Natural Awakenings Magazine Wayne County, MI

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MOM healthy brunch recipes

GARDENING with your children

natural childbirth

interview with Ina May Gaskin

building

HEALTHIER

bones MAY 2009

Wayne County Edition HealthyLivingDetroit.com

special

women’s

HEALTH ISSUE

Belleville Farmers’ Market

At the end of Main Street, in Victory Park, Belleville Contact: Bob Kennedy, 734-699-2034 May 1, Saturday 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

Canton Farmers’ Market

500 North Ridge Road, Canton Contact: Kristina Natoli, 734-394-5460 April 27-October 26, Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Detroit Eastern Market

2934 Russell Street, between Mark and Gratiot, Detroit Contact: Randall Fogelman, 313-833-9300 Year-round public market: Saturday 6 a.m.-5 p.m.

DetroitEasternMarket.com Project FRESH and Food Stamps accepted

Detroit – East Warren Avenue Farmers’ Market Center of East English Village, East Warren Avenue, Detroit Contact: Ryan Hertz, 313-571-2800 ext. 1136 July 12-October 25, Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Farmers’ Market of Dearborn

South of Michigan Avenue, between Tenny and Howard streets, Dearborn Contact: Joan Reed, 313-278-8759 June-August, Thursday 5-8:30 p.m.

Garden City Farmers’ Market

Lot south of Kroger, northeast corner of Ford and Middlebelt, Garden City Contact: Amelia Oliverio, 734-422-4448 May-October, Wednesday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

DownTownGardenCity.org

Wayne County

Grosse Pointe – West Park Farmers’ Market

Northwest Detroit Farmers’ Market

Highland Park Farmers’ Market

Plymouth Farmers’ Market

Lincoln Park – Fort Visger Collaborative Farmers’ Market

Wayne Farmers’ Market

On Kercheval, between Lakepointe and Beaconsfield, Grosse Pointe Contact: Jennifer Meldrum, 313-822-2812 ext. 200 May 26-September 27, Tuesday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

GrossePointePark.org

Woodward Avenue, Highland Park Contact: Teresa Cummings, 313-422-8730 July-September, Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Project FRESH accepted

1355 Southfield Road, municipal parking lot across from City Hall, Lincoln Park Contact: Leslie Lynch-Wilson, 313-598-3137 May 4-October 26, Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Holiday market: November 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Livonia – Wilson Barn Farmers’ Market 29350 W. Chicago at Middlebelt, Livonia Contact: Karen DePerro, 734-261-3602 June 21-October 11, Saturday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Northville Farmers’ Market Northville Downs Race Track, corner of W. Seven Mile and Sheldon Road, Northville Contact: Sher Watkins, 248-349-7640 May 1-October 30, Thursday 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Northville.org Project FRESH accepted

15000 Southfield, Bushnell Congregational Church parking lot, Detroit Contact: Pam Weinstein, 313-387-4732 ext. 103 July-October, Thursday 4-8 p.m.

Grdc.org Project FRESH accepted In “The Gathering,” on Penniman Avenue, just east of Main Street, Plymouth Contact: Mary Heim, 734-475-2585 May-October, aturday 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

PlymouthMich.org

35310 Michigan Avenue W., next to theatre Contact: Matt Miller, 734-722-2000 May 20-October 28, Wednesday 3-7 p.m.

Ci.Wayne.mi.us/farmers_market.shtml

Wayne State (SEED Wayne) Farmers’ Market Cass Avenue, in front of Prentiss Hall Contact: Kami Pothukuchi, 313-577-4296 June 3-October 30, Wednesday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Clas.Wayne.edu/seedwayne

Wyandotte Farmers’ Market

Corner of First and Elm streets Contact: 734-324-4500, sponsored by Wyandotte Business Association Third Friday during the summer and fall Wyandotte.net

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

HealthyLivingDetroit.com

inside this issue

departments

newsbriefs 5

pg. 8

pg. 10

healthykids 10

globalbriefs 14

pg. 16

classifieds 30 resourceguide 31

8

Good Morning Mommm

16

No Periods

18

Boning Up

20

Exercising Hope

22

Mother Blessings

24

Whip up breakfast in bed for Mom

by Kimberly Lord Stewart Pros and Cons of Menstrual Suppression

by Lisa Marshall

fitbody 20

calendars 26-29

Growing a Healthy Relationship

by Joelle Lucido and Megan Rotar

consciouseating 16

wisewords 23

10

by Ted Fisher

healthbriefs 12

pg. 20

7

Benefits of Natural Deodorant

by Heather Rosencrantz Gardening With Kids

Exercise Helps Maintain and Restore Bone Density

by Katy Santiago

by Mary Anne Demo Spirit-minded Baby Showers

by Erin Eagen

How to Advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 586-983-8305 or email mdemo@HealthyLivingDetroit.com Deadline for ads: the 15th of the month.

Editorial submissions Email articles, news items and ideas to: mdemo@HealthyLivingDetroit.com Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month. calendar submissions Email Calendar Events to: mdemo@HealthyLivingDetroit.com Deadline for calendar: the 15th of the month. regional markets Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets, call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities, call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

May 2009 May 2009

letterfrompublisher Beauteous May, all green and bursting with energy, is lush with life’s inborn hope. Nature unfolds her bounty, oblivious to our personally confining worries.

On so many days, just getting out for a walk to drink in Mother Nature’s goodness helps me keep everything else in perspective.

With Mother’s Day approaching, I have been reflecting on my own roles as daughter and mother. I am fortunate to be part of a close family, and blessed to have a mom who offers an amazing example of the strength and resilience I need as my own mothering role changes.

Now that my little ones aren’t so little anymore, my focus has turned from concern about what the kids could get into inside the house to what they might get into outside the house, in the great, big world, where I can’t do as much to protect them.

Recently, I was privileged to attend a Mothers Blessing ceremony. This Native American tradition, described on page 24, honors the transition into motherhood. It was a meaningful way for an intimate group of friends and relatives to honor the mother-to-be. I discovered that it is one of the few socially acceptable times women feel welcome to share their childbirth stories in public.

The new life in our home this year centers on conversion of the backyard into an organic vegetable, herb and flower garden. My husband David is thrilled at the prospect of cutting his mowing duties in half. I hope to supplement what we buy from farmers’ markets in our area (see list, page 2) with what we produce. It takes more planning and effort, but the payoff is healthier meals and support for our local agricultural economy. We particularly enjoy knowing the people who grow what we are eating. Becoming a locavore is also one of many inexpensive, yet significant, healthy steps we can all take to reduce our dependence on oil every day.

One of my favorite books on the topic is Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. She shares this quote from her husband, Steven L. Hopp:

“If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country’s oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week. That’s not gallons, but barrels. Small changes in buying habits can make big differences. Becoming a less energy-dependent nation may just need to start with a good breakfast.”

A gardening hobby yields tasty results; it also brings people together. I fondly remember my great-grandmothers’ gardens; I now feel these living memories compelling me to get busy with my own garden. There is something therapeutic about digging in the dirt. Watering plants can be a meditation at the beginning or end of the day. Such activities also give childhood gardeners an excellent start (page 20). You just never know what kinds of seeds you could be planting for their future.

contact us Wayne County, Michigan Edition Published by: Healthy Living Detroit, Inc. P.O. Box 341081 Detroit, MI 48234-1081 Phone: 586-983-8305 Fax: 586-933-255 Publisher Mary Anne Demo mdemo@HealthyLivingDetroit.com Editorial & Layout Team Linda Sechrist Kim Cerne S. Alison Chabonais Stephen Blancett Client Services Consultants Daksha Patel John Chetcuti National Franchise Sales John Voell II NaturalAwkeningsMag.com 239-530-1377

© 2009 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

Live well,

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.

Mary Anne Demo, Publisher

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $28 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

Wayne County

newsbriefs News about local happenings in and around our community

2009 Green Street Fair Returns

T

he second annual Green Street Fair will return to downtown Plymouth, May 1-3. Admission is free.

Last year, approximately 90,000 people attended the event. With the addition of an extra day, this year’s edition is expected to be even more popular. Some of the event highlights will be a market village, exhibitor displays, live music, street performers, a children’s activity center, organic food sampling, and much more, all focused on greening the environment. In addition, members of the town’s Eco-Squad will discuss its recycling programs along with presenting interactive workshops and demonstrations.

Hours are 12 noon to 7 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sun. GreenStreetFair.com.

Practitioners Needed to Help Returning Veterans

M

any American soldiers return home from combat with both physical and psychological scars.

The traumas of war can cause post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, co-dependencies, anxiety and depression. Pro Bono for Soldiers (PBFS) offers free holistic services to soldiers who have returned from war-torn areas around the globe.

Currently, the organization is seeking qualified, well-established practitioners who have been working in their chosen modalities for at least five years. Each PBFS practitioner must be open to working free of charge for up to three sessions, which is typically enough time to give a sense of whether a good fit exists between the practitioner and the veteran. Then, practitioners must also commit to two or three ongoing pro bono sessions per month.

Practitioners may have experience in Emotional Freedom Technique, energy balancing, Trager, Cranio-sacral and other forms of bodywork and holistic therapy. Those who join will be listed on the organization’s website and will have the PBFS logo available for use on their own website and in their offices.

For more information, email Admin@ProBonoForSoldiers.com or visit ProBonoForSoldiers.com.

Area Gym Moves to New Location

B

ody N Balance has moved. Its new location is 2315 Monroe Street in Dearborn.

Owner Lisa Nash began her fitness career as a Dearborn firefighter. Her interest in fitness led her to become ACE-certified, before she ultimately established her own gym. Nash says, “Our new location is much larger than the previous one and allows more space for new classes in kickboxing, aerobics, boot came, circuit and personal training.”

Call 313-792-8118, visit MyBodyNBalance.com or email LoveUrCardio@yahoo.com.

Health Store is Under New Ownership

K

athleen Gunther, Janette Crossman and Annette Crossman are the new owners of Total Health in Southgate.

Several new services have been added including acupuncture, massage, Reiki, ionic foot detox, reflexology, blood cell analysis, and scenar appointments for pain management.

Total Health continues to offer vitamins and supplements, bulk herbs, homeopathic medicines, herbal remedies, weight loss, sports nutrition and nontoxic household products as well as beauty care items. The grocery section includes special dietary items including gluten, soy, dairy and nut-free as well as vegan and raw foods. A growing produce cooperative now offers in-home delivery as well as in-store pickup. And, a 10 percent discount is available to those who use Total Health as their shipping address when they visit Michigan.DoorToDoorOrganics.com.

The new owners also offer free wifi, gift certificates and gift baskets. Total Health’s list of classes has increased as well, including herbal hour, raw foods, yoga, drumming and meditation.

Total Health is located at 13645 Northline Rd. in Southgate. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.- Sat. 734-246-1208. See ad, page 29.

Arthritis Foundation Kicks off Spring Programs

T

he Arthritis Foundation is beginning its spring aquatic, exercise, Tai Chi and self-help classes, at numerous locations throughout Wayne County. These classes improve flexibility, strength, energy and stamina and decrease pain and stiffness. Instructors who are specially trained and certified by the organization lead all Arthritis Foundation programs.

For schedules and fees, call 800-9683030 or visit Arthritis.org.

May 2009

newsbriefs

Detroit Evolution Laboratory Reopens

Downriver Conference Focuses on Women’s Health

A

T

he Growing Connections Conference, focusing on women’s health, will be held May 30 at the Christ the King Conference Center, 16700 Pennsylvania Road, in Southgate. Healthy Traditions Network, the Metro Detroit chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation, hosts the event.

Marjie C. Andrejciw, holistic nutritional counselor of Circle of Life Nutrition in Fenton, will present “Our Inner Ecosystem,” a discussion on how the digestive tract influences overall health. Symptoms of poor digestion include inability to focus, acne, eczema, yeast overgrowth and other chronic illnesses such as allergies to environmental substances. Andrejciw will discuss a four-step approach to restoring the “gut ecology” back to health.

Other presenters include Sally Fallon, president of Weston A. Price Foundation, and Dr. David Brownstein, with Holistic Family Medicine in West Bloomfield.

Kelly Lewton’s Pure Foods 2 U will offer healthy bag lunches for $10. The cost of the conference is $49 in advance and $59 at the door.

Register for event and pre-order lunches at HTNetwork.org or call Healthy Traditions Network, 248- 828-8494. Other contacts: Andrejciw, 810 869-8898, Marjie@CircleofLifeNutrition.net.

Self-Awareness Classes Begin in Novi

W

omen’s Self-Awareness expert and trainer Suzanne Young will schedule new self-awareness classes beginning this month at 22681 Deerfield Road, in Novi. These three-month programs meet every other week for a total of six sessions. Choose from Wednesday or Thursday evening or Saturday morning sessions.

Class sizes are limited to five or six, which allows time to focus on each woman’s different issues or challenges. The cost for the three-month program is $1,000.

“In the classes, women learn how to manage their lives in a more effective and positive manner,” says Young. “They receive training on how to keep a balanced life and they learn how to break old habits.”

To reserve a space, call 248-349-6225. Visit PersonalSuccessPrograms.com.

fter closing briefly for the birth of their son Aya, the wife-andhusband team of Angela Kasmala and Gregg Newsom, along with their new partner Alan Scheurman, have reopened Detroit Evolution Laboratory in a remodeled space with expanded offerings. Situated inside Detroit’s historic Eastern Market, the lab is designed to facilitate and promote the exploration of healthy and sustainable tools, techniques and concepts that empower individuals and communities. Offering yoga, vegan and raw food kitchen classes, workshops on diverse topics, a community library, a lunar-cycle art series, evolutionary music and special cross-legged events, the facility serves as a healthful and mindful gathering place and resource for Metro Detroit.

Informed and inspired by permaculture, the transition movement, and holistic explorations of consciousness expansion, Detroit Evolution Laboratory actively promotes that a Deep Ecological, Urban-Agrarian, Sustainable, and Soulful lifestyle will facilitate Detroit’s rebirth and future success as a re-localized city. Its focus is wide and favors radical creativity, exploring and sharing diverse aspects of culture from food and art to yoga and shamanism.

The lab promotes other individuals, organizations and businesses with complementary missions and goals for Detroit through active participation in projects and events throughout the city.

For more information, visit DetroitEvolution.com.

NATUROPATHIC COLLEGE of Ann Arbor

Tel: 734-769-7794 www.naturopathiccollegeofannarbor.net Community and Diploma Programs beginning October Open Houses July, August, September, Noon-2pm

Location: 1923 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor Naturopathy d Herbal Medicine d Massage

Wayne County

by Heather Rosencrantz

Benefits of Natural Deodorant

North American and Europe lead the world market for antiperspirant and deodorant, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is safe to say that most Americans already use one or more of these products. However, not many stop to consider the chemicals and ingredients contained in the products they use, or how they interact with the delicate skin under the arm. People who wish to avoid possible side effects associated with commercial deodorants will do well to consider using a natural deodorant.

Ingredients in Common Deodorants and Antiperspirants

Ingredients in Natural Deodorants

Aluminum compounds

Mineral salts

Found only in antiperspirants, aluminum zirconium and aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum compounds work by blocking pores that release sweat. Research, published in the Journal of AppliedToxicology, hypothesizes that these compounds can break through the skin and mimic the effects of estrogen. Aluminum, like other heavy metals, may interfere with the ability of estrogen receptors to correctly process hormones, which could possibly result in breast cancer.

Propylene Glycol

A penetration enhancer, this ingredient is more harmful when combined with other chemical additives. In fact, according to The Natural Health Information Centre, this chemical is also found in automatic brake fluid and industrial antifreeze.

Even in concentrations as low as 2 percent, propylene glycol can provoke skin irritation in some people, yet it can constitute as much as 50 percent of the ingredients in some commercial products.

Triclosan

Used as an antibacterial agent and preservative, Triclosan can react with tap water to create chloroform gas, a potential carcinogen. Triclosan also exhibits endocrine disrupting properties in marine animals, of wide concern, as it also has shown up in human breast milk and blood, according to the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides.

Steareths

Usually listed with a number (steareth-15), these additives come from an inexpensive process that makes harsh ingredients milder, notes the Environmental Working Group, which publishes the Cosmetic Safety Database. The process is called ethoxylation and produces carcinogenic 1,4-dioxanes during the manufacturing process.

Ammonium or potassium alum are the same ingredients found in long-used, solid, natural crystal-stone deodorants.

These work by constricting the protein in sweat so the odorous bacteria have less to feed on.

Clays

Earth clays such as kaolin, betonite and French green clay help absorb excess moisture, leaving the skin drier.

Natural deodorants do not contain aluminum-based antiperspirants, thus allowing the body to sweat, a process that removes waste.

Astringent Herbs

Astringent herbs such as tea tree, lavender and sage add fragrance, but they also have important antiseptic and antifungal properties.

Wax

Beeswax and plant waxes, such as carnuba, candelila or meadowfoam flower, simply help solidify the deodorant and help it stick to the skin.

Using an over-the-counter natural deodorant, or making one from the ingredients listed in this article, will help to reduce the chemical overload on both our bodies and our environment.

Source: Heather Rosencrantz is the owner of Dirty Girl Farm, producer of herbs, natural vegan body care and a new line of green housekeeping products. Visit her at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, Friday-Sunday year-round from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Also connect at Heather@ DirtyGirlFarm.com.

May 2009

Growing a

Healthy Relationship

by Joelle Lucido and Megan Rotar

A

s any good gardener will tell you, a well-tended garden provides the best fruit. Likewise, relationships that are well nurtured tend to be the healthiest. It may take some effort to “prepare the soil,” laying the foundation for a meaningful relationship, but doing so has a significant impact on the quality of the “crop.”

By doing this work early on, it allows well-established, deep roots to form, which yield a bountiful harvest year after year, as long as the soil continues to be cared for and nourished.

Wayne County

The Seeds

The type and quality of relationship you end up growing greatly depends on the seeds you begin with.

Most of us know that love, respect and true consideration are essential to a healthy relationship. However, loving and respecting your partner does not mean that you will love every one of his or her traits. Acceptance and tolerance of another’s idiosyncrasies needs to accompany love, to foster the confidence that who you are, is enough for your partner.

Other seeds go beyond your internal perspective and involve communication with your partner. Conveying interest, appreciation and positive regard, both through verbal and nonverbal messages, can be accomplished in many ways. In Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages, he describes how each of us desires to receive love and appreciation in our preferred language. The names he uses for the five love languages he has identified are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch. When each partner correctly identifies, and communicates, via their partner’s preferred language, these healthful seeds of love and appreciation can be planted easily and deeply.

The Weeds

Healthy growth also requires pruning and weeding. Many times, human nature tends to overlook negative factors until it is too late; crooked branches and the weeds of neglect become “overgrown,” and can get in the way of or even overpower the love we are trying to grow. To successfully grow a healthy relationship, we must be aware of such destructive factors, not only in potential partners, but also in ourselves.

Leading marriage researcher, John Gottman, Ph.D., explores four of the most deadly weeds in a relationship in his renowned book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. One is criticism, in which a partner feels attacked by comments that are biting and hurtful. Another is defensiveness, which makes a couple unable to listen to each other and solve problems effectively.

Stonewalling involves a complete emotional shutdown; this unresponsiveness and lack of participation in conflict resolution causes a great deal of frustration and disappointment in the other partner. Contempt is the most deadly of the four, because it communicates a complete lack of respect and positive regard, and often causes a partner’s self-esteem to wither away.

Of course, there are other pesky weeds that become insidious and indicate an unbalanced and unhealthy relationship. Patterns of jealous, possessive or controlling behavior, for instance, can lead to a relationship that is more volatile than stable. In its most extreme form, these patterns can turn into abusive behavior, which may be

emotional, verbal, sexual or physical in nature, and is never an acceptable part of a good relationship.

Healthy Soil

Wise farmers know that to maintain a proper balance of nutrients in their soil, they must rotate crops. Relationships also must rotate in their form to meet the ever-changing needs we have as individuals. For example, a typical day may begin with a business relationship between the couple, in which they discuss who is picking up the dry cleaning. It quickly changes gears into friendship when one calls the other share great news about a promotion offer. A playful email exchange makes one partner giggle. An intellectual conversation over dinner about the politics of the day paves the way for an intimate moment, when both partners feel a strong connection about sharing their mutual dreams for their future.

After an hour or two of relaxing time, reading or watching a good show on television, they adjourn to the bedroom for a sexual connection. Like a prosperous farm, a healthy relationship

is one that maintains balance among all its forms, so that each seed has the nutrient dense soil it needs for growth.

A consistent desire for growth over time, both individually as well as jointly can, like clean water, feed and nourish a relationship through the seasons.

When generously poured over the right combination of seeds and healthy soil in a bed actively controlled for weeds, growth occurs instinctively, whether it’s in a garden or a relationship ‌ just as nature intended.

Joelle Lucido, MA, is a nationally certified psychologist, limited licensed professional counselor and co-owner of the Mental Fitness Center, in Rochester, MI, where she serves as a wellness counselor for individuals and couples.

Megan Rotar, MA, is a limited licensed psychologist and holistic wellness therapist who works with adolescents and adults in individual and family therapy.

For more information about the services and classes at the center, located in Rochester, MI, visit MentalFitnessCenter.org or call 248-601-3111.

It’s our world, all of us.

Reduce, re-use, recycle.

- Lesley Fountain

Life-changing Vacations in Beautiful Retreat Settings!

The Gathering of the Peacemakers

Getting Ready for the Changes

"LACK -OUNTAIN .# s #ONWAY .( s 7OODSTOCK .9

Dates & Locations: Black Mountain, NC April 9-13, and August 30-Sept 5, Conway NH, June 11-14 & Woodstock, NY June 18-21.

The Music: At night there are concerts with recording artists who carry a message of love, justice & forgiveness The Instructions: Workshops: Solar, wind, organic gardening, holistic health, living-on-less, earth & wilderness skills, finding your mission in life, creating loving unions, staying awake in a sleeping world, Hopi & Mayan prophecies, drumming circles, etc! Also we host a Native American “Elder-in-Residence.�

Cost: $145 for weekend gatherings / $275 for August 7-day gathering. Meals, camping, cabins and lodge rooms available.

Days of Conscious Instruction Nights of Conscious Music Limited to 150! Reserve early!

Your hosts: Julia & Robert Roskind, authors of Rasta Heart and 2012: The Transformation from the Love of Power to the Power of Love

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May 2009

healthykids

Gardening with Kids

by Ted Fisher

Whether kids have access to a large yard or only a windowsill planter, young gardeners’ inborn curiosity encourages them to discover nature’s cycles firsthand, while learning respect and concern for Earth’s larger ecology. Gardening not only instills lifelong appreciation for the beauties of nature, but fun, hands-on activities develop delicious skills of creativity, self-discipline and even self-sufficiency.

W

hile we can’t run out and raise a rainforest in a day, a childhood head start on understanding the environment in one’s own garden can seed a lusher future. A backyard plot of just four by four feet will serve. Be sure to provide pathways or stepping stones for access, and then plant a rich mix of flowers and vegetables. If the family doesn’t have access to land, a container garden on a balcony, patio or deck can produce abundant flowers and vegetables; often, it makes caring for the garden even simpler.

An important tip: Although a child’s garden of any size may not be as neatly tended as a parent’s or grandparent’s, give the choicest garden spot to the child.

Lots of sun and good soil will aid in the success that cultivates interest.

To begin, invite one or more youngsters to help prepare the soil, turning over dirt with a small shovel or trowel. Break up clumps by hand or by stomping on them. Digging holes is a favorite kids’ pastime.

Next, choose easy-to-grow plants. Select as many different types as will fit well into the allotted space. Carrots, fast-growing radishes and bite-sized cherry tomatoes are good vegetable choices.

For flowers, choose some that can be used as cut flowers or as special gifts for Mom, like zinnias, marigolds, snapdragons or salvia. For a spectacular touch, also plant a few sunflowers, which not only can tower up to 10 feet tall, but supply edible seeds.

Include herbs such as basil and parsley for garden grazing. Yummy fragrances come courtesy of lemon verbena, rose-scented geraniums and pineapple salvia.

Some plants are just for touching, like perennial lamb’s ears, with their soft, fuzzy leaves, in silvery shades of green.

Starting from seed that the family has selected together from a catalog provides a wondrous learning experience. Small children find large seeds such as corn, beans, pumpkins, zucchini and sunflowers easy to handle and plant. Colorful annual bedding plants such as petunias, pansies or periwinkles are also excellent choices for a ready-made start to the season.

Use the seed packet, stapled to a stake with a child’s name written on it, for easy identification. Bedding plants picked out together at a nursery usually come with a plant tag, as well. Vivid pictures help children imagine what will grow.

Children love something of their very own, so keep them interested and aware

10

Wayne County

of their garden by personalizing it with a sign; say, “Mary’s Plot,” or “John’s Place.”

Kids also love to water—particularly with the full force of the hose.

Reminders that rain usually falls more gently encourage them to take it easier.

A personalized sprinkling can is a good idea for younger children.

Wait before weeding. Even adults can have difficulty distinguishing small, wanted plants from unwanted weeds.

Often, it’s best to let things grow a little. As they do, let the garden teach recycling. Grass clippings, shredded leaves and vegetable matter, placed into a homemade compost bin, recycle themselves into highly nutritious soil for plants.

“Patience is a virtue,” advises the adage, and the wait for flowers and vegetables to mature can teach the rewards of patience. Watching a garden grow may not be easy: Children may want to pull up young root veggies to see if they are “done.” Even if they do pull sprouting produce, the edibles may

School Gardens

Growing Science, Success, Service

by Susie Ruth

be just big enough to wash off and give them a taste of better things to come.

Gardening provides an ideal time to talk to a child about how plants grow and the role of worms, insects and birds as nature’s caretakers. Ask them, “If you were a plant, what kind would you be, and why? What would you tell the gardener?”

The discoveries and lessons never cease. The often surprising child’s-eye view of their world can help parents guide youngsters’ personal growth, as well as their gardening skills.

Finally, remember that half the fun is to pick, wash and cook the bounty.

Big and small folks alike revel in the joy of the harvest.

Ted Fisher is a county extension horticulturist emeritus with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

For age-appropriate activities and other helpful insight, read: Gardening with Children, by Monika Hanneman; A Child’s Garden, by Molly Dannenmaier; or visit BackyardNature.net; and KidsGardening.org/primer.asp.

Science educators have long recognized the value of school gardens in motivating students to study science.

Now, studies by Texas A&M and Louisiana State universities show that participating in Junior Master Gardener (JMG) school gardening programs also significantly boost students’ scores on science achievement tests. Moreover, “No statistical significance was found between girls and boys.”

JMG is an international 4-H youth program for grades 3 to 8, operated through each state’s cooperative extension service and modeled on the adult Master Gardener program. Curriculum-related group hands-on activities integrate math, science, social studies and language arts.

JMG’s newest curriculum is Literature in the Garden for grades 3 to 5. Activities revolve around six award-winning books: Plantzilla, by Jerdine Nolen; Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney; Brother Eagle, Sister Sky, by Susan Jeffers; The Gardener,

by Sarah Stewart; Tops and Bottoms,

by Janet Stevens; and Weslandia, by Paul Fleischman.

Such programs also have been shown to prompt healthier snacking, extracurricular community service and improvement in life skills. Students can participate in JMG through schools, homeschools, after-school programs, summer camps or youth clubs. To date, the program has benefited 970,000 youths in all 50 states and 10 countries.

Learn about the Junior Master Gardener Program at JMGKids.us.

For supporting information on the benefits of school gardens from the National Science Teachers Association, visit nsta.org.

May 2009

11

healthbriefs

Think Twice Before Drinking Soda

Countering Menopausal Depression Naturally

W

omen who drink two or more cans of soda pop a day are nearly twice as likely to show early signs of kidney disease, according to a new study by Loyola University Health System. Researchers did not find an elevated risk for men or for people who drink diet soda, says lead researcher David Shoham. The study examined data from a representative sample of 9,358 U.S. adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. ~ Loyola University Health System, 2009

Friendship Among Women Benefits Health

A

landmark University of California, Los Angeles study now suggests that women have a larger behavioral repertoire than men in the face of stress. “It seems that the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman; it buffers the ‘fight or flight’ response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women, instead,” reports Laurel Cousino Klein, Ph.D., who co-authored the study. “When she actually engages in this tending or befriending, [such] studies suggest that more oxytocin is released, which further counters stress and produces a calming effect.”

Klein explains that this calming effect does not occur in men because testosterone, which men produce in high levels when they’re under stress, seems to reduce the effects of oxytocin. “Estrogen,” she says, “seems to enhance it.” The phenomenon has been missed in the past because 90 percent of stress research has been done with men.

Ruthellen Josselson, Ph.D., who has authored a book on female friendships, comments: “Every time we get overly busy with work and family, the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women. That’s really a mistake, because women are such a source of strength to each other.”

Plants Help Heal

A

recent study published in HortTechnology shows that flowers, especially potted plants, in hospital rooms, can speed the recovery of patients who have undergone surgery.

Data took into account the length of hospitalization, use of drugs for pain control and the patient’s ratings of pain, fatigue and anxiety—all of which were reduced when the patient’s room was accented with natural greenery. ~ American Society for Horticultural Science, 2008

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Wayne County

Psychological distress and depression are common symptoms experienced by many premenopausal and menopausal women. Now, a new study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, indicates that consuming omega-3 fatty acids may offer natural relief.

At the end of the researchers’ 8-week study period of women ages 40 to 55, those who ingested one gram of omega-3 in capsule form daily, reported considerable reduction of hot flashes and fewer symptoms of psychological stress and depression than those who had taken a sunflower oil supplement.

Good to know, especially for women already consuming omega-3s for heart health.

Source: Université Laval, 2009

Bonding with Baby

The bonds that tie a mother to her newborn may be stronger in women who deliver naturally than in those who deliver by cesarean, or C-section, according to Yale School of Medicine researchers. It appears that a woman’s brain is “primed” by vaginal delivery, which affects the production of oxytocin, a neurohormone linked to emotional connection and feelings of love.

Coming in June

Calling all MEN!

~ Yale University, 2008

Hormone Therapy Linked To Brain Shrinkage

T

wo new studies report that hormone therapy—a still commonly prescribed form of postmenopausal treatment—may slightly accelerate the loss of brain tissue in women 65 and older, beyond what normally occurs with aging. “This is not what we expected to find,” reported one of the researchers.

The investigating scientists, using MRI scans to look for increased volumes of brain lesions among women who had taken hormone therapy, discovered their brain volume had shrunk in two critical areas: the frontal lobe and the hippocampus. Both of these areas are involved in thinking and memory skills.

Loss of volume in the hippocampus is also a risk factor for dementia. More than 1,400 women ages 71 to 89 participated in the study.

Source: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, 2009

Vigorous Exercise Cuts Breast Cancer Risk W

hile previous studies have shown that exercise may protect against breast cancer, a new study by the National Cancer Institute of the U.S. National Institutes of Health points out that not all exercise qualifies. In following 32,269 women for 11 years, the researchers discovered that those engaging in vigorous exercise on a regular basis were the ones less likely to develop the disease, regardless of their weight. Their reduced risk amounted to a stunning 30 percent.

Activities that qualify as vigorous include heavy housework, like scrubbing floors and washing windows, or heavy yard work, such as digging or chopping wood. Healthful, fun activities included fast jogging, competitive tennis, bicycling on hills and fast dancing.

The study suggests two possible mechanisms responsible for the benefit measured: enhanced immune function and decreased inflammation in the body. It’s important to note that excess weight is believed to increase the risk of cancer.

Source: Breast Cancer Research, 2008

Men’s HEALTH Get in the zone of physical and mental well-being with natural healing tips especially for you, in the June edition of Natural Awakenings.

For more information about advertising and how you can participate, call

586-983-8305 May 2009

13

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

Kindness Counts

Accelerating Animal Advocacy In 1993, just seven states had felony animal cruelty laws; today, all but four do—Idaho, Mississippi and the Dakotas. In 2000, nine law schools had animal law studies; today about 100 do, according to an Associated Press report.

“Animal law is where environmental law was 20 years ago. It’s in its infancy, but growing,” says Pamela Frasch, adjunct professor and head of the National Center for Animal Law, at Lewis & Clark Law School, in Portland, Ore. State laws vary widely.

Lewis & Clark opened the first Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter in 1992.

Today, it oversees branches at 115 law schools in North America. The reason is student demand. David Favre, an authority in the field who teaches the subject at Michigan State University College of Law, says that most private practice animal law cases deal with dangerous dogs, divorce settlements, purchases or other property-related difficulties.

But, it is the animal rights cases that draw public attention. According to Scott Heiser, criminal justice program director for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, new laws in many states put animal abuse on a par with drunken driving cases; this pre-empts offenders from plea bargaining to a lesser offense.

Sources: Associated Press; AmericanHumane.org; ASPCA.org.

Pump Savvy

Portal to Real-time Gas Prices GasBuddy.com offers instant, user-friendly access to the today’s lowest-priced gasoline pit stops, by area. The nonprofit GasBuddy Organization, Inc. notes that gas prices not only change frequently, but can vary by as much as 20 percent within a few blocks. Motorists, too, can contribute updates online, based on information gleaned as they combine errands around town or take a fuel-wise local vacation. The site helps everyone save bucks for more fun activities.

Group Holiday Families and Friends Reap Fun Savings

When seeking to economize on an eco-vacation rental, search for a “self-catering” property, ideal for groups of up to 10 people who do not need to be waited on.

“Clubbing together for a group holiday can be a great money-saving solution, particularly for those with young children,” observes Justin Francis, cofounder of ResponsibleTravel.com, which has benefited from the trend. “Kids have their friends around them and parents can take turns babysitting. You’ll also save money on food and can share the cooking.” Many types of accommodations are available; working farms are particularly popular.

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Go Wild

Why Lawns are Passé Starting next year, gasoline-powered lawn mowers, chain saws and weed trimmers, as well as boats and other watercraft, must clean up their act. New Environmental Protection Agency emission and fuel evaporation standards for new, small, spark-ignition engines take effect with 2010 models. They’ll now have catalytic converters, like those required in cars since 1975. A riding lawn mower, for instance, currently emits as much pollution in an hour as 34 cars. The move, “will allow Americans to cut air pollution, as well as grass,” says EPA administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

By 2030, the improvement will cut 15 percent of the nation’s annual hydrocarbon pollution load, including 600,000 tons of hydrocarbons, 130,000 tons of nitrogen oxide, 1.5 million tons of carbon monoxide and 5,500 tons of fine particulates.

It’s like removing one of every five vehicles on the road, notes the National Association of Clean Air Agencies. This means less summertime smog, with associated reductions in respiratory illness, hospitalizations, lost workdays and deaths.

NASA researchers estimate that, despite widespread water shortages, chemical fertilizer pollution and injuries from mowers, Americans still cling to 50,000 square miles of lawns. “[Lawns] could be considered the single largest irrigated crop in America, in terms of surface area,” they report, consuming a third of all residential water use. Plus, lawns receive more pesticide and herbicide application than any other U.S. crop.

They advise that just leaving clippings on the grass could nearly halve the current volume of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer used.

Secondary Source: Environmental Defense Fund

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May 2009

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15

consciouseating

Good Morning

Mommm

Simple touches can spruce up the tray. Sprigs of fresh herbs or flowers add a finished look or, for a memorable centerpiece, tape bamboo skewers or chopsticks to the backs of family photos and place in a vase. Although no study has proved it, china plates and stemware do make food taste better.

Mother’s Day offers the perfect excuse to put a little extra effort into breakfast. Whip up breakfast in bed for Mom (or your sweetie) with these indulgent, yet easy, recipes.

by Kimberly Lord Stewart

W

hen it’s a special day for someone in our family— Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or a birthday—the rest of us like to get up early and prepare breakfast. After a few tense moments attempting to stay quiet while banging around in the kitchen, we all parade upstairs. The honoree graciously pretends to be asleep, stifling a giggle while we enter the bedroom with a tray of treats and a handful of butter-stained greeting cards. Sometimes, school schedules and work demands cut short our tasty wakeup calls, but the recipient always starts the day feeling loved and appreciated.

If you’re daunted by the thought of anything trickier than cold cereal, relax.

Breakfast in bed doesn’t have to be a production that requires you to wake before sunrise.

With a little planning, you can do most of the preparation the night before, with excellent results (the flavor of a finely diced fruit salad, for example, actually improves when it sits overnight). By using the freshest ingredients available, you get maximum flavor and effect—witness an ordinary omelet turned elegant when paired with slender asparagus spears and Brie cheese.

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Omelet Primavera Serves 2 Hint: Accompany with a glass of champagne or sparkling cider. ¼ cup water 6 ounces asparagus 1 tablespoon butter 4 eggs 2 tablespoons nonfat milk or water ¼ pound Brie cheese (rind removed), cut into pieces Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon fresh dill or chives, chopped 1. In a nonstick skillet, heat water until boiling and blanch asparagus until barely tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain and set aside. (This step may be done ahead.)

2. In the same nonstick skillet, heat ½ tablespoon butter over medium-low heat. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and milk or water. Pour half the eggs into the skillet. Rotate the pan to cover the bottom evenly with eggs. When eggs are half set, add half the asparagus and cheese. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with half the herbs. Fold eggs over the asparagus and cheese and slide onto a serving plate. Keep warm.

3. Repeat step two with remaining ingredients to make a second omelet, and serve.

1. Pour warm water into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle with yeast. Allow to dissolve for about 10 minutes.

Vegan MochaAlmond Muffins

Makes 2½ cups / Use any combination of fruit.

2. Add warm milk, oil, apple butter, salt, honey and flours to yeast mixture.

Blend with a whisk or a hand-held mixer until lumps are gone. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise in the refrigerator overnight.

Hint: For extra flavor and fiber, add a cup of grated carrots, mashed banana or whole raspberries.

Hint: Finely dicing the fruit allows for the sauce to coat each tidbit.

3. In the morning, beat in eggs and baking soda. Batter will be thin.

¼ cup lime juice 1 short tablespoon sugar ¼ teaspoon vanilla 1-2 cups skinned, seeded and diced papaya 1 mango, skinned, seeded and diced ½ cup diced pineapple, fresh or canned 1 kiwi, skinned and diced 1 cup diced strawberries 1 starfruit, thinly sliced, for garnish

4. Pour ½ to ¾ cup batter into a preheated, oiled waffle iron. Bake until crisp and golden brown. Repeat with remaining batter.

Festive Fruit Salad

Makes 10 / A candle on top makes this a birthday morning mini-cake.

1½ cups whole wheat pastry flour 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ¾ cup strong coffee, lukewarm 1/3 cup brown rice syrup or pure maple syrup ¼ cup canola oil 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar 1½ teaspoons almond extract ½ cup dairy-free chocolate chips (optional) ½ cup slivered almonds Powdered sugar

1. In a medium bowl, mix lime juice, sugar and vanilla until sugar dissolves.

Add diced fruit and stir gently.

1. Preheat oven to 325°. Prepare muffin tins with pump cooking spray or paper liners.

2. Chill overnight, if desired.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, mix coffee, syrup, oil, vinegar and almond extract. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir until completely blended. Add chocolate chips, if desired.

3. Serve in individual dishes, garnished with star fruit.

Apple-Butter Raised Waffles Serves 8 / A lighter adaptation of the famous recipe from Fannie Farmer’s original cookbook of the 1800s.

Hint: To simplify your morning, make the batter the night before. Top waffles with warm applesauce or maple syrup. ½ cup warm water (100-115°) 2¼ teaspoons (1 packet) dry yeast (regular, not rapid-rise) 2 cups warm low-fat milk (100-115°) ¼ cup canola oil ¼ cup apple butter ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon honey 1 cup organic all-purpose flour 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour 2 eggs ¼ teaspoon baking soda Canola oil for waffle iron

Breakfast Panini Serves 2 / A nontraditional breakfast treat.

Hint: Use crusty artisan bread for a hearty sandwich that holds up in the waffle iron.

4 slices prosciutto (about 1 ounce) 4 slices fresh tomato 4 slices fontina cheese (about 3 ounces) 4 thick slices whole grain bread Salt and pepper Herbes de Provence Olive oil

3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins. Top with almonds. Bake for 20 minutes, or until tops are raised and spring back when touched. Let cool 10 minutes, remove from pan, and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

1. Preheat a waffle iron. Place prosciutto, tomato and cheese on two bread slices. Add salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with herbes de Provence. Top with remaining bread.

2. Brush waffle iron liberally with olive oil and cook sandwiches until brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

May 2009

17

healingways

No Periods Pros and Cons of Menstrual Suppression

by Lisa Marshall

S

ome see it as a curse that dashes vacation plans, stains sheets and wreaks havoc on emotions. Others view it as an integral part of womanhood, a welcome sign that we are healthy—and not pregnant. But, in an age with a pill for just about everything, more women are looking at their menstrual cycle as something else entirely: optional.

“Fifty years ago, with the advent of The Pill, suppressing ovulation became an option for women who did not want to get pregnant. Skipping your period [altogether] is also an option, and I think a lot more women are going to do it,” says Leslie Miller, a Seattle obstetrician and gynecologist and founder of the website NoPeriod.com, which coaches people on how to become period-free, via various forms of contraception.

Drug companies have made it easier than ever. In July 2007, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals rolled out Lybrel, the first oral contraceptive designed to not only prevent pregnancy but also eliminate periods for a year or more. Before that, came the popular Seasonale and Seasonique, “extended cycle” birth control pills, to reduce menses to four times a year. Yaz, a top-seller in this country, reduces periods to three days or fewer; it is also said to address severe acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Then there is Depo Provera, a quarterly injection,

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Wayne County

“Encouraging healthy young girls and women to do away with their periods for the sake of convenience, without educating them about the health benefits of a normal menstrual cycle, as well as the risks of menstrual suppression, is irresponsible and unethical.”

— Susan Rako, M.D. and the Merina intrauterine device (IUD); both can, in some cases, halt periods completely.

Unlike conventional birth-control pills, many such products are marketed to all women, not just the sexually active aiming to prevent pregnancy, via a slew of websites, industry-sponsored blogs, how-to books and TV advertisements, promising liberation from that messy time of month. “Fewer periods. More possibilities,” cheers one Seasonale ad.

But, amidst the celebratory media blitz has come outrage: from physicians, who fear we may be putting

women in danger; government regulators, who say the ads go too far; and feminists, who wonder what message we are sending our daughters.

“It’s a horrifying prospect,” states Susan Rako, a Boston psychiatrist and author of The Blessings of the Curse: No More Periods? “Encouraging healthy young girls and women to do away with their periods for the sake of convenience, without educating them about the health benefits of a normal menstrual cycle, as well as the risks of menstrual suppression, is irresponsible and unethical.”

20th Century Roots The notion of using oral contraception to keep menstruation at bay is nothing new. The first “pill” approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1957 was intended not as a means of preventing pregnancy, but as a remedy for severe menstrual disorders.

During initial trials, women took a pill each day, suppressed ovulation and menstruation, and for many, their period became a thing of the past.

But, under pressure from religious groups, who thought not having periods seemed unnatural, the pill’s creators added a week of placebos, and the monthly, “withdrawal bleed” was born.

“The thinking was that women would find this more acceptable, that they would feel like they were having their normal period,” says Susan Ernst, a medical doctor and chief of gynecology services for the University Health Service at the University of Michigan.

Ever since, doctors have quietly advised women with a looming honeymoon or camping trip to simply toss out the placebos and skip to day one in their next packet.

In the past decade, as drug companies have scrambled to repackage and thus, renew patents on old contraception, the once-hushed notion of ongoing menstrual suppression has become an industry, propelled by a marketing machine.

That worries Christine Hitchcock, Ph.D., a researcher with the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, in British Columbia: “We just don’t know what the long-term risks are,” she says.

Medicine found that use of certain forms of oral and injectible contraceptives can prompt accelerated bone loss, or stunted bone growth, in teen users. Although the data, overall, is inconclusive, a few small studies over the years have even suggested such pills may interfere with testosterone production, prompting reduced libido and depression.

By skipping the placebos and taking The Pill continuously, are women further boosting these risks?

Other questions loom. Does bleeding itself rid the body of harmful elements such as precancerous cells in the uterine lining or excess iron? Researchers have hypothesized that the reason men and postmenopausal women have more strokes and heart attacks than naturally cycling women is because they don’t bleed—and thus, store excess iron.

Does a week of placebos give breast tissue a necessary break from all that estrogen? For anyone, including celibate women who opt to medicate away menstruation and its unpleasant symptoms, do the benefits outweigh the risks? For the most part, experts agree those questions haven’t been answered.

Critics also point out that cyclestopping pills are notorious for prompting spotting between periods. Because they use lower hormone dosages to make them safer for continuous use, some fear they may not be as effective in preventing pregnancy.

For example, in one Wyethsponsored study of 2,134 women, 15 women who took the pills correctly got pregnant, anyway.

Even the FDA has scolded advertisers of Seasonale and Yaz for overpromising freedom from menstruationrelated problems, while underplaying the risks. In February 2009, Yaz began running a $20 million corrective ad campaign in response to FDA complaints.

On the other hand, Miller points out, periods can be painful and inconvenient and having fewer or none can be liberating. Because Western women have fewer children and don’t nurse as long as they used to, they have nearly four times as many periods as those in primitive, agricultural societies.

Ovulation and menstruation are about getting pregnant,” Miller concludes. “If you aren’t going to get pregnant, you shouldn’t have to bleed.”

Medical issues aside, the idea of stopping menstruation carries with it significant cultural implications; many see it as nothing short of a threat to womanhood.

“I think, as a culture, we have come a long way in trying to prepare young girls for menarche and tell them this is an exciting time in their lives,” observes Ingrid Johnston-Robledo, an associate professor of psychology and women’s studies at the State University of New York at Fredonia. “Now, we are sending a message that it is extremely bothersome and debilitating.

It’s really pathologizing a natural bodily function.”

Lisa Marshall is a freelance writer in Estes Park, CO. Reach her at LisaAnnMarshall.com.

Evaluating the Risk Data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a 15-year research project funded by the National Institutes of Health, has shown repeatedly that oral contraceptive use is linked to increased risk of stroke, heart attacks and blood clots in women. According to the NIH, studies also have shown that women who take birth control pills are at greater risk of breast cancer. A 2006 review in the journal Adolescent

May 2009

19

fitbody

Boning Up

Exercise Helps Maintain and Restore Bone Density

by Katy Santiago

The good news is that it’s unlikely that bone density is low throughout our body, and we can begin simple weightbearing exercises at any time. This signals the bone to start growing.

Ribs, wrists, hips and the spine are the most common places prone to bone loss. The main reason is simply underuse. Contemporary habits in our culture often don’t load these joints to their fullest potential.

Let’s take hips as an example of a potential trouble zone. Hips are designed to rotate and have a wide range of motion. If we sit more than six hours a day, they don’t get much movement.

This sends our body the message that it doesn’t have to maintain as much density as if the hips were moving in all the patterns in which they were designed to move.

Even if we have been exercising regularly, but are still troubled by low bone density, applying the following tips will help.

Find new ways and different directions to move.

Choose exercises that work the body in different directions than usual. If most workouts consist of walking, try a changeup.

Getting off a treadmill is one way to work new muscles. Dance classes introduce new steps that challenge joints in novel ways. Just walking sideways for one minute in each direction each day challenges hip muscles.

Ten million Americans suffer with osteoporosis and another 34 million have low bone mass and high risk for osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

For anyone who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone density for our age, but not low enough to be a risk factor for fracture), it is important to know that most likely, the bones’ ability to develop has not been affected. We have simply stopped “loading” them.

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Wayne County

Know the difference between using weights and weight-bearing exercise.

Even some exercise professionals confuse these concepts. While using weights can be part of any exercise program, it is weight-bearing exercise that delivers healthier bones.

Using weights can mean any type of resistance exercise—from weight machines, circuit equipment and handheld weights to body resistance exercise, like pushups or yogic armbalance poses. Because the skeleton’s job is to bear the entire weight of the body, lifting three-, five-, or even 20-pound weights is not as beneficial

to bone health as being naturally strong enough to carry your own body mass.

Weight-bearing specifically refers to how much body weight we are holding up while exercising. Thus, walking is more weight-bearing than bicycling, while swimming is the least weight-bearing, because water’s natural buoyancy does most of the work.

Favor activities that get us on our feet to load up bones.

Ditch the exercise bike and go for a walk. Walk the golf course instead of getting a cart. If work requires sitting, take standing breaks, a nice change during long phone calls. Why not create a standing work center for a home or office computer?

A good way to test our weight-bearing strength is see how long we can stand to stand. If we are looking for a chair by the 20-minute mark, our muscle mass is insufficient to hold up our body. Improve gradually by decreasing sitting time by 10 percent to start. For those who watch television two hours at a stretch, try getting up during commercials and standing on one leg at a time.

strike the ground while walking; this decreases the vibrations moving up the leg, meant to keep the bones of the hip joints and femurs strong.

M

ichigan

Design a truly well-balanced program.

The most significant health risk for anyone with low bone density is the risk of a fracture. Falling is a common cause of fractures, so exercises that improve balance should top the list.

Balance or yoga classes are available at many community fitness centers as a ready-made solution to decreasing risks of a spill.

Katy Santiago, a biomechanics expert, has a Master of Science degree in kinesiology and is director of the Restorative Exercise Institute in Ventura, CA. Her Restorative Exercise DVD for Healthy Bones is available at Restorative Exercise. com.

Think heel-toe to heal too.

It’s wise to opt for flats or negativeheeled footwear. Even one-inch high heels and cushioned sports shoes dampen the vibrations that naturally build bone density in the hips and spine.

How we walk also can signal problems that may be contributing to bone loss. Tight calf muscles, for example, change how a person’s heels

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts.

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May 2009

21

inspiration

Exercising

HOPE

by Mary Anne Demo

Katherine Feisel doesn’t let physical health challenges stop her from making an effort to improve her overall health and well-being. Faced daily with numerous health issues, such as osteoporosis in her hip and knee and shoulder replacements, she also has to carry an oxygen tank with her everywhere she goes.

F

eisel’s daughter and granddaughter, Janis and Amy Justice, are members of their local Curves gym for women, in Redford. One day, Feisel gave her granddaughter a ride to Curves and decided to wait there until Amy had finished her exercise routine. After a few occasions of waiting and watching, Janis decided to give Feisel a 30-day gift certificate, so she could try a Curves routine for herself. This was no easy feat. Most members can make it around the circuit of machines twice in about a half-hour, but it takes Feisel about an hour, with much more effort.

For more than a year now, Feisel has been a regular at Curves. “Exercising has helped my mood significantly,” she remarks. “Plus, I’ve gone from wearing a size 2XL to a large.

I don’t want to eat as much, and I make the effort to include more fresh fruits and vegetables in my diet.” She reports that she also enjoys the friendly atmosphere and has made many friends along the way.

“You can really do it,” is Feisel’s message to anyone who asks.

Redford Curves is located at 27312 Plymouth Rd., at the NE corner of Plymouth and Inkster roads. For information, call 313-937-8760 or email RedfordCurves@comcast.net.

Metro Detroit has a wealth of special people whom we are pleased to honor. If you know of someone with a deserving story for us to consider, please write it up in 300 words or less and email to MDemo@HealthyLivingDetroit.com. One individual will be selected and published each month.

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Wayne County

wisewords

A Conversation with

Ina May Gaskin

Leader in America’s Natural Childbirth Movement

by Gail Condrick

I

na May Gaskin is the author of Spiritual Midwifery and Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, developer of the Gaskin maneuver for shoulder birth complications, and founder of The Farm Midwifery Center, in Tennessee. Since 1971, she has influenced and inspired women around the world with her views on natural childbirth.

Q. You have been called the nation’s leading midwife and the founder of the natural childbirth movement in America. How did you get started?

Like many women, I had tried a hospital birth and vowed never to be treated that way again. It was the late 1960s and Americans were in rebellion.

Women began demanding access to birth centers and midwives.

At the time, my husband Stephen and I were traveling on a cross-country lecture tour with a caravan of 50 school buses; along the way, babies were born and we midwifed each other. We began to coalesce into a community, finding roots and settling in Tennessee, where we founded The Farm. Some members of our community were doctors and nurses and we made contacts with local hospitals and health authorities. We had good outcomes with our pregnancies and breastfeeding rates right from the start.

Our on-the-job training grew as we learned from each other as midwives and friends.

ing this natural functioning wastes a lot of energy.

Yet, a birthing mother can make an instant change and release the ecstatic hormones naturally, simply through deep breathing, laughter and even experiencing gratitude for those helping her. All of this works best in an atmosphere of privacy and calm.

Q. Will you explain what you refer to as our country’s “big secret” regarding childbirth?

There is a generally held belief that childbirth is safe in the United States while, in reality, we lack accurate reporting on this country’s rising maternal death rate. The reports we do have, based on long-term data compiled by Q. What do women and their partners the Centers for Disease Control and a need to know about natural childbirth? later National Vital Statistics Report, reveal a doubling of the annual maWomen need to know that their bodies ternal fatalities tracked per 100,000 work better than they think they do. It is live births, from 7.5 in 1982 through 1996 to 15.1 in 2005. Given suspected vital to trust the process of nature. We under-reporting due to misclassificamust believe that women’s bodies are tion, some estimate that the number of perfectly made for childbirth and the deaths attributed to pregnancy and its natural rhythms of giving birth. When complications (which include Cesarean our larger culture understands how births, or C-sections) may be as high as women’s bodies work and we trust that three times that. ours will work, we will have an entirely new psychology of childbirth.

Q. What can families do to ensure a

Natural childbirth can provide a more natural birthing process is availholistic approach to childbearing, one able to us and our daughters? that includes the physical and emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs of We need to do a lot of rethinking. each unique birth. To attend the birth Americans believe that the more of another person is a great, humbling, technology we throw at problems, the wonderful opportunity. better. But, that is not necessarily true in giving birth. We need to study why the Q. Why does the mind/body connection death rate is rising and take major steps play a key role in childbirth? to turn it around. We need a national system collecting data, more midwives, When the biological process is allowed a revolution in obstetrical education to unfold in the most peaceful way, the and a national health-insurance system, mother experiences the natural release with better prenatal and postpartum of a mixture of ecstatic hormones, care for all women. Families must insist oxytocin and beta endorphins. Birthon it. All of this is possible. ing mothers actually have the ability to become more fluid and are able to For more information visit InaMay.com relax the muscles that need to open. If and consult a health care provider. Ina the body senses fear, the muscles of the May Gaskin’s latest book, Ina May’s involuntary system become rigid and in- Guide to Breastfeeding, will be released flexible, which makes it hard to change this fall. shape. Then, the immobility escalates, causing extreme pain where normally, Gail Condrick is a freelance writer in labor would continue unimpeded. Fight- Sarasota, FL. Reach her at NiaVisions.com.

May 2009

23

Mother Blessings

Spirit-minded Baby Showers

by Erin Eagen

The transition from maiden to mother is one of the most significant transitions a woman will ever make. This rite of passage, which forever changes a woman’s heart, also affects the way she views the world. The many months leading up to the birth of a child involve plans and activities focused around the big event.

T

ypically, in America, much of this preparation is focused on gathering the appropriate material goods. Baby showers are a fun way to get together and share excitement about the impending birth or adoption. But, much of the focus tends to be commercial; more attention needs to be paid to the spiritual and psychological needs of the mother.

In Navajo culture, a Blessingway is given to bless and support individuals in any difficult life passage. The Mother Blessing, based on the ancient Navajo Blessingway ceremony, offers an enriching alternative to the traditional baby shower for women who would like to add a meaningful touch.

Invited Guests

Mother Blessings are meant to honor the new mother by “blessing the way” to motherhood, whether it is her first child or second or third. Typically smaller in scale than a baby shower, guests are usually individuals who have a close relationship with the mother—older women in the family, sisters, daughters and close friends. A midwife and doula often are included in the celebration.

24

Wayne County

The number of guests matters less than the fact that they have been chosen as people who will empower and support the mother spiritually, emotionally and psychologically. The tone of the celebration is uplifting, as guests gather to share the intention of creating good energy that the mother can carry with her through the last weeks of pregnancy.

Celebration Activities

Activities incorporated into a Mother Blessing can vary greatly, depending on the needs and wants of the mother. Although most are somewhat spiritual in nature, celebrations may be adapted to fit any religion or maintain a secular focus. Activities such as brushing or creating a floral wreath for the mother’s hair and painting her belly with henna or body paint are relaxing activities for the mom-to-be; care and attention from close female friends will nourish her soul long after the ceremony.

The Mother Blessing is also a fun time to make a belly cast, share inspirational motherhood stories or treat the expectant mother to a foot massage. Singing, chanting, meditating and praying can be incorporated, as well.

Another popular activity is creation of a birth necklace, made from beads that the guests have brought to the

ceremony. During the challenging moments of labor, the mother may choose to wear or hold the necklace, which can serve as a physical reminder of the community of women who believe in her ability to endure this challenge.

Mother Gifts

In lieu of baby gifts, the mother is presented with items intended to nurture her mind, body and spirit. Sometimes, guests may bring natural body care products for the honoree to use to physically pamper herself. A scrapbook of inspirational quotes and writings will strengthen her spirit. At some celebrations, offerings are made to the mother that are suitable for use in creating a birth altar, a special place for items from nature, or other meaningful trinkets that can serve as helpful focal points during labor. They also serve as a tangible representation of the intentions set at the celebration.

Overall, the goal of the Mother Blessing is to empower and inspire the guest of honor as she prepares for the birth process. However the event unfolds, a Mother Blessing is a wonderful way to forge an emotional connection and assure the mother of the network of strength behind her in this exciting time of new challenges.

For more information on Mother Blessing ceremonies, read Mother Rising, by Yana Cortlund and Blessingways: A Guide to Mother-Centered Baby Showers, by Shari Maser.

For assistance in planning and hosting a Mother Blessing, contact Erin Eagen at goddessgatherings@gmail.com.

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May 2009

25

calendarofevents All Calendar events for the June issue must be received by May 10th and adhere to our guidelines. Email mdemo@HealthyLivingDetroit.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

SATURDAY, MAY 2 Nature Walk – 10-11:30am. Led by Jim Magyari.

Learn to recognize wild edible plants. Walk will take place near Fairlane Green, meet at Leo’s Coney Island, 23233 Outer Dr, Allen Park. JimMagyari@yahoo.com.

Aerial Yoga: Basic Classes – 6:30pm. $25/drop in. Detroit Flyhouse, 3434 Russell St, Loft #302, Detroit. 313-674-6424. Micha@DetroitFlyHouse. com. DetroitFlyHouse.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 3 26th Annual Metro Grand Spring Tour – 7am4pm. Sponsored by the Downriver Cycling Club.

Bike tour covers routes along the Huron River and scenic country roads in Wayne and Monroe counties. Includes all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.

Maps provided for all routes; all riders must wear helmets and obey all traffic rules. Rides are 25, 45 and 62 miles. $22 individual plus $4 park entrance fee, no charge for riders on bikes. Willow Metropark, 17845 Savage Rd, Belleville. 313-3812833. Mgst09@yahoo.com. LMB.org/DCC. Aerial Yoga – Basic Class – 11:30am. $25/drop in. Detroit Flyhouse, 3434 Russell St, Loft #302, Detroit. 313-674-6424. Micha@DetroitFlyHouse. com. DetroitFlyHouse.com.

Do You Know All the Benefits of a Raw Food Diet? – 2-4pm. Lecture and food demonstration presented

by Don Bennett, DAS, and Ellen Livingston, HCS, Health101.org and LivingYogaNow.com. Together, Ellen and Don have over 25 years of experience thriving on a raw vegan diet, and helping others to understand and implement the principles of natural healthy living. Don is the author of Avoid-

ing Degenerative Disease: The Operation and Maintenance Manual for Human Beings. $10.

Red Pepper Deli, 116 W Main St, Northville.

248-773-7671.

TUESDAY, MAY 5

wEDNESDAY, MAY 6

TUESDAY, MAY 12

Friends of the Library Dearborn: Used Book Sale – 9:30am-6pm. Henry Ford Centennial Library, 16301 Michigan Ave, first floor, SW Corridor, Dearborn. 313-943-2330.

Sustaining Balance & Support – 6:30-8pm. Kelly Cassise of New Chapter will give a free seminar at Zerbo’s, 34164 Plymouth Rd, Livonia. 734-4273144. Zerbos.com.

Get Your Energy Back – 6-8pm. Learn what causes fatigue, and how to end it with diet and lifestyle changes that are easy, effective and simple to do. Presented by Dr. Carol Ann Fischer, DC, ND, Holistic Physician, Clinical Nutritionist, and the nonprofit Foundation for Wellness Professionals.

Free. Noble Library, 32901 Plymouth Rd, Livonia.

734-756-6904. TLCHolisticWellness.com.

Take Charge of Your Health – 7-9pm. Take a natural approach to a healthier, new being. Learn how to take an active role in achieving better health and well being. Presented by Dr. Carol Ann Fischer, DC, ND, Holistic Physician, Clinical Nutritionist, and the nonprofit Foundation for Wellness Professionals. Free. 734-756-6904.

Whole Foods Market, 7350 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield. TLCHolisticWellness.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 7 VegMichigan Raw Food Potluck – 7pm, raw potluck. Dr. John Fielder, DO, DC, ND, AU, a longtime raw fooder (45 years) and holistic doctor from Australia, will present at 8 pm. Dr. Fielder leaves his “farm� in Australia every year for two months to do an international tour of presentations and speeches, his topic will be “Organic Gardening and Farming.� Admission: Bring a raw vegan

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THURSDAY, MAY 14 “Dr. Me:� How to Be Your Own Doctor – Turning Your Hands into Healing Tools – 9:30am12pm. Learn how to lessen your chance of having a heart attack, stroke and cancer by building energy balance in the kidney, heart, liver, spleen and lungs with Dr. Alice Huang. $25. (must pre-register) Total Health Foods, 13645 Northline Rd, Southgate.

734-246-1208.

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26

Taste of Eastern Market – 10 am-12pm.

Detroit Evolution Laboratory’s Vegan and Raw Foods Chef Angela Newsom is featured sharing demonstrations and samples in the center of Shed 2. Free. Eastern Market, 2934 Russell St, Detroit. DetroitEasternMarket.com.

Lunar Cycle Art Series – 8pm. Opening event featuring Sabrina Nelson. Every full moon the artwork on the walls of the Lab will cycle featuring works that engender its mission and that inspire our community. Free. Detroit Evolution Lab, 1434 Gratiot Ave, Ste 1, Detroit. 313-3161411. DetroitEvolution.com.

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Sun Ships Sound Meditation – 9-11 pm. With Warren Defever. Detroit Evolution Laboratory presents a unique meditation experience utilizing gongs, stones, drone, bells and vibrating strings.

Free. Detroit Evolution Lab, 1434 Gratiot Ave, Ste 1, Detroit. 313-316-1411. DetroitEvolution.com.

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dish (no meat, fish, dairy, eggs or honey) sized for eight servings. First-time attendees may pay $7.50 in lieu of bringing a raw vegan dish. Unity Church of Livonia, 28660 Five Mile Rd, Livonia.

877-778-3464. JohnFielder.com.

Music4Mutts Charity Event – 7pm. Concert, silent auction and raffles to benefit the Michigan Humane Society. $10, $20/VIP. Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W 4th St, Royal Oak. 800-919-6272.

Music4Mutts.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 19 Sun Ships Sound Meditation – 9-11pm. See May 5 listing. Detroit Evolution Lab, 1434 Gratiot Ave, Ste 1, Detroit. 313-316-1411. DetroitEvolution.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 Wellness Wednesdays with Dr. Civello – 7pm. (every 3rd Wednesday of the month) Free. Zerbo’s, 34164 Plymouth Rd, Livonia. 734-427-3144.

Zerbos.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 16 Joshua Allen and the Plague of Frogs – 8pm12am. With Body Holographic and Jeff Jablonski.

Free-form folk, oms, sing-a-longs, and psychedelic pop. Share experimental psych/folk with angelic vocals and found sounds, drawn-out OMs and atmospheric chattering for experiential listeners. $5. Detroit Evolution Lab, 1434 Gratiot Ave, Ste 1, Detroit. 313-316-1411. DetroitEvolution.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20 Detroit Abides Free Sustainability Gathering – 79pm. Gather to screen movies on sustainable topics; explore topics at the local level through discussion and support from regional groups and businesses; create a space to meet like-minded people from all walks of life and to grow an active, healthy community. Free. Eastern Market, 2934 Russell St, Detroit.

DetroitEvolution.com/DetroitAbides.html.

THURSDAY, MAY 21 Feel Like You Again – 7-9pm. Learn how to feel like oneself again naturally using diet and lifestyle changes. Presented by Dr. Carol Ann Fischer, DC, ND, Holistic Physician, Clinical Nutritionist, and the not for profit Foundation for Wellness Professionals. Free. Civic Center Library, 32777 Five Mile Rd, Livonia. Reservations requested. 734-756-6904.

TLCHolisticWellness.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 23 Women’s Spa & Expo – 10am-7pm. $4 admission. Radisson Hotel and Conference Center,

17123 N Laurel Park Dr, Livonia. 248-866-9376.

CindyJoMark@yahoo.com. CCGiftBaskets. com/WomensEspo.asp.

THURSDAY, MAY 28

Time Machines Night: HiFi Sonic Journeying – 9-11pm. Explore HiFi Sonic releases designed to facilitate journeying. Blankets and yoga mats provided, bring own pillow and magic carpet. $10. Detroit Evolution Lab, 1434 Gratiot Ave, Ste 1, Detroit. 313-316-1411. DetroitEvolution. com.

SUNDAY, MAY 24 “Dr. Me:” How to Be Your Own Doctor – Turning Your Hands into Healing Tools – 9:30am-12pm.

(See May 14 listing) $25. (must pre-register) Total Health Foods, 13645 Northline Rd, Southgate.

734-246-1208.

“Dr. Me:” How to Be Your Own Doctor – Turning Your Hands into Healing Tools – 7-9:30pm.

(See May 14 listing) $25. (must pre-register).

Total Health Foods, 13645 Northline Rd, Southgate. 734-246-1208.

SATURDAY, MAY 30 Vegan Singles Night – 7-10pm. Meet likeminded singles in the relaxed atmosphere of the lab. Enjoy Angela’s incredible hors d’oeuvres, snacks and desserts; take in the artwork of Sabrina Nelson. $10. Detroit Evolution Lab, 1434 Gratiot Ave, Ste 1, Detroit. 313-316-1411.

DetroitEvolution.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 31

TUESDAY, MAY 26

Health, Wellness and Safety Event – 11am5pm. Cut-a-thon to benefit children with hair loss and a chili cook off. Beginners’ Yoga class from 12-2pm. Admission is 2 cans of food to benefit Fish and Loaves Community Food Pantry.

Outdoor tent at Sam’s Club, 15700 Northline Rd, Southgate. 734-281-6760.

Raw Food Dehydrating – 6:30pm. Seminar led by Joyce Oliveto (6:45 lecture starts) Free. Zerbo’s, 34164 Plymouth Rd, Livonia. 734-427-3144.

Zerbos.com.

Sun Ships Sound Meditation – 9-11pm. See May 5 listing. Detroit Evolution Lab, 1434 Gratiot Ave, Ste 1, Detroit. 313-316-1411. DetroitEvolution. com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 Dr. Rath Heart Disease Seminar – 7pm. Presented by Carl Graff, Quality Inn, 30375 Plymouth Road, Livonia. Sponsored by Zerbo’s. 734-4273144. Zerbos.com.

Independence is happiness.

– Susan B. Anthony

Campus Martius Park

Thursday, June 25, 2009 10 am-4 pm ~ Sponsor and exhibitor opportunities ~ FREE health screening and checkups Corporate challenge Sports celebrities on hand

www.stronghealthandwellnessfair.com May 2009

27

ongoingcalendar All Calendar events for the May issue must be received by April 10th and adhere to our guidelines. Email mdemo@HealthyLivingDetroit.com for guidelines and to submit entries.

Xflowsion Class – 10-11:15am. One-of-a-kind blend of yoga, martial arts, and dance moves all infused with music from every genre. Flow is designed to move beyond a traditional vinyasa so that all fitness junkies feel at home. Everyone welcome, especially those that never thought yoga could be fun. Yoga Shelter, 17000 Kercheval St, Grosse Pointe. 313-884-9642. YogaShelter.com.

All Levels Hip Openers Yoga Class – 12-1:15pm.

An all levels class that not only opens the hips, but also the heart. Uses the breath as a solid foundation to assist in finding the edge and safely balancing between effort and surrender. Class moves from lighting and building one’s internal flame slowly, to utilizing this warmth in longer–holding yinstyle asanas. Free to new students. $12 packages available. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. 734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Yoga Flow Class – 7:15pm. Increases awareness of breath and body while building a strong, flexible back and core. Walk-ins $15. Body Fit, 133 W Main St, Ste 240, Northville. 248-305-8414.

BodyFitMI.com.

Slow Flow Yoga – 9-11am. Wonderful for beginners; designed to help participants overcome the pressures of modern day life. Course will be gentle, slow and calm. Taylor Recreation Center, 22805 Goddard Rd, Taylor. 734-374-3901. TaylorYoga. com.

Work Break Yoga – 11:45am-12:30pm. Class for a practice during a lunch break from work. Easy to follow along; focuses on stretching, tension relief and breathing. Postures will be paced slowly, but a dedication to challenging oneself is required. May return to work refreshed, and perhaps with a new, more positive perspective. All levels. $10 suggested donation. Yoga in Detroit, 535 Griswold St, Congress Floor 27, Buhl Bldg, Detroit. 248-496-0392.

Info@YogaInDetroit.com. YogaInDetroit.com.

Basic All Levels Drop In Yoga Class – 910:15am. Basic yoga for all levels, instructions for proper posture, breath and alignment, some focus on building strength and improving flexibility, promoting mind body connection, short meditation, and pranayama. Free to new students. $12 packages available. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. 734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Ashtanga Flow Yoga – 6-7:15pm. Primary Ashtanga series, with different “asana-adventures,” while continuing to build one pose off the next. All levels welcome to participate, as each pose will be taught with modifications to help beginners as well as build advanced practices. $10 suggested donation. Free parking after 5pm. Yoga in Detroit, 535 Griswold St, Congress Floor 27, Buhl Bldg, Detroit. 248-496-0392. Info@YogaInDetroit.com.

YogaInDetroit.com.

Yoga Ed Class – 6-7:15pm. Requests each student develop a non-competitive practice to serve as a health maintenance regime to integrate on and off the mat. Incorporates self-awareness. All levels. $10 suggested donation. Free parking after 5pm.

Yoga in Detroit, 535 Griswold St, Congress Floor 27, Buhl Bldg, Detroit. 248-496-0392. Info@ YogaInDetroit.com. YogaInDetroit.com.

Yoga and Qi Gong for Real Bodies – 7-8:15pm.

Feel happier, healthier and less stressed. Improve digestion and sleep better. Have better balance and coordination. Class incorporates yoga, qi gong, breathing techniques, mudras and relaxation methods. Free to new students. $12 packages available.

Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate.

734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Cardio Kickboxing – 7:45-8:45pm. Highenergy, cardiovascular workout plus the benefits of practicing self-defense moves, ages 13 and up. $5. Ultimate Karate Institute, 23753 Van Born Rd, Taylor. 313-292-9214.

Wellness Wednesday Therapeutic Yoga Class – 8:30-9:30am. Classes on a donation basis and open to everyone. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 DixToledo Rd, Southgate. 734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Wellness Wednesday Restorative Yoga & Reiki Class – 9:45-10:45am. Classes on a donation basis and open to everyone. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toldedo Rd, Southgate. 734-282-9642.

RisingSunYoga.com.

Wellness Wednesday Retired & Ready to Live Yoga – 11am-12pm. Classes on a donation basis and open to everyone. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. 734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Slow Flow Yoga Class – 7:15-8:45pm. Playful flow of 3 or 4 gentle postures united in a short sequence, repeated to warm up and connect breath and movement. Learn foundation postures; great workout too. Cool down with passive stretches. Classes on a donation basis and open to everyone. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toldedo Rd, Southgate. 734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Slow Flow Yoga – 9-11am. See Tuesday listing. Taylor Recreation Center, 22805 Goddard Rd, Taylor. 734-374-3901. TaylorYoga.com.

Work Break Yoga – 11:45am-12:30pm. See Tuesday listing. Yoga in Detroit, 535 Griswold St, Congress Floor 27, Buhl Bldg, Detroit. 248-496-0392.

Info@YogaInDetroit.com. YogaInDetroit.com.

Yoga for Every Body 6-7:15pm. All levels, but geared towards helping those who feel they “can’t do yoga” to find comfort, while seeking a routine of exercise and health. No judgment, no pressure. $10 suggested donation. Free parking after 5pm. Yoga in Detroit, 535 Griswold St, Congress Floor 27, Buhl

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.

- Margaret Atwood

28

Wayne County

Bldg, Detroit. 248-496-0392. Info@YogaInDetroit. com. YogaInDetroit.com.

Middle Age Yoga – 7-8:15pm. Develop flexibility, balance, build bone strength and a sharper clearer mind with a warm and giving instructor. Classes on a donation basis and open to everyone. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. 734282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

All Levels Yoga Class – 5-6pm. Let go of the stresses of the week and unwind going into the weekend. A half-hour meditation after class is optional. Classes on a donation basis and open to everyone. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. 734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Little Lotus: Kids Yoga – 1-2pm. Ages 5-11.

A creative and fun way for one’s child to learn to move their bodies, focus and calm their minds, as well as create community with others. Promotes self-esteem, caring for others and builds a sense of awareness for nurturing the planet. Yoga Shelter, 17000 Kercheval St, Grosse Pointe. 313-884-9642. YogaShelter.com.

Cardio Kickboxing – 7:45-8:45pm. See Tuesday listing. Ultimate Karate Institute, 23753 Van Born Rd, Taylor. 313-292-9214.

Prenatal Yoga – 7:45-8:45pm. A nurturing class designed to meet the changing needs of pregnancy.

An opportunity for pregnant women to share their experiences, connect with their developing baby, and prepare for childbirth through movement, relaxation and breath techniques. All levels welcome, but if new to yoga, it is best to check with one’s doctor before beginning. $14/walk-in. Northville Yoga Center, 200 S Main St, Unit B, Northville.

248-449-9642. NorthvilleYogaCenter.com.

Posture Pro Yoga Class – 9:30-11am. Practice yoga correctly. Learn to do yoga safely and reveal a deeper understanding of the body. Learn to keep the back positioned to prevent injury while stationary and moving is reinforced through yoga postures.

Free to new students. $12 packages available. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate.

734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Prenatal Yoga Class – 10:30am-12pm. Help strengthen the uterus and pelvic muscles, improve circulation, aid in digestion, exercise the spine and increase overall comfort. Yoga can also alleviate many of the discomforts of pregnancy such as nausea, constipation, varicose veins, swelling, back pain and sciatica. Dads or friends are welcome to join. Classes on a donation basis and open to everyone. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. 734-282-9642. RisingSunYoga.com.

Spring is nature’s way of saying,

Drop In Kids Yoga Class – 12:30-1:30pm. Ages 6-11. This creative and less traditional approach to yoga will improve flexibility, coordination, concentration and focus, stimulate children’s imagination and help to release energy in a fun, safe environment. Using stories, interactive games and animated postures, kids learn about animals, art, nature and basic anatomy through yoga. Free to new students. $12 packages available. Rising Sun Yoga, 13550 Dix-Toledo Rd, Southgate. 734-2829642. RisingSunYoga.com.

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s "ASIC ,ITERACY s *OB 2EADINESS Training s '%$ !SSESSMENT and Prep s "ASIC -ATH AND Algebra s "USINESS -ATH AND Writing

s 4!"% 0RE AND 0OST 4ESTING s /CCUPATIONAL 3KILLS Training s 6OCABULARY AND 3PELLING s (EALTH ,ITERACY s 4HE &INANCIAL ,ITERARY 3ERIES s 4HE #ITIZENSHIP ,EARNING Series

Unlimited Access to Pro-Literacy Detroit’s Virtual University is available for $ 55 a month!

Guest Student: Herbal Medicines in the Field – Naturopathic College of Ann Arbor. May 31, 10am-12pm. Join herbal medicine students for medicinal plant walk. $30.

734-769-7794. NaturopathicCollegeOfAnnArbor.net.

Guest Student Day at Naturopathic College of Ann Arbor. Saturday, May 30, 9am-12pm. Join herbal medicine students in foundational medicine-making class. $60. 734769-7794. NaturopathicCollegeOfAnnArbor.net.

Making Plant Medicines at Gaia School of Herbal Studies/Naturopathic College of Ann Arbor. Join us in identifying, collecting potent spring herbs for useful medicines. 734-7697794. GaiaHerbalStudies.net, NaturopathicCollege OfAnnArbor.net. May 17, 10am-4:40pm. $95.

Nutritional and Culinary Exploration of Wild Edible Plants, with recipes and tastings at the Naturopathic College of Ann Arbor. May 27, 6:30-9pm. 734-769-7794.

NaturopathicCollegeOfAnnArbor.net.

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Natural deodorants, chemical-free, vegan, gluten free, body care items. Large selection of culinary and medicinal herbs. Saturdays at Royal Oak Farmers Market, 7am-1pm. DirtyGirlFarm.com.

Think fine lines should be quoted and not appear on your face?

A simple and effective daily program with Mary Kay TimeWise skin care can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. So skin looks firmer and feels softer. Start looking

younger now! Contact Kiana Doggan-German, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: 313-396-5496, KianaGerman@MaryKay.com, MaryKay.com/KianaGerman.

HELP WANTED

Full service salon now hiring experienced stylists and nail technicians. Contract labor-commission only! Scheduling interviews by appointment only. Call Crystal, 313-2997873. Hair by Pure Crystal Salon in Taylor.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

911 Handyman – Total home repair. Home improvements, maintenance, repairs, exterior and interior, residential and commercial, small or large jobs. Licensed and insured. Cliff: 734-771-4546.

Green Building Product. For simple contracting or builders. Renews metal, rubber and flat roofs with tremendous cost savings up to 70%. Act now. Call 573-489-9346.

What does your space say about you? Kiana Doggan Interior Designs LLC offers affordable and efficient design solutions for residential and commercial interiors. Free initial consultation. Kiana Doggan-German, Interior Designer, 313-396-5496 or KianaGerman@ gmail.com.

Spirituality

Goddess Gatherings offers spiritually centered events to honor the goddess within.

Mother Blessings, Bridal Blessings, Baby Blessings, Teen Blessings. We’ll create and plan the blessing ceremony to honor any milestone in a woman’s life. To treat yourself or a loved one to this unique experience, contact Erin and Jeanne at GoddessGatherings@gmail.com.

You Can Learn On-Line!

with Virtual Pro-Literacy U Virtual Pro-Literacy University uses cutting edge, web-based technology powered

by Aztec Software to provide customized training packages for individual learners, families and corporate clients. You get direct access to our effective, certified learning system at your choice of time, place and pace - 24/7, 365 days a year! You and your family can have access to our entire Virtual Pro-Literacy University for less than $2 per day!

Virtual Pro-Literacy University is BROUGHT TO YOU EXCLUSIVELY BY Pro-Literacy Detroit Powered by Aztec Software Pro-Literacy Detroit is a fully accredited affiliate of Pro-Literacy America and the largest non-profit organization of its kind in the State of Michigan. Since 1984, Pro-Literacy Detroit has trained over 5,000 volunteer tutors and assisted over 11,000 learners.

For More Information or to Signup for a Free Demo Contact Pro-Literacy Detroit www.proliteracydetroit.org 4HE 0ALMS "UILDING s 7OODWARD 3UITE s $ETROIT -ICHIGAN s 0HONE s &AX

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Wayne County

communityresourceguide HEALTH FOOD STORE NUTRITION UNLIMITED

PET SERVICES Gentle Pet Protectors

14185 Eureka Rd., Southgate 734-284-2357

A Weston A. Price Shopping Guide Store. Organic and natural foods, sports nutrition, health care professional lines: Standard Process, Biotics Research, Medi-herbs, and certified nutritional counseling.

Will ship anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.

Lisa Phelps 313-410-3147 Kiyoda@aol.com

Professional Dog Walking; Pet and House Sitting Services. In business for over nine years.

Provide in-home medical services. Fully Bonded, Licensed and Insured. Member of Pet Sitters International

TOTAL HEALTH FOODS, LLC 13645 Northline, Southgate 734-246-1208 THFDownriver.com

SCHOOL

We offer organic foods, vitamins, supplements and a variety of classes and informational lectures. Our new look includes free Wi-Fi and internet access and an area to sit and enjoy our community atmosphere.

ZERBO’S

34164 Plymouth Rd., Livonia 734-427-3144 Zerbos.com

NATUROPATHIC COLLEGE OF ANN ARBOR

1923 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-769-7794 NaturopathicCollegeOfAnnArbor.net Integrating Western and Eastern natural medicine traditions for professional training and personal enrichment. Classes beginning in October. Open Houses: July 26, Aug 15, Sept 5; 12-2pm.

Wall to Wall supplements Organic products & NATUROPATHIC COLLEGE produce Frozen & Refrigerated foods GrocerNATUROPATHIC COLLEGE of Ann Arbor ies, Teas, Bulk Foods Natural Chemical Free Pet Tel: 734-769-7794ofwww.naturopathiccollegeofannarbor.net Ann Arbor Community and Diploma Programs beginning October Products Mineral Based Cosmetics Chemical Freewww.naturopathiccollegeofannarbor.net Tel: 734-769-7794 Want to reach readers Open Houses July, August, September, Noon-2pm who are Personal Care products Raw Living & Sprouted and wellness focused?

Location:health 1923 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor Community Programs beginning October Food Section Fitness Section and more ... and Diploma Naturopathy d Herbal Medicine d Massage

Learn how to list your services in the Open Houses July, August, September, Noon-2pm Community Resource Guide.

CallAvenue, us at 586-983-8305 Location: 1923 Geddes Ann Arbor

Naturopathy d Herbal Medicine d Massage

Our services include: Eco-Logic Lawn and Landscape provides safe, full service, lawn and garden care.

You can have safe lawn care, self sustaining landscaping, the peace of mind that comes from Eco-friendly living and know that you are protecting your family, pets and waterways.

Services provided for homes and businesses.

• Chemical Free Fertilization • Landscape design • Spring/Fall clean-up • Mowing

May 2009

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