September 2010 Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTHY PLANET feel good live simply laugh more

Human Health and the Oil Spill SEPTEMBER 2010

FREE

Gulf Coast

Artists Go Green

Seane Corn and the

Titans of

Yoga

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MASTERS OF YOGA & PILATES Yoga is an immortal art, science, and philosophy. It is the best subjective psycho-anatomy of mankind ever conceived for the experience of physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual wellbeing. It has stood the test of time from the beginning of civilization and it will remain supreme as a precise psychophysical science for centuries to come.

-B.K.S. Iyengar

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contact us Publisher/Editor Meredith Montgomery Assistant Editor Josh Montgomery Design Michael Wilson Local Ad Sales 251-990-9552 P.O. Box 725 Fairhope, AL 36533 Phone: 251-990-9552 Fax: 251-281-2375 Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com MobilePublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com Multi-Market Advertising 239-449-8309 Franchise Sales 239-530-1377 © 2010 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

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SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $24 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Who couldn’t use more hours in a day? Lately, tackling my responsibilities as both a mother and magazine publisher has me teetering on borderline exhaustion.

I have found myself stuck in a cycle between multitasking during the day and playing catch-up late into the night.

Serendipitously, finding balance became a ubiquitous theme in this month’s issue. At the presentation that inspired “Creating Clarity in the Body Naturally,” on page 13, Cindi Galas emphasized the importance of balance in maintaining a healthy body. For Jim Tripp, an artist featured in “Beautiful Art, Healthy Planet,” on page 18, balance is not only a theme in his work, it is a way of life. And “Titans of Yoga,” on page 30, served as a timely reminder of when I taught the importance of combining strength and energy in the body with the comfort and relaxation of a quiet mind as a yoga instructor.

It’s unsustainable, to force our bodies to execute non-stop, often stressful, activities. We must take time to relax, replenish and reenergize if we wish to stay in the game and reach our goals in healthy ways. For me, balance-enhancing tasks often have a creative tilt, like painting, cooking, gardening or practicing yoga. When performed in a mindful manner, all of these activities are conducive to realizing feelings of comfort and relaxation—including doing heavy yard work and challenging yoga poses. Each gives me a mental and emotional break, boosting productivity, as well as health.

This month, my son Mays will begin attending a part-time preschool program.

Anticipating what amounts to 12 more hours a week in my schedule, my first instinct was to start making to do lists of all I could accomplish in that time. But then, after working on this month’s issue about activities that will bring increased harmony to my life, my priorities have shifted. I now happily plan to take advantage of some of this extra time with the pleasures of yoga, art, cooking, gardening and maybe even a massage now and then.

As you read this month’s Natural Awakenings on Creative Expression, I encourage you to join me in this mission for balance. Whether it’s attending a yoga class, learning to knit or visiting a local art gallery, effects of being in better equilibrium will be worth the joyful effort.

As our magazine’s motto suggests, let’s all “Feel good. Live simply. Laugh more.”

In peace and gratitude,

Meredith Montgomery

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September 2010

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About the Cover

contents

Photograph by Victoria Webb

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.

Local photographer, Victoria Webb, again partnered with Natural Awakenings for September’s cover. Webb photographed Mobile artist Josh Ashley at his studio with his work as mentioned in “Beautiful Art, Healthy Planet,” on page 18.

A resident of Mobile, Webb is a student at University of South Alabama studying graphic design and photography. She says, “As a photographer, my motto is life is how you see it.” Striving to snap the camera at the perfect moment, she enjoys capturing life’s interesting quirks, blessings and beauty in each portrait session she works. As an on-location photographer, Webb shoots portrait sessions at her subject’s home or favorite destination.

For Victoria Webb’s online gallery, visit VictoriaWebbPhotography.com.

13 CREATING CLARITY

IN THE BODY NATURAL

by Meredith Montgomery

15 FEEL GOOD FILMS

A Conversation with Producer Stephen Simon

15

by Ellen Mahoney

16 SAVORING THE SUN

Three Ways to Preserve Summer’s Goodness

by Judith Fertig

18 BEAUTIFUL ART,

18

HEALTHY PLANET

How Local Artists Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

by Meredith Montgomery

22 LIVING ART

Creativity Inspires Community

by Kirsten Broadfoot

25 EARTH MUSIC

Soundscapes of America’s Quiet Places

by Susie Ruth

Love, Peace & Harmony Workshop

Dedicated to the purification of the Gulf Waters An introduction to the music and teachings of

Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha Complimentary books and door prizes October 1 & 2 at Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living 1230 Monlimar Dr. in Mobile • 251-343-0777 Contact Judith for info: harmony.blessings@gmail.com See the news brief for details.

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26 CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Instrument of Healing

by Mary Beth Maziarz

30 TITANS OF YOGA

Lessons Distilled From a Lifetime of Disciplined Practices

by Johannes R. Fisslinger

Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

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6 globalbriefs 8 newsbriefs 12 localhealth

Stand Out in the Crowd!

14 ecobriefs

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15 wisewords 16 consciouseating 18 localfeature 25 inspiration

26 healingways 28 greenliving

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30 fitbody

advertising & submissions how to advertise To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 251-990-9552 or email MobilePublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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September 2010

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globalbriefs News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all. The International Day of Peace is September 21.

Sound Play

Birds, Like Humans, Sing Just Because They Can Animal researchers like Gisela Kaplan, Ph.D., and Irene Pepperberg, Ph.D., have determined that birds not only sing to communicate daily needs, many engage in sound play, most often when they’re alone, but sometimes also when humans are present.

Some species continually improvise their singing with new elements, phrases and sequences, reports Kaplan, a professor at the Research Centre for Neuroscience and Animal Behaviour at the University of New England, Australia. Nightingales and canaries are among the avian virtuosos, reinventing their repertoire in each successive season, while the brown thrasher may hold the record at close to 2,000 song types. Nightingales, she notes, organize their compositions according to rules of construction similar to the way humans use syntax. These birds even create distinctive phrases that identify them as individuals.

Kaplan’s own recordings of Australian magpies reveal how the bird’s voice moves across four octaves, varies its phrasing between staccato and legato, and embellishes sequences with vibrato, trills or deep overtones. More, it will close a completed song with a signature phrase, in much the same way that a painter initials a finished canvas.

Entrance Exam

College Applicants Leverage their Creativity Tufts University, in Medford, Massachusetts, now invites prospective students to submit an optional, one-minute personal video to supplement their admissions application. The purpose is to discern the student’s creative side, which they may also display by way of an essay or by creating something using a single 8½-by11-inch sheet of paper.

Find videos at YouTube.com, search Tufts Admissions Videos.

Prized Junto Mental Videos

Daydreams Have Everyday Benefits Scientific interest in daydreaming was kicked off a decade ago, when Marcus Raichle, a neurologist and professor with Washington University in St. Louis, discovered that several parts of the brain become unusually active metabolically when the brain is thought to be idling. His findings further showed that daydreaming is the mind’s default mode... and that’s not a bad thing.

Today, researchers know that daydream content pretty much maps onto people’s everyday goals, aspirations and apprehensions, rather than being exotic meanderings. For the average person, daydreaming typically represents a kind of mental rehearsal, maintaining the brain in a state of readiness to respond. As pioneering psychologist Jerome Singer pointed out, “You can engage in trial action without any consequences.

Such fantasies may fulfill a psychic need.”

In Psychology Today, author Josie Glausiusz reports that daydreaming seems to be an essential human activity. Daydreams help us generate our sense of self, hone social skills and serve as a font of creativity for those who pay attention to them, all of which make us feel vibrant, aware and engaged with life.

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The Creativity Foundation Taps Top Talents

Two 21st cent u r y awa r d s , sponsored by The Creativity Foundation, annually recognize current and potential contributors to innovative thinking and applied creativity. The Creativity Laureate Prize honors the most gifted thinkers and catalysts in all areas of human endeavor—the arts, sciences, humanities, technology and public service.

The Legacy Prize salutes students who show great promise and dedication in their chosen field of public service.

For details see Creativity-Found.org.

One America

Classical Forms Meet Latin Rhythms in Concert Halls Latin rhythms and melodies have been spicing up popular music for years. Now, the infectious influences from every corner of Central and South America are turning up in concert halls, performed by symphony orchestras across the United States. This season’s arrival of Venezuela’s superstar conductor Gustavo Dudamel as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic has ignited a love affair with tonalities from south of the U.S. border.

“Arts organizations that recognize and incorporate Hispanic culture are both at the cutting edge and ensuring their own future,” remarks Carol Reynolds, music history professor at Southern Methodist University, in Dallas. “The incorporation of Latin-based music into the classical world is long overdue.”

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Programmed Software Composes Original Music From Darkness, Light is the debut album of Emily Howell, a computer program with the ability to synthesize musical pieces resembling the works of history’s most renowned classical composers. Emily’s programmer, David Cope, professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Cruz, believes that such artistically able machines signal an opportunity for collaboration with human artists, not a digital replacement for them. “Computers are there [for us] to extend ourselves through them,” he says. Human musicians perform most of Emily’s compositions.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

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Park Art

Artist-in-Residence Programs Available Nationwide Hundreds of artist-in-residence programs at sites across the country also include those at 29 national parks. The National Park Service offers opportunities for qualifying two-dimensional visual artists, photographers, sculptors, performers, writers, composers and craft artists to live and work in the parks from several weeks to several months of the year.

Learn more at nps.gov/archive/volunteer/air.htm as well as MesArt.com/art/Resources:Artist-inResidency_Programs.

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September 2010

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newsbriefs Alabama Walk for Midwives As a part of the statewide event organized by the Alabama Birth Coalition (ABC), Mobile’s Walk for Midwives will begin at Cathedral Square at 9:30 a.m., September 25. Hundreds of Alabama citizens are expected to participate in this fun-walk to raise awareness of the need to allow certified professional midwives (CPMs) to practice legally in the state of Alabama.

The Birth Coalition is a consumer advocacy group working to expand maternity care options in Alabama. CPMs are specially trained to provide out-of-hospital maternity care, and the demand for their services is on the rise throughout the country.

According to ABC’s Leanne Reed, “Our hope is that the Walk for Midwives will compel policymakers in Alabama to take notice and to recognize the need to change our laws, so that families in our state have access to the safe, proven and cost-effective care offered by CPMs.” All are welcome to walk around the square and learn about midwifery in Alabama. There will be children’s activities, a silent auction and a stroller/wagon decorating contest.

For more information, or to become a sponsor, email Ariel at MyArielView@gmail.com.

Food Bank Hosts A Challenge to End Hunger In 2008, Feeding America established September as Hunger Action Month. Each year, the Bay Area Food Bank coordinates hunger related events throughout the month of September, culminating with the annual Chef Challenge. This year’s event, A Challenge to End Hunger, will take place from 6 to 8:30 p.m., September 28, at the organization’s main warehouse.

Featuring a silent auction and live music by bluegrass band Delta Reign, the evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, followed by an exquisite three-course meal prepared

by Wind Creek Casino and Hotel corporate Executive Chef Chef Stafford and Executive Chef “Chef Luis.” Tickets for the event are $100 for individuals and $750 for a table of eight.

Reservations are required by September 13.

Feeding America’s aspiration for Hunger Action Month in 2010 is the desire to mobilize everyone in America to take action in the fight against domestic hunger and generate strong and sustainable issue engagement as a buildup to the key holiday season. All proceeds from Chef Challenge are used by the food bank to continue distributing food in the organization’s 24-county service area.

For more info, visit BayAreaFoodBank.org or call 251-653-1617.

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Noah’s Park Pet Carnival

Church of the Redeemer will host Noah’s Park Pet Carnival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., October 2, in the Parish Hall. This celebration for pets and their owners will include activities for dogs, a pet cafe, pet photos, a silent auction and raffle, ARF adoption, horse rides, vendors and obedience demonstrations.

Free and open to the public, the carnival benefits the St. Francis Guild, whose mission is to promote the well-being of God’s creatures and to honor the mutual bond that exists between animals and the people who love them.

Location: Parish Hall, Church of the Redeemer, 7125 Hitt Road, in Mobile 36695. For information, visit RedeemerEpiscopal.org or call 251-639-1948.

Dowsing For Diamonds Reservations are now being accepted for Dowsing for Diamonds, an adventure tour scheduled for November 4-7. This treasure hunt will introduce the spiritual and practical uses of dowsing to the community.

Dowsing, the search for underground water or minerals with the use of a dowsing rod, has a rich history with many applications, techniques, and tools. The Alabama Dowsers and Hypnotist Group serves as a social network that strives to preserve this ancient art form. No experience is necessary to take part in this trip, which is open to all active adults.

The Dowsing for Diamonds trip will depart from Foley and travel to Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Included in the package is round-trip deluxe motor coach transportation, three nights hotel stay in the state park, two days at the crater, dig gear and a dowsing kit.

According to trip organizer Betty Perryman, “Anyone booking by September 15 will receive my new e-book, Well Water, Dowsing with Papa.”

For more information, visit ForensicDowsing.webs.com or call 251-224-7207. For booking information, visit KingdomCoach. com or call Donna Johnson at 251-660-0900.

Sea Turtle Festival Postponed The organizers of Share the Beach’s first Sea Turtle Festival regret to announce the postponement of the premiere event until 2011. Gulf State Park Naturalist Kelly Reetz explains, “We will need the support of several different agencies to put on this event in a successful manner, and we feel that at this time, these agencies are still consumed by work related to the oil spill.”

Plans for next year’s sea turtle festival will be announced in Natural Awakenings as they become available.

Visit AlabamaSeaTurtles.com.

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NEWS TO SHARE?

Empower yourself through education!

Send submissions for news briefs and calendars to MobilePublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month prior to month of publication.

Earn your degree through selfpaced distance learning. Study:

Yoga for Scoliosis

Julie Wilkins is a licensed occupational therapist and yoga instructor, providing yoga programs for scoliosis and post-fusion clients on an individualized basis.

Scoliosis is a disorder that causes an abnormal curvature of the spine and can present in children, adolescents or adults. Wilkins says, “The committed and consistent practice of yoga can be highly therapeutic for the management of spinal curvatures.”

Her experience in a variety of rehabilitation settings has helped people of all ages learn valuable skills to regain functional independence in their daily lives.

Yoga for Scoliosis is an individualized program that combines specific yoga poses with breath awareness and control to heighten body awareness, improve postural alignment and increase strength and flexibility. Modified yoga sessions can also be taught to those who have had corrective spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis.

For more information contact Julie at JWilkins75@gmail.com or visit JulieWilkinsYoga.com. See ad, page 12.

• • • • •

Holistic Theology Holistic Ministries Holistic Health and Spiritual Care Metaphysical Spirituality Alternate Spiritual Traditions

Call 1-800-949-4325 or visit www.aiht.edu for free catalog.

Kula: A New Approach to Yoga

Love, Peace & Harmony Workshop

Opening on the wave of interest generated by the new movie Eat, Pray, Love, Kula Yoga Community will begin its class schedule on Labor Day, September 6. The mission of co-founders and teachers Amanda Brenner and Dana Goudie is to create and support a community of yoga students linked by the common desire for healthy bodies, mental clarity and spiritual well-being.

They believe yoga is transformative and provides a gateway to self-discovery, leading to health and personal fulfillment.

Kula, the sanskrit word for community, is the inspiration behind this new yoga venture. Modeling their approach after Power Yoga teacher Bryan Kest’s popular studios in California, class tuition will be entirely donation-based. Goudie says, “We want to remove obstacles that keep people from experiencing the benefits of a regular yoga practice, and recognized that cost was one of the obstacles.”

Offering classes such as Move and Grove, Ya-Ya Yoga and Hot Yoga Party, Kula is taking an unconventional approach to building their schedule by offering fun and approachable styles.

Brenner says, “We embrace a variety of yoga styles, so there is a class for everyone, even kids!”

An informative and experiential workshop on Love, Peace and Harmony will be offered October 1-2. This event will introduce participants to the music, videos and teachings of Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha, a soul leader, healer and divine servant. Sha combines the wisdom of ancient China with the enlightenment of contemporary motivational practices in his work.

Judith Harper, a student of Sha since 2004, will lead the workshop. A free showing of the documentary, Soul Master: Dr. Guo and Dr. Sha, will begin at 6:30 p.m., October 1 as an introduction to Sha’s mission.

From 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., October 2, attendees will more deeply study Sha’s gifts to humanity and his solution for the urgent need for love, peace and harmony in the world. The suggested donation for the second day is $30 for individuals and $50 for couples.

Participants will receive two books from Dr. Sha’s New York Times Bestselling series, Power of Soul. Everyone is encouraged to listen to and sing from the heart, Love, Peace and Harmony, as featured online at LovePeaceHarmonyMovie.com.

Classes will be offered at Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living, in Mobile, and Eastern Shore Dance Academy, in Daphne. For a schedule and more information, visit KulaYogaCommunity.org or call 251-202-YOGA. See ads, page 2 and back cover.

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Location: Conscious Mile Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar Drive, in Mobile. For more information, contact Judith at Harmony.Blessings@gmail.com. See ad, page 4. natural awakenings

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newsbriefs The Sound of the Southeast The 16th annual BayFest will be held in downtown Mobile from October 1-3.

The festival will feature top entertainers on each of the three main stages all three nights of the festival. Major acts announced so far include Reba McEntire, Clay Walker, David Nail, Lady Antebellum, Mary J. Blige, Babyfact, KEM, Chrisette Michele, Shinedown, Sick Puppies, Rehab, Adelitas Way, Top of the Orange and Godsmack, with more to come as the festival date nears.

“BayFest is a music festival that appeals to a wide variety of audiences and is suitable for the entire family,” says Shana Jordan, executive director of BayFest. “That’s what makes this festival so successful.”

Weekend passes are $45 in advance and day passes purchased at the gates are $30. Children 12 years and under will be admitted free with a ticketed adult.

For more information about BayFest, the BayFest 5K Run/Walk, the BayFest Music Industry Education Program or to purchase tickets, visit BayFest.com. See ad, page 21.

Alabama Coastal Cleanup The 23rd annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., September 18. This event is the state’s largest volunteer effort focused on the removal of marine debris from the water’s edge. Trash thrown into the water and along the shoreline is not only an eyesore, but also a threat to both marine wildlife and humans.

This educational event engages local citizens to remove trash and debris from the Gulf Coast beaches and waterways, to identify the sources of debris and to change the behaviors that cause pollution. Over the last 22 years, 58,000 volunteers have participated in the Cleanup and removed 1,120,000 pounds of marine debris from the state’s valuable coastline.

The cleanup will only focus on the removal of non-oiled marine debris and litter.

According to state coordinator of the event, Amy King, “Although there is extra concern for the safety of our volunteers this year, due to the oil spill, the coordinators and sponsors feel this is an important time for volunteers to feel they are doing their part. There will be contingency plans in place for those cleanup zones where oil may be present.”

Healthy Body, Mind and SpiritCreated by You

Bodi By You is a new private fitness and life-coaching studio in Mobile providing fitness training, nutritional guidance and life skills coaching.

Owner Gail McKenzie is a Christian health and fitness speaker with a mission to empower women to live healthier lives.

Created as a comfortable safe zone for women in all phases of life, Bodi By You ministers to the total being–body, mind and spirit. The strength program enables women to lose unwanted pounds and gain muscle tone, as well as improve overall health and appearance.

Inspiring her clients to exercise their determination and maintain motivation, McKenzie says, “Breaking bad habits is one of the most challenging things that we all face. I help women replace bad habits with good ones, uplifting their spirits and bringing them happiness through fitness, good health, and mental clarity.”

Location: 3130 Ching Dairy Road, Suite 4, in Mobile. Contact Gail at 251-285-3094 or visit BodiByYou. com. See ad, page 4.

For more information, visit AlabamaCoastalCleanup.com or call 251-621-1216.

CorrectionContacting Shelton Academy The phone number listed for Shelton Academy in August’s Local Alternative Education article was incorrect. Additionally, the school has returned to its original website.

To contact Shelton Academy, call 251-639-1311 or visit SheltonAcademy.org. Our editorial staff apologizes for the misprint and oversight.

See listing, page 38.

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healthbriefs Flaxseed: a Natural Alternative to Cholesterol Drugs

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new study from Iowa State University’s Nutrition and Wellness Research Center may give men a way to combat high cholesterol without drugs—if they don’t mind sprinkling some flaxseed into their daily diet.

In the study, researchers examined the effects of eating flaxseed lignans (natural plant chemicals found in flaxseed) on 90 people diagnosed with high cholesterol. The results showed that consuming at least 150 milligrams per day (about three tablespoons) decreased cholesterol in men by just under 10 percent over the three months of the study. They did not see similar results in women.

Suzanne Hendrich, a professor of food science and human nutrition at the university who led the study, notes that the flaxseed tablets used in the research are not available in the United States, but sprinkling ground flaxseed on cereal and other foods can provide ample cholesterol-lowering flaxseed lignans.

Ground flaxseed will oxidize over time, she says, possibly affecting its flavor as well as omega-3 content, so keep it fresh.

Clapping Hands Sharpens the Brain

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new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev reveals that hand-clapping songs boost the development of motor and cognitive skills in children ages 6 through 10. “We found that children in the first, second and third grades who sing these [kinds of] songs demonstrate skills absent in children who don’t take part in similar activities,” explains Dr. Idit Sulkin, of the university’s music science lab. “We also found that children who spontaneously perform hand-clapping songs in the yard during recess have neater handwriting, write better and make fewer spelling errors.”

Sulkin engaged several elementary school classrooms in a program of either music appreciation or hand-clapping songs for 10 weeks. With the hand-clapping group, she found that “Within a very short period of time, the children who until then hadn’t taken part in such activities caught up in their cognitive abilities to those who did.”

The children’s teachers believe that those who participate in such handclapping songs also exhibit better social integration.

Neurotheology Goes Mainstream

Is it any wonder that opening one’s heart in meditation and prayer measurably benefits brainwaves? Both seekers and skeptics may find congruence in neurotheological findings that represent hundreds of subjects and a decade of research.

In How God Changes Your Brain (2010), co-author Andrew Newberg, M.D., suggests that spiritual practice can permanently strengthen neural pathways for improved cognitive function, through heightened interplay among brain regions. Expanding on research breakthroughs described in What the {Bleep} Do We Know? and Why God Won’t Go Away, Newberg’s experiments measure states of prayerful or meditative consciousness that correlate to gains in neurological integration.

Using brain scanning technology, his research at the University of Pennsylvania examined Tibetan Buddhists meditating, Benedictine nuns praying, and Pentecostal Christians speaking in tongues. According to Newburg, “Within diverse forms of worship, prayer makes certain regions of the brain light up in uniquely integrated ways. The frontal lobe focuses concentration. In the center, the limbic system triggers emotions of awe and joy. Behind that, the parietal lobe explores one’s sense of aligning with something greater, reducing selfcenteredness.” These new neural pathways help us realize our true connectedness.

Provided by The American Institute of Holistic Theology: aiht.edu.

Grapes as Medicine

A diet rich in natural grapes—red, green and black—could slow a downhill progression from high blood pressure and insulin resistance to heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Scientists at the University of Michigan Health System believe that grapes’ naturally occurring antioxidants, known as phytochemicals, help reduce risk factors related to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, often a Type 2 diabetes precursor.

natural awakenings

September 2010

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localhealth Don’t Eat The Toxic Soup

Adding Human Health to the Dialog of Oil Spill Concerns Group & Private Instruction Occupational Therapist Specializing In: Yoga for Scoliosis Therapeutic Yoga Yoga for Athletes Workplace Wellness Private Vinyasa Flow Classes www.juliewilkinsyoga.com Contact

JWilkins75@gmail.com / 251.554.4856

art by mer petportraits byMeredithMontgomery

Specializing in Original Portraits Painted from Photos of your Pet Gift Certificates Are Available meredithmontgomery.com 12

NA Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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by John L. Stump, Ph.D.

s the Gulf oil crisis now over? Former British Petroleum (BP) CEO Tony Hayward has been banished to Siberia and replaced by an American at the helm.

With oil no longer leaking and 75 percent of what has leaked now dissipated, people are swimming in the Gulf again, in belief that there is no longer a problem.

But there is still a problem.

The oil has been mixed with millions of gallons of the dispersant Corexit (one of the most toxic of its kind) throughout the battle of this catastrophe, despite the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) discouragement. Few have considered the human risk factors associated with this disaster: the destruction and death caused to the fauna and flora of the Gulf Coast remain in the eyes of citizens, yet it is rare to hear a discussion on the detriment occurring to the human health components of the thousands of cleanup workers and coastal residents.

It is common knowledge that that the crude oil gives off toxic fumes in the form of benzene, methane, sulfur dioxide and other hydrocarbons, but many are unaware of the toxic soup that is brewing in coastal waters. The Corexit that BP has dumped into the water, is a detergentlike brew of solvents, surfactants and other compounds known to cause health problems in living organisms. The combination of this dispersant and the crude oil’s fumes has resulted in a big, toxic concoction of chemicals known to be detrimental to all life.

Marine animals aren’t the only ones impacted by this toxic soup–human health is at risk too. Even in minuscule amounts, exposure to these compounds in the air we breathe may cause flu-like symptoms, asthma, cough and sore throat. The central nervous system can also be affected, resulting in nausea, vomiting and anesthetic or narcotic manifestations. These symptoms are prolonged by continuous or frequent exposure through inhalation or skin contact, and may result in damage to the immune

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system, blood and kidneys. For those with weak immune systems, exposure can cause all of these effects.

These developments often occur like a stealth attack, without most knowing what is happening to them. For example, benzene can be ingested without any detrimental human effects at approximately 5 ppm (parts per million). The level being given off in some areas of the Gulf Coast is now at 3,000 ppm. Individuals are breathing in cadmium, mercury, and other toxins without knowing it.

Prevention is the preferred prescription in the wake of this disaster. However, if symptoms are already evident, keep the immune system as strong as possible.

Exercise (ideally indoors) daily for the next several months. Eat a good, wholesome diet of fresh fruit and vegetables. Be cautious when consuming seafood that may contain oil and/or dispersants. Take whole food supplements to strengthen immune, respiratory and digestive systems, such as Immuplex, Pneumotrophin and Zypan. Additionally, top quality companies provide whole food supplements to increase immune resistance as well.

There have been few greater manmade disasters in the last 30 years, and it is crucial that we remain keenly aware of the damage that has already been inflicted upon our living environments and our health. Don’t let this situation catch you off-guard. Take wellness into your own hands and begin a preventative healthcare plan for you and your family now.

This is the first of several articles by Dr. John Stump, DC, Ph.D., Ed.D., on the topic of preventative healthcare as it relates to the current environmental threats caused by the BP Gulf oil spill. Further information will follow in upcoming Natural Awakenings.

For more information on prevention and the BP Gulf oil spill, contact Dr. Stump at 251-990-8188, BamaShogun@aol.com, or visit Alternative-Concepts.com.

Creating Clarity in the Body Naturally Holistic Remedies for Environmental Toxins

by Meredith Montgomery

Natural Awakenings recently attended a presentation on holistic remedies for residents concerned with the increased exposure to environmental hazards caused by the Gulf oil spill. This community event was led by Cindi Galas and hosted by Yoga Birds.

Donations collected at the free event were donated to the recovery efforts.

Galas began by pointing out, “Our bodies are really magical. If you give your body what it needs, it will take care of itself.”

With this concept in mind, she presented basic tips for maintaining more clarity in our bodies.

Prevent Re-absorption

According to Galas, “Our bodies work hard to spew toxins out of our systems at night.” Therefore, it is important to empty your bladder, cleanse your mouth, including teeth and tongue, and clear your nasal passages upon waking, to prevent re-absorption of toxins into the body.

Brush the Body

To stimulate and support the lymphatic and immune systems, dry brushing should be a part of everyone’s regular morning routine. By unclogging and opening the skin’s pores, nutrients can be absorbed and toxins eliminated.

To practice this technique, use a soft brush with natural bristles to brush the entire body with repetitive strokes directed towards the heart. An alternative method to try in the shower uses salt on a damp terrycloth mitt in place of a brush. This method is not recommended for the face.

Shower and Cover the Skin

After dry brushing, the skin should be cleaned and covered.

Shower using a filter on the showerhead to decrease the amount of chemicals in the water. Avoid exposure to toxins commonly found in bath and body products by bathing with natural soaps and covering the body in a botanical oil, such as olive or coconut oil, instead of traditional lotions or creams.

Sweat and Agitate

Sweat is another vehicle for harmful substances to leave the body. Encourage sweating by exercising or sitting in a sauna.

According to Galas, agitation through activities such as running and jumping rope, is also an effective way to promote detoxification. Toxins often lodge into organs and fat tissue.

Agitation assists the body in moving toxins out of these otherwise stagnant places.

Eat to Clean

Galas believes it is important to eat well in order to keep the body clean and able to process toxicity. Everyone can benefit from choosing organic, unprocessed, whole foods that contain fewer toxins and aid the body in processing toxicity naturally.

Individual diets should be determined by body type. Those who have more lean muscle mass move toxins out of the body more effectively than those with less. Protein helps drive toxins out of cells and can be valuable in the diets of individuals lacking lean body mass.

Eliminate

The largest concentration of toxins is found in the bowels.

Once food is consumed, it absorbs toxins internally and carries them out of the body. Therefore, it is important to keep bowels moving and functioning, because toxins are absorbed into the body if food is not digested properly. For this reason, Galas does not believe that detoxification diets requiring little or no food intake are effective. She believes it is better to nourish the body with healthy foods.

While these everyday tips may be effective and beneficial in dealing with the health effects of the oil spill, Galas also emphasizes the importance of positive energy. Inspired by local wildlife, she says, “I feel great hope when I see the pelicans thriving. We will figure out how to integrate the changes in our surroundings into our own lifestyles, and we will get through this.”

Cindi Galas shares her knowledge of instinctive living and offers various alternative therapies to reshape bodies and enhance lives.

To learn more about her and her mission to create health naturally, visit CynthiaGalas.com. natural awakenings

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ecobriefs Legislative Imperative

Citizens Spark Action on Climate Change

ADOPTION OPTION

Pierce is a lovable eight year old

toy poodle. He does well with other dogs as long as they’re calm, but would also do well as an only child. He would love to spend time on a comfortable lap and have his very own bed to sleep in.

On October 10, citizens in communities around the world will launch global work parties aimed both to reverse climate change caused by dangerous levels of carbon dioxide emissions and send a clear message to governments that it’s past time for elected officials to get busy.

Citizens will put up solar panels, insulate homes, organize bicycle rides, plant trees and advance other ideas for the types of local and global solutions needed to address the current climate crisis. “Our message is: If we can get to work, so can our lawmakers,” says Bill McKibben, environmental author and founder of 350.org, the group that is rallying the 10/10/10 work party events via the Web.

Last year, 350.org orchestrated an international day of action that saw 5,200 events in 180 countries support the goal of reducing CO2 levels from 390 parts per million (now 392 ppm) back to a tipping point of 350 ppm. Leading scientists, beginning with pioneering researcher Dr. James Hansen of NASA, maintain that if we can get back to 350 ppm, we have a shot at climate safety.

Get on board at 350.org.

Gulf Update

Citizens Move to Ban Toxic Oil Dispersants as Options

Mailyn is two years old and was

brought to The Haven scared, homeless, and with a litter of 5 kittens! All of her babies have since been adopted and now she needs a home. She enjoys spending time with other furry feline friends, sunbathing, and getting belly rubs.

To adopt, please download an application or view other homeless animals in need of a great home on our website. www.havenforanimals.org or call 251-929-3980 or email mmcgrath@ havenforanimals.org The Haven is a non-profit no-kill sanctuary located in Fairhope. Help is always needed and appreciated!

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In response to British Petroleum’s use of toxic chemicals to disperse the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, American citizens are asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to immediately delist products of concern from the National Contingency Plan Product Schedule. This would include removing such dispersants as an approved method of dealing with an oil spill.

Products of concern are defined as those that contain any substances known to be a human health hazard or that have not been proven to be nontoxic to wildlife species relevant to the area where they will be used.

Sign the petition at ipetitions.com/petition/delist.

Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

wisewords

FEEL GOOD FILMS A Conversation with Producer Stephen Simon

by Ellen Mahoney

A

mong Stephen Simon’s many acclaimed films are the Academy Award-winning What Dreams May Come, Somewhere in Time, and the groundbreaking Conversations with God. He also co-founded The Spiritual Cinema Circle in 2004 with relationship experts Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks. As a subscription-based monthly DVD community, Spiritual Cinema Circle offers viewers a continuous array of upbeat and inspirational films that help us feel better about being human.

Why did you decide to produce spiritual films?

I’ve always loved films like It’s a Wonderful Life, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and 2001: A Space Odyssey, that have a spiritual content to them, even though Hollywood refers to them as fantasy films.

My dad was a big comedy director in the 1930s and 40s, and I always knew spiritual movies were the kinds of films I wanted to make.

When I was about 30 years old, I read this extraordinary book called Bid Time Return, by Richard Matheson, which I went on to produce as my first film, called Somewhere in Time. What Dreams May Come was also based on a Matheson novel. Later, when I read the Conversations with God books by Neale Donald Walsch and we became good friends, I just knew the story of his life would lend itself to film.

What is the difference between a spiritual and a religious film?

Mainstream media uses the words spiritual and religious as synonymous terms, but they are not. A religious film would be like The Passion of the Christ or The Ten Commandments, whereas a spiritual film would be like Whale Rider or What Dreams May Come.

I believe spirituality is a personal and private experience, where you have your own relationship with whatever you might call the Divine. You might call this God, but you also might call this spirit, life, the universe or nature. You can be a spiritual person but not be religious, yet I firmly believe that spiritual and religious people have much more in common than they differ.

Has mainstream America been receptive to this spiritual movement?

I don’t believe in the word mainstream.

To me, it means that entertainment has lost all of its individuality. When you try to attract everybody, you have to be concerned with not offending anybody, and that is not what art and filmmaking is about.

Spiritual filmmaking is definitely a niche. We have subscribers in nearly 100

countries around the world and the primary demographic of our audience tends to be more adult. What we offer strongly appeals to individuals who are looking for this kind of transformative entertainment that both enlightens and allows them to feel better about themselves and the world.

Which filmmakers are producing films that are right for your audience?

A filmmaker produces a spiritual movie because it’s in his heart and it comes from his soul. We have a number of filmmakers we’ve nurtured whom I think are wonderful. For example, we’ve distributed five films from Santa Fe-based Scott Cervine and four films from Geno Andrews, headquartered in Los Angeles.

What are your overriding goals and hopes for Spiritual Cinema Circle?

When Spiritual Cinema Circle films help our community of viewers feel better about being human, that makes me happy. There is enough media that look at the dark, ugly, negative, violent, greedy sides of humanity, and there is no question that these dark elements seem to be part of human nature. But there’s little light shown on the beautiful side of our nature—the side that consciously evolves, forgives and loves.

Spiritual films allow us to look at our humanity when we operate at our best.

This is what we look for when qualifying films for the Spiritual Cinema Circle. The films we choose are dramatic and the characters experience difficult challenges, but at the end of the day, there is always transcendence, a powerful transformation and a pathway through whatever the darkness may be. Our hope is that viewers are pleased with our movies and feel better at the end of the film than they did at the start.

Visit SpiritualCinemaCircle.com for a free trial.

Ellen Mahoney teaches writing at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Email evm@infionline.net.

natural awakenings

September 2010

15

consciouseating

SAVORING THE SUN Three Ways to Preserve Summer’s Goodness

by Judith Fertig

“B

eing a locavore is fabulous if you live somewhere like California,” says Audra Wolfe, a co-founder of Canvolution and an expert food preservationist. “But if you live in the Northeast, unless you learn food preservation, you could be eating local turnips and kale all winter,” she notes with a chuckle.

The mounting desire to eat locally grown food, know what’s in our food and reduce our carbon footprint, as well as shrinking household budgets, are contributing to what The New York Times recently cited as a renaissance in home food preservation. “In a time of high food prices, job losses and food safety scares, home canning is booming,” agrees June Taylor, a Berkeley, California, food preservationist. According to Jarden Home Brands, makers of Kerr and Ball brands of glass canning jars, sales of canning equipment were up 30 percent in 2009.

The simplest methods for “putting by” food are freezing, refrigerator canning or multi-step water bath canning. Pressure canning, dehydrating and fermenting require special equipment (pressure cookers, dehydrators and large crocks), as well as more advanced knowledge.

For most of us, a large pot and some pint-size glass canning jars with lids and metal sealing rings comprise the basic equipment we need to get started.

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“The jars are like characters, with story lines that I remember.” ~ Eugenia Bone, author of Well-Preserved: Recipes and Techniques for Putting Up Small Batches of Seasonal Foods

Freezing Freezing can be as easy as rinsing berries in very cold water, patting them dry, and then placing them on a baking sheet in the freezer until frozen solid. Such quickfrozen berries can then be placed in freezer storage containers and will keep for up to six months.

Some foods, like vegetables, need to be blanched first—plunged into boiling water for a minute or two, then shocked in an ice water bath—then allowed to cool before being placed in freezer storage containers. Cooked sauces, salsas and chutneys can simply cool before being frozen and will also taste best when eaten within six months.

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Refrigerator Canning Because most vegetables have low acid content, which can invite bacteria growth, canning them also involves pickling—adding a vinegary brine to increase the acid level.

Refrigerator-pickled cucumbers, Swiss chard stems, green tomatoes, beets and green beans will keep for up to six months if kept covered in pickling brine in the refrigerator.

Hot Water Bath Canning Traditional hot water bath canning creates a vacuum within the jar that works to preserve foods. Basically, the food is packed into clean, hot jars that are filled almost up to the top (the amount of headspace between the food and the lid is indicated in the recipe). Then, the filled and sealed jars are processed in a hot water bath for a specified amount of time. When they’re removed from the bath, the lids will pop into place as they cool to complete each

jar’s vacuum seal. Food canned this way can be stored on kitchen shelves for up to one year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines.

Today, with more cooks, gardeners and food lovers collectively committed to the revival of the lost art of putting by food, the movement is picking up steam.

Canvolution aficionados say that almost half of U.S. canners are now younger than 40.

We buy local so you can too!

Judith Fertig is a freelance food writer in Overland Park, KS; for more information visit AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle. blogspot.com.

9180 Airport Blvd in Mobile 2.5 miles W of Schillinger

251-635-0067

SCIATICA? BACK PAIN? HIP PAIN?

POOR POSTURE? Knowledgeable Resources County extension agencies within each state’s department of agriculture provide free information on techniques for preserving food, together with recipes and recommended local ingredients. Helpful online sources also abound; here are some websites to get started.

Audra Wolfe at DorisAndJillyCook.com

Relaxing 20 minutes daily on the Sacro Wedgy® may be all you need. Placed under the sacrum (tailbone), it allows the hips to suspend and relax, letting go of nerves and ultimately “rebalancing.” Only $29.95.

For the therapist:

Demonstrations or info, call 251-653-9258 or 800-737-9295 www.sacrowedgy.com

Ball Canning at FreshPreserving.com Canning Across America at Canning AcrossAmerica.com Eugenia Bone at blogs.DenverPost.com/preserved Kerri Conan at DinersJournal.blogs. nytimes.com/tag/canning National Center for Food Preservation at uga.edu/nchfp U.S. Department of Agriculture at usda.gov (click on Food and Nutrition, then search Home Canning)

natural awakenings

September 2010

17

Beautiful Art, Healthy Planet How Local Artists Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

By Meredith Montgomery

Art making provides a creative way of going green. Objects perceived as trash to most people are often valued as treasures by creative minds. By incorporating used, recycled and natural objects into their work, local artists are not only adding beauty to the world, they are contributing to the health of our planet.

Junk Reincarnated

When asked if he lives a green lifestyle, Josh Ashley says, “The mission of my art is to find new life for items that would otherwise go to waste.” Rarely buying materials for his art and never using items that are still usable for their original purpose, the Mobile artist repurposes found objects into two- and three-dimensional artwork.

A glimpse into his portfolio will reveal a neck of a guitar strung with electrical 18

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wire, the circular faces of gauges and timepieces used as petals of flowers, and a fish represented by a series of furniture wheels for scales and three keys for gills (JoshAshley.com).

Not formally educated in art, Ashley began his creative endeavors when he created a couple of assemblages for Christmas gifts in 2007. Enjoying the experience of making the pieces, coupled with some encouragement from peers, he began building a portfolio and exhibiting around Mobile.

In response to the common comparison of his artwork to that of Fairhope artist Bruce Larsen (who uses found and recycled objects in large-scale sculptures), Ashley says, “His work is inspirational to me. It’s very complete and natural.”

Often finding it hard to throw things away for fear of losing a potential piece of artwork, he jokes that his friends worry he

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is on his way to becoming a hoarder. He finds his materials on the sides of roads, at dumps and around the industrial parts of town. Mostly working in an improvisational manner, the materials he has available usually inspire his pieces.

Ashley’s work is currently on display at University of South Alabama’s main campus library through the end of the year. His work will also be exhibited during the Art Walk this month at Wellbourne Ideas in Mobile and at Serda’s Coffee Company in December.

Little Artists, Big Art

Jackie Roberson is a Fairhope artist who collaborates with children to create magnificent and grand art using recycled objects exclusively. Roberson explains, “I buy nothing. Recycled objects are my

materials of choice; canvas just doesn’t have the warmth and humor of corrugated cardboard. For color, I love utilizing halfused cans of house paint that someone else carefully chose.”

Describing her work as sophisticated, contemporary, eclectic kids art, the joy and delight in her voice is undeniable when she discusses her art and the experience of making it. A preschool director and art teacher, her style began to develop while working with visually impaired students. She explains, “They had to work with materials that were tactile. From that experience, my art has grown and grown, into what it is today.”

She recently finished an exhibit at the Eastern Shore Art Center, titled Artalicious.

One of the pieces displayed featured colorful birds and flowers painted by artists ages 3 to 6, suspended from tree branches with soda pull tabs. Another sculpture

incorporated old record albums melted into gint flowers.

Roberson enjoys cultivating creativity with kids to teach them to love art and the art-making process. She says, “I teach the concepts of art, and they teach me the art of life. Children and recycled treasures... I am blessed!” Some of Roberson and her Wee Ones’ work will soon be on display at the Fairhope library.

Balance for Sustainability

Anyone who regularly frequents downtown Fairhope, or passes by the beach on scenic Mobile Street, has more than likely come across local Fairhope artist Jim Tripp’s vatulas. In Sanskrit, “va” means wind and “tula” translates as Libra, or scale. The vatulas, which appear as wonders of nature, are works of balance

placed around town and along the waterfront as gifts to the community. Made of natural objects such as sticks, stones, feathers and bones, the delicate parts move gently in the wind.

Tripp explains the development of this series of work as a culmination of many things–collecting wood as a boy scout, his background in architecture, a fascination with ancient explanations of wind and the costly toll hurricane winds had on his artwork and personal possessions. He recalls asking himself after Hurricane Ivan, “How can I use wind as an asset, rather than a foe?” The results are his trademark vatulas.

More recently, Tripp has taken on the art form of shoemaking as well. After tiring of the expense and headache of his storebought shoes and sandals falling apart, he researched a Mexican method of making shoes from recycled tires. By adapting the technique with a contemporary style, he

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September 2010

19

began making custom-fitted shoes that are comfortable and minimal, yet durable.

His sandal-like shoes are an eco-friendly option because of the limited amount of materials used in their production.

“My message is always balance,” says Tripp of his work. “I want to share this message–that the middle ground is where balance is found, and that middle ground is sustainable.”

Tripp’s work can be found at the Fairhope Artist Gallery and around Fairhope.

Preservation Through Destruction

Wayne McNeil, Mobile artist and curator of the Paper Wasp Gallery and Bindery, describes his work as preservation through destruction. Working with his medium of choice, old books and magazines, McNeil creates two-dimensional collages and sculptures by dismantling publications and then reassembling them in the form of artwork.

Hand-made books are another specialty of his. By incorporating natural elements such as wood, briars, broken shells and sea urchins, he creates beautiful objects from things that would otherwise be regarded as trash or perceived to be of no worth.

While most of McNeil’s work is an equal marriage of function and form, 20

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some of his pieces are more conceptual.

An installation that has been exhibited in various venues across the country required him to dismantle 1940s-vintage issues of Reader’s Digest. He used some of the paper to create a book and some to fold Origami cranes. The cranes hung from the ceiling to appear as though they were flying out of the book. According to McNeil, the concept of the piece was…

“Representing a book escaping the traditional format of itself, while also giving new life to something that was believed to have no value.”

Explaining the personal mission in his art, McNeil says, “Books are losing value in the current age of digital books and Kindles. Preserving books in history by using books in my art is very important to me. Nothing can replace the physical act of opening and closing a book.”

McNeil’s work can be found on display at the Paper Wasp in Mobile and as a part of Green and Black, now on exhibit at Springhill.

Life Unedited

For smaller works of eco-friendly art, visit Rosie Blu (RosieBlu.com) in Fairhope, where their motto is, “Live your life unedited.” Owner Betsey Grady uses old barn wood as her canvas for colorful and funky paintings of owls, giraffes, mermaids and turtles.

Her sister Wendy, owner of Felt

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Happy, “paints” with dyed sheep wool on used wool sweaters and blankets that she buys from thrift shops. Using a felting technique for her “paintings,” the finished artwork is vibrant and incorporates a stick for hanging purposes.

Two additional Rosie Blu lines that are keeping would-be waste out of landfills are popular Carpet Chunks coasters, made from carpet scraps, and Gaye Lindsey’s ornaments and coasters, made from Baldwin County clay, that are sold to benefit the Weeks Bay Foundation.

See For Yourself

Historically, the Spring Hill College Eichold Gallery opens the school year with a show reflecting the institution’s social justice theme for the year. The 2010 -11 theme is, “We are called: to Renew the Face of the Earth.” In response, Green/Black, an exhibit of artwork that is either created from recycled materials, celebrates the natural world or speaks of the oil spill, will be on display through September 24.

Ten artists, many from Alabama, will be featured in this display, including Wayne McNeil and Bruce Larsen.

View this exhibit while it is on display, as well as the work of other local green artists, to enjoy the beauty of inspirational artwork and a healthy planet. It may change your perception of the garbage in your trash and the newspapers in your recycle bin.

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A. Birds and Flowers by Jackie Roberson and Wee Ones, courtesy of Jackie Roberson B. Bottles at Fairhope Artist Gallery,

by Victoria Webb C. Jim Tripp at work, by Victoria Webb D. Josh Ashley at his studio, by Victoria Webb E. Eco-Friendly Auto

by Jackie Roberson and Wee Ones, courtesy of Jackie Roberson F. Tripp models his made-to-fit shoes, by Victoria Webb G. Happy Flower by Jackie Roberson and Wee Ones courtesy of Jackie Roberson H. Tripp sets up a vatula along the bay, by Victoria Webb

LADY ANTEBELLUM

KEM

SICK PUPPIES

CLAY WALKER

MARY J. BLIGE

GODSMACK

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natural awakenings

September 2010

21

Living Art

creativity inspires community

by Kirsten Broadfoot

“All creative people want to do the unexpected.” ~ Hedy Lamarr

When we say someone or something is creative, do we mean imaginative, innovative, inventive, artistic or fantastic? Creativity is about being inquisitive and open to new ideas as well as new ways of putting those ideas together. Individual artists, who are naturally inventive, are central to sustaining the creative spirit for society as a whole.

However, a larger creativity comes alive through collective art making, where the creative impulse requires interaction between the artists and audience. Such animating experiences, which often take flight from the creation of familiar objects, bring people together in body, mind and spirit, and work to keep us connected.

Yielding to the Moment of Creation

of just how very human we are.

Take, for example, the fourth plinth (think pedestal) raised in 2009 in London’s Trafalgar Square by Antony Gormley. This piece of public performance art, entitled One and Other, encouraged anyone interested to ascend and stay atop the empty plinth for an hour to get a different view of the world. For 100 days, contrib-

Communal creativity exists along a continuum between spontaneity and structure, and gives birth to myriad forms that are sometimes stunning in their simplicity. The most poignant of these remind us 22

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Credit: AArt Lab, FortCollins

“Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” ~ Pablo Picasso

uting individuals could do whatever they liked for the assigned hour, but the most astounding revelation for all was the ways in which life came to life before their eyes (OneAnd Other.co.uk).

Consider the inspired vision that prompted residents of Fort Collins, Colorado, to devise a traveling pop-up art gallery that transforms empty downtown storefronts into vibrant art spaces until tenants are found. Since 2009, The Art Lab has filled Old Town with art, innovation, music and smiling faces. Anyone can come and create in the space, display their arts and crafts or just sit, talk, brainstorm and share the good energy. This laid back, yet intimate, contribution to community life ranges from plays and exhibitions to communal paintings (ArtLabFortCollins. org).

Tom Borrup, a creative community builder in Minneapolis, sees such everyday cultural expressions as crucial reservoirs of community spirit (CommunityAndCulture.com). He notes that festivals, recurring gatherings in parks, gardens or community centers and artistic activities of all stripes that generate and sustain group traditions build community and contribute to everyone’s quality of life.

Working with the Senses “Art has been the means of keeping alive the senses of purpose…” ~ John Dewey

Artful togetherness is woven into the very fabric of community life through what often appears to be everyday utilitarian activities, such as group gardening, sewing, building, painting and cooking. In sharing time and space, we gain a sense of nurturing and realize ways to hold onto the distinction of a place. In the best scenarios, we honor cherished traditions and remain open to learning and reinvention by accepting and incorporating new ideas from unlikely places. … Putting our hands to work

Visitors are likely to be surprised by the hive of activity they encounter in local sewing and knitting supply shops lately. Take the Yarn Shop and Fiber Place, in Bozeman, Montana, for example (BozemanYarnShop.com). The owners host monthly knit-alongs, spinning and weaving circles and knit-for-a-cause events. In New Jersey, a community of volunteers with the Blankie Depot has crafted some 147,000 blankets and other comforting goods for needful youngsters since 1999 (BlankieDepo.org). The Sewful Austin group in Texas, on the other hand, just gets people together to have fun and share ideas for sewing projects (Meetup. com/Sewful-Austin).

Coffee shops, too, can get in on the act. Dogleg Coffeehouse, in Bandera, Texas, (DoglegCoffeehouse.com) is the site of a free monthly art class led by local artists. They’ve sparked a growing community of folks creating new life for repurposed and re-found items.

Spontaneous expression is commonly found in open studios or houses, as groups of artists and others meet to paint, draw, sculpt or mold. Community art collectives like Rock Paper Scissors, in Oakland, California, are hot spots for activities ranging from art walks and talks to writer readings. A volunteer-run organization, RPS fosters all forms of

community arts, crafts and performances through collaborative sharing of ideas, skills and resources aimed to strengthen a sense of community (rpsCollective.org).

Other artists, like Susan Wood, of SusieQ Art based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, move outside the studio to facilitate the co-creation of art in public spaces (SusieQArt.com). Her favorite sites include parks, science museums and natural health expos. Anyone within earshot can get a no-cost creative charge by simply picking up a paintbrush to “add a dab.” To date, the largest ad hoc painting party was 115 people strong, all venturing beyond self-imposed boundaries. … Unleashing indwelling voices

Beyond the creative command of our hands, it also feels good to unleash our bodies and expand the scope of our voices. The modern-day resurrection of drum circles, for instance, is giving new life to dance socials. Based upon one of humanity’s most ancient forms of gathering and sharing within and across communities, loosely structured drumming events around the world leave plenty of room for spontaneous jamming.

Fans view the drum as an especially powerful instrument relating to the human body, as it mimicks the beat of the human heart. Waleska Sallaberry relates that their Natural Awakenings’ Drumming Circle in Puerto Rico tops 600 participants a month.

(Find existing drum circles by state or find out how to start one at DrumCircles.net/ circlelist.html.)

Another ancient and global form of community building resides in the power of words—whether sung or spoken. We have come to understand that stories sustain our values, myths and belief systems.

The National Storytelling Network helps locate master storytellers in the community (StoryNet.org).

We can also create a storytelling event of our own. Ask any informal gathering of new and old friends to each create their own six-word memoir in a round robin event and be amazed at what memories are instantly created.

Enjoy checking out and sharing such sixword autobiographies at Smith Magazine

(SmithMag.net).

Finally, there are celebratory events at which all kinds of vibrant creative forms come together in one place. In Naples, Florida, Live Art meets in various places around town for on-the-spot performance music, painting, fire-spinning, poetry, dance and body painting. It’s a constantly evolving work in progress, sometimes scheduled and sometimes spontaneous, but always full of people having fun together.

In New York, the Horse Trade Theater Group is well known for its independent talent and events, featuring open mic, improv, dance and other “drafts in development,” as they nourish the organic advancement of community (HorseTrade.info). The Windmill Market, in Fairhope, Alabama, offers yet another twist—bringing food, textiles, film, antiques and plants together. Part farmers’ market, part craft fair and part community garden, it’s all about nurturing the fiber of community (Windmill Market.org).

Of course, the ultimate in structure and spontaneity may be the extraordinary Burning Man Project, an annual art event and temporary community based on self-expression and self-reliance in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. This year’s theme is “Metropolis: The Life of Cities.”

(For details of the August 30-September 6, event, visit BurningMan.com.)

Expanding and Amplifying Interconnections “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” ~ Albert Einstein

While the Burning Man Project is significant for its magnitude and sheer eclecticism, it is temporary, its existence imprinted mainly in the memories of participants. But most creative communities exist like Russian dolls, nested inside other communities and networks of creative activity. These orchestrated inter-community initiatives can transform

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Raw Spirit Festival, Sedona AZ

a neighborhood’s or city’s well-being on multiple levels. Vehicles vary widely, but here are a few examples to get the creative juices flowing.

One Book, One City local reading programs, like the ones in Chicago, Denver, Malibu, San Diego, Philadelphia and Seattle, engage a whole community in choosing a book to read over a period of time. Readers then come together to participate in a variety of related events.

The idea was the 1998 brainchild of Nancy Pearl at the Washington Center for the Book at The Seattle Public Library.

Many communities choose to feature a local author, and this decision is often socially transformative.

At the other end of the spectrum, Flash Mobs entail large groups of volunteers who appear to spontaneously perform a clever act of theater in a public space for a brief period of time. Initially designed as a combined social experiment and form of performance art, the first flash mob occurred at Macy’s in New York City in 2003, organized by Bill Wasik, of Harper’s Magazine.

Flash mobs have since appeared all over the country; some more structured than others, but always evoking the feeling that they are happening on the spur of the moment. Whether dramatic or musically inclined, they’re always designed to make us become truly present in our environment; their brilliance is the connection they spark between the actions of the mob and the place we inhabit as an audience.

(See YouTube.com, search Frozen Grand Central Station.)

Public participation is the name of the global game with International Pillowfight Day, as communities come 24

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together with pillows to play. Part of the Urban Playground Movement, the idea is to reclaim public space for play, away from advertising and consumerism (PillowFightDay.com).

Taking a cue from “A Day in the L i f e ” p h o t o g ra p hy projects, World Pinhole Photography Day (PinHoleDay.org) recruits everyday people to create a pinhole camera and take a picture of something in their local community. It happens on the same day, usually the last Sunday in April.

Everyone then loads their images onto the collective website to beget a global gallery of images.

Finally, the Global Mala Project demonstrates what can be accomplished with a worldwide, inter-community, consciousness-raising event (GlobalMala.org). Here, yoga studios from many nations gather local individuals to form a “mala around the Earth,” as they perform ritual practices based on the sacred cycle of 108, to raise funds and awareness for pressing global issues. This year, the mala will be held September 18-19. Tune in for an “Om” heard ‘round the world.

Kirsten Broadfoot has lived and worked in New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Japan and the United States, granting her a profound appreciation of community life.

She has created and coordinates two online communities, the Good Work Circle and COMMUNEcation, and has written numerous conference papers, academic articles and essays. Connect at Kirsti@ sterena.com.

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Peace, Yoga and Community Local Global Mala Project Events

In recognition of International Peace Day, people around the world will unite on September 18-19 to form a “mala around the Earth.” Connect with the global yoga community by participating in one of the following events being offered at local yoga studios.

Kula Yoga in Mobile and Daphne The Yoga Body/Buddha Mind classes offered at 8 a.m. on September 18 will use the Global Mala Peace Project as the class theme.

KulaYogaCommunity.org, 251-202-9642 Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio in Mobile In recognition of the Global Mala Yoga for Peace Project, a free morning of guided meditation, yoga, and a 108 Om chant will be offered on September 18. On September 21, the studio will recognize International Peace Day by inviting the community to participate in 108 rounds of sun salutations followed by a guided meditation.

QuietMindMassageTherapy.com, 251-476-6463 Synergy Yoga and Pilates in Mobile To help raise awareness of yoga in the community in coordination with the Global Mala Project, the 9 a.m. class on September 18 will be free for all attendees.

Synergyoga.net, 251-473-1104 Yoga Birds Yoga Studio and Boutique in Fairhope On September 18 from 1-3 p.m. an open house will be held to practice 108 minutes of sun salutations in celebration of Yoga Month’s Global Mala. Refreshments and a community gathering on the patio will follow. Everyone, including kids, is welcome.

YogaBirds.com, 251-990-3447

inspiration

EARTH MUSIC SOUNDSCAPES OF AMERICA’S QUIET PLACES

Creativity and Community:

Getting Started “Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it, we go nowhere.” ~ Carl Sagan

Why people engage in creative opportunities in their communities is a question that has long been debated. In 1998, the Urban Land Institute conducted a study to uncover the answer. According to participants, people’s primary motivations include:

1. to celebrate heritage

2. to support community events or organizations 3. to learn something about another time or culture 4. to learn more about a particu lar form of art or cultural expression 5. to experience the high quality of an art 6. to support a family member or friend 7. to participate in a religious service, ceremony or ritual 8. to get together with friends or family for social reasons In every case, the phenomenon of inspired community enhances our individual and collective quality of life.

by Susie Ruth

“S

ilence is like scouring sand,” says brings us into contact with what is beGordon Hempton, an award- yond us, its beauty and mystery.

Hempton encourages us all to join winning acoustic ecologist. in the self-discovery of nature. He’s “When you are quiet, the silence blows found, “All we have to do is listen.” against your mind and etches away everySounds, more than sight, connect us, he thing soft and unimportant. What is left is observes.

In learning to listen to nature’s what is real: pure awareness and the very nuances, we also learn how to listen to hardest questions.” one another.

His favorite time of day for

It’s not easy to find silence, which is listening to nature is 30 minutes before facing extinction in the modern world. If sunrise.

When the atmosphere is still, “It a quiet place is one where you can listen is not unusual to hear many square miles for 15 minutes in daylight hours without at once.” hearing a human-created sound, there Astonishment and gratitude illuminate are no quiet places left in Europe. There our being when light breezes play across are none east of the Mississippi River and leaves and set them in motion, chirruping perhaps 12 in the American West, including night insects wind down and the birds’ one square inch in the Hoh Rain Forest at dawn chorus begins.

When our moving a Olympic National Park, now officially recstone in a creek bed alters the water music, ognized as the quietest place in the United it is we who are moved.

No one knows States (OneSquareInch.org). In defending why natural sounds speak so directly to the this exemplary spot of silence, Hempton human spirit, but we all acknowledge, in is effectively protecting the soundscape of silent thanksgiving, that they do. about 1,000 square miles of surrounding land.

“Silence is Gordon Hempton, of Port An Hempton defines silence not as noiselessness, but “the the think tank geles, WA, is an acoustic ecoloof the soul.” gist whose award-winning complete absence of all audible mechanical vibrations, leaving ~ Gordon Hempton recordings of America’s vanishing natural soundscapes suponly the sounds of nature at her most natural. Silence is the presence of port his campaign to protect the silence of our national parks (SoundTracker. everything, undisturbed.” com). Over the past 25 years, he has

Silence, he would concur, is not the absence of sound, but a way of liv- circled the globe three times in puring—an intention to make of one’s own suit of environmental sound portraits. ears, one’s own body, a sounding board Read One Square Inch of Silence: One Man’s Search for Natural Silence in a that resonates with the vibrations of the Noisy World and voice support at One world. Silence creates an opening, an absence of self, which allows the larger SquareInch.org/links. world to enter into our awareness. It natural awakenings

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healingways

CREATIVE

EXPRESSION

Instrument of Healing

by Mary Beth Maziarz

We all feel drawn by enticing creative projects we’d like to try.

Now we know why…

M

ounting scientific evidence makes it clear that personal creative expression, once perceived as a luxury, sideline or hobby in our busy lives, is in fact a keystone of our most healthy and worthwhile activities. In infinitely varied and pleasurable forms, creative practices can move us beyond artful living to also serve as a vehicle for healing.

When we appreciate others’ creativity, or better yet, actively bring creativity to bear in our own experiences, such participation shapes our sense of self and can render physical and emotional benefits. Studies published in Time and MuSICA (Music and Science Information Computer Archive), for example, have shown that music is a powerful ally. Listening and playing music not only helps us manage our moods and emotions, it also works to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, repair and regenerate brain neurons, calm anxiety and regulate heart rate.

Everyone Benefits Kids clearly benefit from the time they spend on creative pursuits.

Beyond being great fun, arts education and creative activities 26

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help kids develop confidence and discipline, build mental acuity, increase problem-solving skills and shape more powerful futures.

A study done by the University of California-Irvine, for example, proved that an important link exists between exposure to music and human intelligence, stating that, “Music trains the brain for higher forms of thinking.” A concurring report by the American Music Conference concluded that kids who play a musical instrument are 52 percent more likely to go on to college.

Today, children who study the arts continue to outperform nonarts students on Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) by an average of 59 points in verbal skills and 44 points in math skills, according to a College Board study compiled in 2001 by the Music Educators National Conference.

As well as helping the young to mature, creative outlets help the mature stay young. “A lot of our brain is devoted to movement,” notes Kelly G. Lambert, a professor who chairs the psychology department at Randolph-Macon College, in Ashland, Virginia. “Thus, hobbies and activities that use our hands are engaging in more of our brain’s real estate.” Experts theorize that hands-on activities such as cooking, gardening, making jewelry, crocheting and sculpting may work to enhance mental clarity, because they activate additional parts of the brain.

As we age, managing life’s challenges becomes especially important to overall health and well-being. A regular creative practice helps, according to Manhattan psychologist Dr. Joseph Cilona. “Creative activities can be highly beneficial in the management of stress,” he believes, “particularly the stressors associated with chronic life issues, such as coping with physical illness, a demanding job or troublesome relationships.” As a result, he says, “Individuals can experience a decrease in stress, anxiety and uncomfortable physical symptoms and improvement in symptoms of depression.”

Help for Families Art-based projects open a channel to express difficult feelings and insights. These can be especially helpful for individuals facing conflict or transition, for those recovering from substance abuse and for victims of abuse or trauma. Art therapy—a guided, clinical application of creative practices—is one of therapeutic medicine’s fastest growing fields.

“Art therapy enables clients to express themselves nonverbally, allowing for subconscious wounds to be expressed via drawing, painting, making masks, creative writing and meditation,” observes Candice Christiansen, a licensed professional counselor and clinical director at Journey Healing Centers addiction treatment facilities in Arizona and Utah. “Art therapy gives clients a way to explore their painful histories in a safe, more comfortable forum.”

Rachel Brandoff, a licensed art therapist and co-founder

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of the Creative Arts Therapies Center in New York City remarks, “I’ve seen families be drawn together through their own creativity and develop abilities to overcome difficult and often dividing circumstances. Creativity can foster new ways of thinking that allow individuals to find resourceful new ways of being in their world.”

Plus, it’s Fun While any facet of creativity enhances daily experience, focused creative endeavor soothes our bodies, nurtures a rich sense of personal identity and advances the success of our children. When we commit to pursuing a form of art, attend community arts events, vote yes on public referendums for arts funding and support the arts with our time and donations, we keep creativity alive and kicking, making its wonderful works and wider benefits available to all.

A SAMPLING OF ARTS COMMUNITIES LOCAL RESOURCES

NATIONAL RESOURCES

Eastern Shore Art Center

Alliance of Artists Communities

Encouraging the enjoyment of and participation in art programs by its members and the community.

ESArtCenter.com, 251-928-2228

Mobile Arts Council

Bringing people and art together by supporting artists and organizations in both Mobile and Baldwin counties.

MobileArts.org, 251-432-9796

Orange Beach Arts Center Providing a venue for inspiration, education, promotion and enjoyment of the arts for residents and visitors to the Gulf Coast.

OrangeBeachArtCenter.com, 251-981-2787

Happy creating!

Mary Beth Maziarz is an author and professional songwriter whose songs have appeared in 50 films and television shows. Her most recent book is, Kick-Ass Creativity – An Energy Makeover for Artists, Explorers, and Creative Professionals. Connect at mb@KickAss Creativity.com.

Birthing in Awareness Creative Expression in Childbirth Preparation

by Katrina Breeland Birth has been a subject of art for thousands of years. More recently, the creation of birth art has been used prenatally by expectant parents as a means of childbirth preparation.

Midwife and Psychologist Pam England received an overwhelming response when she introduced art and other multi-sensory activities to her birthing classes. In her book, Birthing from Within, one mother says of her birth art experience, “I was anxious about labor and didn’t know it. Using my head and hands got me in touch with [my anxiety].”

England incorporates drawing, journaling, sculpting, role play and other methods of expression into her work with expectant parents. Through these experiences, parents are able to go within themselves and begin to truly understand the kind of birthing experience they would like to have.

Advocates for support of artists’ communities.

ArtistCommunities.org

Creativity Portal Creativity coaches, artists, writers and business professionals share their knowledge and expertise.

Creativity-Portal.com

Little Kids Rock Brings free musical instruments and instruction to public school children across the country.

LittleKidsRock.com

The Sellecca-Tesh Foundation Provides board-certified art therapists, live music and movement classes for seniors as a way to bring them joy, promote successful aging and improve their quality of life.

SelleccaTeshFoundation.com

By listening to one’s natural instincts and inner voice, birthing with awareness becomes more accessible. Creating art allows a shift towards a primal and natural way of thinking. By utilizing birth art, expectant mothers and fathers are able communicate more effectively, by taking away the constraints of language.

It is believed that the unconscious is exposed through creative expression, much like it is in dreams. The birth art process can be very revealing and enlightening, as it brings an awareness to unknown strengths, as well as inhibitions or potential obstacles.

Through this self-exploration, parents begin to bond with their babies, even before they are born.

Katrina Breeland is a childbirth mentor in Mobile, AL. For more information visit Facebook.com/MadeForLoveMobile.

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greenliving

ARTS

& CRAFTS

I

s one person’s trash really another’s treasure? According to a Durham, North Carolina-based arts and crafts store, it is.

The Scrap Exchange lets people explore their creativity while helping out the environment. The exchange was founded in 1991 as a sustainable art supply store that takes unwanted materials from businesses and community members and resells them as arts and crafts supplies.

Materials sell for 50 to 70 percent off their retail prices, and popular items include paper, fabric, office supplies, marble scraps and CD cases. The idea is to promote environmental awareness and creative expression by providing highquality, low-cost materials for artists.

The Scrap Exchange also provides an in-house art gallery to show off the work of local artists who turn recycled materials into crafts such as handmade bags, metal sculptures and jewelry. Classes in artistic skills like quilting and collage also are available. Plus, the store offers children’s birthday parties that give kids a chance to invent fun projects with their friends while teaching them about taking care of the planet.

The Resource Center in Chicago is another nonprofit organization that is encouraging creative repurposing of materials. Its Creative Reuse Warehouse (CRW) finds and recovers rejected items and byproducts that local businesses treat as waste. They donate these materials to Chicago area schools, service organizations, performance companies and individual artists. It’s a win-win situation for the CRW’s donors and recipients—donors get a tax deduction and recipients obtain materials to teach classes and create art-

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work that they may not have been able to afford otherwise.

Similar programs are available throughout the country. The Scroungers’ Center for Reusable Art Parts has graced San Francisco since the 1970s; participants learn about different crafts and art techniques in its unique workshops. Creative Reuse Pittsburgh, a relative newcomer, collects reusable discards from businesses and other organizations in its region, offers hands-on creative arts programs and hosts booths at local arts festivals.

Add up the mental, emotional, social and environmental benefits of artful hours used to turn trash into treasure and the lure of time well-spent at a creative reuse center is nearly irresistible.

This article was created by the Center for American Progress (AmericanProgress.org).

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“Bird” by Eco Artist Junior Parsons

with a Mission

Knitting: Not Just Sticks and String

by Anita Havel

K

nitting has grown in popularity as a source of stress relief and a functional art form. Whether making sweaters or coasters, this craft is a vehicle for creative expression and community.

For those interested in a new hobby, give knitting a try with these simple steps.

Discover It A quick Google search for knitting reveals enough information for anyone to get started. For inspiration, browse Internet images of knitting projects, both complete and in-progress. There are also many magazines available locally to reference.

Check local bookstores for Creative Knitting, Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits, and Knit Simple, just to name a few.

Learn It The Yarn Cottage, in Fairhope, offers a large selection of all the tools needed to get started, as well as classes aimed at helping new knitters get on the right track. There’s a lot to learn about yarn, needles, techniques, and other aspects of knitting. If needed, seek expert advice from the Yarn Cottage, where one-on-one instruction is available.

If there is a lack of local resources, a new knitter may need to go to the Internet for instructional videos and reference books for diagrams. This is a fine way to learn to knit, especially if classes are unavailable or make a new knitter uncomfortable.

Create It After researching and maybe attending some classes, it’s time to get started. There is an abundance of online resources for free patterns to start, or pattern books can be purchased to start a knitting library. Electronic patterns have the added advantage of being paperless, although knitters will often print their patterns as a method of note-keeping on the knitting experience for future reference.

One misconception about knitting is that it’s all about heavy sweaters with garish patterns. Knitters of all experience levels create a variety of different garments and other household items. There is a plethora of different sweater patterns, but according to resident knitting expert

Rhonda Jones, owner of The Yarn Cottage, “The fibers available now can make a sweater heavy or light, depending on your climate.” She listed several other options that are great for our warmer weather, including wraps, shrugs, fingerless gloves, hats, and tops for all temperatures.

One suggestion was particularly interesting: wraps. Jones explains, “Because of the heat outside and the air conditioning inside, I see a lot of women making wraps to take to work, church or any other inside activity to use when the air conditioning gets a little chilly.” These wraps can be made with a light or heavy yarn, in a solid or open-lace pattern, depending on how much protection you need from the chill.

sheep farm, and purchase directly from their shop. Alpaca yarn straight from the farm is amazingly soft. For non-animal fiber, eco-friendly yarn, try cotton, soy or hemp.

Recycling old wool sweaters is another fun project. Visit a thrift store, purchase some wool sweaters and unravel them, and wind the yarn into balls. This is an inexpensive and eco-friendly way to boost a yarn stash. More ambitious green knitters can try making yarn from strips of old plastic bags. There are some great market bag patterns that use old plastic grocery bags, effectively recycling them into something that can be used again and again.

Share It

There are many reasons to try knitting as a hobby. The rhythm of working with the needles creates a Zen-like state that is great for stress relief; working with the hands and mind helps ward off dementia and arthritis; making clothes, blankets and household items provides a chance to be creative in a useful way; and knitting is a lifelong hobby and skill that can be passed on to future generations. So, begin a knitting journey today and remember– it’s not just about sticks and string. It’s about community and creativity.

“Knitting is about community,” Jones says with a smile. The community of knitters is vibrant and active, both in our local area and online. At The Yarn Cottage, there are always people sitting on the comfortable couches, working away. Knitting is an activity you can do while talking to others, and often invokes an “Ooooh” and “Ahhhh” from onlookers. The Yarn Cottage also holds knit-alongs, where several people work on the same project.

If a virtual social experience is preferred, visit Ravelry.com, a social networking site for knitters, crocheters and spinners.

This site is bursting with project photos, patterns (free and purchase options) and forums for social interaction, asking questions and posting photos.

Love It

Anita Havel is a freelance writer in Fairhope, AL and has been knitting for four years. Contact: AnitaHavel@ hotmail.com.

Green It Being able to create garments, blankets and other household items is a sustainable practice. Given the availability of green materials, this hobby is easily made environmentally friendly. Examples of green knitting include using natural fibers, either undyed or naturally dyed. Many yarn companies offer organic and ecofriendly yarns for purchase. While on vacation, try to locate an alpaca or natural awakenings

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fitbody

TITANS OF YOGA LESSONS DISTILLED FROM A LIFETIME OF DISCIPLINED PRACTICE

by Johannes R. Fisslinger

a nd e n lig h t e n m e nt

Try this healing exercise: Sit up, put your hands in your lap, close your eyes and watch your breath. Take 30 seconds to enjoy this moment, right now, being present… and connecting with your inner smile. ~ Lilias Folan, called the “First Lady of Yoga” since her 1972 PBS series, Lilias!

Yoga and You

from contemporary

Focus on the Breath

For the first time, organizers of National Yoga Month have collected in one place insights on health, happiness

practitioners who are deemed by their peers as world titans of yoga.

T

he essence of yoga, no matter its style, is a journey of self-discovery and transformation. It becomes a way of life that embraces a system of physical science, while honoring the quest for mental and emotional stability and balance. Millions of U.S. practitioners of all ages enjoy the benefits of increased flexibility and muscle strength, better posture and alignment, and decreased stress. As their practice deepens, they also experience yoga’s larger gift: a body/mind attunement that nurtures mental clarity, emotional composure and a greater sense of overall well-being.

The titans interviewed incorporate various techniques and approaches. Yet, they all agree upon the following handful of principles, designed to inspire, facilitate and heighten anyone’s yoga practice.

Be Present in the Moment Yoga… is about the power of now, being present in the moment. Anytime, [you can] take a few deep breaths and find a peaceful space within. ~ Beth Shaw, founder of YogaFit Enjoy the moment; don’t be inhibited by the past or future.

You are in a timeless space, connected to the infinite. ~ Sharon Gannon, co-creator of Jiva Mukti Yoga 30

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If you bring your attention to your breathing, you become present; develop this muscle of being present by focusing on the breath. ~ Bryan Kest, creator of Power Yoga

Try this transformative exercise: If your mind becomes restless, relax your jaw and breathing, then become aware of the quality of your breath, using a soft inhale and exhale.

Feel your belly move as breath enters and exits through the nostrils, like a guest. Choose to observe your breath and it will redirect the mind. ~ Lisa Walford, developer of YogaWorks teacher training program

Experience Health and Oneness with the Body Regular practice is key. Inevitably, if you do the postures enough, there’s magic to them. Even if you [begin with] no intention, yoga leads you to a state of union. Practicing yoga helps you remember that you’re already perfect, already free. ~ Sara Ivanhoe, creator of bestselling yoga DVDs If you don’t feel good in your body—if you can’t move forward with ease and not dis-ease—how can you feel good about anything? Yoga… makes us feel good about the bodies we are in. ~ Beth Shaw Yoga strengthens our life force and makes us stronger from deep inside; it builds life energy, prana, chi. ~ Vinnie Marino, Vinyasa flow teacher who employs music styles ranging from trance to rock

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Strengthen the Mind through Meditation The real power of yoga is in meditation, the qualities of the mind behind the action.

Bring these meditative qualities into the physical practice, and it becomes meditation in motion. ~ Bryan Kest Learn to concentrate on your mantra, your sacred words that you recite over and over again. My favorite is, “Let go… just let it go…” ~ David Life, co-creator of Jiva Mukti yoga Practice pranayama [regulation of the breath] and meditation to improve concentration and the power of your mind.

The mind creates emotions and thoughts; when the mind is healthy, the body and mind connect. Then you really find your soul essence, your consciousness. ~ Rajashree Choudhury, teacher of Bikram yoga

Experience Oneness with the Spirit For energy to be flowing, you have to be in tune and in balance not only with the nature around you, but [with] something that’s deeper inside you. This energy that’s in you, in me, in plants and animals, is the pure energy, the one life that connects us all. Who you are is an expression of consciousness, an expression of God. ~ Kim Eng, Qi Flow yoga teacher and partner of author Eckhart Tolle Yoga helps you [let go of] attachment to material things and empowers your soul. ~ Rajahshree Choudhury The essence of yoga is truth and love… willingness to embrace the God that is within, recognizing that we are all connected. ~ Seane Corn, internationally celebrated yoga teacher Johannes R. Fisslinger is the co-founder of National Yoga Month and founder of Yoga-Recess in Schools. Both initiatives are coordinated by the Yoga Health Foundation. For information about free local yoga classes and events in September and the new Titans of Yoga DVD, featuring 25 masters of yoga and meditation now available through yoga teachers and studios, visit YogaMonth.org.

Honoring Our Teachers

What it Takes to Become a Qualified Yoga Instructor on the Gulf Coast

by Meredith Montgomery In observance of Yoga Month, Natural Awakenings wants to recognize and give thanks for the growing community of yoga teachers in the coastal counties of Alabama, and the extensive effort they put forth to improve the minds, bodies and spirits of their students.

Yoga class attendees rely on the knowledge and teaching ability of their instructors but seldom think about the process of becoming a teacher. Natural Awakenings went to Registered Yoga School (RYS) owner Melanie Buffett, of Yoga Birds, in Fairhope, for some insight into what her teachers-in-training are experiencing.

Who should consider attending a Yoga Alliance registered yoga school for teacher training?

Melanie: My training is appropriate for serious students and aspiring professional teachers of yoga to deepen their knowledge in the areas of yoga history, philosophy, asana and pranayama technique, meditation, ethics, teaching methodology and the business of yoga.

What style of yoga do your teachers-intraining learn?

Melanie: The Yoga Birds teaching style is a synthesis of the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, T.K.V. Desikachar, Judith Lasater, John Friend, Donna Farhi and Leslie Kaminoff.

We also explore specific topics, such as teaching sun salutations; yoga for pregnancy; injury prevention in the classroom; the importance of Sanskrit; yoga and nutrition; yoga and religion; and yoga class etiquette.

Why did Yoga Birds decide to become a registered yoga school and offer teacher training?

Melanie: The primary reason is to better serve the community of growing yoga students in our area. The Yoga Alliance standards for becoming a registered yoga teacher ensure that teachers-intraining are exposed to concepts and teaching methodologies that make the varied practices of yoga safe and beneficial for all people. Teachers who complete the 200 hours of training develop a

new level of skills, which prepares them for many different teaching scenarios and enables them to take care of every student in their classroom.

Secondly, there has been a great need for this caliber of training in our area. As the yoga community grows, so will the community of professional teachers. This is the budding of a community of yoga practitioners and a boost to the economy of the local wellness industry.

What are the benefits of going through the teacher training program?

Melanie: Graduates of the program will gain new insights of Self through heightened studentship, while finding their unique voices as teachers. Upon graduation, the new teachers will be prepared to teach safe, practical, artfully sequenced and inspiring Western-style yoga classes, ultimately in service to the greater good of the community. The training will also qualify them to become registered yoga teachers at the 200-hour level (RYT 200) through Yoga Alliance.

What is Yoga Alliance?

Melanie: Yoga Alliance is the national education and support organization for yoga in the United States. They work to make yoga more available and to generate awareness of yoga’s benefits. They believe yoga’s effectiveness depends on the knowledge and skill of its teachers, and they work in the public interest to ensure high-quality and consistent instruction throughout the country.

When do you plan to offer another teacher training?

Melanie: The next Yoga Birds teacher training starts in March 2011. All of the details are on the website, under the Teacher Training tab. We are currently accepting applications for the 16 available spots. We do expect to enroll all spots, so interested individuals should contact me soon if this opportunity interests them.

Yoga Birds is located at 458-B North Section Street, in Fairhope. For more information, call 251-990-3447 or visit YogaBirds.com.

natural awakenings

September 2010

31

SEANE CORN FINDING A YOGA STYLE AND MAKING IT MEANINGFUL

by Kim Childs

Seane Corn, a yoga superstar featured on magazine covers and Oprah.com, has been practicing yoga for 23 years and teaching for well over a decade.

She has also taken her yoga “off the mat,” inspiring activism and raising funds for programs around the world that serve at-risk youth and AIDS/ HIV treatment and prevention.

Natural Awakenings asked this renowned teacher to share her advice on choosing a style of yoga and creating a home practice.

C

orn observes that personality may initially predispose a student to prefer one style of yoga over another. “For example, the style of yoga I teach is Vinyasa, a fluid form of yoga,” she says. “It tends to draw people who are more athletic and perhaps more

32

NA Mobile / Baldwin Edition

goal-oriented or self-competitive—those who prefer a practice that feels more like a workout.” This style of so-called flow yoga can also be very emotionally therapeutic, she adds.

Students who want to try more vigorous yoga styles like Vinyasa or Ashtanga should have a basic understanding of how to build yoga asanas (postures), integrate the breath and work with their body’s flexibility. “In my dream world, students would know that there are techniques they need to understand before they approach a more challenging or fluid practice,” says Corn. “That would mean either going to a very beginnerlevel class or an Iyengar class. For some students, that may feel too slow, but it’s providing the appropriate information that’s going to give them longevity in their practice.” Likewise, she recommends Iyengar if an individual is recovering from an injury.

Without proper technique, students can compromise their knees, lower backs and necks, Corn counsels. She explains that while Iyengar is quite a methodical and precise style for teaching fundamentals, styles like Kripalu, characterized as “meditation in motion,” can be more forgiving.

Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

Once people begin to practice, physical and life changes may lead to the exploration of other styles. This is true for Corn, who has studied many traditions over the years. “When I was younger, I wouldn’t have considered an Iyengar or a Kripalu class,” she recalls. “It was only Ashtanga or Vinyasa. Now that I’m in my 40s—or even back in my 30s—I’ve wanted a deeper practice that has more space and more areas of stillness and connection, which seems to match my growth as a person.”

For those who are grounded in yoga fundamentals and want a home practice, Corn recommends setting aside 30 minutes to an hour at least three days a week. “If you have a half-hour, I would recommend 10 minutes of sun salutes, 10 minutes of standing poses and 10 minutes of backbends, forward bends and a resting pose.”

Turn off phones and other distractions, she advises, and focus. The more sacred, intentional and meaningful a home practice is, the more likely one is to regard it as more than an exercise routine. “I set up an altar with things that are important to me,” remarks Corn. “When I put my palms together, I’ll set an intention and ask Spirit that the practice be a reflection of my devotion, a dedication to something greater than myself.”

At 43, Corn credits her yoga practice and diet (avoiding meat, fish, dairy, sugar, alcohol, caffeine and chemical additives) with maintaining her good health. “My bones are strong, my muscles and joints are quite supple, and my hormonal system is in really good shape,” she reports. “I don’t have PMS or other [premenopausal] symptoms and my skin looks good and clear. More importantly, I’m just very comfortable in my body and confident on my feet.”

As with any physical undertaking, anyone with a pre-existing injury or medical condition should consult a doctor before beginning a yoga practice. Corn advises students to, “Find a teacher who can meet you where you are.” Once on the mat, she says, explore what feels right and allow your practice to evolve as you do.

Kim Childs is a Kripalu yoga teacher in the Boston area. Connect at KimChilds.com.

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September 2010

33

calendarofevents All Calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Go to Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to submit entries.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Green/Black Exhibit Opening – 4-6pm. Exhibit open thru Sept 24. Exhibition of work created from recycled materials, in celebration of the natural world or in response to the environmental crisis (oil spill).

Gallery hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4:30pm. Spring Hill College Eichold Gallery, Mobile. 251-380-3863.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

University of South Alabama Lives United – 4pm.

Jaguar football season opener. Proceeds benefit United Way of Southwest Alabama. $10. Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile. 251-433-3624. uwswa.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

2nd Annual Labor Day on the Lawn – 8-11pm.

Family-oriented concert event on the marina lawn overlooking the water. Free. The Wharf, Orange Beach. 205-224-1012. TheWharfAl.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

First Day of Kula Yoga Community Classes – 9am1pm in Daphne, 4-7pm in Mobile. Stop by to meet the teachers and learn more about Kula Yoga, or take a class. See schedule online. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

23rd Annual Coastal Clean Up – A chance to take pride in the unique and treasured waterway system of Coastal Alabama. Info: 251-621-1216 or AlabamaCoastalCleanup.com.

Global Mala Yoga for Peace Project Event – 9-11:30am. Free morning of guided meditation, yoga and a 108 Om chant. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com.

Reflexology Workshop – Sept 18-19. 8am-5pm.

Learn Ingham Reflexology instructed by Laurie Azzarella from the International Institute of Relexology.

Anatomy, physiology and hands-on techniques fills this 16 CEU class. $375 new students. Reflexology-usa. net. Private residence, Montgomery. 850-380-4943.

Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Orientation Meeting – 10am. Individuals interested in applying for the Habitat program in Mobile County must attend an orientation to receive an application. Habitat ReStore, 4128 Government Blvd, Mobile. 251-476-7171.

HabitatMobile.org.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

2nd Annual Global Mala – 1-3pm. Rise and come together for peace! Join yogis around the world in the Global Mala Project at Yoga Birds. 108 minutes of sun salutes. Open House. All are welcome. Bring the kids. Free. Yoga Bids, Fairhope. YogaBirds.com.

251-990-3447.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Pranic Healing and Meditation – 6:30pm. Please join us every Monday evening to experience healing for your mind, body and soul with Pranic Healing, followed by the guided Planetary Peace Meditation for blessing the planet, all of humanity and our loved ones.

We all have the ability to heal ourselves and others!

Classes available. Free. Mobile. RSVP: 251-454-0959.

Interfaith Build Framing Blitz – 8am-4pm. The mission of this build is to bridge the theological differences between faiths by putting love into action.

Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome. Hillsdale neighborhood, Mobile. To sign up: 251-476-7171.

HabitatMobile.org.

LEED Exam Prep Class – Learn what is needed to pass the LEED exam. Mobile. Ellen Hawley: Ellen.

Hawley@patcraft.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

Green Schools Field Trip – AL Chapter USGBC’s Green Schools Committee’s trip to New Orleans to visit two green schools. Open to interested teachers, administrators, parents and community members.

Rebecca Bryant: Rebecca@Watershed.pro.

Hurricane 5K Run/Walk – 8:10am. Annual run on east end of Dauphin Island through local neighborhoods on certified course. Big post-race party at the end. 5-yr age groups, flat course, day of race registration until 7:40am. $23 day of race. Dauphin Island Sea Lab. 252-473-7223.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Charity Yoga Event – 7pm-sunset. Yoga class taught

by Paul Nix to benefit Ecumenical Ministries. Bring mat and friends. Fairhope Bluff south of Fairhope Ave, Fairhope. Billie Reinhart: 251-379-4493.

MindAndMotionYoga.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

Frankincense Oil and More – 7-8:30pm. Discover the healing potential of frankincense oil. Young Living Corporate Manager, Nick Kilpack, will share the ancient wonders as well as the modern research that backs up the ancient healing ability of the One Gift.

Free. Holiday Inn Express, Davis Hwy and I-10, Pensacola, FL. 850-380-4943.

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NA Mobile / Baldwin Edition

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Volunteer Opportunities Dori Dogs – Volunteers (both human and dog) are needed for therapy dog work. 251-3482158. DRBrown05@yahoo.com.

Habitat for Humanity Volunteers – Put your faith into action! Habitat is recruiting teams of all faiths to participate in the 2nd annual Interfaith Build. Call 251-476-7171 or visit HabitatMobile.org.

Natural Awakenings wants to help you recruit volunteers.

Send us your listing; it’s free!

251-990-9552 MobilePublisher@ NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

International Peace Day – 6am. 108 rounds of sun salutations followed by guided meditation. Open to the public in recognition of International Peace Day. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy and Yoga Studio, Mobile. 251-476-6463. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

HVAC Sustainable Practices Workshop – Sept 23-24. 8am-4:30pm. For HVAC professionals, construction managers, civil and electrical engineers, architects, contractors. Register by Sept 9. Dauphin Island Sea Lab. 334-844-5100. Auburn.edu/hvac.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge hike – An inventory hike of Bon Secour National Wildlife preserve.

Joe Cuhaj: jcuhaj@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Charity Yoga Event – 6:45pm-sunset. Yoga class taught by Christina Caprez for the Library Literacy Fund. Fairhope Bluff south of Fairhope Ave, Fairhope.

Billie Reinhart: 251-379-4493. MindAndMotionYoga. com.

PLAN AHEAD FRIDAY OCTOBER 1

BayFest – Oct 1-3. The sound of the Southeast.

Mobile’s music festival. Downtown Mobile. Tickets and information at BayFest.com. Info@BayFest.com or 251-208-7835.

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ongoingevents All Calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines.

Go to Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to submit entries.

sunday Conscious Mile Spiritual Center Service – 10am. Make every step we take, every choice we make, every word we speak a conscious one.

New Thought Spiritual Center, 1230 Montlimar, Mobile. Rev. Sherrie Quander, 251-343-0777.

CMSpiritualCenter.org.

Sunday Service – 10:30am. Explore one’s spiritual pathway. Mobile Unitarian Universalists, 6345 Old Shell Rd, Mobile. UUFM.org.

Sunday Worth-ship Celebration – 10:30am. Find, strengthen and celebrate one’s connection with Divine Spirit. Donation. Unity on the Eastern Shore, 22979 US Hwy 98, one mile north of US Hwy 104, Montrose. 251-990-8934. UnityEasternShore.org.

Sunday Worship – 11am. Celebrate Spirit in this special and sacred space. Unity Mobile, 5859 Cottage Hill, between Hillcrest and Knollwood, Mobile.

251-661-1788.

Free Sunday Matinee – 2-3pm. Different nature films shown each week. Free. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. 251-625-0814.

monday Pizza Night – First Mon each month. Have a little fun while getting healthy. Free pizza for members.

All Planet Fitness locations (3 in Mobile, 1 in Daphne). For details: 251-414-2700.

Strengthening and Stretching Class – 9am. Free for Thomas Hospital Seniors’ Best members (free membership). James P. Nix Center, Fairhope. For more info: 251-928-2835.

Pilates Plus – 9:15am. Use pilates and yoga to find and maintain deep core stability. Experienced pilates practitioners please. Offered multiple times a week. $15, $10 with package. Integrated Fitness, Fairhope. 251-554-4121.

Yoga Lab – 11:30am. Intermediate, experimental vinyasa. Essential oils, partner work, Thai yoga and more. Donation. Kula Yoga, Daphne. 251-202YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group – 12pm. Second Mon each month. For breast cancer patients, families and friends. Thomas Hospital Health Resource Center. For more info: American Center Society, 251-928-8650 or Thomas Hospital, 251-279-4008.

Yoga with Dana – 12pm. Take a break in the middle of your day. Join Dana to transform your body and soothe your spirit! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. synergyoga.net.

Restorative Yoga – 6:15pm. Ultimate relaxation and stress relief. More classes at YogaBirds.com. $15.

Yoga Birds, Fairhope. 251-990-3447.

Chakra Fusion – 5:30pm. Use slow but challenging vinyasa to balance chakras. Also available Thursday evening in Daphne. Donation. Kula Yoga, Mobile.

251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Pranic Healing and Meditation – 6:30pm. Every Monday. Experience healing for your mind, body and soul followed by the Meditation of Twin Hearts.

Free. Mobile. RSVP: 251-454-0959.

tuesday 10% Terrific Tuesdays – 10% discount entire stock.

The Health Food Center, 5238 US Hwy 90, Ste G, Mobile. 251-661-3065.

Bagel Morning – Second Tues each month. Have a little fun while getting healthy. Free bagels for members. All Planet Fitness locations (3 in Mobile, 1 in Daphne). For details: 251-414-2700.

Complimentary First Facials – Tues-Sat, by appointment only. First-time facial customers receive their first facial free. Monette’s Family Hair, Magnolia Place, Hwy 98, Ste J, Daphne. Dixie: 251-621-8511.

Low Impact Aerobics Class – 9am. Free for Thomas Hospital Seniors’ Best members (free membership). James P. Nix Center, Fairhope. For more info: 251-928-2835.

Anusara-Inspired Yoga – 9:15am. Anusarainspired yoga with Melanie Buffett, E-RYT. More info: YogaBirds.com. Packages available. Fairhope.

251-990-3447.

Prenatal Yoga with Jasmine – 10am. Begin this most important time in your life by connecting with your baby. Nurture and cultivate the energy within this joyous time! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile.

251-473-1104. synergyoga.net.

Ya Ya Yoga – 10:15am. Gentle poses for feminine issues such as PMS, menopause, prenatal and infertility. Donation. Kula Yoga, Mobile. 251-202YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Fibromyalgia Support Group – 10:30am. Second Tues each month. For friends and family of patients with Fibromyalgia. Thomas Medical Center, Boardroom, Daphne. For more info, call Jason Pierce, 251-752-1140 or Thomas Hospital, 251-279-4008.

Chair Yoga – 11am. Yoga is for everybody! $15, first class free for locals. Yoga Birds, Fairhope. 251990-3447. YogaBirds.com.

Fairhope Bicycle Company Ride: Thrills, Old Battles Road Criterium Practice – 6pm. 45-60 mins on closed course. Riders are able to drop out and re-enter. Leave from Fairhope Bicycle Company, 325 S Greeno Rd across from Thomas Hospital in Fairhope. 251-990-7383.

LA Hikers Meeting – 6-7pm. First Tues each month. Speakers: Juli Day and Gene Booth on section hiking the A.T. Free and open to the public.

5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort.

LAHikerMeetings.Blogspot.com.

Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. First Tues each month. For pro-paddlers and those brand new to the sport. A great place to meet others interested in kayaks and canoes. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. BayKayaker.Blogspot.com.

Sierra Club Meeting – 6-8pm. First Tues each month. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Center, Spanish Fort.

Amphibian and Reptile Keepers Meeting – 6-8:30pm. First Tues each month. Anyone interested in herps is welcome. Membership is free. 5 Rivers Delta Center, Spanish Fort. GulfCoastHerpSociety. webs.com.

Diabetes Support Group – 6:30pm. First Tues each month. For people with diabetes and their families and friends. Thomas Hospital Diabetes Center.

For more info: Thomas Hospital Diabetes Center, 251-279-1700.

CWG Mobile Group – 7-9pm. Second and fourth Tues each month. Read and discuss books by Neale Donald Walsch. Joy N Love, 171 Crenshaw St, Mobile. 251-382-4215. CWG_Mobile_Group@ yahoo.com.

Rosie Blu’s Free Meditation Classes – 7pm.

Guided meditation is a relaxation exercise and a way to reconnect with the divine spirit that resides in each of us individually; however, mostly, it is just a nice break from a crazy pace and hectic lifestyle.

Free. Healing Hands Massage, 409 N Section St, Fairhope. Jennifer: 251-517-5483.

Spiritual Cinema Group – 7-9pm. First and third Tues each month. View and discuss spiritual DVDs. Contact Heiner, 251-607-9089.

Pretzel Yoga – 8:15pm. Explore advanced poses step-by-step. Also available Wed evening in Mobile.

Donation. Kula Yoga, Daphne. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

wednesday Discounted Perms for Seniors – Seniors 65 and over receive discounted perms. Monette’s Family Hair, Magnolia Place, Hwy 98, Ste J, Daphne. Dixie: 251-621-8511.

Yoga with Annette – 8:30am. Join Annette PorterHam for an energizing yoga experience. Relieve stress, focus your mind and relax your body.

Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. synergyoga.net.

Therapeutic Yoga – 9:15am. Gentle poses and breathing for chronic ailments such as fibromyalgia, arthritis and chronic fatigue. Also available in Mobile at 2:30pm. Donation. Kula Yoga, Daphne.

251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Alzheimer’s Support Group – 10:30am. First Wed each month. For family and friends of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Thomas Medical Center, Daphne. For more info, call Bunnie Sutton or Kellie Sutton of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of the South, 251-660-5661 or Thomas Hospital, 251-279-4008.

Group Meditation – 11-11:25am. Donation.

K u l a Yo g a , D a p h n e . 2 5 1 - 2 0 2 - Y O G A .

KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Mindfulness Meditation – 5:30pm. Experience the benefits of meditation practice. More classes at YogaBirds.com. Donation. Yoga Birds, Fairhope.

251-990-3447.

Power Flow with Angela – 5:45pm. Revitalize and energize your day with Angela. Enjoy the sweet sweat of Power Flow and leave class refreshed and recharged! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251473-1104. synergyoga.net.

Anusara-Inspired Yoga – 6:15pm. Take your asana practice to incredible heights! More classes at YogaBirds.com. Great package deals available. $15. 251-990-3447.

natural awakenings

September 2010

35

ongoingevents

classifieds

All Calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication and adhere to our guidelines. Go to Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to submit entries.

Rates for classifieds start at $16 per month. Listings must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication.

thursday Flow and Let Go – 8:30am. Slow-flowing poses for beginners followed by restorative.

Donation. Kula Yoga, Mobile. 251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Low Impact Aerobics Class – 9am. Free for Thomas Hospital Seniors’ Best members (free membership). James P. Nix Center, Fairhope. For more info: 251-928-2835.

Story Time at 5 Rivers – 10-10:30am. For parents and children. Relax while we do the reading. Recommended for children age 6 and younger, great for toddlers and lap babies too. Free. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. 251-625-0814.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Support Group – 10am. First Thurs each month.

Thomas Medical Center, Daphne. For more info: Joy Peters, 251-626-6337 or Thomas Hospital, 251-279-4008.

ALS Support Group – 11am. Second Thurs each month. For people with ALS and their families and friends. Thomas Medical Center, Daphne. For more info: Lynn Sanderson, 205-937-4415 or Thomas Hospital, 251-279-4008.

Fairhope Bicycle Company Ride: Ladies Night – 6pm. 3 groups: The Katie and Jill-20 mi at 18mph, The PeeWee-20 mi at 15mph, The CC-12 mi at below 15mph. Leave from Fairhope Bicycle Company, 325 S Greeno Rd across from Thomas Hospital in Fairhope. 251-990-7383.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Support Group – 6:30pm. Open to individuals, friends and family. The Harbor, Thomas Hospital, Daphne.

For more info: NAMI, 251-965-6264.

Starry Night Theater – Thru Sept 16. 7pm. Third Thurs each month. Movie at the market. Fairhope’s new open-air theater hosted by the Bay Art Project.

Monthly screenings of newly released, awardwinning, independent films. $10 includes popcorn.

Beer, wine and food available. Windmill Market, Fairhope. 251-709-0188.

friday

saturday

Fortis College Massage Clinic – By appointment.

Receive a one-hour massage by a highly skilled student. $25. Fortis College, 3590 Pleasant Valley Rd, Mobile. Call for an appointment, 251-344-1203.

Sunrise Yoga with Chris M. – 6am. Join Chris McFadyen and start your weekend early with a revitalizing morning yoga class. Bring the zest back into your day! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile.

251-473-1104. synergyoga.net.

Family Fridays – 7am-10pm. Offers children a balloon and coloring page. Free. Smoothie King, 720 Schillinger Rd S, Mobile. 251-633-9033.

Fairhope Bicycle Company Ride: Saturday Morning Shop Ride – 7:30am. 34 mi at 17mph.

Leave from Fairhope Bicycle Company, 325 S Greeno Rd across from Thomas Hospital in Fairhope. 251-990-7383.

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NA Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Hot Yoga Party – 6pm. 90 min heated vinyasa.

Sweat out your toxins before the weekend. Bring a towel and water. Donation. Kula Yoga, Daphne.

251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Yoga with Faye – 8:30am. Enjoy Faye’s seamless style and renew your spirit with a glorious yoga class. Refresh and re-energize! Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. synergyoga.net.

Foundations of Yoga – 9:15am. Learn safe, basic yoga skills. More classes for all levels at YogaBirds. com. $15, 1st class is free for locals. Yoga Birds, Fairhope. 251-990-3447.

Prenatal Yoga with Adrienne – 10am. During this blessed time, let Adrienne assist you in getting even closer to your baby–cherish this time together!

Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. synergyoga.net. Synergy Yoga and Pilates, Mobile.

251-473-1104. synergyoga.net.

Music at the Market – 11:30am-1:30pm. Third Fri each month. Catt Sirten playing live music at the Windmill Market. Fairhope. WindmillMarket.org.

Fairhope Bicycle Company Ride: Saturday Afternoon Junior’s – 4pm. Frazier Cycling junior’s skill session and ride. Ride groups decided after 1hr skill session. Ages 10-18. Leave from Fairhope Bicycle Company, 325 S Greeno Rd across from Thomas Hospital in Fairhope. 251-990-7383.

First Friday Artwalk – 6-8pm. First Fri each month. Enjoy an artsy and fun-filled night with an evening of exhibit openings, guest artists and live entertainment throughout beautiful downtown Fairhope. Map of participating venues available at the Eastern Shore Art Center, 401 Oak St, Fairhope.

251-928-2228. EasternShoreArtCenter.com.

First Friday Night Entertainment – 6-9pm. First Fri each month. Leavin Brothers play at the Windmill Market and wine is always free. Food from Mary Ann’s and Moe’s also available. Weekend market vendors will be set-up. WindmillMarket.org.

LoDa ArtWalk – 6-9pm. 2nd Fridays in downtown have become quite a popular time and place to be at. With the LoDa ArtWalk in its 4th year, the event seems to be getting better each month. Cathedral Square Arts District, Mobile. 251-208-7443.

Fortis College Student Clinic – By appointment.

Receive a one-hour massage from a highly skilled student. $25. Fortis College, 3590 Pleasant Valley Rd, Mobile. Call for an appointment, 251-344-1203.

Yoga Body/Buddha Mind – 8am. Rotating teachers weave philosophy through poses for all levels.

Donation. Kula Yoga, Mobile and Daphne. 251-202YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Yoga for Healthy Weight – 9:45am. Lifestyle education and poses for weight loss. Donation.

K u l a Yo g a , D a p h n e . 2 5 1 - 2 0 2 - Y O G A .

KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC) Pet Adoption – 10am-2pm. Third Sat each month.

Adoption event. PetSmart, Eastern Shore Center, Spanish Fort. 251-928-4585. BaldwinHumane.org.

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For SALE CURRENTLY PUBLISHING NATURAL AWAKENINGS MAGAZINES – For sale in Austin, TX; Boulder, CO; Southwest VA and Ventura, CA. Call for details, 239-530-1377.

HEALING ENERGY NEEDED THE WATERS OF THE GULF NEED YOUR HELP! – Sing along with Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha and renew the life-giving energies of the Gulf of Mexico. LovePeaceHarmonyMovie.com.

opportunities Become an ONLINE TRAVELAGENT - Training provided. CoastalDreamsTravel@earthlink.net.

CAREER IN COSMETOLOGY – Are you a creative individual that has dreamed of a career in cosmetology? Formerly known as Capps College, Fortis College School of Cosmetology can help you reach that dream. Call us today at 251-342-3230.

INTERESTED IN TEACHING YOGA? – Looking for yogis with personal practice and belief that yoga is transformative. Willing to train/mentor.

251-202-YOGA. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

PRODUCTS FRESH PRODUCE AND SEAFOOD – Crab Apple Market now open in Mobile. Featuring Alabama Home Products, Amish Wedding goods, and frozenprepared seafood items from Coden. 9180 Airport Blvd, 2.5 mi W of Schillinger. 251-635-0067.

services MAGIC FINGERS – massage therapy in the comfort of your home. Fifteen years experience.

Call Norah: 251-725-7312.

NEED CLEAN? GO GREEN! – Green Clean provides environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning services for commercial and residential properties.

Schedule a free in-home consultation and estimate today. 251-508-3796.

PRIVATE FITNESS AND LIFE COACHING STUDIO – Fitness training, nutritional guidance and life skills coaching at Bodi By You in Mobile.

251-422-7265. BodiByYou.com.

YOGA AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS – Gentle, therapeutic or fitness-based classes customized to groups or individuals and led by occupational therapist/yoga instructor. JulieWilkinsYoga.com.

JWilkins75@gmail.com 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. KulaYogaCommunity. org.

naturaldirectory 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 MobilePublisher@NaturalAwakeningsMag.com to request our media kit. Rates begin at $36 a month.

ART FAIRHOPE ARTIST GALLERY 18 South Section Street, Fairhope 251-990-8763 FairhopeArtistGallery.BlogSpot.com

mobile CENTER FOR JOYFUL LIVING 60 N Ann Street Mobile, AL 36695 251-391-6960 The Center for Joyful Living—practicing disorganized religion. Come live the Question with us, Sundays, 10:30am.

251-391-6960.

Be delighted by the local color of diverse, original and affordable artwork. Look for the golden palette and ART above the door. Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Sun 1-4pm.

beauty Rikki m Threading Expert (Facial Hair Removal) 251-508-1983 ThreadingByRikki.com Licensed cosmetologist, Master stylist. 34 years experience. Color Correction Specialist. Long hair foil highlights. 20 years experience Brazilian Wax.

ROSIE BLU 422 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope 251-517-5326 RosieBlu.com Offering all-natural and organic products for body, mind, spirit and home. Quality lines at affordable prices from local vendors and artists.

Samples given when available.

CHILDBIRTH SERVICES KATRINA BREELAND Birthing from Within™ Mentor Mobile, AL, 251-554-5704 Facebook.com/MadeForLoveMobile Birthing from Within classes provide a holistic and mindful approach to childbirth preparation.

churches Conscious Mile Spiritual Center OF MOBILE Sundays at 10am 1230 Montlimar, 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 17.

Essential Oils LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR Young Living Educator, Sponsor #327923 251-625-0080, LaurieAzzarella@gmail.com YoungLiving.com/AzzFoot 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.

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, organic wine. Store open 7 days a week. Serving the public 33 years. See ad page 7.

virginia’s health foods AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFE II 3952 Airport Blvd, Mobile 251-345-0494 Café 251-345-0495 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com Supplements, wheat- and gluten-free, organic produce and meats, vegetarian, low carb, sports nutrition, books. Café features a juice bar. Store open 7 days a week. Serving the public 33 years.

See ad page 7.

GRAPHIC DESIGN Michael M. Wilson

Creative & Graphic Designer MMWilson@gmail.com MMWilson.com

ROSIE BLU 422 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope 251-517-5326 RosieBlu.com

For all of your graphic design needs, including but not limited to websites, logos, brochures, posters, postcards, business cards reports, greeting cards, mailers, newsletters, menus and door hangers.

Offering essential oils, blends and body care from Tisserand Aromatherapy: a bottler of nature at its finest.

FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS Burris farm market & Bakery 3100 Hickory Street Loxley, AL 36551 251-964-6464

HEALING ARTS pranic healing in mobile

On Hwy 59 on the way to Gulf Shores, AL. 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.

Deana Lannie 251-454-0959

Free healing nights and group meditations every Monday.

Pranic Healing classes and the advanced technique of Superbrain Yoga.

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NATURAL AWAKENINGS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE! Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com natural awakenings

September 2010

37

HOLISTIC CARE

PHOTOGRAPHERS

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE CENTRE

VICTORIA WEBB Photography

315 Magnolia Avenue, Fairhope 251-990-8188 Alternative-Concepts.com

251-716-9699 VictoriaWebbPhotography@hotmail.com VictorialWebbPhotography.com

Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Nutrition. John L. Stump, DC, PhD, EdD and Robert J. Saxon, DC.

Lifestyle portraits and wedding photography. See cover and images in feature article, page 18.

reflexology

KIRSTEN CHRISTMAS

Holistic Health Coach 251-422-8203, KirstenChristmas.com Kirsten.M.Christmas@gmail.com

LAURIE AZZARELLA, LMT, CRR

When was the last time you talked with someone about your health and received the personal attention you deserve. Could one conversation change your life?

MARKETING ANITA HAVEL 251-375-4875 AnitaHavel@hotmail.com Specializing in freelance PR, photography, writing and fundraising services.

massage therapy Student Massage Therapy Center 3590 Pleasant Valley Road, Mobile 251-344-1203, FortisCollege.com

FORTIS college

Massage really works. Schedule a therapeutic massage with our Student Clinic. Friday and Saturday appointments, along with some weekday appts. See ad page 5.

Train for a career as a professional Massage Therapist.

1,060-hour program. Fortis offers the most comprehensive and in-depth training in the region. See ad page 5.

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 page 3.

wellness products sacro wedgy®

5650 Old Pascagoula Rd, #203 Mobile, AL 251-653-9258 800-737-9295 Back pain? Sciatica? Poor posture? SacroWedgy has worked when all else may have failed. Simple, economical self-help. Testimonials & info at SacroWedgy.com. See ad page 17.

YOGA YOGA BIRDS

458-B North Section Street, Fairhope 251-990-3447 YogaBirds.com Fairhope’s yoga studio and boutique with yoga classes for everyone: Anusara-Inspired®, Foundations, Vinyasa Flow, Restorative, Chair Yoga, weekend workshops and more. View full schedule and signup for classes and special events at YogaBirds. com See ad page 2.

1050 Hillcrest Rd, Mobile AL 36695 251-639-1311 SheltonAcademy.org

ROSIE BLU

No entrance/exit exam. Work at own pace. Get diploma whenever you complete all requirements. One-on-one instruction. Small classes, Grades 5-12. School MondayThursday, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Fully Accredited.

422 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope 251-517-5326 RosieBlu.com Numerological and astrological analyses of birth dates and names with general six-month forecast included.

sustainable living

PETS

DauerWalden

ART BY MER PET PORTRAITS

Commission a portrait of your pet. Portraits are original acrylic on canvas paintings from your photos. View online gallery for examples. Gift certificates are available. See ad page 12.

NA Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Massage Therapy Program of Study 3590 Pleasant Valley Rd, Mobile 251-344-1203, FortisCollege.com

20205 Middle Earth Road Citronelle, AL 251-866-7204

shelton academy

NUMEROLOGY AND ASTROLOGY

38

Upcoming Workshops: September 11 and 12 in Tallahassee, FL; September 18 and 19 in Montgomery, AL. Certification in Ingham Reflexology through the International Institute of Reflexology. 16 CEUs per workshop. Available to everyone, these workshops provide education in better health naturally. Young Living Essential Oil Education also available.

schools

FORTIS college

Fairhope, AL 601-918-2833, Art.By.Mer@gmail.com MeredithMontgomery.com

251-625-0080 Daphne, AL 850-380-4943 Pensacola, FL LaurieAzzarella@gmail.com, Reflexology-USA.net

MIDDLE EARTH HEALING AND LEARNING CENTER

First Conservation Community in Gulf South, Located in Baldwin County Dauerwalden.com 251-937-3276 Minutes from Pensacola, Mobile and Gulf. Only 25 homesites, more than 1,100 protected acres. Rolling hills up to 275 feet. 20 miles of equestrian trails.

Mobile.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com

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