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Taking Care While Giving Care Helpers Must Nurture Themselves, Too
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Kamini Desai
Explores a Yogic Life
Inner Calmness Brings Self-Mastery
Creative Hearts
Art, Music and Dance Pierce through Dementia
Indian Vegetarian Cooking
Potent Spices and Veggies Fend Off Disease
Celebrate
NATIONAL
YOGA
MONTH
September 2014 | Southern Maine Edition | MaineAwakenings.com natural awakenings
September 2014
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At fine retailers everywhere. For more info or to find a retailer, visit
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contents 5 newsbriefs balanced life. In each issue readers find cutting-edge information on natural health, nutrition, fitness, personal 8 healthbriefs growth, green living, creative expression and the products and services that support a healthy lifestyle. 10 globalbriefs 12 KAMINI DESAI 12 1 1 actionalert EXPLORES A YOGIC LIFE 1 1 ecotip Inner Calmness Leads to Self-Mastery 12 wisewords by Linda Sechrist 13 therapyspotlight 13 THERAPEUTIC YOGA HELPS RELIEVE PAIN 14 consciouseating Darcy Cunningham of Turning Light Yoga promotes joy and ease in life 20 fitbody by James Occhiogrosso 2 1 businessspotlight 14 INDIAN VEGETARIAN 22 healingways COOKING Potent Spices and Veggies 24 community Natural Awakenings is your guide to a healthier, more
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10 11
spotlight
25 calendar 30 resourceguide
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Fend Off Disease by Bushra Bajwa
16 CONSCIOUS CAREGIVING Nurture Yourself While Helping Another
advertising & submissions
by Deborah Shouse
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.
It Boosts Health, Peace, Community and Spirituality
20 SAY YES TO YOGA
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by Lynda Bassett
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21 AN INNOVATIVE
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.
22 SPARKING CREATIVITY IN
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.
by Deborah Shouse
MaineAwakenings.com
APPROACH
Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care at The Vicarage by the Sea by Lynda Bassett
ELDERS WITH DEMENTIA
Re-Engaging Through Art, Music and Dance
24 RELIEF FROM
PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Elizabeth Burd has the only yoga program designed for people with Parkinson’s Disease in Maine by James Occhiogrosso
natural awakenings
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September 2014
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letterfrompublisher Autumn... the year’s last, loveliest smile.” ~ William Cullen Bryant, Indian Summer
contact us Publisher Debjani Das Editors S. Alison Chabonais Shonali Das Linda Sechrist Contributing Writer Lauressa Nelson Jim Occhiogrosso Staff Photographer Gregg Hryniewicz Design & Production Lisa Avery C. Michele Rose Printer Trumbull Printing
I
know you join me, friends, in welcoming back New England’s crisp, Technicolor autumn, which has been
patiently waiting to make its appearance. As its rejuvenating vibration washes over us, we are again reminded of the cycle of life that’s capable of sharing earned radiance even late into the season.
Just so, we too can age gracefully and with dignity. This month’s issue of
Natural Awakenings of Southern Maine speaks to this with dual themes of Conscious Caregiving and Yoga, both of which can reflect and lead to transformation. As our bodies change, our minds can continue to create and our spirit can grow stronger and more essentially vital than ever.
Our contributors’ articles recalled warm memories of my beloved Uncle Manik,
who recently passed. Born and raised in India, he dedicated much of his life to the practice of yoga. Whenever I visited him in Kolkata, he would show me ways to
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combat whatever discomfort I was feeling at the time using specialized poses and a
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rote to appease the teacher in him, but once I noticed the discomfort diminishing, it
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 ©2014 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.
deep focus on my breath. Sometimes I’d find myself just following his instructions by hit me that, “It’s working!”
As Manik grew older and part of him grew weak, he never let it impact his
spirit or profound involvement with yoga, which kept him going. Even following a debilitating series of strokes in 2013, he still loved to sit quietly and fall into a deep meditative state. Whatever he battled within, he dealt with it on his terms. All of it was the beauty of Uncle Manik.
This month, we introduce you to some of our community’s many local
practitioners that also have dedicated their life to bettering ours through yoga.
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.
Elizabeth Burd, founder of Yoga for Parkinson’s, in South Portland, shares with us
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.
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Southern Maine
her journey of becoming Maine’s only yoga practitioner with this specialty. Darcy Cunningham, owner of Turning Light Center, in North Yarmouth, walk us through what it means to be a yoga therapist and her continuing motivation As you turn the pages, we hope that you will find inspiration supported by
practical tips that make a meaningful difference in your life. Om Shanti Om,
Debjani Das, Publisher MaineAwakenings.com
newsbriefs A Lebro Center for Well Being Hosts Open House
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he A Lebro Center for Well Being, in Kittery since 1976, will host an open house with demonstrations, discounts, raffles, catering and more from 5 to 8 p.m., September 17. Lili Gordon, the massage therapist at A Lebro, will offer sample chair massages. Dr. Richard “Tony” Lebro, a chiropractor and medical intuitive, will be on hand Dr. Lebro to answer questions. Attendees can also receive a free ZYTO scan, a non-invasive biocommunication instrument that works via subtle energetic impulses to reveal insights about a person’s health. New patients will receive 15 percent off their first office visit. Location: 135 Rogers Rd., Kittery. For more information, call 800-610-1199, email Katie@AlebroCenter.com, or visit AlebroCenter.com. See ad, page 11.
Business After Five Anniversary Party
B
artlett Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, in Portland, will celebrate its first year with a party from 5 to 7 p.m., October 2, at the Portland Regional Chamber as part of a joint networking event with Focal Point Manual Therapies, in Scarborough, and the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth Community Chamber of Congress, a branch of the Portland Regional Chamber. The event promises appetizers, door prizes and the opportunity to network with between 30 and 50 local businesses. Chamber President Linda Cohen will speak at 6:15 p.m. Bartlett Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine provides full-service acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbal therapy and Nambudripad’s allergy elimination technique. Owner Kath Bartlett, a licensed acupuncturist and traditional Chinese herbalist, has offered individualized and effective care for hundreds of patients with a wide variety of conditions since 2001. Event location: Portland Regional Chamber, 443 Congress St., Portland. For more information, call 207 772-2811, email alebel@PortlandRegion.com, or visit PortlandRegion.com. See ad, page 17.
Learn About Energy Healing
J
ane Jacobson, a holistic nurse advocate and registered nurse, will present a special class for energy healing from noon to 4:00 p.m. every other Monday, beginning September 8. Jacobson evaluates an individual’s energy field to balance the energy, which she believes promotes self-healing. She also uses therapeutic touch, tapping and intuitive mindfulness to provide clarity for each individual. Jane Jacobson Using her unique combination of qualifications— 40 years as a traditional practicing RN and board certification in advanced holistic nursing—Jacobson helps her patients frame priorities for health, healing and happiness. Location: 449 Forest Ave., Portland. For more information, call 207-761-7953 or 307-210-3954. natural awakenings
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newsbriefs Free Yoga, Buti and Dance Mini Classes
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tephanie Harmon, the new owner of the Bhakti in Motion studio, and her team of teachers are hosting an open house from 1 to 4 p.m., September 20, where they will present a sampling of their classes, including yoga, dance and Buti Yoga, a fusion of yoga, high-intensity tribal dance and plyometrics. The afternoon of free yoga and dance mini-classes will give yoga novices as well as long-time yoga practitioners a chance to sample various classes and instructors and learn what’s new at the studio. The studio offers a selection of vinyasa, hatha and yin yoga classes. Dance classes include Embodiment—a Movement Offering, Barefoot Boogie, Hip-hop and Contact Improv Jams. Capoeira for Kids is also featured on the fall schedule. Private studio rentals can be arranged.
Dana Fadel and Kellie Ryan
Women’s Sexuality Workshops in Portland
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erbalist Kath Bartlett, the owner Bartlett Acupuncture who is board certified in Oriental medicine and herbal medicine, will present a talk on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture from 6 to 7:30 p.m., September 11, as well as a workshop on acupressure from 6:30 to 8 p.m., October 21. Both will take place in the conference room at the Westbrook Community Center. The lecture will feature a general introduction to TCM and acupuncture, and the workshop will demonstrate hands-on ways to use acupressure at home for pain relief.
ana Fadel and Kellie Ryan, creators of Sex of Self, are offering a series of women’s sexuality workshops, in single-day and weekend sessions. The next session is being offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 13, at the Portland Yoga Studio. The goal of this workshop is to empower women to feel more in touch with themselves through an open sharing and discussion of personal sexual beliefs, histories and fears. Fadel is a sex educator certified through the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, and Ryan is a facilitator and sex educator at the Institute of Sexual Education and Enlightenment, in Connecticut. Both believe a safe workshop setting is an important resource through which women can ask questions and share experiences with other women.
Cost: lecture, $10; workshop, $30 (includes an acupressure point stimulator). Location: 426 Bridge St., Westbrook. To register, call 207-854-0676 or visit the Community Center main office. For more information, call Bartlett Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine at 207 219-0848, email Info@BartlettAcupuncture.com or visit BartlettAcupuncture.com. See ad, page 17.
Cost: $106; scholarships and sliding-scale rates available. Location: 616 Congress St., Portland. For more information, call 207200-4680, email SexOfSelf @gmail.com or visit SexOfSelf.com.
Location: 155 Brackett St., 3rd fl., Portland. For more information contact Stephanie at 207-632-4789 email BhaktiInMotion@gmail.com or visit BhaktiInMotion.com.
Learn About Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture and Acupressure
News to share? Submit information online at MaineAwakenings.com or call 207-615-3675 Submittal deadline is the 5th of the month.
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Southern Maine
MaineAwakenings.com
New Organic Food Resource in York
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o provide the community with healthy, locally sourced organic choices, A Lifestyle Emporium has opened in York. They are the only establishment in the area that carries all organic, non-GMO products that support a healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle. A Lifestyle Emporium offers products that are organic, gluten-free, not genetically modified (non- GMO) and free of artificial ingredients, colors or preservatives. They also offer fresh, organic lettuce and tomatoes; locally sourced, organic meat, produce and dairy; bulk foods, herbs and spices; vitamins and supplements; natural and organic body and skin care products; homeopathy; and organic, U.S.-made pet products. Active military members and seniors receive discounts on food.
Improving Health and Fitness at the Maine Senior Games
T
he Maine Senior Games, a program of the Southern Maine Agency on Aging, comprise 21 days of athletic events dedicated to folks 45 and older and intended to improve health and fitness. Remaining events in the seasonal schedule, which started in June, include women’s tennis on September 4. The season ends on October 5 with 10-pin bowling. The complete schedule is listed at MaineSrGames.org. With 17 different sports events, there is something for everyone, and nearly 500 people compete every year. While most of the events are held in Cumberland County, participants, including elite athletes, come from all over Maine and out of state. Competition is based on age groups, with categories up to 95 and over for both male and female events. Gold, silver, bronze and fourth place ribbons are awarded in each group and event. Qualifying athletes can compete in the National Senior Games. Volunteers are needed throughout the year to do tasks, such as keeping score, greeting people, folding T-shirts and stuffing envelopes; athletic ability is not required. For more information, call 207-396-6519, email JDill@smaaa.org, or visit MaineSrGames.org.
Location: 369 U.S. Rte. 1, York. For more information, call 207-351-8456, email ALifeStyleEmporium@gmail.com, or visit ALifestyleEmporium.com.
Distributors Wanted
Distribution/Drivers (Part Time – Per Stop) We’re seeking several local individuals to deliver our monthly healthy living publication. If you live in the area, have reliable transportation and would like to work with us for a few days at the end of each month delivering our magazines, contact: Debjani Das, Publisher 207-615-3675 publisher@maineawakenings.com natural awakenings
September 2014
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healthbriefs
Licorice Root Reduces Dangerous Fat
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new study published in the journal Nutrafoods has confirmed that licorice extract helps reduce visceral fat in obese adults. The study tested 60 men and 60 women that were clinically obese with body mass index (BMI) scores of over 30. For three months, they were given either a placebo pill or 300 milligrams per day of licorice root extract. Then they were tested for visceral fat using CT scans and measured for waist circumference, waist-to-hip measurements and BMI scores. The licorice extract group had significantly fewer visceral fat cells, lower BMI scores and reduced waist circumference compared with the placebo group. Previous research with the extract also showed similar weight-loss effects among human subjects.
Yoga Boosts Hearts, Shrinks Waistlines
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wo scientific reviews of human clinical research have found that hatha yoga significantly reduces heart disease risk factors. Researchers from Germany’s University of Duisburg-Essen reviewed 44 studies involving more than 3,000 people. Overall, the studies found that hatha yoga significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Yoga participants also showed lower respiratory and heartbeat rates, significantly reduced triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol. Several important diabetes risk markers decreased among the yoga participants; they also realized smaller waistlines. Similar results were reached by scientists from the United Kingdom’s Warwick Medical School. In analyzing 11 studies involving 800 people, they found that regular yoga exercise both reduced diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides and increased beneficial HDL cholesterol levels.
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Southern Maine
RAISINS LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES RISK
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esearchers from the University of Kentucky have determined that snacking on raisins can decrease high blood pressure and reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. For 12 weeks, 46 men and women snacked on either processed snack foods or raisins. At the beginning and end of each month, the researchers tested for blood glucose, diabetic risk markers and blood pressure. Raisin snacking was found to reduce blood pressure while improving blood glucose and diabetic risk factors. The researchers concluded, “Regular consumption of raisins may reduce glycemia and cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure.”
Antioxidant Supplements Improve Eye Health
E
ye health may be improved by taking certain antioxidant supplements, according to researchers at Austria’s Medical University of Vienna. They studied 40 healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30 split into two groups, giving a control group a placebo pill and the other a supplement containing vitamins C and E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, copper, selenium, gingko biloba, flavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-lipoic acid. The medical scientists tested the health and blood flow of the retinal artery, which feeds the eye with blood and nutrients. The results of the two-week trial showed the supplements significantly improved blood flow through the retinal arteries. The supplements also helped protect the retinal arteries from free radical damage. The scientists concluded that such supplementation can prevent a type of cellular dysfunction in the eye induced by oxidative stress that is assumed to play a role in age-related macular degeneration.
MaineAwakenings.com
Vitamin D3 Cuts Antibiotic Use by Elderly
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esearch from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, in Australia, has found supplemental vitamin D3 reduces the incidence of infection among seniors. More than 600 subjects, ages 60 to 84, were divided into three groups and for one year took either 1,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D3, 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D3, or a placebo. Those given the 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day were 28 percent less likely to require antibiotics prescriptions than those taking the placebo. Those older than 70 years were 47 percent less likely to be prescribed antibiotics than the placebo group.
Pre-K Education Linked to Better Health 26 Years Later
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I
n addition to an increased likelihood of achieving academic success, children that participate in game-based educational training also have a significantly lower risk of developing future cardiovascular disease, according to University of North Carolina researchers in a paper published this year in Science magazine. Launched in the 1970s, the Carolina Abecedarian Project studied more than 100 children beginning when they were just over 4 years old. Fifty-seven focused on language skills while also receiving nutritional and health services. A control group received the same nutritional and health services, but not the early language education. Early education turned out to be an indicator for significantly healthier individuals when they had reached the age of 30, with a lower average systolic blood pressure than those in the control group and no symptoms of metabolic syndrome— a condition related to diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Twenty-five percent of the control group had metabolic syndrome symptoms at age 30.
Mindfulness Meditation Can Hinder Onset of Alzheimer’s
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pilot study from the Harvard Medical School indicates yet another benefit of meditation. The researchers tested 14 people with mild cognitive impairment, which often leads to Alzheimer’s disease, and provided them with either Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training or standard care. Brain imaging tests indicated that those engaged in meditative training had increased activity and connections among three areas of the brain—the posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex and left hippocampus. Although larger studies are needed, study authors remark, “These preliminary results indicate that in adults with mild cognitive impairment, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction therapy may have a positive impact on the regions of the brain most related to mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.”
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September 2014
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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Radioactive Sea
Japan’s Nuclear Meltdown is Poisoning California Kelp Scientists analyzing kelp off the coast of San Diego have linked the presence of the radioactive isotope cesium to the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, in Japan, which melted down in 2011. As part of the ongoing Kelp Watch 2014 project, government and academic institutions have begun receiving results from samples of bull kelp and giant kelp collected along the California coast. “We’re trying to figure out how much is there and how much is getting into the ecosystem,” says Matthew Edwards, Ph.D., of San Diego State University. “Things are linked a little more closely than sometimes we’d like to think. Just because it’s on the other side of the world doesn’t mean that it doesn’t affect us.” With experts predicting a 40-year-plus cleanup at Fukushima, the likelihood of increased cesium in the Pacific Ocean seems inevitable. For more information, visit KelpWatch.Berkeley.edu.
Online Opportunity
Major University Offers Integrative Medicine Certificate The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is inaugurating an online Integrative Medicine Program in partnership with the Metabolic Medical Institute and accepting applications toward graduate certification in integrative medicine. Integrative medicine focuses on the whole person, and the curriculum includes prevention, self-care, nutrition, exercise prescription, dietary supplements and wellness-based therapies. Students also review advanced predictive diagnostics, biotechnology, and systems biology utilizing proteomics, genomics and metabolomics. Graduates will gain cutting-edge knowledge to make well-informed decisions with their patients about treating disease, promoting vitality and optimizing aging. To learn more and enroll in the program, visit MMIMedicine.com.
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. ~Winston Churchil
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Southern Maine
MaineAwakenings.com
Safer Shampoo
Makers Agree Not to Use Cancer-Causing Chemical This year, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) reached legal agreements with 26 major companies to discontinue using a cancer-causing chemical in shampoo and personal care products, and potential agreements with more than 100 additional companies are still pending. Cocamide diethanolamine (DEA), a synthetic chemical created from a chemical reaction between coconut oils and diethanolamine, has been used for decades in shampoos and other products as a foaming agent. In 2012, California listed the chemical as a known carcinogen, based on assessment by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, which evaluated skin exposure tests on animals. In 2013, the CEH brought lawsuits against companies selling products in California containing the substance without a health warning, as required under Prop 65, the state’s consumer protection law for toxic chemicals. Note: A Think Dirty app offers information about the potentially toxic ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products and what not to buy. Source: Ecowatch.com (Tinyurl. com/Shampoo-Lawsuit)
actionalert
ecotip Cell Bill
Overcharging Mobile Devices Wastes Money
Planetary Push
Public Demands Climate Change Solutions People throughout the U.S. and worldwide, representing hundreds of grassroots and non-government organizations, will converge on New York City for the Peoples Climate March on September 21. As United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calls for heads of state to mobilize at an historic U.N. Summit on Climate Change that weekend, the people will demand action via the largest-ever climate change citizens’ demonstration. Concerned groups and individuals expect to exchange ideas, articulate common challenges and address solutions. Learn more and sign up at PeoplesClimateMarch.org. Find a partial list of participating organizations at Tinyurl.com/GroupsMarching.
Smartphone maker Nokia estimates most devices need only about two hours to fully charge, making overnight charging highly wasteful; users also should disengage and unplug chargers from the wall when they’re done. Another helpful tip from BatteryUniversity.com is not to wait until cell phone power is nearly or completely depleted before recharging, because full discharges put a strain on the battery that can shorten its lifespan. Umbra Fisk, an environmental columnist at Grist.org, advises using a power strip and even a timer as parts of a central charging area for all mobile devices to facilitate monitoring and reduce overcharging. Energy Star-qualified (EnergyStar.gov) cordless phones demand about half the energy of standard units. Energy Star reports that the average U.S. household spends $100 annually to power devices while they are off, constituting nearly 10 percent of annual electric utility bills and amounting to an annual total of 100 billion-plus kilowatt hours of U.S. electricity consumption and more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.
FREE MASSAGES
FUN FOR KIDS!
Open House
Discounts | Demonstrations | Giveaways | Catering | Raffles
Breathe in experience, breathe out poetry. ~Muriel Rukeyser
Wednesday, September 17th 5-8pm 135 Rogers Road, Kittery, ME 03904
A Lebro Center for Well Being
Kittery’s Holistic Wellness Center since 1976 Don’t miss this opportunity to get answers and take back your health!
Wednesday, September 17th 800.610.1199 | www.alebrocenter.com
natural awakenings
September 2014
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wisewords
Kamini Desai Explores a Yogic Life
Inner Calmness Leads to Self-Mastery by Linda Sechrist
K
amini Desai’s Ph.D.-worthy versatile body of teachings combines her lifelong interests in Western psychology and Eastern philosophy. Trained at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, she develops and leads core programs for Florida’s Amrit Yoga Institute, providing advanced studies dedicated to the science and system of integrated human development. A resident of Salt Springs, Florida, and the Netherlands, she teaches in 10 countries on three continents.
What is a yogic lifestyle? It means being focused on inner peace. Through the study of yoga as a complete science of self-mastery, I’m cultivating the realization of my highest self beyond body and mind. This intention is the director of my unfolding life. I like to use the metaphor of a ship. If this higher self as a wise captain isn’t steadily setting the course at the helm, then on any given day, the happy, sad, grieving, enthusiastic or depressed me will likely be steering my life in a contrary direction and I’ll just be going in circles. In the Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga, along with the integrative method of yoga nidra 12
Southern Maine
that I practice and teach, my focus is on the release of body energy, rather than any physical pose. Energy is healing. When energy is freed up, it naturally calms the mind and creates a spontaneous, meditative state in which the highest self can be experientially known. To free energy, I attune to the sensations resulting from the physical alignments in any yoga posture. Each pose focuses attention on sensations occurring along the meridian lines in the body, allowing areas that are blocked and limited to open up and energy to optimally flow. Then, in what Amrit yoga describes as the “second half of the posture,” I close my eyes and feel that released energy becoming magnified through my attention. The stronger the energy becomes, the more the mind organically dissolves into a meditative state where mental, emotional and physical healing can happen spontaneously.
MaineAwakenings.com
What was it like to grow up as the daughter of Yogi Amrit Desai, a well-known guru? I feel blessed that I was exposed to my father’s teachings from a young age. His message that I first embraced was that people and things will always change, and if I rely on either of
them for happiness and peace of mind, I’m depending on the undependable. The need is to find internal stability in the midst of every polarity. My dad, now approaching 82, has always been an example of one whose entire life is about moving towards a changeless state of being and of what it means to remain a nonjudgmental witness to all that happens in life. Still, I had to learn my own lessons.
How have you benefited from yoga? I began studying with my dad when I was 16. Now, at 46, I more fully value the depth of yoga. The longer I practice, the more grateful I am that my mind is less fragmented than it otherwise would be. I’m progressively able to deal with situations that would have sent me over the edge before. I more naturally avoid wasting a lot of mental energy in internalized, “If they say this then I’m going to say that,” conversations. With less mental chatter, I have more energy and stamina to focus on what is in front of me. I can be totally absorbed in each present moment for a deeper sense of fulfillment in what I’m doing.
How do you feel about the Westernization of yoga? Individuals that begin any style of yoga for its physical benefits are off to a good start, but anyone that maintains a regular practice becomes curious about yoga’s other benefits, like relaxation, more peace and a sense of happiness that arises without any apparent cause. Eventually they ask, “Why is this good thing or greater bliss happening to me? What else is there besides postures?” Although everyone eventually learns many life skills, we rarely learn how to live our lives well, manage our emotions and relate to others in ways that create more peace and happiness within. These are the uncaused benefits of yoga that people come to love. Find more of her words of wisdom in articles posted at KaminiDesai.com. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Visit ItsAllAbout We.com for the recorded interview.
therapyspotlight
THERAPEUTIC YOGA HELPS RELIEVE PAIN by James Occhiogrosso
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arcy Cunningham’s lifelong passion for supporting and guiding people has taken her from the U.S. to Canada, Europe and India over a 30-year span. Along the way, she earned an MBA, studied Gestalt therapy, meditation and yoga, Family Constellations (an approach to healing issues which have roots in the family soul) and other healing techniques. Gradually, all of Cunningham’s experiences began to meld into her own approach to helping people experience more joy and ease in life, and in 2003, she founded the Turning Light Center. Cunningham was raised in Midland, Michigan, the daughter of an engineer and a university administrator/ counselor. At the age of 13, she was introduced to meditation and became interested in exploring yoga and other paths. By college, she was studying other forms of personal growth. In 2000, Cunningham embarked on the first of many journeys to India. When she returned to the U.S., she was frustrated to see the prevalence of a simplistic Western approach to yoga that prioritized performing postures over attaining yoga’s true benefits. She observed many instructors pushing their clients to assume poses that caused pain. “People were being encouraged to work against their body, as if it were the enemy,” she relates. “I want people’s lives to improve,” Cunningham explains. She began to envision a healing environment where people made progress rather than just feeling good temporarily. This led to the opening of Turning Light Center, where Cunningham developed what she calls PureEase Yoga, a style based on the work of Susi Hately’s Functional Synergy
therapeutic yoga, as well as Somatics, which involves retraining the body. In the PureEase approach, hatha yoga is practiced with an emphasis on finding core stability, functional movement and a balanced body in postures. Therapeutic techniques and props are used to nourish relaxation and release. Cunningham, who just completed a four-year process leading to an 800-hour certification with the International Association of Yoga Therapists, explains, “We are not limited to doing only classical yoga; we focus on a combination of all the principles and tools of yoga, such as movement, breath, stillness and sound, in a therapeutic application to reduce and eliminate pain and improve function. When function improves, so do many other aspects of life.” When a person is injured or in chronic pain, the body frequently compensates by restricting its movement patterns to avoid discomfort. Some yoga and fitness instructors tend to believe that by continuing to stretch through the pain, the condition will improve, an approach that is often counterproductive. Stretches that extend beyond a client’s inherent capacity can result in little or no progress, or worse, actually induce a new injury.
“The goal of therapeutic yoga is to bring awareness to the body, improve its communication with the nervous system, build stability and strength, and improve function,” explains Cunningham. “While fitness may lead to tension, tightness and aching, yoga should not.” Customized sessions of therapeutic yoga can substantially improve recovery from chronic pain or injuries. By paying close attention to movement, healing can be promoted without risk of re-injury. Cunningham always asks her clients to report back to their other healthcare practitioners, and some of these professionals are now calling and asking to meet with and learn more about her. She remarks, “I would love to ultimately be part of a network of healing professionals that refers clients back and forth. It is my belief that it takes a team to support people in living joyfully with ease and well-being.” Location: 168 W. Pownal Rd., North Yarmouth. For more information, call 207829-2700, email Darcy@TurningLight. org, or visit TurningLight.org. James Occhiogrosso is a Natural Awakenings writer and a natural health practitioner. For more information, call 239-652-0421 or visit HealthNaturallyToday.com.
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photos by Stephen Blancett
consciouseating
Indian Vegetarian Cooking Potent Spices and Veggies Fend Off Disease by Bushra Bajwa
Vegetarians seeking flavorful variations can turn to 9,000 Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi grocery stores nationwide.
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e are now Indian dishes offer leaves and aromatic seeds from the pea seeing 20 tantalizing options in family have become percent non-Indian customers a vegetable-rich diet. common American crops. Tindura, a gourd in our store,” says Vipul Patel, owner of the Louisville, Kentucky, used in curry, and daikon, often eaten raw in salads or seasoned as stuffing in branch of Patel Brothers, the largest flatbread, are relatively new here. Indian U.S. grocery store chain. “Usu “By eating a larger variety of ally, new customers come in with an vegetables, consumers benefit from an Indian recipe and we help them find increased array of vital nutrients and spethe ingredients.” cialized phytochemicals that have healing and medicinal qualities,” says Ronald Indian Veggies Hubbs, a practitioner at NW NaturoVegetarianism has been a way of life in pathic Medicine, in Portland, Oregon. He India for millennia. Some Indian vegetaadvises against overcooking vegetables to bles may already seem familiar; winter maintain their nutritional qualities. melon, or white pumpkin, for example, Hubbs notes that bitter gourd is is a squash that cooks and tastes like its probably one of the most underappreciorange counterpart. Eggplants native to ated Western foods, yet studies on mice India are egg-shaped and smaller than sponsored by the Garvan Institute of the American variety; they cook in less Medical Research, in Sydney, Australia, time and have a less bitter taste. and the Chinese government show that Other popular Indian vegetables, it contains four compounds that are efsuch as okra seedpods (eaten as a curfective in reducing blood glucose levels ried entrée or side dish and also used in diabetic patients. to thicken stews and soups), fenugreek
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Also consider pickled vegetables, known as achar. “Naturally fermenting vegetables can turn some of them into superfoods, with enhanced properties that are rich in healthy bacteria and support digestion and immunity,” says Hubbs, citing studies in the Journal of Nutrition and Clinical Microbiology Reviews. Daals, or lentils, including Indian diet staples peas and beans, provide a good source of protein that is also high in fiber, he says. Lentils—highly versatile and available with or without the skin, whole or split—can be eaten thick and creamy, soup-like or dry, cooked with other vegetables or simply enhanced with basic Indian spices. Popular legumes include black-eyed peas and garbanzo beans. Different regions in the Indian subcontinent have their preferred daal spices and cooking methods, but all citizens often serve them with boiled rice or Indian bread, called chapatti.
Indian Spices
Although often considered “hot”, the blend of aromatic herbs and spices used in many Indian dishes, including those incorporating dairy, can be layered in for tantalizing flavors without necessitating frequent water breaks. Many commonly used herbs and spices have proven medicinal properties, historically recognized for
EZ Garam Masala Authentic garam masala is made with whole spices that have been roasted and ground, but this quick and easy substitute will add a warm, sweet flavor to vegetables, rice and other foods. 2 Tbsp ground coriander 1 Tbsp ground cumin 1 Tbsp ground cardamom 1 Tbsp ground black pepper 1 Tbsp ground fennel seed 1 tsp ground mustard ½ tsp ground cloves ½ tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground cayenne red pepper 2 Tbsp ground turmeric Mix the spices in a small bowl, place in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.
their healing properties in ayurvedic therapies and more recently, in Indian alternative medicine. According to University of Illinois research, fennel flower (black seed) and fenugreek improve lactation. University of Maryland Medical Center research shows that fennel seeds aid digestion. Further, the Journal of Phytopathology reports that carom seeds have antiseptic properties. Recently, researchers at Penn State University found that antioxidant spices such as turmeric, oregano, cinnamon, cloves and paprika reduced triglycerides in the blood by 30 percent, helping to reduce the risk of chronic disease. “That’s because adding spices to a meal decreases the amount of fat in the bloodstream after eating,” explains study leader Ann Skulas-Ray, Ph.D. “There are clear benefits to add-
ing spices to your meal, even if you’re only adding them occasionally.” Sprinkling a little turmeric and ginger on legumes or other vegetables while boiling or sautéing them can create a palate-pleasing dish with health benefits. Numerous studies, including those from the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota, show that these ingredients may help fight several kinds of cancer, reduce inflammation and relieve arthritis pain, among other benefits. Americans can easily learn to bring out the best in their own Indian cuisine with the subcontinent’s alluring blends of herbs and spices delivering both unforgettable flavor and nutrient-rich fare.
Maash Daal
Bushra Bajwa is a freelance writer in Issaquah, WA. Connect at BushraBajwa@hotmail.com.
Heat oil in saucepan to brown onions.
Add lentils and water, and then bring to boil. Simmer on low to medium heat for 30 minutes.
Basic Okra 3 Tbsp olive oil 2 finely chopped medium yellow onion 2 finely chopped vine tomatoes 18 oz okra (about 50 pieces), washed, dried, ends trimmed and then cut into ½-inch pieces Sea salt to taste Red chili powder to taste ½ tsp coriander powder ½ tsp turmeric powder Fresh cilantro for garnish
Add salt, chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric. Mix. Add tomatoes and cook on medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, covered. Add the okra, mix well and simmer for another 8 to 10 minutes. Serve garnished with cilantro.
Organic Baby Potatoes and Chickpeas 1 Tbsp olive oil 2 cups chickpeas, cooked, drained and rinsed 3 baby potatoes, washed and diced
Wash lentils and soak in warm water for 1 hour. Add ginger and garlic, spices and tomatoes and stir for a few minutes to make a paste.
Spicy Indian Family Recipes
Heat oil in a 2-quart saucepan to lightly brown the onions.
2 Tbsp olive oil 2 cups maash (urad) lentils 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and finely chopped 1 tsp ginger, peeled and finely chopped 1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped ½ tsp turmeric ½ tsp coriander powder 2 cups purified water Sea salt to taste Chili powder to taste 2 tomatoes, finely chopped Fresh cilantro and chilies for garnish
Bitter Gourd 2 Tbsp olive oil 5 bitter gourds 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced finely 2 tomatoes, chopped finely 1 tsp turmeric Sea salt to taste Wash and trim bitter gourd ends. 1 finely chopped tomato Sea salt to taste 1 tsp garam masala blend of ground spices 1 jalapeño finely chopped (optional) ¼ tsp baking soda 2 Tbsp purified water Fresh cilantro for garnish Heat oil in saucepan before adding ingredients. Add chickpeas, potatoes, tomatoes, salt and garam masala to saucepan and bring to a boil. Add baking soda and water, and then simmer for 7 to 8 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Cut in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Slice the halves into ¼-inch pieces. Rub salt into the pieces and set aside for 20 to 30 minutes (to remove the bitterness). Rinse out the salt and dry the bitter gourd. Heat oil in saucepan and then add bitter gourd, turmeric and salt. Sauté on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add onions and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, mix well and cook on medium heat for another 5 minutes. Recipes courtesy of Bushra Bajwa.
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to keep her husband as engaged and active as possible. When she had difficult issues to discuss, she’d make a “talking date” with him, offering choices by saying, “I’d love to chat with you. Would Tuesday before dinner or Thursday after breakfast work for you?” Before the date, she’d select a comfortable room and clear her mind by meditating, napping or mindfully sipping herbal tea. The conversations would cover anything from how to work with their health professionals to plans for his end-of-life ceremony. They agreed on strategies and worked together as a team.
Redefine Assistance
Conscious Caregiving
Nurture Yourself While Helping Another by Deborah Shouse
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f you’re depressed, tired or sick, your caregiving is likely to suffer,” counsels John Schall, CEO of Caregiver Action Network, in Washington, D.C., and a former family caregiver. “For the sake of your loved one, take care of yourself.” The AARP estimates that some 34 million family caregivers provide for someone that is ill or disabled in the U.S. According to the National Alliance for Caregiving, in Bethesda, Maryland, caregivers generally struggle with finding time for themselves, managing emotional and physical stress and balancing work and family responsibilities. Experts suggest that the following seven steps can help people enjoy a healthier, less stressful and more conscious approach to care giving— and receiving.
Reframe Care
When Lori La Bey’s mom was diagnosed with dementia, the daughter initially felt she was the only family 16
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member that could help her. However, gradually, the Minneapolis-based international caregiver advocate and founder of AlzheimersSpeaks.com learned to welcome help from others. “Being perfect gets in the way of true connections,” she observes. Although La Bey began her caregiving out of love, the volume of related tasks soon sparked stress. That’s when she taught herself to slow down and reframe her outlook: Before going into her mom’s room, folding her laundry, scheduling healthcare practitioners and delivering dinner, La Bey paused to consciously ask: “Is Mom safe, happy and pain-free?” Centering on those three questions reminded her that she was doing this work out of love. Psychotherapist Diana Denholm, Ph.D., of West Palm Beach, Florida, heightened her own consciousness by learning to see caregiving as a collaborative effort. Denholm, author of The Caregiving Wife’s Handbook: Caring for Your Seriously Ill Husband, Caring for Yourself (CaregivingWife.com), sought
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“I’ll carry your luggage for you, Dad, since you’re not feeling well”… La Bey still remembers her father’s downturned mouth as she tugged the suitcase out of his hands. “I was trying to be helpful, but instead I took away his dignity and power,” she later realized. “If I had packed his bag lighter, he could have carried it like always.” When are we helping and when are we doing too much? “Put yourself in the sick person’s shoes. Avoid doing something the person can do for himself,” agrees Denholm. Controlling behavior changes the dynamics of the relationship and can put the caregiver in a parental role. She recommends a holistic brainstorming exercise in which the caregiver writes answers to such questions as: What am I frustrated about? What really annoys me? Why am I angry with myself? The results offer a window to understanding our own feelings. “Feeling anger could mean we’re acting codependently and taking on too many responsibilities,” Denholm says. “The caregiver’s job isn’t to save the patient, but merely to support him or her in necessary ways.”
Ask for Help
“I don’t want to be a burden,” and “We’re afraid of losing our privacy,” and “I’m the only one who can take care of him; no one else can do it right,” are common concerns. “These self-limiting beliefs prevent people from reaching out for help,” says family caregiver and life coach Yosaif August, founder of Yes To Life Coaching
(YesToLifeCoaching.com), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and author of Coaching for Caregivers: How to Reach Out Before You Burn Out. August quotes a recent Johns Hopkins study that reported caregivers might improve their health “… when caregiving is done willingly, at manageable levels and with individuals who are capable of expressing gratitude.” Accepting assistance makes caregiving more manageable. August understands how overwhelming the experience can be and advises caregivers to ask themselves: “What do I need help with right now?” Keep answers specific, such as, “I need someone to prepare dinner tomorrow night, mow the lawn and pick up our vitamins.” August also suggests creating a family Declaration of Interdependence, a personal statement documenting how the family prefers to be helped, along with the attitudes and behaviors they find especially supportive. Encourage family and friends to ask these two questions: “Are you open to advice?” and “Is this a good time to talk about your spouse’s condition?” Make much-needed breaks sacrosanct from such discussions.
Nurture through Nourishment
More than 50 percent of caregivers surveyed in a 21st-century study spearheaded by the National Alliance for Caregiving reported, “I don’t have time to take care of myself.” That can translate to a lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet and little or no respite. “If you aren’t healthy and strong,
Extending a Hand to Caregivers If your caregiving friends can’t articulate what they need, try these lovely offerings. n Send a cheerful card. n Gift a plant. n Weed their garden. n Cook a meal. n Schedule a walk together. n Sit with a loved one for several hours so they can run errands. n Volunteer to get their car washed.
kale, a banana and other fruits, almond milk or purified water and maybe adding flaxseed, cinnamon or goji berries. When appropriate, share the same healthboosting foods with the loved one. Victoria Moran, of New York City, is the director of the Main Street Vegan Academy and author of a dozen books on health and well-being including Main Street Vegan and Living a Charmed Life. She offers such conscious eating tips as eating full meals of “real” food instead of snacks; selecting beautiful foods; and ritualizing indulgences, such as a special spot for relaxing with high-quality dark chocolate and tea using good china while listening to classical music.
Stand for Exercise
n Take them to a movie or out to dinner. n Buy a gift certificate to use online. n Treat them to a massage. you can’t properly care for anyone else,” says Liana Werner-Gray, New York City natural lifestyle consultant and author of The Earth Diet (TheEarthDiet.org). To begin each day, she advises drinking one cup of warm water with juice from half a lemon, explaining that stress produces acid and lemon water metabolizes as alkalinity and helps keep the body’s pH balanced. For healthy snacks, Werner-Gray recommends easy and nutrition-rich choices like fresh fruits, green smoothies, organic nut butters and a trail mix of raw nuts, seeds and dried fruits. Save time with the smoothies by making a large batch and freezing portions to enjoy later. A basic recipe might include two handfuls of greens, such as spinach and
Even though caregivers may feel they don’t have time to spare, Dr. Jordan D. Metzl, author of The Exercise Cure, says it’s vital to incorporate physical activity. He recommends starting by walking 30 minutes a day for one month. If necessary, it can be done in 10-minute increments. According to a study by Mayo Clinic Physician James Levine, Ph.D., in Scottsdale, Arizona, “Sitting is the new smoking.” Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns that include obesity, metabolic syndrome and increased risks of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. The solution is to move more and sit less—walk while on the phone and stand up while reading. Metzl suggests a stretch break every 20 minutes. Three of his “commandments” for fitness are having fun, setting goals and minimizing sitting. “Schedule exercise and respite
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September 2014
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breaks and make them as inviolate as a doctor’s visit,” advises Schall.
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August suggests establishing a twofold consciousness-raising ritual to welcome and appreciate life. Begin each day by showing gratitude for being alive and end it focused on forgiveness and gratitude. “When you cultivate gratitude, you notice more things to be grateful for,” says August. La Bey concurs, and writes down at least five things she is grateful for every day. She mentally replays time with her mom and appreciates the little moments and signs of hope, like “the twinkle in Mom’s eye or the way she held hands and smiled.” This puts her in an upbeat frame of mind when she drifts off to sleep. She also writes out her intention for the day, envisioning positive outcomes. She might affirm: “I am going to have a grace-filled day. Things will go smoothly.” Denholm centers herself by petting her cats. Some caregivers chant or practice meditation or mindful breathing, while others might take a walk, shop, or sit quietly in a church.
Notice Blessings
La Bey discovered that her journey as a caregiver also dramatically enhanced her own life. “Mom taught me so much,” she relates. “I learned compassion and unconditional love on multiple levels. I learned to live in gratitude, instead of loss.” August notes, “Even in the tough times, I experienced an engaged, poignant and rich connection with my parents.” For Denholm, treasured gifts included strengthening her communication with her husband and working as a team. “Allowing yourself to reach out for assistance and make time for respite will deeply enrich your caregiving experience,” concludes Schall. Deborah Shouse is the author of Love in the Land of Dementia: Finding Hope in the Caregiver’s Journey. Follow her blog at DeborahShouseWrites.wordpress.com.
Online Help for Caregivers AlzheimersSpeaks.com Radio show, blogs, free webinars and resource directory CaregiverAction.org Advocacy, peer support and other practical information CarePages.com Free patient blogs connect friends and family CaringBridge.org Share views and receive support 18
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The Clean Bedroom SMALL MAINE BUSINESS MAKES IT BIG by Lauressa Nelson
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he Clean Bedroom is an independent retailer of organic mattresses and bedding founded in November 2004 by Christine Chamberlin and her husband Theodore Duquette in a spare bedroom of their home in Kittery, Maine. With a growth rate of 320 percent over the past three years, today The Clean Bedroom is ranked by Inc. magazine as the sixth fastest growing private company in Maine, and as number 1,346 of the 5,000 fastest growing companies in America. It all started when the couple was developing web sites for home furnishings clients and were introduced to bedding products made with organic materials, as well as air purifiers, to help asthma and allergy sufferers. Chamberlin recalls, “When we discovered the toxic chemicals that lurk in conventional mattresses, my husband said, ‘Every mother in the world should know what they are putting their child on at night.’” By 2008, growing interest allowed the company to move to a small corporate office with a tiny showroom, in Kittery. Now there are seven sleep showroom locations across the country, including Portland, Maine, which opened in November 2013. The showroom is a great way for customers to test out the mattresses, Chamberlin explains. “Finding the right organic mattress is very personal, and it’s key to getting a great night’s sleep,” she affirms. “Spend as much time as you need in our sleep showrooms to find your just-right bed. Feel free to ask questions, because our focus is to help people make informed purchasing decisions as they create a sustainable, green bedroom and organic nursery. Organic mattresses come in all sizes, sleep styles and prices, and most are customizable to fit each sleeping partner’s comfort needs.” As part of educating consumers, the company also maintains a blog with the latest relevant and reliable information, taking pride in avoiding green washing, or falsely representing products as eco-friendly when they aren’t. “Our blog offers product reviews, links to industry research, sleeping tips and more,” Chamberlin notes. “We do a lot of research. In most cases, my husband and I visit the factories to ensure the mattresses meet our standards,” she adds, explaining that they only sell products that offer quality craftsmanship using eco-materials from
companies with a customer focus and reliable shipping, all at an exceptional value. “We’re very proud of the name brands we carry, including Sleeptek, OrganicPedic, Savvy Rest, Naturepedic, Coyuchi, Pacific Rim and Green Sleep,” she notes. Other showrooms include Greenwich, Connecticut; Santa Monica, California; Austin, Texas; New York, New York; and Wellesley, Massachusetts. Following its current growth trajectory, with more showrooms on horizon, The Clean Bedroom can surely be counted among small business success stories. Location: 477 Fore St., Portland; 5 Shapleigh Rd., Kittery. For more information, call 866-380-5892, email Info@TheCleanBedroom.com or visit TheCleanBedroom.com. See ad, back cover. Lauressa Nelson is a contributing editor for Natural Awakenings magazine and a freelance writer who lives in Orlando, FL.
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September 2014
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fitbody
Mental Health
Say Yes to Yoga It Boosts Health, Peace, Community and Spirituality by Lynda Bassett
Improved Relationships
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ois Parker Carmona first stepped into a yoga studio looking for better physical health. “I was doing hot vinyasa because I wanted to sweat. I wanted to feel better,” she recalls. Many people on a similar quest try yoga for the first time during September’s National Yoga Month (YogaHealth Foundation.org/yoga_month), founded by Johannes Fisslinger. “This year, more than 2,200 yoga studios will offer informative public events or a free week of classes to new students to educate everyone about the health benefits of yoga and inspire a healthy lifestyle,” says Fisslinger. “Yoga and mindfulness are an essential part of America’s newly emerging health paradigm.” Like many others, as Carmona deepened her practice, she discovered that yoga’s benefits transcend the physical. Then she went further, becoming a certified Baptiste yoga instructor and co-owner of Melrose Yoga, in Melrose, Massachusetts. “Many of us are so busy and consumed with the constant motion of day-to-day activities that we lose complete track of who we are, along with the state of our bodies,” she says. “Yoga reconnects me with myself.”
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Many experts concur that yoga can be effective in reducing stress. As students continue their practice, they feel less stress and an increased sense of peace and relaxation, along with other mental health benefits. “Yoga gives you what is often called a ‘witness consciousness’,” says John Kepner, executive director of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, in Little Rock, Arkansas. “Being able to observe the external events around you, but not being caught up in the drama. In modern terms, it’s an increased ability to stay cool, calm and collected. After a good yoga class, your troubles can appear further away.”
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Flexibility
One reason that people try yoga is to improve their flexibility. A recent report from Yoga Alliance, a nonprofit association based in Arlington, Virginia, states that it can improve flexibility and mobility and increase range of motion over time as ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen and become more elastic. It also helps relieve muscular tension throughout the body. The Alliance’s Danica Amore notes that flexibility means different things to different people. “A senior might define flexibility as being able to pick up the grandkids, while young people might consider it essential to their athletic abilities.” Flexibility can also mean being able to turn around easily while backing out of the driveway or running with fewer injuries, adds Carmona. Improvements in flexibility generally depend on an individual’s age, health and commitment to practicing yoga, as well as the style chosen. “There are so many different lineages of yoga, and each teacher has his or her own style. Plus, each individual progresses at their own pace,” Amore explains. “It’s really a question of where you want this personal practice to take you and how you embrace it in your private life.” The bottom line is that everyone’s journey is different.
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When stress is reduced, an increased sense of calm tends to permeate all areas of one’s life, observes Kepner. “Based on my experience, yoga also helps improve relationships.” He has taught the same group of students for 10 years and notes their special relationship: “If one goes to the same yoga class regularly, a friendship tends to develop with others in the class, called Songhai. After a while, practicing together becomes one of the most valuable parts of the practice,” he says. This beneficial, deeper sense of community—a major allure of a longterm yoga practice—develops mainly from the intangible sense of working together in terms of physical, mental and spiritual support.
Spirituality and Connectedness
“Even beginning students quickly realize how connecting with their bodies and their breath helps them in their everyday lives,” says Carmona. “It adds a transcendent dimension to everything you do in life.” In addition to its more immediate tangible benefits, other long-term benefits experienced by students may be harder to define or quantify. Carmona observes, “People generally say that yoga has changed their life, physically, mentally and spiritually.” Lynda Bassett is a freelance writer outside Boston, MA. Connect at LyndaBassett@gmail.com.
businessspotlight
An Innovative Approach to Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care by James Occhiogrosso
T
he Vicarage by the Sea, in Harpswell, was founded in 1998 to provide long-term, specialized care of patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease from early onset throughout the end of life. Johanna Wigg, PhD, and Cheryl Golek, a dementia care specialist, started The Vicarage with the idea that long-term care for those living with dementia and similar illnesses could be enhanced in a home-like environment. Together with their support staff, they provide compassionate care and support to eight residents and their families, with Wigg providing professional counseling to residents and families in transition. The Vicarage comprises a small, private home on a wooded lot perched on the shores of a beautiful cove. Single and double rooms overlook either the ocean or lovely flower and bird gardens. For patients with early-stage dementia and their loved ones, the founders have taken steps to ease the difficult transition from home to assisted living. At The Vicarage, residents are encouraged to decorate and furnish their rooms with their own belongings, and pets are welcomed. Home cooked meals, prepared daily, incorporate resident preferences
and favorite recipes. Activities are geared toward the interests of residents and include group activities such as movies and games, music performances and supervised outings. With a staff to resident ratio of 1 to 4, The Vicarage ensures personalized care in which residents’ needs are understood and met. Their safety and security are ensured with motion detectors and exceptional staff vigilance. Accompanied by staff, residents are encouraged to engage with the outdoors and walk along the beautiful grounds and oceanside. To create stability in residents’ lives, The Vicarage avoids unnecessary transitions after initial admission. They need not move to another location as their disease progresses. Stable relationships and routines eliminate the stress of repeated transitions. By offering professional, empathic, holistic care in a home environment, The Vicarage allows residents to age peacefully and securely. James Occhiogrosso is a staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazine, a natural health practitioner and the author of several books. Connect with him at HealthNaturallyToday.com.
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SPREAD YOUR LIGHT
healingways
Help your community become a healthier and happier place to live by advertising in
Natural Awakenings’ October Sustainable Communities Edition
Sparking Creativity in Elders with Dementia Re-Engaging Through Art, Music and Dance by Deborah Shouse
I
s there a way to upend the limits of Alzheimer’s disease? Expressive therapies focus on what people can do and their successes. Cultural programs offer creative opportunities for those with dementia and their care partners.
Artful Imagination Prompts Participation
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“Looking at art and making observations gives people living with dementia a chance to exercise their imagination and creativity,” says Susan Shifrin, Ph.D., director of ARTZ Philadelphia, part of the Artists for Alzheimer’s program founded by John Zeisel, Ph.D., and Sean Caulfield. “There are no right or wrong answers. People are enlivened, realizing they still have ideas to contribute.” Prior to a museum visit, an ARTZ facilitator brings photos of familiar works of art that evoke memories, emotions and conversation to a care facility. The facilitator then tailors a museum visit so that the most engaging works of art are viewed. A similarly beneficial at-home ARTZ experience relates to the individual’s background or interests, looking for images that tell a story
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about families or feature animals the loved one likes. “Use open-ended, non-judgmental questions to discuss the art,” Shifrin suggests. “It’s all about listening to the response and encouraging the conversation.”
Musical Connections Trigger Happiness
Dan Cohen, of Brooklyn, New York, had a simple yet profound idea: Furnish people that have memory loss with an iPod loaded with their favorite music. It’s helping people nationwide reconnect with themselves through listening to their personal playlists. He has repeatedly seen how “The music transforms lives.” Cohen notes, “Residents who were formerly idle become engrossed in listening to their favorite music. They are empowered to choose the songs they want to hear. They become engaged as the music triggers memories. I’ve also seen the experience make people more social.” He recommends using headphones to minimize distractions. Sit together, turn on the iPod and watch for smiles of delight.
Dance Movement Integrates Souls “Dance therapy enhances connections in the brain and uses movement to integrate body, mind and spirit,” says Erica Hornthal, owner of Chicago’s North Shore Dance Therapy, a psychotherapy practice that helps individuals cope with the challenges of dementia. Hornthal often notices a real change after people experience movement therapy. Often, when she enters a memory care facility she sees people withdrawn or sleeping. After she guides them in specific movements designed to connect mind and body, participants are usually awake, more alert and making eye contact. “We might reach our arms up, then down, to connect with ourselves. We might give ourselves a hug and then stretch toward our neighbor,” explains Hornthal, a board-certified dance movement therapist. “All the movements have a psychosocial goal.” She suggests that care partners play familiar music and encourage their loved one to move as they wish to. The care partner might move her head or wiggle her fingers to the music, invit-
ing the other to do the same. “Focus on what your loved one can do and celebrate their abilities,” Hornthal advises.
Brushing Watercolor Memories
“Even after memory and cognitive functions are damaged, the ability to create art can continue,” says Karen Clond, a licensed master social worker and dementia care specialist at the Alzheimer’s Association Heart of America chapter, in Prairie Village, Kansas. “The organization’s Memories in the Making art program works because the amygdala, the part of the brain involved with emotions and memory that processes feelings like fear, also processes beauty, appreciation and attachment.” Sally Jenny developed the program in 1988, which now boasts more than 4,000 participant artists a week. Facilitators create a safe and encouraging atmosphere to explore painting with watercolors, which can unlock memories, stimulate thoughts and promote social interaction. The process also produces tangible pieces they’ve created and can revisit. “The artists have complete con-
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trol over their work,” Clond comments. “It’s a failure-free activity.” For at-home painting activities, she suggests inviting guidelines: Provide good-quality supplies; have no expectations; find something good in every effort; ask them to title their piece and affix their artist’s signature; call them an artist and provide artistic respect.
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Telling Personal Stories Improves Well-Being
“Creative storytelling for dementia patients replaces the pressure to remember with the freedom to imagine,” remarks Joan Williamson, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a coordinator and master trainer with TimeSlips. She’s seen it improve communication, self-esteem and social interaction for people with memory loss. Whether exploring art, music, movement or storytelling, expressive therapies can enrich the lives and connections of people with dementia and their care partners. Deborah Shouse is the author of Love in the Land of Dementia. Visit DeborahShouseWrites.wordpress.com.
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communityspotlight LOCAL YOGA INSTRUCTOR BRINGS RELIEF FROM
Parkinson’s Disease by James Occhiogrosso
T
Southern Maine Edition
207-615-3675
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he recent and tragic death of the worldrenowned comedian and actor Robin Williams and the revelation that he was entering the early stages of Parkinson’s disease have brought new attention to the slowly progressing movement disorder. Affecting about one million people in the United States and an estimated four million worldwide, it is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and complications from it are the 14th leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the National Parkinson Foundation. Maine native Elizabeth Burd is the owner of the only company in Maine to offer a yoga program designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease, a position she never came to via an unplanned, circuitous path. When Burd was about 13 years old, she came across one of her mother’s books about yoga. Finding that it interested her, she tried some of the poses and meditation. Since she was already a dancer and had been contorting her body into extreme positions for years, she was naturally very flexible and could easily do all of the poses. As she matured, and after many false starts throughout the years, she became certified as a personal trainer, and her interest in yoga continued, as well. In 2004 she attended the Kripalu
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Institute and became a certified Kripalu yoga instructor. Two years later, while Burd was still working as a personal trainer, a local neurologist started sending Parkinson’s patients to her for general exercise. “It was then that I discovered my life’s passion,” Burd relates. “When I incorporated yoga into the patient exercise sessions, I noticed immediate improvement.” She observed that with guided meditation, some people with tremors and stiff muscles, the main symptoms of the condition, relaxed enough that the tremors decreased in intensity and, in some cases, stopped. She realized that she could make a huge difference in the lives of people affected by Parkinson’s disease. “I gained a clear vision of my purpose and future,” she remarks. In 2006, the MaineHealth Learning Resource Center made Burd an offer to become its official instructor, with a space in the Maine Medical Center. When the hospital cut the program due to budgetary issues, Burd was inspired to take the entrepreneurial leap. In 2014, she officially opened PD Yoga For ME, where she has implemented the yoga program she designed especially for those with Parkinson’s. Today, PD Yoga for ME offers classes, private sessions and workshops for Parkinson’s sufferers and their loved ones, as well as annual presentations at
the Maine Parkinson’s Awareness Day Conference. To reach more people that cannot come to Burd for personal treatment due to physical limitations or distance, she recently created the PD Yoga for ME instructional DVD, which can be purchased from her website, PDWellnessForMe.com or on Amazon.com. For many people, awareness of Parkinson’s disease only comes when it is in the news. Some of those stories, such as the case of Michael J. Fox, who authored Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist, can be inspiring. Others, like that of Robin Williams, unveil that depression is one of the primary non-motor symptoms. Yet, Burd notes, “A great deal of scientific research finds that exercise, and yoga in particular, can ward off depression.” She cites a Harvard Mental Health Letter published in 2009 that summarizes the results of several studies indicating that practicing yoga significantly reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Even more powerful is the review of scientific studies on Parkinson’s disease and yoga written by University of Victoria, British Columbia, researchers and published by Dove Medical Press in January. Yoga was associated with modest improvements in functional mobility, balance and lower-limb strength in persons with Parkinson’s disease specifically; it also improved mood and sleep. “Yoga is one of the many things a Parkinson’s sufferer can do to help themselves,” Burd affirms.
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PD Yoga for ME one-on-one sessions are held at Natural Fitness, 390 Presumpscott St., in Portland. For more information, including complete schedule of classes and private session availability, call 207-653-3319, email Burd@PDWellnessForMe.com or visit PDWellnessForMe.com.
Graze Dinners: Days of Wine & Roses – 4pm. Farm-to-table dinner including farm tour, beverages and live entertainment. $80/pp, other group/ season rates apply. Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Dr, New Gloucester. The Black Tie Company, 207-761-6665. PinelandFarms.org.
James Occhiogrosso is a staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazine, a natural health practitioner and the author of several books. Connect with him at HealthNaturallyToday.com.
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.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Boothbay Harbor Fest – Sept 1-7. Times vary. Enjoy a variety of events with races, art, treasure hunt, tournaments, food and other activities. Free - $50. Various locations throughout Downtown Boothbay Harbor. BoothbayHarborFest.com.
60th Annual Clinton Lions Fair – Sept 4-6. Times vary. Enjoy food, animals, vendors, entertainment, rides, a parade and fireworks. $5. Clinton Fairgrounds, 1450 Bangor Rd, Clinton. Info: ClintonLionsFair.com.
Windsor Fair – Thru Sept 1. Times vary. Enjoy animal demonstrations, races, rides, food, live entertainment. $7-$9. Windsor Fairgrounds, 82 Ridge Rd, Windsor. WindsorFair.com. Trash-to-Treasure Fall Yard Sale – 8am-2pm. Turn someone else’s trash into your treasure with bargain home furnishings all while reducing waste. Free. Gorham Campus, University of Southern Maine, Gorham. 207-780-4658. USM.Maine.edu.
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Free Intro Yoga Class – 5:30-7pm. Enjoy a free yoga class. Free. The Yoga Center, 449 Forest Ave Plaza, Portland. 774-YOGA (9642). MaineYoga.com.
markyourcalendar THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
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.
Yoga Classes – 8:30-10am. Reduce pain, improve flexibility, 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.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Litchfield Fair – Sept 5-7. Times vary. Enjoy an agricultural fair with food, animals, entertainment, carnival, activities and vendors. $6/adults, $2/ages 12-17, free/under 12. Litchfield Fairgrounds, 44 Plains Rd, Litchfield. 207-268-4981. LitchfieldFair.com.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
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Free Intro Yoga Class – 9:30-11am. Enjoy a free yoga class. Free. The Yoga Center, 449 Forest Ave Plaza, Portland. 774-YOGA (9642). MaineYoga.com.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Take the Sugar Challenge – 7pm. This seminar will highlight the reasons and guidelines to eliminating sugar from your diet. Learn about this 3-step process to see how much better you will feel after letting go of refined carbohydrates and sugars. Free. A Lebro Center for Well Being, 135 Rogers Rd, Kittery. 800-610-1199. ALebroCenter.com.
Greek Festival – Sept 4-6. 4:30-9pm, Thur; 11am10pm, Fri & Sat. Enjoy Greek foods, pastries, song and dance, bazaar, book store, Church tours and games for kids. Free. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 155 Hogan Rd, Lewiston. 207-783-6795. HolyTrinity.Me.GoArch.org.
Full Moon Dinner-Harvest Moon – 6pm. This event includes a scenic round-trip lift up the mountain for dinner and live entertainment. $39/adults, $14/kids. Sunday River’s Mid-Mountain Peak Lodge, 15 S Ridge Rd, Newry. Reservation required: 800-543-2754. SundayRiver.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Sunset Wine Sail in Casco Bay: Wines of Bordeaux, France – 5:30-7:30pm. Ages 21+. Sail through Maine’s beautiful Casco Bay among lighthouses, waterways, and islands all while indulging in a wine class. $65/advance; $70/day of. Maine State Pier, 56 Commercial St, Portland. 207-6194630. WineWiseEvents.com. Bailey Yoga Night – 6pm. All ages. Yoga Night with Suzanne Imbruno Cobb. Free. 39 Bowdoin St, Winthrop. 207-377-8673. BaileyLibrary.org
Lobsterman Triathlon & Aquathon – 8:45am. Ranked as one of the top races in America, this race travels through the coast of Freeport and offers a lobsterbake upon completion. Registration required. $105-$135. Winslow Park, Staples Point Rd, Freeport. LobsterManTri.com. Free Intro Yoga Class – 9:30-11am. Try the Feldenkrais Method as it brings awareness through movement and re-educating our bodies from old habits. Free. The Yoga Center, 449 Forest Ave Plaza, Portland. Info: 774-YOGA (9642). MaineYoga.com. Wagon Ride to the Past History Tours – 10am12pm. Enjoy a 2-hr scenic tour and hear stories of the Native Americans, fishermen, and farmers who lived on the farm for the past 250 years. $14/adults and kids 13+, $8/kids 3-12. Wolfe’s Neck Farm Red Barn, 184 Burnett Rd, Freeport. Reserve tickets: 207- 869-5433. WolfesNeckFarm.org.
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13th Annual Fall Festival of Arts & Crafts – 10am-4pm. Over 100 Maine artisans exhibiting their handcrafted products while you enjoy lunch. $2/ adult, free/under 12. Smiling Hill Farm, 781 County Rd, Westbrook. UnitedMaineCraftsMen.com. 26th Annual Summer Solstice Craft Show – Sept 6-7. 10am-4pm. Features crafts like stained glass, jewelry, pottery, soaps, candles, wood crafts, fiber arts, graphics and photography. Free. Wells Elementary School, 276 Sanford Rd, Wells. SummerSolsticeCraftShow.com. 27th Annual Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival – Sept 6-7. 10am-4pm. Browse crafts from over 100 artisans while enjoying music, food and fun. $7-$10. Wells Reserve, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org.
markyourcalendar SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Lavish Earth – 10am-5pm. Lavish Earth specializes in high-quality, high-vibration crystals, minerals and fossils from all over the world with a large variety of crystals for holistic practitioners and collectors. $5/admission. The Enlightenment Expo at The Fireside Inn and Suites, 81 Riverside St, Portland. TheMagickCloset.com. 15th Annual Bikefest – 12pm. Enjoy a line of motorcycles, live music, a giant pig roast, lobsters and prizes. Free. Old Orchard Beach Pier, 2 Old Orchard St, Old Orchard Beach. 207-934-3595. OobPier.com.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Festival at the Falls – 12-4pm. Celebrate cultural diversity with a mixture of authentic foods, live traditional music, family oriented activities and events. Free. Head of Falls, Front St, Waterville. 207-680-4200. Waterville-Me.gov.
Good Night, Nature– 6-7pm. Gentle moonlit hour based around a bedtime story about animals of the night. Come in pajamas, but be prepared to venture outdoors. Bring a snack. Registration encouraged. $10/members, $15/nonmembers. Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd, Falmouth. 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.
Full Moon Canoe Tour – 6:30-8pm. Experience the sights and sounds of the marsh under the full moon. Arrive by 6pm. Registration required. $12/members, $14/nonmembers. Scarborough Marsh. Info/reservations: 207-883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.
Full Moon Canoe Tour – 6:30-8pm. See Sept 7 listing. Scarborough Marsh. Info/reservations: 207883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Full Moon Canoe Tour – 6:30-8pm. See Sept 7 listing. Scarborough Marsh. Info/reservations: 207883-5100. MaineAudubon.org.
markyourcalendar MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Yoga Classes – 8:30-10am. See Sept 1 listing. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. 207-829-2700.TurningLight.org.
markyourcalendar MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Holistic Nurse Advocate & Energy Healing – 12-4pm. Jane Jacobson’s passion is to support you in your search for health and happiness. Her intuition, education and experience includes spirituality, nutrition, mental health, relationships and grieving. $40/30-min session; $70/1hr session. Leapin Lizards, 449 Forest Ave, Portland. 207-761-7953 or 207-221-2363. LeapinLizards.biz or JJacobs1@Maine.rr.com.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Full Moon Ghost Tour – 8-9pm. Wicked Walking Tours uses local actors and comedians to bring comedy to ghost stories featuring pirates, witches and “Indians”. $17/adults, $14/seniors, $12/kids. Bell Buoy Park, 72 Commercial St, Portland. 207730-0490. WickedWalkingTours.com.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Oxford County Fair – Sept 10-13. Times vary. Enjoy food, petting zoo, rides, contests, races, prizes, entertainment and more. Admission/parking varies. Oxford Fairground, 68 Pottle Rd, Oxford. 207- 7392204. OxfordCountyFair.com.
markyourcalendar WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Early Bird Registration Deadline – Enroll by today for our Homeopathic First Aid & Acute Care Certificate Course! Take advantage of our Early Bird registration and the $25 registration fee will be waived. Baylight Center for Homeopathy, 222 Saint John St, Suite 137, Portland. 207-774-4244. BayLightHomeopathy.com.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
markyourcalendar THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Introduction to Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine – 6-7:30pm. Enjoy an interesting, informative evening exploring the world of Chinese medicine, with time for questions and answers. Kath Bartlett will explain how Chinese medicine views disease processes in the body, and TCM’s unique approach to treatment, called pattern diagnosis. $10. Westbrook Community Center, 426 Bridge St, Westbrook. 207-854-0676 or 207 2190848. WestbrookCommunityCenter.org or email: Kath@BartlettAcupuncture.com.
markyourcalendar THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Yoga Classes – 6:30-8pm. See Sept 4 Listing. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
21st Annual Car Show – Sept 12-13. Times vary. Enjoy a car show, entertainment, food and parade. $2.00/adults, free/under 12. Main St, Old Orchard Beach. 207-934-2500. OobPier.com.
Farmington Fair – Sept 14-20. Times vary. Enjoy food, animals, exhibits, vendors, demonstrations, entertainment and more. $6/adults, $2/ages 8-11, free/under 7. Farmington Fairgrounds, 292 High St, Farmington. 207-778-6083. FarmingtonFairMaine.com.
Graze Dinners: Raise Your Spirits – 4pm. Farm-to-table dinner including farm tour, beverages and live entertainment. $80/pp, other group/season rates apply. Pineland Farms, 15 Farm View Dr, New Gloucester. The Black Tie Company, 207-761-6665. PinelandFarms.org.
New Portland Lions Agricultural Fair & The Maine Crafts Festival – Sept 12-14. Times vary. Enjoy food, a petting zoo, live entertainment, craft fair, demolition derby, vendors, fireworks and more. $5/pp, $15/family. North New Portland Fairgrounds, 280 School St, New Portland. NewPortlandLionsFair.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Maine Open Lighthouse Day – 9am-3pm. This popular event offers the general public the rare opportunity to climb and learn about over two dozen historic lighthouses. Admission varies. Various locations throughout Maine. LightHouseFoundation.org. Beach Raid – 10am. Participate with hundreds of racers to take on the 5K obstacle course set right on the beach. Registration required. $60-$125. Old Orchard Beach, Old Orchard Beach. RaidEvents.com.
markyourcalendar SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Lavish Earth – 10am-4pm. Lavish Earth specializes in high-quality, high-vibration crystals, minerals and fossils from all over the world with a large variety of crystals for holistic practitioners and collectors. $5/admission. The Mind Body Spirit Festival at U. Maine Student Center, 111 South St, Farmington. MindBodySpiritFestival.org.
JDRF’s Maine Walk to Cure Diabetes – 10am1pm. Join this 5K walk and raise money for juvenile diabetes. See website for details. Thornton Academy, 438 Main St, Saco. Info/register: Walk.JDRF.org. Painting with TC – 5-7:30pm. Painting with TC is a fun creative painting experience. No painting experience needed and everyone is welcome. All supplies are included (food and beverages extra). $35.00/pp. Dahlias Delights, 137 Main St, Biddeford. PaintingWithTC.com.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
markyourcalendar MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Yoga Classes – 8:30-10am. See Sept 1 listing. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Divine Feminine Transformational Workshop – 10:30am-1:30pm. Guided by Kara Seymour, this workshop is for all you women who are ready to step into your full power. Come ready to transform your life and connect to other incredible women in your community. $33. Bhakti In Motion, 155 Brackett St, Portland. 207-632-4789. BhaktiInMotion.com.
Shimmy Through Lunchtime – 12-12:50pm. Learn basic belly dance movements to upbeat music and shake the mid-week stress. $10/drop in, $40/five class card. Bright Star World Dance, 108 High St, Fl 3, Portland. 207-370-5830. RosaNoreen.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 Sex of Self Workshop – 11am-5pm. Spend a day to talk openly about our sexual views, experience intimacy building, and reevaluate our sexuality as women. $90. Portland Yoga Studio, 616 Congress St, Portland. 207-200-4680. SexOfSelf.com. 5th Annual Chili Fest – 12-4pm. Cast your vote for the best chili in the State. Free. Old Orchard Beach Pier, 2 Old Orchard St, Old Orchard Beach. 207-934-3595. OobPier.com. Drumbalaya Drum Circle – 3-5pm. Enjoy an evening of drumming. The Hive, 84 Main St, Kennebunk. 207-985-0006. TheHiveKennebunk.com.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Yoga Classes – 6:30-8pm. See Sept 4 Listing. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Common Ground Community Fair – Sept 19-21. 9am. Eat organic home-grown Maine food, buy hand-made Maine crafts and agricultural products while enjoying fun activities and live music. $10/ advance, $15/daily, free/under 13. Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, 294 Crosby Brook Rd, Unity. MOFGA.org. ASNNE Starfest Star Party – Sept 19-21. 4pm10am. Stay for a few hours or camp out while enjoying the sky, food, raffles, discussions and star gazing. Contact for details. Starfield Observatory, 918 Alewive Rd, Kennebunk. NightSky.JPL.Nasa.gov.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Local Author Workshop – 6pm. The staff of the Gardiner Public Library is pleased to host New England writer, Chip Bishop, author of Quentin & Flora. Free. Gardiner Public Library, 152 Water St, Gardiner. 207-582-3312. Gpl.Lib.Me.us.
Portland Greenfest – 10am-4pm. Enjoy this ecoevent featuring music, art, eco-fashion, local food, kids’ activities, exhibits, workshops, films and demonstrations. Free. Monument Square, Portland. PortlandGreenFest.org.
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Kids Yoga – 10:30-11:30am. An interactive Yoga session incorporating music, stories and nature poses with Suzanne Imbruno Cobb. Free. 39 Bowdoin St, Winthrop. 207-377-8673. BaileyLibrary.org.
markyourcalendar WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 Annual Open House: A Lebro Center – 5-8pm. Come check out our new and improved line-up of practitioners and staff while we host an evening of demonstrations, raffles, free giveaways and promotional deals. Food and drinks provided. Free. A Lebro Center for Well Being, 135 Rogers Rd, Kittery. 800-610-1199. ALebroCenter.com. Year-Round Gardening – 6-8:30pm. This two week class teaches how to garden all year round. $9. Room 123, Gardiner High School, 40 West Hill Rd, Gardiner. 207-582-3774.
markyourcalendar SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Saturday Series: Releasing Tired, Sore Shoulders & Necks – 8:30-10:30am. Come learn how you can, both, make the tension worse, and how you can release it, feeling the resulting ease communicated through your whole being. $20. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org. Harvest Fest and Chowdah Cookoff – 9am-4pm. Enjoy arts, crafts, music, farmers’ market, scarecrow contest and a cookoff. Free. Bethel Common, Main St, Bethel. BethelHarvestFest.com.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
markyourcalendar SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Lavish Earth – 11am-5pm. Lavish Earth specializes in high-quality, high- vibration crystals, minerals and fossils from all over the world with a large variety of crystals for holistic practitioners and collectors. Leapin Lizards, 123 Main St, Freeport. 207-865-0900. LeapinLizards.biz. Dash for Dogs 5K – 9am. Join us for the Annual Dash for Dogs 5K & Strutt your Mutt Dog Walk. Bring your 4-legged partner and run for a great cause. $25-$30. Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, 55 Strawberry Ave, Lewiston. RunSignUp.com.
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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Acadia Night Sky Festival – Sept 25-29. Times vary. Enjoy the night sky with music, art, poetry, lectures, science and more. Prices vary. Locations vary throughout the Bar Harbor area and Acadia National Park. AcadiaNightSkyFestival.com. 143rd Annual Cumberland County Fair – Sept 21-27. 9am-9pm. Enjoy food, crafts, pumpkin contest, races, demolition derby, exhibits, classic car show, rodeo events, live entertainment, fireworks and much more. $9/adults, free/under 13. Cumberland Fairgrounds, 197 Blanchard Rd, Cumberland. 207-829-5531. CumberlandFair.com.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
markyourcalendar MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Yoga Classes – 8:30-10am. See Sept 1 listing. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org.
markyourcalendar MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Holistic Nurse Advocate & Energy Healing – 12-4pm. See Sept 8 listing. Leapin Lizards, 449 Forest Ave, Portland. 207-7617953 or 207-221-2363. LeapinLizards.biz or JJacobs1@Maine.rr.com.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 The Portland Water District in Pictures, 19082008 – 12pm. Speakers, Paul Thomas Hunt and Barbara Brewer, will discuss the history behind Portland’s water district. Free/members, $5/ nonmembers. The Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St, Portland. MaineHistory.org.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Casco Bay at Risk – 5-8pm. A panel of experts will discuss changes to the Bay, including coastal acidification, a population explosion of green crabs, and the sudden disappearance of eelgrass beds, an essential habitat for marine life. $10. Abromson Center, University of Southern Maine, 88 Bedford St, Portland. CascoBay.org.
Take Note
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Yoga Classes – 6:30-8pm. See Sept 4 listing. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org.
Lincolnville Neighborhood Pot-luck/Bean Supper – 6-8pm. Join us for this monthly community picnic. Just bring a covered dish, salad or dessert and we’ll provide the meat, beans, mac n cheese, beverages and table service. Free. Bay Leaf Cottages, 2372 Atlantic Hwy, Lincolnville. 207-505-0458. BayLeafCottages.com.
O2X Summit Challenge – Sept 26-27. Times vary. Compete in obstacles that span through the alpine terrain at the Sunday River ski resort. Enjoy camping on Friday night and a festival on Saturday with live music, food vendors, beer, activities and more. $80$300. Sunday River’s Mid-Mountain Peak Lodge, 15 S Ridge Rd, Newry. O2X.com.
Portland Symphony: Organ and Choral Spectacular – 7:30pm. Enjoy the opening concert of the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s 90th Anniversary Season, featuring the Kotzschmar Organ, Choral Art Society and the PSO. $31-$81. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St, Portland. 207-842-0800. PortlandSymphony.org.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Punkinfiddle Family Festival – 10am-4pm. This festival features traditional crafts, hands-on learning, lively music, old-fashioned games, fun food, farm animals and more. $5/members, $7/nonmembers, free/under 16. Wells Reserve, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd, Wells. 207-646-1555. WellsReserve.org. Healing with Yoga & Therapeutic Essential Oils – 10:30am-12:30pm. Join us for this two hour workshop that combines the two ancient healing modalities of yoga and therapeutic essential oils. $22. Bhakti In Motion, 155 Brackett St, Portland. 207-632-4789. BhaktiInMotion.com. Maine Lakes Brew Fest – 11am-4pm. Enjoy this beer tasting extravaganza with gourmet food, live entertainment, an artisan craft show and more. $25/ advance, $30/door, $5/nondrinking ticket. Beach at Point Sebago Resort, 261 Point Sebago Rd, Casco. MaineLakesBrewFest.com. Reiki 1 – 5-8:30pm. Receive an attunement to empower yourself as a conduit for channeling life-force energy and learn how to give Reiki to yourself and others. $150. Bhakti In Motion, 155 Brackett St, Portland. 207-807-8987, 207-632-4789. BhaktiInMotion.com. 18th Annual Harvest Dance – 6-11pm. Ages 21+. The historic Mallet Barn provides a unique venue for an evening of local food, music, brews and fun. $15/ advance, $20/door. Wolfe’s Neck Farm, 184 Burnett Rd, Freeport. 207-865-4469. WolfesNeckFarm.org.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Fryeburg Fair – Sept 28-Oct 5. Times vary. Enjoy food, animals, contests, competitions, exhibits, vendors, a parade, rides and more. $10/admission, free/under 12. Fryeburg Fairgrounds, 1154 Main St, Fryeburg. FryeburgFair.org.
Southern Maine
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 Yoga Classes – 8:30-10am. See Sept 1 listing. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, North Yarmouth. Info/registration: 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
THERAPEUTIC YOGA FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CANCER
TURNING LIGHT CENTER 168 W Pownal Rd, N Yarmouth 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
CALM STEADY STRONG
Group classes coming in the late September, early October.
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Pemaquid Oyster Festival – 12pm. This festival will feature a great line-up of entertainment, food, educational exhibits and thousands of oysters fresh from the Damariscotta River. Free. Schooner Landing Restaurant & Marina, 40 Main St, Damariscotta. PemaquidOysterFestival.com.
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plan ahead THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2 Business After 5/First Anniversary Party for Bartlett Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine – Oct 2. 5-7pm.The Scarborough & Cape Elizabeth Community Chambers host an evening of fun. Networking, great food and door prizes, including acupuncture treatments, NAET sessions, massages and other gifts from local businesses. Registration preferred. Free/members and guests of Bartlett Acupuncture, $15/nonmembers. Bartlett Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, Focal Point Physical Therapy, Pinetterra, 7 Oak Hill Ter, Scarborough. 207-772-2811. PortlandrRegion.com.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 Homeopathic First Aid & Acute Care Certificate Course – 9am-5pm. Register now to secure your spot in our popular certification course. Due to small class sizes, courses fill up quickly. Take advantage of our Early Bird registration ending on September 10 and the course fee will be waived. $25. Baylight Center for Homeopathy, 222 Saint John St, Suite 137, Portland. 207-774-4244. BayLightHomeopathy.com.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 Acupressure for Pain Relief – Oct 21. 6:30-8pm. Learn acupressure to treat yourself for pain with the Chinese meridian (channel) system used for acupuncture. Kath Bartlett will teach how to use her effective technique for pain relief with a vibrating acupressure point stimulator, and demonstrate protocols for pain complaints, such as back, knee, neck and shoulder pain, headache and carpel tunnel. $30. Conference room at Westbrook Community Center, 426 Bridge St, Westbrook. 207-854-0676. WestBrookCommunityCenter.org.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31 Homeopathic First Aid & Acute Care Certificate Course – 9am-5pm. See October 18 listing. Baylight Center for Homeopathy, 222 Saint John St, Suite 137, Portland. 207-774-4244. BayLightHomeopathy.com.
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. 207-829-2700. TurningLight.org. Exhibit: Eye Sweet and Fair: Naval Architecture, Lofting and Modeling – Explore the evolution of naval architecture, techniques & technology that maintain a ship. Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St, Bath. 207- 443-1316. MaineMaritimeMuseum.org. Ideals of Beauty: The Nude – This show explores the theme of the male & female nude in American art with paintings, sculptors & printmaking. Library Gallery at the Farnsworth Museum, 16 Museum Street, Rockland. 207-596-6457. FarnsworthMuseum.org. Maine Northern Skies: Clear Light Art Exhibition – All ages. Local artists feature their interpretations of Maine’s skies. L.C. Bates Museum, U.S. Rte 201, Hinckley. 207-238-4250. GWH.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. Mindful and personalized approach to reducing pain, improving flexibility, enhancing strength & stability. Call to schedule individual appointments. Turning Light Center. 168 W Pownal Rd, N Yarmouth. 207-8292700. TurningLight.org. Yoga Classes – Times vary. We offer a wide variety of yoga classes, including: Vinyasa, Lunchbreak Slow Flow, Community Hatha, Gentle Hatha, and Yin Yoga. Contact for details. Bhakti In Motion, 155 Brackett St, Portland. 207-632-4789. BhaktiInMotion.com. Beach Plum Farm – Open dawn to dusk. Features the Roby Littlefield Museum and the farmhouse and barn of a traditional saltwater farm with 22 acres stretching down to the Ogunquit River. Free. Rte 1, Ogunquit. 207-646-3604. Franciscan Monastery – Open dawn to dusk. Enjoy the gardens, trails and park along the Kennebunk River. Free. 28 Beach Ave, Kennebunk Beach. 207-967-2011. Ever After Mustang Rescue – 9am. Ages 15+. Volunteer for the adopt-a-horse program. Call for details. 463 West St, Biddeford. 207-284-7721. Historical Walking Tours of Portland – 1:30pm. The tour highlights famous city residents, architecture, historic landmarks and the Great Fire of 1866. Tour size limited; first-come, first-serve basis. $10.
The Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St, Portland. 207-774-1822. MaineHistory.org. 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.
tuesday Tuesday Tipple Tour – 11:30am-3:30pm. Visit a distillery, a brewery and a winery while learning all about the vibrant craft scene in the area. $45. Various locations on Commercial St, Portland. 207-200-9111.
wednesday
sunday Sundays on the Boulevard – 9am-4pm. You can ride bikes, run, picnic, and otherwise enjoy the car-free landscape. Free. Baxter Blvd, Portland. 207-874-8801. BoulevardSundays.com. 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. Spirits Alive Tours at Eastern Cemetery – 1:30pm. Learn about the history of Portland and how its first residents are now cemetery residents. Arrive 15 min prior. $10/adults, $5/seniors and students; free/under 13. Eastern Cemetery, 224 Congress St, Portland. SpiritsAlive.org. The Little Star That Could – 3-4pm. Enjoy a full dome show about a little yellow star that travels through the galaxy while learning about the many types of stars. $5.50/adults, $5/kids. Southworth Planetarium, 70 Falmouth St, Portland. 207-7804249. USM.Maine.edu. 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 Saco Bay Artists – Alternating times, 12 or 7pm. 2nd Mon. Invites local artists to their meetings and workshops. The Pines, 10-20 Manor St, Ocean Park. Info: 207-937-2125, 207-502-2574. SacoBayArtists.org. Beginning Belly Dance – Begins Sept 15. 6-7:15pm. Learn the fundamentals of belly dance. Just bring yourself and your sense of fun. No dance experience needed to enjoy this class. Contact for details. Bright Star World Dance, 108 High St, Portland. 207-4099540. RosaNoreen.com. Women and Horses Workshop – 6-7:30pm. A hands-on learning experience with horses. $10. Ever After Mustang Rescue, 463 West St, Biddeford. Info/register: 207-284-7722. MustangRescue.org.
Painting Sessions – Painting Sessions – 9:30am2pm. Enjoy community painting while having fun. All levels of painters are welcome including beginners. Contact for details. REED School on Homestead Ave, Portland. PaintingForAPurpose.net. Spirits Alive Tours at Eastern Cemetery – 1:30pm. Learn about the history of Portland and how its first residents are now cemetery residents. Arrive 15 min prior. $10/adults, $5/seniors and students, free/under 13. Eastern Cemetery, 224 Congress St, Portland. SpiritsAlive.org. Maine Coast Cycling Club – 5:30pm. Offers weekly evening rides consisting of about 30 miles. Departs from the Nasson Community Center, 457 Main St, Springvale. 207-432-3674. MaineCoastCycling.com. Food and Body Balance Support Group – 6-7pm. Support group for people that want to improve their food and body balance. Free. The Dana Center at Maine Med, 22 Bramhall St, Portland. 207-3329003. Beginning Belly Dance – Begins Sept 17. 6-7:15pm. Learn the fundamentals of belly dance. Just bring yourself and your sense of fun. No dance experience needed to enjoy this class. Contact for details. Bright Star World Dance, 108 High St, Portland. 207-4099540. RosaNoreen.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. Community Gathering Night – 7-9pm. Bring a project to work on or be part of the gathering. Free. Studio B, The Hive, 84 Main St, Kennebunk. TheHiveKennebunk.com. Intermediate Belly Dance – Begins Sept 17. 7:308:45pm. Dancers who have mastered the basics of belly dance are welcome to take this special summer workshop series. Contact for details. Bright Star World Dance, 108 High St, Portland. 207-409-9540. RosaNoreen.com.
thursday Give Back Thursdays – All day. Every Thursday 10% of sales will be donated among 4 local charities. Bibo’s Madd Apple Café, 23 Forest Ave, Portland. 207-774-9698. BibosPortland.com.
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Book Group – 9:45am. 2nd Thurs. Graves Memorial Public Library, 18 Maine St, Kennebunkport. 207-967-2778. Women and Horses Workshop – 10:30am-12pm. A hands-on learning experience with horses. $10. Ever After Mustang Rescue, 463 West St, Biddeford. Info/register: 207-284-7721. MustangRescue.org. 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. Oyster Thursday – Enjoy $1.55 oysters and a bartender’s choice drink special in our bar/lounge. Five Fifty-Five/Point 5 Lounge, 555 Congress St, Portland. 207-761-0555.
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.
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 31.
friday 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. Biddeford + Saco Art Walk – 5-8pm. Last Fri. Various venues downtown and in the mills of Biddeford and Saco open their doors for the art walk. Free. Info: BiddefordArtWalk.com. Brunswick ArtWalk – 5-8pm. 2nd Fri. Various locations throughout Downtown Brunswick open their doors for the art walk. Shuttles provided. Free. 207-798-6964. 5RAA.org. First Friday Art Walk – 5-8pm. 1st Fri, Various galleries and art venues open for the art walk. Free. LiveWorkPortland.org. Astronomy Classes – 7:30pm, beginner classes at 6:45pm. 1st Fri. Free. Astronomical Society of Northern New England (ASNNE), at the New School, 38 York St, Kennebunk. ASNNE.org.
saturday Wine Tasting – 1-5pm. 1st & 3rd Sat. Customers can sample and learn about various wines and what to purchase. Browne Trading Market, 262 Commercial St, Portland. 207-775-7560. Spirits Alive Tours at Eastern Cemetery – 1:30pm. Learn about the history of Portland and how its first residents are now cemetery residents. Arrive 15 min prior. $10/adults, $5/seniors and students; free/under 13. Eastern Cemetery, 224 Congress St, Portland. SpiritsAlive.org.
LAVISH EARTH
ACUPUNCTURE BY MERET
90’s Night with Hello Newman – 9:30pm-1am. Enjoy this cover band that performs songs from the 1990s. Free. Bull Feeney’s Public House, 375 Fore St, Portland. 207-773-7210.
Children’s Programs: Story Time – 10am-1:30pm. Ages 5+. Kids enjoy stories, finger plays, songs and crafts. Free. Graves Memorial Public Library, 18 Maine St, Kennebunkport. 207-967-2778.
CRYSTALS
ACUPUNCTURE
BARTLETT ACUPUNCTURE & HERBAL MEDICINE
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, page 5.
Kath Bartlett, MS, LAc 7 Oak Hill Terr, Ste 3 Scarborough, ME 04074 207-219-0848 Kath@BartlettAcupuncture.com 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. See ad, page 17.
CHIROPRACTIC DOIRON CHIROPRACTIC & SPORTS REHABILITAION LLC Dr David Doiron 7 Hutchins St, Saco, ME • 207-282-5233 DoironChiropractic@gmail.com DoironChiropractic.com
Dr Dave, of Doiron Chiropractic & Sports Rehabilitation LLC, takes a full-body approach towards treatment utilizing the gold standard in soft tissue treatment A.R.T®. If your goal is to restore function, improve health and increase performance, call or email for an appointment.
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.
Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom. ~Hannah Arendt
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Southern Maine
MaineAwakenings.com
HOLISTIC HEALING
ORGANIC BEDDING
YOGA
ARCANA (IN THE OLD PORT)
THE CLEAN BEDROOM
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.
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, back cover. .
Kate Hebold, Owner 81 Market St, Portland, ME 207-773-7801 ArcanaHealingArts@gmail.com ArcanaMaine.com
BHAKTI IN MOTION Stephanie Harmon 155 Brackett St, 3rd Flr • 207-233-0966 BhaktiInMotion@gmail.com BhaktiInMotion.com
5 Shapleigh Rd, Kittery, ME • 207-704-0743 Two Portland Square, Fore St Portland, ME • 207-517-3500 TheCleanBedroom.com
ORGANIC SALON HOLISTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY 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. See ad, page 7.
OCEAN WAVES SALON
Betsy Harding 37 Ocean St, S Portland, ME 207-799-8686 In addition to our Organic Hair Color, we provide the most popular and demanding Nova Lash, eyelash extensions, the new and upcoming fashion. The product line carried is organic and cruelty-free. Bring home and maintain the color and the integrity of your hair. Special occasions of weddings and proms are at your service.
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 18.
Bhakti in Motion offers a wide variety of yoga classes, dance classes and retreats, workshops and events. This studio will support you on your healing path towards a healthy body, calm and clear mind and fulfilling life! Are you ready to set your devotion into motion?
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.
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. FOR RENT 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.
NUTRITION A LEBRO CENTER FOR WELL BEING Dr Richard Lebro 135 Rogers Rd, Kittery, ME 03904 800-610-1199 DrLebro@gwi.net www.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 11.
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WHY AN ORGANIC MATTRESS IS RIGHT FOR YOU
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 fl ame retardants, and water or stain resistant chemicals. When we found out what was in our mattress, my husband said, ‘Every mother in the world should know what they are putting their child on at night.’ That was 2004, and the Clean Bedroom was born. —Chris Chamberlin, Co-founder FIND A HUGE SELECTION OF THE BEST ORGANIC MATTRESSES IN THE WORLD
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WHY YOU SHOULD PURCHASE YOUR ORGANIC MATTRESS FROM THE CLEAN BEDROOM We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. We research every brand we carry, testing the mattresses and bedding to be sure they meet our rigorous standards for purity and construction. Our extensive product knowledge helps you select the mattress and bedding that is right for you. Our prices are fair. We listen. We recommend. You decide.
TheCleanBedroom TM
the World, all in one place
477 Fore Street | Portland, ME 04101 | 207.517.3500 | www.thecleanbedroom.com