Natural Awakenings Southeast Texas Sept 2015

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

feel good • live simply • laugh more

SPECIAL ISSUE

P L A N E T

FREE

Ageless Mind, Body & Spirit The Fun of Free Play Yoga as Medicine Couchsurfing the Globe Eye Health for Dogs

September 2015 | Southeast Texas Edition | NA-SETexas.com

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The Hidden Deficiency Having the proper amount of iodine in our system at all times is critical to overall health, yet the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that iodine deficiency is increasing drastically in light of an increasingly anemic national diet of unpronounceable additives and secret, unlabeled ingredients. This deficit now affects nearly three-quarters of the population.

Causes of Iodine Deficiency

Radiation

Almost everyone is routinely exposed to iodine-depleting radiation

Low-Sodium Diets

Overuse of zero-nutrient salt substitutes in foods leads to iodine depletion

Iodized Table Salt

Iodized salt may slowly lose its iodine content by exposure to air

Bromine

A toxic chemical found in baked goods overrides iodine's ability to aid thyroid

Iodine-Depleted Soil Poor farming techniques have led to declined levels of iodine in soil

A Growing Epidemic Symptoms range from extreme fatigue and weight gain to depression, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, fibrocystic breasts and skin and hair problems. This lack of essential iodine can also cause infertility, joint pain, heart disease and stroke. Low iodine levels also have been associated with breast and thyroid cancers; and in children, intellectual disability, deafness, attention deficient and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impaired growth, according to studies

by Boston University and the French National Academy of Medicine.

What to Do The easy solution is taking the right kind of iodine in the right dosage to rebalance thyroid function and restore health to the whole body.

letterfrompublisher Just like you, I enjoy the articles included in

each issue, and I especially enjoy this month’s feature. It probably started when I read how people turning 50 are receiving promotional

contact us

items for walkers & long-term care insurance.

Publisher Roxanne Pirooz

Keep in mind, Brook Shields just turned 50 and

Editor Mitch Sawyer

not be needing adult diapers for at least another

Demi Moore is 52. I believe they will probably 50 years. And this is today’s agelessness. My

Contributing Writer Melanie Rankin Design & Production Melanie Rankin Accounting Michele Valerio Sales & Marketing Roxanne Pirooz Natural Awakenings of Southeast Texas P.O. Box 3603, Houston, TX 77253 Phone: 409-939-8156 NA-SETexas.com Roxanne@NA-SETexas.com Follow us on: Facebook.com/nasetexas

favorite line in the article is that 60 is the new 40. Does that mean 40 is the new 20? I hope so, because I just passed 40 in the rear view mirror not long ago (although longer than I prefer), and it does feel a bit like starting a new chapter.

When I graduated college, I started working for large companies. It is 20 years

later, and now I have walked into a new life as a business owner. I am now the CEO. And my baby, what you hold dearly in your hand, has just turned 6 months old. Since I don’t yet have children, it seems that normally, by 6 months, babies learn to communicate and might be able to sit up alone. This one is on the right path as I have heard from many readers how they really enjoy and love the magazine. So we are now at the right communication stage, and almost able to sit up on our own.

I am very proud of this publication and what is has already offered many of

you, and I am grateful for all the people it has brought into my life. The article also mentions that “you’ll find that joy comes in ways that are unique to you.” My wish is that all of you reading find your joy as well, and find a way to live it every day.

Although I now have new challenges, I am finding the joy in everyday existence. ©2015 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained in writing.

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

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.

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

Friends are a big part of that for me, and this publication gives me the opportunity to make new friends every day, while supporting the local community. Read the “Choose Happiness” article by Linda Joy for help finding your own joyfulness.

Physical fitness also brings me joy—connecting with my body and feeling

what it needs. And it was so interesting for me to learn about how integrated yoga is now becoming in our world—so much so that even the medical community is supporting it. A number of great articles are included in this issue, and I hope you enjoy them, and find some joy in every day.

Namaste.

To sign up for a copy of our monthly digital magazine, email

Info@NA-SETexas.com Natural Awakenings is printed on recyclable paper with soybased ink.

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Southeast Texas

Roxanne, Publisher NA-SETexas.com

glossy IS NOT green

contents 6 newsbriefs 9 healthbriefs 10 globalbriefs 1 1 ecotip 9 1 1 actionalert 15 healingways 16 fitbody 18 localwisewords 21 wisewords 10 22 greenliving 24 healthykids 26 naturalpet 27 inspiration 28 calendar 30 classifieds 3 1 resourceguide

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advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 409-939-8156 or email Roxanne@NA-SETexas.com.

Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Info@NA-SETexas.com.

Deadline for editorial: the 5th of the month.

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

12 AGELESS BEING

by Kathleen Barnes

15 CHOOSE HAPPINESS

Four Tips to Flip the Joy Switch

by Linda Joy

16 YOGA ENTERS THE

MEDICAL MAINSTREAM

15

Research Proves its Health Benefits

by Meredith Montgomery

18 YOGA FOR AN

AGING POPULATION

by Melanie Rankin

21 ALEXANDRA PAUL

ON VEGAN ACTIVISM Her Kind Lifestyle Honors All Living Things

by Gerry Strauss

22 GREENING

AMERICA’S GAMES

Major Leagues Sport More Sustainable Stadiums

by Avery Mack

24 WHOLE CHILD SPORTS

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Email Calendar Events to: Info@NA-SETexas.com.

Deadline for calendar: the 5th of the month.

Free Play Earns the Winning Score

REGIONAL MARKETS Advertise your products or services in multiple markets!

Natural Awakenings Publishing Corp. is a growing franchised family of locally owned magazines serving communities since 1994. To place your ad in other markets call 239-449-8309. For franchising opportunities call 239-530-1377 or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

10 Foods to Keep Canine Vision Sharp

NA-SETexas.com

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Staying Vibrant in Mind, Body and Spirit

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by Luis Fernando Llosa

26 EYE HEALTH FOR DOGS

by Audi Donamor

27 THE ADVENTURE

27

OF COUCHSURFING Stay with Locals and Make New Friends

by Lisa Rosinky

natural awakenings

September 2015

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newsbriefs Galveston Vegan Meetup Now at Oasis Juice Bar

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asis Juice Bar will now host the Galveston Vegan Meetup group on the fourth Thursday of every month.

For September, the meeting will be the 24th.

Although the café is normally closed at this time, hours will be extended solely for this group. Participants are encouraged to bring a vegan dish to this potluck event and identify ingredients when sharing to accommodate special dietary needs. The group looks to create a sense of community and support for vegans in the area. Films may also be offered in the future. RSVP is requested through Meetup.com, and guests of members are welcome.

Location: Oasis Juice Bar, 409 25th St.,, Galveston. 6:308:30pm. For more information, visit Meetup.com/GalvestonVegan-Meetup.

“It’s Your Time” Women’s Conference Returns to League City

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ouston Methodist and the League City Regional Chamber of Commerce will host a day for women at the “It’s Your Time” Women’s Conference.

This daylong conference will begin September 18 at 8am with breakfast and will run until 5pm. Bestselling New York Times author Debbie Macomber, whose popular Cedar Cove series was adapted to a Hallmark Channel show, will deliver a keynote address.

Throughout the day, women may choose to attend a number of custom workshops focusing on topics such as health and wellness, entrepreneurship, spirituality and education.

Examples include Workplace Wellness, Branding Yourself & Your Company, Networking, and Finding Healthy Whole Relationships. Fifteen vendors will showcase a variety of unique items and services. Event chairman Sue Rightly says that the conference will help women come together in camaraderie, make new friends and experience inner growth.

Cost: $75. Location: South Shore Harbour Resort, 2500 South Shore Blvd., League City. To register online and for more information, go to ItsYourTimeWomensConference.com.

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Galveston’s First Triathlon for Women & Girls

Run Walk Jog for Newspapers in Education

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he Island Girl Triathlon launches its first triathlon for women and girls in Galveston. The event is for first timers as well as veteran triathletes. It offers a 200-meter swim in the Palm Beach lazy river at Moody Gardens, a flat eight-mile bike ride in Galveston and a short two-mile run or walk around tropical Moody Gardens. After the race, great local food and refreshments will be provided. Women and girls ages 8 and up are encouraged to join. Packets may be picked up September 17-20. Helmets are required for bikes, and any style bike is acceptable. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to FTR Kids Galveston, which promotes running and healthy living among youth in Galveston County.

Proceeds will also go to the Galveston Island Humane Society to promote animal welfare and the protection and prevention of unwanted or homeless animals.

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Cost: $120-$270, depending on individual or relay team. Preregistration is required, packet pick-up Sept. 17-20. Location: The Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston. To register, go to IslandGirlTri.com. For more information call 832-423-4236 or email idutri2@prodigy.net or Kim@fitTRIrun.com.

Cost: $15-$45, depending on race. Preregistration is required; packet pick-up Sept. 10-12. Location: The Daily News, 8522 Teichman Road, Galveston. For more information and to register, go to GalvNews.com/PressRun.

he Galveston County Daily News is hosting its fourth annual Press Run on Saturday, September 12 to support their Newspapers in Education program. Participants can run, walk or jog on Galveston Causeway courses. Other features are an exciting Kid’s 1K, vendor booths, food, drinks, snacks, moonwalks, music, a costume contest and much more. Newspapers in Education provides resources that use the newspaper to develop reading comprehension skills, critical thinking and a better understanding of the way the world relates to the classroom.

There is a waiting list of teachers who want to join, and public support would allow more teachers to participate in this program. Awards will be provided, including a Costume Contest where runners are encouraged to come dressed as a favorite book character.

Family Fun Run in Pearland

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earland Parks & Recreation has teamed up with Counseling Connections for Change to host the Family Matters Fun Run on September 19. Both 5K and 10K USATF-sanctioned courses will start and finish at the Pearland Town Center Pavilion. The run benefits the Counseling Connections for Change, a non-denominational nonprofit dedicated to strengthening mental health in Brazoria County. Registration covers the cost of hosting the fun run, and any additional donations are tax deductible. Packet pick up is September 17-18 at Wild Pear Running.

Cost: $35. Preregistration is required, packet pick-up Sept.

17-18. Location: Pearland Town Center, 11200 W. Broadway St., Pearland. To register and for more information, go to FamilyMattersFunRun.org.

Real peace is always unshakable...

Bliss is unchanged by gain or loss. ~Yogi Bhajan natural awakenings

September 2015

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News to Share?

Do you have a special event in the community?

Are you opening a new office or moving?

Recently become certified in a new modality?

Let us know about it!

newsbriefs League City Community Health & Safety Fair

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n September 12, the Associated Credit Union of Texas will partner with the League City Chamber of Commerce to encourage good health with a Health & Safety Fair. Physical and financial health, as well as safety knowledge, is presented in a fun, educational atmosphere for the community. More than 30 vendors will talk on topics as diverse as pet safety, the importance of good hygiene, gun safety and more. Food, music and live entertainment will be available for attendees. Admission is free, and the fair runs from 9am to 12pm.

Location: 1095 W League City Parkway, League City. To register and for more information, go to ACUTX.org/HealthAndSafetyFair.

Small Business Health Symposium

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TMB and the Galveston Chamber of Commerce partner in offering the Small Business Health Symposium. The symposium aims to connect small business owners with experts in order to review the policies and insurance coverage of their businesses. Topics range from health coverage to legal representation, budgeting, and educational and staff development opportunities. Participants can network and assess whether they are thinking through all the critical components of their business strategy. The twohour symposium begins at 7:30am on September 8 and will be open to the public.

Location: Open Gates, 2419 Sealy Ave., Galveston. 7:30-9:30am. RSVP Requested.

For more information, call 409-766-4059 or email Mary Gonzalez at mlgonzal@ utmb.edu.

Harvest Moon and Autumn Equinox Labyrinth Walks

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News Briefs We welcome news items relevant to the subject matter of our magazine. We also welcome any suggestions you may have for a news item.

Call 409-939-8156 for additional information, or visit NA-SETexas.com 8

Southeast Texas

NA-SETexas.com

very month, at Moody Methodist Labyrinth, the public is invited to participate in full moon labyrinth walks, which begin approximately a half hour after sunset. September is the month of the Harvest Moon.

This month, a special Seasonal Sunrise walk will start approximately 10-15 minutes before sunrise. The labyrinth is a precision replica of the original Chartres design in France, adapted by Marty Kermeen. It is 39 feet in diameter, and the path is 12.5 inches wide, extending 750 feet in length. The labyrinth is a powerful process tool that has the capacity to open people in a supportive way to the deeper dimensions of human experience. It brings together the medical field and human spiritual needs.

Cost: Free. Location: Moody Methodist Labyrinth, 2803 53rd St., Galveston. For more information, call 409-744-4526 or go to Galveston.com/Labyrinth.

healthbriefs

Yoga Boosts Brain Gray Matter

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esearch from the Brain Imaging and Analysis Center at Duke University Medical Center has found that a regular hatha yoga practice increases gray matter within the brain, reversing the loss found among those with chronic pain. The researchers tested seven hatha yoga meditation practitioners and seven non-practitioners. Each of the subjects underwent tests for depression, anxiety, moods and cognition levels, along with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans.

The scientists found that the brains of the yoga meditation practitioners contained significantly greater gray matter by volume in key brain regions, including the frontal, temporal and occipital cortices, plus the cerebellum and the hippocampus, compared to the non-yoga subjects.

The yoga meditation practitioners also had more gray area in the prefrontal cortex regions that are involved in decision-making, reward/consequence, control and coordination.

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Support Groups Keep Artery Patients Mobile

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esearch published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has determined that when peripheral artery disease patients engage in behavioral support groups that encourage exercise, they realize increased mobility.

The researchers from Northwestern University followed 194 patients for a year, testing subjects at six months and again at 12 months. The patients were divided into two groups; one attended weekly intervention group meetings, while the control group attended weekly lectures.

After six months, the researchers found that only 6.3 percent of those that attended the support group meetings experienced mobility loss, compared to 26.5 percent of those that didn’t attend the meetings.

After one year, the support group attendees again showed positive results.

The control group had 18.5 percent loss in mobility, while only 5.2 percent of the support group attendees did.

Plants Absorb SecondHand Smoke, Too

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Chamomile Tea Helps Us Live Longer

on-smokers aren’t the only ones to suffer from passive smoking. New research from the Technical University of Braunschweig, in Germany, has determined that plants can also absorb nicotine from cigarette smoke, soil and pesticide sprays.

The data showed that many plants yield higher quantities of nicotine residues from periods when pesticides used contained nicotine. Plants that were mulched with tobacco leaves also absorbed nicotine into their leaves. “Tremendously elevated nicotine levels were detected after fumigation with cigarette smoke,” says Dirk Selmar, lead author of the study.

n a study of 1,677 Mexican-American men and women over the age of 65 from the Southwestern U.S., researchers have found that drinking chamomile tea decreases the risk of earlier mortality by an average of 29 percent.

Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch followed the study population for seven years.

Among those tested, 14 percent drank chamomile tea regularly. These were primarily women, and those women that drank chamomile tea experienced a 33 percent reduced mortality during the study period. The small group of men that drank the chamomile tea regularly did not register a significant difference in mortality.

Chamomile also has a long history of use in folk medicine and is primarily used to settle digestion and calm the mind. It is a leading natural herbal tea in many countries and contains no caffeine.

While various species may be used, chamomile tea is traditionally made by infusing the flowers of either German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) or Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) into hot water. In Spanish-speaking regions, chamomile tea is often referred to as manzanilla tea—consumed in Mexico and other Spanish cultures for centuries.

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

Breeze Please

A Third of U.S. Power May Be Wind by 2050 According to a new study by the U.S. Energy Department (Tinyurl.com/EnergyDepartmentWindReport), wind power could provide more than a third of the nation’s electricity in a few decades, while posting a net savings in energy costs. Undersecretary for Technology and Energy Lynn Orr, Ph.D., states, “With continued commitment, wind can be the cheapest, cleanest option in all 50 states by 2050.”

Wind power has tripled since 2000, and now supplies nearly 5 percent of the country’s electric power. The report says that it could dramatically reduce air pollution and go a long way toward meeting the country’s goals of slowing climate change.

Meanwhile, Spanish engineers have invented the Vortex Bladeless wind turbine, a hollow straw that sticks up 40 feet from the ground and vibrates when the wind passes through it. Instead of using a propeller, the Vortex takes advantage of an aerodynamic effect called vorticity. The result is a turbine that’s 50 percent less expensive than a bladed model and is nearly silent. It’s not as efficient as conventional turbines, but more of them can be placed in the same amount of space, for a net gain of 40 percent in efficiency. Plus, with no gears or moving parts, maintenance is much easier and they are safer for bats and birds.

Source: Wired

Bottomless Well

De-Salting Water Could Help Drought-Stricken Areas A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Jain Irrigation Systems has devised a method of turning brackish water into drinking water using renewable energy. This solar-powered machine is able to pull salt out of water and disinfect it with ultraviolet rays, making it suitable for both irrigation and drinking.

Electrodialysis works by passing a stream of water between two electrodes with opposite charges. Because the salt dissolved in water consists of positive and negative ions, the electrodes pull the ions out of the water, leaving fresher water at the center of the flow. A series of membranes separate the freshwater stream from increasingly salty ones.

The photovoltaic-powered electrodialysis reversal system recently won the top $140,000 Desal Prize from the U.S. Department of Interior. “This technology has the potential to bring agriculture to vast barren lands using brackish water,” says Richard Restuccia, Jain’s vice president of landscape solutions. The prize was developed to supply catalytic funding to capture and support innovative ideas and new technologies that could have a significant impact on resolving global water demand.

Among 13 desalination projects under consideration along the California coast, the Carlsbad Desalination Project will be the largest in the Western Hemisphere once it is completed in the fall.

Source: EcoWatch.com

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Embracing Invasives Rethinking the Balance of Nature

Environmental journalist Fred Pearce, author of the new book, The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature’s Salvation, traveled across six continents and ecosystems from remote Pacific islands to the United Kingdom and the Great Lakes to reveal some outdated scientific ideas about invasive species and the balance of nature.

Pearce argues that mainstream environmentalists are correct that we need a rewilding of the Earth, but they are wrong if they believe it can be achieved by reengineering ecosystems. He thinks that humans have changed the planet too much, and nature never goes backward. But a growing group of scientists is taking a fresh look at how species interact in the wild. According to these new ecologists, we should applaud the dynamism of alien species and the new ecosystems they create.

In an era of climate change and widespread ecological damage, it’s crucial that we find ways to help nature regenerate. Embracing this new ecology, Pearce proposes, is our best chance, maintaining, “To be an environmentalist in the 21st century means celebrating nature’s wildness and capacity for change.”

Source: Earthtalk.org

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old. ~George Burns

ecotip

actionalert Happy Eco-Birthday!

Dark Act

Parties that Celebrate Life and the Planet

Protect Truth and Transparency in GMO Food Labeling

The most memorable birthday parties make us feel good, and going green makes them feel even better.

Youngsters Location matters. Consider a park or beach as a setting to promote exercise and time outdoors. Children’s museums and wildlife centers frequently host kids’ birthday parties. Other “experience parties”, as suggested at Tinyurl.com/GreenChildPartyTips, include pottery making, tie-dyeing organic T-shirts or touring a local fire station.

Forgo traditional trappings. Rather than using paper materials, consider decorating an old sheet as a festive tablecloth, utilize recycled computer or other repurposed paper to print custom placemats, and personalize cloth napkins found at estate sales or made from old clothes with guest names written with fabric pens for a unique and reusable party favor. Find details on these and other tips at Tinyurl. com/PBS-Green-Party-Ideas.

Sustainable gifts. PlanToys makes its toys from rubberwood, a sustainable byproduct of latex harvesting, and non-formaldehyde glues. For preteens, gift a subscription to the National Wildlife Federation’s Ranger Rick magazine or a birdhouse or bird feeder.

Make a maestro. Presenting a gift card for introductory music lessons can launch a young musician. A recent study by the National Association for Music Education notes that early exposure to music develops language, reading, math and memorization skills; improves hand-eye coordination; builds confidence and a sense of achievement; and promotes social interaction and teamwork when performing with others. Or, give tickets to introduce a child to classical, pops or jazz concert-going.

Adults Healthy drinks and eats. Serve or bring organic, locally made beer and wine and pure fruit juices. Have the party catered by a health food restaurant or store, or order organic takeout.

Do-good gifts. Antique and consignment shops are filled with items rich in culture and history. Museums, art centers and specialty gift shops offer fair trade creations handmade by overseas workers that all purchases assist.

Family ties. Work beforehand with a partner or family member of the birthday celebrant to showcase family photos at the party and spark sharing of nostalgic stories among guests.

On July 23, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of H.R. 1599, known by supporters as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act and dubbed the “Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act” by opponents.

The bill removes the requirement that foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) be labeled as such, preventing consumers from the right to know whether or not the foods they purchase contain potentially harmful ingredients. If it becomes law, H.R. 1599 will preempt state labeling requirements, including the pioneering Vermont GMO labeling law scheduled to take effect next year.

First, a companion bill will have to clear the Senate. No date is set yet for this and the time to let our senators know that we want to protect truth and transparency on food labels and encourage them to oppose the DARK Act starts now.

Make the people’s voice heard by contacting local state senators, call 202-224-3121 and visit Tinyurl.com/ ContactYourSenatorToday.

Call (808) 439-6994 or Toll-Free (844) 883-4551

http://www.ihwc.in September 20 - 24 , 2015 Honolulu, HI th

th

Come and learn some of Hawaii’s secrets of Longevity and Happiness

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AGELESS BEING Staying Vibrant in Mind, Body and Spirit

by Kathleen Barnes

Agelessness: Engaging in and experiencing life without fear of falling, failing or falling apart.

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n a nutshell, that’s the philosophy of visionary women’s health expert Dr. Christiane Northrup, of Yarmouth, Maine, as explored in her latest book, Goddesses Never Age.

“We’re long overdue for a paradigm shift about how we feel about growing older,” says Northrup. “You can change your future by adopting a new, ageless attitude that will help you flourish physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. We don’t have to buy into modern medicine’s promotion of the idea of the pathology of aging.”

One of Northrup’s primary admonitions: “Don’t tell anyone how old you are. Another birthday means nothing.”

Maintain a Sound Mind

Our Western society fosters a belief system that we will become decrepit, frail

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and mentally feeble at a certain age.

“When my mother turned 50, her mailbox suddenly filled with ads for adult diapers, walkers and long-term care insurance,” Northrup quips. The point is well taken. Think vibrant, healthy, gorgeous and yes, sexy Sandra Bullock, Johnny Depp, Chris Rock and Brooke Shields—all 50 or older—as the targets of ads for Depend.

We’re living and working longer, and many of us are feeling, looking and staying young longer. So is 60 the new 40? Yes, say State University of New York at Stony Brook researchers, and further note that we’re generally leading longer and healthier lives.

Centenarians are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. In the 2010 census, 53,364 people had surpassed their 100th year, an increase

of 40 percent over the 1980 census, and more than 80 percent of them are women. The National Institute on Aging projects that this number could increase tenfold or more by 2050.

What we think of as “old” has changed. Many baby boomers refuse to buy into the mythology of aging, bristle at being called senior citizens and especially dislike being called elderly.

Their position is backed by science.

Stem cell biologist Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., author of Biology of Belief and currently a visiting professor at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, in Auckland, is best known for promoting the concept that DNA can be changed by belief, for good or ill.

Lipton explains that we all have billions of stem cells designed to repair or replace damaged—and aging—tissues and organs. “[These cells] are profoundly influenced by our thoughts and perceptions about the environment,” Lipton explains. “Hence our beliefs about aging can either interfere with or enhance stem cell function, causing our physiological regeneration or decline.”

“Yes, we are destined to grow older, but decrepitude and what we call aging is an optional state,” Northrup adds.

“Our genes, nutrition and environment are under our control far more than we may have thought.” More, she says, “Words are powerful. Don’t talk yourself into believing your brain is turning to mush just because you are over 40.”

Take Control of the Body

“Manage the four horsemen of the aging apocalypse,” encourages nutrition and longevity expert Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., a Los Angeles board-certified nutritionist and author of The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer. He says the aging process, including disease, loss of physical or mental function and the general breakdown of systems, is caused by one or more of four factors: oxidative damage (literally rusty cells); inflammation; glycation (excess sugar, metabolic syndrome); and stress.

“Collectively, they damage cells and DNA, wear down organs and systems, deeply damage the vascular pathways that deliver blood and oxygen to the entire body, and even shrink brain size,” explains Bowden.

While it may seem like a tall order to make lifestyle changes that vanquish these four horsemen, Bowden says they can be broken into manageable elements by employing an arsenal of healthful weapons: whole foods, nutrients, stress-reduction techniques, exercise, detoxification and relationship improvement. “All of these actually do double duty, battling more than one of the four processes that can effectively shorten your life,” he reports, based on his 25 years of study.

Oxidative Damage

Consider what rust does to metal. That’s what free radical oxygen molecules do to cells. Over time, they damage them and cause aging from within.

“Oxidative damage plays a major role in virtually every degenerative disease of aging, from Alzheimer’s to cancer to heart disease and diabetes, even immune dysfunction,” says Bowden.

His recommended key to destroying free radicals is a diet rich in antioxidants, including lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and healthy fats, nuts, grassfed meats and organic dairy products.

Avoid environmental free radicals that show up in toxic chemicals by eating as much organic food as possible and avidly avoiding residues of the poisonous pesticides and herbicides sprayed on crops eaten by people and livestock.

Inflammation

Long-term inflammation is a silent killer because it operates beneath the radar, often unnoticed, damaging blood vessel walls. Like oxidative damage, inflammation is a factor in all the degenerative diseases associated with aging, says Bowden.

His suggestion: First, get a Creactive protein (CRP) test to determine the levels of inflammation in our body.

A CRP level over 3 milligrams/liter indicates a high risk of a heart attack. Antiinflammatory foods like onions, garlic, leafy greens, tomatoes, beans, nuts and seeds have all been widely scientifically proven to reduce chronic inflammation.

Glycation

This is the result of excessive sugar that glues itself to protein or fat molecules, leaving a sticky mess that creates advanced glycation end (AGE) products that damage all body systems and are

Compute Your Real Age Lifestyle choices can make our bodies older, or younger, than our number of orbits around the sun, according to Michael Roizen, a doctor of internal medicine and author of This is Your Do-Over: The 7 Secrets of Losing Weight, Living Longer, and Getting a Second Chance at the Life You Want. “Seventy percent of aging is in the simple things you do or don’t do,” he maintains.

Here are a few sobering examples: n An unresolved major life stressor, such as a divorce, being sued, the death of a close relative or other traumatic events, can add up to 32 years to chronological age. Managing the stress adds a relatively insignificant two years. n Swap out saturated fats (cheese and meat) for monounsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts and avocados). Subtract 2.5 years from chronological age. n Get up out of the chair every 15 minutes and also take a 10-minute walk every two hours. Subtract 2.1 years from chronological age. n Have close friends. Subtract 2.1 years from chronological age.

Take the Real Age test at ShareCare.com/RealAge.

acknowledged culprits in the dreaded diseases associated with aging.

Bowden’s basic answer is to minimize intake of sugar and simple carbs; anything made with white flour or white rice. Also avoid fried dishes and any foods cooked at high temperatures that actually skip the glycation production in the body and deliver harmful AGEs directly from the food. He advises taking 1,000 mg of carnosine (available in health food stores) daily to prevent glycation.

Stress

The long-term effects of physical, mental or emotional stress are tremendously damaging to the human physiology.

Sustained exposure to the stress hormone cortisol can shrink parts of the brain, damage blood vessels, increase blood sugar levels, heart rate and blood pressure and contribute to chronic inflammation, according to wellestablished science recorded in the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Bowden warns, “Stress management is not a luxury.” In its many forms, including prayer, meditation and breathing exercises, it should be part of any agelessness program. Deep, restful sleep is as vital a component as ending toxic relationships, having a nurturing circle of friends and doing familiar, gentle exercise such as yoga or tai chi.

Overall, Bowden adds, “Rather than thinking of such endeavors as antiaging, I strive to embody the concept of age independence. I admire former Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, who resigned from the court when he reached age 90 because he wanted to play more tennis.”

Bowden recommends embracing the concept of “squaring the curve”, meaning that instead of anticipating and experiencing a long downhill slope of poor health leading to death, “I look at a long plateau of health, with a steep drop-off at the end.”

Wellness guru Dr. Michael Roizen, chair of the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute, contends that although our chronological age can’t be changed, “Your ‘real age’ [calculated from data he collected from 60 million people] is the result of a wide variety of factors that are within your control.

Dietary choices alone can make you

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September 2015

13

13 years younger or older than your actual age.”

Roizen adds uncontrolled portion sizes, tobacco use and physical inactivity to the list of lifeshortening lifestyle options.

Align with Spirit

“If you don’t have some kind of spiritual foundation, literally, God help you,” says Northrup. “God isn’t confined to a book or a church, mosque or synagogue. Divinity is the creative loving, vital flow of life force that we’re all part of and connected to.

Our bodies are exquisite expressions meant to embody, not deny our spirits.”

Touch, pleasure and sex can be part of it, too. Individuals that have the most fulfilling sex lives live the longest, according to researchers conducting the University of California, Riverside’s Longevity Project. “Pleasure comes in infinite forms,” says Northrup. “It can mean the exquisite taste of a pear or the sound of an angelic symphony, the kiss of sun on skin, the laughter of a child, spending time with friends or creating a pastel landscape. When you experience pleasure, God comes through and you become aware of your divine nature.

You’ll find that joy comes in ways that are unique to you.”

Connection with the natural world is an essential element of agelessness, says Northrup. “The human body evolved to walk on the Earth, drinking its water, breathing its air and basking in its sunlight.” The bottom line is, “Agelessness is all about vitality. Taking all the right supplements and pills, or getting the right procedure isn’t the prescription for antiaging,” says this renowned physician.

“It’s ageless living that brings back a sense of vibrancy and youthfulness.”

We could live to be well over 100 years old and, as Northrup likes to paraphrase Abraham Hicks, of The Law of Attraction fame, “Wouldn’t you rather have your life end something like this: ‘Happy-healthy, happy-healthy, happy-healthy, dead.’ Isn’t that a lot better than suffering sickness, decrepitude and frailty for years?”

Kathleen Barnes is the author of numerous books on natural health, her latest being Food Is Medicine: 101 Prescriptions from the Garden. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

Age-Defying Exercise

by Kathleen Barnes

S

pecially designed movements performed to music can dramatically improve memory, as well as slow the process of physical aging, according to Denise Medved, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, the founder of Ageless Grace.

Medved’s foundational physical and mental exercise classes involve 21 exercises that promote brain plasticity by activating all five functions of the brain: analytic, strategic, kinesthetic learning, memory/recall and creativity and imagination. Find videos of Ageless Grace exercises by searching YouTube, including this one: n While sitting in a chair (all exercises are taught in this position to develop core strength), make a circle with the right lower arm. n Add a triangular motion with the left foot. n Next, add a horizontal movement with the left hand. n Finally, do the entire series in reverse.

Classes are available in all 50 states and in 12 countries. To find a teacher nearby, visit AgelessGrace.com.

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healingways

Choose Happiness Four Tips to Flip the Joy Switch

by Linda Joy

A

recent Harris Interactive poll indicates that only one in three Americans are happy. Success, education and increases in annual household income create only marginally more happiness. So what will it take to go the distance?

Inspiration for a Woman’s Soul: Choosing Happiness endeavors to discover just that. Its collection of intimate stories from more than two dozen women reveals telling insights— most profoundly, that happiness is a choice that anyone can make, regardless of their history or circumstances.

Four tips from contributors to the book show how we all can rise up out of our troubles to the other side, shining.

Let Go of ‘Supposed To’

Family, friends and society exert pressure on us to achieve certain goals or impose their definition of success.

When our soul doesn’t fit the mold, exciting things can happen.

Happiness strategist Kristi Ling seemed to have it all: a high-powered job in Hollywood, significant income and the envy of all her friends—but her

success felt empty. She writes from her home in Los Angeles, “Each morning I’d get up thinking about who I needed to please, and then prepare myself to exist for another day. I looked and felt exhausted just about all the time. The worst part was that I thought I was doing everything right!”

After a middle-of-the-night epiphany, Ling left her job and set out to discover what her heart wanted. She began following a completely different life path as a coach and healer, in which success means manifesting joy.

Be Grateful Now

While we’re striving to change our life or wishing things could have been different, we often forget to pay attention to what we have right now.

Boni Lonnsburry, a conscious creation expert and founder/CEO of Inner Art, Inc., in Boulder, Colorado, writes about the morning she decided to choose happiness, despite the enormous challenges she was facing, including divorce, foreclosure, bankruptcy and possible homelessness. “I thought to myself, ‘Yes, my life could be better, but it also could be a hell of a lot worse. I’m healthy and smart—why, I even have some wisdom. Why am I focusing on how terrible everything is?’”

Using the power of her choice to be happy right now, Lonnsburry not only found joy amidst the adversity, but created love and success beyond her wildest dreams.

Let Love In

We all want to feel loved, but when we’re afraid of getting hurt, we put up barriers

to protect ourselves, even against the love we want.

Certified Relationship Coach Stacey Martino, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, writes, “From the first day we met, I’d been waiting for [my boyfriend] Paul to end our relationship. I begged him for another chance—not for our relationship, but to be my authentic self—to figure out who I am and show up in our relationship as the real me.”

Fourteen years later, Martino and her boyfriend, now husband, are still exploring the depths of their love for one another. For them, the choice to be vulnerable was the gateway to happiness.

Look Inward Instead of to Others

If we can’t own our pain, how can we create our joy? Choosing happiness means taking full responsibility for our state of mind, with no excuses.

Lisa Marie Rosati, of Kings Park, New York, who today helps other women catalyze their own transformation, writes: “I didn’t want to accept what was going on inside [me], so I looked outside for a way to make things better. I depended on intimate relationships to complete me, and on friends and acquaintances for entertainment. My self-esteem floated on incoming compliments and I absolutely never wanted to spend a minute alone with my own thoughts, lest they erode whatever happiness I possessed at the moment. I was exhausted, frustrated and quite frankly, pissed off.”

It took a flash of insight to set Rosati free of her patterns of blame—and then realizing she could create her own fulfillment was all it took to catapult her into a place of empowerment. Look out, world!

As Los Angeles happiness expert and Positive Psychology Coach Lisa Cypers Kamen says, “Happiness is an inside job.” Joy, love and inspired living are ours for the taking—all we must do is choose.

Linda Joy is the heart of Inspired Living Publishing and Aspire magazine. Inspiration for a Woman’s Soul: Choosing Happiness is her third in a series of bestselling anthologies. Next up is Inspiration for a Woman’s Soul: Cultivating Joy. Learn more at InspiredLivingPublishing.com.

natural awakenings

September 2015

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Breathe in experience, breathe out poetry.

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~Muriel Rukeyser

Yoga Enters the Medical Mainstream Research Proves its Health Benefits

by Meredith Montgomery

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fter practicing internal medicine for 10 years in Boston, Dr. Timothy McCall became a full-time writer, exploring the health benefits of yoga. As the medical editor of Yoga Journal and the author of Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing, he says, “In the late 90s, the conveyor belt of patient care continued to speed up and I got frustrated. There was less time to form relationships with patients, which is essential to providing quality care without excessive tests and drugs.”

Initially, McCall found that most of the documented research on yoga was from India, and notes it was low in quality from a Western perspective (though it is now excellent). In the West, the first notable scientific yoga article was published in 1973 in The Lancet on combining yoga and biofeedback to manage hypertension. According to the International Journal of Yoga, the surge in yoga’s popularity here finally gained academic interest in 2007, and there are now more than 2,000

yoga titles in the National Institutes of Health PubMed.gov database, with 200 added annually.

Initially, yoga teacher and economist Rajan Narayanan, Ph.D., founded the nonprofit Life in Yoga Foundation and Institute to offer free teacher training. Within a couple of years, the foundation’s focus shifted to integrating yoga into the mainstream healthcare system. “We realized that to make a real difference, we needed to teach doctors about yoga and its scientifically proven effects,” he says. Medical providers can earn credits to keep their licenses current by attending courses

by Life in Yoga, the only yoga institution independently certified by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

Currently, even if physicians don’t practice yoga, it’s likely that many of their patients do. “You now see it everywhere from major medical centers to mainstream advertising,” says McCall, who notes an increase in doctors, nurses and therapists attending the Yoga as

Any physical exercise done with breath awareness Mounting Evidence becomes yoga; “Yoga may help prevent diseases across the board be- anything done cause the root cause of 70 to without the 90 percent of all disorders is stress,” says Narayanan. Yoga breath is just a increases the body’s ability to physical practice.

Medicine seminars he and his wife Eliana teach internationally and from their Simply Yoga Institute studio, in Summit, New Jersey.

therapy like there are for pharmaceuticals,” remarks Narayanan, and until yoga is funded by health insurance, it will be challenging to gain full acceptance in mainstream medicine.

Another barrier is certification standards. The International Association of Yoga Therapists (iayt. org) and the Council for Yoga Accreditation Intersuccessfully respond to stress national (cyai.org) are both by activating the parasympa- ~Rajan Narayaran beginning to offer certificathetic nervous system, which tions for therapy training slows the heart and lowers blood presprograms and therapists. Narayanan is sure. That in turn suppresses sympathetic hopeful that certification could lead to activity, reducing the amount of stress yoga being covered by insurance. hormones in the body.

Medical school curricula have

Studies collected on PubMed.gov started shifting to embrace complemendemonstrate that yoga has been found to tary approaches to wellness, with many help manage hypertension, osteoporosis, textbooks now including information body weight, physical fitness, anxiety, on mind/body therapies. The Principles depression, diabetes, reproductive and Practices of Yoga in Healthcare, cofunctions and pregnancy, among other edited by Sat Bir Khalsa, Lorenzo Cohen, issues. Studies at California’s PrevenMcCall and Shirley Telles and due out tive Medicine Research Institute have in 2016, is the first professional-level, tracked amelioration of heart disease. medical textbook on yoga therapy.

A growing body of research is validat “Yoga has been proven to treat ing yoga’s benefits for cancer patients, many conditions, yet yoga teachers including at the University of Texas M.D. don’t treat conditions, we treat individAnderson Cancer Center. A small study uals,” says McCall. “Yoga therapy is not at Norway’s University of Oslo suggests a one-size-fits-all prescription because that yoga even alters gene expression, different bodies and minds, with differindicating it may induce health benefits ent abilities and weaknesses, require on a molecular level. individualized approaches.”

While medical research is working Cultural Challenges to grant yoga more legitimacy among “For yoga to be effective, a regular doctors, policymakers and the public, practice must be implemented, which McCall says, “I believe these studies is challenging in a culture where are systematically underestimating people can’t sit for long without an how powerful yoga can be. Scielectronic device. It’s more than ence may tell us that it decreases just popping pills,” says Narayanan. systolic blood pressure and corti McCall says, “Even if people sol secretion and increases lung can commit to just a few mincapacity and serotonin levels, utes of yoga practice a day, if but that doesn’t begin to they keep it up the benefits capture the totality of what can be enormous.” yoga is.”

“There are no sales reps Meredith Montgomery, a telling doctors to use yoga registered yoga teacher, publishes Natural September is Awakenings of National Yoga Mobile/Baldwin, Month AL (Healthy LivingHealthy Planet.com).

When Yoga Can Help 4 Addictions 4 Anxiety spectrum disorders 4 Back pain 4 Cancer 4 Depression 4 Diabetes 4 Endocrine issues 4 Heart disease 4 Hypertension 4 Mental health conditions 4 Metabolic syndrome 4 Musculoskeletal and neuromuscular complaints 4 Neurological and immune disorders 4 Pregnancy issues 4 Premenstrual syndrome, perimenopausal symptoms 4 Respiratory issues 4 Weight management

Yoga is the fountain of youth. You’re only as young as your spine is flexible.

natural awakenings

~Bob Harper

September 2015

17

localwisewords

Yoga for an Aging Population

by Melanie Rankin

A

s the baby or conditions, but boomers Yoga Nidra is a began movpowerful practice ing into the 21st that can benefit century, the only everyone across certainty among the board. Yoga social scientists Nidra translates was that the United to “yoga sleep” States population and is a systematic would be classimethod of inducing fied as increasingly complete physical, aging. Indeed, the mental and emoKathleen DiNatale U.S. Census Butional relaxation. reau estimates that It is an ancient by 2030, more than 20 percent of U.S. Tantric practice that Swami Satyananda residents will be aged 65 and over, a 7 Saraswati helped to make more accespercent increase over 2010, and a 10.2 sible to the Western mind by explaining percent increase over 1970. Less cerits scientific basis. tain was how U.S. culture would shape around the needs of this group.

Do you need yoga experience to

Kathleen DiNatale, certified yoga practice Yoga Nidra? instructor and owner of The Yoga Not at all. After a few simple stretches Haven, on Galveston Island, sat down and yoga asanas, to prepare the body with Natural Awakenings to discuss the for relaxation, participants lie on the relationship between yoga and aging. floor, comfortably supported with blankets and bolsters in Shavasanna, Why do you feel yoga is helpful or corpse pose. The object is to be to today’s seniors? comfortable and to remain as still as Yoga offers benefits to people of all possible while the instructor guides you ages, but it can be particularly benthrough a series of practices designed eficial as we age. We seniors are in to take you into a deeply relaxed a different state of health and have a state between wakefulness and sleep, different mentality than the generation without loss of awareness. Yoga Nidra before us. The paradigms of our parents is a practice of Pratyahara, a systematic just don’t work, and we need new ways withdrawal of the senses and awareness of coping—new ways to help us age from external to internal. gracefully. And yoga provides that.

Do you recommend any particular style of yoga for seniors?

At The Yoga Haven we offer several styles of yoga that are beneficial for seniors, some suited to specific injuries

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What would the practice look like?

The practices that the participants are led through begin with setting a positive intention, or Sankalpa, repeating the phrase three times. This is to plant seed for a positive mind state that will be cultivated within the practice.

Next is Rotation of Consciousness, wherein the instructor moves you through each body part, encouraging an awareness of the parts and eventually the whole body.

Breath Awareness is the next phase, watching the breath, or counting the breaths to deepen the relaxation response.

Feelings and Sensations are addressed in the following sequence by drawing attention to pairing opposite feelings such as hot and cold, heaviness and lightness, joy and sorrow.

Pairing feelings harmonizes the opposite hemispheres of the brain and helps in balancing our basic drives and controlling functions that are normally unconscious.

Visualization is the last stage of Yoga Nidra. The images that are used often have universal significance and powerful associations—they bring the hidden contents of deep consciousness into the conscious mind. Images used include landscapes, oceans, mountains, temples, saints, flowers, stories and psychic symbols. Visualization develops self-awareness and relaxes the mind, leading to concentration, or Dharana. In advanced stages, visualization can develop into Dhyana, or pure meditation.

This visualization process finishes with an image that evokes profound feelings of peace and calm, making the unconscious mind very receptive to positive thoughts and suggestions. The original resolve, or Sankalpa, is restated clearly and positively. This gives the mind strength and a positive outlook.

The practice is concluded by gradually bringing the mind from the condition of psychic sleep back to the waking state.

Do participants ever fall asleep?

Sometimes, and that’s all right. The subconscious still takes in the meditation and benefits from it. It’s a very deep relaxation, so snoring also happens.

Usually the instructor walking towards the client, or even lightly touching the toes, is enough to stop the snoring without breaking the meditation.

inspiration

Are there studies supporting Yoga Nidra practice among seniors?

Yes, geriatric hospitals in France have conducted many studies on psychological difficulties related to old age, such as loss of confidence, low self-esteem, depression and dependency. Their goal has been to help prevent geriatric patients from transferring these psychological difficulties into physical symptoms. Yoga Nidra has provided such positive results that it is part of regular treatment.

You mentioned ‘across the board’ benefits. Can you elaborate?

Because Yoga Nidra teaches conscious, sequential relaxation, it provides a tool that anyone can apply to their daily lives. The techniques learned can be applied to stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain management—any area where relaxation would be beneficial.

Are there a minimum number of classes required?

Even one class will provide benefits. As with any meditation or relaxation, the more often you practice, the deeper you are able to immerse. Having a trained instructor lead you through the process also helps you relax more deeply.

The Yoga Haven offers Yoga Nidra every Sunday at 7pm, and drop-ins are welcome. Once per month, we combine the class with a popular gong meditation. The resonance provides sound healing and allows an even deeper submersion.

Cultivating a relaxed state in the subconscious mind will sow the seeds of agelessness. Our bodies may age, but our minds don’t have to.

The Yoga Haven is located at 2507 Market St., Galveston Island. For information, call 409-770-9995 or visit TheYogaHaven.net. See ad, page 6.

Om Sweet Om

Sounding the Key Note of the Universe

by Sam Saunders

O

“

m” is a Hindu sacred sound considered the greatest of all mantras, traditionally used in prayers, chants and meditation— possessing high spiritual and creative power, it can be recited by anyone. Om is both a sound and a symbol rich in meaning and depth. When pronounced correctly, it is actually “AUM.”

Aum consists of four syllables: A, U, M and the silent syllable.

The first syllable is A, pronounced as a prolonged “awe.” The sound starts at the back of the throat and is stretched out; sense the feeling of the solar plexus and chest vibrating.

The next is U, pronounced as a prolonged “o-o-,” with the sound gradually rolling forward along the upper palate and vibrating the throat.

The third syllable, M, is pronounced as a prolonged “mmmm,” with front teeth gently touching. Start to feel the top of the head vibrate.

The last syllable is the deep silence of the infinite. As intelligence rises from the deep silence, merge the chant from the M to the deep silence.

Why do we chant it?

Everything in the universe is pulsating and vibrating—with nothing standing still. The sound Om, when chanted, vibrates at 432 Hz, the same vibrational frequency found throughout nature.

By chanting the keynote sound of the universe, we are symbolically and physically tuning in to and acknowledging our connection to all other living beings, nature and the universe.

The universal vibrations and rhythmic pronunciation also physically affect the body by slowing the nervous system and calming the mind, similar to the effects of meditation. When the mind relaxes, blood pressure decreases and ultimately, heart health improves.

Finally, chanting AUM is wellsuited to mark the beginning or end of a yoga practice or meditation session or as a respite from regular daily activities. It signifies that this is a special time to care for ourselves and practice being mindful.

Sam Saunders lives and teaches yoga in Dubai. Connect at Sam@LoveYoga.ae.

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wisewords

is if humankind stops raising animals for food, so my veganism is helping the planet, as well as my own health.

Alexandra Paul on Vegan Activism

Which other aspects of your diet and lifestyle do you credit for looking and feeling vital?

Her Kind Lifestyle Honors All Living Things

by Gerry Strauss

I

him to stop pollution. As a dedicated citizen, my mom boycotted companies that acted against her ethics. Growing up with such a role model, trying to make the world better came naturally.

Walking my talk is a challenge I face daily as I choose what to buy, what to eat and how to be, and I also think it is the most effective way to encourage change in others.

What is your philosophy of life?

I became a vegetarian when I was 14, after reading Frances Moore Lappé’s Diet for a Small Planet, which taught me how eating meat was destructive to the planet. A couple of years later, I did a book report on Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation and learned the ethical reasons against eating animals. I stopped using cosmetics tested on animals when I was a teen and stopped wearing leather, wool and silk in my 20s. I finally gave up eating dairy in my late 40s, and I wish I’d done it earlier.

Although I did it to benefit animals, being vegan has enriched my life and changed the way I look at the world. The only way there will be enough food and water for Earth’s expected 10 billion people in 35 years

Be kind. Being kind is different from being nice. I spent my teens and 20s anxious to be nice, and all it gave me was a boatload of acquaintances and an inauthentic self. Nice aims to be popular.

Kindness is about doing the right thing: justice, fairness, patience, respect. Kindness is at the heart of why I’m a vegan, and why I’ve been arrested 16 times for civil disobedience supporting peace, equal rights and the environment. Being kind to myself inspires me to exercise and live healthfully.

How has activism forged your identity and inspired others?

I’ve been an activist since I was 7, when I wrote to President Nixon asking

photo by Denice Duff

t may seem odd that one of the most intensely dedicated public activists is also known for starring in one of TV’s most superficial shows of the 1990s, but Alexandra Paul overturns stereotypes. Behind that signature Baywatch onepiece that kept David Hasselhoff on his toes beats the heart of a true soldier for animal rights and population stabilization. At 52 years young, she is extremely fit and knowledgeable about the vegan lifestyle that got her there.

What drives your commitment to a vegan diet?

My husband Ian and I go to bed early and generally get up with the sun.

I’ve never consumed coffee, soda or alcohol, only water and protein shakes.

I believe being a vegetarian, and now a vegan, has given me tons of energy.

I also prioritize making time for my workout routine, and that helps me feel good every day.

I didn’t always have this serenity with my lifestyle and health. For a dozen years, until my late 20s, I struggled with bulimia. Becoming vegan improved my relationship with food, aligning my diet with my values, and I have never been more at peace with myself.

Why do you enjoy working out?

For me, being active is fun—not only because I feel good moving my body, but because I am also outside with friends, reading on a stationary bike or listening to favorite podcasts while stretching.

Six days a week, I do an hour of cardio; either swimming or the stationary bike. Every other day I practice yoga for at least 45 minutes to ensure that my back stays pain-free. Once a week, I go hiking for two hours with friends, chatting the whole time, which all makes it worth getting up at 4:30 a.m. I walk whenever I’m on a conference call, either outside or at my tread desk, a simple treadmill under a standing desk; I’m walking on it when I’m reading or answering emails, too. It’s the best present I ever gave myself.

Like everyone, sometimes I don’t particularly feel like working out, but all these factors make it easier to start, and once I start, I’m always glad to be exercising.

Gerry Strauss is a freelance writer in Hamilton, NJ. Connect at GerryStrauss@aol.com.

Kindness is about doing the right thing: justice, fairness, patience, respect. natural awakenings

September 2015

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Make your community a little GREENER …

Support our advertisers For every $100 spent in locally owned business, $68 returns to the community source: the350project.net

greenliving

GREENING AMERICA’S GAMES Major Leagues Sport More Sustainable Stadiums

by Avery Mack

T Youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art. ~Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

raditional sports stadiums and arenas generate a huge carbon footprint. Multiple sources concur that during a single football game, a 78,000-seat stadium can consume 65,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, and discarded cardboard, plastic and paper; in-stadium food and beverage containers; and tailgating debris that includes cans and bottles leave behind a mountain of waste.

A dozen years ago, the pioneering Philadelphia Eagles enlisted the help of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to begin a persistent push to their goal of going green. Today, the NRDC publishes the Greening Advisor guidebooks on green operating practices for all professional teams in Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer, plus the U.S. Tennis Association, and has expanded to include college sports.

Food

Stadium food has always been part of the fan experience, but it’s possible to eat sensibly and well with options like the roasted turkey sandwich at AT&T Park, in San Francisco, where concessionaires source locally and compost leftovers.

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Veggie burgers, vegan cheesesteaks and sushi have also found their way onto game-day menus to add a change of pace for fans, says Julianne Soviero, author of Unleash Your True Athletic Potential.

The growing interest shown by the sports industry in composting offers enormous potential benefits, and not a moment too soon, says Allen Hershkowitz, Ph.D., co-founder of the Green Sports Alliance and director of the NRDC Sports Project. Using recyclable containers counts—New York City’s venerable Yankee Stadium reduced its trash load by 40 percent by switching to biodegradable cups and service ware. PepsiCo supported the upgrade by exchanging its conventional plastic bottle for a bio-based version made from agricultural waste.

Lights

At New York’s Oncenter War Memorial Arena, the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch pro team skates under LED lights. “They make the arena brighter. It’s easier to see the puck,” says defenseman Joey Mormina. “The fun light show that follows goals adds energy for the crowd and players.”

LED lighting provides improved clarity in TV transmissions and sports action photos and doesn’t create

soft spots on the ice, like traditional lights. “Utica and Binghamton teams switched to LED after playing in our arena,” comments Jim Sarosy, chief operating officer for the Crunch.

Water

“The Crunch is the first pro hockey team to skate on recycled rainwater,” Sarosy adds. “It’s collected from the roof, stored in three central reservoirs in the basement and pumped into the Zamboni machine for resurfacing the ice.” The practice also diverts rainwater from overworked sewer systems.

The first pro football stadium to earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, the San Francisco 49ers Levi’s Stadium features a 27,000-square-foot rooftop garden to help control water runoff.

Home to the Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers and Kings, the Staples Center has swapped out 178 flush urinals for waterless models, reducing annual water usage by 7 million gallons.

Like the Eagles, the Florida Marlins pro baseball team, in Miami, now uses 50 percent less water via low-flow plumbing fixtures. Also, the stadium’s upgraded landscape design lessens outdoor irrigation needs by 60 percent.

The University of Georgia likes keeping its grass green, but hates wasteful water dispensers. Its football field is now watered via an underground irrigation system that saves a million gallons

a year. Soil moisture sensors indicate when watering is needed.

More Creative Practices

Lincoln Financial Field, home to the Philadelphia Eagles, now boasts more than 11,000 solar panels and 14 wind turbines that combined, generate more than four times the energy used for all home games in a season. The staff uses green cleaning products and has increased recycling more than 200 percent since 2010. Most creatively, the carbon costs of team travel are offset via mitigation by financing tree plantings in their home state and purchasing seedlings for a wildlife refuge in Louisiana.

The Seattle Mariners Safeco Field’s new scoreboard uses 90 percent less power than its predecessor and the Arizona Cardinals pro football team provides bags for tailgating fans to use for recycling.

Five NBA arenas have achieved LEED certification—Phillips Arena (Atlanta Hawks), Toyota Center (Houston Rockets), American Airlines Arena (Miami Heat), Amway Center (Orlando Magic) and Rose Garden (Portland Trail Blazers).

The goal of a cleaner, healthier planet is achievable with systemic shifts like these as more pro and collegiate sports teams score green points.

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September 2015

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healthykids

Whole Child Sports Free Play Earns the Winning Score

by Luis Fernando Llosa

M

any parents concerned that their children are getting engulfed by social media often turn to sports to spark physical activity. They scramble to sign their toddlers up for swimming and tennis lessons, T-ball and soccer practice, hoping these activities will teach their kids about motivation and leadership, while getting them off the couch and out the door. They hope that sports will be a conduit for their kids to learn what it takes to strive, drive toward a goal and succeed in later life.

As a result, more than 40 million kids across America are engaged in organized play. But youth sports are not a panacea; while parental intentions are good, they sometimes don’t realize the potential for negative consequences.

Those that have studied the phenomenon believe that youth sports—which on the surface, appear to provide a perfect environment for children to learn life lessons and develop critical social and physical skills—might hamper our children’s healthy physical, social, psychic and creative development.

Southeast Texas Edition

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Too Much Too Soon

It seems that many young kids playing on teams today are over-coached by controlling, command-oriented adults.

As Jenny Levy, head coach of the University of North Carolina’s 2013 NCAA champion women’s lacrosse team at Chapel Hill puts it, “Kids are kind of like overbred dogs, mimicking the drills we run in practice. They aren’t wired to think creatively. They do what they know. What’s safe.”

This kind of behavior can start at an early age, when kids should be engaging in free play with minimal adult supervision in unstructured settings. Parenting expert Kim John Payne, author of Simplicity Parenting and The Soul of Discipline, says, “Parents are giving in to enormous societal pressure to push kids into high-performance sports settings several times a week. It’s an ‘arms race’ of sorts, with the clear victims being the kids themselves that are robbed of their childhoods.”

There’s a much more holistic way kids can experience play, including

Every elite athlete starts as an innocent kid playing fun games. ~Travis Tygart, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for sports integrity

Why are most American kids getting turned off by sports by the time they should be really leaping into it? ~Steve Biddulph, author, Raising Boys and Raising Girls sports. An American Academy of Pediatrics study attests that free and unstructured play is healthy and essential for helping children reach important social, emotional and cognitive developmental milestones, plus managing stress and becoming resilient.

Payne observes, “In free play, children have to actively problem solve and take one another’s feelings into account if the play is to be successful. In sports, the social problem solving is largely extrinsic, facilitated by coaches, referees or parents. During a child’s formative stages, between the ages of 5 and 12, having the freedom to develop, create and innovate is critical.”

Creativity isn’t limited to only younger children. How sports are taught in this country at all levels, right up through college, often inhibits athletic creativity and problem solving—as Levy has noticed year after year in the freshmen players she trains—rather than fostering these attributes.

A Better Alternative

It’s crucial to consider the whole child, not just the budding athlete. To revive a child’s imagination and create better conditions for developing creativity, resiliency and flexibility, contemplate the option of taking a child out of organized youth sports for a while to provide the time, space and opportunity to rediscover childhood play and games. Then support them in re-entering organized

athletics when they’re a bit older and more physically and emotionally ready.

Also, some kids that get heavily involved in highly structured youth sports too early may be prone to behavioral problems and serious physical injuries.

The best thing a parent can do for a young child that is active and interested in sports is roll up their sleeves and join in unscripted backyard or playground family play. Kids thrive in the attention offered from mom or dad, regardless of parental athletic skill levels. Also, organize play dates with other neighborhood kids of varying ages, because they love to learn from each other, including how to work out disagreements.

Once kids are socially, emotionally and physically ready, organized sports can be an amazing platform for funfilled learning. Having already experienced healthy free play, a child will be ready for and thrive in a more focused, competitive, organized and structured play environment. Fortified by a creative foundation in earlier years, a youngster is better able to identify and express their own mind, body and spirit.

Luis Fernando Llosa is the co-author of Beyond Winning: Smart Parenting in a Toxic Sports Environment and co-founder of WholeChildSports.com.

A writer, speaker and former Sports Illustrated reporter, he lives in New York City, where he coaches his five kids. For more information, visit LuisFernandoLlosa.com.

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Local articles are what make Natural Awakenings a community resource for naturally healthy and sustainable living..for everyone.

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September 2015

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naturalpet

EYE HEALTH FOR DOGS 10 Foods to Keep Canine Vision Sharp

by Audi Donamor

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ey colorful foods, packed with nutrients, protect against eye problems ranging from progressive retinal atrophy and uveitis to cataracts and glaucoma.

Here are 10 foods that are highly regarded in helping prevent and defend against vision problems. Their eyeworthy nutrients include anthocyanins, beta-carotene, carotenoids, glutathione, lycopene, omega-3 essential fatty acids, phytonutrients—and the special partnership of lutein and zeaxanthin, sometimes referred to as “sunscreen for the eyes”.

An easy way to serve these powerpacked foods is as a mash. Simply combine a few cups of fruits and vegetables in a food processor with a half-cup of filtered water and blend as a raw pet meal topper. For a cooked topper, chop the fruits and vegetables and place in a medium sized sauce pan with the filtered water and a couple tablespoons of first-pressed olive oil. Simmer gently, cool and serve. Maybe top it all off with a fish or egg.

Blueberries contain two eyehealthy carotenoids: lutein and zeaxanthin. They also deliver anthocyanins, eye-nourishing phytonutrients known to support night vision, according to a study published in the Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology.

University of Oklahoma research suggests that flavonoids like the rutin, resveratrol and quercetin in blueberries may help prevent retinal atrophy. Their selenium and zinc components also support vision, according to a study from the National Eye Institute. Eating blueberries has even been associated

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with the reduction of eye fatigue, according to The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

Broccoli’s anti-cancer benefits are well known, but it’s also recognized as one of the best vegetables for eye health. A good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, it’s also packed with beta-carotene. Don’t leave the leaves behind, because they contain even more beta-carotene than the stems and florets. Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have found that broccoli and broccoli sprouts protect the retina from free radical damage, which may be due to a compound called sulphoraphane that boosts the body’s defense against free radicals.

Carrots come in 100 varieties, from deep purple and white to brilliant orange. Each is a storehouse of nutrient power, providing vitamin A, betacarotene, vitamins C, D, E and K, and riboflavin, niacin, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, magnesium, manganese, sulphur, copper and iodine. The adage that carrots are good for the eyes is true. They even contain lycopene and lutein, phytonutrients that protect from UVB radiation and free radical damage.

Cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, cod, haddock and sardines are rich in omega-3s, especially EPA and DHA, which are widely known to be important to cellular health. DHA makes up 30 percent of the fatty acids that comprise the retina. The particularly high levels of omega-3s in sardines add further protection to retinal health, according to researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Make vision and diet part of annual exams by a local vet.

Eggs are rich in cysteine and sulphur, two components of glutathione. Cataract Health News reports that sulphur-containing compounds have been found to protect eyes from cataract formation. Egg yolks contain lutein, and a University of Massachusetts study has found that eating an egg a day raised levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the blood; at the same time, blood serum lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations remained stable.

Garlic. Researchers at the University of Oregon suggest that sulphur-rich garlic is important for the production of glutathione, a protein that acts as an antioxidant for the eye’s lens, and can be instrumental in the prevention of some visual problems.

Kale is an excellent source of lutein and zeaxanthin. The American Optometric Association says these special antioxidants act like “internal sunglasses.” Add beta-carotene to the mix and kale serves as a preferred foil to oxidative stress.

Pumpkin’s orange color is a sure sign that it’s packed with carotenoids like beta-carotene, which help neutralize free radicals. Its lutein and zeaxanthin generally promote eye health and further protect against retinal degeneration. Even pumpkin seeds carry several benefits, including omega-3s, zinc and phytosterols to enhance a dog’s immune response.

Sweet potatoes are loaded with both beta-carotene and anthocyanins, the latter high in antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.

Tomatoes are famous for their lycopene, a carotenoid and phytonutrient found in red produce. This powerful antioxidant helps protect against sun damage and retinal degeneration and has been well documented as effective in cancer prevention. Processed tomato products contain higher levels of lycopene than the raw fruit.

Audi Donamor regularly contributes to Animal Wellness Magazine (Animal WellnessMagazine.com), from which this was adapted and used with permission.

inspiration

The Adventure of Couchsurfing

Stay with Locals and Make New Friends

by Lisa Rosinky

D

people’s faith and trust in aniel Sperry, a “couchsurfer” one another and create in his late 50s, decided a meaningful connecfew years ago to quit his day tions across cultures. job and make a living by performing It’s easy to become cello music and reciting poetry in liva member by creating a ing rooms across the country. “I didn’t profile as a host and/ know it would become a catalyst for or a traveler, which bringing communities of local people includes verified together,” he says, identification. Guests but his first gig, a don’t need to reciprocate by “little shotgun shack” hosting or leaving gifts, alin Elko, Nevada, though lasting friendships became more than a are a common result. once in a lifetime experiHosts and guests are enence. Years later, his Elko host couraged to leave honest remains a close friend and hosts reviews for each other, a regular (and lucrative) stop on his cross-country tours.

As a traveler, offer which helps ensure ongoing safety and good

Not only does creating connections with strangers an ethnic meal, good behavior all around.

Meanwhile, nonmake us happier—as Unistory or how to say members also are versity of Chicago social scientists have proven—it leads hello in a different welcome to explore to fun travel stories. If we language. As a host, couchsurfing events in their city. Fun opportuchoose to see the world via be open to what nities to make new conthe decade-old organization at Couchsurfing.com, we guests can teach. nections include weekly language exchanges, might find ourselves sleepKeep a travel log skill swaps, outdoor ing on a sailboat in the Irish Sea; meeting backpackers and guestbook to activities and potlucks.

“For me, it’s by solar-powered light in a cave in Petra, Jordan; sharing record memories. undeniably about the community, the kind of a room with a pet bird that falls asleep listening to sappy love songs on the radio; person it tends to attract,” says Joseph Abrahamson, a couchsurfer in his midor jamming to old-time banjo and fiddle 20s. “A room full of couchsurfers is full tunes in a North Carolina kitchen. of stories and listening and sharing and

The global community of couchsurfers, now 10 million strong, consid- trust. It changes a person in a positive way… people that travel like this for ers strangers “friends you haven’t met long enough can no longer survive with yet.” They currently are hosting and closed minds.” organizing more than half-a-million events in more than 200,000 cities worldwide this year. The aim is to make Lisa Rosinky is a freelance writer travel easier and more affordable, build in Boston. natural awakenings

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calendarofevents NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines.

Email Info@NA-SETexas.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Park. $65/family includes entry & camping fees. tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/galveston-island-statepark-texas-outdoor-family-houston-area-1-nightworkshop-open.

BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival – Sept 4-6. The annual BrewMasters Craft Beer Festival is a unique multi-day event created for beer drinkers, learners, enthusiasts and experts. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston. 800-582-4673. BrewMastersCraft BeerFestival.com.

Island Market – 10am-4pm. Browse and shop for unique handcrafted items created by local Galveston artisans and growers. A festive outdoor market featuring beautiful quilts, handmade soaps, photography, jewelry and more. Mechanic St & 22nd St, Galveston. GalvestonIslandMarket.com.

Summertime Bike & Blues Fest – Sept 4-5. The annual Summertime Bike & Blues Fest offers over 20 live performances on four stages. 200 W Second St, Freeport. 979-482-2036. Facebook.com/ SummertimeBikeBluesFest.

Cooking Class: Savory Spanish Tapas! – 6:309pm. Chef Najet will introduce robust Spanish flavors and teach how to prepare authentic tapas. $60/person. Kitchen Chick, 528 23rd St, Galveston.

409-497-2999. TheKitchenChick.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Friendswood Farmers’ Market – 8am-12pm. Local vendors selling produce, spices, baked goods and more. Stevenson Park, gazebo area, 1100 S Friendswood Dr, Friendswood. FriendswoodMarket.com or Facebook.com/FriendswoodMarket.

Cooking Class: Gratifyingly Gluten Free Dinner Favorites! – 2-4:30pm. Chef Najet will reveal how to make your favorite foods gluten free, such as spaghetti Bolognese and pizza. $60/person. Kitchen Chick, 528 23rd St, Galveston. 409-497-2999.

TheKitchenChick.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 GCVA “Back to School Blues” Tournament – 8:30am, check-in; 9am, tournament. The Gulf Coast Volleyball Association returns to East Beach celebrating 24 years of fun on the sand. Anyone can participate. East Beach, Galveston. 832-928-4120.

GCVA.net.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 Small Business Health Symposium – 7:30-9:30am.

Small businesses owners in the area can visit with

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experts to review their businesses’ policies and insurance coverage and to learn to improve the health of their business. Open Gates, 2419 Sealy, Galveston. Galveston.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 Fourth Annual Daily News Press Run – 7am. Run, walk or jog in the Galveston County Daily News Press Run to support their Newspapers in Education program. The Daily News, 8522 Teichman Road, Galveston. GalvNews.com/PressRun. Pearland Old Townsite Farmers’ Market – 8am12pm. Second and fourth Saturday of each month. Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, Pearland. Pearland OldTownSiteFarmersMarket.com.

Family Day: Life on a Rig – 10am-3pm. Learn about offshore structures, what they do and who works on them. Enjoy other activities and try on gear. Ocean Star, 1900 Harborside Dr, Galveston.

409-766-7827. OceanStarOEC.com.

The Poseidon Classic PRO-AM Natural Bodybuilding Event Finals – 4pm. NFF Pro & Amateur bodybuilding finals and awards ceremony for teen’s, women’s and men’s bodybuilding, physique, figure, masters and bikini competition. The Grand, 2020 Postoffice St, Galveston. PoseidonClassic.com.

PAWS Gala: “For Your Paws Only” – 6:3011:30pm. The 15th annual PAWS Gala benefits exclusively the Galveston Island Humane Society and includes dinner, dancing, a live band and auction. $150/person. Galveston Island Convention Center, 5600 Seawall Blvd, Galveston. Galveston Humane.org.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Illustration Fridays – 4-6pm. A casual, friendly open-studio session. An artist-volunteer will introduce the topic (a one-word creative prompt), and each person picks up pencil or brush to respond however they like. Enjoy company, music and refreshments. Galveston Arts Center, 2501 Market St, Galveston. GalvestonArtsCenter.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Texas Outdoor Family Weekend – Sept 19-20.

Weekend designed to help families discover the joys of camping at Texas State Parks. Camping gear included. Call to register. Galveston Island State

RESTART Class – 6:30-8pm. With Jennifer Steakley, NTP. Five-week class. Lose weight, balance hormones, boost immunity, feel energized, sleep better and fall in love with real food. Part education, part detox, part support group. $119. Free gift with paid registration. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood. 713-7143700. ThatWellnessPlace.com.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 Island Girl Triathlon – 7am, first wave. Triathlon for first timers and veterans as well. Includes a 200-meter swim in the Palm Beach lazy river at Moody Gardens, a flat eight-mile bike ride in Galveston and a short two-mile run around lush Moody Gardens. Welcomes women and girls ages 8 and up. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston.

832-423-4236. IslandGirlTri.com.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 Seasonal Sunrise Labyrinth Walk: Autumnal Equinox – 7am. The public is invited to participate in Seasonal Sunrise labyrinth walks. Each walk begins approximately 10-15 minutes before sunrise.

The Moody Methodist Labyrinth, 2803 53rd St, Galveston. 409-744-4526. Galveston.com/Labyrinth.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 SCI Café: Respiratory Infections: New Ideas for Treatment & Prevention – 5:30-6:30pm.

Informal conversation among scientists, clinicians and community members about science, health and possibilities. Mod Coffee House, 2126 Postoffice St, Galveston. ITS.UTMB.edu/resources/ community_engagement/Sci_Cafe.html.

Galveston Vegan Meetup – 6:30-8:30pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring a vegan dish share. RSVP requested. Oasis Juice Bar, 409 25th St., Galveston.

Meetup.com/Galveston-Vegan-Meetup.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Ranger Run/Jog – 8-9am. Run like a wild person with Ranger Lisa. This slow-paced (nine- to 11-minute mile) run begins at the park Nature Center and continues down the trails. Great for beginners or anyone interested in learning more about the uses, history and wilderness of the park. Restrooms available and pets welcome on leash. Galveston Island State Park, 14901 FM 3005, Galveston.

Lisa.Reznicek@tpwd.texas.gov. 409-737-1222.

Galveston.com/GalvestonIslandStatePark.

Pearland Old Townsite Farmers’ Market – 8am12pm. Second and fourth Saturday of each month. Zychlinski Park, 2243 Grand Blvd, Pearland. Pearland OldTownSiteFarmersMarket.com.

County Historical Museum, 100 E Cedar St, Angleton. 979-864-1208. BCHM.org.

Galveston ArtWalk – 6-9pm. For over 20 years, the Galveston Arts Center has organized and produced ArtWalk every six to eight weeks on Saturday nights in the heart of the historic district.

A coordinated evening of opening receptions and art-related events that are hosted in existing commercial galleries, nonprofit arts spaces and “other walls” – retail stores and restaurants. Galveston.

409-763-2403. GalvestonArtsCenter.org.

Fall Beach Cleanup – 9am-12pm. Join volunteers to help clean up Texas beaches. Menard Park, 27th St & Seawall Blvd, Galveston. CleanGalveston.org.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 Ironman 5150 – 8-11am. A field of highly trained international, national and regional athletes will take to the roadways and waterways of Galveston to compete. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston.

5150Galveston.com.

Full Moon Labyrinth Walk: Harvest Moon – 7:45pm. The public is invited to participate in full moon labyrinth walks. Each walk begins approximately a half hour after sunset. The Moody Methodist Labyrinth, 2803 53rd St, Galveston.

409-744-4526. Galveston.com/Labyrinth.

plan ahead THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1 Hotel Galvez Ghost Tour Dinners – 6-9pm. $45/ person. Hotel Galvez is offering a ghostly tour of the hotel as part of a dinner package. Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in October.

Reservations required. Contact hotel for details.

Hotel Galvez & Spa, 2024 Seawall Blvd, Galveston. 409-765-7721. HotelGalvez.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 RESTART Class – 10-11:30am. See September 19 listing. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood. 713-7143700. ThatWellnessPlace.com.

RESTART Class – 6:30-8pm. See September 19 listing. Wellness Nutrition & Bodywork, 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood. 713-7143700. ThatWellnessPlace.com.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 Gritty Goddess Women’s 5K Fest – 8:30am.

Women gather to tackle a 5K obstacle course built for women of any age, shape, size or athletic ability. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston.

512-535-5224. GrittyGoddess.com.

Day of the Dead Program – 10am. Celebrate this Mexican holiday with public altars, food, sugar skull and tissue flower workshops, performances, face painting, themed artwork and more. Brazoria

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27 Full Moon Labyrinth Walk: Hunter’s Moon – 8:15pm. The public is invited to participate in full moon labyrinth walks. Each walk begins approximately a half hour after sunset. The Moody Methodist Labyrinth, 2803 53rd St, Galveston.

409-744-4526. Galveston.com/Labyrinth.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Annual Austin Town Re-enactment – 10am-5pm.

Step back in time and visit this 1832 Texas town that features character re-enactors, craft and skill demonstrators, army and militia drills, and period crafts and games. Brazoria County Historical Museum, 100 E Cedar St, Angleton. 979-864-1208.

BCHM.org.

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September 2015

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ongoingevents

Calendar A wonderful resource for filling your workshops, seminars and other events.

NOTE: All calendar events must be received via email by the 10th of the month and adhere to our guidelines. Email Info@NA-SETexas.com for guidelines and to submit entries. No phone calls or faxes, please.

sunday Galveston’s Own Farmers’ Market – 9am-12pm.

Offering locally grown produce, prepared foods and edible farm products. 2508 Postoffice St, Galveston.

832-819-1561. Facebook.com/GalvestonsOwn FarmersMarket.

Yoga Nidra – 7pm. Opening with a soft flow of yoga asanas to prepare the body and mind for the deep, guided meditation of Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep), this practice serves to calm the restless mind and deepen conscious awareness. Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995. TheYogaHaven.net.

monday Yoga 101 – 5:30-6:45pm. With Kathleen. Foundational hatha yoga for students new to yoga or returning to practice. Fine tune basic skills that will deepen your understanding and enjoyment of the practice of yoga. Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995.

TheYogaHaven.net.

tuesday Two styles available:

Senior Tuesday – All day. On Tuesdays, anyone 65 years and up can visit Moody Gardens for $5/ attraction per senior. Restrictions may apply. Moody Gardens, 1 Hope Blvd, Galveston. 800-582-4673.

MoodyGardens.com.

n Calendar of Dated Events: Designed for events on a specific date of the month.

Meditation – 9:30-10:30am. Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City. 281-554-2450.

UnityOfBayArea.org.

n Calendar of Ongoing Events: Designed for recurring events that fall on the same day each week.

wednesday

Contact us for guidelines so we can assist you through the process.

We’re here to help!

Oneness Blessing Meditation – 6:30-8pm. Visit for a unique experience that brings each person into a closer connection with one another and God. Unity Bay Area Houston, 1911 Hwy 3 S, League City.

281-554-2450. UnityOfBayArea.org.

Small Dog Socialization – 7:30-8:15pm. Bring in small dogs to have fun and socialize. Gimmie a Bark, 101 E Edgewood Dr, Friendswood. 281-482-1911.

GimmieABark.com.

saturday Info@ NA-SETexas.com 30

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Clear Lake Shores Farmers’ Market – 9am-1pm.

A nonprofit outlet operated by volunteers offering locally grown fruit, vegetables and other homemade products. Texas certified farmers’ market. 1020

Marina Bay Dr, Clear Lake Shores. FarmersMarket AtCLS.com.

Vinyasa Yoga – 10am. A dynamic flow class using surya namaskar (sun salutations) as a thread woven throughout the practice. This dynamically paced series builds internal heat, strength, stamina, focus and flexibility. Prior yoga experience is recommended.

Bring towel and mat. $15/drop-in. The Yoga Haven, 2507 Market St, Galveston. 409-770-9995.

TheYogaHaven.net.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is a minimum charge of $20 for the first 20 words and $1 for each additional word. To place an ad, email Info@NA-SETexas.com.

ADVERTISING ADVERTISE HERE – Are you: hiring, renting property/office space, selling products, offering services, or in need of volunteers? Advertise your personal/business needs in Natural Awakenings’ classified ad section. To place an ad, email Info@ NA-SETexas.com.

OPPORTUNITIES LIKE TO DRIVE? – We are looking for you to drop off copies of Natural Awakenings once a month to various locations in your area. Must have a driver’s license, car and valid insurance. Email your name, phone number and your experience to Info@ NA-SETexas.com.

SERVICES HOLISTIC BODY WORK – Bayou Rolfing can re-align the body to ease pain or correct posture.

Rolfing smooths connective tissue for better movement. 281-910-4782.

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editorial calendar

2015

Connecting you to the leaders in natural health care and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide, email Info@NA-SETexas.com to request our media kit.

ACUPUNCTURE HOOKED ON ACUPUNCTURE Clint McCallum, LAc 2505 Market St, Galveston 409-241-3199 HookedOnAcupuncture.com

Hooked on Acupuncture community clinic in Galveston is a healing place that is affordable, welcoming, nurturing, inspiring and educational. We heal with acupuncture and herbs.

See ad, page 23.

HYPNOSIS SOUTHEAST HYPNOSIS CENTER

Julie Nise 607 S Friendswood Dr, Ste 1, Friendswood 281-996-8000 SoutheastHypnosis.com

Southeast Hypnosis Center has helped thousands of people make positive changes in their lives through personalized one-on-one hypnosis sessions to stop smoking, lose weight, improve confidence and reduce stress. Call for free hypnosis interview. See ad, page 3.

HEALTHY DINING OASIS JUICE BAR & MARKET 409 25th St, Galveston 409-762-8446 OasisJuiceBar.com

Oasis in the heart of downtown Galveston offers freshly made juices, smoothies, coffee, tea and healthy breakfast options.

Lunch options include sandwiches and creative salads. We also offer an organic products market. See ad, page 7.

SEPTEMBER agelessness plus: yoga benefits OCTOBER working together

plus: natural antidepressants NOVEMBER true wealth plus: beauty

NUTRITION WELLNESS NUTRITION & BODYWORK Jennifer Steakley, LMT, NTP 306 S Friendswood Dr, #C4, Friendswood 713-714-3700 ThatWellnessPlace.com

Individualized nutrition counseling for clients dealing with chronic health issues. Group nutrition classes using the RESTART Program. Let me show you how to eat your way to wellness! See ad, page 6.

DECEMBER prayer & meditation plus: holiday themes

HOLISTIC CENTER ISLAND BRAINWORKS, LLC Brainwave Optimization® 2220 Post Office St, Galveston 713-299-2277/409-599-7268 IslandBrainWorks.com

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Brainwave Optimization ® (BWO) is science-based, effective and holistic; a noninvasive method of achieving brain balance and harmony. By es acting like a mirror to brain t to n , isla n d patterns, BWO allows the brain to auto-correct itself with individually tailored realtime methodology for brainwave activity using EEG technology. Appointments only. See ad, page 25. rainwork s db

YOGA THE YOGA HAVEN

2507 Market St, Galveston 409-770-9995 TheYogaHaven.net For 10 years offering the path of yoga for vibrant body, awakened mind and open heart, the studio provides an inspiring environment for yoga classes. Daily classes for students of all levels; special workshops and events offered. See ad, page 6.

The body is your temple.

Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in. ~B.K.S. Iyengar

natural awakenings

September 2015

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Join us! How does your product, service or project support our local or global community?

Be a part of our special Working Together October issue.

• Alternative Fuel Vehicles • Barter Clubs • Bicycle Shops • Career Consultants • Cohousing/Intentional Communities • Community Banks • Community Gardens & Co-ops • Consignment & Resale Shops • Earth-Friendly Cleaning • Eco-Conscious Investment Advisors

• Eco-Landscapers • Eco-Transportation • Energy-Efficient Technologies • Energy Star Appliance Stores • Environmental Building & Diagnostics • Farmers’ Markets • Garden Supplies • Green Building • Integrative Health Providers • Local Business Initiatives

Contact us at: 409-939-8156 Info@NA-SETexas.com NA-SETexas.com

• Local Furniture & Cabinet Makers • Native Plant Nurseries • Organic Foods & Restaurants • Recycling • Solar/Wind/Geothermal/ Tidal Energy • Sustainable Biofuels • Water Purification • Water Smart Irrigation Systems ... and this is just a partial list