherapist in Portland, Oregon, and author of the audio book, When Everything is Not Okay, who blogs at RefugeInGrief. com. After witnessing the drowning death of her fiancé, she says, “I didn’t need to hear platitudes that everything would be OK. I needed something solid to hold onto when my whole world exploded.”

Physical Aids

An unexpected death and any emotional shock is an extreme stressor that causes the adrenal glands to release a flood of adrenaline. Tina Erwin, La Mesa, California author of The Lightworker’s Guide to Healing Grief, explains, “If you get a shock when someone close to you dies, your adrenal glands are blown out almost instantly and you are overwhelmed with adrenaline, much like we often see in people with post-traumatic stress disorder. You need to rebalance your body chemistry.” Intense grief can sometimes show up as chest pain, a classic sign of heart attack, due to a temporary disruption of the heart’s normal pumping action from a surge in stress hormones, according to the National Institutes of Health. Yet Imperial College London scientists now have found that a recognizable “broken heart syndrome” may temporarily protect the heart from being overwhelmed with adrenaline. “Healing the physical side of grief ultimately helps healing on an emotional level, too,” says Erwin. To assist herself following the death of her 6-yearold niece from a sudden infection, she uses several Bach flower remedies for trauma—Rescue Remedy, to rebalance

Riley views art and music therapy, plus journaling (a “personal roadmap” that helps chart her progress), as powerful healing tools. She’s also seen firsthand how animals can play a key role through the mourning process. Her miniature schnauzer intuitively approaches her clients that are anxious and grieving and gives them permission to pet him. “It puts people at ease,” she says. “Then they can talk more freely about their pain.” Numerous studies, starting in the 1980s, show that stroking a furry pet lowers blood pressure.

Charting a Personal Course

For the bereaved (literally defined as “torn apart”), the symptoms of grief are meant to slow us down, advises Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D., director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and author of numerous related books, including Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart. Society expects bereaved people to “carry on, keep their chins up, be glad they had him/her as long as they did or else be grateful that our loved one’s pain is over”—all platitudes that are more hurtful than helpful, says Wolfelt. Mourning takes time, but it also requires a social context, he explains. “It’s the shared response to loss. If you isolate yourself, you are grieving, not mourning. You can’t do this on your own. It’s bigger than you.” For those that feel stuck or unable to move forward, experienced grief counselors may be able to help. Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous health books, including Ten Best Ways to Manage Stress. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

natural awakenings

February 2015

THE INNER SPIRIT OF A LOCAL ARTIST

By Amy Paradysz

Mei Selvage

Maine Artist Embraces Chinese “Accent” in Her Work by Amy Paradysz

ei Selvage was born in a remote village in Sichuan, China, with the Himalayas as the backdrop. After growing up toward the end of the Cultural Revolution, when creative types and independent thinkers were tortured, her life today is one she never would have imagined as a child. In a continual merging of East and West, she balances a full-time job as an IT analyst for Gartner Inc. and a passion for incorporating ancient Chinese art forms in modern ways. “Spirituality connects everything I do,” says Selvage. She arrived in the United States in 1997 and studied at the University of Montana, where she met her husband, Dan. After graduation, she was recruited by IBM as part of its diversity-hiring program. “You never know how the universe works,” Selvage says, reflecting on

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those pivotal years in Montana, where the Rocky Mountains welcomed her like the Himalayas of her youth. In the early years of their marriage, the Selvages moved to Texas, California, Idaho, and finally, in 2010, to Maine, where Dan took a job at the University of New England. “I was like a military wife, except an academic wife,” Selvage laughs. She took a leap of faith and joined Gartner Inc. after a 12-year career with IBM. Her introduction to traditional Buddhism was, oddly enough, through a Dutch-born Zen teacher in Pocatello, Idaho. There, Selvage immersed herself in the Buddhist community. “It’s almost like a family— you cook, sleep, chant, meditate, and do chores together,” she says. When she moved to Maine, it took some time to find a Zen Buddhist

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community. And she noticed the teacher cared more about religious rituals and prestige than living out the teaching. After a string of scandals erupted from various Buddhist communities in 2012, Selvage cut off ties with Buddhist groups and sought the way on her own. Having always enjoyed art, she threw herself into its pursuit with the same devotion she had formerly focused on Buddhism and the study of koans. “Creating art is my main practice now,” she says. “But Buddhist teachings are always with me. And I married the two in one action.” In her professional life, Selvage was devastated by anonymous derogative reviews on her Chinese accent after her public speaking. She attacked this issue with her characteristic determination and sense of practice.

“Work is a practice, art is a practice, and life is a practice. If I can be centered in whatever I do, it’s a spiritual practice. To me, real practice is to live moment-to-moment, live in our true nature.” ~Mei Selvage “I went to accent reduction class and to tutoring and listened to CDs; anything I could do, I did it,” she says. “But I consciously have developed a Chinese accent in my art to empower myself. Before that, my paintings were mostly influenced by the post-Impressionist style. The troubles at work become rich soil for my art.” That was a turning point for her development in her own artistic style—translating traditional Chinese art into modern medium. Her work is playful yet well balanced with a mix of ancient and modern stories and references. “This translation process allows me to embody the spirit of Chinese art,” Selvage says. “If I had stuck with just traditional brush ink painting, it would have been easy to slip into a well-worn path. . . . Free translation gives me more freedom to find my own voice.” Her days begin and end in her art studio at home with her Maine Coon cat Ernie, named after Ernest Hemingway. In between, her professional life is filled with “big data,” “data integration” and “internet of things.” “Work is a practice, art is a practice, and life is a practice,” Selvage says. “If I can be centered in whatever I do, it’s a spiritual practice. To me, real practice is to live moment-to-moment, live in our true nature. Before a work meeting, I often remind myself: It’s not just about a paycheck; it’s about helping other people. So I take time to connect with people first. I don’t want to be one person at work and then another person the rest of the time.” Case in point: Selvage’s artwork was recently displayed at ThinkTank Coworking, her office away from home. Around the same time, she co-founded an initiative to foster intercultural exchange, Ya Ji East/West Cultural Gatherings, with Suzanne Fox and Clare Tyrrell Morin. Selvage is currently showing her art in the twoperson exhibition “Expressing Archetypes and Visual Poetry,” at Lakes Gallery at Chi-Lin in Meredith, N.H. (http://thelakesgallery.com). Two other shows are in the planning stages: one with MECA library in March and another with 3fish gallery in Portland in May. “I feel very integrated,” she says with a smile, lifting her mug of tea.

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Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer based in Scarborough. She can be reached at amyparadysz@gmail.com. natural awakenings

February 2015

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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?

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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.

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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 longdistance 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.

calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Coordinator@MaineAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please. Or visit MaineAwakenings.com to submit online.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Cupid Dash Snowshoe 2K – 9:30am. Participate in a fun race while wearing snowshoes. $20. Roberts Farm Preserve, 445 Main St, Norway. RunSignUp.com. Lewiston Winters Farmers’ Market – 10am1pm. The market features a wide variety of Maine grown and produced goods including fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, baked goods, maple products, handmade soap, body products, flowers and more. St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, 208 Bates St, Lewiston. USM.Maine.edu.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2

markyourcalendar MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Pure Ease Yoga Classes – Feb 2, 9, 16, 23. 8:30-10am. Reduce pain, improve flexibility and enhance strength and stability. Mixed levels. Registration required. $18/drop-in. Turning Light Center, 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-8292700. TurningLight.org.

26. 10-11:30am. Try milking a cow, explore the diary barns, learn about Holstein cows and how we care for them. $5. Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Dr, New Gloucester. 207-650-3031. PineLandFarms.org. Love in the Longfellow House: Couples Guided Tour – Feb 5, 6, 12, 13 & 14. 6-7:30pm. Bring that special someone and learn about 19th century courtship rituals and the family’s many romances, heartbreaks, marriages and more. Special treats will be provided. $40/couple for MHS members; $50/ couple non-members. Wadsworth-Longfellow House, 489 Congress St. 207-774-1822. MaineHistory.org.

markyourcalendar THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Pure Ease Yoga Classes – Feb 5, 12, 19, 26. 6:30-8pm. Reduce pain, improve flexibility, enhance strength and stability. Mixed levels. Registration required. $18/drop-in. Turning Light Center, 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. 207829-2700. TurningLight.org.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Read to Grace – 3:30-5pm. Children can have a 15 minute session to read to Grace, an 8 year old yellow Labrador retriever. Please sign up in advanced. Free. Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com. Outdoors with Kids: Winter Wonderland – 6-7:30pm. Celebrate the Snow Full Moon with indoor activities and a walk on the trails. Dress for outdoors. $15/child members, $20/child nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.

markyourcalendar TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Pure Ease Yoga Classes – Feb 3, 10, 17, 24. 6:30-7:30pm. Reduce pain, improve flexibility and enhance strength and stability. Mixed levels. Registration required. $18/drop-in. Turning Light Center, 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-8292700. TurningLight.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 French Kiss This Cooking Class – 6-8:30. Learn how to cook a great meal for the holiday. The class includes a combination of demonstration and hands-on teaching, food sampling and beverages. Pre-registration required. $65. The Portland Club, 156 State St, Portland. TheBlackTieCo. com. BrownPaperTickets.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Udderly Amazing Cows – Feb 5, 11, 14, 17 &

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Inspirational Movie Night – 7-9pm. Enjoy and discuss movies that broaden our awareness of ourselves and our world. “Choice Point The Movie,” a documentary film about how personal transformations interconnect with the world. Space is limited. Registration required. Free. Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth, Sparhawk Mill, 81 Bridge St, Yarmouth. 207-650-8052. Audrey@VastHorizons.com.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 WinterFest – Feb 6-7. Times vary. Enjoy activities like ice skating party, fire juggler, book sale, horse and wagon rides, soup contest, food, music and more. Prices vary. Various locations, Kennebunk. KennebunkMaine.us. WinterFest – Feb 6-8. Times vary. Enjoy activities like sledding, races, tug of war, pony rides, movie viewing, games, food, music and more. Prices vary. Various locations, Biddeford. HeartOfBiddeford.org. Winter Festival – Feb 6-8. Times vary. Enjoy activities like sledding, snowmobile rides, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, skating, ice sculptures, torchlight parade, music and more. Prices vary. Various locations, Auburn. AuburnMaine.gov. Friday Local Author Series: Henry Beyer – 12-1pm. The author discusses, “Deus Vult”, an historical novel which takes its readers into a medieval place and time. Free. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com.

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February 2015

markyourcalendar FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Free Movie Showing: “The Cure Is” – 6pm. This movie is one of the most anticipated health documentaries in decades, unveiling what may be one of the most powerful, ancient health formulas to be released in over a century. Free. Riverbend Wellness Center, 1009 Portland Rd, Arundel. 207467-3391. BoucherFamilyChiropractic.com.

Banff Mountain Film Festival – Feb 8-9. 7pm. Enjoy two nights of various mountain movies. $17-$20. State Theatre, 609 Congress St, Portland. ChestnutMTNProductions.com.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Valentine’s Day Cake Decorating – 6-8pm. Add to your decorating skills and bring your cakes to life with frosting, flowers, and fruit. Bring an unfrosted cake and frosting bags and tips if you have them. $9. Helen Thompson School, 309 Spears Corner Rd, West Gardiner. MSAD11.CourseStorm.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Yoga with Master Teacher – 9am-1pm. Enjoy a workshop with Arthur Kilmurray, a master teacher from Boston. $65. The Yoga Center, 449 Forest Ave, Portland. 207-774-9642. MaineYoga.com.

The Children’s Hour: Weekly Story & Craft Activity for Kids – 3:30-4:30pm. “The Snowy Day”, by Ezra Jack Keats, will be read to children followed by craft time. Free. Wadsworth-Longfellow House, 489 Congress St. 207-774-1822. MaineHistory.org.

25th Annual Maine Home Show – Feb 7-8. 10am-6pm, Sat; 10am-4pm, Sun. Over 180 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services for your home. $8/adults, $6/seniors, $5/ages 6-16, free/under 6. Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Sq, Portland. 207-775-3458. Maine.NewEnglandExpos.com. Family Story Play Yoga – 11-11:45am. Enjoy an intro to yoga for the family through simple movement, breathing, songs, stories and music. Free. Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com. Wine Walk in The West End: Wine and Chocolate Pairings – 2:45-5pm. Enjoy a guided tasting and walking tour of Portland’s vibrant restaurant scene. Starting restaurant TBA. $49. Various locations, Portland. WineWiseEvents.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 The Longfellow February Frostbite 2.5K Road Race – 9am. Participate in a winter race throughout the heart of downtown Portland. Pre and post race at the school. Lincoln Park to start and finish. $15-$20. Gymnasium, Portland High School, 284 Cumberland Ave, Portland. LongfellowChorus.com. Bath Antique Show and Sale – 10am-2pm. The fair will showcase antiques from local dealers. $4. Bath Middle School, 6 Old Brunswick Rd, Bath. BathAntiquesShows.com. A Spirits Walk in The Old Port: Scotch – 2:45-5pm. Enjoy a guided tasting and walking tour of Portland’s vibrant restaurant scene. Starting restaurant TBA. $55. Various locations, Portland. WineWiseEvents.com.

Grow Your Own Seedlings At Home – 6:30-8:30pm. This workshop will cover lighting, temperatures, containers and potting mixes, how to build inexpensive seedling light stand, and make your own newspaper pots. Registration required. $5/members, $7/nonmembers. Wells Reserve & Laudholm Trust, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Brown Bag Lecture Series: Cathie Pelletier – 121pm. Join the author as she discusses her new novel, “A Year After Henry”. Bring a lunch and coffee will be provided. Free. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12

markyourcalendar MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12 Health Talk – 6-6:30pm. Enjoy a discussion by Dr. Beth and Dr. Meghan to help people realize the potential of their body. Free. Riverbend Wellness Center, 1009 Portland Rd, Arundel. 207-467-3391. BoucherFamilyChiropractic.com. Birding Basics: Attracting Birds – 7-8pm. This class will focus on how to attract birds to your yard and where to go to find birds. $10/members, $15/ nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Bob Marley Comedy Show – 8pm. Enjoy a night of high energy and comical observations of everyday life. $25-$68. Jonathan’s Restaurant, 92 Bourne Ln, Ogunquit. 800-464-9934. JonathansOgunquit.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Luv Me 5K – 8:30am. Participate in a race that travels through Rockport followed by free pizza, raffles and the use of the pool, sauna and gym at the resort. $18. Samoset Resort, 220 Warrenton St, Rockport. RunSignUp.com.

markyourcalendar SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Saturday Series: Meditation Basics – 8:3010:30am. Learn to meditate or support an existing practice. Manage stress and anxiety, develop a stronger inner center, balance your nervous system, rewire your brain and more. $20. Turning Light Center, 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. 207829-2700. TurningLight.org. Winter Carnival – 10am-2pm. Join us for a fun day of outdoor exploration and hands-on activities for all ages. Free/adult members, $7/child members, adult nonmembers & child nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org. Our Bloody Valentines: Love Notes from the Tuesday Mayhem Society – 12-2pm. Explore the concepts of love, sex and murder through fiction and poetry. Free. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Lewiston Winters Farmers’ Market – 10am-1pm. See Feb 1 listing. St. Mary’s Nutrition Center, 208 Bates St, Lewiston. USM.Maine.edu. Valentine’s Day with Lantz and Kargul: The Secret Loves of the Great Romantics – 2pm. Celebrate the holiday of romance with the works of Brahms, Dvořák, Mendelssohn, Fauré and more. $22/general, $20/seniors, free/21 and under. Woodfords Congregational Church, 202 Woodford St, Portland. 207-780-5142. USM.Maine.edu.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Sparks’ Ark – 1-2pm. Meet Josh Sparks of Sparks’ Ark and the array of wild animals he rehabilitates. $5. Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Dr, New Gloucester. 207-650-3031. PineLandFarms.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Day Camp: Ocean Explorers – 9am-3pm. Ages 7-12. Become a seaside scientist at the beach, investigate plankton in our research lab, and take home a glowing deep-sea swimmer. Registration required. $40/members, $50/nonmembers. Wells Reserve & Laudholm Trust, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org. February Vacation Camp – Feb 17-20. 9am-3pm. Grades K-5. A new theme will be introduced each day through cooperative games, scientific examination and creative arts exploration. Child members: $60/ day, $220/wk; Child nonmembers: $75/day, $280/

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wk. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.

Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com.

Look What I Found! Preschool Program: The Wonders of Winter – 9:15am-1pm. Explore and enjoy nature through free play, stories, songs, movement, games, natural crafts and hikes. Bring indoor/outdoor attire. $45/child members, $60/child nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.

Flavors of Freeport – 5-8pm. Ages 21+. Enjoy two premiere events, the Chef’s Signature Series and the Flavors Ice Bar. $25. Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park St, Freeport. FreeportUSA.com.

Read to Grace – 3:30-5pm. See Feb 3 listing. Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Day Camp: Snow Survivors – 9am-3pm. Ages 7-12. Learn the survival strategies of Maine’s winter wildlife and borrow some of their secrets as we explore in the snow. Registration required. $40/members, $50/ nonmembers. Wells Reserve & Laudholm Trust, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org. Look What I Found! Preschool Program: Winter Animal Home – 9:15am-1pm. See Feb 17 listing. $45/child members, $60/child nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org. Chatty Chickens – 10-11:30am. Meet our chickens, and learn how to feed and care for them. $5. Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Dr, New Gloucester. 207-6503031. PineLandFarms.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Winter Carnivale – Feb 19-21. Times vary. Enjoy a carnival, games, sledding party, carriage rides, music, tasty treats and more. Prices vary. Various locations, Old Orchard Beach. OOB365.com. Look What I Found! Preschool Program: Winter Birds – 9:15am-1pm. See Feb 17 listing. $45/child members, $60/child nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 8th Annual Mardi Gras Weekend Celebration – Feb 21-22. Times vary. Celebrate like New Orleans with activities, games, contests, vendors, music, food and much more. Prices vary. Various locations, Ogunquit. VisitOgunquit.org. Planet Dog Adoption Day – 12-2pm. Support the AWS and adopt a dog. Planet Dog, 211 Marginal Way, Portland. 207- 347-8606. AnimalWelfareSociety.org.

markyourcalendar SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Spirit Adventure Classes for Children – Feb 21-June 20. 3rd Sats. 1-3pm, ages 5-9; 3-5pm, ages 10-14. This 5-week session will teach how to find your power animal, deepen that connection, and how to utilize the relationship for various strategies. $75. Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth, Sparhawk Mill, 81 Bridge St, Yarmouth. Info/register: 207-680-6942, EGoulette@Yahoo. com. DancingJaguarInspirations.com. Wine Walk on Congress St.: Natural Wines with Ned Swain – 2:45-5pm. Enjoy a guided tasting and walking tour of Portland’s vibrant restaurant scene. Starting restaurant TBA. $49. Various locations on Congress St, Portland. WineWiseEvents.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Quarry Snow Shuffle 5K Snowshoe Race – 9am. Participate in a fun race while wearing snowshoes. $15. Quarry Road Recreation Area, Quarry Rd, Waterville. MakeItHappenGroup.org.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Nature Explorers: Snow – 9:30-10:30am. Kids will enjoy self-guided learning stations and group time to read a story, explore a mystery bag and learn about a mystery animal. $10/members, $15/nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.

markyourcalendar MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23 8-Week Empowerment Group Coaching Class – Feb 23-Apr 13. 6-8pm. This class will make you aware of how your own energetic alignment and knowledge of the Law of Attraction is key to manifesting any goal. The class includes discussion, education and homework. $400/register by Feb 16; $425/register after Feb 16. Kusum Institute, 185 US Route 1, Scarborough. Info: 207-6539792 or BethKoehlerLifeCoach.com. Register: KusumInstitute.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Lunch ‘n’ Learns: What Do I Want to Do Next? – 12-1pm. Learn about volunteer opportunities and how to redirect your abilities to teach about and be caretakers of our natural world. $2. Mather Auditorium, Wells Reserve & Laudholm Trust, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org.

Natural Paper Making – 10-11:30am. Learn about trees and what we can make from them. We’ll handcraft paper with recycled materials and items from the natural environment. $5. Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Dr, New Gloucester. 207-650-3031. PineLandFarms.org. Winter Wildlife Day – 10am-2pm. Enjoy family fun with live animal presentations, guided walks, crafts and more. Free. Wells Reserve & Laudholm Trust, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20 3rd Annual Ice Festival of Lewiston/Auburn – Feb 20-22. Times vary. Celebrate winter’s beauty with over a dozen free standing ice sculptures, food, music and fun. $15-$25/per night. Fountain Park, 150 Mill St, Lewiston. IceFestLA.com. Live Wildlife Show – 10:30-11:30am. Come see the furry and feathered guests that we work to protect. $10/ adult members, child members & child nonmembers; $15/adult nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org. Friday Local Author Series: Dr. Richard Maurer – 12-1pm. The author discusses, “The Blood Code”, a book that teaches how to live a healthy life based on your specific needs. Free. Portland Public

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February 2015

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Winter Wednesday on the Farm – 10-11am. Enjoy a family play date to share some hands-on activities and give children and their caregivers a place to enjoy each other’s company in self-guided play. $5. Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Dr, New Gloucester. 207-650-3031. PineLandFarms.org. Brown Bag Lecture Series: Melissa Falcon Field – 12-1pm. Join the author as she discusses her novel, “What Burns Away”. Bring a lunch and coffee will be provided. Free. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Birding Basics: Observing Behavior – 7-8pm. This class will focus on learning about bird behavior and analyzing exactly what birds are doing. $10/members, $15/nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Friday Local Author Series: Frank O. Smith – 121pm. The author discusses, “Dream Singer”, a novel about the betrayal of love and the quest for redemption. Free. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com. Dance Party – 7-9:30pm. Dance to everything from Cha-Cha to Waltz and everything in between. Open to the public. $10. Swing & Sway Dancing’s Studio, 143 Maverick St, Rockland. 207-594-0940. SwingNSway.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28

markyourcalendar SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 The Astrological Mercury – 10-11:30am. Understanding Mercury and its placement in the birth chart can help identify processes and teach how to enhance thought. Participants are encouraged to share their birth info before the workshop to see how this energy plays out in the charts. $20. Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth, Sparhawk Mill, 81 Bridge St, Ste 109, Yarmouth. Info/register: 207-332-0787, Jennie@OdeToPluto.com. OdeToPluto.com. Snow Day – 11am-3pm. Have outdoor fun like sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing while enjoying a bonfire and hot cocoa with new friends. Free. Wells Reserve & Laudholm Trust, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org. The Children’s Hour: Henry’s 208th Birthday Party – 2pm. Hear a special story about Henry Wadsworth-Longfellow, listen to a special guest reader, participate in craft activities, make birthday cards for Henry and enjoy a piece of birthday cake. Free. Wadsworth-Longfellow House, 489 Congress St. 207-774-1822. MaineHistory.org. Wine Walk in West End: Mediterranean Greece, Italy, Spain – 2:45-5pm. Enjoy a guided tasting and walking tour of Portland’s vibrant restaurant scene. $49. Congress Squared Restaurant, 157 High St, Portland. WineWiseEvents.com.

Southern Maine

ongoingevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Coordinator@MaineAwakenings.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please. Or visit MaineAwakenings.com to submit online.

daily Calm Steady Strong – Mon-Sat. Therapeutic Yoga for people affected by cancer. Call to schedule individual appointments. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. 207829-2700. TurningLight.org. Children’s Activities – Times vary. Kids will enjoy several activities that are offered daily at the museum. Prices vary. Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, 142 Free St, Portland. 207828-1234. KiteTails.org. Muse Paintbar – Times vary. Learn to paint like professionals while eating and drinking. Pick a class, reserve a spot, and a trained artist will guide you to make a masterpiece. Prices vary. 245 Commercial St, Portland. Info/reservations: 207-618-9500 or MusePaintBar.com. Therapeutic Yoga – Mon-Sat. Get out of pain and back into life. Mindful and personalized approach to reducing pain, improving flexibility, enhancing strength and stability. Call to schedule individual appointments. Turning Light Center, 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. 207-8292700. TurningLight.org. Yoga Classes – Times vary. We offer a wide variety of yoga classes, including: Vinyasa, Lunch break Slow Flow, Community Hatha, Gentle Hatha, and Yin Yoga. Contact for details. Bhakti In Motion, 155 Brackett St, Portland. 207-6324789. BhaktiInMotion.com. Yoga Classes – Times vary. We offer classes at a variety of levels including: Vinyasa Flow, Therapeutic, Gentle, Restorative and Mediation, Feldenkrais and Yoga Philosophy. Contact for details. The Yoga Center, 449 Forest Ave, Portland. 207-774-9642. MaineYoga.com. Victoria Mansion – Times vary. Walk along the halls of this National Historic Landmark while enjoying the holiday decor. Ticket prices vary. Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth St, Portland. 207-772-4841. VictoriaMansion.org. Ever After Mustang Rescue – 9am. Ages 15+. Volunteer for the adopt-a-horse program. Call for details. 463 West St, Biddeford. 207-284-7721. MustangRescue.org. Exhibits at PPL: Our Places, Our Times: Portland Through the Decades – 10am-7pm. Explore a series of photos pulled from the Portland Press Herald Still-Film Negative Collection that depicts life from the 1930s-2000s. Free. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com. Exhibits at PPL: The Year in Photos – 10am7pm. Enjoy photos that depict a year in Maine with this collection that showcases the year’s best work by Press Herald staff. Free. Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com.

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Old Port Culinary Walking Tour – 10:30am. This 2.5 hour tour travels to several Old Port venues for an opportunity to sample delectable, Maine-inspired foods and learn about the history of the area. $50. Old Port Wine Shop, 223 Commercial St, Portland. 207-233-7485. MaineFoodieTours.com. Bingo – 6:30pm. Except Thurs. Play bingo almost every night. Doors open at 3pm. $10-$25. South Portland Bingo Hall, 200 John Roberts Rd, South Portland. 207-761-2717. SoPoBingo.com.

sunday Bluegrass Brunch – 9:30am-1:30pm. Enjoy brunch while listening to live music by Ron & Wendy Cody with Lincoln Meyers. Music begins at 11am. Gather, Farm Fresh Eatery, 189 Main St, Yarmouth. 207847-3250. GatherMaine.com. Johnny T’s Salsa Night – 7-8:30pm. Enjoy an open salsa dancing night perfect for practicing your moves. This is not a class, but a gathering of students looking for a place with great music. $5. Swing & Sway Dancing, 143 Maverick St, Rockland. 207594-0940. SwingNSway.com.

monday Pure Ease Yoga Classes – 8:30-10am. Reduce pain, improve flexibility and enhance strength and stability. Mixed levels. Registration required. $18/ drop-in. Turning Light Center, 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org. Women and Horses Workshop – 6-7:30pm. A hands-on learning experience with horses. $10. Ever After Mustang Rescue, 463 West St, Biddeford. 207-284-7722. MustangRescue.org. 8-Week Empowerment Group Coaching Class – Feb 23-Apr 13. 6-8pm. This class will make you aware of how your own energetic alignment and knowledge of the Law of Attraction is key to manifesting any goal. The class includes discussion, education and homework. $400/register by Feb 16; $425/register after Feb 16. Kusum Institute, 185 US Route 1, Scarborough. Info: 207-6539792 or BethKoehlerLifeCoach.com. Register: KusumInstitute.com.

tuesday Morning Yoga – Thru Feb 24. 8-9:15am. Increase strength, flexibility and endurance with this 8-week yoga series. Registration required. Class is ongoing and participants can join mid-series. Bring a yoga mat and blanket for class. $64-$80. Wells Reserve & Laudholm Trust, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org.

Eat Well Play Hard – 11-11:45am. This program is designed to teach young children about healthy eating and the importance of regular physical activity. Free. Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com. Old Port Culinary Walking Tour – 2:15pm. This 2.5 hour tour travels to several Old Port venues for an opportunity to sample delectable, Maine-inspired foods and learn about the history of the area. $50. Old Port Wine Shop, 223 Commercial St, Portland. 207-233-7485. MaineFoodieTours.com. Pure Ease Yin Yoga Classes – 6:30-7:30pm. Reduce pain, improve flexibility and enhance strength and stability. Mixed levels. Registration required. $18/drop-in. Turning Light Center, 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-8292700. TurningLight.org.

wednesday Old Port Culinary Walking Tour – 2:15pm. See Tuesday listing. Old Port Wine Shop, 223 Commercial St, Portland. 207-233-7485. MaineFoodieTours.com. Board Games – 3-6pm. Come to the children’s room and play a board game. Bring your own or play one of ours. Free. Sam L. Cohen Children’s Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland. 207-871-1700. PortlandLibrary.com. Acoustic Wednesdays – 6:30-8:30pm. Enjoy fresh food and drinks while listening to live music. Gather, Farm Fresh Eatery, 189 Main St, Yarmouth. 207847-3250. GatherMaine.com.

thursday Thursday Morning Bird Walks – 8-10am. Take an easy stroll while looking for birds, wildlife and plants. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have one. $5/members, $8/nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org. Furry Tales, Story and Adventure Hour – Begins Jan 8. 10-11:15am. Preschoolers are invited to discover the exciting world of animals with stories, playtime, crafts, animal time and more. Free. Animal Welfare Society, 46 Holland Rd, Kennebunk. 207985-3244. AnimalWelfareSociety.org. Women and Horses Workshop – 10:30am-12pm. A hands-on learning experience with horses. $10. Ever After Mustang Rescue, 463 West St, Biddeford. 207-284-7721. MustangRescue.org. Old Port Culinary Walking Tour – 2:15pm. See Tuesday listing. Old Port Wine Shop, 223 Commercial St, Portland. 207-233-7485. MaineFoodieTours.com. Third Thursdays – 5-9pm. Enjoy an evening with live music, food, drinks, special programming and the museum. $12/adults, $10/seniors and students with ID, $6/ages 13-17. Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq, Portland. 207-775-6148. PortlandMuseum.org. Group Energy Clearings – 5:30-6:30pm. Come lay down, relax and receive a clearing of your energetic

system by Beth Koehler, Life Coach and Advanced Polarity Practitioner. Each night, there is time for Beth to focus on your specific requests for healing/ helping. $15. Kusum Institute, 18 Pepperell Sq, Saco. 207-590-9800. KusumInstitute.com. Pure Ease Yoga Classes – 6:30-8pm. Reduce pain, improve flexibility, enhance strength and stability. Mixed levels. Registration required. $18/drop-in. Turning Light Center, 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org.

friday Children’s Programs: Story Time – 10am. Kids enjoy stories, finger plays, songs and crafts. Free. Graves Memorial Public Library, 18 Maine St, Kennebunkport. 207-967-2778. GravesLibrary.org. Fridays at the Farm – 10-11:30am. All ages. Explore the farm, help collect eggs and milk the cows. $5. Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Dr, New Gloucester. 207-688-4539. PinelandFarms.org. First Friday Art Walk – 5-8pm. 1st Fri, Various galleries and art venues open for the art walk. Free. Portland. LiveWorkPortland.org.

saturday E.Y.E.S.: Emerging Youth Ecology Squad – Feb 28- Apr 11. 10am-2pm. This 7-week program explores our favorite themes and activities through outdoor investigation, nature journaling, making comparisons and recording data. Bring a lunch and dress for outdoors. $225/child members, $275/child nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org. Nature Yoga For Families – 10:30-11:30am. Enjoy a unique combination of storytelling, yoga postures and movement to the theme of plants and animals in winter. Registration encouraged. $10/ child members, $15/child nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-8835100. MaineAudubon.org. Wine Tasting – 1-3pm. Customers can sample and learn about various wines and what to purchase. Contact for date. Browne Trading Market, 262 Commercial St, Portland. 207-775-7560. BrowneTrading.com.

New Year!

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natural awakenings

February 2015

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email Ads@MaineAwakenings.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE BY MERET

Meret Bainbridge, LAc 222 St John St, Ste 137 Portland, ME 04101 • 207-878-3300 Meret@AcupunctureByMeret.com AcupunctureByMeret.com Meret offers comprehensive holistic care, utilizing Acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Acupressure and Bodymind work, since 1997. Specialties are Women’s Health, pain, headaches, fibromyalgia & depression. Insurance accepted. See ad, page 11.

BARTLETT ACUPUNCTURE & HERBAL MEDICINE

Kath Bartlett, MS, LAc 7 Oak Hill Terr, Ste 3, Scarborough, ME 04074 207-219-0848 • BartlettAcupuncture.com Kath@BartlettAcupuncture.com At Bartlett Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, I am dedicated to helping my patients thrive. I offer significant pain relief and effective treatment of chronic disease and other internal conditions using a holistic approach of acupuncture & Chinese herbs. With 13 years in practice, my patients’ treatment outcomes are higher than reported acupuncture studies.

ART THERAPY BODHI SIMPSON, LCPC, ATR

Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth Sparhawk Mill 81 Bridge Street, Yarmouth ME (207) 650-8170 • BodhiSimpson@yahoo.com VastHorizons.com I am passionate about facilitating experiences that inspire creative expression and opens hearts and minds to possibilities. Through art therapy, we are able to access our core issues and begin the process of healing. I work with individuals and groups of all ages, and facilitate workshops for personal growth. See ad, page 20.

CHIROPRACTOR HEALTH BOUCHER FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC

Dr. Beth Boucher and Dr. Meghan Schoening 1009 Portland Rd, Arundel, ME 04046 207-467-3391 Info.BoucherFamilyChiro@gmail.com BoucherFamilyChiropractic.com At Boucher Family Chiropractic, our goal is to help you reach your full potential. We use hands-on chiropractic techniques to help each practice member achieve a better well-being. Our gentle approach is appropriate for every age and every nervous system! See ad, page 20.

Southern Maine

COUPLES COACHING AUDREY MCMORROW, MA, CAGS. BCC

Vast Horizons Center for Personal Growth Sparhawk Mill 81 Bridge St, Yarmouth ME (207) 650-8052 • Audrey@VastHorizons.com VastHorizons.com Audrey offers Couples Coaching for those intent on realizing the potential of their committed (or troubled) relationship; Psychosynthesis (a transpersonal psychology for individuals); a Thrive Women’s group; and various workshops for personal development throughout the calendar year. Please see website for further details. holistic practitioners and collectors. See calendar for upcoming events. See ad, page 20.

CRYSTALS LAVISH EARTH

Amy@ThisLavishEarth.com 207-766-8448 • ThisLavishEarth.com My mission is to offer the most beautiful, unique, highest vibration crystals and minerals, perfect for holistic practitioners and collectors. See calendar for upcoming events.

DENTAL PEAK DENTAL HEALTH

Stefan Andren, DDS 74 Gray Rd, Ste 3, W Falmouth, ME 207-878-8844 • Info@PeakDentalHealth.com PeakDentalHealth.com Maine’s first eco-certified dental office is a welcoming and caring place to reach your oral health goals. Please call, email or stop in to learn more about how they can change your perception of what the dentist can be. It is what you deserve. See ad, back cover.

EDUCATION MERRICONEAG WALDORF SCHOOL Early Childhood through Grade 12 57 Desert Rd, Freeport, ME 04032 207-865-3900, Ext 103 AdmissionsDirector@MerriconeAG.org MerriconeAG.org

At Merriconeag, students’ capacities for learning are awakened and enriched by a different way of teaching, and an education brought to life through experience: in storytelling, movement, recitation, observation, dramatic acting, music, drawing, and painting. An emphasis on oral expression in all subjects enables our students to develop into confident, self-aware adults, and a focus on hands-on learning and discovery nurtures their lifelong love of learning.

MaineAwakenings.com

FITNESS HEALTH CENTER OPTIMAL SELF COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER Eric Hilton 640 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101 207-747-5919 OptimalSelfME@gmail.com OptimalSelfME.com

Optimal Self is a center for fitness, healing, and community, offering a variety of modalities that enhance the mind, body, and spirit. We provide a sophisticated weight room, a variety of classes, personal trainers, massage therapists, and energy workers. See our schedule or book an appointment online at optimalselfme.com. See ad, page 29.

HOLISTIC HEALING 5 ELEMENTS HEALING CENTER

59 Shore Rd, Ogunquit, ME 207-646-3900 FiveElementsHealingCenter@yahoo.com 5ElementsHealingCenter.com Ogunquit’s destination for holistic healing. We offer a wide array of services including: Integrative health programs, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Herbal T r e a t m e n t s , Aromatherapy, Reiki, Shamanistic healing, Chakra and Meridian balancing, Therapeutic Massage, Reflexology, Chinese Cupping, Foot soaks, Pedicures, Skin care and Body waxing for anyone that is looking to relax, unwind and restore from the stresses of life. We are also proud to offer our clients a full line of organic, vegan and gluten free skin care products. See ad, page 15.

ARCANA (IN THE OLD PORT) Kate Hebold, Owner 81 Market St, Portland, ME 207-773-7801 ArcanaHealingArts@gmail.com ArcanaMaine.com

Arcana is a holistic healing arts center and retail gallery in the heart of the Old Port. Aiming to honor and celebrate the uniqueness of its patrons, Arcana upholds a high standard of mindful care in every service offered: massage, Reiki, polarity therapy, readings and special events.

Reality leaves a lot to the imagination. ~John Lennon

HOLISTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY ACCELERATED COUNSELING, LLC

Svetla Popova, LCPC, NCC, Reiki Master 23 Ocean Ave, Portland, ME 04103 207-761-3883 • AcceleratedCounseling.com Svetla@AcceleratedCounseling.com Whether you are overwhelmed by severe problems or simply feel stuck and your life is going nowhere, I’d love to hear your story. We will work together to discover the incredible strengths you have, find solutions that satisfy you, and open your horizons for growth, self efficacy and life enjoyment. See ad, page 7.

YARA PEREZ, LCPC, EMP

200 High St, Portland, ME 04101 207-358-6331 HolisticTherapy@YaraPerez.com As a psychotherapist and counselor, I strive to offer a safe and nurturing environment where one can feel empowered to connect with their essential self. I use holistic, traditional, and integrative approaches and enjoy working with individuals and couples.

HOMEOPATHY BAYLIGHT CENTER FOR HOMEOPATHY

Jane M. Frederick, Director of Advancement 222 Saint John St, Ste 137, Portland, ME 04102 207-774-4244 Jane@BaylightHomeopathy.com BaylightHomeopathy.com At Baylight Center for Homeopathy, our mission is to illuminate the benefits of this transformative healing art. Our practitioners and faculty are fervent proponents of joy, creativity, freedom, and ease, and of the knowledge that homeopathy is an effective source of support for these integral aspects of healthy living.

LIFE COACH BETH KOEHLER, PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT LIFE COACH

Beth Koehler Saco Healing Arts Center 209 Main St, Saco, ME 04072 207-653-9792 • BKoehler926@gmail.com BethKoehlerLifeCoach.com C o n f u s e d ? Procrastinating? Ready for a change? I specialize in helping you realize just how powerful you truly are and that the answers you seek are inside. I’ll be by you side as you tap into the strength and courage you need to manifest your life’s goals. Time spent with a Life Coach can be life altering. Let’s get started! See ad, page 15.

YOGA

NUTRITION A LEBRO CENTER FOR WELL BEING Dr Richard Lebro 135 Rogers Rd, Kittery, ME 03904 800-610-1199 DrLebro@gwi.net • AlebroCenter.com

A Lebro Center for Well Being is a holistic wellness center that focuses on empowering your body with the necessary nutrients needed for the healing process. They offer chiropractic care, nutritional therapy, massage therapy, and much more. With professional care and individualized attention, they will put you on a road to optimal vitality. See ad, page 7.

ORGANIC BEDDING THE CLEAN BEDROOM

5 Shapleigh Rd, Kittery, ME • 207-704-0743 Two Portland Sq, Fore St, Portland, ME 207-517-3500 • TheCleanBedroom.com

The Clean Bedroom is an organic and all-natural mattress and bedding resource with seven showrooms, including its new location in Portland. Through its showrooms and website, eco-minded shoppers gain insight to create a healthier sleep environment. See ad, page 6.

ORGANIC SALON ORGANIC ROOTS

Betsy Harding 545 Westbrook St, South Portland, ME 207-799-2995 • OrganicRootsMe.com Organic Roots Salon and Day Spa is a fashion forward cruelty-free and vegan friendly salon. We are extremely passionate about our work and dedication to our natural and safe products, environment, and a healthier, more sustainable and compassionate world. See ad, page 23.

MAINE YOGA KIDS

Cayce Lannon 617-448-7846 MaineYogaKids@gmail.com MaineYogaKids.com We are a team of ChildLight Yoga certified instructors offering classes in various locations around Southern Maine. Instead of offering classes in one studio space, we collaborate with schools and community centers to make yoga accessible for children everywhere. Please check our website for current schedule or get in touch to learn more! See ad, page 26.

TURNING LIGHT CENTER Darcy Cunningham 168 W Pownal Rd, N Yarmouth, ME 207-829-2700 TurningLight.org

Therapeutic Yoga: a mindful and personalized approach to reducing pain, improving flexibility, enhancing strength and stability. Together, we apply movement, breath, stillness and sound to relieve pain, tension and stress, helping clients become more able to enjoy life. Group yoga classes also available. See ad, page 20.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month. To place listing, email content to NAclassifieds @naturalawakeningsmag.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month.

PAIN RELIEF FGXPRESS Jamie Buono

FOR RENT

Standish, ME • 207-776-0253 PeaceRestPassion@yahoo.com JamieBuono.Fgxpress.com

FGXPRESS is a direct selling company manufacturing its own, all natural health products. Power strips are one of their envelope products that is FDA approved as a Class-1 Medical device. It is now being shipped to over 175 countries. For more information, please visit my website to learn more about this amazingly unique product! See ad, page 29.

HAIR STATIONS/TREATMENT ROOM – For Rent – New organic and cruelty free salon and spa is looking for stylists to rent hair stations in South Portland. Product line must be cruelty free and vegan. Also available are three spacious rooms for rent on the 2nd floor, for an aesthetician, massage therapist, or another natural spa service. For more info, contact Betsy Harding; 207-799-2995 and rvtheiryett@yahoo.com.

THERMOGRAPHY INNER IMAGE CLINICAL THERMOGRAPHY Ingrid LeVasseur, CCT 5 Fundy Rd, Ste 10c • 207-939-7355 Ingrid@MyInnerImage.com • MyInnerImage.com

Inner Image Clinical Thermography offers pain-free, radiation-free breast screening to the women of Maine. Our primary office is in Falmouth, however, during the spring and fall we bring this advanced technology to all areas of the state. Call us for details. See ad, page 23.

Obstacles are what you see when you take your eye off the goal. ~Chris Burke

natural awakenings

February 2015