January 2012 Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS by Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS

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VIBRANT WELL-BEING Natural Therapies Seven Super Foods Deepak Chopra on Shifting Human Consciousness JANUARY 2012 | Mobile/Baldwin Edition www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

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letterfrompublisher As I stared blankly at the white page that was to become this month’s letter, I noticed my letter from a year ago posted behind my computer. I put it there to remind me of the sankalpa, or intention, I set for the past year: May I be present in all the moments of day-to-day life and may I feel and express gratitude for all things positive in my life. In the letter I explained that it was my hope that this intention would lead to less multi-tasking (physically and mentally), daily meditations and monthly date nights for Josh and I. While we’ve enjoyed several kid-free evenings, the reality is I have meditated less than a dozen times in the last 12 months, and by adding National Yoga Month to my plate of responsibilities in April, I certainly did not reduce my seemingly constant multi-tasking. With Josh and Mays out for a bike ride as I lacked inspiration for this letter, I took advantage of the quiet house and sat quietly on the floor for 10 minutes. When my meditation timer went off, I wanted to sit there for another 30 minutes. In those 10 short minutes I gained a clear mind, fresh energy and inner peace. I thought to myself, “Why haven’t I been doing this every day? Because I have been too busy multi-tasking!” What are your new year’s intentions for 2012? As always, this month’s Natural Awakenings is full of resources to support the whole family's healthy living resolutions. Alternative Goes Mainstream, page 22, is our guide to complementary trends that support natural health care, Soup’s On!, page 20, features healthy soup recipes that kids love and Animal Acupuncture, page 30, explores Traditional Chinese Medicine for four-legged family members. As this month’s Holy Molé Cartoon reminds us, it’s never too late to become what you were meant to be, or to return to previous intentions and resolutions. This year I’m going to revisit my 2011 sankalpa and my intention will again be to live presently while feeling gratitude everyday, every moment. I feel fortunate for the abundance that 2011 delivered and am intrigued by the new beginnings that will unfold in 2012! Happy New Year!

contact us Publisher/Editor Meredith Montgomery Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Assistant Editor Gabrielle Wyant-Perillo Editor@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Contributors Martin Miron Josh Montgomery Anne Wilson Michael Wilson Design and Production Meredith Montgomery Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin P.O. Box 725, Fairhope, AL 36533 Phone: 251-990-9552 Fax: 251-281-2375

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January 2012

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

12 CONQUERING

HEALTH CARE HARDSHIPS Local Organizations Take On Community-wide Health and Wellness by Gabrielle Wyant

18 7 POWER FOODS

Boost Energy, Lose Weight by Judith Fertig

20 SOUP’S ON! Healthy Choices Kids Love by Claire O’Neil

22 ALTERNATIVE

GOES MAINSTREAM Today’s Complementary Trends Support Natural Health Care by Kathleen Barnes

27 DEEPAK CHOPRA

EXPLORES CONSCIOUS BEING by Linda Sechrist

GO GREEN, Keep it on the Screen!

29 HEALTH BENEFITS OF COLD WATER by Corey Biggs, RN

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

ACUPUNCTURE TCM Is Not Just for Humans Anymore by Dr. Jenny Taylor

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6 newsbriefs 10 healthbriefs

14 ecotip 14 actionalert 16 NANdirectory 18 consciouseating 20 healthykids

14 22 localfeature 27 wisewords

30 naturalpet

33 calendar

37 naturaldirectory

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Nourish Yourself in Body, Mind & Soul Holistic Wellness Coaching Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking Classes Personal Vegan Chef and Catering Yoga and Meditation Classes Tracey Winter Glover JD, RYT 200 AFPA Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant Learn more at www.shantiwarrior.com tracey@shantiwarrior.com • (251) 510-2418

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January 2012

newsbriefs Free Buddhist History and Teachings in Irvington Master Chaiwat Moleechate, a Buddhist monk and native of Thailand, communicates lessons in Buddhist history and teachings from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., each Wednesday. Teachings are followed by Theravada chanting and meditation. This is a free opportunity for the general public to personally learn from a Buddhist monk. All religious affiliations and backgrounds are welcome to attend. Phamaha Chaiwat Moleechate (Ajhan Chaiwat) was ordained a Buddhist monk in 1977 at age 12, obtained a Master of Arts degree in Buddhist Religion studies from the Buddhist University in Thailand and completed training in meditation in 1986. After living in Seattle for three years, Moleechate arrived in Irvington in 2001, four years after the Wat Buddharaksa Temple was founded. Master Moleechate leads the Buddhist Meditations according to Thai tradition, “But the people,” he says, “whenever they have a problem and would like to meditate, they come and see me and we work it out. We are not that much different than other religions.” Location: 10323 Boe Rd, Grand Bay. For more information call 251-957-4132 or 251-957-2122.

Green Coast Council Hosts Sustainability Conference The S.H.I.F.T. (Sustainable Habits Initiative Financial Transformation) Conference, an educational event planned by the Green Coast Council, is scheduled for January 20, at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, in Spanish Fort. Workshops will explore sustainability and the potential to increase profits and marketability, while a panel of local companies will share how implementing sustainable business practices has impacted their bottom line and environmental footprint. The conference will feature keynote speaker Mayor George Heartwell, from Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition, 25 companies featuring green products and services such as recycling, resource conservation and simple money-saving initiatives will be exhibiting. During Heartwell’s tenure, city government has "gone green," implementing a variety of environmental measures, including the purchase of renewable resource energy, use of alternative fuels in city vehicles, continued attention to water quality in the Grand River and widespread implementation of energy conservation measures. The United Nations has since recognized Grand Rapids as a Center of Expertise in sustainability. The Green Coast Council is a forum for exchanging management strategies and technologies between area businesses and industries that promote excellence in environmental management. The goal of the council is to encourage the adoption and implementation of sustainable development business principles. Location: 30945 Five Rivers Blvd., Spanish Fort. For more information contact Smart Coast at 251-510-8002. Register at Info@SmartCoast.org. See ad on page 39. 6

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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Free Natural Awakenings App Now Available Keeping in touch with the best choices for a green and healthy lifestyle is now easier than ever, thanks to Natural Awakenings’ new iPhone and iPad app, available as a free download at Apple’s iTunes App Store. Individuals on the go can find products, practitioners and services dedicated to healthy living, right at their fingertips. They can also read articles on the latest practical, natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, creative expression, personal growth and sustainable living, offered by national experts with fresh perspectives. The exclusive app instantly connects to user-friendly galleries: “Local Magazines” includes a searchable listing of all Natural Awakenings franchise publishers, with instant links to phone numbers and websites. “National Directory” lists healthy, green businesses, resources and services, complete with directions. “This Month” shows the current national magazine content, always fresh and new. “Healthy Kids” is a collection of how-to articles that focus on raising, nurturing and empowering vibrant children. “Natural Pets” offers an information resource dedicated to holistic well-being for companion animals. “Article Archives,” a comprehensive library of thousands of articles, is searchable by key words. “En Español” features an archive of current and historical articles in Spanish. To download the free app, search “Natural Awakenings” in the iTunes App Store or visit NaturalAwakenings Mag.com. See ad on page 2.

CSL Hosts Spiritual Movie Series The Center for Spiritual Living (CSL), in Mobile, offers the public an evening spiritual movie program that begins at 7 p.m., the first Friday of each month. Featured movies are written, produced and directed by a variety of artists, including Emilio Estevez and Tom Shadyac. “Each visionary will share a spectrum of ideas in which we can expand our spiritual growth,” says CSL Reverend Sherrie Quander. CSL begins the new year with A Course in Miracles: The Movie, January 6 and A Course in Miracles: Understanding Special Relationships, February 3. Both films are based on the ideas and message of A Course in Miracles, by Marianne Williamson, Gerald Jampolsky, M.D., and Kenneth Wapnik, Ph.D. More than 100 individuals tell of their very real physical, mental and emotional transformation through forgiveness and love, bringing about a radical shift in how they feel about themselves. The CSL spiritual movies attempt to reveal the process of this “miraculous adventure of awakening and self-discovery.” Admission is $10. Location: 1230 Montlimar Dr., Mobile. For more information call 251-343-0777 or visit CMSpiritualCenter.org for movie titles and dates. See ad on page 24.

Correction: Contact Information for Warlocks The phone number listed for the "Natural Hair Extensions at Warlocks Hair Salon" news brief in December's issue, was incorrect. The correct number is 251-929-1899. We apologize for the error. See listing on page 37.

Partner Yoga for Couples at Quiet Mind Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio will host a Partner Yoga Valentine's Day Celebration, with Aaron Lind, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., February 11. No partner is required. Those attending as couples will be honored. Partner Yoga blends the spiritual wisdom of yoga, the loving kindness of Thai massage and graceful partner flying. These three ancient lineages form this practice, which cultivates trust, connection and playfulness. The workshop begins with a centering yoga practice designed to embody the healing arts of sensitivity and receptivity, and then participants partner together for guided Thai Massage and Therapeutic Flying sessions. The flow of basing and flying, giving and receiving, honoring and accepting, inhaling and exhaling are meant to take both yogis into a new place of union and bliss. Practice will include feedback techniques to foster healing and skillful interpersonal communication. “Drawing upon the natural forces of gravity and metta or loving-kindness, we'll encourage our bodies to let go into deeper states of liberation and relaxation,” says Quiet Mind owner Ginger Dunway. “Together, we will create a sacred space devoted to love, light and flight.” Cost is $35 per person or $65 per couple with early bird (one week prior) registration. Reservations required. Location: 2065 Old Shell Rd., Ste. B, Mobile. For more information or reservations call 251-476-6463, email Yoga@QuietMindMassageTherapy.com or visit QuietMindMassageTherapy.com. See ad on page 32.

Tri-City Healthy Moments Expo Healthy Moments has scheduled three venues for the free Healthy Moments Expo this month. This well-received expo will take place from 4 to 8 p.m., January 17, at eFitness and Wellness, in Biloxi, Mississippi; January 19, at Ashbury Suites, in Mobile; and January 30, at Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Airport, in Pensacola, Florida. The Expo is designed to help the people of Mobile and Baldwin counties and surrounding areas make step-by-step changes for a healthy future. Those who attend the expo will have the opportunity to interact with more than 30 vendor experts in the fields of exercise, nutrition, skin care, organic living and healthcare. A silent auction will benefit a charitable organization. and there will be door prizes for attendees, exercise demonstrations and free screenings. Vendor and exhibitor booths are still available. As special incentive, Natural Awakenings is offering Expo vendors special advertising opportunities. Locations: eFitness and Wellness, 1735 Richard Dr., Biloxi, MS; Ashbury Suites, 600 West, I-65 Service Rd, Mobile; Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Airport 1144 Airport Blvd., Pensacola, FL. For more information call 251-421-2259 or email HealthyMomentsExpo@gmail.com. See ad on page 39. natural awakenings

January 2012

newsbriefs Kula Adds New Class Locations and Teacher Training Kula Yoga Community offers paywhat-you-can yoga classes at five locations in Mobile and Baldwin counties. January will usher in a new period of growth for Kula with the addition of four new sites. Kula is adding evening classes in downtown Mobile, at the Mobile Arts Council, and expanding westward, with classes at Mobile Botanical Gardens, in Springhill, The Wellness Center, in Semmes, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, near the University of South Alabama. "We are excited about this new growth for Kula. It means more classes and more teachers—and more people practicing yoga," says Dana Goudie, E-RYT 200 and cofounder of Kula. In the Spring, Kula will offer a 200-hour yoga teacher training curriculum, pending Yoga Alliance certification. The training will meet one weekend per month, beginning in May, and will include the study of various styles of hatha yoga, breathing, meditation, yoga history and philosophy, as well as physical and subtle anatomy. According to Kula co-founder Amanda Brenner, RYT-200, "This program is ideal for aspiring yoga teachers or students who want to progress further on their yoga journey." For a full schedule of Kula classes and more information on teacher training, call 251-202-9642 or visit KulaYogaCommunity.org. See ad on page 32.

A Wellness Retreat Opens in Robertsdale Healing Acres, A Wellness Retreat, in Robertsdale, has recently opened, offering a plethora of services, classes and retreats. Specializing in therapeutic massage with essential oils, other services include aromatherapy, therapeutic Raindrop Technique, warm stone massage, reflexology, body wraps and polishes, ear candling and colon hydrotherapy. All treatments incorporate certified-pure, therapeutic-grade oils. Regular wellness classes are offered on various topics including basic information and the historical background of essential oils; Reiki Levels I and II, which include attunements, treatments and certification; and Doctor Mom: natural therapies to enhance the health and well-being of the entire family. This month’s classes include Essential Oils 101, Reiki II and Essential Oil Gifts. Location: 22355 Price Grubbs Rd., Robertsdale. For more information call Charlotte McCool at 251-4231863. See ad on page 18.

Specialty Classes at Integrated Fitness Integrated Fitness, in Fairhope, is offering two specialty classes, Explore Your Core and Youth Exploring Exercise, from January 16 to February 16. “These [classes] were so well received that we were encouraged to offer them again,” says owner Lynette Staggers. Explore Your Core, is “A core integration progressive class that strengthens and tones the abdomen, back, buttocks and pelvic floor muscles through methods of yoga and Pilates,” explains Staggers. Participants will learn modifications to meet their own conditioning level, making this class appropriate for individuals of all experience levels. “This is a great class to improve posture, enhance sport performance and quality of life,” says Staggers. Of the Youth Exploring Exercise and Nutrition class, Staggers says it is designed to encourage, empower and educate students about how to improve themselves through physical activity and proper nutrition, emphasizing lifestyle changes. “This program develops a variety of movement skills and exposes students to a variety of activities, such as strength training, yoga, Pilates, an obstacle course, a rock climbing wall and fitness games.” Classes are taught in a creative, playful, fun and non-competitive environment. The nutrition component encourages youth to develop healthy eating habits, with a focus on breakfast and snacks. “The focus is on long-term results, making peace with our imperfections, building confidence, and self-acceptance as we strive to be our best!” exclaims Staggers. Registration is required and space is limited. Location: 456 Morphy Ave., Fairhope. For more information call 251-554-4121, email IntegratedFitness4u@gmail.com or visit IntegratedFitness-Fairhope.com. See ad on page 32. 8

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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Trinity Yoga Hosts Second Annual Potluck and Fire Puja Trinity Yoga, in Foley, will hold the second annual Potluck and Fire Puja New Year Celebration from 2 to 5 p.m., January 28. The afternoon will consist of an all levels hatha yoga practice, meditation, fire puja and potluck. This is a free public event. Participants are encouraged to bring a vegetarian or gluten-free dish to share and personal intentions for the upcoming year. Location: 21441 Hwy 98 East, Foley. For more information call 251609-5541 or email NatsTrinityYoga@ gmail.com. See ad on page 32.

Sea Turtle License Plates Conditionally Approved The state of Alabama has given Share the Beach conditional approval for a new specialty license plate designed to show support for the protection of sea turtles and help attain vital funding for the program. The Alabama Motor Vehicle Division is requiring 1,000 commitments from supporters by April 5 to purchase the plates. In order to make the plates a reality, those interested must complete a Share the Beach tag commitment form, available at any Alabama DMV office. A $50 donation is required at the time of submission. After 1,000 commitments, the tags will be produced and supporters will be notified. “Before you know it, you'll be driving around with one of the coolest license plates ever made,” wrote Team Turtle, at Compass Media, Inc. Members of Compass Media, Inc. teamed up with Share the Beach to design the beautiful new license plate. Each year, hundreds of Share the Beach volunteers protect threatened and endangered sea turtles. Volunteers search for nests, assist in hatchling success and promote public education by speaking to school groups and other organizations. These volunteers strive to make a difference in the future of Alabama's sea turtles and Alabama's coastal ecosystem.

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January 2012

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Science Confirms Benefits of Herbal Brews

njoy your next cup of herbal tea while toasting to better health. U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded researchers have confirmed the science-based health benefits of three of Americans’ favorite herbal teas. Chamomile tea has long been said to soothe a troubled belly and restless mind. After reviewing scientific literature on the herb’s beneficial bioactivity, the study team published an article in Agricultural Research describing test-tube evidence that the beverage also offers moderate antimicrobial and significant anti-platelet-clumping action. They found that peppermint tea also shows significant antimicrobial, plus antiviral, antioxidant and antitumor actions, and even some antiallergenic potential. After reviewing human clinical trials, the researchers further reported that drinking hibiscus tea lowered blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults.

Calm Work Stress

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

eeling psychologically strained or blue at work? A simple, daily B vitamin supplement may be an answer. Australia’s Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, at Swinburne University of Technology, and the National Institute of Complementary Medicine recently partnered in a study assessing the personalities, work demands and mood, anxiety and strain experienced by 60 men and women. Half the group took a nutrient-herb-blend supplement with the full spectrum of B vitamins plus calcium, magnesium and vitamin C, nutrients known to help with the stress response; and passionflower and oats, which also soothe the nervous system. The other half received a placebo. At the end of three months, controlling for differences in personality and work demands, the B-complex treatment group reported significantly lower personal strain. The supplement group also reported decreased feelings of depression/dejection, anger/ hostility and tension/anxiety, as well as less fatigue. The placebo group noticed no such changes. It’s wise to talk with a doctor or other health professional before beginning any supplementation program; bottled Bs may interact with certain medications and with each other. B vitamins occur naturally in meat and tuna; whole grains; leafy greens like collards, kale and Swiss chard; lentils and beans; broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage; and potatoes and oranges.

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The Power of Good Posture

other’s warnings against slouching were correct. Recent research proves that poor posture not only makes a bad impression, it can make us feel physically weaker. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, explored the relationship of posture and pain tolerance and found that by simply adopting more dominant poses, individuals can feel more powerful, in control and better able to tolerate distress. More, those studied using the most dominant posture were able to comfortably tolerate more pain than others assigned a more neutral or submissive stance. People tend to curl up into a ball when in pain, but the University of Southern California researchers recommend doing the opposite—try sitting or standing up straight, lifting the chin, pushing out the chest and generally expanding the body shape. They suggest that these small, yet empowering, changes in behavior can decrease sensitivity to pain. Adopting a powerful posture may even affect the body’s hormone levels, boosting testosterone, which is associated with increased pain tolerance, and decreasing cortisol, typically released in response to stress.

THE HEAVY SECRET OF FAKE FATS

ood containing synthetic fats—which taste like natural fats, but with fewer calories—may sound enticing to dieters. However, fat substitutes used in low-calorie potato chips and other processed foods could instead backfire and contribute to weight gain and obesity. Findings by Purdue University scientists published online in the American Psychological Association’s journal, Behavioral Neuroscience, challenges marketing claims that foods made with fat substitutes help with weight loss. Apparently, the hitch is that synthetic fats can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate food intake, leading to inefficient use of calories and weight gain.

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natural awakenings

January 2012

Conquering Healthcare Hardships Mobile and Baldwin County Organizations Facilitate Community-wide Health and Wellness by Gabrielle Wyant

Millions of people across the globe resolve to live healthier lives in the New Year by vowing to eat fresh foods, exercise at fitness facilities or learn healthy lifestyle techniques. Yet, thousands of people within the community do not have the means to attain such goals. Many experience hardship from disparities, lack of finances and medical resources or access to continued education.

ortunately, in Mobile and Baldwin counties, there are organizations that provide resources to ease the healthcare hardship of those in need. These organizations are perfect examples of how charity, church, medical and educational communities can work together on behalf of the underprivileged. Successfully coordinated leaders in the community pair with volunteers that possess the ability and compassion to solve what seem like insurmountable problems. The force of this powerful combination of individuals is a dramatic statement of what can occur when people decide to be a true community by claiming responsibility for one another.

The Center for Family and Community Development (CFCD) The Center for Family and Community Development (CFCD) is a local, nonprofit organization with a mission to promote h e a l t hy f a m i l i e s and healthy living 12

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

through activities that concentrate on education, nutrition and wellness, child development, parenting, basic life skills and resources that support self-sufficiency. Last year, CFCD began forming a coalition of interested organizations to educate the public about the need for sustainable communities. The resulting Sustainable Agriculture and Education Initiative is an agriculture supported community (ASC) approach that makes fresh, organic produce accessible and affordable, creates economic development opportunities for aspiring farmers, addresses the issues of hunger and food security, promotes sustainable communities and educates the community at large about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. At the initiative’s first project site, a community garden’s initial harvest provided several hundred pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to the women and children of the homeless transition program Sybil H. Smith Family Village, senior citizens participating in the SAIL program at Dumas Wesley Community Center and residents of the Crichton community. The garden is maintained solely by volunteers from the communities it serves and the Junior League of Mobile. It has since been expanded with additional sites already in development. According to CFCD’s program director Cathy O’Neal, “It is important that opportunities are available for community

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members from diverse backgrounds to connect with each other and work side-by-side on common goals and problem solving. Agricultural initiatives help build community leaders, increase a sense of community and belonging, encourage shared decision making and develop community identity and spirit.” CFCD is partnering with organic farmer Lorna Donaldson to expand the initiative throughout the Gulf Coast. As a board member of the Rodale Institute (RodaleInstitute.org) and Beyond Pesticides (BeyondPesticides.org) Donaldson has secured research-based guidance for CFCD’s initiative including the introduction of affordable methods that make food production attainable for just about anyone. CFCD Founder and Executive Director Tarrant Lanier says, “Everyone wants to live a healthy and happy life, it is just a basic human right and we are proud to be on the forefront of this movement in our communities.” For more information email Info@CFCDofAlabama.org or visit CFCDofAlabama.org.

The Hope Center According to U.S. Census estimates, approximately 23 percent of Baldwin County residents younger than 65 live without medical coverage. That's the second-highest rate in the state; higher than the Mobile County Census estimate of about 18 percent uninsured. To help ease the medical encumbrance of more than 30,000 Baldwin County residents, the Church on the Eastern Shore opened The Hope Center, in Fairhope. This nonprofit facility offers low-cost services to medically uninsured, underinsured and low-income individuals. According to the center’s Director of Development Jennifer Miles, “The clinic is a nonprofit agency independent of the church, and is staffed entirely by volunteer physicians and medical staffers.” Partnering with organizations, ministries, churches, businesses and individuals, a mission of the organization is to provide quality services in order to make a lasting difference in individual lives and the community. The center provides counseling, dental and medical services by loving, licensed professionals and has served more than 2,300 patients since opening in 2009. All services are available by appointment. Counseling services are available to all, regardless of insurance status or income. Areas of counseling include youth issues, marriage and family concerns, addictions and grief. Dental visits are a flat $35 fee per visit for the uninsured and provides exams, X-rays, extractions and fillings by licensed professionals. Medical visit rates start as low as $15 and are determined by a sliding fee scale, based on income, for uninsured patients. Medical services provided at the clinic are nonemergency only and may include physical exams, lab work, X-rays, EKGs, diabetic education, CPAP education, sleep dif-

ficulties and pap smears. Colon screenings and mammograms are also available for patients that qualify. Location: 10274-A Hwy. 104, Fairhope. For appointments call 251-445-2273. For more information contact Dana Smith, RN, at Dana@HopeCenter.tv or visit HopeCenter.tv.

Center of Excellence: Training Community Health Advocates The University of South Alabama Center for Healthy Communities (USA CHC) Center of Excellence, in Mobile, is committed to eliminating health disparities in the Gulf Coast region. Health disparities are inequalities in health associated with ethnicity/race, gender, poverty, geography, occupation, housing status or sexual orientation. According to Dr. Roma Stovall Hanks, Community Outreach Core co-director, these disparities are preventable. In order to research and further address disparities, the center has established Community Health Advocates (CHA), an engagement program that sends volunteers into the community to encourage healthy behaviors of economically-deprived persons within the Gulf Coast area. Advocates are typically people or groups that are active in engaging individuals within their own neighborhoods, churches and/or places of work. Ensuring CHAs are well equipped with the tools and knowledge to field basic issues and disease-specific questions, USA CHC developed a 10-session online Health Disparity Curriculum, which educates the advocates on different health topics. Of the online curriculum, Health Education Specialist Britney Evans, MPH, says, “It is a great resource for anyone seeking more information on health disparities in our area, and is also an orientation of sorts for new volunteers.” Further knowledge is gained from participating in educational outreach. “As an incentive program,” says Evans, “those finishing [the online curriculum] are able to obtain free registration and access to further training through additional classes, workshops and seminars.” Of their need for volunteers, she says, “We are looking for people to pass on good information to those who are in need of information.” Location: 578 Stanton Rd., Mobile. For volunteer and advocate meeting information, contact Britney Evans, health education specialist, at 251-471-7708 or write BDuncan@USouthAl.edu. All of these community initiatives rely on the support and dedication of volunteers and compassionate citizens. By claiming responsibility for one another with resolutions spanning beyond our own well-being, more people within our community will experience health and happiness in the new year. Gabrielle Wyant is the assistant editor for Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin and a contributing writer. natural awakenings

January 2012

actionalert

globalbriefs

Faux Food

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

Demand Labels on Genetically Engineered Foods The United States is a rarity among developed countries in that it does not require labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods. Russia, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and 15 nations in the European Union require notice of GE content. A poll by ABC News shows that 93 percent of Americans want the federal government to require mandatory labeling of these foods. The nonprofit Center for Food Safety (CFS) has filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanding that the agency require the labeling of GE foods, on behalf of the Just Label It campaign (JustLabelIt.org), a coalition of 350 companies, organizations, scientists, doctors and individuals dedicated to food safety and consumer rights. In 1992, the FDA issued a policy statement that GE foods were not “materially” different than traditional foods, and so did not need to be labeled. Agency policy severely constricts differences only to alterations that can be tasted, smelled or otherwise detected through the five senses. CFS Executive Director Andrew Kimbrell states, “Current FDA policy uses 19th-century rationale for a 21stcentury issue, leaving consumers in the dark as to hidden changes to their food. It is long overdue that the FDA acknowledges the myriad reasons genetically engineered foods should be labeled and label these novel foods once and for all.” Critics claim that GE foods are linked to both personal health and environmental risks. Tell the FDA to label GE foods and more at CenterForFoodSafety.org and TrueFoodNow.org. 14

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Fishy Business

Something’s Spawning Gender-Bent Fish A French study examining wild gudgeon fish that live directly downstream from a pharmaceutical drug manufacturing plant found that up to 80 percent of them exhibited both male and female traits in their sex organs. Such sex abnormalities indicate endocrine disruption that can foreshadow larger effects on fish populations because of reductions in breeding abilities. Upstream of the plant, only 5 percent of such intersex fish were detected. Excreted pharmaceuticals can enter the environment from sewage treatment plants or the flushing of unwanted or old drugs down the toilet. They also can directly enter waterways via discharge into rivers and streams by drug manufacturing plants. The study is the first to link discharge from a drug plant, rather than a sewage plant, with physical and chemical changes in fish. The inquiry was initiated after fishermen along the Dore River, in France, noticed swollen bellies and abnormal innards in the wild gudgeon fish. Study results were published in the journal Environmental International. More research is needed to identify the types and levels of specific drugs in the water at each site. Source: EnvironmentalHealthNews.com

Going Out Green

New Mortuary Practices Reduce Mercury Pollution Resomation, Ltd., in Glasgow, Scotland, has invented a new alkaline hydrolysis unit as a green alternative to cremation. Founder Sandy Sullivan plans to install the first one in America at the Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mercury from dental fillings vaporized in crematoria has been blamed for up to 16 percent of British airborne mercury emissions, and many facilities there are fitting costly mercury filtration systems to meet reduced emission targets. The device dissolves the body in heated, pressurized, alkaline water. Makers claim the process produces one-third less greenhouse gas than cremation, uses one-seventh of the energy and allows for complete separation of mercury-laden dental amalgam for safe disposal. Sullivan, a biochemist, says tests have proven the effluent is sterile, contains no DNA and poses no environmental risk. He believes it can rival cremation for cost. The technology has been legalized in seven states to date. Another green alternative, Promession, is under development by Swedish Biologist Susanne Wiigh-Masak. It involves a fully automated machine that removes the body from the coffin and freezes it with liquid nitrogen. Vibrating breaks the corpse into fragments, which are then dried, refined and filtered to remove dental amalgam and other metals. The remains are then automatically poured into a biodegradable container for shallow burial. Wiigh-Masak likens the process to composting, in which organic materials convert to soil within weeks. She says that 60 countries around the world have expressed interest in the technology. Source: BBC News

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Future Fuels

U.S. Renewable Energy Surpasses Nuclear Beginning in 2011, renewable energy production in the United States surpassed nuclear production in overall quantity and percentage. As a percentage of total U.S. energy generation, renewables are steadily, if modestly, gaining. California’s leadership goal targets the utilization of 33 percent renewable energy sources by 2020. Hydroelectric, geothermal, solar/photovoltaic, wind and biomass combined make up a growing segment of the mix: 11.7 percent as of June 2011, surpassing nuclear at 11.1 percent. For the same period in 2010, nuclear was 11.6 percent, and renewable was 10.6, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Forbes reports that many environmentalists, however, think that the two prominent technologies that currently make up much of the renewables sector—hydroelectric power, at 35 percent, and biomass, at 48 percent—are the least attractive. (Wind is the third-largest, at 13 percent of renewable, 1.5 percent of the total.) Large-scale hydroelectric power production has harmful impacts on river ecosystems and has become less popular in the developed world. As for biomass, each of the many types of feedstock must be evaluated individually for its emissions profile, water footprint and other considerations, such as whether farm fields or forests need that material to decompose in place in order to retain soil or ecosystem function.

ecotip Mailbox Makeover Banish Unwanted Catalogs

The holidays have come and gone and a new year is here, heralded by a mailbox still engorged with resourcewasting, old and new catalog clutter. Altogether, some 20 billion catalogs are mailed annually, to the frustration of Earth-conscious shoppers. According to the nonprofit ForestEthics, the average American will spend the equivalent of eight months of their life dealing with junk mail. We all can save valuable time, conserve America’s forests, ease up on overflowing landfills, and reduce fuel and other materials wasted on unwanted catalogs by following these simple tips. 1. Ditch duplicate mailings. If you receive multiples of a catalog you like, call and ask the company to remove the extra listing. 2. Delete your address. The Direct Marketing Association (dmaChoice.org) will add your name to a “delete” list for direct marketers through its Mail Preference Service. It’s free online, or $1 by mail.

Resilient Communities

Volunteerism Remains Strong in America More than 60 million Americans volunteered 8 billion hours of their services in 2010, holding steady with the previous year, according to the latest report by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), released late last year. Communities are benefiting from their work in mentoring and tutoring youth, fundraising and providing food, transportation and general labor, including disaster relief. “Every day, volunteers of all ages are giving their time and talents to solve problems and make our country stronger,” says Robert Velasco II, acting CEO of CNCS. He observes that civic involvement increases as people become more deeply rooted in their communities through family, work and school ties. The members of Generation X (born 1965 to 1981) are volunteer stars, having contributed 2.3 billion hours in 2010, 110 million more than the year before. Teen volunteer rates were also up from 2002 through 2010, compared to 1989. A Volunteering in America report attributes this to emphasis on service-learning in high schools, the influence of parents that volunteer, social networking and the ease of finding opportunities via the Internet. To find local volunteer opportunities by category, visit Serve.gov or AllForGood.org.

3. Sign up with a service. Options available for a modest fee include Catalog Choice.org, StopTheJunkMail.com and 41Pounds.org. 4. Switch to email. Most retailers can email promotion and sale notifications, with links to their websites and digital catalogs. 5. Recycle catalogs after browsing. If the local recycling program doesn’t accept them, search Earth911.org by Zip code to find the nearest facility that does. natural awakenings

January 2012

FINALLY!

YOUR PASSPORT TO WELL-BEING

Natural Awakenings presents a discount network that supports healthy living and a healthy planet. Enjoy discounts from participating providers that nurture your body, mind and spirit. Need more information? Call us, and we can assist you with everything you need to maximize your membership benefits.

Introductory Plan Rates Individual Plan $40 per year

Family Plan $80 per year

* DISCOUNTED CORPORATE & GROUP PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

National Provider Directory online • Personalized NAN card Easy to use • Coverage for the whole family

NATURAL AWAKENINGS NETWORK PROVIDER DIRECTORY New providers will be announced each month in Natural Awakenings and a full directory will be published quarterly. For a current list of providers and details of the discounts they offer, visit NaturalAwakeningsNetwork.com. To search local providers, use MBAL in the keyword search.

BEAUTY & SKINCARE Glow Wellness Studio Mobile, 251-767-5230 20% discount

CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS & SERVICES Lily Pads Children’s Consignment Boutique

Daphne, 251-621-0337 15% discount (excludes handmade/ Mobile, 240-515-4388 $10 off natural styles, $4 off barber cuts special orders)

Locs of Soul

Made in the Shea

MadeInTheShea.com, 251-408-2148 Free shipping on online orders

Mami Creations

MamiCreations.com, 925-215-0545 10% off all orders, Free shipping on orders of $75+

Warlocks Hair Salon

Fairhope, 251-929-1899 10% off laser therapy (hair restoration)

The Little Gym

Fairhope, 251-626-9858 10% discount on enrollment, $15 off Birthday Bash

CHIROPRACTIC Chiropractic Life Center

ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS & SERVICES David’s Gallery

Reliable Water Treatment

Green Clean

Rosie Blu

Gulf Shores, 251-948-7862 25% off inhalation therapy products Baldwin County, 251-508-3796 15% off every 4th cleaning service, 10% off cleaning kits with each deep clean service

Green Solutions

Mobile, 228-219-3653 20% off one-year recycling services

Institute for Sustainability Education and Development

Mobile, 251-380-0477 Mobile, 251-404-3924 1/2 off initial exam, 15% off office visits, 25% off coaching packages; 20% 10% off supplements and supplies off seminars and workshops; Free

business listing in Coastal Woman magazine Baldwin County, 251-923-7054 15% discount Fairhope, 251-517-5326 15% discount, additional 5% on your birthday

Salt Removers Inc.

ACSaltRemover.com, 877-725-8851 15% off Air Conditioner Salt Remover

Sweet Home Cleaning Service

Mobile & Baldwin Counties, 251-895-7185 10% discount

EDUCATION/SCHOOLS

Good Shepherd Learning Center Bay Minette, 251-937-6001 10% off enrollment fee

Thrive Yoga and Massage Fairhope, 251-379-4493 25% off yoga and massage

Trinity Yoga Foley, 251-609-5541 Hermes Enchanted Garden Montessori-Influenced In-Home Buy 1 block of classes, get a second 1/2 off Childcare Daphne, 251-269-0022 15% off first month’s tuition

FLORISTS Stemz

Ocean Camp

Gulf Shores, 205-936-9892 $25 off summer camp session

Weinacker’s Montessori School

Daphne, 888-967-2445 Lake Forest, 251-259-5037 Hillcrest, 251-344-8755 Midtown, 251-478-7219 Tillman’s Corner, 251-653-4707 10% off enrollment fee

ESSENTIAL OILS Healthy Living with Essential Oils

Mobile, 251-656-6696 10% discount, free shipping on orders over $150

Laurie Azzarella

Daphne, 251-625-0080 Save $80 on an essential oil starter package

FITNESS & YOGA 5th Line Gyrotonic Studio Fairhope, 251-209-9864 10% discount

Coastal Ballet

Foley, 251-943-2837 $10 off purchases of $50 or more

FOODS & NUTRITION Fairhope Health Foods

Healing Arts

MASSAGE & BODYWORK

Blissful Massage

Statewide, 205-991-0042 10% off Grow Alabama Store purchases

The Health Food Center Mobile, 251-661-3065 10% discount on Tuesdays

The Health Hut

Spanish Fort, 251-621-1865 Mobile, 251-633-0485 10% off non-food items

JusTeas & Peace Tea Bar Fairhope, 251-517-5626 15% discount, additional 5% on your birthday

Lopez Family Chiropractic Fairhope, 251-928-5058 20% off nutritional supplement or organic food item

Healing Acres

Robertsdale, 251-425-1863 $10 off colonics; $15 off massage

Momentum Massage Mobile, 251-470-9944 20% off any service; $5 off an extra treats

Rosie Bluum

Fairhope, 251-517-5626 15% discount, additional 5% on your birthday

MEDITATION Meditation Center of Alabama Mobile, 251-623-4485 Get 1 month free when you buy a 6 month membership

PET CARE

Foley, 251-979-9851 Orlando and Sons Produce Free first class, 10% off for new students Gulf Shores, 251-948-4538 $5 off purchases of $25 or more

Heavenly Hounds

Daphne, 251-621-3030 Zero enrollment on any personal training package

SouthPaws Pet Spa

everyBODY Solution

Fairhope Fitness 24

Fairhope, 251-929-2450 2 for 1 unlimited yoga and unlimited spinning for one month

Gulf Coast Martial Arts Foley, 251-979-6019 Free class for new students

Planet Gymnastics

Mobile, 251-650-0699 20% off first session, $10 off all birthday parties

Pneuma Yoga and Movement Studio

Daphne, 251-458-6506 20% off class packages

Shanti Warrior

Mobile, 251-510-2418 10% off personal chef services and wellness coaching

Virginia’s Health Foods

Loxley, 251-964-2750 $10 off training sessions Fairhope, 251-928-0750 5% off products, 10% off grooming services

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mobile, 251-345-0494 10% discount on regularly priced items Victoria Webb Photography Mobile and Baldwin Counties, GARDENING 251-716-9699 15% off portrait session; Free 11x14 Blue Flower Gardens canvas print with wedding package Fairhope, 251-929-3593 30% off organic, perennial garden installation PREGNANCY & BABY

HEALING ARTS Delta Institute

Mobile, 251-219-4574 25% discount for first-time clients; 10% off for returning clients

My Baby Wears Cloth

Eastern Shore and Mobile, MyBabyWearsCloth.com, 404-822-4469 251-423-8808 20% off massage and Pilates sessions Free diaper with purchase of Elements Therapeutic Massage $75 or more

Fairhope, 251-928-0644 Mobile, 251-342-6415 10% discount on regularly priced items $10 off any massage session

Grow Alabama

Grassroots Holistic

Bon Secour, 251-979-9851 Health Coaching 20% off single service; free consultation Mobile, 256-282-1391 15% off classes & seminars, MARI by Rosie 20% off 6-month programs Fairhope, 251-752-6509 10% discount with an additional 5% on Lil Green Diaper Service your birthday Mobile, 251-508-5721 2 weeks of free service

PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Birthing From Within Childbirth Preparation Mobile, 251-554-5704 $50 off 8-week series of childbirth classes

RECREATION & TRAVEL 5 Rivers Delta Safaris

Spanish Fort, 251-259-8531 $5 off any regular priced guided safari (tour boat or canoe/kayak)

Alabama PaddleSports

Baldwin County, 251-279-0703 20% off stand up paddle board and kayak rentals

Coastal Dreams Travel

Gulf Shores, 205-936-9892 Free travel journal and insider tips

RESTAURANTS Bangkok Thai Cuisine

Hwy 90W, Mobile, 251-666-7788 Airport Blvd, Mobile, 251-344-7788 Daphne, 251-626-5286 15% discount at dinner with entree order

Moo Che Che Frozen Yogurt Spanish Fort, 251-626-9992 15% discount

Smoothie King

Airport Blvd, Mobile, 251-479-5464 University Blvd, Mobile, 251-341-0605 Daphne, 251-626-5464 Foley, 251-981-1370 1 Free enhancer with smoothie purchase

Sunflower Cafe

Fairhope, 251-929-0055 Mobile, 251-345-0495 10% discount

Thai Orchid

Mobile, 251-639-9990 15% discount at dinner with entree order

To learn more about NAN membership or to become a provider, visit Tinyurl.com/NANCard.

consciouseating

POWER FOODS BOOST ENERGY, LOSE WEIGHT

by Judith Fertig

T digital MAGAZINE

automatic. free. green. subscribe online:

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

o say that Brendan Brazier, a former professional triathlete from Vancouver, Canada, has energy to spare is an understatement. Brazier has turned his vegan Ironman success into a triptych of bestselling books: Thrive, Thrive Fitness and his new cookbook, Thrive Foods: 200 Plant-Based Recipes for Peak Health. He has created the Vega line of whole food products and become an activist for improving the health of people and the planet through food choices. “I discovered that with the perfect combination of the right foods, it was possible to achieve incredible levels of fitness that went far beyond what I could have achieved on a regular diet,” he explains. “The perfect combination for me is a whole food, EarthBrendan Brazier

Give a gift of healing. Therapeutic Massage

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Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

friendly plant-based diet. But even small changes—like adding these seven clean, quality super foods to a person’s daily diet—can help decrease body fat, diminish visible signs of aging, boost energy without caffeine or sugar, enhance mood and improve sleep quality.”

Brazier’s Seven Super Foods Maca. This root vegetable from South America increases energy by nutrition, not stimulation, advises Brazier, who recommends the gelatinized form for best results and often adds it to a drink after a workout. Hemp protein. Rich in omega-3 and omega-4 essential fatty acids, hemp protein powder makes a great base for a smoothie. Fresh ginger and ground, dried turmeric. These spices help the blood circulate more efficiently, and thus boost energy. Brazier adds them to drinks or smoothies. Chia. Small, white chia seeds help sustain energy and maintain a feeling of fullness. He enjoys them in a blueberry chia breakfast pudding. Fresh leafy greens. Brazier believes the consumption of chlorophyll-rich, leafy green vegetables, combined with moderate exercise, is the best way to create a biologically younger body. Chlorella. This freshwater green algae, taken as a dietary supplement, is best known as a powerful energy enhancer and brain booster. Green tea. Rich in chlorophyll and antioxidants, green tea causes a slow, steady release of energy over the course of several hours. “Each new year brings fresh resolve to launch healthier habits that lead to fitter bodies, better sleep, increased performance and happier lives,” says Brazier. “Diet is one of the things we have the power to change right now in order to begin to thrive.” Judith Fertig celebrates healthy cooking at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com.

7STEPS TO THRIVE by Brendan Brazier The beauty of a good diet is that the right foods will not only help us overcome nutritional stress, but also other negative stressors, like pollution and environmental toxins. Plus, we’ll be able to better perform during positive demands like exercise and educational activities. My recommended action plan consists of seven easy steps. Step One. Examine your current diet. What things are you eating that might be reducing your energy or aren’t supporting your health and fitness goals? Step Two. Prepare for success by researching and listing foods that are conducive to thriving. Step Three. Graze throughout the day. Eating several small meals helps maintain energy levels, eases digestive strain and spreads nutrients to

sustain us all day. Step Four. Drink a nutritious smoothie each day—it delivers whole food nutrition that’s easy on the digestive system and provides lasting energy. Here is a go-to favorite. Mango Cashew Smoothie ½ cup powdered hemp protein 1 cup mango, fresh, frozen or pulp ½ cup soaked raw cashews ½ tsp vanilla extract 1 Tbsp maple syrup (or agave nectar) 1½ cups purified water ½ cup ice

every day; it’s an easy way to pack nutrition into a convenient, easy-tocarry form. Step Seven. Eat a substantial, balanced afternoon snack to head off hunger and overeating at evening meals. Consider healthy snacks—such as a handful of almonds, macadamia nuts or walnuts; a serving of organic carrots, celery or zucchini sticks; or an organic apple, pear or orange—instead of processed convenience foods. For more information, visit Brendan Brazier.com or join a free online program at ThriveIn30.com.

Purée all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Step Five. Eat a big, green salad every day; these are a staple when eating to thrive. Step Six. Eat a raw energy bar

Bring Healthy Home, OrganicProduce OrganicMeats

Supplements Holistic Pet Food

AlabamaOrganicMilk OrganicWine Wheat&Gluten-Free

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Bath&BodyProducts 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Ctr

3952 Airport Blvd in Mobile

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Open 7 days a week. Serving the public for 35 years.

or Eat Healthy Out

www.va-fairhopehealthfoods.com

Dine at our organic cafes featuring juice bars, free-range meat, vegan options and organic wine. Take out available. Menus online. Call for specials. Inside Virginia’s Health Foods in Mobile

Next door to Fairhope Health Foods

251-929-0055

M-W, Sat 10:30am-4pm Thu-Fri 10:30am-9pm Sunday Brunch 10:30am-2pm

251-345-0495

Mon-Sat 10:30am-3pm Closed Sundays

natural awakenings

January 2012

healthykids

1½ Tbsp olive oil 1 large leek, well washed, white parts only, chopped 1 large carrot, peeled and diced small 1 large potato, diced small 1 parsnip, peeled and diced small 4 cloves garlic, minced 5 cups vegetable stock Sea salt to taste Handful fresh parsley leaves, chopped 4 oz (large handful) fresh spinach leaves, rinsed and coarsely chopped Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Soup’s On!

Healthy Choices Kids Love by Claire O’Neil

“W

hat’s a surefire way to get kids dashing to the dinner table? Simmer up a batch of hearty soup and then sit back and watch it disappear,” says Ken Haedrich. “Kids love soup,” he maintains, “because it’s warm and soothing and slurpy.” A former navy Seabee and author of the classic Soup Makes the Meal, Haedrich is a father to four grown children. “Besides being kid-friendly, soup has other advantages,” he continues. “It can be made ahead of time, and you’ll probably end up with leftovers—a bonus for busy families.” Soup is also a great way to get kids interested in vegetables and in cooking. “Starting at around 2 years old, kids want to be in charge of what they eat, just like they want to choose their own clothes,” says Beth Bader, author of The Cleaner Plate Club. So Bader and her daughter Amelie started entertaining fresh ways of looking at food. At the grocery store or farmers’ market, for example, they played “I Spy,” as in “I spy something purple that tastes like.... Amelie could pick any vegetable and we’d figure out how to cook it at home—often in soup,” says Bader.

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

1. In a soup pot, heat the olive oil and add leeks, carrot, potato, parsnip and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat about 5 minutes. Add stock and salt to taste, and then bring to a simmer. 2. Simmer soup, partially covered, for about 5 minutes, and then stir in parsley and spinach. Simmer, partially covered, about 5 more minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add pepper to taste and serve piping hot.

Chicken broth-based soups may also boost immunity and help battle the sniffles, according to researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Stephen Rennard and his colleagues found that properties of chicken soup help soothe sore throats and ease other cold symptoms. Soups made with vegetable broths likewise offer anti-inflammatory properties and comforting goodness, maintains green living expert Annie B. Bond. Inspired by Haedrich’s book, Bond added her own spin to this soup for her daughter.

Winter Vegetable Soup

Grandma’s Healing Soup

Makes 12 servings

“This light, restorative soup is so delicious you don’t have to be sick to enjoy it,” says Bond. “Either way, its luscious fragrance helps clear sinuses, and the potatoes soothe the digestive tract. It’s a delightful broth, filled with spinach, parsley, leeks and garlic, that yields minerals, vitamins and healing antioxidants, with some winter root vegetables for sweetness. A steaming bowlful on a cold winter day is wonderfully comforting.” Serves 4 to 5

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

This recipe is adapted from The Cleaner Plate Club: More Than 100 Recipes for Real Food Your Kids Will Love, by Beth Bader and Ali Benjamin. “Parmesan rinds are the secret to a rich flavor in nearly any soup,” advises Bader, the mother of a 6-year-old. “When you finish up a wedge of Parmesan cheese, save the rind and freeze it for later use. When you add the rind to a hot soup, it will melt a bit and little pieces of Parmesan will blend into the soup. ” Tip: She finds farro, an ancient strain of grain, in the bulk foods aisle.

2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 /3 cup chopped carrot (about 3 medium carrots) 2 /3 cup chopped celery (about 3 stalks) 2 garlic cloves, minced 10 cups vegetable or chicken stock 1 Tbsp dried summer savory 2 tsp dried thyme 2 bay leaves 2 small Parmesan rinds, optional 1 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and diced small (¼-inch cubes)

Explore your true Self and Discover your Inner Light with MARI by Rosie

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1 lb winter squash, peeled and diced small (¼-inch cubes) 1 cup farro, rinsed and drained or 1 cup lentils, rinsed, sorted and drained 1 bunch (about 12 oz) kale or chard greens, stemmed and chopped Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1. Warm the oil over medium-low heat and add the onion, carrot and celery. Sweat this combination, known as a mirepoix, until the onion is translucent. 2. Add the stock and the savory, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the sweet potato, squash and Parmesan rinds, and then simmer for 30 minutes. 3. Add the farro or lentils and simmer for 30 more minutes (or until the lentils, if present, are al dente). 4. Add the greens, and simmer for 5 more minutes. 5. Remove the bay leaf and Parmesan rinds. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve. Annie B. Bond blogs and writes at AnnieBBond.com. Beth Bader blogs at ExpatriatesKitchen.blogspot.com and EatLocalChallenge.com. Claire O’Neil is a freelance writer in Kansas City, MO.

How motherhood is meant to be. Learn the secrets to healthy living for Mom and Baby.

Grassroots Holistic Health Coaching serves women at all stages of pregnancy, from pre-conception to post-partum, in creating a healthy environment for you and your baby. “Work one-on-one with me, your certified holistic health coach, to develop a program of dietary, spiritual and emotional wellness during one of the most exciting and important times in your life.” -Hannah Tessen, Owner Preparing for Pregnancy • Living for Two Baby and Me•Cooking Classes•& more!

photo by Beth Bader

Learn more today by contacting: Hannah Tessen 256-282-1391

HannahTessen@hotmail.com www.GrassRootsHolisticHealth.com natural awakenings

January 2012

and healing techniques. The U.S. government established the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in 1992, under the auspices of the National Institutes of Health, to investigate and evaluate promising unconventional medical practices. In the 21st century, it’s been picked up more widely under the concept of integrative medicine, in which conventional medical and more natural therapies are used to complement one another. This encouraging development also reflects current trends among major categories of therapies that take body, mind and spirit into account.

Acupuncture/Traditional Chinese Medicine

ALTERNATIVE

GOES MAINSTREAM Today’s Complementary Trends Support Natural Health Care by Kathleen Barnes

aven’t we all at some time shifted to more healthy foods, enjoyed a massage, consulted with a chiropractor or naturopath, popped a vitamin C supplement or attended a yoga, Tai chi, qigong or Pilates class? Many of us also meditate regularly and pray for sick friends and relatives. If we’ve engaged in any of these activities, we are among the nearly two-thirds of Americans that use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies each year. While these approaches to wellness have been practiced for millennia, it’s only been in the past decade or so that they have begun to move from the U.S. alternative fringe into the American mainstream. The widespread use of CAM thera22

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

pies is due to a confluence of three trends: a growing body of credible scientific research that supports their effectiveness; popular demand for these natural, non-invasive and effective therapies; and growing recognition by conventional practitioners that healing is accomplished through holistic treatments that address body, mind and spirit.

Signs of the Times

Today, even the staid American Medical Association recommends a multivitamin supplement for virtually everyone; you can find a yoga class in almost any YMCA or community college; prestigious medical schools have departments of complementary and alternative medicine; and some hospitals are encouraging their staff to become proficient in energy medicine

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) requires a dramatic mental shift away from symptom-related modalities of Western medicine. Here, one’s wellness and illness is based on managing the flow of energy, or chi (pronounced CHEE), through the body. TCM has been used in China and others parts of Asia for 5,000 years. Its core concept requires that the practitioner treat the underlying causes of disease, rather than just the symptoms. TCM has now become foundational in modern thinking as well, prompting an understanding that the entire organism—body, mind and spirit—must be addressed in order for healing to take place. “Homotoxicology is the most exciting trend in TCM today,” says Jonathan Wald, an acupuncture physician and academic dean of East West College of Natural Healing, in Sarasota, Florida. He explains: “It’s a blend of homeopathy, acupuncture and herbal medicine, with allopathic diagnostic techniques.” Homotoxicology (sometimes called biopuncture) applies herbal and homeopathic solution injections at specifically related energy meridian points to relieve various disease conditions or pain and rebalance the body. Another promising development is use of the Ryodaraku machine that measures electrical resistance to identify diseases in their beginning stages, affording early treatment. “I think of Ryodaraku almost as a TCM form of a blood test,” says Wald. “It helps us see what’s going on and we can often correct it with a little

electrical stimulation pen.” Today, TCM and Western allopathic medicine are being considered in concert more often as practitioners find practical common ground in hospitals and clinical settings throughout the United States.

Energy Therapies

Current energy therapies comprise a broad range of hands-on healing modalities, ranging from Reiki, Healing Touch and Emotional Freedom Techniques (tapping), to an increasing array of hybrids. The Energy Medicine Institute (EnergyMed.org), in Ashland, Oregon, notes that energy medicine can employ a variety of non-invasive methods intended to trigger the body’s natural healing powers, working to activate energies that have become weakened, disturbed or unbalanced. According to the institute, flow, balance and harmony can be restored and maintained within an energy system by tapping, massaging, pinching, twisting or connecting specific energy points (known as acupoints) on the skin; tracing or swirling the hand over the skin along specific energy pathways; exercises or postures designed for specific energetic effects; focused use of the mind to alter specific energies; and/or surrounding an area with healing e n e r g i e s ( o n e p e r s o n ’s e n e r g i e s impact another’s). Nicolas Ortner, founder of The Tapping Solution, calls this Emotional Freedom Techniques-based energy modality, “…a combination of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology.” By tapping on meridian points of the body while repeating certain helpful affirmations about health or emotional situations, energetic blockages can be removed, allowing profound physical and emotional changes to take place. Ortner is excited about the growing awareness of selfguided healing through energy modalities, including his technique. “We had 350,000 people at our online Tapping World Summit last year,” he says. “That says something about the need

A Local Expert Explains EFT The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has two primary components: tapping on different acupuncture points and verbal affirmations. The unique combination of these common modalities results in significant releases from the body of long-held stresses. Diseases of the immune system such as cancer, allergies, arthritis, infections, the auto-immune disorders such as ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and many other conditions are a consequence of either a under- or an over-active immune system. Release the stress and your body will begin to heal naturally. While there are many effective natural stress relievers, EFT is able to target and eliminate stress from specific events, new or old, very quickly and efficiently. Instead of meditating for weeks on releasing a negative emotion, it is gone within a few minutes.

-Dr. Diana Sturm, Certified EFT Practitioner The Delta Institute (DeltaInstitute.net), Mobile

that we are fulfilling.”

Herbalism

Herbalism is widely practiced worldwide to heal body and mind, and herbs and other plants are sometimes used in spiritual healing. Herbs are commonly prescribed by conventional physicians in Europe. In 1978, the German Commission E published a list of more than 300 herbs, noting research attesting to their safety and effectiveness, as well as possible side effects and drug interactions. The United States has lagged in its acceptance of herbal interventions. Still, Susun Weed, founder of the Wise Woman Center, in Woodstock, New York, and author of four herbal books, including Healing Wise, points out that drug companies have been quick to isolate various herbal medicine components and market them as prescription drugs.

“In the ’60s, I discovered that the weeds in my garden were better medicinal plants than the ones I intentionally planted,” recalls Weed. “Back then, there was a general belief that these alternative systems weren’t ‘real’ medicine.” But it’s more a matter of the Western world catching up with the rest of the world, she notes. “The World Health Organization says that 90 percent of the health care given on this planet is given by women in their own homes, using local plants.” Weed reports that across the United States, attendance at herbal conferences has soared. Herbalism is a big idea whose time has come again, and is now being rewoven into family life. “I call it re-weaving the healing cloak of the ancients,” she says. “This is evolutionary medicine.”

Homeopathy

Homeopathy, operating on the principle of “like treats like,” involves the use of highly diluted substances to trigger the body’s natural process of healing. According to The Society of Homeopaths, “A substance which causes symptoms when taken in large doses, can be used in small amounts to treat those same symptoms.” For example, drinking too much coffee can cause sleeplessness and agitaJanuary 2012

tion. Thus, when caffeine is made into a homeopathic medicine, it could be used to treat people with these symptoms. Dana Ullman, author of The Homeopathic Revolution and Everybody’s Guide to Homeopathic Medicines, notes that the trend in homeopathy in the United States has its debunkers. He attributes this to establishment fears that, “If homeopathy is true, then everything about modern medicine and science is false.” But, he adds, “The homeopathy deniers ignore or downplay the substantial body of verifying evidence from basic science and clinical research—from outcome studies, cost-effectiveness studies and epidemiological evidence.”

Meditation and Related Therapies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that 90 percent of all doctor office visits are related to stress. Meditation, breath work, guided imagery and some yoga disciplines are effective ways to slow down the mind, relieve stress and bring body , mind and spirit into balance. More than 1,000 published studies have linked various types of meditation as well as contemplative yoga to changes in metabolism, blood pressure, brain activation, stress relief and pain reduction. Angela Wilson, assistant director of the Institute for Extraordinary Living (IEL), affiliated with the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, in Lenox, Massachusetts,

reports burgeoning interest in these therapies. “Doctors have become very interested in any practice that can help people slow down and calm down,” observes Wilson. A 2007 NCCAM study found that 9.4 percent of U.S. adults, more than 20 million people, had practiced meditation in the previous year. Some of the latest IEL research provides scientific proof that Kripalu yoga (often called “meditation in motion”) can act as a buffer, “…helping people to face daily challenges without getting rocked off their feet or off their center,” says Wilson. She is also excited about a recent Massachusetts General Hospital study. It showed that in just eight weeks of practicing meditation, subjects experienced physiological changes in the part of the limbic system that relates to fear, resulting in less stress and anxiety.

Naturopathy

Naturopathic medicine, a general system of natural medicine, includes nutrition, herbalism, homeopathy, acupuncture and energy medicine. Its goal is to holistically address the entire organism—body, mind and spirit. In general, naturopathic physicians

are those that work to support our innate healing abilities. They universally encourage adoption of lifestyle changes that promote optimal health. In states where naturopathic doctors (ND) are licensed, practitioners are required to graduate from a four-year residential naturopathic medical school and pass a board examination. In states that do not license them, people that successfully complete online courses can call themselves a naturopath. Make sure that any consulting naturopathic doctor has graduated from a residential program approved by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (Naturopathic. org). Carl Hangee-Bauer, current president of the national association and a doctor of naturopathy with San Francisco Natural Medicine, has long been a proponent of licensing. He observes, “Currently, 16 states license naturopaths, and the trend is toward more licensing states and inclusion in federal programs, as well as loan forgiveness.” He believes this will bring more qualified students to the profession. Economics is among the many incentives driving consumers to a greater awareness of the benefits of pursuing wellness, as they come to understand how major, long-term medical bills might be reduced by applying common sense, healthy lifestyle practices and other doable steps toward preventing illness in the first place. “Our practice is growing every year. People are willing to pay for quality health care,” remarks Hangee-Bauer.

Nutrition

Nutrition comprises the time-tested foundation of health and includes foods and vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as herbs and spices. Importantly, core values about nutrition vary from culture to culture. In the United States, the Standard American Diet (SAD) has been off-track for long enough that it has resulted in a widespread health crisis. The problem is 24

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that, contrary to the counsel of nutrition experts, many of us have become heavily dependent upon high-fat, high-sugar, heavily processed foods. The typical American’s diet is severely lacking in recommended vegetables, fruits and whole grains. “The health crisis isn’t limited to the United States,” states Joshua Rosenthal, founder of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, in New York City. “Fast food and processed foods have invaded other traditional cultures, as well. Today’s chronic diseases that plague our own population now constitute a world health crisis.” Rosenthal is encouraged by the growing awareness of healthy eating, as taught by 19,000 graduates of his school, providing services in all 50 states and 82 countries. “We are at the beginning of a revolution,” he says. “By 2020, people will see that the quality of our food affects everything. Awareness and education are at the forefront of this revolution, and movements like ours are among the major catalysts for change.”

Looking Forward

Overall, today’s trends in CAM therapies are positive, hopeful and helpful. Conventional medicine seems to be becoming more open to a broad range of therapies it once peremptorily relegated to the scientific dustbin. New research and long-term evidence proves that many of these noninvasive therapies are effective and can work hand-in-hand with conventional therapies. Individually and in combination, they can result in healings and cures once unimaginable to traditional practitioners. Kathleen Barnes has written 18 books, most of them on natural health and healthy living, and owns the publishing company Take Charge Books. Connect at Kathleen Barnes. com.

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Deepak Chopra Explores Conscious Being by Linda Sechrist

maintain that God is a way of understanding some extremely crucial things: the source of existence, the reality beyond space-time and the underlying consciousness and creativity of the universe.

eepak Chopra, founder of the C h o p ra Fo u n dation and the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, in Carlsbad, California, is a New York Times bestselling author and worldrenowned authority in the field of mind-body healing. Regarded by Time Magazine as the “poet-prophet of alternative medicine,” he also lectures around the world and hosts Deepak Chopra Radio on BlogTalkRadio.com.

What is your understanding of consciousness? Consciousness is that which makes possible perception, cognition, emotions, personal relationships, biology, biological function, the environment and its relationship to us, as well as the universe and its relationship to us. Without consciousness, there would be none of this.

When we are personally practicing In War of the the divine attitudes Worldviews: of loving kindness, Science vs. Spirituality, you and joy, compassion and physicist Leonard equanimity, we are Mlodinow debate moving out of our humanity’s most Do you feel confundamental limited ego. sciousness and perennial questions. What is the crux of this contention?

Overall, my co-author suggests that the universe operates according to laws of physics, while acknowledging that science does not address why the laws exist or how they arise. I maintain that the laws of nature, as well as mathematics, share the same source as human consciousness. He further observes that while science often casts doubt on spiritual beliefs and doctrines insofar as they make representations about the physical world, science does not—and cannot—conclude that God is an illusion. While not defending God in religious terms, I

God are one and the same? Yes, God is infinite consciousness that expresses itself as the universe. We are little bubbles of consciousness in the ocean of consciousness. Outside of space-time, Infinite Consciousness expresses itself and gives birth to every form of individual consciousness—the individual observer and the internal process of observation, as well as the objects, which are also experienced within the observer.

What steps can we take to shift human consciousness? No social transformation happens in

Natural Ways to Boost Mental and Emotional Health at Any Age Natural Awakenings asks physicians, scientists and other experts what we can do.

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January 2012

the absence of personal transformation. Therefore, without worrying about other people, the questions to ask yourself are these: Can I be the change that I want to see in the world? What kind of world do I want to live in and how can I become the agent to create that world for myself? When we are personally practicing the divine attitudes of loving kindness, joy, compassion and equanimity, we are moving out of our limited ego. If we all do this and reach critical mass, it is possible to create a peaceful, just, sustainable and healthy world—but we each have to shift our self to get where we want to go. To make such a radical shift, we must explore the process of waking up, which centers on transcending the maelstrom of everyday thoughts to find the Source of the mind.

How do you define transcendence? There are many levels of transcendence. The most profound is deep meditation,

known to alter brain structure and lead to lasting transformation. Transcendence can also happen through deep contemplation, mindfulness, music, poetry, art in any form, dance, falling in love and selfless service. Whenever you experience any quality of pure consciousness, however fleeting, you have transcended the mundane. Pure consciousness, which is the unseen, infinite potential from which everything springs, is centered within itself; silent and peaceful, awake, self-organizing, spontaneous, dynamic, blissful, knowing, whole and encompassing. Despite the infinite diversity of the physical world, at a deeper level, only one process is occurring: Wholeness is moving like a single ocean that holds every wave. You experience this quality when your life makes sense and you feel a part of nature; you are at home simply by being alive. Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings.

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Deepak Chopra Joins North American Power Advisory Council Deepak Chopra recently became the founding member of the advisory council for North American Power, a leading provider of renewable energy. “I was attracted to the company’s cause-based approach and business model, which places community, sustainability and financial independence at its core,” he says. North American Power, a retail electricity supplier, embraces a new concept of delivery that offers consumers across the country a variety of cost-conscious and ecofriendly energy choices, including American Wind, a national, 100 percent renewable energy product. With communities at the center of its mission, North American Power gives back to local, national, and international non-profits through its ongoing philanthropic initiative, Mission to Millions (NAPower.com/m2m) in which it donates $1 per customer per month to a featured charity of the customer’s choosing, and offers turnkey fundraising solutions for local organizations including parent teacher associations, religious organizations, sports teams, extracurricular groups, civic organizations, and community foundations. In addition to helping customers save and giving back, the company’s unique customer referral model provides sustainable sparetime, part-time and full-time income opportunities – all while creating a more sustainable energy future. “I believe in supporting companies and organizations whose solutions to climate change are in alignment with my personal values of creating well-being,” says Chopra. For more information and to view a video about Dr.Chopra’s involvement with North American Power, visit NAPower.com/118091.

Health Benefits of Cold Water By Corey Biggs, RN

very year on January 1, people across the globe jump into icy waters as part of a growing winter tradition called the Polar Bear Dip. In the United States, Polar Bear Dips, or Plunges, are often organized to raise money for charitable organizations and have become social events associated with New Year's Day. A refreshing plunge into icy waters is more than an extreme New Year’s Day tradition. In many cultures, people use very cold water to douse, bathe or shower themselves as a form of hydrotherapy for health and spiritual purposes. In Europe, cold-water swims and baths are practiced routinely by all ages and it is taught that exposure to chilly waters boosts the immune system. A 1993 study in England by the Thrombosis Research Institute revealed that those that took cold showers showed an increase in disease-fighting white blood cells, as opposed to those who took warm to hot showers. In 1849, Sebastian Kneipp, a German priest and naturopathic pioneer, attributed his remission of pulmonary tuberculosis to his weekly dips into the cold Danube River during a time period when there was no cure. According to Eastern philosophies, cold water elevates mood and heightens spiritual awareness. This concept is taught in both the Indian tradition of Sikh and the Japanese tradition of Misogi, in which followers use cold water dousing

as a spiritual practice. Eastern Orthodox Christians challenge the bitter, winter waters to receive blessings of good health and providence during the Epiphany celebration. Winter swim enthusiast Cory DeLaFosse says, “It revitalizes your consciousness when you experience cold water. It’s a rush that lasts all day.” Euphoria is often experienced after cold water exposure due to an influx of endorphins, the body's natural pain reliever. Endorphins not only alleviate joint and muscle pain, but relieve symptoms of mild depression and anxiety, as well. Many people report having a shaper frame of mind after beginning the day with a cold shower. Many northern European cold-water techniques are gaining popularity in the United States. Avantouinti, or cold-hole swimming, is used in conjunction with a sauna. The Swedish practice of alternating between a hot sauna and cold water is believed to create an overall sense of well-being by bettering cardiovascular circulation, lowering blood pressure, increasing longevity and maintaining youthful-looking skin. A trip to arctic waters is not required to experience the benefits of cold hydrotherapy. Simply head to a favorite swim spot in the winter or visit a local “cold hole” any time of year. Cold swimming holes are found in many areas of Mobile and Baldwin counties. Located in Mag-

nolia Springs, the locally well-known cold hole near Jessies’ Restaurant offers the coldest water in Baldwin County. Mobile county’s Chickasabogue Park features a swim area on Chickasaw Creek with refreshing clear water that is ice-cold even in the dog days of summer, For those looking for a cool New Year’s Day activity, several Polar Bear events are scheduled at high noon, January 1, in Lower Alabama. Adhering to tradition, the 27th annual Polar Bear Dip will take place along the coast on Highway 282 and 182, at the FloridaAlabama state line. The Kiwanis Club of Gulf Shores also invites the public to a non-traditional Polar Bear Dip at the Gulf Shores Public Beach. The city of Gulf Shores will set up a 33-foot, two-lane, Slip ’N’ Slide that will deposit sliders directly into the Gulf of Mexico. Whether indulging in cold water traditions as a rejuvenating approach to better health or simply seeking a new social tradition, the benefits of cold water abound. Those with preexisting medical problems should consult a physician prior to engaging in cold water activities. Corey Biggs, RN, NREMT-P is an Emergency Room nurse and paramedic. He is also adjunct faculty within the Department of Emergency Medical Services at the University of South Alabama.

natural awakenings

January 2012

naturalpet

educate and direct veterinarians in integrating TCM and acupuncture into their practices. The society has since become the premier governing and licensing body for veterinary acupuncturists, with more than 500 licensed practitioners in the United States alone. It’s vital to note that because most states classify acupuncture as a surgical procedure, it can only be legally practiced by a licensed veterinarian certified in acupuncture. These same states often similarly restrict the practice of acupressure (applying pressure to acupuncture points, instead of placing needles, to move energy around in the body). This is important to understand, because if a pet owner engages an unlicensed, non-certified practitioner, he or she will not be able to file a complaint with the state veterinary medical board if a mistake is made that harms the animal.

ANIMAL ACUPUNCTURE TCM Is Not Just for Humans Anymore by Dr. Jenny Taylor

eterinarians that practice a holistic approach appreciate that traditional Western schooling equips them to use antibiotics and other drugs to lessen troubling symptoms, but they also ask: “Do drugs vanquish the root of the problem? Why do so many patients return with new symptoms that suggest the need for more drugs? Are permanent health and healing possible?”

Traditional Eastern Practices While Western medicine has traditionally focused on fixing the parts of the animal that are not functioning normally, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses on systematically restoring what is out of balance and affecting the quality of an animal’s life as a whole. This ancient method of treating illness uses acupuncture alongside other modalities such as acupressure, massage, nutrition, herbs, exercise and meditation. TCM practitioners believe that health can 30

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be defined as a state of harmony; if the body moves out of harmony with itself and the external environment, dis-ease and energy stagnation occur. TCM aims to unblock this stagnation and return the body to harmony and health. Although acupuncture has been used to treat humans for some 5,000 years, the first recorded application to an animal was about 3,500 years ago, when an elephant was treated for stomach bloat. Treatment of farm animals in rural China and Korea soon followed, but written evidence of its use on household pets has been documented only from the 20th century. From the Latin acus, meaning “needle,” and pungere, meaning “to pierce,” practitioners place tiny, thin, sterile needles under the skin at precise points, with the intention of moving chi (pronounced CHEE) around the body to prevent or treat disease. In 1974, The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society was founded to help

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

When to Consider Acupuncture Veterinary acupuncture is used to treat conditions ranging from muscle injuries and paralysis to arthritis and neurologic, gastrointestinal and reproductive disorders. It is also frequently used as a maintenance procedure for healthy, athletic animals that participate in performance competitions. Many thoroughbred racehorses, for example, receive regular treatments. Veterinary acupuncturists develop and implement treatment plans based upon each animal’s needs, including the recommended frequency of treatment, plus the anatomical points that must be stimulated for successful outcomes. Dealing with acute problems usually involves more frequent treatments in initial stages that then taper off within a few weeks. While any illness or health problem can be treated using acupuncture alone, if a pet experiences a chronic, recurring health issue, it will likely benefit from a TCM program that also includes complementary, customized, nutritional and behavioral modifications. Veterinary acupuncturists often recommend herbs and nutritional supplements to help improve overall health.

The focus is always on achieving long-term balance and harmony and preventing future illness, while treating current ailments. Depending on their specialized training, vets may introduce homotoxicology (combining homeopathy and acupuncture that injects sterile, homeopathic liquids into acupuncture points). Some vets surgically insert gold bead implants into acupuncture points to provide continuous stimulation of the needed healing energy force; this works well for dogs with congenital defects like hip dysplasia, that often require a lifetime of acupuncture treatments.

Find a Qualified Practitioner The family veterinarian may have acupuncture certification or be able to recommend a qualified colleague in the

area. Some leading national veterinary and acupuncture organization websites provide directories to find qualified practitioners by city and state. Acupuncture is now taught at most U.S. veterinary colleges, and some experts predict that board certification for TCM is fast approaching. Dr. Jenny Taylor is trained in veterinary acupuncture, herbology, Traditional Chinese Medicine and veterinary homeopathy. Her Creature Comfort Holistic Veterinary Center, in Oakland, California, is an award-winning regional pioneer. She lectures worldwide and donates acupuncture and homeopathy treatment for the Oakland Zoo’s wild animals. Connect at CreatureComfort. com and Facebook.com/creature comfort.holisticvet.

HELPFUL RESOURCES National Organizations American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture aava.org American Holistic Veterinary Medicine ahvma.org Chi Institute-Dr. Huisheng Xie and Acupuncture Institute tcvm.com International Veterinary Acupuncture Society ivas.org

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(251) 476-MIND (6463)

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calendarofevents All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Go to HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com to submit entries. Mark Your Calendar events are $40. SUNDAY, JANUARY 1 New Year Intention Yoga with Live Music – 2-4pm. Begin 2012 with clear intention in a mindful and symbolic practice. Start the new year with a clear mind and a healthy body. $20 suggested donation. Mobile Botanical Gardens, Mobile and Eastern Shore Dance, Daphne. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

Spiritual Living Center Movie Night – 7pm. A showing of A Course in Miracles: The Movie. The first in a series of movies designed to open the heart and the spirit. $10. Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. 251-343-0777.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 Vision Boards Workshop – 11am. In this workshop you will be supplied with all of the materials needed to create a vision board and recieve guidance, encouragement and humour. Leave with your very own Vision Board and a few tips for "fertilizing the soil" for healthy growth. Rosie Bluum, 6A Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8

innate healing. Easy to learn. Students of QT will work on each other in class and typically show marked improvement of pain. 13 CEs for MTs. $295/prepaid. $345/door. Moonstone Massage, 314B Magnolia St, Fairhope. Julie: 251-5045328. Hollie: 251-517-5383. MoonSunEarth.com/ Quantum-Touch.htm. Essential Oil Workshop – 10am-12pm. Questions on health issues are addressed using essential oils. Learn, share and personally experience therapeutic grade essential oils. Free. 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. Judith Wilson: 251-656-6696. Permaculture in Action – 10am-3pm. Take a tour of Middle Earth and see Permaculture Design in Action. Composting, sheet mulching, animals in the landscape, food forest, rainwater harvesting, solar electricity and hot water, mushroom logs and much more. Registration required, limited space. Donations appreciated. Middle Earth Healing, 20205 Middle Earth Rd, Citronelle. 251-866-7204. MidEarth Healing@yahoo.com. MiddleEarthHealing.com. PetSmart Adoption – 11am-3pm. The Haven's dogs and cats will be in attendance and available for adoption. Transported by the Haven's MARU (Mobile Animal Rescue Unit). Free. Petsmart in the Eastern Shore Shopping Plaza. 251-929-3980. The Haven: 251-929-3980. HavenForAnimals.org.

Plant Based Cooking for a Healthy New Year – 1-3pm. A Vegan 101 basic class. Covers the fundamentals of why and how to transition to a plant based diet with a nutrition discussion and a Q & A session. Also includes cooking and sampling of meatless recipes. $15/person or $40/two. RSVP at Virginia’s Health Food or email Tracey@ShantiWarrior.com. ShantiWarrior.com.

Date Night – 5:30-6:45pm. Make a date with a partner, sibling, teenager or friend and bond in a healthy way in a quiet, relaxing environment. Learn New Forrest Thai Chi techniques for enhancing energy and conclude with a guided relaxation. Leave feeling rejuvenated, refreshed and closer to your partner! Donation appreciated. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. Yoga@QuietMindMassageTherapy.com.

MONDAY, JANUARY 9

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15

Essential Oil Workshop – 10am-12pm. Questions on health issues are addressed using essential oils. Learn, share and personally experience therapeutic grade essential oils. Free. 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile. Sue Sides: 251-232-2292.

Yoga for Newbies – 2-5pm. Basic poses, breathing and a Q&A format discussion on yoga. Movement is interspersed with meditation and discussion, making the workshop appropriate for all levels of fitness. Modifiable for those with limitations. Bring water and wear comfy clothes. Suggested donation $25. Space 301, Downtown Mobile. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Essential Oils 101 – 6:30pm. Learn the basics of essential oils. Free. Reservations required. Healing Acres, 2355 Price-Grubbs Rd, Robertsdale. Charlotte: 251-423-1863. Pranic Healing and Meditation – 6:30pm. Experience the tremendous downpour of spiritual energy that is especially available at this time of the month. We become instruments of divine blessings to the planet earth, humanity and our loved ones. Learn to achieve stillness and illumination. $10 donation. RSVP. Mobile. Deana Lannie: 251-454-0959.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 Reiki Level I – 9am-4pm. Limited space available. Please call for reservations. $75. Healing Acres, 2355 Price-Grubbs Rd, Robertsdale. Charlotte: 251423-1863. Quantum-Touch Level 1 – Jan14-15. 9:30am5:30pm. Quantum-Touch works deep on a cellular level creating an environment to activate the body's

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17

Healthy Moments Expo – 4-8pm. An evening of change. Consult with experts in fields such as exercise, nutrition, skin care, clean and organic living and healthcare. Includes exercise demonstrations, blood drive, free screening, silent auction and door prizes. Free. eFitness and Wellness, Biloxi. 251-4212259. HealthyMomentsExpo@gmail.com. Essential Oil for Better Health – 6:30pm. Learn how using essential oils can help break the cycle of health issues. Healing Acres, 2355 Price-Grubbs Rd, Robertsdale. Charlotte: 251-423-1863.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19

Healthy Moments Expo – 4-8pm. See Jan 17 listing. Free. Ashbury Suites, Mobile. 251-421-2259. HealthyMomentsExpo@gmail.com.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

Green Coast Council S.H.I.F.T. Workshop and Expo – 8am expo. 9am-2pm workshop. Sustainable Habits Initiate Financial Transformation (SHIFT). A sustainability workshop and expo with keynote speaker Grand Rapids, MI Mayor George Heartwell. Lunch provided. $25/GCC members, $35/ non-members. 5 Rivers, Spanish Fort. Register: 251-510-8002. GreenCoastOnline.com. Feng Shui Workshop – 11:30am-1:30pm and 6pm-8pm. Understanding the principals of Feng Shui can be beneficial with the choices we make as we move into “The Year of the Dragon”. Meryl Hyderally will lead an enlightening discussion about creating the most opportunity in 2012. $40. Yoga Birds, 209 S. Section St, Fairhope. 251-9903447. YogaBirds.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21 Meditation Flash Mob – Join us for 30 minutes of meditation to bring peace to a public space. No experience necessary. All ages and pets are welcome. Facebook Meditation Flash Mob: Gulf Coast Alabama for details on location and time. Downtown Fairhope. 251-990-9552. Panther Pride 5K Run – 8:30am. Loop-certified course. Awards to overall winners and top three in five year age groups. Pre-register at McCoy Outdoor or Running Wild by Jan 19, or by 8am day of race. Benefits Faculty Wish List. $20. Murphy High School, Mobile. 251-656-2453. Challenging Flow Yoga – 10:30am-12pm. Julie Wilkins, a licensed Occupational Therapist, specializes in Vinyasa fitness-based yoga and restorative and therapeutic styles. Class provides an integration of styles and techniques from her personal and professional background. Pay What You Can. Space 301, Downtown Mobile. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org. Rephrase it! Workshop – 11am-3pm. Learn how to identify your limiting beliefs and turn them around (rephrase them) into positive affirmations. Find out how you are sabotaging your efforts at manifesting things that you desire to experience in life. Join us for this light-hearted and fun workshop of selfexploration. Limited space, reservations required. $55 (includes light refreshments for breakfast and lunch as well as supplies and take home materials). Rosie Bluum, 6A Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com. Healthy Moments Expo – 4-8pm. See Jan 17 listing. Free. Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Airport, Pensacola. 251-421-2259. HealthyMomentsExpo@ gmail.com.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 Reiki II Workshop – 9am-1pm. Limited space available so please call to reserve a spot. $74. Healing Acres, 2355 Price-Grubbs Rd, Robertsdale. Charlotte: 251-423-1863. Mardi Gras Mingle – 2-4pm. A "progressive cocktail experience" to benefit the Haven. Includes food and a t-shirt. Reservations and pre-payment required.

natural awakenings

January 2012

$25. Sponsored by Eastern Shore Centre, Spanish Fort. The Haven: 251-929-3980. Kristen: 251-6250060. KKammer@EasternShoreCentre.com.

2nd Annual Potluck & Fire Puja New Year Celebration – 2-5pm. An afternoon of all levels Hatha yoga practice, meditation, fire Puja and potluck. Sponsored by Trinity Yoga. Bring a vegetarian or gluten-free dish to share. Free. Trinity Yoga, 21441 Hwy 98 East, Foley. 251-609-5541. NatsTrinityYoga@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

Intro to Energy Healing – 2pm-4pm. An energy based healing technique is designed to teach anyone how to heal mild to severe ailments. Learn about prana, chakras, auras, energetic hygiene and meditation for blessing all, stress reduction and illumination. Activate hands to feel prana, plus much more. $10 donation. RSVP. Mobile. Deana Lannie: 251-454-0959.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31 Essential Oil Gifts – 6:30pm. Learn how to make wonderful gifts using essential oils. $10. Reservations required. Healing Acres, 2355 Price-Grubbs Rd, Robertsdale. Charlotte: 251-423-1863.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Shiitake Mushroom Workshop – 9:30am-3:30pm. Learn how to grow your own shiitake mushrooms. Hands on workshop; inoculate logs with mycillium and take home a log. Class size is limited. Registration required. $35. Middle Earth Healing, 20205 Middle Earth Rd, Citronelle. 251-866-7204. MidEarth Healing@yahoo.com.MiddleEarthHealing.com. Partner Yoga Valentine’s Day Celebration with Aaron Lind – 4-6:30pm. A holistic practice that combines the traditions of yoga and Thai massage with graceful partner flying. $35/person, $65/ couple/earlybird (one week prior). No partner required. Reservations: 251-476-6463. Yoga@ QuietMindMassageTherapy.com.

FRIDAY, MAY 11 Kula Yoga Teacher Training – Kula's 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Amanda Brenner and Dana Goudie E-RYTs begins May 2012. One weekend/month for 12 months. In-depth study of poses, meditation, philosophy and more. For the aspiring teacher or the yogi who wants to go deeper. $2300. Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile. 251-202YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

SUNDAY, MAY 27 Intensive Ashtanga Weekend – Save the date for an intensive Ashtanga yoga weekend with nationally recognized Ashtanga teacher Jodi Blumstein. Space 301, downtown Mobile. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Stay Connected

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

sunday Discounts on Supplements – Every Sunday get 15% off supplements at Fairhope Health Foods, 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope. 251-928-0644.

Give Us This Day, Our Daily Bread – Inspirational quotes. We all need a little inspiration from time to time. ShantiWarrior.com/DailyBread. Center for Spiritual Living Service – 10am. Make every step, every choice, every word, a conscious one. Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar, Mobile. Rev. Sherrie Quander, 251-343-0777. CMSpiritualCenter.org.

Sunday Service – 10:30am. Explore a spiritual pathway with Mobile Unitarian Universalists, 6345 Old Shell Rd, Mobile. UUFM.org. Sunday Service – 10:30am. Questioning, understanding and growing together spiritually as we enjoy the adventure of life. Center for Joyful Living, 60 N Ann St, Mobile. 251-391-6960. Sunday Worth-ship Celebration – 10:30am. Find strengthen and celebrate a connection with Divine Spirit. Donation. One mile north of US Hwy 104. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US Hwy 98, Montrose. 251-990-8934. UnityEasternShore.org.

Sunday Worship – 11am. Celebrate Spirit in this special and sacred space. Between Hillcrest and Knollwood. Unity Mobile, 5859 Cottage Hill, Mobile. 251-661-1788. Community Chant and Drumming – 5-6pm. Includes vegetarian potluck. Love offering appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6A Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com. Open Table: A Community of Faith Worship Service (United Church of Christ) – 5pm. Weekly progressive Christian worship. Free. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1050 Azalea Rd, Mobile. 251-545-1011. Ellen.OpenTable@gmail.com. OpenTableUCC.org.

monday Tai Chi – 7am daily. Mon thru Fri. Tai Chi routine is lead with Qi Gong and martial art applications. A traditional mind, body and spirit exercise. $5/day, $20/week, $60/month. The Yoga Center, 809 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores. GulfShoresTaiChi.com. Pilates Sculpt with Lynette – 9:15-10:15am. Some experience necessary. Blends Pilates and yoga principles (primarily Pilates) with traditional strength training exercises. May include equipment such as stability balls, light weights or resistance bands to stimulate core muscles. Promotes mind-body-breath connection focusing on quality movements. $5/1st time, $10/preregister, $15/drop-in. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-554-4121.

Core Barre – 10am. Mon and Fri. Work the body to a fusion of ballet, Pilates, yoga and classic fitness. Lift your assets while moving to fun music. One hour that can really change your shape. Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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Yoga with Dana – 12pm. Create a personal practice during this gentle yoga flow class with Dana Goudie, E-RYT. Modifications suggested, making practice more challenging for those wanting to move deeper. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com. Yoga with Dana – 12pm. Take a break in the middle of your day. Join Dana to transform your body, relieve your stress, and relax your mind. Leave feeling on top of the world! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Youth Exploring Exercise and Nutrition – 4-5pm. Mon and Thurs. This class develops a variety of movement skills to improve flexibility, balance, strength agility and endurance by exposing students to a variety of activities; yoga, Pilates, strength training, rock wall climbing and obstacle course. Designed to encourage, empower and educate students. Cost varies. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-554-4121. La Leche League Enrichment Meeting – 6:30pm. Last Mon. La Leche League provides encouragement, information and support for nursing and expectant mothers. Free. Call for location. 251689-2085. Pranic Healing and Meditation – 6:30pm. Come experience healing for your mind, body and soul. We address specific physical and emotional ailments, followed by the Meditation on Twin Hearts. Let us take the stress off and balance your aura. Classes available. CEU's -LMTs and nurses. $10 donation. RSVP. Mobile. Deana Lannie: 251-454-0959.

tuesday Ten Percent Tuesday – Get an extra 10% off purchases. Back to Health Nutrition and Natural Foods, Foley. 251-970-2225. BackToHealthNutrition.com. Reiki and Hypnotherapy Sessions – Tues and Thurs by appointment. Promote peace, serenity and physical well-being. Call to schedule an appointment or for more info on training and CEUs. Foley. 251-979-9851. RioBarlow@ymail.com. Rise and Shine Yoga – 6:30-7:45am. Tues and Thurs. Start the day with an invigorating Hatha Yoga practice. Class includes a mixture of flow yoga, Pranayama, restorative and meditation. Fellowship, coffee and some of mom's homemade bread follows. $7/drop, $50/10 class package, $75.00/family. Trinity Yoga Studio, Highway 98 East, Foley. 251-9871147 or 251-609-5541. Chair Yoga – 8:30-9:30am. A Vinyasa flow class that is designed for those with a limited range of motion, yet all are welcome. All poses executed while standing or sitting in a chair. $7/drop, $50/10 class package, $75.00/family. Trinity Yoga Studio, Highway 98 East, Foley. 251-987-1147 or 251-609-5541. Relax/Renew/Restore with Carolyn Hall – 9am. Open-level. Carolyn's 40 plus years of yoga experience will lead to postures to restore and renew the body and spirit. All yoga props provided. Includes Asana, meditation and Pranayama techniques. $10/75 minute class. 2nd Floor David's Gallery, Gulf Shores. 251-975-8687.

Vinyasa Flow – 9:30am. 75 min. All levels. Tracey, RYT-200 incorporates yogic philosophy and breath work. This challenging and soothing flow of postures are designed to increase inner and outer strength and flexibility while stilling the mind and opening the heart. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. ShantiWarrior.com. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com. La Leche League Series Meeting – 10:30am. Second Tues. La Leche League provides encouragement, information and support for nursing and expectant mothers. Free. Call for location. 251689-2085.

Kids Meditation – 4-4:30pm. Ages 5-12. Parents welcome to join. Love offering appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6A Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com. LA Hikers Meeting – 6-7pm. First Tues. Free and open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. LAHikerMeetings.Blogspot.com.

Energize and Relax Yoga – 6-7:15pm. Tues and Thurs. This class emphasizes flow yoga with Pranayama and some Kundalini. Meditation follows the energizing portion to calm in preparation for the day. $7/drop, $50/10 class package, $75.00/family. Trinity Yoga Studio, Hwy 98 East, Foley. 251-9871147 or 251-609-5541. Positive Parenting Class – 6-8pm. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Learn tools and skills to create a happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Ste 100, Mobile. 251479-5700. Kids101@comcast.net.

Sierra Club Meeting – 6-8pm. First Tues. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. Vinyasa Flow with Dianna Wells – 6pm. Openlevel. A fun, inventive mix of traditional and twisted yoga flows set to music from new age to the Rolling Stones. All yoga props provided. Includes asana, meditation and Pranayama techniques. $10/75 minute class. 2nd Floor David's Gallery, Gulf Shores. 251-975-8687. Beginner Vinyasa in Springhill – 6-7:15pm. Learn the foundations of a flow-based yoga practice in a class lead by Amanda Brenner, RYT 200. Concludes with meditation. Perfect for beginners. Pay What You Can. Mobile Botanical Gardens (behind Municipal Park). 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Fountations Yoga – 6:15pm. A great introduction (or re-intro) to yoga practice. Learn and practice the basics of yoga in a slow paced class format. Focus is given to proper form and alignment in essential yoga poses. $15. Yoga Birds, 209 S Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447. YogaBirds.com.

Creative Spark Writing Group – 7-8pm. Love offering encouraged and appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6 A Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum. com. Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. First Tues. For pro-paddlers and those brand new to the sport. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. BayKayaker. Blogspot.com. CWG Mobile Group – 7-9pm. Second and fourth Tues. Read and discuss books by Neale Donald Walsch. Joy N Love, 171 Crenshaw St, Mobile. 251-382-4215. CWH_Mobile_Group@yahoo.com. Spiritual Cinema Group – 7-9pm. First, third and fifth Tues. View and discuss spiritual DVDs. Heiner: 251-607-9089.

wednesday Yoga Abs with Faye – 8:30am What a great way to jump start the day! Let breath and body move in sync as Faye Mahan weaves a blend of classical yoga flow and poses, with added emphasis on those hard to work abdominal areas. Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Gentle Stretching and Meditation – 9am. Wed and Thurs. Love offering appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6 A Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum. com. Gentle Yoga – 9:15am. 75 min. Beginners and all levels. Stretch and move in a gentle approach to the practice of yoga poses and breath awareness. $15. Yoga Birds, 209 S Section St, Fairhope. 251-9903447. YogaBirds.com. Vinyasa Flow with Kathy Keane – 9am. Openlevel. Find perfect balance with this flow class that is sure to please the novice and the experienced yogi. Includes asana, meditation and Pranayama techniques. $10/75 minute class. 2nd Floor David's Gallery, Gulf Shores. 251-975-8687. Power Yoga – 9:15-10:25am. Some experience necessary. A vigorous flow based class. May include inversions such as hand stand, forearm stand or back bend exploring poses with a playful mindset and modification options. Includes core strengthening and ends with a relaxation pose. $5/1st time, $10/preregister, $15/drop-in. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-554-4121. Positive Parenting Class – 9:30-11:30am. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Get the tools and skills to create a happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Ste 100, Mobile. 251-479-5700. Kids101@comcast.net. Lunchtime Vinyasa with Tracey – 12-1pm. All lev-

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els. Feed the soul, quiet the mind and restore vitality through a challenging sequence of asanas. Designed to increase strength, balance and flexibility. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251- 476-6463. ShantiWarrior.com. Unusual Film Series – 2pm. Third Wed. Adults only. Thought provoking cutting-edge films shown on big screen in meeting room. Free. Popcorn and drinks included. Foley Public Library. 251-9437665. FoleyLibrary.org. Reformer Class with Dana – 4:45pm. Catch the wave of classical fitness and join Dana for a Pilates reformer class. Stand taller, get toned and become leaner and stronger. Call for reservations. Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Guided Meditations – 5:30pm. Nonprofit, nonreligious meditation. Relax the body, rest the mind and find inner peace. Guided meditation with venerable monks from around the world via Skype. $10 suggested donation. Meditation Center of Alabama, 3821 Airport Blvd, Suite C, Mobile. 251-623-4485. MeditationCenterOfAlabama.Weebly.com. Power Flow Yoga with Angela – 5:45pm. Join associate Baptiste Power Vinyasa Teacher Angela Cain every Wednesday - revitalize and energize your day. Enjoy the sweet sweat of Power Flow & leave class refreshed and recharged! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Buddhist History and Teachings – 6-7pm. Master Chaiwat Moleechate will communicate lessons in Buddhist history and teachings followed by Theravada chanting and meditation. This is an opportunity for the general public to learn firsthand and in person from a Buddhist monk. Free. Wat Buddharaksa Buddhist Temple, 10323 Boe Rd, Grand Bay. 251957-4132. General info: 251-957-2122. Gentle Philosophy-based Yoga with Mantra – 6-7:15pm. Join Amanda Brenner, RYT 200 in this practice of gentle movement (asana) combined with breath techniques (pranayama), philosophy and chanting (mantra). Concludes with meditation. Vinyasa class same location and time on Tues. Pay What You Can. Mobile Arts Council (Downtown). 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org. International Association of Near Death Studies (IANDS) – 6-7:30pm. Second Wed. Ongoing discussion and support group affiliated with IANDS. Discussion expands to include intuition, after death communication, consciousness studies and related areas of interest to attendees. Free. West Regional Branch, Mobile Public Library. 251-340-8555. Guided Meditation with Rosie Bluum – 7-8pm. Practice guided meditation at Rosie Bluum and experience an inner journey which heals the heart, mind, body and soul. Nurture the spirit. Love of-

For every $100 spent in locally owned businesses, $68 returns to the community.

source: the350project.net

natural awakenings

January 2012

fering appreciated. Rosie Bluum, 6 A S Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com.

saturday

thursday Youth Exploring Exercise and Nutrition – 4-5pm. Mon and Thurs. This class develops a variety of movement skills to improve flexibility, balance, strength agility and endurance by exposing students to a variety of activities; yoga, Pilates, strength training, rock wall climbing and obstacle course. Designed to encourage, empower and educate students. Cost varies. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-554-4121. Energy Healing – 5-6pm. Experience energy healing from trained practitioners. $10 suggested donation. Meditation Center of Alabama, 3821 Airport Blvd, Suite C, Mobile. 251-623-4485. MeditationCenter OfAlabama.Weebly.com. YogAthlete – 5:15-6:25pm. Designed for athletes, fitness buffs and those with yoga experience. A challenging class incorporating various core conditioning exercises and flowing sequences emphasizing breath and posture awareness. Class includes longer held poses to open hip and shoulders. $5/1st time, $10/preregister, $15/drop-in. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-554-4121. Yoga with Chris M. – 5:45pm. Join Chris McFadyen for some energizing yoga that will calm your mind and both enhance and refocus your body. Relocate your passion and humor after a long day! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Guided Meditations – 6:30pm. Nonprofit, nonreligious meditation. Relax the body, rest the mind and find inner peace. At MCA facilities, via Skype, guided meditation takes place with venerable monks from around the world. $10 suggested donation. Meditation Center of Alabama, 3821 Airport Blvd, Suite C, Mobile. 251-623-4485. MeditationCenter OfAlabama.Weebly.com. Restorative/Gentle Yoga with Jenn– 7:15pm. All levels. Unwind and enjoy non-supported and supported gentle postures with focus on breathing and mindfulness. Delight in the sounds of soothing music. Minimal heat may be added for maximum comfort. Pamper yourself. Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

friday Fab Fifteen Friday – Get an extra 15% off purchases. Back to Health Nutrition and Natural Foods, 1600 N McKenzie, Foley. 251-970-2225. BackTo HealthNutrition.com. Weekly Meal Delivery – Vegan Personal Chef Services. Get your orders in. Weekly menus posted Monday. Orders must be placed by Friday for delivery the following week. View menu and place orders: ShantiWarrior.com. Vinyasa Yoga – 12pm. Ginger Dunaway leads a fluid series of poses to increase strength, flexibility and balance in the body and mind. Class is instilled with yogic philosophy meant to connect one more deeply with this ancient tradition. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com. Tropical Slow Flow – 4pm. Release the stress of the work week and slow down for the weekend. This tropical, slower paced class will allow greater cultivation of strength and flexibility. Go deeper into poses. Water and towel required. $15. Yoga Birds,

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

209 S Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447. YogaBirds.com.

Tropical Flow and Glow – 8:30am. 75 Min. Experienced beginner/intermediate vinyasa flow yoga. Celebrate the body and deepen the mind-body connection. A challenging, dynamic flow class featuring a series of sun salutations, standing poses, twists, inversions, backbends, forward bends, hip openers and arm balances. $15. Yoga Birds, 209 S Section St, Fairhope. 251-990-3447. YogaBirds.com.

Yoga in Semmes – 10-11:15am. Kula is at their western-most location! Yoga for all levels with breath work and meditation. Classes also on Tues, 10am and Wed, 6pm. Pay What You Can. IWR Wellness Center, 7965 Moffett Rd, Semmes. 251202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org. Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC) Pet Adoption – 10am-2pm. Third Sat. Adoption event. PetSmart, Eastern Shore Center, Spanish Fort. 251928-4585. BaldwinHumane.org. Pet Reiki at Rosie Bluum – 10am-3pm. Third Sat of month. $20. Rosie Bluum, 6 A Bancroft, Fairhope. 251-517-5626. RosieBluum.com.

classifieds Rates for classifieds start at $20 per month. Listings must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Email Publisher@ HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com for details. Volunteer opportunities are listed for free as space is available.

FOR SALE CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES – For sale in Birmingham, AL; North Central FL; Lexington, KY; Asheville, NC; Santa Fe/Albuquerque, NM; Cincinnati, OH; Tulsa, OK; Bucks/Montgomery Counties, PA; Columbia, SC; Southwest VA. Call for details 239-530-1377.

OPPORTUNITIES GROW ALABAMA AREA MANAGER – Promote the availability of locally and sustainably grown farm products to new subscribers and service existing customers. Base pay plus commission. Call 205-266-5130. JOIN THE GREEN CLEAN TEAM! – Green Clean provides environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning services. If interested in becoming part of our team, please call 251-508-3796 for an interview. LICENSED HAIRSTYLIST NEEDED – Eastern Shore. Call 251-377-0796 for details.

SALES PROFESSIONAL FOR HEALTHY AND GREEN LIVING MAGAZINE – Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin has an opportunity for you to generate income through magazine ad sales and healthy living discount card sales. Be a part of a nationally published family of monthly magazines and earn a residual income by selling ad space to the rapidly growing Natural Health industry and Green living businesses. Our selling method is proven in over 80 major markets. As an independent contractor you’ll have a protected territory and the ability to make your own schedule. Enjoy a generous pay structure, lead generation and participate in ongoing industry training. Our product offerings are as attractive as they are diverse, giving you true flexibility in making the sale and providing your advertisers with an excellent growth platform. We have 3 territories available: Mobile, Eastern Shore and the Baldwin County Hwy 59 Corridor. Contact Publisher@ HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com.

SERVICES

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COLOR THERAPY – Learn to use colors in all parts of your life and create changes you desire. Discover how they affect moods, emotions and why you’re drawn to certain colors. Rosie Blu: 251-5175326. RosieBlu.com.

MARI ASSESSMENTS – MARI is a comprehensive system using colors and symbols to create a visual snapshot of the self. Reveal your inner voice, find guidance through personal issues and better understand your true self. 251-517-5326 or 251-752-6509. MARIByRosie.com. NEGATIVE EMOTIONS? Gone! Guaranteed! The Delta Institute, Dr. Diana Sturm, Certified EFT Practitioner. Private sessions and workshops. 251-219-4574. DeltaInstitute.net.

YOGA WHEN AND WHERE YOU WANT IT! – YogaSource offers classes at your home or business for fitness and relaxation. Single or groups. Props provided. 251-202-YOGA. Kula YogaCommunity.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPS AZALEA CITY CAT COALITION – Volunteers needed in any capacity: transporting cats, trapping and adoption events. Contact Susan Young: 251-648-7582. SusanYoung@ AzaleaCityCats.org. BARC! –Baldwin County Humane Society needs customer service volunteers from either 9am-12pm or 12:30-4pm, Mon-Thur. Duties mainly include greeting customers and answering the phone. For a complete list of volunteer opportunities, visit BaldwinHumane.org or call 251-928-4585.

DOG RIVER CLEARWATER REVIVAL STORM DRAIN MARKRE PROJECT– Volunteers needed to educate the public about the storm drain system. Supplies and instructions provided. Work at your convenience. Contact Janet Miller: J46Miller@yahoo.com, 251-654-1827. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SW AL – Volunteers needed Tues-Sat, 8am-4pm. No experience necessary. Must be at least 16. 251-476-7171 ext 231 or JTidwell@HabitatSWAlabama.org.

naturaldirectory

ESSENTIAL OILS

Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Natural Directory, email Publisher@ HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com to request our media kit. Rates begin at $36 a month.

ART FAIRHOPE ARTIST GALLERY 18 South Section St, Fairhope 251-990-8763 FairhopeArtistGallery.BlogSpot.com Come and be inspired by local affordable art in this uniquely creative atmosphere. Look for “ART” and a golden palette above the door. Open Mon-Sat 10-5. Classes offered.

BEAUTY B-BUTTERFLY SALON 103A North Bancroft St, Fairhope 251-990-9934 BButterflySalon.com

A certified organic salon offering organic products and services including hair color, perms and shampoo. Keeping you and the Earth beautiful. See ad on page 9.

WARLOCKS HAIR SALON Low Light Laser Therapy 2A South Church St, Fairhope 251-929-1899

Thinning hair? Laser therapy is an exciting new treatment for hair restoration. A non-invasive, nonchemical solution to hair loss.

CHILDBIRTH SERVICES KATRINA BREELAND Made for Love Childbirth Classes and Doula Services 251-554-5704 Facebook.com/MadeForLoveMobile DONA and Birthing from Within™ trained doula and mentor offers a holistic and mindful approach to childbirth preparation.

CHURCHES CENTER FOR JOYFUL LIVING 60 North Ann Street Mobile, AL 36695 251-391-6960 Questioning, understanding and growing together spiritually as we enjoy life’s adventure. Center for Joyful Living in Mobile. Sundays, 10:30 a.m.

CONSCIOUS MILE SPIRITUAL CENTER OF MOBILE Sundays at 10am 1230 Montlimar Dr, Mobile 251-343-0777, CMSpiritualCenter.org Rev. Sherrie Quander invites you to visit a loving, inclusive spiritual community where we aim to make every step we take, every choice we make, every word we speak a conscious one. See ad page 24.

OPEN TABLE: A COMMUNITY OF FAITH (UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST) 1050 Azalea Rd at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Mobile 251-545-1011, OpenTableUCC.org

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Pastor Ellen Sims and the congregation invite you to join them on Sunday evenings at 5:00 p.m. See ad on page 10.

JUDITH Z. WILSON, MEM. #759523 Healthy Living With Essential Oils 251-656-6696, AromaLife@bellsouth.net YLWellness.com/AromaLife Workshops held the 2nd Saturday of every month, 10 a.m., 1230 Montlimar Drive, Mobile. Join us and learn how essential oils can help you. Call 251-656-6696 for more information.

LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR Young Living Educator, Sponsor #327923 251-625-0080, LaurieAzzarella@gmail.com WellnessPurposeAbundance.com/yl/123 Experience the healing, uplifting and detoxifying benefits of therapeutic-grade essential oils and supplements. Contact us for personal consultations, in-home classes, household products, health supplements, diffusers, group presentations and business training.

FOODS AND NUTRITION BURRIS FARM MARKET & BAKERY 3100 Hickory St Loxley, AL 36551 251-964-6464

CLEANING SERVICES GREEN CLEAN, LLC Nicoll Mastin 251-508-3796 Green Clean, LLC provides environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning services for residential properties. Regular and deep-cleaning services are available, as well as green cleaning products and kits. See ad on page 5.

DENTISTRY

Hwy 59 on the way to Gulf Shores. Fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh baked strawberry shortcake, ice cream and much more. Your first and last stop to the beach, or any other time.

FAIRHOPE HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-928-0644 Café 251-929-0055 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com Comprehensive health food store and organic café, featuring organic food, free-range meat, vegan options and organic wine. Store open 7 days a week. Serving the public 35 years. See ad on page 19.

DR. DAYTON HART, DM IAOMT Protocol 225 West Laurel Ave, Foley 251-943-2471, DrDaytonHart.com Free book for new patients: Mercury Free Dentistry. Offering ozone; laser (no-suture) gum surgery; testing for compatible materials and cavity-causing bacteria; examine for gum disease and bacteria; laser cavity diagnoses; saliva pH check; oral galvanic screening; no fluoride used. See ad on page 31.

VIRGINIA’S HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ II 3952 Airport Blvd, Mobile 251-345-0494 Café 251-345-0495 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com Comprehensive health food store and organic café, featuring organic food, free-range meat, vegan options and juice bar. Store open 7 days a week. Serving the public 35 years. See ad on page 19.

natural awakenings

January 2012

REIKI AND HYPNOTHERAPY

HEALING ARTS

Rio Barlow 251-979-9851 RioBarlow@ymail.com

THE DELTA INSTITUTE

Dr. Diana Sturm, Certified EFT Practitioner 5901 Airport Blvd, Suite 208, Mobile 251-219-4574 DeltaInstitute.net

Promote peace, serenity and physical well-being. Offering Reiki therapy and hypnotherapy sessions by appointment.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a safe, gentle, non-invasive way to release emotional and energetic blockages allowing harmony and balance for natural healing.

MEDITATION

MARQUERITE DILLON, RN, BSN, HCN Holistic Mind-Body Therapy 4313 Momote Dr, Mobile 251-463-1570, Dillon@mobilehypnosis.co MobileHypnosis.co

Achieve goals, control cravings and conquer personal challenges with natural and holistic therapy. Individual and group sessions available. Smoking cessation sessions at Synergy Yoga in Mobile, see calendar for dates.

MEDITATION CENTER OF ALABAMA

3821 Airport Blvd. Suite C, Mobile 251-623-4485, 251-404-7902 MeditationCenterOfAlabama.Weebly.com Nonprofit, nonreligious. Relax your body, rest your mind, find inner peace. Guided meditation with venerable monks from around the world via Skype 5:30 p.m., Wednesdays; 6:30 p.m., Thursdays. Energy healing by trained practitioners at 5-6p.m., Thursdays. $10 suggested donation.

PET CARE

Deana Lannie 251-454-0959

Free healing nights and group meditations every Monday. Pranic Healing classes and the advanced technique of Superbrain Yoga.

Blending traditional medicine with a holistic approach, Dr. Symes specializes in conditions related to food intolerance: chronic allergies (skin/ears), gastrointestinal issues, "autoimmune" disorders, epilepsy and more. Find out how diet affects your pet's health. See ad on page 31.

PHOTOGRAPHERS VICTORIA WEBB PHOTOGRAPHY

Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. ~Søren Kierkegaard

MARTHA UMPHREY 251-752-8122 MarthaUmphrey@yahoo.com Offering sound therapy as a natural solution for tinnitus or diminished hearing due to injury, stroke or aging.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING MIDDLE EARTH HEALING AND LEARNING CENTER 20205 Middle Earth Rd, Citronelle 251-866-7204 MiddleEarthHealing.com Middle Earth is an evolving education center, modeling permaculture, sustainable living and the interconnection of the health of the planet and the health of her inhabitants. See ad on page 11.

YOGA

BELTLINE ANIMAL HOSPITAL

John B. Symes, D.V.M. (aka Dogtor J) 1212 West I-65 Service Rd. South, Mobile 251-343-7110, DogtorJ@bellsouth.net DogtorJ.com

PRANIC HEALING IN MOBILE

SOUND THERAPY

251-716-9699 VictoriaWebbPhotography@hotmail.com VictoriaWebbPhotography.com Lifestyle portraits and wedding photography.

REFLEXOLOGY LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR

251-625-0080 Daphne, AL 850-380-4943 Pensacola, FL LaurieAzzarella@gmail.com, WellnessPurposeAbundance.com/yl/123 Certification in Ingham Reflexology through the International Institute of Reflexology. 16 CEUs per workshop. These workshops provide education in better health naturally. Young Living Essential Oil Education also available.

YOGA BIRDS 209-A South Section St, Fairhope 251-990-3447 YogaBirds.com Fairhope's yoga studio with classes for everyone: Anusara-Inspired®, Foundations, Vinyasa Flow, Tropical Yoga Birds, Restorative, Chair Yoga, weekend workshops and more. View full schedule and sign-up for classes and special events at YogaBirds.com. See ad on page 32.

THE YOGA CENTER 2nd Floor David’s Gallery 809 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores 251-975-8687 or 251-609-6999 KAKeane47@gmail.com Inventive, fun and funky yoga. Various styles taught for all levels. Informal and inclusive. Group classes, private sessions, Tai Chi and Thai massage.

This logo indentifies businesses that are Natural Awakenings Network Discount Providers. See page 16 for details.

TO BE INCLUDED IN FEBRUARY'S DIRECTORY, CALL 251-990-9552, OR EMAIL PUBLISHER@HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHYPLANET.COM BY JANUARY 10. 38

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Small changes for a healthy future!

Tri-City Health & Wellness Expo

January 17, 4-8pm: eFitness & Wellness in Biloxi, MS January 19, 4-8pm: Ashbury Suites in Mobile, AL January 30, 4-8pm: Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Airport

FREE Admission!

Join us for an evening of change. Consult with experts in the fields of exercise, nutrition, skincare, organic living, healthcare and more. Featuring a big selection of vendors, exercise demos, blood drive, door prizes, silent auction and free health screenings.

Now accepting vendor applications. 251-421-2259 healthymomentsexpo@gmail.com

Creating the S.H.I.F.T.

Sustainable Habits Initiate Financial Transformation Join us for a workshop on sustainability and its potential to increase profits and marketability in business and communities. SPEAKERS: Mayor George Heartwell Grand Rapids Michigan

Bill Stough

Principle partner Sustainability Research Group

Panel

Local Businesses

SUSTAINABILITY EXPO:

If you are interested in exhibiting or sponsoring call 251.510.8002 to reserve your space. Space is limited.

JANUARY 20, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 9:00am-2:00pm 5 RIVERS DELTA RESOURCE CENTER Registration and Business Expo at 8:00am

OR REGISTER ONLINE IN NOVEMBER AT GREENCOASTONLINE.COM REGISTRATION IS $35 FOR NON-MEMBERS OF GREEN COAST COUNCIL AND $25 FOR MEMBERS. LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED.

natural awakenings

January 2012

APPLY TODAY FOR THE CARD THAT WILL HELP YOU ATTAIN YOUR NEW YEAR'S GOALS!

Natural Awakenings presents a discount network that supports healthy living and a healthy planet.

Learn more by visiting Tinyurl.com/NANCard or turn to page 16 now!

Enjoy discounts from over 80 local participating providers, and hundred's across the country, that nurture your body, mind and spirit. Need more information? Call us, and we can assist you with everything you need to maximize your membership benefits. 251-990-9552 Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com Introductory Plan Rates Individual Plan $40 per year

Family Plan $80 per year

* CORPORATE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

National Provider Directory online • Personalized NAN card Easy to use • Coverage for the whole family