December 2020 Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS

E E HEALTHY LIVING FR

HEALTHY

PLANET

THE HOLIDAY ISSUE Multicultural Traditions Recipes for Delicious Gifts Simplifying the Season

PLUS: The Benefits of Mind-Body Exercise

December 2020 | Gulf Coast AL/MS Edition | HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Coming in February!

HEALTHY &

GREEN LIVING

DIRECTORY

O

P OU P R O R BE T U ST N IT A Y DV O E F R T TI H S E IN Y G E A R .

2021

Be a part of our directory issue to connect with health-conscious readers, both in print & online all year, for ONLY $99! aAFFORDABLE 12-MONTH EXPOSURE aNO MULTI-MONTH CONTRACT aSOMETHING FOR EVERY BUDGET aEASY TO PARTICIPATE With one-on-one guidance, we make it easy to advertise. Whether you’re an experienced advertiser or a brand new business owner, we are here for you.

DEADLINE: January 12, 2021 For details, and to reserve your space: 2

Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

251-990-9552 HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Tis the season...

Visit Peak Alkalinity for gifts of wellness this holiday season.

Gift Certificates

are great stocking stuffers and gifts for co-workers!

Christmas specials!

Buy 2 foot detox sessions, get 1 FREE! Buy 2 far infrared sauna sessions, get 1 FREE! Buy 2 oxygen bar sessions, get 1 FREE!

Christmas offers valid December 21-26, 2020. Check Facebook and Website for holiday hours.

NOW OPEN in Mobile! 2724 Old Shell Rd, Midtown Mobile, AL | 251-586-8198

217-B Fairhope Ave, Fairhope, AL | 251-270-7200 | PeakAlkalinity.com

Masters of Massage

FOLEY, AL THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE Charlene Rester, RN, LMT Historical Downtown 117 W. Orange Ave. 251-550-0117

FAIRHOPE, AL MOUNTAIN MASSAGE & DAY SPA

101 Lottie Ln., Ste. 5 251-928-0214 MountainMassageDaySpa@gmail.com MountainMassageDaySpa.com See ad, page 25.

DAPHNE, AL DYNAMIC THERAPEUTICS

9037 Independence Ave., Ste. A2 251-459-0500 DynamicTherapeutics.net See ad, page 33.

JUBILEE HEALING ARTS

Jennifer (Adams) Killgo, LMT 28170 N. Main St., Ste. C 251-616-4201 JubileeHealingArts.com See ad, page 27.

MOBILE, AL ELEMENTS THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE 6920 Airport Blvd., Ste. 111 251-342-6415 Mobile@TouchOfElements.com ElementsMassage.com/Mobile See ad, page 33.

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS YOUR MASSAGE STUDIO HERE!

Our readers are looking for Mississippi LMT’s. Advertise your massage business here. Call 251-990-9552 for SPECIAL MISSISSIPPI PRICING! December 2020

3

Contents 16 LOOKING BEYOND

FAMILIAR TRADITIONS

16

How Locals are Celebrating the Season

19 FRESH RITUALS FOR A NEW YEAR 20 2020 NATURAL

AWAKENINGS GIFT GUIDE

23 THE GIFT OF YUM Homemade Treats Spark Holiday Cheer

26 PAY WHERE WE PLAY

20

Boosting the Hometown Economy

28 REINVENT THE HOLIDAYS

More Meaning, Less Stuff

30 MIND-BODY FITNESS How Mindfulness Benefits Workouts

32 MATT KAHN

on Transforming the Planet With Love

DEPARTMENTS 7 news briefs 10 health briefs 12 global briefs 14 eco tip 16 diverse

conversations 19 inspiration 20 gift guide 4

Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

28

23 conscious

eating 26 green living 28 healthy kids 30 fit body 32 wise words 34 calendar 35 classifieds 36 directory

Natural Awakenings is a family of more than 50 healthy living magazines celebrating 26 years of providing the communities we serve with the tools and resources we all need to lead healthier lives on a healthy planet.

Does someone you know struggle with

MEMORY LOSS or DEMENTIA?

23 We can help.

14

30

Cutting-Edge | Non-Invasive | Drug-Free Our unique approach is non-invasive and has helped dementia patients that originally scored in the teens on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment be restored to the point of scoring normal (26-30) on the same assessment.

Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive neurological evaluation (includes Quantitative EEG) to identify the potential for brain pathway improvement. Once a treatment program is put in place, many patients see notable improvements within a few weeks, but the benefits can last a lifetime.

ADVERTISING & SUBMISSIONS HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 251-990-9552 or email Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication.

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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 239-434-9392. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakenings.com.

Treating a range of brain disorders including Dementia | Depression | Brain Injuries | ADHD

Dr. J Douglas Brown DC DACNB, Board Certified Neurology-Chiropractic Dr. Brown is one of only a few functional neurologists in the U.S. providing brain pathway activation therapy in conjunction with deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and Bredesen’s science-based nutritional program.

Call today:

251-597-8787

MindPerformanceCenter.com 240 West Laurel Avenue, Foley, AL (Located inside Path To Wellness)

December 2020

5

letter from publisher

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET One of my favorite holiday traditions is eating sushi on Christmas Eve. It started when I was a kid—my mom is Japanese and we’d always gather at my aunt’s house for sushi and a gift exchange before going to the candlelight church service.

Now our own kids look forward to going out for sushi after the early Christmas Eve church service each year.

When Josh and I got married, we took time to introduce each other to the rituals we grew up with, deciding together which ones we wanted to make our own. Following his family’s lead, we hang white lights instead of multi-colored, we (after much practice) have perfected his mom’s cheese straw recipe, and on Christmas morning, one person assumes the role of Santa, distributing everyone’s gifts from under the tree to their recipients.

In addition to a sushi dinner, we carried on other traditions of my family’s, like letting the kids make pigs in a blanket while I cook the same holiday eggs that my mom cooked, and playing Mariah Carey’s Christmas album at least once that morning (a ritual I initiated in the ‘90s). Over the years, traditions evolve—since I gave up meat, some of the pigs in a blanket are made vegetarian-friendly, and in addition to watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation at least once (a mainstay of the Montgomery holidays), Josh and I have watched The Family Stone annually since we saw it in the theater in 2005. We also enjoy putting our own twist on things—instead of an Elf on the Shelf, Kinder the kindness monkey visits our kids during December (and unlike elves, he doesn’t mind being hugged).

I had so much fun hearing about how other families in coastal Alabama and Mississippi will be celebrating the holiday season as I worked on “Looking Beyond Familiar Traditions” for this month’s issue. I learned about Las Posadas, Mexico’s neighborhood caroling tradition, and I discovered that Hanukkah is a celebration of religious freedom. I heard about huge family gatherings and Christmas Eve sleepovers, as well as more intimate experiences like looking through old family photos.

This holiday edition of Natural Awakenings fosters a balance of seasonal cheer and wellness with articles like “The Gift of Yum” for homemade gift recipe ideas, “Pay Where We Play”, to remind us to buy local, and “Mind-Body Fitness” to encourage mindfulness in our workouts.

Our annual gift guide will help you find presents for everyone on your list, while “Reinvent the Holidays” reminds us that the spirit of the season matters more than material gifts.

To close out 2020—a year that has truly been like no other, consider adding a new ritual to your routine. It can be personal or social, silly or serious, big or small. Try broadening your horizon by seeking inspiration from cultures that you are unfamiliar with. Explore the history behind a modern tradition and how you can adapt it to complement your own family’s ways. When we enrich our lives with new experiences and fresh knowledge, we are often blessed with gifts that money can’t buy: a fresh outlook on life, a deepened sense of unity and memories that last a lifetime. I hope all of you find a renewed sense of giving and feel the warm embrace of love this holiday season.

Happy everything, and be merry always!

GULF COAST EDITION PUBLISHER Meredith Montgomery

EDITING TEAM Michelle Bense Josh Montgomery Anne Wilson Michael Wilson LAYOUT Gabrielle W-Perillo

DISTRIBUTION MGR. Stephanie Klumpp

CONTACT US P.O. Box 725, Fairhope, AL 36533 Ph: 251-990-9552 HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

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NATIONAL TEAM

CEO/Founder Sharon Bruckman COO/Franchise Sales Joe Dunne

Art Director Josh Pope

Layout & Design Gabrielle W-Perillo

Financial Manager Yolanda Shebert Asst. Director of Ops Heather Gibbs Digital Content Director Rachael Oppy National Advertising Lisa Doyle-Mitchell Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Ryan Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation 4933 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. 203 Naples, FL 34103 Ph: 239-434-9392 • Fax: 239-434-9513 NaturalAwakeningsMag.com © 2020 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. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business.

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

Check with a healthcare professional regarding the appropriate use of any treatment.

Natural Awakenings Magazine is ranked 5th Nationally in CISION’S® 2016 Top 10 Health & Fitness Magazines

Natural Awakenings is printed on recyclable newsprint.

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Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

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news briefs

fizkes/AdobeStock.com

The holiday season can often trigger depression, and Dr. J. Douglas Brown, DC, DACNB, owner of The Mind Performance Center, LLC, in Foley, Alabama, advises patients to seek natural treatment options. By employing FDA-approved magnetic stimulation deep into the brain, to regenerate the ability to produce and release neurotransmitters, symptoms of depression can be reduced or eliminated. While medications can help increase available levels of a few neurotransmitters, Brown’s non-invasive and drug-free approach increases levels of all neurotransmitters (more than 200).

“The results of our treatments are tangible, often delivering improvement when nothing else has,” says Brown, who notes that 70 percent of his depression patients see depression symptoms reduced by at least 50 percent. “Our approach fosters brain balance and performance without negative side effects.”

Brown is one of only a few functional neurologists in the U.S. providing this deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in conjunction with brain pathway activation therapy and the science-based nutritional program of Alzheimer’s researcher Dale Bredesen. Treatment of depression usually lasts five to six weeks and does not interfere with current medications.

Feel Good and Look Good During the Holidays Blue Planet Studio/AdobeStock.com

Natural Approach Proven Effective for Depression

Location: Inside Path for Wellness, 240 W. Laurel St., Foley, AL. For more information, call 251-597-8787 or visit MindPerformanceCenter.com. See ad, page 5.

A Big New Year for CannaBama CannaBama: The CBD Store has big plans for 2021, including a comprehensive educational platform. They plan to offer boot camp trainings, virtual courses and in-store consulting services to other people in the business of CBD—including industry leaders, established retailers who are struggling, those who are just starting out and even consumers. CBD applications, strain differentiation and the legal rights of store owners and CBD consumers are just some of the topics that will be covered.

“To say this year has been a rollercoaster is an understatement. But we’ve managed the ups and downs of running a retail store even through COVID, and we want to pass along our knowledge to other people in the industry to help them take it to the next level,” says owner Jennifer Boozer.

The new year will also bring the relaunch of their website Jennifer Boozer, owner and online store. Customers can expect a complete overhaul of the site with new features like subscriptions and a fresh selection of products, including CannaBama’s own line.

“After spending so much time procuring a huge list of products, we’ve seen everything there is and I’m excited to launch my own line,” Boozer says. “I won’t be releasing a tincture because that is redundant. I’m utilizing my friends in the industry who are the best farmers and the best chemists to do something different—we’re making things I’ve never seen before.”

Dynamic Therapeutics, in Daphne, now offers individualized wellness coaching sessions with Cryoskin packages to keep clients on track through the holidays and into the new year. Cryoskin is a revolutionary machine from Europe that uses heat and cold to naturally stimulate weight loss and collagen production in the skin. When paired with coaching sessions, this affordable and pain-free therapy helps clients enjoy the season without guilt.

“We all know that the holidays, especially here in the south, are a festival of food. At Dynamic Therapeutics, we want to make sure your holiday season is full of cheer,” says owner and certified wellness coach Dr. Tonya Butler. “As Cryoskin sculpts the body, it can prevent you from adding on additional weight by keeping you feeling sexy and beautiful.

With coaching sessions, you’ll stay on track so you don’t have to think about New Year’s resolutions after the holiday cheer has settled.”

Cryoskin requires no down-time and an appointment lasts 20 to 45 minutes.

Dynamic Therapeutics also specializes in medical massage and corrective exercise for individuals with acute or chronic pain.

For more information, call 251-459-0500 or visit DynamicTherapeutics.net. See ad, page 33.

CannaBama has locations in downtown Mobile and Daphne, AL. For more information, call 251-255-5155 or visit CannaBamaCBD.com. See ad, page 27.

December 2020

7

Rentals and Membership Programs Make Wellness More Affordable Peak Alkalinity, in Fairhope and Mobile, has launched an additional ionizer rental program to make pure, ionized alkaline water even more accessible to their customers. In-home ionizers provide water for the whole family and are available to rent for $69 per month with a 12-month agreement. The original 6-month option is still available for $99 per month.

Both programs require a $299 deposit to cover the installation kit, pre-filter with installation kit and descaling kit (required for regular cleanings), and free installation is being offered for a limited time. The deposit is non-refundable, but can be applied toward a new unit should the customer decide to purchase an ionizer at a later date. Ionizers can be uninstalled for no fee once the agreement period has been satisfied.

Wellness Memberships are now available at both locations as well. Options range from the Basic Detox ($85 per month), which includes 80 minutes of oxygen sessions and a foot detox, to the Ultra Premium Detox Package ($149 per month), which includes 16 gallons of alkaline water, one hour of sauna sessions, 80 minutes of oxygen sessions and one foot detox.

For more information, call 251-586-8198 (Mobile) or 251-270-7200 (Fairhope), or visit PeakAlkalinity.com. See ad, page 3.

Post-Op Massage Helps Heal the Zoom Effect

Thrive Yoga & Massage, in Fairhope, has a variety of gift options that support mind and body while catering to individual needs. “Give your loved one the gift of their best selves while maintaining social distancing,” says owner Billie Reinhart.

“Yoga teaches self-care at any level and massage is more restful relief, with some services as low as $30.”

Gift cards are available for private yoga lessons, traditional table massage, Thai yoga massage (a gentle technique with assisted stretching) and spa services such as muscle melting hot stones, facials, ear candling and more. They can be purchased online and emailed to the recipient or printed. Customers can also include the gift card code in a holiday card they create on their own.

For stocking stuffers, high quality CBD products are available for inflammation or stress and pain relief. A variety of applications are available including bath bombs, tinctures, creams and gummies.

Save $10 when you use code “TENOFF” for services over one hour. For more information, visit ThriveFairhope.com. See ad, opposite page.

nenetus/AdobeStock.com

Dermatologists and plastic surgeons have seen an unexpected uptick in procedures this year. Calling it the “Zoom effect”, part of the increase stems from complaints of patients in reference to double chins, wrinkles, under-eye bags and other imperfections noticed on themselves while videoconferencing.

As one of the most highly doctorreferred licensed massage therapists in the area, Jen (Adams) Killgo, at Jubilee Healing Arts, in Daphne, sees post-op plastic surgery clients specifically to help facilitate healing after cosmetic procedures. Lymphatic Drainage massage mimics the pulse and flow within the lymph system to reduce swelling and stimulate the immune system. This gentle, superficial massage technique helps move stagnant fluids out of surrounding body tissue and back into the lymphatic vessels. The STRAIT Method Scar Tissue Release technique can soften collagen so that the area can heal more efficiently with less scarring, while making surrounding tissues more functional and less problematic.

Killgo can begin seeing clients as early as 72 hours after a procedure. To ensure an appointment is available, post-op massage sessions should be made at the time the procedure is scheduled so that the services will be of the greatest potential benefit.

Local Gifts to Thrive

For more information or an appointment, call 251-616-4201 or visit JubileeHealingArts.com.

See ad, page 27.

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Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

PA ND A/ Ad ob eS toc k.c om

2020

Gift Guide

For more great gift ideas, see pages 20-22.

Masters of Yoga Mental Health + Physical Health

=

Health

Offering classes in studio, outdoors & online.

Born to Birth Yoga

YOGA + THERAPY 26050 Predazzer Ln, Ste B, Daphne, AL

103B N Bancroft St,Fairhope TheSoulShineLife.com|251-225-4597

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@trueyogatherapy

PRENATAL, POSTNATAL, AND MOMMY & ME ONLINE YOGA CLASSES

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SYNERGY Yoga & Pilates

NEW LOCATION! Ask about Thai Yoga Massage, spa services, private lessons for individual or groups and CBD products!

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We believe that yoga is for everybody.

thrivefairhope.com • 251-929-4020 21883 AL-181, Fairhope, AL

3152 Old Shell Road, Suite 2 Mobile, Alabama 36607

251.473.1104

December 2020

9

health briefs

Eat Cruciferous Veggies for Cleaner Blood Vessels

Yoga postures and breathing may significantly reduce episodes of atrial fibrillation, suggests a new study—good news for the one in 11 Americans that suffer from its anxiety-producing palpitations, racing pulses, dizziness and shortness of breath. In the study, which was presented to the European Society of Cardiology, 538 patients underwent 12 weeks without yoga and then 16 weeks of attending 30-minute yoga classes every other day. During the yoga period, their fibrillation episodes were halved, dropping on average to eight as compared to 15 in the non-yoga period.

Average blood pressure was 11/6 millimeters of mercury lower after yoga training. The patients also reported improved moods and energy. “Our study suggests that yoga has wide-ranging physical and mental health benefits for patients with atrial fibrillation, and could be added on top of usual therapies,” says study author Naresh Sen, M.D., of Sunil Memorial Superspecialty Hospital, in Jaipur, India.

Pile on the broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. In a study of 684 older Australian women published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers found those that ate more than 45 grams of cruciferous vegetables a day—about one-quarter cup of steamed broccoli or one-half cup of raw cabbage—were 46 percent less likely to have calcium buildup in the aorta, the main vessel carrying blood from the heart into the body. Fatty calcium deposits in the aorta are a key marker of vascular disease linked to heart attacks and strokes. “One particular constituent found abundantly in cruciferous vegetables is vitamin K, which may be involved in inhibiting the calcification process that occurs in our blood vessels,” says lead author Lauren Blekkenhorst, of Edith Cowan University, in Perth. southstore design/Pexels.com

Practice Yoga to Improve Atrial Fibrillation

com le/Pexels. elly fairyta

“Bulking up” evokes images of bodybuilders and possible steroid use, but new research shows that older people that simply eat lots of vitamin Crich fruits and vegetables have greater skeletal muscle mass than those that don’t eat these foods. Researchers from the UK’s University of East Anglia collected data from more than 13,000 people between 42 and 82 years old and reported in The Journal of Nutrition that the highest amounts of vitamin C correlated with the greatest estimated skeletal muscle mass—an important finding, as people older than 50 typically lose half a percent of muscle fat each year, leading to frailty and a lower quality of life. Sixty percent of men in the study and 50 percent of women were not getting enough vitamin C from food or supplements. “We’re not talking about people needing megadoses. Eating a citrus fruit such as an orange each day and having a vegetable side to a meal will be sufficient for most people,” says study co-author Richard Hayhoe.

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Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

prathsnap/Pexels.com

Retain Muscle Mass with Vitamin C

ketut subiyanto/Pexels.com

For normal nighttime sleepers, taking a midday snooze for more than one hour may hurt cardiovascular health, reports a surprising new study from Guangzhou Medical University, in China.

After analyzing 20 studies of 313,651 people, researchers found those people that napped longer than 60 minutes after sleeping more than six hours at night had a 30 percent greater risk of death from any cause and a 34 percent higher risk of heart disease. However, for people sleeping less than six hours at night, naps of 30 to 45 minutes “might improve heart health,” says study author Zhe Pan. Napping, long thought to be healthy, is under increasing scrutiny, with some research linking it to high blood pressure, diabetes and poor overall physical health. A 2019 Swiss study, published in Heart, of 3,500 people concluded that napping once or twice a week reduces heart disease risk by 48 percent, but benefits decline with more frequent naps, perhaps because ongoing sleepiness can point to underlying health disorders.

For a Healthy Baby, Take a Multivitamin, Exercise and Ditch the Devices The simple step of taking a daily multivitamin during pregnancy can reduce the risk of autism in newborns by 38 percent, report Chinese researchers that analyzed nine studies of 231,163 children, of which 4,459 were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Another study from Kings College, London, of 1,555 obese, pregnant women, concluded that when they improved their diet and exercised, their children three years later had an average resting pulse rate of five beats per minute lower than the other children, a better glycemic response and slightly less obesity. Israeli research, published in the online journal Sleep, involving 116 men ages 21 to 59, found those that used smartphones and tablets in the evening and after bedtime had lower sperm quality with reduced counts and motility.

Watching TV, another light-emitting source, during the evening also correlated with lower sperm concentration.

freestocksorg/Pexels.com

Nap Less for Heart Health

Fairhope Health Foods 251-928-0644

While supplies last, buy one Irwin Immune product at regular price and receive one qualifying CBD product FREE of charge!

280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center

Virginia’s Health Foods 251-479-3952

3055 A Dauphin Street in Mobile

VA-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

more december specials Delicious, organic dining experience with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairyfree options. Catering available.

Fairhope Cafe: 251-929-0055

Located next door to Fairhope Health Foods Mon-Sat 10:30am-3pm; Sunday Brunch 10:30am-3pm

Mobile Cafe: 251-479-3200

Located inside Virginia’s Health Foods in Mobile Mon-Sat 10:30am-3pm; Sunday 11am-3pm

20% OFF

Host Defense, Nordic Naturals, Garden of Life & New Chapter products.

Plus 15% off all non-sale supplements every Sunday!

December 2020

11

global briefs

Conscientious Director Amazon Climate Label Facilitates Greener Choices

daniel eledut/Unsplash.com

Amazon is labeling approximately 25,000 products with a Climate Pledge Friendly (CPF) designation to meet a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2040. The selection includes grocery, household, fashion, beauty and personal electronics products from brands such as Seventh Generation and Burt’s Bees Baby. CPF products are clearly labeled in shopping results, have additional sustainability information on their product page and are featured in a dedicated section of the online store.

The Seattle company, which currently delivers 10 billion items a year, has an enormous carbon footprint due to its commitment to speedy deliveries, transportation-related emissions and data centers. A paper in Environmental Science & Technology, published by the American Chemical Society, found that going to a physical store actually has a lower carbon footprint than shopping on Amazon because customers tend to buy fewer items at a time online. When they go to a store, they’re more likely to stock up and reduce the need for more trips.

Skin Relief

Fast Foodie

California governor Gavin Newsom has signed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act into law, which bans 24 ingredients from cosmetics and personal care products sold within the state. The list includes mercury, formaldehyde, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, endocrine-disrupting phthalates and long-chain parabens used as preservatives, among other chemicals. Many have been linked to breast cancer, reproductive and neurological damage, birth defects, organ system toxicity and developmental delays.

National standards lag behind the rest of the world and have not been updated since being created in 1938. Despite the industry’s immense size, only two pages of the 829-page Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act govern cosmetics. The new California law will make products safer for everyone, but Black women stand to benefit more because they represent the biggest U.S. market for cosmetics. Environmental watchdog Treehugger notes that Black women account for an estimated 22 percent of the country’s $42-billion per year personal care products market, despite comprising less than 7 percent of the national population.

MilkRun, a Portland, Oregon, company founded by farmer and entrepreneur Julia Niiro, is supporting local farmers on small farms by enabling them to sell produce safely and directly to consumers. The online platform allows farmers to set their own prices, eliminating wholesalers, shippers and truckers. After consumers place orders, farmers deliver the produce to an aggregation hub where MilkRun boxes and ships it.

Niiro explains that while wholesale orders from restaurants have decreased dramatically due to COVID19, direct purchasing from consumers is offsetting the losses. By re-scaling, creating new safety practices and adapting to direct consumer demand, farmers are able to turn a profit during the pandemic. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, farmers receive roughly 8 percent of the purchase price from grocery stores, while MilkRun estimates a return of up to 70 percent of the purchase price through its platform.

MilkRun Gives Farmers Direct Sales

California Passes Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act

m co h. as pl ns /U tte ue ho ac ur la

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Join the

Probiotic Skincare Revolution. somchaij/AdobeStock.com

Clean, safe, highly effective products; zero harmful toxins.

Hearing is living.

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Comprehensive audiology clinic servicing all hearing aid manufacturers.

Insurance accepted. 0% interest financing options.

Tainted Taps

WellExplorer App Can Warn of Toxic Drinking Water

The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has created WellExplorer, a new, interactive tool that allows residents and scientists to find out what toxins have been deposited in their drinking water as a result of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Exposure to fracking fluid in drinking water has been shown to increase the risk of respiratory problems, premature births, congenital heart defects and other health problems.

Different fracking sites use a diverse mix of chemical ingredients, and individuals and researchers are often uninformed about the exact health consequences of living near a particular well. People can view the closest fracking sites in their state, learn which chemicals are used at those sites and view their levels of toxicity by entering their zip code.

WellExplorer can be obtained for free at WellExplorer.org or downloaded from Apple’s App store.

A recent study published in the journal Database found that operators of wells in Alabama use a disproportionately high number of chemicals that target estrogen pathways, as do those in Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania in impacting testosterone pathways. The information found through WellExplorer might be particularly relevant for those that use private water wells.

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13

eco tip

’TIS THE SEASON TO SAVE THE PLANET

When the holiday classic Jingle Bells starts playing in department stores, Americans deck the landfills with extra trash. According to the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), garbage increases by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day—or about 1 million extra tons each week—including 38,000 miles of ribbon, $11 billion worth of packing material and 15 million discarded Christmas trees.

As this waste decomposes, dangerous greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide are emitted, adding to the climate crisis. This season, include Earth on the gift list by reducing holidayrelated waste.

To stop the uptick of mailed catalogs, call stores and request to be removed from mailing lists.

Reusable shopping bags are not just for groceries.

Bring them to malls and boutiques to cut down on single-use store bags.

Wrapping paper, ribbons and bows are beautiful, but create waste. Consider eco-friendly alternatives like towels, tablecloths, scarves and even socks.

According to NEEF, an estimated 2.6 billion holiday cards are sold in the U.S. every year. That’s enough to fill a football field 10 stories high. Be kind to the planet by switching to e-cards or making personal phone calls.

At the holiday table, use cloth napkins and tablecloths instead of paper. They’re festive, elegant and best of all, washable and reusable.

Forgo plastic cutlery, paper plates and single-use plastic cups, too. An extra dishwasher load is better than bags full of trash, plastic being the worst nonbiodegradable culprit.

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Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

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Eco-Friendly Holiday Ideas

Social-distancing Americans are expected to flock to the internet for gifts. Consider saving the shipping boxes and packing materials for later use or donating them to a mailing center that would be happy to reuse them.

The most environmentally friendly gifts eliminate wrapping and shipping altogether. Here are some favorite low-waste ideas: n Charitable donations n Cooking, music, craft or other lessons n Passes to museums or amusement parks n Gift cards for restaurants or bookstores n Music downloads or spa treatments Most towns recycle Christmas trees and process them into mulch for use in parks. Contact a local waste management agency for details.

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December 2020

15

diverse conversations

Looking Beyond Familiar Traditions How Locals are Celebrating the Season While ‘tis the season for Christmas trees, stockings and secret Santa gifts, this time of year plays host to many traditions that are not portrayed in our mainstream media feeds. From rituals that represent cultures near and far, to quirky traditions unique to a single household, Natural Awakenings has gathered meaningful memories from a diverse group of readers to shine light on the wide range of customs taking place in the community that surrounds us.

“We spend Christmas Eve Eve in a fancy hotel. I asked for it as a Christmas present when the boys were little, and it’s been my Christmas present ever since. We’ll find a hotel that has beautiful decorations and wander the downtown soaking it all up. It seems that the holidays get busy with social obligations—which I love, yet when we spend Christmas Eve Eve together, it’s as a family. The experience has become a mighty pause for me as the mom. If it’s not done by Christmas Eve Eve, it will not be getting done— that’s my marker to say, let the festivities begin!”

“My favorite tradition is Posadas (a traditional Mexican Christmas celebration) because it reminds me of my childhood in Mexico— breaking piñatas, eating tamales, singing from house to house in the ‘cold weather’ much like caroling, and the colorful decorations with green, white and red. This is the time of year I’m most homesick, and I can’t wait for my little girls to experience it.

Christmas Eve is a big deal too. You get to rock baby Jesus and set him down in the nativity set.” ~Veronica Diaz, Mobile, AL

~Stacy Sheehan-Wilson (with family), Fairhope, AL

"Each Christmas we would have Christmas morning at home doing small family things like opening gifts but in the afternoon we would get together at my grandmother’s house for a great, big family gathering—it was a huge gathering, around 100 people.

I’d see the whole family and even people I didn’t know, distant cousins of cousins of cousins. Everyone would bring certain foods and it was a day party with a big dinner. I really looked forward to that; gift giving was always good but getting everyone back together like that is what I enjoyed most." ~Jonathan Walton, Daphne, AL

“Like many churches, Open Table observes Advent, but we observe this tradition sometimes with a nontraditional twist.

For instance, we offer a Lessons and Carols service on the third Sunday of Advent, but we add contemporary writings including poetry that we put in conversation with the songs and sages of old. In the greening of our worship space and through many of the Advent scriptures, we advance the theme of God’s love for this earth and our call to care for creation. Before COVID, we invited children to wear pj’s to our Christmas Eve service and then we'd adjourn for Christmas cookies baked by the pastor and mugs of hot cider or hot chocolate.” ~Ellen Sims, Pastor of Open Table in Mobile, AL

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“As a family we celebrate Hanukkah each night by saying blessings and lighting the menorah. Hanukkah is a celebration of religious freedom and we tell stories about the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. We eat potato latkes fried in oil to remember that a day’s worth of oil miraculously lasted 8 days to light the Temple’s menorah after victory over the Syrian ruler Antiochus IV. On the eighth night when the menorah is full of glowing lights my favorite thing is standing there with our kids and seeing the candlelight reflecting in their eyes. It builds each night, with more and more light as we remember ancient stories of our religious freedom, which is so important right now.” ~Sam Small (daughters Dori and Ryan pictured), Mobile, AL

My wife and I enjoy celebrating Christmas Eve Mass at the home church we were raised in, opening gifts at midnight, and then celebrating Christmas Day Mass the next morning. Growing up Catholic, this tradition focuses our attention, I believe, more on the spiritual aspect of the holiday. And because of this, I think we really appreciate how meaningful the gift giving has become since we have engaged consistently in this tradition.”

“We are Unitarian-Universalist and have had our own family tradition for over 50 years. Before Christmas dinner, with everyone around the table, the two youngest children light a candle and either an older youth or an adult gives the reading of Howard Thurman’s, The Work of Christmas. A second candle is lit and someone else reads For So the Children Come by Sophia Lyon Fahs. The reflection and hopefulness of these two teachings are quite powerful.

Another silly tradition is that we always have bagels on Christmas morning!

Our children grew up in a predominately Jewish area and seemed to always have Jewish friends overnight on Christmas Eve. With their parents’ permission they too received presents from Santa. Sharing traditions was a very powerful lesson for the children.” ~Irene Wegner, Fairhope, AL

~David Dai (with wife Haley Pham), Mobile, AL

fer gregory/AdobeStock.com

LAS POSADAS: A MEXICAN CHRISTMAS TRADITION Las Posadas is a 400-year-old Mexican religious celebration taking place in neighborhoods on the nights of December 16 to 24. Posada means “inn” in Spanish and the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for shelter is re-enacted through a procession and caroling.

"It was a way for the Spanish church to teach the indigenous people—to convert them by mixing these teachings with traditions they already had," says Mobile resident Veronica Diaz who grew up in Mexico.

Neighbors make their way to a different house each night where a special song asking for shelter is sung. People outside the home sing the role of Joseph and the family inside sings the part of the innkeeper. The call and response nature of the caroling continues until hosts agree to let everyone inside for a celebration. Sometimes neighbors engage in a spiritual lesson or meditate on a different quality each night— humility, strength, detachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy and generosity.

Then traditional foods and drinks are enjoyed as piñatas are broken and children enjoy candy.

“This is where piñatas come from, which are traditionally made from a pot of clay and decorated in the form of a star to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem,” Diaz says. “They’re typically stuffed with sugar canes, tejocotes, guavas, jicamas, peanuts and colación (candy).”

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"We have photo albums that my mother created years ago that include pictures of my great great grandparents, who immigrated here from Cuba in the early 1900s. Every year, my husband, children and I compare pictures of the ancestral family members to pictures of our kids to see who they look like the most, and we re-tell the story of how and why love, sacrifice, ambition and faith set the foundation for the success of our family in America.

In celebration of my husband’s faith—he’s a devout Christian, we remind each other of God's ultimate sacrifice, John 3:16. This tradition reminds us to be grateful for the gift of family and that anything is possible with the power of love and the faith of a mustard seed." ~LaToya Bass-Barnes (with family), Gulfport, MS

“I was born and raised in the Philippines and am Catholic.

In the Philippines we start putting Christmas decorations out on the first “ber” month [months that end in “ber”]. Since we moved to the U.S. we put them out after Thanksgiving but this year we put them out earlier. We love the Christmas atmosphere. We attend nine early morning masses December 16th to 24th. This is in preparation for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. December 24th is called Noche Bueno and we have a scrumptious dinner and open Christmas gifts. If other families are at the house we have some games for everyone (charades, stop dance, musical chairs). I miss the coconut salad dessert—fruits, milk, coconut, cheese, etc.” ~ Emily Ricafort, Mobile, AL

“In December the Baha’is of Fairhope center devotions on the birth and life of Christ. On one occasion we had a special presentation

by Kim and Julian MacQueen, of Pensacola, speaking on “The Promise of World Peace” with discussion by the group centering on what walking towards peace means to us individually. Last year, many of us attended the Eastern Shore Choral Society’s Gloria Concert and then gathered for refreshments and meaningful conversations to celebrate. In short, the Baha’i community continues to concentrate our efforts on building peace within Fairhope to celebrate the holidays. This year we will be hosting virtual gatherings to accomplish those ends.”

“My favorite tradition was Christmas Eve dessert—rice pudding.

Mother cooked it in a double boiler for hours. Then right before dinner she would slip one walnut into the bowl. The person who got the walnut got to start opening presents.

This was a tradition from my mother’s Norwegian side, and in her youth, the lucky nut finder got to sleep with grandma. This is one tradition I brought with me to Mississippi. I loved the suspense of who would find the nut!

Sometimes the whole bowl of pudding had to be eaten in search of it.” ~Grace Jaeger, Biloxi, MS

~Beth Carrier and Sonya Bennett, Fairhope, AL

Natural Awakenings’ Diverse Conversations department provides an interracial and multicultural dialogue to foster diversity, empathy and inclusion of all people, because we believe diverse communities are healthy communities. Contact us with story ideas and read the archives at HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com/article/category/diverse+conversations.

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inspiration

Fresh Rituals for a New Year charan sai /Pexels.com

The end of one year and the beginning of another marks a hopeful transition that many of us choose to celebrate with fireworks and glitzy parties. Here are several New Year’s rituals to help us connect more deeply to our loved ones, to ourselves and to a richer sense of purpose as we embrace the promise of 2021.

Reevaluate the past year. While many people focus only on what lies ahead on New Year’s Day, consider taking a therapeutic and spiritual look at the past 12 months, evaluating personal accomplishments and deviations from goals and aspirations. Take note of lessons learned and challenges faced, as well as the top 10 highlights of the year.

Declutter. In Italy, people throw things out of their windows on New Year’s Eve; getting rid of items that are no longer of service is just as important as welcoming the new. In that spirit, this is a good time to gather clothing, books and other items collecting dust and donate them to a local charity where they may be useful to someone else.

Nataliya Vaitkevich/Pexels

Formally invite prosperity. Many cultures around the world celebrate New Year’s Day with rituals that are meant to ward off bad luck and attract good fortune. Some of them espouse throwing money over the threshold the first time someone enters their home after the new year has begun. Here’s a modern twist: Gather the family together and bless a few coins or paper bills, either through prayer or as a statement of hope and anticipation. Then, donate the money to charity as a way to spiritually pay it forward.

Spend New Year’s Eve in meditation. Quiet meditation or prayer is a great way to usher in a sense of peace and harmony. Make sure the session begins before midnight and extends into the new year. This can be done at home alone, with friends or at a local meet-up group, yoga center or spiritual organization.

ksenia makagonova/Unsplash.com

Place special emphasis on the first 12 days. For many people, the first 12 days of a new year represent each of the 12 months to come. To set a positive course for 2021, spend each of those days exhibiting aspirations for the coming year, such as volunteering at a soup kitchen to manifest an interest in being more charitable, or reading a book about immigrants to become more culturally sensitive.

Adapted from an Arcadia Publishing contribution.

December 2020

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2020

Gift Guide

Natural Awakenings compiled the following list of gift ideas to foster wellness and positivity throughout our community, because everyone deserves a thoughtful and uplifting gift this holiday season. Normalcy has been turned upside down and emotions have been charged. Resist the temptation to lean on Prime subscriptions for all of your gifts this year and remember to shop at local businesses—they need your support more than ever. (Contactless transactions and curbside delivery are available for most of the featured gifts upon request.)

Outfit cooks of all ages with these timeless cotton aprons.

Available in adult and kid sizes, they feature deep pockets, an adjustable strap and you can pick black or white color options. $20 from Wildflowers & Fresh Food (WildflowersAndFreshFood. com), Fairhope, AL

This Sugared Amber Hand Cream absorbs quickly to soften, hydrate and nourish hands. Its age-fighting, probiotic formula promotes the skin’s optimal microbiome and is free of gluten, parabens, sulfates, phthalates and synthetic fragrances. $20 (get 1 free when you buy 2) from TruAura Beauty (TruAuraBeauty. com/trubeauty4u), Daphne, AL

This display-worthy recipe card set will inspire anyone to step into the kitchen. Featuring appetizers, main courses for any time of day and desserts, the recipes on these artfullydesigned cards can be adapted to suit both plant-based and omnivorous diets. $36 for pack of 12 from Wildflowers & Fresh Food (WildflowersAndFreshFood.com), Fairhope, AL

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Foley artist and photographer Jack Swindle’s unique line of handmade ornaments feature his artistic images of the Gulf Coast. Made from solid acrylic or solid metal, each elegant ornament is finished with silver, satin and velvet accessories and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. $36 for acrylic and $24 for metal at Coastal Alabama’s Farmers and Fishermens Market, Foley, AL

Oway Herbs & Clay Peeling Cleanser is a holistic beauty and wellness detox treatment for the scalp, hair and mind. The 100 percent natural ingredients have medicinal properties that eliminate built up toxins and impurities, while strengthening and regenerating the hair and scalp. $30 at TMAC Salon, Daphne and Mobile, AL

Gift a blissful and carefree state of mind with this Healing Mist by Conjure Wellness. Who wouldn’t delight in receiving spring water that has been charged under the light of the Full Moon and infused with blue lace agate crystals and essential oils like lavender, bergamot, chamomile and basil? $21 at Soul Shine Yoga, Fairhope, AL

This bundle of CBD-infused products is a gift of self care. Extract Labs’ bliss bath bomb, Kuravtive’s lip balm and Forin’s arousal oil use natural botanicals to help relieve stress at the end of a long a day. $75 for the bundle at CannaBama, Mobile and Daphne, AL

December 2020

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2020

Gift Guide

Gift Guide

continued

Good vibes in a bag—this kit will help its recipient cleanse and release negativity. It includes an ethically sourced white sage bundle, two ethically sourced Palo Santo sticks, a crystal with a description card and a good vibes sticker. $22 at Soul Shine Yoga, Fairhope, AL

The lines on this durable Tritan water bottle make it easy to monitor your daily water intake. It’s shatter-resistant and easy to clean, with a removable snap-top that has a foodgrade silicon seal. Tritan material is BPA-free, BPS-free and contains no other bisphenols. $14.95 for 2.2 liter size and $17.95 for gallon size at Peak Alkalinity, Fairhope and Mobile, AL

For a guy who appreciates the finer things in life, the elegant Linea Razor is made from 100 percent stainless steel and aluminum with a luxurious satin gold finish. Its double-edge safety technology protects the skin from cuts while its ergonomic handle and weight ensure precision and comfort for the perfect shave. $29.90 at TMAC Salon, Daphne and Mobile, AL

Huny-B’s skincare products are enriched with CBD and hemp oil and blended with natural extracts for dramatic skin hydration and nourishment. This bundle of daytime moisturizer, nighttime anti-aging cream, age-defying facial serum and peppermint eucalyptus lotion will pamper anyone on your list. $175 for the bundle at CannaBama, Mobile and Daphne, AL

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HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

conscious eating

THE GIFT OF YUM Homemade Treats Spark Holiday Cheer

by April Thompson

Mackenzie Burgess, a Fort Collins, Colorado, dietitian and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices, encourages holiday gift-givers to think beyond the Christmas cookie. One of her go-to holiday gifts, a lentil and brown rice dry soup mix, features colorful dry ingredients layered in a Mason jar and the recipe attached with a pretty ribbon. “This shelf-stable dry soup mix is the perfect, plant-based meal to make on a chilly night, and makes for a unique, affordable and thoughtful gift,” says Burgess, adding that the Mason jars can be repurposed.

To give a gift a “wow” factor, blogger Shelley Fulton, in Hudson, Ohio, recommends making a themed basket that may include a mix of homemade and purchased items. “You can take your signature spice rub or that homemade soup mix everyone raves about and expand into a gift basket with other products

jill heyer/Unsplash.com

For a sweet but healthy treat, Burgess offers freezer-friendly energy bites, which can be made in large quantities in advance and frozen or refrigerated, then popped into jars at gift time. These gluten-free, vegan treats can be made with common pantry items,

including a base of oats, nut butter and a sweetener like honey or agave, as well as “fixings” such as shredded coconut, dried cranberries or goji berries, chopped nuts, or chia or flax seeds to boost the flavor and nutrition. Natural food coloring can also be added to foster a more festive look.

Z

Gift-givers seeking memorable presents while avoiding holiday shopping stress need look no further than the kitchen. Edible homemade gifts make special, welcome treats, help slow down the shopping frenzy of the season and increase creativity in the kitchen.

While 79 percent of recipients return some holiday gifts every year, food and handmade items rank in the top 10 treasured gifts, according to Survey Monkey research.

johnny sek/AdobeStock.com

December 2020

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Merry Christmas!

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that support the theme, like barbecue tools for the spice rub or a kettle with cute soup bowls and a new ladle for the soup mix,” says Fulton, the creator of Two Healthy Kitchens. For the dog lovers on a holiday list, Fulton suggests making homemade sweet potato dog biscuits, which can be bundled in a dog bed with other canine comforts.

Stephanie Hafferty, author of The Creative Kitchen: Seasonal Plant Based Recipes for Meals, Drinks, Garden and Self Care, suggests handcrafted items like infused vinegars, herb salts, herbal tea blends or spice mixes for foodies on the holiday gift list.

Infused concoctions can be easily made by steeping a light vinegar like champagne or cider with rosemary, thyme or other perennial herbs, along with a spiraled citrus peel, for two weeks before gifting. “Infused vinegars look so lovely and go with so many winter dishes. They also have the advantage of being antiviral and having the shelf life of a few years,” says Hafferty.

Herb-infused olive oils make another gorgeous foodie gift, but Hafferty warns of botulism risk if the herbs are not completely dried beforehand and fully submerged in the oil. “Make this one closer to the time you plan to give it and include instructions to use within a few weeks,” recommends the Somerset, England, author.

Unusual spice mixes are another favorite gift of Hafferty’s, which can encourage home cooks to get creative. “Ras el Hanout is a versatile Moroccan spice blend that elevates dishes to another dimension. You can upcycle an old tin and decorate it with images of Moroccan tiles and add a homemade booklet with recipe ideas,” she says.

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For a hostess gift that will be eaten immediately, Fulton loves making fruit kabob bouquets, made festive by using red and green fruits like strawberries and kiwi cut into holiday-themed shapes like stars and bells. “This is a fun one to make with kiddos,” adds the blogger.

If concerned about preparing food items for someone due to COVID-19, Fulton suggests assembling a countertop herb garden or a handmade book of favorite recipes, with a promise to cook together soon.

The spirit that goes into holiday gift-making matters as much as the end product. Making thoughtful presents for loved ones is a great time to reflect upon our blessings, especially those that have blessed our lives this year.

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

Holiday Gift-Giving Recipes Rosemary-Infused Vinegar This fragrant, versatile vinegar makes a delightful holiday gift that can be enjoyed for months.

Rosemary vinegar is delicious in salad dressings, sprinkled on vegetables (it is especially good on Brussels sprouts, cabbage and other brassicas) or added to sauces and homemade mayonnaise. It is also an excellent natural cleaner.

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Wash the bottles and lids until they sparkle and then dry them thoroughly. Shake the rosemary sprigs to dislodge any dirt or insects if taken from the garden, then rinse and air dry.

photo by Stephanie Hafferty

251-928-0214

Cut the rosemary so that it is two inches shorter than the bottle. This is so that all of the herb will be submerged in the vinegar. Place two sprigs of rosemary into each bottle. Cover with vinegar until the bottle is almost full and replace the lid.

Learn to love cooking.

Kristin Alpine, RN, BSN

Label creatively; a small sprig of dried rosemary tied to the outside of the bottle is a nice touch.

The vinegar will store for a long time in the refrigerator. When using in the kitchen, the level of vinegar will fall below the sprigs. When this happens, remove the rosemary—the vinegar will still taste of the herb. Use up any vinegar past its best as a bathroom cleaner.

photo by Stephanie Hafferty

Recipes courtesy of Stephanie Hafferty.

Ras el Hanout Spice Mix This is lovely sprinkled onto roasting vegetables or added to falafel mixes, soups, stews and tagines.

1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp coriander seeds 1 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp fennel seeds

2 tsp cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick, ground 1 tsp smoked paprika or red pepper flakes 1 tsp black peppercorns 1 tsp cayenne (optional for spicier version) 5 star anise ½ tsp ground cloves Seeds from 10 cardamom pods 1 tsp dried rose petals Dry roast the cumin, coriander, peppercorns, fennel and star anise in a cast-iron skillet until lightly toasted. This takes a minute or two and smells gorgeous. Cool and mix with the other ingredients, grinding in a pestle and mortar or spice blender until the mixture resembles a fine powder. Store in a glass-lidded container. This spicy mix is good for up to six months.

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green living

PAY WHERE WE PLAY

fied base of smaller, locally owned businesses. “The more you have control over your economy, the less likely you’re going to be hurt if one big company splits for Mexico,” he explains.

Boosting the Hometown Economy

Cities that have many thriving local businesses enjoy other benefits, too. “We know from political science studies that they have higher rates of voting participation and volunteering,” Shuman says.

“Sociology studies show lower crime and greater degrees of social organization and civil society. Health studies reveal that local business communities replace a lot of unhealthy, imported food with healthier, fresher, less-packaged food that lowers rates of diabetes and obesity.

Unique local businesses attract tourists.

And because they shorten the lines of distribution and supply, we know they bring down carbon footprint.”

by Sandra Yeyati

Phoenix business leader Kimber Lanning, who opened a record store in 1987 and an art gallery in 1999, has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of local commerce. “Doing business with people we know heightens our connection to place, and when we care about place, we’re more likely to vote, volunteer and give charitably.”

According to Shuman, cities that rely on just one or two large companies to drive their economies are far less self-reliant and less resilient than towns that support a diversi-

As the author of 13 destination guidebooks, Florida-based travel journalist

Image Courtesy of Josh Pridgen

“About three dozen studies have found that two to four times more money stays in the economy for every dollar spent in a locally owned business rather than a nonlocal one,” says economist Michael Shuman, author of The Small-Mart Revolution, Put Your Money Where Your Life Is and The Local Economy Solution. “What’s more, the community enjoys a multiplier effect, generating two to four times more job opportunities, two to four times more income and two to four times greater tax collections. If your interest is in reducing poverty and raising social equality, locally owned businesses are your ticket to doing so.”

In 2003, Lanning founded the nonprofit Local First Arizona (LFA) to help local businesses thrive and eventually eliminate city, state and federal subsidies that multinational companies were receiving. “Big chains move in, claiming they’re going to drive so much sales tax revenue that the city should pay them to be there,” she explains. “Cabela’s [the outfitter chain] got a $68 million subsidy from Glendale to open one retail location. These sweetheart deals extract money out of the community that could have been spent on parks, libraries and fire departments, but instead goes to shareholders living elsewhere.”

Responding to political pressure by LFA and others, Arizona passed a law banning these subsidies five years ago—a major victory—leveling the playing field for smaller businesses, according to Lanning.

A message we hear throughout the year, but especially during the holidays, is, “Buy local.” The idea is to purchase from locally owned and operated businesses. Facing competition from big chains like Walmart or internet companies like Amazon, they need our support. But it’s not just a nice thing to do; consumers that buy local help build robust hometown economies with a long list of impressive benefits.

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Karen T. Bartlett helps people discover the often-hidden flavors and experiences unique to their own region, meeting neighbors and supporting the local economy along the way. “From kayak adventures and foodie tours to community theater productions and galleries featuring local artists, fun and meaningful ways to enjoy the distinctive offerings of home abound,” she says.

“For people to get excited about the purchase of a five-dollar hammer and not pay attention to where they have their mortgage is utterly irrational. Rank [in] order your business expenditures, which starts with your home, then probably goes to your car and then health care, and think about ways of localizing those

rafael/AdobeStock.com

“Think local first,” Lanning says. “Spend your money with people you know in your community—from haircuts to oil changes.

Use a local pharmacy. Go to the farmers’ market and move your money to community banks and credit unions.”

things, rather than every grocery item,” Shuman advises.

“Usually, you find cheaper, better-quality goods and services, or at the very least, comparable options,” he says, adding that even if a purchase is slightly more expen-

READY FOR 2021?

So are we.

We’ve got big plans for next year, including the launch of our own CBD line. CannaBama’s products are like nothing you’ve seen before. Stay tuned!

sive or a bit less convenient, favoring the neighborhood vendor is always going to benefit the local economy.

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer.

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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healthy kids

Reinvent the Holidays More Meaning, Less Stuff

by Ronica O’Hara Like many parents, Alicia Hough, a corporate wellness expert in New York, used to go overboard plying her kids with gifts at Christmas. “I was always busy with work, which is why I thought that buying my children the latest or most trending toy in the market will make up for the time I’ve lost,” she recalls. “As kids, they indeed get excited with material gifts, but that joy is just temporary, and that’s what I realized throughout this pandemic.

In the end, it’s the relationship with people you value that matters, and not these material things or celebrations.”

Hough, who considers the pandemic a turning point, is not alone.

In this turbulent year, holiday celebrations will likely be smaller, quieter and less opulent for many families. Yet the crisis has also set the stage for families “to create a holiday that is more in keeping with their values, finding deeper connection and meaning with less rushing around and spending less money,” says Laura Markham, a clinical psychologist and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids.

Besides passing up traveling and parties for cozy pajama times, many families are seriously rethinking their gift-giving habits.

Although presents are a beloved part of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations, many families have come to wonder how the shopping and spending has gotten so out of hand. According to Investopedia, in 2019, the average American spent $942 on holiday gifts, a figure that has steadily mounted in the last decade to total $1 trillion. An estimated $16 billion worth of those gifts are unappreciated and tossed aside, reports Moneyish.

This pandemic season offers “a chance to reset expectations if festive gift-giving has become excessive in recent years,” says Beth Kempton, author of Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy. “Perhaps most important is to have a conversation with children about buying less stuff and avoiding waste,” she adds. “They may have their own ideas about how to reduce waste and relish the challenge of thinking about what they really want.”

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GETTING CREATIVE

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Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

For Evan Porter, of Milton, Georgia, a parenting writer at DadFixesEverything.com, “Less clutter and fewer gifts are something we’ve been working toward anyway.” This year, he and his wife plan to drastically pare down their kids’ gifts, possibly using this formula: “Something to read, something to wear, something you want and something you need.” Instead of presents under a tree,

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For parents that want to embrace creativity, low costs and sustainability this holiday season, Kempton suggests the following gift-giving ideas:

n Build anticipation with a treasure hunt or by opening presents over a period of time.

n Incorporate a sense of wonderment with a wooden magic set or a storybook written by either or both parents that stars the child.

n Surprise the children by transforming a room in the house into a winter wonderland or turning the garden shed into Santa’s grotto.

n Offer a parent’s time, skills and attention in the form of promissory notes or a small token that indicates a future shared experience, such as a jar of homemade marshmallows tied with a label promising a family camping trip.

n Give children items that they can use or eat that are handmade by the parents.

n Invoke a sense of nostalgia that prompts family storytelling, such as a jigsaw that summons memories of putting together a puzzle with a grandfather 50 years ago.

n Celebrate environmental stewardship by planting and growing a Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush.

Even gift wrapping can become a fun and ecosmart family game by challenging everyone to creatively repurpose everything from old maps and fabrics to magazines and paper bags, perhaps decorated with artwork and nature finds. If every American family wrapped just three presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields, estimates the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However they are wrapped, gifts demonstrate in these unprecedented times that deep joy comes not from acquiring new stuff, but from caring for and giving to each other—especially our children. “In the end, the most precious gift parents can give their children this holiday is their attention, infused with a little bit of festive magic,” says Kempton.

Ronica O’Hara, a Denver-based health writer, can be reached at OHaraRonica@gmail.com.

Instilling the Giving Spirit in Kids Children love getting gifts, but they also love the feeling of giving them, and the holidays are an optimal time to encourage this natural human impulse. Giving helps build their empathy and compassion muscles, which in turn makes for happier, more fulfilled lives, studies show.

Bridging the hug gap. With grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and family friends less likely to be sitting around the table this year, having kids open those presents when the loved ones are on the other side of the Zoom or FaceTime screen can help ease the pain of the time apart. Or children can put together a love package for them that includes drawings and notes to be opened on the other end of a livestream virtual gathering.

jonathan borba/AdobeStock.com

Dawna Campbell, of Bigfork, Montana, founder of ThetaHeartHealing.com, will give her kids an unplugged (and coronavirus-compliant) nature retreat where they can investigate the natural environment, work with animals and journal about how to make the world a better place.

Care for the community. “So many families have been devastated by COVID-19 and fires this year. And many of us have become aware of the cost of institutional racism to families of color,” says psychologist Laura Markham, author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids. “Why not discuss and decide on a family gift to make the world a better place? You could decide how much you would normally have spent on presents and give some portion of that away to help people who are struggling or support a cause that is important to you.”

Simple steps like giving neighbors homemade cookies or candies tied with ribbons can also do much to lift holiday spirits. With her kids, Beth Kempton, author of Calm Christmas and a Happy New Year: A Little Book of Festive Joy, makes up a batch of mince pie to share. “We might be wearing masks, along with Santa hats, and leaving the holiday treats on doorsteps instead of going in our neighbors’ homes this year, but we can still share holiday cheer,” she says. Alexandra Fung, CEO of the parent networking site UpParent.com, says her family in Chicago will provide gift boxes for families in need through their church or a local nonprofit and may work together to make blankets for traumatized and ill children using patterns supplied by the nonprofit Project Linus.

We are the world. Another approach is to give children a small sum to donate, perhaps $10 or $20, and encourage them to find a cause they care about in town or by researching online—from putting money in a Salvation Army Christmas kettle to saving rainforest animals. Or encourage them to find a humanitarian or environmental project to focus on over the holidays. At UpParent.com, kids can find 11 ways to help others around the world without leaving the house, like turning old jeans into shoes to help Ugandan children fight parasites or helping to track animals in the wild. The National Environmental Education Foundation at NeefUSA.org lists dozens of at-home projects for kids, such as doing a homeenergy audit, creating a compost pile and helping to identify wildlife caught on camera for a digital database.

December 2020

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fit body

MIND-BODY FITNESS How Mindfulness Benefits Workouts

katerina jerabkova/Unsplash.com

by Marlaina Donato

When mindfulness approaches are applied to fitness training—which can be as simple as breathing consciously and tuning into subtle body sensations—the results can be fewer injuries, improved immunity, a lowered stress response, a brighter mood and a deeper commitment to staying fit. Being in the present moment can also spark enjoyment.

Research shows that mindfulness training can significantly raise self-esteem, and women that cultivate meditative self-compassion experience a boost in acceptance of and satisfaction with their bodies.

“In nature, the bigger the eye of the storm, the more powerful the winds, suggesting that our workout potential and enjoyment is dependent not on how hard we push, but how calm and self-aware we can be,” says John Douillard, DC, author of Body, Mind, and Sport and the founder of LifeSpa, in Boulder, Colorado. “Slowing down and being aware of the body allows the mind to attend to muscles, which can increase blood supply, lymph drainage and replace a potentially damaging fight-or-flight response during a workout with a rejuvenating parasympathetic response.”

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Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

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TAPPING INTO CONTENTMENT Mindful fitness instructor Ellen Barrett, in Washington Depot, Connecticut, offers clients a full-body experience with a fusion of movement forms and weight training.

“We think mindfulness is some sort of yoga thing, but everything can become mindful. Jumping jacks and biceps curls can be mindful. It’s not the movement, but the awareness behind the movement. Mindfulness is about being present.”

Adding in balance training, tai chi and Pilates, and swapping a bit less time on the treadmill for a few moments of meditation

or visualizing positive results can go a long way, say fitness experts. Debbie Rosas, founder and co-creator of Nia—a bodymind conditioning program anchored in martial arts and modern dance—underscores the importance of listening to cues.

“Notice any areas that feel tight, blocked, rigid and bound. This wisdom through felt sense and awareness will immediately alert you to stop, adjust and slow down.”

The Portland-based co-author of The Nia Technique points to the fun factor. “I believe that when you stop exercising and

More Helpful Tips Body scan from Ellen Barrett: Establish a body scan ritual before working out. Either sitting or standing, close your eyes and take a second or two to focus on each part of the body with your mind’s eye.

Start with the feet and then move up to the ankles, legs, spine, etc.

Nasal breathing from John Douillard: Establish a comfortable, slow, nasal breathing rhythm in the beginning of your workout and try to maintain that throughout your practice. Give it time.

It will take about three weeks of nose breathing practice to begin to run at the same pace or lift the same weight as you did before as a fight-or-flight mouth breather.

To begin: Breathe deeply in and out through the nose with each rep on the weight machine and lengthen your nasal breathing during cardio [workouts]. As soon as your nasal breath rhythm begins to speed up or you have to open your mouth to breathe, slow down and reestablish a comfortable rhythm of nasal breathing again. Once the mindful calm has been reset, begin to increase your intensity, letting the nose breathing set the pace.

Breathing tip from Stephanie Mansour: Inhale on the easier movement and exhale on the more challenging movement. For example, inhale as you bend down into a squat and exhale as you press up to standing.

Always pull your belly button in toward your spine and engage your core whether you’re working your legs, arms, back or chest.

start moving, anything you do can bring you enjoyment. Do things that leave you feeling successful and motivated to do them again.”

BREATH AS A COMPASS Practicing conscious breathing fortifies the positive impact of exercise and can prevent injuries like hernias that can arise when the breath is held during heavy lifting. “One of the most powerful tools for mindfulness during a workout is following your breath. Mindfulness is the key, but it’s hard to be mindful when you’re breathing 26,000 times a day into the upper chest, activating a fight-or-flight response,” says Douillard.

Breathing through the nose instead of the mouth during exercise bolsters mindfulness, and as Doillard has demonstrated in studies, causes brain waves to shift from stressed beta waves to a meditative alpha state. “It takes longer to fully inhale and exhale during nose breathing, which creates a baseline of calm,” she says. “Don’t rush. Be aware of the body breathing and feel each muscle contracting and relaxing with each rep and stretch.”

Chicago-based fitness expert Stephanie Mansour, host of the PBS weekly Step it Up with Steph show, concurs. “Sync your breath with your movement. Mindfully transition from exercise to exercise.” Mansour also suggests working out next to a mirror to improve alignment and avoiding the distraction that can come with having a workout buddy. “Another trick to improve form is to put on headphones and zone out by listening to white noise so that you have no distraction,” she says.

Exercising with deep body-presence is something we do for ourselves. “If you’re really paying attention, you can steer yourself towards invigoration and away from irritation. The body is always providing feedback, but we’re often too ‘out of body’ to notice. Giving full attention to your body is a big gift of self-love,” says Barrett.

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December 2020

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wise words

Matt Kahn on Transforming the Planet With Love

by Sandra Yeyati

in your subconscious mind, which is like a new piece of clothing in your closet.

A bunch of other clothes may push it to the background, but the moment you need to wear that article of clothing, it’s going to stick out of the closet and get your attention.

WHAT MANTRA IS RESONATING FOR 2021?

Author of bestsellers Whatever Arises, Love That and The Universe Always Has a Plan, as well as The Healing Mantra Card Deck, Matt Kahn is a spiritual teacher and empathic healer with a global audience, guiding seekers through in-person events and popular YouTube videos.

WHAT ARE MANTRAS AND HOW DO WE USE THEM? They’re a declaration of our deepest wisdom, highest ideals and most authentic aspirations that we sound into existence as a way of asking the universe for help to embody our next highest level of consciousness. It’s an intention of the person I’m going to become and a request of healing energy from the universe, saying, “Please help me become more of what I declare through my words.” A mantra uses the sound of our voice as vibrational medicine to bring what’s within us out into the open for the purpose of not only transforming our personal circumstances, but improving the quality of the world.

When you say a mantra, it’s embedded 32

No matter what, love always makes it right in the end. If you know that everything is made right by an infinitely wise, loving source, it relaxes you into being open to the journey and allowing yourself to be as aligned as possible to whatever life brings. .

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM TURBULENT TIMES? A big lesson is that desire is not a requirement for happiness. The things that most people desire for comfort or stability have been displaced, whether we’re talking about COVID-19 or the wildfires, for example. But happiness is how content and whole we are with ourselves; the constant needing of things pulls us out of

forgiveness to anyone around us, knowing that anyone acting out of character is just acting from a level of unprocessed pain.

We love ourselves as a way of uplifting the planet, and we bless others as a way of helping to further the evolution of humanity. As we learn to be inner light workers and healers, we learn to find complete alignment with spirit no matter how the world ebbs and flows.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR PERSONAL SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS AND WHAT YOU CALL ASCENSION? Ascension is when a certain percentage of the world starts to awaken in consciousness. It’s not just a few awake beings scattered across the globe in a fast-driven, goal-oriented society. It’s a world waking up to its true nature on a collective level.

On an individual journey, we’re healing our wounds, seeing through limiting beliefs, forgiving those who mistreated us and daring to treat ourselves better so that we can become active participants in the community of evolving beings we are creating.

But happiness is how content and whole we are with ourselves; the constant needing of things pulls us out of happiness. Perhaps we can discover that just being who we were born to be is what we’ve always desired. happiness. Perhaps we can discover that just being who we were born to be is what we’ve always desired.

No matter how dark the world seems or how insurmountable the odds appear, this is part of a grand transformation of the planet. We love ourselves to remain safe throughout each step along the way, and we offer kindness, compassion and

Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

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Giving brings us together. Each of us has something unique to contribute through the gift of diversity; together, we accomplish more than we ever could individually.

The individual spiritual path helps clear distractions and awaken your most infinite power, and then you bring that together in community for this potluck of generosity we each get to experience and share.

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WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR POLITICAL PROTESTORS IN TODAY’S AMERICA? Gandhi would say, “Be about what you’re for, not what you’re against.” When we protest, we’re saying that something isn’t fair and relying on publicly elected officials to do something about it. I think the gathering together of beings can transform from what isn’t fair to what all of our talents and efforts can do together to create solutions.

How can we solve this on a communal level? What can we do to peacefully and consciously use all the power within us to create positive, tangible change so we can start living in the world that we envision?

It’s an invitation to quantum-leap out of the identification of problems and into the cultivation of solutions.

Sandra Yeyati, J.D., is a professional writer.

Reach her at SandraYeyati@gmail.com.

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December 2020

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calendar

WEDNESDAYS

All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Go to HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com to submit entries.

SUNDAYS Discounts on Supplements Every Sunday get 15% off supplements at Fairhope Health Foods (251-928-0644) and Virginia’s Health Foods (251-479-3952). 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope, AL and 3055-A Dauphin St, Mobile, AL. VA-FairhopeHealthFoods.com.

Yoga at Soul Shine Yoga Heated and unheated classes in studio, on the bluff and online on demand. Visit our website and sign up for our new client special. Soul Shine Yoga, 103B N Bancroft St, Fairhope, AL. 251-225-4597.

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Open Table Worship Service (United Church of Christ) Progressive Christian worship. Weekly podcast of sermon, song and interview available on our website (under “sermons”) no later than 10am Sunday mornings. 11am gathering for prayer and connection via Zoom. 251-545-1011. Pastor@OpenTableUCC.org.

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Baha’i’s of Fairhope Diversity Devotions On hold due to the pandemic restrictions. Contact BahaisOfFairhope@gmail.com for more information and to participate in online gatherings to celebrate our unity and strengthen the spiritual health of the community.

Postnatal Yoga 4-Week Series (online) 10-11:15am. For anyone within 36 weeks after delivery. Experience gentle movement and much needed relaxation. Build your community and share emotional/physical challenges of this stage of motherhood. Join anytime, recordings will be provided for any missed class. 251-3278712. Veronica.Diaz@BornToBirthYoga.com.

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Weekend Yoga 2-3pm. Join Chris M, Sarah, Annette or Rebecca as you wind down your weekend and get ready for the busy week ahead—expand the potential of your body while you refresh and renew your spirit. Check the website for schedule rotation.

Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile, AL. 251-473-1104.

Synergyoga@att.net. Synergyoga.net.

MONDAYS Munchie Mondays Get 10% off CBD edibles at CannaBama: The CBD Store every Monday. Mention Natural Awakenings and get 15% off! Downtown Mobile and Daphne, AL. 251-255-5155. CannaBama@yahoo.com.

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Yoga at Glow Join us for indoor and outdoor classes at our studio plus virtual classes via live stream and YouTube.

Glow Yoga, 314 E 21st Ave, Gulf Shores, AL. 251-968-4569. Glow-Yoga.com.

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Yoga at Soul Shine Yoga Heated and unheated classes in studio, on the bluff and online on demand. Visit our website and sign up for our new client special. Soul Shine Yoga, 103B N Bancroft St, Fairhope, AL. 251-225-4597.

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Yoga at True A peaceful place to find mind-body wellness. Check our schedule online and on social media for this week’s classes. True Mind + Body Wellness, Daphne, AL. 251-250-9440. Hello@TrueYogaTherapy.com.

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Gentle Flow at Above and Beyond 9am. Link breath and body to go beyond the noisy mind and reconnect with the peace within. Build flexibility, balance and strength. All levels. Unheated. Above and Beyond Yoga and Salt Therapy, 878 Hillcrest Rd, Ste C, Mobile, AL. 251-639-9030.

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TUESDAYS Yoga at Soul Shine Yoga Heated and unheated classes in studio, on the bluff and online on demand. Visit our website and sign up for our new client special. Soul Shine Yoga, 103B N Bancroft St, Fairhope, AL. 251-225-4597.

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Yoga at True A peaceful place to find mind-body wellness. Check our schedule online and on social media for this week’s classes. True Mind + Body Wellness, Daphne, AL. 251-250-9440. Hello@TrueYogaTherapy.com.

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Slow Flow Yoga with Mary Ann 8:30-9:30am. Enjoy Mary Ann Sinde’s zest, grace and refreshing energy as her slow flow puts you back in touch with your body, restores the mind and leaves you refreshed, energized and focused. Revel in the bliss and embrace the joy as you start the day.

Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile, AL. 251-473-1104.

Synergyoga@att.net. Synergyoga.net.

Yoga Core with Chris G 5:45-7pm. Join Chris Garrett for an energizing blend of Iyengar and Vinyasa yoga, with emphasis on those hard to work core areas. Recharge the body, soothe the soul and refocus the mind after a long day.

Breathe, work, smile and find joy in the movement!

Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile, AL. 251-473-1104.

Synergyoga@att.net. Synergyoga.net.

Praying for Peace Devotional Gathering On hold due to the pandemic restrictions. Contact BahaisOfFairhope@gmail.com for more information and to participate in online gatherings to celebrate our unity and strengthen the spiritual health of the community.

Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Wash Up Wednesdays Get 10% off CBD bath products at CannaBama: The CBD Store every Wednesday. Mention Natural Awakenings and get 15% off! Downtown Mobile and Daphne, AL. 251-255-5155.

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Yoga at Soul Shine Yoga Heated and unheated classes in studio, on the bluff and online on demand. Visit our website and sign up for our new client special. Soul Shine Yoga, 103B N Bancroft St, Fairhope, AL. 251-225-4597.

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Yoga at True A peaceful place to find mind-body wellness. Check our schedule online and on social media for this week’s classes. True Mind + Body Wellness, Daphne, AL. 251-250-9440. Hello@TrueYogaTherapy.com.

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Chair Yoga with Patsy Tucker 4:30-5:30pm. Patsy will use chairs and other props to support a modified yoga practice. Also explore breathing techniques and guided meditation for calming the mind. This class is ideal for people uncomfortable practicing on the floor or who need support for balance. Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile, AL. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga@att.net.

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Pure Power Yoga at Above and Beyond 5pm, Mon & Thur. 9am, Tues & Thur. Dynamic vinyasa class with weights that strengthens, balances, detoxifies and exhilarates the body and mind.

Moderately heated. Above and Beyond Yoga and Salt Therapy, 878 Hillcrest Rd, Ste C, Mobile, AL. 251-639-9030. ABHotYoga.com.

THURSDAYS Sunrise Yoga with Chris G 6-7am. Mornings can be special this time of year, so greet the sunrise with Chris Garrett and start your weekend early with some energizing morning yoga. Charge the body, ease stress and focus the mind as you begin the day. Make the movement yours and embrace it! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile, AL. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga@att.net.

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Yoga at Soul Shine Yoga Heated and unheated classes in studio, on the bluff and online on demand. Visit our website and sign up for our new client special. Soul Shine Yoga, 103B N Bancroft St, Fairhope, AL. 251-225-4597.

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Yoga at True A peaceful place to find mind-body wellness. Check our schedule online and on social media for this week’s classes. True Mind + Body Wellness, Daphne, AL. 251-250-9440. Hello@TrueYogaTherapy.com.

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Yoga with Chris McFadyen 5:45-7pm. Join Chris McFadyen for some energizing yoga as his breath work, asana and flow calms the mind and also enhances and refocuses the body.

Relocate your passion and find your joy and humor; smile after a long day! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile, AL. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

FRIDAYS Flower Friday Get 10% off hemp flower at CannaBama: The CBD Store every Friday. Mention Natural Awakenings and get 15% off! Downtown Mobile and Daphne, AL. 251-255-5155. CannaBama@yahoo.com.

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Yoga at Soul Shine Yoga Heated and unheated classes in studio, on the bluff and online on demand. Visit our website and sign up for our new client special. Soul Shine Yoga, 103B N Bancroft St, Fairhope, AL. 251-225-4597.

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Yoga with Faye Mahan 8:30-9:30am. What a great way to jump start your weekend! Let breath and body move in sync as Faye Mahan’s seamless style weaves a blend of classical yoga flow and poses. Renew your spirit with a glorious class to begin the day refreshed and re-energized. Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile, AL. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

SATURDAYS Super Saturday Get 20% off a surprise CBD item at CannaBama: The CBD Store every Saturday. Downtown Mobile and Daphne, AL. 251-255-5155.

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Yoga at Soul Shine Yoga Heated and unheated classes in studio, on the bluff and online on demand. Visit our website and sign up for our new client special. Soul Shine Yoga, 103B N Bancroft St, Fairhope, AL. 251-225-4597.

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Mommy & Me Yoga (online) 9-9:45am. Meet other mamas and strengthen bond with baby while performing gentle stretches to relieve muscle soreness. Infant touch, singing and movement to assist baby with discomforts such as gas and colic. Ideal for babies 6 weeks up to crawling. Online class. 251-327-8712.

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Prenatal Yoga 4-Week Series (online) 10-11:15am. Experience the gift of relief and relaxation. Create balance and alignment of the pelvis to get ready for birth. Learn coping skills for physical and mental discomfort during labor. Join anytime, recordings will be provided for any missed class. 251-327-8712.

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December 2020

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directory

BREAST SCREENING

Connecting you to local resources for natural and green living.

To find out how you can be included in the directory, email Publisher@ HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com or call 251-990-9552.

THERMOGRAPHY ADVANTAGE

HEALTHY &

GREEN LIVING

DIRECTORY 2020

Contact us to find out where you can find a copy of our 2020 Healthy & Green Living Directory issue or read it online at HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com.

We're now taking reservations for the 2021 Healthy & Green Living Directory issue!

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NAUTILUS HEARING

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8230 Spanish Fort Blvd., Ste. C Spanish Fort, AL 251-250-7343 NautilusHearingSpanishFort.com Nautilus Hearing Clinic offers a personalized hearing health experience. Let us provide you with a comfortable environment and discuss your hearing needs. Insurance accepted. Follow us on Facebook: Facebook. com/nautilushearingclinic. See ad, page 13.

BEAUTY B-BUTTERFLY SALON

103A N. Bancroft St., Fairhope, AL 251-990-9934 BButterflySalon.com

salon offering B-Butterfly Aorganic products

SALON

BODY WORK DYNAMIC THERAPEUTICS

9037 Independence Ave., Ste. A2 Daphne, AL • 251-459-0500 DynamicTherapeutics.net We specialize in medical massage therapy and corrective exercise programming to help people who are in pain regain a better quality of life. Also offering Cryoskin—destroy fat cells permanently. Call for a consultation. See ad, page 33.

and services including hair color and shampoo.

Make a difference today in your hair, your life and the Earth. Visit us for a free hair exam today and go organic! See ad, page 24.

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Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi Edition

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Carolyn Olson, Certified Thermographer Gulf Coast Locations from LA to FL 251-623-2225 ThermographyAdvantage.com FDA registered thermography offers breast screenings that are non-invasive and radiation-free, without compression or bodily contact.

Valuable for detecting early stage breast disease and more. Also offering ElectroLymphatic Therapy. See ad, page 24.

CBD PLANT-BASED WELLNESS DIRECTORY See listings, page 15.

CHILDBIRTH SUPPORT BORN TO BIRTH YOGA

Veronica Diaz, RYT-200 251-327-8712 • BornToBirthYoga.com Facebook.com/BornToBirthYoga Prenatal, postnatal and mommy & me yoga classes with emphasis on emotional health, birth preparation and community.

Online weekend classes. Join our Facebook group for free classes, ebooks, recipes, etc. See ad, page 9.

CHRISTMAS TREES FISH RIVER CHRISTMAS TREE FARM 13982 Woodhaven Dairy Rd. East Summerdale, AL 36580 251-988-8114 • FishRiverTrees.com

Home of the living Christmas tree—an environmentallyfriendly option that outlives the holiday season. Also offering choose-and-cut trees, fresh-cut trees and wreaths, garlands and centerpieces.

CHURCHES

FARMERS MARKETS

THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF FAIRHOPE

COASTAL ALABAMA FARMERS & FISHERMENS MARKET

Join our gathering of people from diverse religions and backgrounds to celebrate unity and support the spiritual health of the community. (On hold due to pandemic restrictions. Email us to participate in online gatherings.)

COOKING CLASSES WILDFLOWERS AND FRESH FOOD

Kristin Alpine, RN, BSN 251-656-9112 • WildflowersFreshFood.com Follow us on Facebook and Instagram Offering a simple and colorful approach to cooking, and life!

Interactive and fun cooking classes and private parties for all experience levels, plus free online recipes and cooking videos. See ad, page 25.

DEMENTIA MIND PERFORMANCE CENTER, LLC (Located inside Path To Wellness) 240 W. Laurel Ave., Foley, AL 251-597-8787 MindPerformanceCenter.com

Our non-invasive, drug-free approach helps dementia patients that originally scored in the teens on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment be restored to the point of scoring normal (26-30). See ad, page 5.

DEPRESSION MIND PERFORMANCE CENTER, LLC (Located inside Path to Wellness) 240 W. Laurel Ave., Foley, AL 251-597-8787 MindPerformanceCenter.com

Offering Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Brainsway—a proven tool in the fight against depression that is non-invasive, painless and drug-free) with functional medicine and brain pathway rehabilitation for the most robust changes possible. See ad, page 5.

20733 Miflin Rd. (Co. Rd. 20), Foley, AL 251-709-4469 CoastalAlabamaMarket.com Open year round Tuesdays (10am-3pm, Nov-Mar; 2-6pm, Apr-Oct) and Saturdays (9am-2pm). During COVID-19 pandemic, open Saturdays only. Local farms with seasonal produce, meat, eggs, honey, jellies, baked goods, seafood, hand-crafted soaps and more. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

FOOD & NUTRITION FAIRHOPE HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ

28720 US-98, #2, Daphne, AL 251-210-8615 AlabamaIntegrativeHealth.com

Functional Medicine Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner Tara McLellan addresses the root cause of disease with integrative medicine—a blend of traditional western medicine and science-based functional medicine. See ad, page 31.

MASSAGE THERAPY JUBILEE HEALING ARTS

Jennifer (Adams) Killgo, LMT 28170 N. Main St., Ste. C, Daphne, AL 251-616-4201 • JubileeHealingArts.com Intuitive integrative massage techniques are used to facilitate the body into a state of healing without the “no pain no gain” mentality. Over 15 years experience in the bodywork and natural wellness field. See ad, page 27.

280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-928-0644 • Café: 251-929-0055 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com Comprehensive health food store and organic café serving the public for 45 years. Extensive supplement selection; organic groceries, produce and meats; bath and body products; bulk bins; pet supplies; baby products and more. See ad, page 11.

VIRGINIA’S HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ II 3055 A Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 251-479-3952 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

Comprehensive health food store and organic café serving the public for 45 years. Extensive supplement selection; organic groceries, produce and meats; bath and body products; bulk bins; pet supplies; baby products and more. See ad, page 11.

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE

MASTERS OF MASSAGE See listings, page 3.

NATURAL HEALTH OSTEOSTRONG

333 Greeno Rd. S., Unit 2B, Fairhope, AL 2724 Old Shell Rd., Midtown Mobile, AL 251-210-6955 • 251-586-8226 OsteoStrong.me A 7-minute session, once a week provides a natural solution for healthy joints, strong bones and muscles, better balance and flexibility and pain reduction. Accessible to all ages; non-invasive; non-pharmaceutical. See ad, page 31.

ENRG-IV

3099 Loop Rd., Orange Beach, AL 620 N. McKenzie St., Ste 200, Foley, AL 251-240-0842 • enrGIV.com

enrG

Vitamin IV lounge and functional medicine clinVitamin IV • Supplements • Functional Medicine ic. IV vitamin therapies provide relief, healing and recovery for people with health concerns ranging from dehydration to chronic illness. Call us for a free consultation. See ad, page 13.

I

81 Magnolia Ave., Fairhope, AL 251-928-5692 BahaisOfFairhope@gmail.com

INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE OF LOWER ALABAMA

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PET CARE & SERVICES

PHARMACY

SPAS

EVERLOVED VETERINARY

BY THE BAY PHARMACY + WELLNESS

HYDRO ZEN AT PEAK ALKALINITY

Providing in-home, veterinary medical acupuncture (for all ages), plus gentle care of geriatric and terminally-ill pets in the comfort of your own home. Hospice and euthanasia services available. See ad, page 13.

Your hometown, locallyrun pharmacy with all your medication and wellness needs. In addition to traditional pharmacy services, we focus on natural products for health, nutrition, pain-relief and weight loss.

HEAR THEM SPEAK

ROLFING

Are your pets acting out?

Try energy healing and telepathic counseling for multi-species families.

Mention Natural Awakenings to purchase a set of four remote sessions at last year’s prices and save $30. See ad, page 33.

EASTERN SHORE ROLFING

Lydia M. Sullivan, DVM, CCRP, CVMA Serving Mobile and the Eastern Shore 251-229-1043 • EverLovedVeterinary.com

Babette de Jongh HearThemSpeak.com

28720 U.S. Hwy. 98, Ste. 2, Daphne, AL 251-206-8999 ByTheBayPharmacy.com

Pam Reaves, Certified Rolfer® 22806 Hwy. 98, Fairhope, AL 706-681-2935

Rolfing® is a holistic approach to manual therapy that seeks to improve your health and function by reestablishing the natural alignment and structural integration of the human body. More information at EasternShoreRolfing.com. See ad, page 25.

217-B Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL 2724 Old Shell Rd., Midtown Mobile, AL 251-270-7200 • 251-586-8198 PeakAlkalinity.com Offering cleansing far infrared sauna sessions followed by a hydrating collagen shower and detoxifying foot spas. Ask about package specials. See ad, page 3.

WATER FILTERS PEAK ALKALINITY

217-B Fairhope Ave., Fairhope, AL 2724 Old Shell Rd., Midtown Mobile, AL 251-270-7200 • 251-586-8198 PeakAlkalinity.com Offering in-home alkaline water ionizers so you never have to buy bottled water again. We have countertop and underthe-counter units plus portable marine units. Ask about our affordable rental program! See ad, page 3.

YOGA MASTERS OF YOGA See ads, page 9.

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IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR PARTNER HAS LAUNCHED ®

TRANSFORMING YOUR HEALTH CARE TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH & WELL-BEING Natural Awakenings is honored to give our dedicated readers the opportunity to be among the first members welcomed into the KnoWEwell community. With gratitude for our 26 years of readership and support, through our mission-aligned collaborative partnership with KnoWEwell, we are pleased to gift both individuals and providers with:

FREE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP - FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

“There is no simple way to describe KnoWEwell but Think Big! WebMD, meets Match.com, HomeAdvisor, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Indeed for Regenerative Whole Health, all in one place for the benefit of everyone.”

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Join for FREE at KnoWEwell.com INDIVIDUALS ENTER CODE: NAPUB60 (a $60 value)

PROVIDERS ENTER CODE: NAPUB300 (a $300 value)

A Top 50 Healthcare Company 2019

The KnoWEwell Collaborative with benefits for all in the RWH and well-being ecosystem.

December 2020

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Work from anywhere and love what you do.

Are you creative, driven & passionate about healthy living?

We are looking for the next Natural Awakenings publisher—the connector, the change maker, the motivated individual who wants to make a difference in our community.

This is more than a job, it’s a life-changing opportunity to inspire others to make choices that benefit themselves and the world around them.

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The Gulf Coast Alabama/Mississippi edition is for sale. This is a profitable, established, home-based business that provides extensive training and ongoing support. No previous publishing experience is required.

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