September 2013 Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS by Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast AL/MS

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

Whole-Being Workouts

Moving the Body Opens the Door to Spirit

NATIONAL

YOGA MONTH Local Events

BIRDING Fall Migration is in Full Flight

Reading Writing Greening

Alabama Schools Adopt Eco-Strategies

SOCCER

Kick-Around Fun & Fitness for the Whole Family September 2013 | Mobile/Baldwin Edition | www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Healthy living is better living. OrganicProduce OrganicMeats Supplements Detox and Cleanse Products AlabamaOrganicMilk OrganicWine BabyProducts Wheat&Gluten-Free Essential Oils Bath&BodyProducts dairy-free Sports Nutrition Bulk Spices & Herbs

SEPTEMBER 20% off Irwin Naturals and Nature’s Secret prodSPECIALS: ucts; 15% off Bluebonnet and Mychelle Products Garden of Life supplements are 20% off everyday! 15% off all regularly priced supplements every Sunday!

Virginia’s Health Foods • 3952 Airport Blvd in Mobile • 251-345-0494 Fairhope Health Foods • 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Ctr in Fairhope • 251-928-0644

We make it easy and delicious to eat healthy.

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The Sunflower Cafés offer full organic lunch menus. Featuring free-range meats, farm-fresh produce, organic wines and options for special dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free).

Asian Fusion • Mediterranean • Italian • Tex-Mex • Thai Pizza • Sandwiches • Pasta • Salads Catering service and take-out available. Menus online. Call for specials.

Located next door to Fairhope Health Foods and inside Virginia’s Health Foods in Mobile.

Fairhope: 251-929-0055

Mon-Sat 10:30am-4pm; Sunday Brunch 10:30am-2pm

Mobile: 251-345-0495

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

Visit and Natural Awakenings Network Cardholders MobileVA-FairhopeHealthFoods.com / Baldwin Edition www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com receive 10% off of all store & cafe purchases! follow us on Facebook for Monthly Specials!

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The Health Hut 30-Year Anniversary

Celebration!

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

Celebrate with us all month long! 14 WHOLE-BEING

Free Health Seminars, Door Prizes & Free Samples HEALTH HUT IN-STORE SPECIALS: •All Multivitamins 15% Off •Vitamin C 20% Off •Cell Food 15% Off •Paradise Garcinia 25% Off •Peppermint Oil 15% Off •Kangan Water $1/Gallon

•B-12 Packs 20% Off •All Brands Coconut Oil 15% Off •Silver Biotics 20% Off •PB-8 Probiotic 20% Off •All Omega-3 Products 10% Off •And more!

2 Locally-Owned Locations to Serve You

Mobile: 251-633-0485 Daphne: 251-621-1865 680 Schillinger Rd. S., Mobile (across from Home Depot)

6845 US Hwy 90, Daphne (across from Fresh Market)

WORKOUTS

Moving the Body Opens the Door to Spirit by Lisa Marshall

17 WHAT PEACE MEANS TO CHILDREN The World We All Need by Kids for Peace

18 LOCAL PRACTITIONERS OBSERVE YOGA MONTH

20 DEEP-HEALING YOGA

Release Trauma, Build Resilience by Sarah Todd

21 YOGA AND MEDITATION FOR GRIEF SUPPORT by Meredith Montgomery

23 WHOLE SCHOOL

SUSTAINABILITY IN ALABAMA How Schools, the Planet

Become a Cancer Killer Millions are diagnosed with this deadly disease each year, but how much do we really know about cancer? Is it just genetic, or can it be prevented? Convention states that early detection is the key, but doesn’t that mean you’re already sick? And aren’t the standard treatments nearly as agonizing as the disease itself? Maximized Living will show you that cancer’s cause is actually its cure, as well as build the blueprint for the “Don’t Get It” plan that will transform you into a Cancer Killer. Learn:

Be a Cancer-Killer Saturday, Oct. 5th 9-11:30AM

$30 includes event admission, book and 30-Day Step-by-Step Guide to Your Health Transformation

251-928-5058

• What cancer really is, and how your body is naturally programmed to kill it • The dangers of conventional treatment methods • How lifestyle choices dramatically boost or reduce cancer development • The “Don’t Get It” plan—practical action steps for cancer prevention Lopez Family Chiropractic • 401 N. Section St. in Fairhope 251-928-5058 • www.MaximizedLivingDrLopez.com

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

and Education Benefit from Conservation by Meredith Montgomery

26 FAT FIGHT

Like Us, Pets Must Eat

Right and Keep Moving by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

28 FALL FLYWAYS

Thrill to Flocks in Full Flight by Timothy Boucher

29 BIRDWATCHING

BRINGS US CLOSER TO THE SKY by D. Fran Morley

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10 7 newsbriefs 10 healthbriefs 12 ecotip 13 globalbriefs 17 healthykids 12 18 eventspotlight 20 healingways 23 localspotlight 26 naturalpet 13 28 inspiration 29 localinsight 31 calendar 34 classifieds 37 naturaldirectory

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 251-990-9552 or email Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@ HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month prior to the month of publication. CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Submit calendar events and ongoing classes online at HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Deadline for calendar: the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets! Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

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September 2013

letterfrompublisher The other day, Mays asked, “Mom, what’s a symbiotic relationship?” My favorite course in college was Animal Behavior, so of course I was ecstatic to enlighten my four-year-old about this fascinating topic. As he headed to his first day of preschool, I reflected upon how much he matured over the summer. The topics that come up as a result of his curiosity and honest perspective keep conversations very interesting around here. I am always pleased to see educators engaging students at any age in a manner that fosters that innate curiosity and creative thinking. While writing “Whole School Sustainability in Alabama,” I had the joy of speaking with local educators that facilitate green clubs in their schools. In addition to decreasing ecological footprints, club participation provides students with lifelong skills through experiential and interdisciplinary learning opportunities. I look forward to a day when this type of learning and sustainability is a priority in all educational institutions. Back-to-school is a common theme this time of year, but those of us that practice yoga are equally excited about the third annual Mobile/Baldwin Yoga Week. This local celebration of Yoga Month is planned for September 21 to 27. Read “Local Participants Observe National Yoga Month” to see what’s new for this year’s event, including the inaugural Yoga Life Fair on September 21, in Fairhope. During September, our natural surroundings make their own transitions as hot temperatures gradually begin to ease. In “Fall Flyways” and “Birdwatching Brings Us Closer to the Sky,” we’re reminded to keep an eye out for a variety of feathered friends that will be passing through our area as a part of their fall migration. Put your feeders out and mark your calendar for the annual Coastal BirdFest, from October 3 to 5. Whether you’re moved to spearhead a sustainability project at your child’s school, try a free yoga class in honor of Yoga Month or look up the meaning of symbiotic relationships, I hope this month’s Natural Awakenings sparks a sense of curiosity as you enter the fall season. With gratitude,

DID YOU KNOW? Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based ink. When you're finished with it, this publication can easily be recycled or composted. Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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

HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe to the free digital magazine at HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Mailed subscriptions are available by sending $30 (for 12 issues) to the above address. © 2013 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.

Never glossy. Always green. 6

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Natural Awakenings is a free publication distributed locally and is supported by our advertisers. It is available in selected stores, health and education centers, healing centers, public libraries and wherever free publications are generally seen. Please call to find a location near you or if you would like copies placed at your business. We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised. We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

newsbriefs

All-Natural, Handcrafted Bath & Body Products

Celebrate with Savings at The Health Hut The 30th anniversary of The Health Hut, in Mobile, brings a month-long celebration with door prizes, giveaways, T-shirts, free samples, free health seminars and many discounted items at both locations, in appreciation of their loyal customers and as an invitation to new ones. The Health Hut provides high-quality vitamins and herbs, protein/meal replacements, organic and gluten-free foods, sport supplements, alkaline water, weight-loss products and a well-educated staff. Jeff Sheldon, owner of The Health Hut, says. "Our customers constantly tell us how knowledgeable and service-oriented our staff is. We genuinely care to see people well and thriving, and we use continuing education to help bring the most current and helpful information to light.” Locations: Mobile, 680 Schillinger Rd. S., across from Home Depot (251-633-0485); Daphne, 6845 US Hwy. 90, across from Fresh Market (251-621-1865). See ad, page 4.

Fall into Fairhope with Coastal BirdFest Registration is open for the 10th annual John L. Borom Alabama Coastal BirdFest, to be held from October 3 to 5. This year’s event includes more than 20 guided trips—including two new adventures into the Mobile/Tensaw Delta and two new canoe/kayak trips—to prime locations on the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail; two evening speaker events; and the Bird & Conservation Expo, a free family day that takes place on the grounds of Faulkner State College, in downtown Fairhope. Since 2004, Alabama Coastal BirdFest has drawn visitors from more than 20 states and Canada while contributing more than $70,000 toward the preservation and protection of wildlife habitat in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Advance registration is required for the guided trips and for the evening events. For more information, visit AlabamaCoastalBirdFest.com. See ad, page 29.

Reiki Center Offers Pay What You Can Classes

Soaps, Body Polish, Bath & Body Oils, Body Lotions , and so much more! www.ZapahNaturals.com 251-776-4382 • CS@ZapahNaturals.com

Too Much Fire and Brimstone? Chill With us.

united church of christ

Sunday worship at 5 pm 1050 Azalea Rd, Mobile (at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church) opentableucc.org (251) 545-1011

The Reiki Center of Fairhope now offers pay what you can classes at 10 a.m., weekdays. IndigoFlow will be offered Monday, Meditation on Tuesday, Yoga on Wednesday, Essential Oils on Thursday and Qigong on Friday. Other workshops and individual sessions include reiki, Quantum-Touch, therapeutic massage, reflexology, qigong, essential oils therapy, emotional release, Reiki Exchange at Reiki Center pranic healing and more. With a custom wellness package, individuals can create a personalized wellness program to achieve their goals. Television’s Dr. Oz tells us that complementary health care increases the intuitive understanding of our body; allows us to customize our health care; and empowers us. A free Reiki Exchange is held from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesdays. No experience is necessary. Call to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. Location: 20730 Hwy. 181. For more information, call 251-281-8811 or visit ReikiCenterOfFairhope.com. See ad, page 15. natural awakenings

September 2013

newsbriefs Learn Pilates and Transform Your Body

About the Cover In celebration of National Yoga Month and the third annual Mobile/Baldwin Yoga Week, Natural Awakenings teamed up with Fairhope photographer Leigh Bancroft, of LB Photography for a photo shoot by the Fairhope Municipal Pier, the site of this year’s Yoga Life Fair (YogaLifeFair.com). Nikki Scozzafava, of Foley, is featured on the cover. A yoga teacher in training at Prana Health and Wellness, she says of her first yoga class, “I found that this was no place for any clinging to egos. This place, these beautiful supportive people, these postures, this moving meditation—this was home.” Gracing the pages of this month’s event spotlight, pages 18-19, are additional photos from the shoot, featuring Billie Reinhart, RYT, Becky Ardrey, RYT, and Laurin Karadimos. Bancroft says, “I enjoyed working with people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds on this shoot. They were eager to represent their practice and convey things like diversity, shared experience, simplicity in practice and yoga fundamentals. I was thrilled to share these moments with a community that I love.” LB Photography specializes in natural portraits, business promotion, events, photojournalism and fine art projects. For more information, call 251-786-0993 or email LBancroft@ gmail.com. 8

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Carol's Pilates offers group classes and private sessions in authentic Pilates, specifically designed to meet clients’ individual needs regardless of age, fitness level or history of personal injury, including a special offer of three private lessons for $120 or five for $150 for first-time clients during September. Authentic Pilates transforms the way the body looks, Carol Conway feels and performs with a safe and time-efficient workout. It builds strength without excess bulk, creating a toned body with slender thighs and flat abdomen; teaches body awareness, good posture and easy graceful movement; promotes flexibility, agility and economy of motion for peak performance in sports; alleviates back pain; and slows the effects of aging. Carol Conway, owner of Carol's Pilates, studied under Romana Kryzanowska and her daughter, Sari Pace, in New York City: both studied with Joseph Pilates. She apprenticed for more than 700 hours in Chicago, New York and New Orleans, receiving her certification in 2003. Conway holds a Bachelor of General Studies/Health and Physical Education degree, did graduate work in gerontology, has PhysicalMind Institute certification, national aerobic certification and personal trainer/fitness counselor certification. Location: 407 Johnson Ave., Fairhope. For more information, call 251-680-2116 or 985-855-2219 or email CarolCon@bellsouth.net. See ad, page 22.

‘Painting the Stars’ Video Series at Open Table UCC Open Table (United Church of Christ) is offering a seven-session DVD series with discussion that celebrates the communion of science and faith, on Wednesdays, beginning September 18 through October 30. Participants will gather from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Camille's Sidewalk Cafe, in Mobile, for a 20 minute video presentation followed by facilitated discussion from varied perspectives. Painting the Stars explores evolutionary Christian spirituality, featuring more than a dozen leading theologians and progressive thinkers. Bruce Sanguin, a theologian and contributor to the series, says, “Mystery is a condition of awe, of resting precisely in an unknowing long enough for the silence to have its way with us. The goal of this curriculum is to create some space for us to inhabit this mystery more deeply and explore the relationship between science, particularly evolution, and religion. Perhaps most importantly, the hope is that each participant will feel from the inside what it is like to be in the presence of all this creativity showing up after 13.7 billion years as him or her.” Admission is free. Location: 5817 Old Shell Rd. To register and receive a free participant's guide, call 251-545-1011 or email Rev. Ellen Sims, at Pastor@OpenTableUCC. org. For more information, visit OpenTableUCC.org. See ad, page 7.

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Tripps Sandals is on the Move

Cultivating and demonstrating a sustainable way of life

Jim Tripp makes custom-fitted soles and straps for his hand-crafted sandals that provide protection for the feet while receiving the healthy benefits of going barefoot. For the remainder of this sandal season, Tripp can be found at the Windmill Market, in Fairhope, from 10 a.m. to noon on Mondays. Tripp began creating sandals out of his own passion to walk barefoot along the bay. One day, he made shoes for himself that were just as good as being barefoot, and has been making them ever since, one foot at a time. Tripps Sandals plans to relocate into a new studio/workshop with more tools and resources, allowing an increase in efficiency and production. With a brick and mortar location, Tripps Sandals will be more accessible for sales and service to a growing body of loyal and valued customers.

...for the health of the planet and her inhabitants.

ddle Earth i M Healing & Learning Center

Location: 85 N. Bancroft St. For more information or appointments, call Jim Tripp at 251-300-9081, email JGrackle@gmail.co or visit TrippsSandals.com. See ad, page 7.

Upcoming Workshop Certification in Medicinal Aromatherapy 6-8pm, October 25 and 9am-6pm, October 26-27

Become Certified in Aromatherapy courtesy of Wisdom of the Earth

Craig and Lisa Kalloch will be teaching a level one aromatherapy certification seminar from 6 to 8 p.m., October 25 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., October 26 and 27, at Middle Earth Healing and Learning Center, in Citronelle. Topics include what is medicinal aromatherapy; a shamanic perspective on aromatherapy; relationships with the plant and tree kingdom; energy signature of essential oils; application methods; non-dilution approach to medicinal aromatherapy; toxicity myths; factors which affect quality and production; and practical uses of more than 100 Wisdom of the Earth essential oils.

This life changing weekend connects ancient teachings and modern cutting edge information and techniques on how to apply medicinal aromatherapy to your life, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Registration required. 20205 Middle Earth Rd., Citronelle, AL 251-866-7204 MidEarthHealing@yahoo.com www.MiddleEarthHealing.com

Cost is $475; early bird $450, half due 30 days beforehand. For more information, call 251-866-7204, email MidEarthHealing@yahoo.com or visit MiddleEarthHealing.com. See ad, page this page.

Monthly Meditation Flash Mobs in Fairhope Meditation flash mobs will take place at 6 p.m. on the first Friday of each month before Art Walk, in downtown Fairhope. Participants will gather at the corner of Fairhope Avenue and Bancroft Avenue in front of the small fountain next to Julwin's for a 30-minute silent meditation. No experience is necessary. Individuals are encouraged to participate or simply bask in the peace. Kids and pets are welcome, too. MedMob Gulf Coast Alabama is the local affiliate of the global MedMob movement, which seeks to unify people from all religions, worldviews and experience levels in meditation. MedMobs occur in highly visible places, with the intention of exposing and inviting the world to the benefits of meditation and collective prayer. By meditating in unexpected public spaces, medmobbers hope to create a wave of peace that sparks awareness, curiosity and reflection. For more information, call 251-517-5626 or visit Facebook.com/MedMobGCA. natural awakenings

September 2013

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healthbriefs

Jog or Walk to Live Longer

slow jog around the block a few times a week can prolong life. The Copenhagen City Heart Study monitored 1,878 joggers for 30 years and found that 44 percent of these subjects are less likely to prematurely die from any cause than non-runners. Males and females that continued to jog regularly added 6.2 years and 5.6 years, respectively, to their average lifespans. It only takes 1.5 hours of slow-to-average-pace jogging a week to reap the longevity benefits. Walking is also beneficial; the National Institutes of Health says it can add up to 4.5 years to the average life expectancy. Seventy-five minutes of brisk walking a week can add 1.8 years to life expectancy after age 40, according to study results cited in PLOS Medicine.

School Lunches Minus the Meat

s the first school in the nation to go completely meatless, 400 students at New York City’s P.S. 244, the Active Learning Elementary School, are treated to eclectic fare that includes black bean and cheese quesadillas, falafels, and tofu in an Asian sesame sauce. “We’ve had a really great response from the kids, but they also understand it’s about healthy options,” says Principal Bob Groff. “Because we teach them to make healthy choices, they understand what is happening and believe in what we’re doing, too.” When the school opened in 2008, the cafeteria served vegetarian meals three days a week. “We started to try out recipes with small groups of students to see what they liked and didn’t like. It was a hit,” says Groff. All meals adhere to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, so students get plenty of nutrient- and protein-dense vegetables. Students are also welcome to pack their own lunches, including meat.

IT’S TIME WE ALL EMBRACE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS Advertise your Earth-friendly products and services in our

October Environment Edition

Ask us about our new advertising options, including small business marketing packages! 251-990-9552 • Publisher@HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com 10

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

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Hair to Dye For

hree-quarters of American women are interested in changing their hair color, particularly to cover gray, according to a Clairol study. But other studies show they should be wary of most traditional hair dyes and consider natural alternatives. A study from the University of Southern California published in the International Journal of Cancer, for example, identified women using permanent hair dyes at least once a month to be at the highest risk for bladder cancer. As early as 2007, the European Union banned 22 potentially dangerous chemicals in cosmetic and body care products, including hair dyes. In the journal Materials last year, British researchers warned of the increased cancer risk from toxic chemicals called secondary amines, found in European- and U.S.-manufactured permanent hair dyes, because they remain on the hair for extended periods long after application and can penetrate skin. Meanwhile, increasing demand by consumers for safer products has expanded the market for natural hair dyes containing henna, oils and extracts from berries and other fruits, plus vegetables. Many are now available at pharmacies, organic salons and online, including do-it-yourself recipes.

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MILK LINKED TO ACNE

eens with acne might consider cutting back on milk and other dairy products. Foods with a high-glycemic index (carbohydrates affecting blood sugar levels) are the leading causes of acne at all ages, according to a meta-review of studies and clinical trials published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Now, researchers at New York University say milk’s natural hormones may additionally stimulate the acne-producing hormones present at puberty. “Milk is designed to grow things—namely babies—and in the case of cows’ milk, calves,” comments Dr. Mark Hyman, author of The Blood Sugar Solution. “It’s naturally full of muscle-building anabolic hormones… which [also] cause bad acne.” Hyman considers cows’ milk “nature’s perfect food only if you are a calf,” and warns of “60-some hormones in the average glass of milk; even organic, raw and bovine growth-hormone-free milk.”

ABCs of

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September 2013

ecotip

healthbriefs

The Humble Apple May Ace Cancer

pples are among the world’s most healing superfoods, thanks to their abundant fiber and heart-healthy nutrient properties. New research shows that an apple a day may also help keep cancer away. Two major independent cancer research projects, from Poland and Uruguay, confirm that daily apple consumption can cut the risk of colorectal cancer in half, a unique value among all fruits or vegetables. Other studies documented at GreenMedInfo.com suggest that apples contain components geared to help stop the growth of liver, breast, esophageal, stomach and multi-drug-resistant cancers. Additional research further associates the fruit with relieving diarrhea in children, soothing bowel inflammation in adults, preventing flu, facilitating weight loss, protecting against gum disease, maintaining brain cells and even slowing the aging process.

Global Glamour Natural Beauty Aids from India

The health and beauty aisle at Indian grocery stores includes several natural products in wide use among Indian women. Here are some popular ones available in America. Henna: Women mix powder from the henna plant with water to use as a natural hair dye and conditioner. Coconut oil: Indian women regularly massage a natural oil into their scalp before washing to keep their hair healthy and prevent the scalp from drying out and itching. “Coconut oil helps to grow hair long,” advises Bibya Malik, owner of Bibya Hair Design, a salon chain in Chicago. “It is probably the most widely used hair oil in the Indian subcontinent; amla oil, jasmine oil and other herbal oils are used, as well.” Rosewater: Most often used as a skin toner, some women also like to spray rosewater on their face as a refresher. Rosewater has a long history as a fragrance and as a flavoring in dessert recipes. Ubtan: This mixture of turmeric, gram (chickpea) flour and herbs is combined with milk or water as a beauty treatment. Indian brides scrub their skin with it in the days prior to their wedding. Source: Bibya Hair Design, research by Bushra Bajwa 12

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

Antibacterials May Make Kids Allergy-Prone

dults’ obsession with antibacterial soaps, toothpastes and other personal care products may be making our children more prone to many allergies, according to research from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, in Baltimore, Maryland. While not the direct cause, researchers say such products may impair the development of children’s immune systems. In a study of 860 children between the ages of 6 and 18, researchers found elevated levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies in children from households where these products were used. IgEs increase when exposed to allergy-causing substances like pollen, pet dander and certain foods. Urine levels of triclosan, an antibacterial agent used in soaps, mouthwash and toothpaste, provided the strongest link to increased IgE levels and increased allergy risk. Parabens, preservatives with antimicrobial properties commonly found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions and body washes, were strongly associated with allergies to pollen and pet dander. These results confirm the “hygiene hypothesis” that society’s focus on cleanliness has actually prevented children from getting dirty and developing strong immune systems that are regularly challenged and strengthened by pathogens, say researchers.

Eat Well. Live Well. Be Well.

The Pure Vegan Wellness Services Meal-delivery & Menu Consulting Health & Wellness Coaching Yoga Group Classes & Private Sessions Plant-Based Cooking Classes Tracey Winter Glover JD, RYT 200 • AFPA Certified Nutrition & Wellness Consultant

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

Freebie Fruit

Online Mapping Points the Way Falling Fruit (FallingFruit.org), created by Caleb Philips, co-founder of Boulder Food Rescue, and Ethan Welty, a photographer and geographer based in Boulder, Colorado, uses a map to cite locations of fruits and vegetables that are free to forage around the world. It looks like a Google map, with reported locations marked with dots. Zoom in and click on one to find a description of what tree or bush is there. The description often includes information about the best season to pluck plant fruits, the quality and yield, a link to the species’ profile on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website and additional advice on accessing the spot. Welty compiled most of the half-million or so locations from various municipal databases, local foraging organizations and urban gardening groups. Additionally, the map is open for Wikipedia-style public editing. He says, “Falling Fruit pinpoints all sorts of tasty trees in public parks, lining city streets and even hanging over fences from the UK to New Zealand.” It also lists beehives, public water wells and even dumpsters with excess food waste.

Solar Socket

Portable Power from Any Windowpane The Window Socket, a new device that attaches to any window using a suction cup, provides a small amount of electricity to charge and operate small devices from its solar panel. Inventors Kyuho Song and Boa Oh, of Yanko Design, note, “We tried to design a portable socket so that users can use it intuitively, without special training.” Even better, the charger stores energy. After five to eight hours of charging, The Socket provides 10 hours of juice to charge a phone, even in a dark room. The device is not yet available in the United States.

GROW Your Business Advertise with us, it works! Contact us to learn more.

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Feathered Friends

Food Shortages Guide Behavior A new report published in American Naturalist by a pair of ecologists, W. Alice Boyle and Courtney J. Conway, at the University of Arizona, in Tucson, has determined that the primary pressure prompting short-distance bird migrations comes from seasonal food scarcity, not their amount of eating or living in non-forested environments, as was previously thought. “It’s not just whether they eat insects, fruit or nectar, or where they eat them; it matters how reliable that food source is from day-to-day,” says Boyle. A universal assumption has been that short-distance migration is an evolutionary steppingstone to longer trips. The team’s work contradicts that idea by showing that the two are inherently different. They also found that species that forage in flocks are less likely to migrate. “If a bird is faced with food scarcity, is has two options,” Boyle notes. “It can either forage with other birds or migrate.”

It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver. ~Mahatma Gandhi

natural awakenings

September 2013

WHOLE-BEING

WORKOUTS Moving the Body Opens the Door to Spirit by Lisa Marshall

t’s the Sabbath, a day of “Exercise can through a funky, rave-like series of dance moves aimed prayer, and millions of people across America are qui- be a powerful at “opening up” the hips and etly sitting or kneeling, humgateway to chest and something less tangible deep inside. By song bly communing with a power the spiritual.” five, the sweat is flowing and greater than themselves. some are dancing unabash But inside the Alchemy ~ Chantal Pierrat edly, eyes closed, lost in the of Movement studio in Boulmusic. Others are smiling der, Colorado, the Soul Sweat faithful are connecting with their higher broadly, making eye contact in the mirror. The sense of joy and interconnectpower in a different fashion. In bare feet, and wearing yoga pants and tank edness in the room is palpable. “Exertops, they find a place before a wall-to- cise can be a powerful gateway to the wall mirror while a slow, Afro-Brazilian spiritual,” observes Pierrat, the founder of Soul Sweat, a highly choreographed, rhythm vibrates the wooden floor. At the urging of instructor Chantal spiritually charged dance workout. Twenty years after the yoga craze Pierrat, they let their arms and necks go limp, shaking off the week’s stresses via introduced Westerners to the possibility a sensual, full-body writhe she calls “the that the two seemingly incongruous goals flail.” As the World Beat playlist picks could be intertwined, the spiritualityup the pace, Pierrat leads the group fitness link has spread well beyond the 14

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yoga mat. It has spawned fusions ranging from Body Gospel, a Christian workout tape, and Jewish Yoga classes to triathlon programs rooted in Native American teachings and Buddhism-based running meditation workshops. In addition, creative instructors have been fusing body/mind/spirit classics like yoga and Pilates with hard-core cardio disciplines like spinning and boxing. Half of all U.S. fitness clubs now offer mind/ body programming, according to the IDEA Health & Fitness Association, and the portion of classes dedicated to “mind/ spirit” versus just “body” is on the rise. “The newer programming is balanced 50-50, rather than the 80-20 bodymind split of the past,” estimates Sandy Todd Webster, editor in chief of IDEA’s publications. At a time when, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, the number of people that identify with “no organized religion” continues to grow (topping one-fifth of Americans and one-third of U.S. adults under 30), more people than ever are exploring exercise as a path to both flatter abs and deeper self-discovery. “We have spent so long focusing on the mind and the brain… but that is not the whole story,” says Pierrat. “The somatic, or physical, expression of spirituality is the future.”

In the Zone

The notion that intense dancing or a long run could spark what feels like a spiritual awakening makes sense to Philadelphiabased research neuroscientist and physician Andrew Newberg, author of How God Changes Your Brain. A pioneer in the field of integrative “neurotheology”, he has for years used brain imaging technologies to study the impact religious or spiritual practices like deep meditation, intense prayer and speaking in tongues have on the brain. Exercise, he says, provides many of the same effects. In addition to prompting a surge of feel-good endorphins, a highly strenuous workout is one of the few activities that can lead to simultaneous activation of both sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (calming) nervous system reactions. “Normally, when one of these is active, the other one shuts down, but when people drive one or the other to a very heightened level of activity, there is

“God has created us with a body. Why aren’t we praying with our body?” ~ Marcus Freed some evidence that the other turns on too,” explains Newberg. That intense dual firing can paradoxically lead to an interruption in sensory information traveling to areas of the brain that control our sense of ourselves at any moment. “Not only do you have this great feeling of energy and calmness, but you tend to lose your sense of space and time,” he notes. Newberg’s own research also suggests that when people “surrender” themselves in a spiritual practice, the frontal lobe (the practical part of the brain that keeps our thoughts in check) quiets. He speculates that something similar may happen in the midst of, say, a marathon or intense dance, enabling out of the ordinary thoughts and feelings to surface. “It can allow for creativity—a blending of different, more intuitive ideas in ways you don’t normally mix things,” comments Newberg. So, is exercise able to only make us feel like we’re having a mystical experience, or is it somehow actually opening a channel to the divine? Newberg declines to go there, commenting that a brain scan tells what’s going on in the brain, not in the soul. Yet he has no doubt the two are inextricably linked. He says, “There are many well-known examples of intense

experiences, like Sufi dancing, generating spiritual experiences for people.”

Whole-Being Workouts

Marcus Freed is one of those people. He grew up in a traditional Jewish family in London, England, and attended a rabbinical seminary in Israel. Still, he felt that something was missing in his spiritual life. “I thought, ‘God has created us with a body. Why aren’t we praying with our body?’” Freed says that Biblical text often references the body: King David, in the Book of Psalms, says, “Let all my bones praise the creator.” The Jewish Talmud refers to a rabbi that “stretched his spine with a prayer of gratitude.” Yet, Freed observes, the physical elements of daily spiritual practice have been largely forgotten over the centuries. When he discovered yoga, it filled a gap for him. “I found a way to draw upon this incredible spiritual literature but ground it in the body, so that experience is not just in the head, but also in the heart.” Thus, Freed founded Bibliyoga, which launches each class with a Hebrew or Kabbalistic teaching, followed by poses that incorporate its themes, as reflected in his book, The Kosher Sutras: The Jewish Way in Yoga and Meditation. The practice,

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“Mobile meditation… trains you to have your mind be still when your body is active, which is how you are in everyday life.” ~ Marty Kibiloski now taught in cities around the United States and Europe, has prompted the birth of similarly religion-infused classes, including Christ Yoga, and the Jewish Yoga Network. “A lot of people separate things, saying they’ll get their spirituality from one place and their exercise from somewhere else,” says Freed. “I think they are missing out.”

Mindful Sports

The spirituality-exercise link likewise resonates through other traditionally solo pursuits such as triathlon activities and running, in which many athletes say a more mindful approach to training has infused their sport with more meaning, and in some cases, improved their performances. Ironman Marty Kibiloski, formerly a competitive marathoner and road racer, led what he terms a “high achievement, low contentment” life for years, measuring his self-worth by timed results that never

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quite satisfied him. In 2006, he attended a Running with the Mind of Meditation three-day workshop, based on Rinpoche Sakyong Mipham’s book of the same name. The retreat combined with his newfound interest in Buddhism, completely redefined running for him. Kibiloski prefers to steer clear of the word “spiritual” (which he sees as somewhat ambiguous) when describing what he now experiences when running. Instead, he frames it as a vehicle for selfdiscovery, a mobile meditation that provides the intense focus and freedom from distraction that enables him to “awaken to how things really are.” He now leads the retreat that proved pivotal for him, drawing more than 100 runners each Labor Day weekend to the Shambhala Mountain Center, in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. Participants learn to focus on the cadence of their footfalls, their breathing and their surroundings to, as he puts it, “move meditation beyond the

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cushion.” He remarks, “It trains you to have your mind be still when your body is active, which is how you are in everyday life.” Triathlete Mark Allen credits his work with Brant Secunda, a shaman and teacher in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico, for enabling him to overcome negative self-talk and physical stresses and go on to win the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, six times in the late 1980s and early 90s. He notes, “In every one of my physical workouts, I also focused on training the spiritual aspect, so that when I got that chatter in my head, saying, ‘This is too hard’ or ‘I want to quit,’ I could go to a quiet place, rather than a negative one.” Based on their book, Fit Soul, Fit Body: Nine Keys to a Healthier, Happier You, the pair conduct workshops around the country on how to strengthen both soul and body by intertwining both. “Some people think you are only spiritual when you are praying, but when you are moving your body, that is an intensely spiritual experience, too,” says Allen. “It’s my way of saying, ‘Thank you for letting me be alive.’”

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What Peace Means to Children The World We All Need by Kids for Peace

Peace is… a wish that grows around the world everyone feeling music in their hearts everyone having someone to love everyone knowing they are in a safe place everyone knowing they are beautiful inside and out singing together making art and sharing it with others growing a garden, planting a tree protecting animals getting Dorothy back home everyone playing sports instead of going to war happiness for all, peace on Earth and pizza for all people being kissed goodnight every child having a family every child having a ball to play with at least one hug a day a warm bed to dream in the angel in my heart using your voice for good treating others as you wish to be treated sending all soldiers home to their families people shaking hands

keeping our world safe knowing anything is possible having fun and being kind helping people in need everyone having an education everyone having good food goodness laughter love meditating nature the beauty that surrounds the world

Kids for Peace Pledge I pledge to use my words to speak in a kind way. I pledge to help others as I go throughout my day. I pledge to care for our Earth with my healing heart and hands. I pledge to respect people in each and every land. I pledge to join together as we unite the big and small. I pledge to do my part to create peace for one and all. Contributions are by children ages 5 to 11. For more information, visit KidsForPeaceGlobal.org.

Honoring the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, September 21

Celebrating Peace Day in Mobile The United Nations International Day of Peace, or Peace Day, is a time for individuals, organizations and nations to create acts of peace. Quiet Mind Massage and Yoga Studio will be holding an annual Global Mala Yoga for Peace Celebration from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., September 21. Gentle yoga, guided relaxation for peace and a 108 Om chant will be followed by tea and healthy snacks. The event is free, but donations will be accepted for the Bay Area Food Bank and PETA. The children and teens at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Mobile (UUFM) will learn about Peace Day and come together at 11:30 a.m., September 22, to fly a giant dove of peace puppet constructed of chicken wire and old sheets. Directions were found at the Roots and Shoots website (RootsAndShoots.org) founded by Dr. Jane Goodall, a United Nations messenger of peace. “As the young people lift and fly the giant bird, all ages gather to send wishes for peace for all the world on the wings of the dove," says Kathy Murphy, director of children’s religious education at UUFM. Quiet Mind Location: 2065 Old Shell Rd. For more information, visit QuietMindMassageTherapy. com. UUFM location: Old Shell Road and Hillcrest. For more information, visit uufm.org.

UUFM peace dove

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September 2013

Photos by LB Photography

SEPTEMBER IS YOGA MONTH

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Local Practitioners Observe

National Yoga Month

n recognition of National Yoga Month, local yoga instructors and studio owners have teamed up to celebrate the area’s vibrant yoga community. Free yoga classes and events will be offered throughout lower Alabama all month long. A full calendar of events is available at YogaLifeFair.com. During the third annual Mobile/ Baldwin Yoga Week, from September 21 through 27, 12 local studios are inviting new students to their studios for unlimited free classes with the donation of a nonperishable food item. This year’s participating studios include Escape at Wind Creek, in Atmore; Quiet Mind Massage & Yoga, Synergy Yoga & Pilates and The Fit Nest, in Mobile; Thrive Yoga & Massage, Integrated Health & Wellness, Julie Wilkins Yoga, Nancy Bolton Beck Prenatal Yoga, Pneuma Yoga/

Movement Studio and Prana Health & Wellness, on the Eastern Shore; Trinity Yoga, in Foley; and Glow Yoga, in Gulf Shores. Organizer Billie Reinhart says, “This has been one of the biggest yoga events in the area in recent years and it has been a good way to bring the community together. Yoga Week inspires first-timers to give yoga a try and encourages experienced yogis to check out new studios and styles.” The Yoga Life Fair will kick off Yoga Week from 2:30 to 7 p.m., September 21, in Fairhope. “The scene has changed to Fairhope Pier Park this year so we can use the water for paddleboard yoga and the extra space for aerial yoga!” Reinhart explains. “It is important to me to show how versatile yoga can be—it is available to every person at every ability level, and

"[Yoga] is available to every person at every ability level, and the different styles can accommodate a wide range of interests." ~Billie Reinhart, Yoga Week organizer 18

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the different styles can accommodate a wide range of interests. Yoga can be practiced from a wheelchair in chair yoga. Restorative yoga and yoga nidra offer a time of rest and restoration. For people who like more of a challenge, Vinyasa or power yoga classes are suitable. Each style has something to offer. As we move through life's cycles, what we practice changes; what we need changes.” The fair will feature a 30-minute, beginner friendly group practice, followed by a full schedule of yoga classes and mini-workshops from beginner to advanced. Some of the sessions planned include chair yoga, kids yoga, partner yoga, restorative yoga, yoga for back care, yoga nidra, aerial yoga, paddleboard yoga and gentle/yin yoga. Demonstrations of Thai yoga therapy, aerial yoga and acro yoga are also planned. No experience is necessary, but participants should bring their own mat or beach towel and water. Kids are welcome. In addition to healthy refreshments from Sunflower Cafe, live music by Grady Rosten and raffle prizes and giveaways, a wealth of mindful vendors will be set up throughout the event. Reinhart says, “We are promoting yoga as a mindful lifestyle, not just as a physical exercise. The vendors will be on hand to educate guests about their consciously made products and mindful services. Bring some spending money to support these

yogabriefs

Yoga Life Fair Location: Fairhope Pier Park, 1 Beach Rd., Fairhope. Rain site: Fairhope United Methodist Church, Christian Life Center, 155 S. Section St., Fairhope.

Calling all Yogis to The Gathering

For more information, call Billie Reinhart at 251-379-4493, visit YogaLifeFair. com and Mobile/Baldwin Yoga Week on Facebook. See ad, back cover.

Beginning Yoga After 50

ula Yoga Community will host Warriors of Wisdom—A Yoga Workshop for 50+, from 2 to 4 p.m., September 15, at Space 301, in Mobile. Nancy Bolton Beck, RYT-500, will teach an afternoon of movement and discussion for establishing a yoga practice at age 50 and beyond. Nancy Bolton Beck, RYT-500 Students will learn how to begin a safe and effective yoga practice; alignment and therapeutic teachings specific for the aging body; how to modify poses in public classes to best serve the body; and how to maintain joint mobility and strength through the aging process. No previous yoga experience is required. Cost: $25. Location: 301 Conti St. For more information, call 251-202-9642, email Info@KulaYogaCommunity.org or visit KulaYogaCommunity.org. See ad, page 22.

he Gathering, a day for all yogis, will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., September 7, at Escape at Wind Creek. Kicking off National Yoga Month, practitioners will enjoy an uplifting day of free yoga, discounted spa amenities, music, food and good company. Everyone is welcome to gather and celebrate the brilliance of yoga. Wind Creek is offering overnight packages and dedicated an entire nature-inspired floor to yogis. Admission is free. Location: 303 Poarch Rd., in Atmore. For more information, visit Tinyurl.com/EscapeGathering.

Yoga Relieves Back Pain

ould a simple yoga class ease chronic back pain? Yes, say researchers in two recent studies. Scientists at the University of Washington found that subjects reported a 61 percent decrease in back pain when practicing yoga in a 12-week period compared with doing simple stretching. The researchers attributed their findings, published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, to yoga’s physical and breathing exercises and how they increase awareness and relaxation. Another project, funded by Arthritis Research UK, showed that Britons with long-term back pain that took a 12-week yoga course reported 75 percent fewer sick days. natural awakenings

September 2013

SEPTEMBER IS YOGA MONTH

local businesses and your own healthy lifestyle.” Yoga teachers will also be on hand to answer questions about yoga and their own style and class offerings. As the sun sets, the event will come to a close with hula-hoopers, fire performers and a drum circle, exhibiting a variety of moving meditation practices. During the fair and throughout Yoga Week, yoga instructors encourage participants to take part in seva (the yogic concept of selfless service) by bringing non-perishable food items to free classes and events. September is also Hunger Awareness Month, and donations will be collected by yoga teachers, studios and other local businesses for the Bay Area Food Bank. Last year, participating studios collected 583 pounds of food during Yoga Week, providing 450 meals to families and individuals in need along the Gulf Coast. Donations will also be collected at the Yoga Life Fair.

SEPTEMBER IS YOGA MONTH

healingways

DEEP-HEALING YOGA Release Trauma, Build Resilience by Sarah Todd

hen a woman separated from her husband last fall, she tried hard to shut down her emotions. A 30-year-old working mother of two young boys, she felt she couldn’t afford to be sad or angry, even as she contemplated divorce. But something shifted when she began taking yoga classes in her town in northern Michigan. “It was my one place to relax and let go,” says Emily, who asked that her real name stay private. “I used to go to class, get into a deep stretch and cry. It was like my muscles were connected with my heart. My instructor would warn us that certain poses would provide emotional releases, and sure enough, the tears would fall.” People suffering disruptive changes —from losing a loved one to coping with unemployment or striving for sobriety—often find yoga to be a healing force. Lola Remy, of yogaHOPE, a Boston and Seattle nonprofit that helps women navigate challenging transitions, attests that yoga makes them feel safe enough in their bodies to process difficult emotions. “The goal isn’t to make stressors go away, it’s to learn resilience,” Remy explains. “Irreparable harm isn’t necessarily the only result of experiencing stress. Even if I’m in a challenging posi20

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tion—like wobbling in the tree pose—I can see that I’m still okay.” The object is to teach women that their bodies are strong and capable, giving them more confidence in their ability to weather obstacles off the mat.

Supporting Science

Research suggests that yoga can also be an effective therapy for people affected by some forms of severe traumatic stress. A study in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences that scanned the brains of trauma survivors after a reminder of the traumatic event revealed decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that helps make sense of raw emotions and bodily experiences. While shutting down the connection between body and mind can help in coping with dangerous experiences, it also makes recovery difficult. “You need to have a high-functioning prefrontal cortex to organize the thoughts that come up and know that you’re safe in the present moment,” advises David Emerson, director of yoga services at the Trauma Center, in Brookline, Massachusetts. “Otherwise, you’re assaulted by memory sensory information.” Yoga appears to rewire the brains of trauma survivors to stop reliving past

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distress. “You can’t talk your prefrontal cortex into functioning well again,” Emerson observes. “But you may be able to do it with your body.” The study found that eight female patients that participated in traumasensitive yoga saw significant decreases in the frequency and severity of their post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. In a study at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, military veterans enrolled in a 10-week yoga course also showed improvement in PTSD symptoms. A paper presented at a recent International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies conference studied 64 people that had experienced childhood abuse and neglect; those that participated in a trauma-sensitive yoga course had a 33 percent reduction in PTSD symptoms. Two months later, more than 50 percent in the yoga group experienced greater freedom and were no longer diagnosed as suffering from PTSD, compared to the control group’s 21 percent. Yoga can also transform traumatized lives in other ways. “For many traumatized people, being touched intimately can be a trigger,” Emerson remarks. “Yoga may let them feel ready for physical intimacy again. Others have mentioned victories such as being able to go to the grocery store and knowing exactly what foods their bodies crave.” Emerson notes that such programs emphasize choice and individual empowerment. “The beauty of yoga is that you reclaim your body as your own.”

Spreading the Word

Once largely concentrated on the East Coast, trauma-sensitive yoga programs are spreading. Jennifer Johnston, a research clinician and yoga instructor at Boston’s Mind Body Institute, sees programs like these enriching our culture’s understanding of the physical and mental health connection. “In a country where drugs and surgery are often the first go-to,” she says, “it’s important to remember that things like yoga can change our chemistry, too.” Sarah Todd is an East Coast-based w r i t e r a n d e d i t o r. C o n n e c t a t SarahToddInk.com.

Photo by Erin Creel Photography

The Gathering: A Day for All Yogis

Yoga and Meditation

for Grief Support by Meredith Montgomery

airhope yoga teacher Jamie Ullock attended her first yoga class at the age of 21, but didn’t establish a consistent practice until she met her husband, Dean. “I had taken classes off and on and played around at home, but right when I met Dean, he encouraged me to take my practice more seriously. I got a local certification and began teaching classes in Daphne,” she recalls. As newlyweds, they were faced with bittersweet circumstances. Jamie soon became pregnant, but four months later, Dean was diagnosed with cancer. The news was physically and mentally challenging for the couple. She says, “Yoga and meditation were my saving grace.” Teaching yoga until she was eight months pregnant helped her stay grounded and balanced. Jamie explains, “At every class, I would set an intention for my practice: to give him strength and to help us deal with everything. My mantra was, ‘This is not forever’—the pain and stress of dealing with cancer.” At first, they were confident that Dean would recover, but the couple soon realized they were out of options. After every treatment, Jamie and Dean would find peace by the water. “We'd go sit by the bay quietly together and hold hands, living in the present and feeling gratitude for the moments we did have.” Jamie remembers when Dean encouraged her to go to a yoga class because he knew that she needed it. He couldn’t get out of bed, but he assured her that with the assistance of some good children’s television, he could watch their young daughter while Jamie went to class. At class, the teacher asked the students to set an intention for themselves or someone else. Jamie set hers for Dean, “Through

my intention, I really tried to send him every ounce of energy that I had. When I got home, he said that he thought he could feel me wishing him well. It was so powerful. Yoga is much more powerful than we think. It was one of the most powerful experiences we had with yoga together, even though he couldn’t physically do it.” For four-and-a-half years, Dean continued to encourage Jamie to use yoga as therapy. Seven months after their time together ended, Jamie decided to pursue a higher level of teaching certification, RYT200. “It was very helpful during that first year. I finished the training in December 2012. It was another step forward on my journey of life. I will forever be grateful for yoga and what it has done for my mind, body and spirit.” More than two years have passed since Dean’s death and Jamie still relies on the healing power of yoga. “I thought I was past grieving, but it hit me hard this summer. I just go back to yoga and my mantra—‘This is not forever.’ There will always be some hurt and sadness, but it will continue to get easier. I set my intention to give me strength to be a good mom and to instill values in my daughter that I know he would have wanted.” As a teacher, Jamie feels that her personal experience has made her more attuned to her students’ needs, and she can sense when someone is having a challenging day. Meditation has been the most powerful tool in her healing process, and she encourages others to experience it as well. “With meditation, I can listen to my true heart and feel comforted and know he is with me. We all need to slow down and just take a moment to listen to what is inside us.”

9 a.m., September 7 Escape at Wind Creek, Atmore TinyURL.com/EscapeGathering

Sunset Yoga for Charity

6 p.m., September 13 Fairhope Pier Park Bluff, Fairhope ThriveFairhope.com

Handstand Clinic

4 p.m., September 15 Integrated Health & Wellness, Fairhope InHealthWell.com

Global Mala Yoga for Peace Celebration!

9:30 a.m., September 21 Quiet Mind Yoga Studio, Midtown Mobile QuietMindMassageTherapy.com

Yoga Life Fair

2:30 p.m., September 21 Fairhope Pier Park, Fairhope YogaLifeFair.com

Prenatal Yoga

2:15 p.m., September 22 Prana Health & Wellness, Fairhope NBoltonBeck@gmail.com

End of Yoga Week Community Practice

6:30 p.m., September 27 Fairhope Pier Park Bluff, Fairhope ThriveFairhope.com For details, see calendar pages 3134, or visit YogaLifeFair.com.

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured, and endure what cannot be cured. ~ B.K.S. Lyengar

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September 2013

SEPTEMBER IS YOGA MONTH

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localspotlight

Whole School Sustainability in Alabama How Schools, the Planet and

Education Benefit from Conservation by Meredith Montgomery

hen Auburn University Associate Professor Dr. Lisa Kensler began pursuing her doctorate degree in educational leadership, it became obvious to her that sustainability was not part of the curriculum. This realization, coupled with her personal career path, working as an ecologist for U.S. Fish and Wildlife before becoming a secondary science teacher for 10 years, resulted in her current dedication to whole-school sustainability. Kensler says, “This has become the focus of my research— how do we prepare our school leaders so they are able to facilitate a passion for sustainability in their school communities? How can we apply ecological principles to make schools more environmentally, economically and socially responsible?” Schools across the country are implementing energy conservation strategies and seeing a positive impact on annual budgets. In an effort to amp up similar efforts in Alabama, Kensler and Auburn Associate Clinical Professor Dr. Lynne Patrick proposed the project Green Teams: Leading Green and Saving Green in Four Alabama Public Schools (Go Green-Save Green). Their proposal was awarded funding from the Auburn University Outreach Scholarship Grant program for the 2012/2013 school year. The program began last September with a Go Green-Save Green Workshop at Opelika Middle School. Eighty teachers and students attended the all-day

experiential learning opportunity to gain leadership skills for the coordination of their own green teams. Kensler points out, “We tried to use every aspect of the workshop to highlight different concepts of sustainability, such as giving out reusable water bottles for drinks and having lunch catered by an eco-conscious restaurant.” The Alabama chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council donated energy kits to each school and participants learned how to use them for energy audits at their own schools. Kensler says, “The kits were intended to help the green teams use their school building as a teaching tool and to help them make decisions about what greening projects to initiate.”

Saving Energy and Greening Lunches

Fairhope Intermediate teacher Alison Pritchard started her school’s Green Club three years ago for fourth-through-sixthgraders. The group restarted the school’s recycling program before focusing on energy conservation efforts as a part of the Go Green-Save Green grant last fall. The 25-member Green Club meets weekly after school. “I give the members as much control as I can,” says Pritchard, who allows the students to express what potential projects they’re passionate about and narrows down their focus based on practicality. Armed with the grant-funded energy

From the top: Green Club members sampling lettuce and carrots from their class garden plot; Project Grow's butterfly garden and outdoor classroom; Green Club members posting an energy conservation sign.

natural awakenings

September 2013

kits, club members performed weekly assessments in classrooms to track factors such as light usage, motion sensor functionality and the unplugging of unused electronics. Learning from her own classroom assessment, Pritchard began turning off her lights whenever leaving her room. “All classrooms have motion sensors that turn off the lights once the room has been unoccupied for five minutes, but by getting in the habit of switching my lights off manually, I’m saving five more minutes of energy each time I leave.” The Green Club members also started a school-wide Greening My Lunchbox campaign. The members held an educational workshop about what it means to pack a waste-free lunch, and then hosted a Waste-Free Lunch Day, where a Green Spirit Award was given to the class with the most participants. “We realized that a lot of parents and students didn’t know what we meant by a ‘waste-free’ lunch,” says Pritchard. “After educating students on what waste-free meant, we started getting kids to think about how to pack things that are better for the environment, such as locally grown foods and items that can be recycled or composted.”

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The Green Club often works alongside the sixth grade’s Garden Club that sponsors the school's compost program and vegetable garden, in which many classes have adopted their own plots. Students post signs around the cafeteria’s compost collection bin to inform classmates about what is compostable and what is not. Pritchard and club members sometimes monitor the bin during lunch and remind students when they have compostable items. “It’s something they’re not used to thinking about. They’re happy to participate, but we have to help them get in the habit of remembering to do so,” she says.

Recycling, Upcycling & Green Landscaping

Opelika Middle School teacher Kristin White started her school’s green club, Project Grow, six years ago. Like Fairhope Intermediate, they started small, with a basic recycling program. “With six to 10 students that first year, we began by recycling paper in the classrooms. Once a week, Project Grow would compile all of the school’s recyclable paper and the city would pick it up.” Their recycle program has since grown to include plastic and

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aluminum bins throughout the school and the club now has at least 40 members. Project Grow also collects traditionally non-recyclable items such as drink pouch packaging, chip bags and candy wrappers for TerraCycle (TerraCycle.com), an international upcycling and recycling company that collects and repurposes difficult-to-recycle packaging into innovative products. Items sent to TerraCycle also provide a small cash-back incentive for the school, so far raising approximately $400 for the club’s projects. With the help of grants, Project Grow has taken on much more than the school’s recycling program. The club installed gardens in the courtyard with plans to use the space as an outdoor classroom. A vegetable garden has been planted and the harvest is collected for the school’s low-income families, and a grant was recently received to grow native plants at a nearby park to help prevent erosion along a stream. With the support of Auburn’s Go Green-Save Green grant, the club is focusing more on sustainability with hopes of saving the school money through water and energy conservation. For example, Project Grow has planted deciduous trees outside a

"The leaders who are leading green school efforts around the world express that sustainability is the lens through which they see the work that they do; sustainability changes how they do everything, it does not mean that there is just more to do.” ~Dr. Lisa Kensler, Associate Professor, Auburn University sunny classroom window in an effort to reduce air conditioning in the warmer months and heating during the winter. The club has also started working with the maintenance staff to install rain barrels.

Sustainable Learning Opportunities

In addition to making an environmental and economical impact on schools, the grant was designed to engage students in designing school specific strategies, leading the necessary changes and tracking the fruits of their labor through design thinking, systems thinking and evidenceinformed record keeping and decision making. Kensler says, “Leaders in the 21st century need these skills and our schools need to provide students the opportunity to learn and practice these skills in productive, meaningful ways.” Kensler and Patrick are currently compiling a guide based on the results of the grant program because, “School adminis-

trators and teachers have not had a clear guidebook for how to design, develop and engage the work of a school-based green team. The Go Green-Save Green Playbook will fill this gap by providing step-by-step guidance, relevant resources and model success stories for Alabama school leaders, teachers, students and community members that want to green their schools,” explains Kensler. As a science teacher, White tries to incorporate a lot of Project Grow undertakings into her classroom. Horticulture students from Auburn University visit Opelika Middle School to educate the students about the importance of effective landscaping while incorporating career development, math, economics and history lessons into the program. This is the direction that Kensler wants her work to take, “With more time, I’d like to see curriculum developed to integrate with schools’ sustainability efforts.” “Our experience with the Go GreenSave Green program has solidified my

understanding that many school leaders see greening efforts as add-ons to their already too long list of duties,” Kensler continues, “Rather, the leaders who are leading green school efforts around the world express that sustainability is the lens through which they see the work that they do; sustainability changes how they do everything, it does not mean that there is just more to do.” Pritchard reflects on her own experiences, “I really do see participation in Green Club helping to develop students’ creative thinking skills and influencing the way they think outside of club activities. I overheard one student speaking about LED Christmas lights and potted Christmas trees during the holidays—for an environmentalist, this may be common knowledge, but it’s really neat to watch a kid discover these alternative options on his own, and see how eager he is to share that information with others.” After-school environments also play a role in inspiring youth to lead sustainable lives. Pritchard encourages parents to talk to their kids about their own green habits and why they make choices at home. “I compost and recycle at home, but I don’t always involve my kids in the process. Just having that conversation with them and sharing the experience can make a big impression.” For more information, visit Tinyurl.com/ AlabamaGreenTeams.

Pre-K to College Eco-Lessons n San Francisco was the first city in the nation to put green bins in school cafeterias. Currently, more than 85 percent of its schools participate in SF Environment’s Food to Flowers! lunchroom composting program. Leftover food and empty milk cartons are turned into compost, and then sold to area farmers. Schools can receive free compost for their own gardens. n The National Wildlife Federation shows K–12 students how they can actively support nature by establishing schoolyard wildlife habitats. Pupils evaluate the environment, make a plan and then implement it. They can grow food and create shelter for wildlife such as bird feeders and baths and observe the results. A habitat can be as small as 20 square feet or as

large as students are able to maintain. n Schools should be as clean as possible to prevent the spreading of germs, but traditional cleaning agents contain harmful chemicals. Makers of the ZONOsanitech machine attest that it kills nearly all common bacteria and viruses and meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. Using super oxygen (ozone) and less than eight ounces of water per day, the ZONO can clean and sanitize most types of school furniture and materials within 30 minutes, while drawing less than three cents worth of electricity. n “Studies show that 70 percent of ambient air pollution comes from diesel emissions alone,” says Ron Halley, vice president of fleet and facilities at Student

Transportation of America (STA), of Wall, New Jersey, with offices in America and Canada. “STA will have a fleet of more than 1,000 alternative-fueled school buses operating in California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Texas this coming school year.” Propane-powered buses emit virtually no particulate matter. STA estimates a savings of more than $2,600 per year for each bus with the use of propane; it historically costs 30 percent less than diesel fuel. Omaha, Nebraska public schools have 435 propane-fueled buses, so the fuel and maintenance savings could exceed a million dollars annually. “Omaha Public Schools’ buses will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.3 million pounds a year,” says Halley.

natural awakenings

September 2013

naturalpet

FAT FIGHT Like Us, Pets Must Eat Right and Keep Moving by Dr. Shawn Messonnier

weight. But looking at body composition is more accurate, based on measurements top-to-bottom and side-to-side and depth to the ribs and spine.

Health Issues

besity, a severe and debilitating illness, is the most common nutritional disease in both animals and people. The latest survey of 121 veterinarians in 36 states by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) and corroborating American Veterinarian Medical Association data reveal we have 80 million fat cats and obese dogs; that’s more than 58 percent of dogs and 52 percent of domesticated cats. “Pet obesity remains the leading health threat to our nation’s pets,” says Dr. Ernie Ward, APOP’s founder, from the organization’s headquarters in Calabash, North Carolina. Current medical consensus states that an animal is obese if it weighs at least 15 percent more than its ideal

Animals aren’t born fat. Obesity results from too many calories in food, snacks and treats, paired with a lack of aerobic exercise. People may believe they are showing love by rewarding begging with treats, but they actually may be slowly killing their companions with kindness, putting them on a path toward painful and costly medical problems. These can include cancer, cardiac problems, complications from drug therapy, difficulty breathing, heat intolerance, hypertension, intervertebral disk disease, orthopedic conditions (including arthritis), lethargy and ruptured ligaments. Also, because excess body fat first deposits in the cavities of the chest and abdomen and under the skin, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus can develop, so screen overweight animals for these disorders prior to treatment for obesity. Tackling obesity involves restricting calories and increasing the metabolic rate

with a controlled exercise program. Diet and exercise are the two most vital factors in fighting fat.

Eating Right

Simply switching to a store-bought “lite” pet food is inadequate because many are designed to maintain, not lose, weight. Also, many products contain chemicals, byproducts and unhealthy fillers that are contrary to a holistic program. A homemade restricted-calorie diet is the best choice for obese animals. The second is a processed “obesitymanagement” diet available through veterinarians, although many of these also contain chemicals, byproducts and fillers. Such diets can be used to attain the target weight, and then replaced with a homemade maintenance diet. Foods high in fiber work well for shedding pounds because they increase metabolism. Vegetable fiber decreases fat and glucose absorption. Fluctuating glucose levels cause greater insulin release that can lead to diabetes; because insulin is needed for fat storage, low, stable levels are preferred. Fiber also binds to fat in the intestinal tract and increases the movement of digested food through the intestines.

Supplement Options

Several natural therapies may be helpful for treating animal obesity. These include herbs such as cayenne, ginger and mustard; white bean extract; chromium; carnitine; hydroxycitric acid (HCA); epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG); and coenzyme Q10. All have been widely used with variable success, although not yet thoroughly researched or clinically proven. A supplement called Vetri-Lean ap-

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Among owners of chubby pets, 45 percent believe their dog or cat is of a normal weight. ~ Association for Pet Obesity Prevention

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GROCERY STORES

pears promising. Based on a white bean extract, it has cut starch digestion by up to 75 percent in the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clinical tests. The formula also has EGCG from green tea extract to boost metabolism, inhibit carbohydrate-digesting enzymes and help maintain normal blood insulin levels, all to help dissolve fat and control appetite. Chromium polynicotinate, another ingredient, also helps to curb appetite, build muscles and reduce fat.

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Exercise is Key

WESTSIDE GROCERY

As with humans, a regular program of supervised exercise is essential to pet health. Experience shows that it must be combined with a diet and supplement plan to achieve maximum results for overweight pets. Along with burning off excess calories, even mild exercise works to reduce hunger, improve muscle strength and aerobic capacity and improve functioning of organs. Plus, as veterinarians further attest, the activity is mentally stimulating for both animals and guardians, while decreasing behavioral problems. There is no one best exercise program for every animal; a sensible plan must be personalized to needs and abilities. Consult a veterinarian to determine the best regimen. As always, prevention is better than a cure, so staying alert to signs of additional pounds and keeping an animal from becoming obese in the first place is optimum. Dr. Shawn Messonier has authored The Arthritis Solution for Dogs, 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, and the award-winning Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats. His Paws & Claws Animal Hospital is located in Plano, TX. Find helpful tips at PetCareNaturally.com.

RESTAURANTS & BAKERIES

280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-928-0644 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

LULU'S AT HOMEPORT

Comprehensive health food store featuring local products: organic produce, organic milk, meat, eggs, honey and soap. See ad,page 2.

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Under the bridge in Gulf Shores 251-967-LULU LuLuBuffett.com Proudly serving fresh local produce, Gulf Wild Red Snapper and Alabama Wild Shrimp.

MANNA BAKERY

3952 Airport Boulevard, Mobile 251-345-0494 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

Comprehensive health food store featuring local products: organic produce, organic milk, meat, eggs, honey and soap. See ad, page 2.

85 North Bancroft Street, Fairhope 251-990-8883 WindmillMarket.org Local grocery sells the area's best produce, grassfed meat, Alabama's Organic milk, locally made cheeses, Gulf seafood, local honey, sweets and baked goods, and more! Best prices in town on produce, too!

PRODUCE CLUBS

251-447-8667 Info@Manna-Bakery.com Manna-Bakery.com Mobile's first organic bakery offers 100% organic breads including wholegrain, sweet and glutenfree choices, as well as European style desserts. Desserts are 100% all natural. We bake upon order, delivery within Mobile, Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope and Dauphin Island. Seasonal specialties!

SUNFLOWER CAFE I

320 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-929-0055 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com Organic cafe serving lunch and Sunday brunch. Local produce, herbs and meats used. Menu online. See ad, page 2.

SUNFLOWER CAFE II

WINDMILL MARKET'S PRODUCE CLUB

85 North Bancroft Street, Fairhope 251-990-8883 Info@WindmillMarket.org A weekly delivery of local and seasonal fruits, veggies, organic milk, cheese, grass-fed beef and more delivered from Baldwin County farms to your table every week! Six box sizes to fit your family's needs. Home delivery and Mobile pickup option also available!

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3952 Airport Boulevard, Mobile 251-345-0495 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com Organic cafe and juice bar. Local produce, herbs and meats used. Menu online. See ad, page 2.

SWEET OLIVE BAKERY & CAFE 85 North Bancroft Street, Fairhope 251-990-8883 SweetOlive.co

Open for breakfast and lunch every day until 5 p.m. serving European-style, artisan baked goods; freshly squeezed fruit and veggie juices; smoothies; daily lunch specials like fish tacos and poboys; delicious food to go; hot breakfast plates, and more!

This logo indentifies businesses that provide discounts to Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) Discount Cardholders. Visit www. TinyURL.com/NANCard for details.

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September 2013

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by Timothy Boucher

all migration literally brings birds of a different feather than in springtime. Spring migration brings a glorious burst of song and color as millions of tiny feathered gems pour northward, singing their hearts out, flitting about with the excitement of arrival at their breeding grounds. They are relatively easy to spot and identify by their voices and bright plumage. In the fall, birdwatching is trickier. To survive, migrating birds need to go to warmer climes for food, because insects do not thrive in cold temperatures. Males molt their bright plumage, needing fresh feathers for the long flight. Most retain some color, but generally, they are duller and look similar to the females. Identification becomes harder because some species are similar in appearance and the singing gives way to an occasional, subtle call, emitted as little chipping sounds at most. The Internet offers a comprehensive range of data that can suggest which days are best for early morning viewings. Experienced birders know the best local spots, and weather forecasts are good indicators of timing. Sid Gautreaux’s pioneering study of bird migration in the 1960s using weather radar, still ongoing at the Radar Ornithology Lab at South Carolina’s Clemson University, is available to birders on regional websites via Tinyurl. com/USBirdTrackingRadar.

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While radar can confirm the magnitude and direction of the migration over the previous night, weather predictions help forecast when big flights will occur. So, the next step is to hold a wetted finger up to the wind. A big cold front will hold up birds from moving south because the associated low pressure brings southerly winds and storms. Birds wait it out, storing fuel. Then, when the front clears and a tailwind comes from the north, a floodtide of birds pours southward. Eager birders, having arrived shortly after dawn, await at selected spots 200 to 300 miles south of the leading edge of the former front. On days like these, the skies are brimming with birds. Grassroots monitoring reports on the birds’ progress from mid-August through October are posted at eBird.org, sponsored by New York’s Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Birds. Cornell.edu). As Joni Mitchell sang, we rejoice that, “They’ve got the urge for going now, and they’ve got the wings to go.” Timothy Boucher is a senior conservation geographer at The Nature Conservancy (Nature.org), focused on ecosystem services, land use, habitat conditions and links between conservation and human well-being. His fieldwork spans six continents, encompassing local and global issues.

Photos by John Borom, courtesy of Alabama BirdFest

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Purple gallinule

BIRDWATCHING

Brings Us Closer to the Sky by D. Fran Morley

Birdwatchers in the know recognize that the Gulf Coast is a prime spot for viewing the fall migration. Millions of birds that spend the summer all over North America, but winter in Mexico, Central or South America pass through our area. Migratory birds congregate in the trees, shrubs and skies, feeding and preparing for their long journey south across the 600-milewide Gulf of Mexico.

ohn Borom, founder of the Alabama Coastal BirdFest and former president of the Mobile Bay Audubon Society, says, “There is a great diversity of birds here all year-round, but what makes the migration period so exciting to birders is the possibility that you can see birds here then that you otherwise might have to travel across the country to try to see.” Serious birdwatchers keep what’s known as a “life list” of every bird they have ever seen, and they frequently travel a great distance for the chance to add a new bird to their list. You might be surprised to learn how many birds are already on your life list, even if you’ve

never “birded” in your life. “Most people can identify a dozen or so common birds; they just may not know specific information about them,” says Borom. “People from all over the U.S. and Canada—and beyond—come to the Gulf Coast in the fall and spring because they know their chances of seeing specific migratory birds are very good.” Birdwatching can be done as a solo activity or with a group, but having an experienced leader is important. Borom says, “You can get lucky and spot a unique bird in your own backyard, of course, but if you really want to see certain birds or increase your

knowledge of birds and their habitat, it’s best to go birding with someone who is knowledgeable about the area. Mobile Bay Audubon Society has field trips and there’s Alabama Coastal BirdFest. We have such a diverse natural habitat here, it’s important to learn more about that and why it’s important to respect and protect it—for the birds and other creatures and for ourselves, as well!”

Birdwatching Tips

Know when and where to look for specific birds. For example, white pelicans are migrants that breed in Canada and fly here (and further south) by late September to spend the winter. They are larger than our common brown pelican and all white, except for black on the bottom of their wings—easily seen when they are in flight. Unlike the brown pelican, they do not dive for their food; they feed in groups of a dozen or more, cooperating to corral fish to catch. They are frequently seen in small bays and inlets along Mobile Bay and in the Delta. Know how and when to attract birds to our backyard. Many people wonder about when to put out bird feeders. There

natural awakenings

September 2013

“Some birds we take for granted here, like great blue heron or American white pelican, which we see all the time on our boat trips, might be just the bird that someone from Nebraska or Montana is waiting to see.” ~John Borom, founder of the Alabama Coastal BirdFest is no wrong time, but we will attract more birds to our yard when there are more birds in the area during migration periods. Feeding birds year-round gives more opportunities to see birds up close, so leave feeders out all year. Don’t worry that doing so will interfere with migration. Migratory birds leave on their own schedule, regardless of food availability. Know what to feed birds. To attract a certain bird, learn what that bird likes to eat and provide native plants or feeders with that food. Finches enjoy thistle seeds; woodpeckers, flickers, and wrens (among others) like suet, a cake that includes seeds, nuts, dried fruits and fat; and hummingbirds sip nectar. A simple recipe for hummingbird nectar is to mix four parts water to one part sugar in a pan. Bring to a boil, remove from heat

and stir to dissolve the sugar. Let cool and store in refrigerator. Do not use artificial sweeteners or red food coloring—both are harmful. Be sure to keep all bird feeders clean. Be prepared for a surprise. The right tree, the right food and the right time can come together in a spectacular way. Cedar waxwings arrive in our area in the fall; they feed in flocks and they can descend on a fruit-bearing tree or shrub by the dozens, stripping the plant of all berries within minutes. They are beautiful birds and it’s exciting to see them feed. D. Fran Morley is “nestkeeper” of the Alabama Coastal BirdFest. For more information, visit AlabamaCoastalBirdFest. com and MobileBayAudubon.org. See ad, page 29.

Great blue heron

Cedar waxwings

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calendarofevents

markyourcalendar

Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Go to TinyURL.com/NACalendar to submit entries.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Quantum-Touch Demonstration and Sharing – 7-8:30pm. With Julie Brent and Chester Schmidt. QT is used for improving your mental, physical and spiritual self. In a few minutes hips are leveled and discomfort eased. QT gives your body a boost toward perfect health. MT’s get 13 CEs for QT workshops. Free. Reiki Center of Fairhope, 20730 Hwy 181, Ste B, Fairhope. 251-281-8811. ReikiCenterOfFairhope@gmail.com. ReikiCenterOfFairhope.com/QT.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

John of God Crystal Light Bed Introduction – 7-8pm. Come find out more about the healing light bed with it's 7 extremely clear Vogel cut quartz crystals to cleanse, align and balance your chakras. Renee Adcock will be discussing the many benefits and answering questions. Free. Reiki Center of Fairhope, 20730 Hwy 181, Ste B, Fairhope. 251-279-0298. Renee@SpiritEnlighten.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Prosperity Workshop – 7-9pm. Material abundance gives you freedom to pursue professional and spiritual goals. Learn how to properly harness the power of your thoughts, subtle energies and your auric field to create a life of prosperity and success both materially and spiritually. Suggested donation: $20. Mobile. Call 251454-0959 for details.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Hurricane Run 5K – 8:10am. Out and back certified course starting at the DI Sea Lab. Flat course through neighborhoods and on main road. Great foods at post race party. Overall awards and 5-yr age groups. Fun Run to follow. Register DOR until 7:40am. $25 day of race. Dauphin Island. 251-4737223. PCPacers.org.

Pranic Healing Class Level 1 Learn anatomy of the energy-body, 11 major Chakras, their functions, how to feel energy and validate details in your life with it, keep yourself energetically clear and balanced, step-by-step techniques for healing yourself, loved ones, plus much more! Discount for early birds.

September 7 • 9-6pm September 8 • 12-6pm

Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile Deana: 251-454-0959

markyourcalendar The Gathering: A Day for ALL Yogis

Come fellowship with yogis of all kinds! We'll start the day with Sunrise Yoga and offer more yoga, meditation, discounted spa services and healthy food throughout the day! Free.

September 7 • 9am-6pm Escape at Wind Creek, Atmore. AWarren@PCIGaming.com. TinyURL.com/EscapeGathering

Quantum-Touch Level I Workshop w/ Julie Brent – Sept 7-8. 9:30am-5:30pm. Certified instructor, Quantum-Touch works deep in the cellular level by raising your energy, activating the innate healing intelligence and allowing natural healing to occur. MT 13 CEs and CNEs 12.5 available. MoonSunEarth. com/Quantum-Touch.htm. $400 at the door/prepaid $350. Reiki Center of Fairhope, 20730 Hwy 181, Ste B, Fairhope. To register, Julie: 251-504-5328. ReikiCenterOfFairhope@gmail.com. Usui Reiki Ryoho Level II Certification with Rev. K – Sept 7-8. 2-4pm, Sept 7; 10am-4pm, Sept 8. Includes Level I review, 2nd-degree attunements and using Reiki symbols. Become certified to perform

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September 2013

mental/emotional healing and distance treatments from a 4th-generation Reiki Master Teacher. Beautiful certificates issued are suitable for framing. $145/$135 for Fortis affiliates. Fortis College Massage Therapy Program, 300-F Azalea Rd, Mobile. 251-753-1937. KellyLaurendine@gmail.com. BodyInSpirit.com. FortisMassageMobile.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Ayurveda Workshop – Sept 13-14. 6-9pm, Sept 13; 12-6pm, Sept 14. Ayurveda - The Traditional Healing System of Ancient India. Instructed by: Prudence Farrow Bruns PhD, Nancy Gross and Cindi Galas. Introductory intensive course: basic concepts, principles and methods. $150. Prana Health and Wellness, 209-A S Section St, Fairhope. 251-455-9359. PranaHealthAndWellness.com. Sunset Yoga for Charity – 6pm. This event is by donation for charity every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month overlooking the bay. Bring your own mat and a friend. Beginner friendly classes. Donation. Fairhope Bluff. 251-379-4493. ThriveFairhope.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Paddleboard Yoga – 7:30-9:30am. There's a new kind of yoga in town and it’s on a paddle board in the water! Glow Yoga and Gulf Aventure Center have partnered to bring you paddleboard yoga! No experience needed, class is for all levels. Get your flow on in the sun and the water. $20 class fee, $12.50 board rental. Glow Yoga, Gulf Shores. 251-216-GLOW. Jennifer@Glow-Yoga. com. Glow-Yoga.com. Prana For Everyone with Rebecca Havard – 10am4pm. Come and learn the ancient science behind pranic healing. Learn the art of working with auras and chakras without touch. You need not have any experience. Class

will be based on Your Hands Can Heal You by Master Stephen Co. $99. Deposit can be made by pre-paying for the book by following link at ReikiCenterOfFairhope. com. Reiki Center of Fairhope, 20730 Hwy 181, Fairhope. ReikiCenterofFairhope.com. Prepare for Surgery with Self Hypnosis – 10:30am12:30pm. Students will learn self-hypnosis, relaxation and imagery techniques to help them have better outcomes. Surgery patients that prepare for surgery with hypnosis require fewer anesthetics and recover faster with fewer complications and less pain. $25. Preregistration required. Mobile Hypnosis, 4313 Momote Dr S, Mobile. 251-272-1030. MobileHypnosis.co.

Plant Based Nutrition & Indian Cooking Workshop – 11am-2pm. In the first hour of this workshop, we will discuss all the benefits and fundamentals of plant-based nutrition. The second two hours will include a hands on Indian cooking class and light lunch. First hour of workshop is free and open to the public. $25 pp, or bring a friend, 2 for $45. Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 7125 Hitt Rd, Mobile. 251-510-2418. Tracey@ThePureVegan.com. ThePureVegan.com.

Variations will be offered; however, a regular yoga practice is recommended. Integrated Health & Wellness, 456 Morphy Ave, Fairhope. InHealthWell.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Cat McCarthy Inner Glow Glide – 5:30-7:30pm. Cat McCarthy, international teacher from Nola Yoga will be teaching a master class "Inner Glow Glide" teaching you to glow with the flow as you learn to let your heart shine like a beacon to the world. Neighbor studio A Balanced Body will also be hosting Cat on Sept 17, 6-8 pm. $20 advanced pre-register at GlowYoga.com, $25 week of register online and at the door. Glow Yoga, Gulf Shores. 251-216-GLOW. Jennifer@ Glow-Yoga.com. Glow-Yoga.com. Twin Hearts Full Moon Meditation – 6:30pm. Experience the tremendous downpour of spiritual energy that is especially available to us at this time of the month as we become instruments of divine blessings to the Gulf waters, planet earth, social issues, humanity and our loved ones. Free. Dauphin Island. 251-454-0959.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Arm Balances and Inversions Workshop – 11:30am-1:30pm. Arm balances and inversions workshop with Mel Crane. Mel's teaching style is surf-inspired by way of Australia and she is a Fairhope native. Workshop is for all levels looking to explore the foundations of arm balances and inversions. $20. Glow Yoga, Gulf Shores. 251-216-GLOW. Jennifer@ Glow-Yoga.com. Glow-Yoga.com.

Qigong for Busy People w/Donna Weber M.A., LPC – 6-9pm. Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) is an ancient Chinese practice using breath and movement. In as little as 10 minutes a day you can improve your health. Learn 5 easy Qigong practices and a technique to heal others. $35. Reiki Center of Fairhope, 20730 Hwy 181, Ste B, Fairhope. Registration: ReclaimYourTrueEmotions.com/store/.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

MCKS Pranic Healing Level I-Foundational Skills – Sept 21-22. 9am-5:30pm. Trains participants with skills to feel, control and apply pranic energy to promote physical and emotional well-being. Self-healing, distant healing, divine healing, techniques to recharge body, energetic hygiene, energy anatomy and much more. Discounts for early registration. 5901 Airport Blvd, Mobile. Lori Thomas, Certified Pranic Healing Instructor: 850-221-2381. PranicHealingOasis.com. PranicHealingCentralGulfCoast.com.

Handstand Clinic - 4-5:30pm. Join Amanda Barfield, RYT and Lynette Staggers, RYT for a free Handstand Clinic designed to foster safe and confident inversions.

WANT TO LOOK AND FEEL YOUR BEST? GET YOUR VITAMINS FROM THE BEST! mediStat Pharmacy—your —your everyday health and wellness resource—provides nutritional and mineral base supplements, vitamins, body care, sports nutrition and much more. Not sure where to start? Take advantage of our private consulting and educational programs. Visit us today and learn about our “Custom Made For You” approach to your nutritional wellness. Like us on Facebook! Or visit us on the web at mediStat.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Global Mala Yoga for Peace Celebration – 9:3011:30am. Gentle yoga, guided relaxation for peace, 108 om chant. Join us and yoga studios around the world as we celebrate yoga for peace on International Peace Day! Tea and healthy snacks to follow. Everyone welcome. Free/Donations for Bay Area Food Bank and/or PETA. Quiet Mind Massage Therapy & Yoga Studio, Mobile. 251-476-6463. Yoga@QuietMindMassageTherapy. com. QuietMindMassageTherapy.com. Facebook: Quiet Mind Massage and Yoga.

Reiki Level I & II Certification with Julie E Brent – Sept 21-22. 9:30am-5:30pm. Natural healing for everyone! Wonderful way to celebrate the Fall Equinox on Sept 22 at 3:44pm by learning Reiki so you can heal yourself and others. Julie has 20 years experience to share with you, learn more at our Reiki Share (free) on Wednesdays, 7pm. $299 prepaid/$350 at the door. Reiki Center of Fairhope, 20730 Highway 181, Fairhope. 251-504-5328. ReikiCenterOfFairhope@ gmail.com. ReikiCenterOfFairhope.com.

Free Yoga Classes and Events! 110 E. Azalea Ave • Foley, AL 36535 (855) 737.2550 32

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

Visit YogaLifeFair.com and see page 18 for details.

markyourcalendar Yoga Life Fair An educational event to build mindful community, increase yoga awareness and kick off Mobile/Baldwin Yoga Week. Mindful vendors, healthy refreshments, live music and a full schedule of yoga classes from beginner to advanced, including chair yoga, meditation, paddleboard yoga and more! Now seeking vendors, volunteers and studio participation. Free.

September 21 • 2:30pm Fairhope Pier Park • 1 Beach Rd., Fairhope 251-379-4493 • YogaLifeFair.com

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Body In Spirit Sunday with Rev. K. Laurendine – 1-4pm. This mindful, heart-centered “pre-yoga” experience combines sound, various movement practices and imagery to enliven and connect the spiritual-physical-energetic aspects of the body while quieting and focusing the mind. All fitness levels welcome. Suggested energy exchange: $35/$25 for Fortis affiliates. Pre-registration required (phone or email). Fortis College Massage Therapy Program, Massage Studio, 300-F Azalea Rd, Mobile. 251-7531937. KellyLaurendine@gmail.com. BodyInSpirit. com. FortisMassageMobile.com.

Prenatal Yoga – 2:15pm. A safe and effective prenatal yoga practice can help women prepare for the demands of pregnancy, labor, birth and motherhood. These classes are specifically designed to enhance and support the profound changes in a woman’s body, mind and heart. Free with canned goods donation in honor of Yoga Week. 209 S Section St, Fairhope. 251-6215428 or 713-504-8216. NBoltonBeck@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

A Return To Movement – 11am. Explore your body’s strength and flexibility. Learn what you can do to stretch and soften right now to gain ease in life. Join this unique class to create a healthy foundation for every movement your body takes. Taught by Cindi Galas. Free. Prana Health and Wellness, 209-A S Section St, Fairhope. 251-455-9359. PranaHealthAndWellness.com.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Sunset Paddleboard Yoga – 5:30-7:30pm. There's a new kind of yoga in town and its on a paddle board in the water! Glow Yoga and Gulf Aventure Center have partnered to bring you paddleboard yoga! No experience neeeded, class is for all levels. Get your flow on in the sun and the water. $20 class fee, $12.50 board rental. Glow Yoga, Gulf Shores. 251-216-GLOW. Jennifer@Glow-Yoga.com. Glow-Yoga.com. How to Release Limiting Emotions – 6-9pm. Do you have limiting emotions that are holding you back from the life you dream about? Many limiting emotions were learned in childhood. Release fear, shame, guilt, self-judgment and more. Trainer: Donna Weber, M.A.,LPC. $40. Reiki Center of Fairhope, 20730 Hwy 181, Ste B, Fairhope. Registration: ReclaimYourTrueEmotions.com/store/.

FAIRHOPE

MONTROSE

MOONSTONE MASSAGE Therapeutic Massage and Energy Work 17048 Scenic Highway 98 251-517-5383 MoonstoneMassageFairhope.com

JEN ADAMS, LMT 22787 US 98 at Parker Rd., Bdg. D, Ste. 5 251-616-4201 JenAdams.Massage@gmail.com JenAdamsLMT.info

REIKI CENTER OF FAIRHOPE LMTs-Chester Schmidt & Rebecca Havard ROBERTSDALE 20730 Highway 181 HEALING ACRES 251-281-8811 Massage, Reflexology, Colonics, Reiki ReikiCenterOfFairhope.com 22355 Price Grubbs Road See ad, page 15. 251-423-1863 See ad, page 11. THRIVE YOGA & MASSAGE Billie Reinhart, RYT, LMT 251-379-4493 Thrive@ThriveFairhope.com WEST MOBILE ThriveFairhope.com BELLA SUNDRIES WELLNESS STUDIO 6576 Airport Boulevard, Building C 251-458-8884 FOLEY Bella.Sundries.Massage@gmail.com BellaSundries.Webs.com THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE See ad, page 15. Charlene Rester, RN, LMT Located inside Align Chiropractic CYNERGY MASSAGE & WELLNESS 117 West Orange Avenue Cynde Greer, LMT AL1987 251-952-5555 2090 Schillinger Rd S, Suite G 251-633-2828 CynergyMassage.com MOBILE ELEMENTS THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE 6920 Airport Boulevard, Suite 111 251-342-6415 Mobile@TouchOfElements.com ElementsMassage.com/Mobile See ad, page 11.

This logo indentifies businesses that offer discounts to Natural Awakenings Network (NAN) Discount Cardholders. Visit www.TinyURL.com/NANCard for details.

natural awakenings

September 2013

Coming in October

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

markyourcalendar Cheap Chic Boutique

Sustaining a Healthy Environment Daily Choices We Make Determine the Well-Being of Our Planet.

New, nearly new & vintage designer and name brand clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry and more at thrifty prices. Excellent selection of sizes petite thru plus. Proceeds support Our Sisters' Closet assisting in-crisis women with their job search needs. Free admission.

September 27 • 9am-6pm September 28 • 9am-3pm St. Mary Parish Campus, 1452 Old Shell Road, Mobile 251-423-2001 • OurSistersCloset@comcast.net All Ages Art Lounge and Yoga – 6pm. Join us the 4th Friday of every month at Space 301 for Art Lounge and Yoga. All ages are welcome to participate. Gallery admission for Art Lounge is discounted to $3 and donations to Kula Yoga Community are appreciated. $10 suggested donation or pay what you can. 301 Conti St, Mobile. 251-591-7094. KulaYogaCommunity.org. End of Yoga Week/Sunset Yoga for Charity – 6pm. This event is by donation for charity every 2nd and 4th Fri of the month overlooking the bay. Bring your own mat and a friend. Beginner friendly classes. Donation. Fairhope Bluff. 251-379-4493. ThriveFairhope.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Essential Oils Workshop with Renee Adcock – 10am-12pm. Come and join us to learn the many uses

and benefits of essential oils. If there is a specific oil that you are interested in learning about let me know. We will learn and laugh together. Please bring your friends and come with your questions. Free. Reiki Center of Fairhope, 20730 Hwy 181, Ste B, Fairhope. RSVP: 251-923-6122.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6

Usui Reiki Ryoho Level I Certification with Rev. K – 10am-4:30pm. This heart-centered path begins with meditations, history, attunements and more. Become certified to perform full-body treatments on others and yourself from 4th-generation Reiki Master Teacher. Beautiful certificates issued are suitable for framing. Space limited to 6 people. Email or call to register. $95/$80 for Fortis affiliates. Fortis College Massage Therapy Program, 300-F Azalea Rd, Mobile. 251-7531937. KellyLaurendine@gmail.com. BodyInSpirit. com. FortisMassageMobile.com.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10

World Paddle For The Planet – Oct 10-13. Educational exhibits, speakers, roundtable summit, eco-art and music. Featured event is a 24-hour endurance paddle (canoes, kayaks, paddle boards) on Lake Powell. Carillon Beach, Panama City Beach, FL. SUPRadioShow@ gmail.com. WorldPaddleForThePlanet.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

Master Gardener Greenery Sale – Dec 6-7. 9am-4pm, Dec 6, 9am-1pm, Dec 7. Fresh, fragrant Fraser Fir wreaths from North Carolina, Fraser Fir garlands, mailbox saddles, mantel toppers, centerpieces, greenery bundles, paperwhites, Christmas cacti and more. Proceeds go to horticulture education and horticulture scholarship. Free. Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 Museum Dr, Mobile. 251-574-8445. MobileMasterGardeners@gmail. com. ACES.edu/Mobile/mg.

classifieds Fee for classified listings is $1 per word. Email Publisher@ HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com for details. Volunteer opportunities are listed for free as space is available. OPPORTUNITIES BECOME A PUBLISHER! – Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin is for sale! Own one of the Gulf Coast's most exciting businesses. Training and support available. Be in business for yourself but not by yourself. See ad, page 31.

JOIN THE GREEN CLEAN TEAM! – Green Clean provides environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning services. If interested in becoming part of our team, please call 251-508-3796 for an interview.

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

251-990-9552 34

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTOR – Natural Awakenings is looking for a magazine distributor for the Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach route. Email Publisher@HealthyLiving HealthyPlanet.com for details. No phone inquires please. WORK FROM HOME! - Local Norwex representative seeks to partner with energetic individuals to foster healthy living environ-

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

ments with proven products. Serious income potential, free training, no inventory. Call Benita: 251-988-1700. Visit BenitaStewart. Norwex.biz.

VOLUNTEER OPPS AZALEA CITY CAT COALITION – Volunteers needed in any capacity. Contact Susan Young: 251-648-7582. SusanYoung@ AzaleaCityCats.org. DOG RIVER CLEARWATER REVIVAL STORM DRAIN MARKER PROJECT – Volunteers needed to educate the public about the storm drain system. Supplies and instructions provided. Work at your convenience. Contact Janet Miller: J46Miller@yahoo.com. 251-654-1827. MERCY MEDICAL – Hospice volunteers needed to provide services such as running errands, offering respite breaks for caregivers and clerical assistance. 251-621-4431. Volunteers@ MercyMedical.com.

ongoingevents Please call ahead to confirm dates and times. All calendar events must be received by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Go to TinyURL.com/NACalendar to submit entries.

sunday Discounts on Supplements – Every Sunday get 15% off supplements at Fairhope Health Foods (251-9280644) and Virginia's Health Foods (251-345-0494). 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope and 3952 Airport Blvd, Mobile. VA-FairhopeHealthFoods.com.

Center for Spiritual Living Service – 10am. Make every step, every choice, every word, a conscious one. Center for Spiritual Living, 1230 Montlimar, Mobile. Rev. Sherrie Quander: 251-343-0777. CenterForSpiritualLiving-Mobile.org. Sunday Service – 10:30am. Explore a spiritual pathway with Mobile Unitarian Universalists, 6345 Old Shell Rd, Mobile. UUFM.org. Sunday Service – 10:30am. Questioning, understanding and growing together spiritually as we enjoy the adventure of life. Center for Joyful Living, 60 N Ann St, Mobile. 251-391-6960.

Sunday Worship – 11am. Celebrate Spirit in this special and sacred space. Between Hillcrest and Knollwood. Unity Mobile, 5859 Cottage Hill, Mobile. 251-661-1788. Unlimited Horizons of the Emerald Coast – 2:305:30pm. 2nd Sunday. Open to public. All are invited to join this forum of open-minded seekers of Universal truth. Share knowledge & promote enlightenment. Monthly speakers present on a variety of metaphysical topics. $7. Gulf Breeze Recreation Center, 800 Shoreline Dr, Gulf Breeze, FL. 850-610-0919. UnlimitedHorizons1@gmail.com. Unlimited-Horizons.org.

Open Table Worship Service (United Church of Christ) – 5pm. Weekly progressive Christian worship. Gathering at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1050 Azalea Rd, Mobile. 251-545-1011. Ellen.OpenTable@gmail. com. OpenTableUCC.org.

monday Yoga with Dana – 12pm. Take a break in the middle of the day. Join Dana to transform the body, relieve stress and relax the mind. Leave feeling on top of the world! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Pilates Mat Class – 5pm. Join Carol for an intermediate/advanced authentic Pilates mat workout. This is a series of floor exercises that are precisely ordered and designed to strengthen and stretch the whole body. Pre-registration is required. $10/drop-in, $80/10 class pkg. Carol's Pilates Studio, 407 Johnson Ave, Fairhope. 985-855-2219. CarolCon@bellsouth.net. Mindfulness Practice and Meditation – 5:45pm. Mindfulness Meditation Practice in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. No experience necessary. $5 donation. Plantation Antique Galleries, 604 Bel Air Blvd. (back entrance). $5 suggested donation. Plantation Antique Galleries, 604 Bel Air Bvld, Mobile. 251-422-5474. JoanWSDixon@gmail.com. Meetup. com/MindfulnessMobile/.

Outstretched Christ-Centered Yoga Class – 5:45pm. Also at 8:15am on Wed. Each week Pneuma offers two donation-only yoga classes open to the public. Classes are appropriate for all levels and include a Christ-centered devotion. Donation only. 1901 Main St, Daphne. See website for more info Pneuma-YogaMovement.com. Pranic Healing and Meditation – 6:30-8:30pm. Experience healing for your mind, body and soul followed by the Meditation on Twin Hearts. Let us take the stress off and balance your aura. We all have the ability to heal ourselves and others! Classes available. CEU's/LMTs and Nurses. Free. Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile. 251-454-0959.

tuesday Rise and Shine Yoga – 6:30-7:45am. Tues and Thurs. Start the day with an invigorating Hatha Yoga practice. Class includes a mixture of flow yoga, Pranayama, restorative and meditation. Fellowship, coffee and some of Mom's homemade bread follows. $8/drop-in, $60/10 class package, $85/family. Trinity Yoga Studio, Highway 98 East, Foley. 251-987-1147 or 251-6095541. TinyURL.com/TrinityYogaFoleyAL. Core Barre with Dana – 8:30am. Give yourself the best seat in the house with Core Barre - work your body to a fusion of ballet, Pilates, yoga and classic fitness. Move to fun music and really change your shape! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Tuesday Morning Yoga with Tracey, RYT 200 – 9:30am. Join Tracey for an all-levels 75 min flow yoga class incorporating all the yogic tools at our disposal to quiet and expand our minds, open our hearts, release anxiety and depression, and find the peace, freedom and wholeness we all crave. $12 (senior and student discounts available). Quiet Mind Massage and Yoga Studio, Mobile. Tracey@ShantiWarrior.com.

Yoga at Wind Creek – 10am. Tues-Fri. Alignment principles, gentle breathing techniques and basic poses will be taught for all levels of student. Modifications will be made, as needed for each student so that everyone, regardless of age or physical ability, will feel benefits that yoga has to offer. Preregistration required: NDalati@PCIGaming.com or 251-4464200, x4860. Donation. Escape Wind Creek Resort, Atmore. EscapeAtWindCreek.com.

La Leche League Mobile Bay Area – 10:30am. La Leche League meetings are open to all women with an interest in learning about and supporting breastfeeding. Meetings are always free and babies/children are welcome. 251-689-2085. For location information or breastfeeding help contact AmandaLLLMobile@ yahoo.com or MeghanLLL@yahoo.com. Grief Recovery Meeting – 1-2:30pm. This is a Christian-based grief recovery program for all losses. Experienced, professional and compassionate staff members support you through the grief process with the goal of transitioning into a renewed life of purpose and fulfillment. Ascension Funerals & Cremations, 1016 Hillcrest Rd, Mobile. 251-6348055. AscensionFuneralGroup.com.

Gentle Stress Relief Yoga – 4:15pm. Tues and Thurs. Slow flowing, joint-opening movement with emphasis on breath awareness and meditation. Appropriate for beginners or anyone who wants a soothing and gentle yoga practice. Suggested donation $10 or pay what you can. Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile. 251.591.7094. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Energize and Relax Yoga – 6-7:15pm. Tues and Thurs. This class emphasizes flow yoga with Pranayama and some Kundalini. Meditation follows the energizing portion to calm in preparation for the day. $8/drop-in, $60/10 class package, $85/family. Trinity Yoga Studio, Hwy 98 East, Foley. 251-987-1147 or 251-609-5541. TinyURL.com/TrinityYogaFoleyAL. Positive Parenting Class – 6-8pm. Also Wed. at 9:30am. Kids don’t come with a set of instructions. Learn tools and skills to create a happy, healthy family. Free. The Family Center, 601 Bel Air Blvd, Ste 100, Mobile. 251-479-5700. Kids101@comcast.net. Sierra Club Meeting – 6-8pm. 1st Tues. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort.

Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club Meeting – 7-8:30pm. 1st Tues. For pro-paddlers and those brand new to the sport. Open to the public. 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center, Spanish Fort. BayKayaker. Blogspot.com.

wednesday Early Morning Flow – 7am. Jumpstart your morning with Vinyasa! Taught by Joy Larsen. $10 without membership. Prana Health and Wellness, Fairhope. 251-455-9359. PranaHealthandWellness.com.

Yoga with Susan – 8:30am. Join Susan Kangal and enjoy her refreshing energy as she challenges you with a strong emphasis on alignment and focus while still calming the mind. Sink into the moment and experience the bliss - aaaah! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

$5 Yoga Flow & Chair – 9:15am, Flow. 10:30am, Chair Yoga (seated or holding onto chair to practice balance). Beginners welcome. Bring your own mat. Enjoy exercise at every level. Improve balance, strength and flexibility. $5. Fairhope UMC CLC. 251379-4493. ThriveFairhope.com. Yoga for Multiple Sclerosis – 12-1pm. This chair yoga class is free to participants and funded by the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Build strength and flexibility while improving balance and circulation. Enjoy exercise at every level, even in a wheelchair. Improve balance, strength and flexibility. Free. Fairhope UMC CLC. 251-379-4493. ThriveFairhope.com. Beginners Yoga – 5pm. This is the perfect class for the beginning or returning yogi. Learn the fundamentals of yoga in a safe, supportive environment. Taught by Wayne Kent. $10 without membership. Prana Health and Wellness, Fairhope. 251-455-9359. PranaHealthandWellness.com.

natural awakenings

September 2013

Eastern Shore MS Support Group – 5:30pm. Second Wed. Eastern Shore MS Support Group meets each month at Ruby Tuesday in Fairhope. Family, friends and caregivers are always welcome. Weezer: 251-928-7606. Power Flow Yoga with Angela – 5:45pm. Join associate Baptiste Power Vinyasa Teacher Angela Cain to revitalize and energize your day. Enjoy the sweet sweat and moving meditation of Power Flow and leave class refreshed and recharged! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Mid-Week Breather – 6-7:15pm. Join Amanda Barfield for alignment-based yoga with attention to breath, form and fun. Beginners are welcome, as we explore the components of assorted poses and offer variations that best serve you. Seasoned yogis enjoy the opportunity to revisit their foundation. $12/drop-in. $5/first class. Integrated Health & Wellness, Fairhope. InHealthWell.com. Near Death and Related Consciousness and Spiritual Experiences – 6pm. 2nd Wed. Mobile affiliate group of IANDS. All are welcome to share experiences and support. Beginning our 11th year. Free. West Regional Branch, Mobile Public Library, Grelot Rd (near University Blvd). 251-340-8565. IANDS.org.

Beginner Series with Mel Crane – Sept 11-Oct 8, 7:15-8:45pm. 5 consecutive Wednesdays for 5 weeks. Beginners learn the basics and experienced yogis get a deeper understanding of the yoga postures and alignment as well as the philosophy of yoga exploring Patanjali's 8 limb path. Can attend one or all 5 classes. $80 for entire series or $20 per class. Glow Yoga, Gulf Shores. 251-216-GLOW. Jennifer@Glow-Yoga.com. Glow-Yoga.com.

thursday Rise and Shine Yoga – 6:30-7:45am. Tues and Thurs. Start the day with an invigorating Hatha Yoga practice. Class includes a mixture of flow yoga, Pranayama, restorative and meditation. Fellowship, coffee and some of mom's homemade bread follows. $8/drop-in, $60/10 class package, $85/family. Trinity Yoga Studio, Highway 98 East, Foley. 251-987-1147 or 251-6095541. TinyURL.com/TrinityYogaFoleyAL. Yang Yoga – 11am. Yang yoga balances both an energetic and a deep restorative practice. Yang Yoga is a vinyasa – a steady flowing, fluid practice using the rhythm of the breath, incorporating movements. Taught by Cindy Johnson. $10 without membership. Prana Health and Wellness, Fairhope. 251-455-9359. PranaHealthandWellness.com.

Power Hour – 12pm. Drop in for a short 50 min class at Space 301. Class moves briskly to provide an invigorating yoga workout. This class is appropriate for experienced yoga practitioners or anyone currently involved in an active physical fitness program. $10 or pay what you can. 301 Conti St, Mobile. 251-5917094. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Group Reformer with Dana – 4pm. Catch the wave of classical fitness and join Dana for a Pilates group reformer class. Stand taller, get toned and be both leaner and stronger. Please log onto the website to make reservations. Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Open Flow Yoga – 5:45pm. Tues and Thur. All Levels. Postures may be more advanced and move more quickly than Gentle or Basic classes. Breath practice and postures may be combined. Appropriate for fit beginners and beyond. $10 or pay what you can. Center for Spiritual Living, Mobile. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Body, Mind, Spirit, Coffee, Tea & Conversation Social Meet-Up Group – 6:30-8:30pm. 1st Thurs. The Body, Mind & Spirit Group of Florida: Emerald Coast. Each meet-up will have an array of activities, speakers, products, samples, demonstrations, practitioners and networking opportunities. $5. Pensacola, FL. Call for details: 850-941-4321. BMSFL.com.

Thursday Evening Yoga in West Mobile – 6:30pm. 4th Thurs. All levels 75 minute practice incorporating mantra, pranayama, asana and readings from all of the world's great spiritual traditions which are united in universal love and light. BYOM. Fourth Thursday of every month fundraiser for a different charity each month. $10 or contact Tracey for special rates. Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 7125 Hitt Rd, Mobile. 251-510-2418. Tracey@ShantiWarrior.com. ShantiWarior.com.

friday Meditation Flash Mob – 6-6:30pm. First Fri. First Fridays before Art Walk. No experience is necessary. Come sit in peace with us to invite the world to the benefits of meditation and collective prayer. Kids and

SCIATICA? BACK PAIN? HIP PAIN? POOR POSTURE? Relaxing 20 minutes daily on the Sacro Wedgy® may

be all you need. Placed under the sacrum, it allows the hips to suspend and relax, letting go of nerves and ultimately “rebalancing.”

The SACRO WEDGY®

For individual self-care and therapists. Only $33.95. Free demonstration with appointment.

www.sacrowedgy.com 251-653-9258 or 800-737-9295 36

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

pets are welcome, too. Free. Corner of Fairhope Ave and Bancroft Ave (in front of the small fountain next to Julwin's), Fairhope. 251-517-5626. Facebook.com/ MedMobGCA. Table in a Kitchen – 6pm. HIS kitchen. YOUR table. Enjoy an interactive six course dining experience with our chef. It's fun. It's different. There's no other experience like it! $59. Wind Creek Resort, Atmore. 251-359-1607. EscapeAtWindCreek.com.

saturday Saturday Morning Yoga with Augusta – 7:308:45am. All levels. The movements will challenge you to stay mindful and your mindfulness will allow you to honor your limits without judging yourself. $15 drop-in. $10 students and instructors. Creative Outlet, 66 1/2 S Section St, Fairhope. 251-928-5363. HeartStringsYoga.com. Saturday Morning Yoga – 9am. Join Beverley, Leigh, Faye or Angela and start your weekend with a revitalizing class. Refresh and renew the spirit while you recharge the body - bring the joy and zest back as you kick start your day! Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net.

Power Vinyasa Yoga Master Class Saturday Series – Sept 21 and Sept 28. 10:45am-12:15pm. Join instructor Brooke Nisbet and challenge yourself in both mind and body. Classes will consist of strong dynamic flows, unique sequencing, static holds, inversions, arm balances, sweat, pranayama and more. See website for more details and pricing. Synergy Yoga & Pilates, Mobile. 251-473-1104. Synergyoga.net. Open Flow Yoga – 11:15am. All levels with some yoga experience. Postures may be more advanced and move more quickly than Gentle or Basic classes. Breath practice and postures may be combined. Appropriate for fit beginners and beyond. Suggested donation $10 or pay what you can. Space 301, 301 Conti St, Mobile. KulaYogaCommunity.org.

Messages from the Other Side with Psychic Medium Ericka Boussarhane – 6:30-8:30pm. Ericka uses her mediumship to help others find closure and insight in the lives. As a medium she is able to connect with loved ones who have crossed over to the other side. $10 per person. Mystic Cottage, 4971 Mobile Hwy, Pensacola, FL. 850-941-4321. ColdCasePsychic.com/.

naturaldirectory

FOODS & NUTRITION

Connecting you to the leaders in healthy and green living in our community. To be included in the Natural Directory, email Publisher@ HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com. Did you miss our 2013 annual Healthy and Green Living Directory? Contact us to find out where you can pick up a copy of this expanded edition, or read it online now at TinyURL.com/NAFeb13.

ACUPUNCTURE BELLA SUNDRIES WELLNESS STUDIO 6576 Airport Boulevard, Mobile 251-458-8884 BellaSundries.Webs.com

Offering auricular acupuncture which utilizes 108 points in the ear that correlate to different parts of the body. Therapeutic for physical, emotional, digestive and respiratory problems. See ad, page 15.

BEAUTY B-BUTTERFLY SALON

103A North Bancroft Street, Fairhope 251-990-9934 BButterflySalon.com A certified organic salon

B-Butterfly offering organic products, SALON

and services including hair color, perms and shampoo. Visit us for a free hair exam today and go organic! Manicures, pedicures and eyebrow waxing also available. See ad, page 11.

ZAPAH NATURALS

251-776-4382 CS@ZapahNaturals.com ZapahNaturals.com All-natural, handcrafted bath and body products made in Mobile using natural and organic ingredients. Soaps, lotions, oils and more. Call today or order online. Free shipping! See ad, page 7.

CHURCHES CENTER FOR JOYFUL LIVING 60 North Ann Street Mobile, AL 36695 251-391-6960

Questioning, understanding and growing together spiritually as we enjoy life’s adventure. Center for Joyful Living in Mobile. Sundays, 10:30 a.m.

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

BURRIS FARM MARKET & BAKERY 3100 Hickory Street, Loxley 251-964-6464

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

FAIRHOPE HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center 251-928-0644 • Café: 251-929-0055 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

1230 Montlimar Drive, 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. Sundays at 10 a.m. See ad, page 15.

OPEN TABLE: A COMMUNITY OF FAITH (UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST) 1050 Azalea Road, Mobile at St Luke’s (St. Luke's Episcopal Church) 251-545-1011 • OpenTableUCC.org No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Pastor Ellen Sims and the congregation invite you to join them on Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. Childcare provided. See ad, page 7.

CLEANING SERVICES

Comprehensive health food store and organic café, featuring organic food, free-range meat, vegan options and organic wine. Store open 7 days a week. See ad, page 2.

THE HEALTH HUT 680 S. Schillinger, Mobile: 251-633-0485 (Across from Home Depot) 6845 Hwy 90, Daphne: 251-621-1865 (Across from Home Depot) For 30 years The Health Hut has been the go-to place for high quality, whole-food vitamins, herbs and sport supplements at great prices coupled with a serviceoriented, knowledgeable staff. See ad, page 4.

VIRGINIA’S HEALTH FOODS AND THE SUNFLOWER CAFÉ II

GREEN CLEAN, LLC

Nicoll Mastin, owner 251-508-3796 NicollMastin@gmail.com

3952 Airport Boulevard, Mobile 251-345-0494 • Café: 251-345-0495 Va-FairhopeHealthFoods.com

Providing environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaning services for residential properties. We're hiring on the Eastern Shore! Call for interview.

Comprehensive health food store and organic café, featuring organic food, free-range meat, vegan options and juice bar. Store open 7 days a week. Serving the public 37 years. See ad, page 2.

DENTISTRY DR. DAYTON HART, DM IAOMT Protocol 225 West Laurel Avenue, Foley 251-943-2471 • DrDaytonHart.com

GREEN BUILDING

Free book for new patients: Mercury Free Dentistry. Offering ozone; laser (no-suture) gum surgery; testing for compatible materials and cavity-causing bacteria; examine for gum disease and bacteria; laser cavity diagnoses; saliva pH check; oral galvanic screening; no fluoride. See ad, page 30.

EARTHSTONE CONSTRUCTION Natural, Energy-Efficient Structures 153 Cedar Ridge Road, Lucedale, MS 601-818-9600 • Vaughn_2@bellsouth.net EarthStoneConstruction.com Locally sourced material and virtually indestructible! Healthy, green and beautiful. Homes, patios, pizza ovens and more. Free estimates.

natural awakenings

September 2013

HEALING ARTS

MASSAGE

BODY IN SPIRIT

Rev. K Laurendine, ERYT, LMT, RMT, BA 251-753-1937 • KellyLaurendine@gmail.com BodyInSpirit.com Spiritual counseling, movement/yoga, energy and empowerment workshops, EFT, Reiki certifications, ministerial services, pet blessings.

PRANIC HEALING IN MOBILE Deana Lannie 251-454-0959

Free healing nights and group meditations every M o n d a y. P r a n i c Healing classes and the advanced technique of Superbrain Yoga.

REIKI CENTER OF FAIRHOPE

20730 Hwy 181, Fairhope 251-281-8811 ReikiCenterOfFairhope.com/book-appointment Health and wellness is our mission. Private Reiki sessions, therapeutic massage, Q u a n t u m - To u c h ® , r e f l e x o l o g y and more. Book online or call for appointment. Reiki workshops monthly, free Reiki share. See ad, page 15.

SPIRIT ENLIGHTEN

Renee Adcock, B.Div. Reiki II, Essential Oils Therapy 251-279-0298 Authorized owner and operator, John of God Crystal Light Healing Bed a modality to cleanse, balance and align your energies to promote healing. Call for more information or an appointment.

INTUITIVE ARTS ERICKA BOUSSARHANE

International Psychic Medium 850-941-4321 ColdCasePsychic.com Amazingly accurate and detailed online psychic and mediumship readings as featured on national TV and radio stations.

JEN ADAMS, LMT

22787 US 98, Bdg D Ste 5, Montrose 251-616-4201 • JenAdamsLMT.info JenAdams.Massage@gmail.com Unique massage technique that is gentle enough for the severest sufferers of pain and deep enough for the most rigorous of athletes. 14 years experience in the bodywork and natural wellness field.

METAPHYSICAL UNLIMITED HORIZONS

800 Shoreline Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 850-610-0919 • Unlimited-Horizons.org UnlimitedHorizons1@gmail.com A monthly forum for open-minded seekers of Universal truth through the metaphysical, holistic, paranormal, cryptozoological and extraterrestrial.

Mobile / Baldwin Edition

ESCAPE AT WIND CREEK 1-855-393-7227 EscapeAtWindCreek.com WindCreekCasino.com

Dedicated to well-being offering girl getaways, c o u p l e retreats, yoga, full service spa, healthy cuisine, cooking classes and much more. Visit our Four Diamond acclaimed property for a day, night or longer! See ad, page 3.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING MIDDLE EARTH HEALING AND LEARNING CENTER

20205 Middle Earth Road, Citronelle 251-866-7204 • MiddleEarthHealing.com Middle Earth is an evolving education center, modeling permaculture, sustainable living and the interconnection of the health of the planet and the health of her inhabitants. See ad on page 9.

PEST CONTROL HOUSEHOLD TERMITE & PEST CONTROL Serving Mobile and Baldwin Counties 866-943-7874 HouseholdPest.com

Full service, environmentally responsible pest management company and do-it yourself store specializing in termites, general pests, bed bugs, thermal remediation, mosquitoes, wildlife rem o v a l , m o i s t u r e c o n trol, TAP insulation. See ad, 24.

PHOTOGRAPHY LB PHOTOGRAPHY & ARTSTUDIO Leigh Bancroft 251-786-0993 LBancrof@gmail.com

LB Photography specializes in natural portraits, business promotion, events, photojournalism, and fine art projects. We are about building community, conveying an image and capturing lifelong memories.

NAN cardholders receive discounts at these businesses. See page 24 for details. 38

RETREATS & SPAS

www.HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com

TAI CHI JUDE FORSYTH

Qigong/Tai Chi Teacher 850-226-9355 BlueWillowWellness.com Looking for sites and students to start new day and night program in the Mobile area.

YOGA GLOW YOGA

824 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores 251-216-GLOW Glow-Yoga.com Hot and cool vinyasa style yoga. Work hard and work up a sweat, rejuvenating the body and calming the mind as you flow to energizing music. Our classes empower students of all levels. See ad, page 22.

Pick up a copy of Natural Awakenings at these businesses!

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natural awakenings

September 2013

Kick off Yoga Week with an afternoon of mindful vendors, raffle prizes and giveaways, healthy refreshments from Sunflower Cafe, live music and a full schedule of yoga classes and mini-workshops from beginner to advanced. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

September 21, 2013 2:30-7:00 PM at Fairhope PIER Park Rain Site: Fairhope United Methodist Church

Chair Yoga • Kids Yoga • Paddleboard Yoga • Restorative Yoga Yoga for Back Care • Yoga Nidra • Aerial Yoga • Partner Yoga Gentle/Yin Yoga • Thai Yoga Massage • Acro Yoga Sunset Drum Circle • Hula Hoop and Fire Performers FREE admission. Please bring your own yoga mat or beach towel, water and a nonperishable food donation.

A full schedule of September yoga events is available at www.YogaLifeFair.com.

free yoga classes all week long! 3rd Annual Mobile Baldwin Yoga Week: September 21-27 The following studios invite new students to try yoga classes for free during Yoga Week when you bring nonperishable food items for the Bay Area Food Bank. Contact the studios for class schedules.

Atmore

Escape at Wind Creek

Mobile

Quiet Mind Massage & Yoga Synergy Yoga & Pilates The Fit Nest/Jennifer Hunt

Eastern Shore

Thrive Yoga & Massage Integrated Health & Wellness Julie Wilkins Yoga Nancy Bolton Beck Prenatal Yoga Pneuma Yoga/Movement Studio Prana Health & Wellness

FOLEY

Trinity Yoga

Gulf Shores Glow Yoga

For all the details, visit www.YogaLifeFair.com,

call Billie Reinhart at 251-379-4493 or email Yoga@YogaLifeFair.com