Natural Awakenings Toledo April 2014 by Natural Awakenings Toledo

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GREEN LIVING

QIGONG ECO ON BACKYARD RISING THE CHEAP WILDLIFE

Millennia-Old Movement Practice Heals Imbalances

No Need to Break the Bank to Buy Green

Native Habitats Draw Critters and Delight Kids

April 2014 | Toledo, OH / Monroe County, MI Edition | NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

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contents 10 5 newsbriefs 7 business

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.

spotlight 9 healthbriefs 16 LIVE GREEN, SAVE BIG Five Eco-Friendly Life Decisions 12 globalbriefs that Can Actually Save Us Money 14 ecotip by Crissy Trask 12 19 inspiration 19 WILDERNESS IN 20 healingways SIDEWALK CRACKS Small Nature Reaches 22 naturalpet Out to City Kids by Greg Hanscom 24 greenliving 26 healthykids 20 GOOD RIDDANCE 28 fitbody TO BAD VIBES 30 consciouseating Escaping Electromagnetic Exposure 33 wisewords by Priscilla Goudreau-Santos 34 calendar 22 POOCH PROTOCOL 14 37 classifieds Good Manners Make 38 resourceguide a Dog Welcome by Sandra Murphy

advertising & submissions

24 HOMEMADE

HOW TO ADVERTISE To advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit, please contact us at 419-340-3592 or email Publisher@NA-Toledo.com. Deadline for ads: the 10th of the month.

DIY Recipes Keep Your Home Naturally Clean

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS Email articles, news items and ideas to: Publisher@NAToledo.com. Deadline for editorial: the 10th of the month.

ECO-CLEANERS by Lane Vail

26 BACKYARD BIRDS

AND BUTTERFLIES

Native Habitats Draw Critters and Delight Kids by Avery Mack

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS QI WHIZ Visit our website to enter calendar items – Natural Qigong Steps Up AwakeningsToledo.com. You will receive a confirmation Vitality and Serenity email when your event has been approved and posted on by Meredith Montgomery line, usually within 24 hours. Events submitted by the 10th and meet our criteria will be added to the print magazine as space permits. CULINARY

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Document Climate Change by Christine MacDonald

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April 2014

publisher'sletter

contact us Publisher/Editor Vicki Perion National Editor S. Alison Chabonais Editorial Randy Kambic Martin Miron Patti Radakovich Design & Production Stephen Blancett Kim Cerne Patrick Floresca Calendar Sherry Ann Franchise Sales 239-530-1377 P.O. Box 5452 Toledo, OH 43613 Cell: 419-340-3592 Fax: 419-329-4340 Publisher@NA-Toledo.com NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com © 2014 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.

hile I delight in sharing good information with you, managing so much of it in the process of preparing each monthly issue has done a good job of opening my eyes to areas where I can significantly boost my own efforts in realizing healthy and green living. I started by reviewing the evolution of my own habits when it comes to recycling. How many of us recycle? I’ll bet you raised you hand. Mine’s up, too. Thanks to my two daughters, I started recycling in earnest years ago when they were in grade school learning about the environment and ways to help it stay healthy. My own inconsistent practice had them pulling aluminum cans out of the garbage to ask me point blank: “Can this be recycled?” Of course, I answered yes. Then I’d sheepishly shunt it to the garage pile designated to travel to the recycling center. So I got better at it and expanded to being conscientious about recycling glass, cereal boxes, plastic and newspapers. Even when I can no longer park my fuelefficient car in the garage until we first cart the stuff to the collection point, I’m glad we are helping to save the planet. Habitually recycling is now easy for me to do. Next up are finding ways to conserve precious resources such as water and power and to figure out the best way for us to compost. Just recently I read an article about catching rainwater and using it to flush toilets. I also learned that my letter editor rinses out plastic zip bags and reuses them multiple times before they wear out. It’s something I need to try. I know there’s much more I can do to accelerate a sustainable state and this month’s Green Living issue will help me do just that. Crissy Trask’s feature article, “Live Green, Save Big” is a great read and opens thought to key eco-friendly improvements that will fit in the family budget with a welcome return of monthly savings. Essential Connection’s insights on using essential oils to help keep our homes fresh complements Lane Vail’s article, “Homemade Eco-Cleaners” showing how easy and economical it is to do-it-yourself and save lots of money. All are good ideas that I intend to investigate. Enjoy digging into this month’s issue as we all move to help keep our local and larger environment clean, friendly and toxin-free. We also look forward to seeing you at the Earth Day events around town (page 15). To naturally healthy living inside and out,

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $20 (for 12 issues) to the above address. Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

Toledo/Monroe edition

Vicki Perion, Publisher

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

newsbriefs

Monroe County Earth Day Expo

he ninth annual Monroe County Earth Day Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 5, at the MB&T Expo Center at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Earth Day Expo is a great opportunity for the entire family to learn about living green in Monroe County from Monroe County organizations and businesses. Participants can enter a free drawing for a tablet computer and a La-Z-Boy chair. Free food and refreshments will also be available. Events for the day include an opening proclamation by Monroe Mayor Robert Clark; Story Time, presented by the Monroe County Library System; a free kids yoga class, presented by Mindful Movement; a Monroe County Green Schools award ceremony; a free tai chi class, presented by Tai Chi Monroe; and prize drawings. The Monroe County Earth Day Expo is sponsored by the county of Monroe, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, River Raisin Institute, Monroe County Library System, DTE Energy Foundation, DTE Energy, La-Z-Boy, Mercy Memorial Hospital System, Monroe Bank & Trust and Culligan Water Conditioning. For a schedule of events, visit GreenMonroeCounty.com.

A NEW DAY A NEW APP

Free Natural Awakenings App Available

eeping in touch with the best choices for a green and healthy lifestyle is easier than ever, thanks to Natural Awakening’s iPhone and iPad app, available as a free download at Apple’s iTunes App Store. To date, nearly 35,000 people, including more than 2,700 people from Enjoy Natural Awakenings on the GO! the Middle East, Asia and Europe, have downloaded the app. “Our goal is to empower people to enjoy healthier, happier and longer lives, wherever they are,” says Natural Awakenings founder Sharon Bruckman. “Offering free access to Natural Awakenings’ powerful network of healthy living resources through this exclusive app is yet another way for us to help people feel good, live simply and laugh more.” Individuals on the go can find products, practitioners and services dedicated to healthy living, right at their fingertips, as well as read articles on the latest practical, natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, creative expression, personal growth and sustainable living, offered by national experts with fresh perspectives and inspired ideas. This exclusive app instantly connects users to the calendar of national, regional and local events, workshops and classes devoted to healthy living, discounts on healthy and green products and services for network members, coupons, and much more, including an archive of current and historical articles in Spanish.

Your healthy living, healthy planet lifestyle app for the iPhone and iPad. • NATIONAL DIRECTORY • NATURAL PETS find healthy/green ARCHIVES businesses with directions • ARTICLE search thousands of topics • THIS MONTH by keyword all new content • EN ESPAÑOL • HEALTHY KIDS buscar articulos en Español

Search iTunes app store for “Natural Awakenings” and download our FREE app!

To download the free app, search Natural Awakenings in the iTunes App Store.

World T’ai Chi and Qigong Day Celebrated April 26

CALL TODAY (419) 841-9622 3130 Central Park West Dr. Suite A • Toledo cpwhc.com

oin Erin Reas, owner of Torus Wellness, in Dearborn, as she instructs a free T’ai Chi Easy class at 9:30 a.m., April 26, followed by an Integral Qigong class at 10 a.m., at Young Patriots Park, in Riverview, to celebrate World T’ai Chi and Qigong Day. Reas will join the millions of people who gather in cities throughout 80 countries at 10 a.m. on the last Saturday in April to practice tai chi and qigong. The event was founded 15 years ago by Bill Douglas, a tai chi expert for Dr.Weil.com, to educate the public on the health benefits of tai chi and qigong. With roots in Chinese medicine, qigong is a practice of aligning breath, movement and awareness for exercise, healing and meditation. Tai chi involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner, accompanied by deep breathing. Medical research has shown that mind-body practices are very effective in lowering blood pressure, improving immune system functioning, increasing mental focus and reducing stress, a major contributor to disease. Cost: Free. Location: 14133 Civic Park Dr., Riverview. For more information, call Erin at 313-429-3214, email Erin@ erinreas.com or visit WorldTaiChiDay.org.

…the center for health and healing. Physical Medicine Services: Aquatic Therapy n Physical Therapy n Occupational Therapy n Work Injury Program n Spine Care n Healthy Bladder n Arthritis and Total Joint Rehab n Balance Rehab n Women’s Health n

Wellness Services: n Medical

Fitness Programs Arthritis Aquatic Programs n Arthritis Foundation Tia Chi n Silver Sneakers Facility n Aromatouch Technique n Medication Therapy Management with UT Pharmacy n Nutritional and Health Coaching n Massage Therapy n

natural awakenings

April 2014

Emotional Freedom Technique Is New Tool to Combat PTSD

motional Freedom Technique (EFT), or meridian tapping, is a type of drug-free alternative therapy that a patient can learn to do on their own to help them deal with symptoms of PTSD, including anxiety, sleep disturbances, physical ailments, inability to manage anger and depression. There are many websites available with online videos and resources where people can learn and practice EFT in the privacy of their own homes for free. Operation: Emotional Freedom is a movie that specifically looks at the therapy for combat veterans. While the video is not free, the website provides links to many free resources, including a Facebook page, EFT Founding Masters, which offers a basic course, EFT4Vets, with audio presentations and blog posts, the Personal Peace Foundation, a nonprofit agency committed to helping veterans, the Iraq Vets Stress Project and Carol Look, an EFT master. Visit their website at Operation-EmotionalFreedom.com. Battle Tap (BattleTap.org) is another website that provides a whole course. There are videos and instructions to tap yourself and a list of practitioners who can tap for you. EFT has been used successfully to treat PTSD in veterans and others who have gone through traumatic experiences. With the many online resources available, help is only a tap away. Nancy Sasse, EFT-Adv, has been an EFT practitioner since 2006. She assists both patients and caregivers to learn EFT. She has a copy of Operation: Emotional Freedom which is available for lending. Go to NancySasse.com for more information.

Oncology Care Specialists Reopens as Optimum ‘CHI’ Studio

he Optimum “CHI” Studio (OCS), formerly known as Oncology Care Specialists, LLC, is hosting a grand reopening celebration from 4 to 7 p.m., April 3. Special deals on services and classes will run through April 9. OCS has added several new team members. Vicki Feit, LMT, will join the massage team. She is a clinically certified aromatherapist through the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy. Fitness instructors Jennifer Lake, Brie Hobbs and Laura Harrison will join Tina Ferner in yoga, qigong and PiYo instruction. “Our client base was shifting more toward people that wanted to invest in their overall health, so it was necessary to restructure and change the name,” explains Cindy Vincent, owner of the practice. “OCS still offers great

Toledo/Monroe edition

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

cancer survivorship services, in addition to serving those desiring to enhance their health and well-being.” OCS will continue to offer neuromuscular therapy, manual lymphatic massage, scar tissue mobilization and Eastern medicine-based stone therapy. Vincent and Feit both hold nationally recognized certifications in oncology massage, and qigong has recently been accepted into their Silver Sneakers program. “These services are effective tools to assist the healing and management of chronic pain, injury, fatigue, anxiety and depression by‘quieting the mind and body and gaining strength, flexibility, balance and range of motion through the awakening of the limbs. At Optimum “CHI” Studio, we are focused on providing mind, body and spirit services with the highest level of client satisfaction, and will do everything we can to meet your expectations,” states Vincent. OCS is located in the Oak Tree Center at 4024 N. HollandSylvania, in Toledo. For more information, call Cindy at 419450-4940 or visit OCSMassage.com. See ad page 8.

Imagination Station Explores Green Science

magination Station, Toledo’s Science Center, makes recycling fun with Green Science from April 22 to 27. Each year, Americans generate well over 200 million tons of trash, and only 34 percent of that is recycled. The science center believes it’s never too early to learn how to take care of the planet and discover creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. Guests will learn to reduce their environmental footprint by conserving water and energy in their own home. Visitors of all ages will explore creative ways to reuse by creating a trellis using a bicycle wheel, protecting vegetables and fruits from birds using old CDs, making seed paper out of old newspaper and discovering many other creative, “green” uses for old products. The littlest visitors, kindergarten age and younger, can help a cardboard garden grow in Little KIDSPACE as they find creative ways to reuse boxes; construct a castle, design a spaceship, build a tower and much more! “Green Science is a great way to expose kids to recycling in a fun, hands-on way,” says Sloan Mann, assistant director of STEM education for Imagination Station. “They are always shocked by how many of the things they think of as trash can be repurposed. My favorite creations are the unique gardening designs. A lot of people think that they don’t have room to grow their own food, but you don’t need a lot of space to grow most vegetables. A container, soil, sunlight and some creativity will usually do the trick.”

Imagination Station is located at 1 Discovery Way, in Toledo. For more information, call 419-244-2674 or visit ImaginationStationToledo.org.

businessspotlight

Health Matters Herbs & More

Serves the Community from the Grassroots Up by Patti Radakovich

n April 13, Health Matters Herbs & More will celebrate 10 years in business in the same downtown location where it opened a decade ago. Health Matters is locally owned and operated by Maurine Sharp, RN, with the help of her wonderful staff. Sharp’s desire to open a health food store was born out of her own experience with alternative healing. “I was originally introduced to herbal therapy when a psychologist suggested I try herbs to assist with insomnia and some other physical and emotional problems I was experiencing. After that success, I used natural healing methods to help deal with symptoms of menopause,” explains Sharp. “Because natural therapies helped me so much, I decided to study herbalism and share my knowledge with others. I wanted people to have different alternatives available when conventional therapy alone was not working.” When Sharp opened Health Matters, she knew she wanted an intimate business model to maintain a one-onone relationship with customers. The store remains today as it was then, which has helped build a loyal customer base. Health Matters was voted the number one health food store in Monroe in 2013. ”We are committed to providing great customer service and access to quality local and organic foods,” says Sharp. “Food is the most important thing you can do to improve your health ,so that’s why the store focuses on food.” Hailed as “A taste of Ann Arbor in Downtown Monroe,” Sharp travels to Ann Arbor to shop at Hiller's Market

and Trader Joe’s, to Novi to pick up milk from Guernsey Dairy and to Detroit’s Eastern Market to purchase grass-fed meat, organic grains and freshly ground peanut butter. Sharp does all of her own shopping to ensure only the finest quality foods are available. She is also a chapter leader for Weston A. Price and coordinates a grass-fed meat coop. Health Matters supplies local bulk grains, flour, sugar, beans, seeds and nuts. The bulk herbs and spices come from Frontier Natural Foods Coop. There is a section dedicated to Made in Monroe items—goat milk soaps, incense, lip balm, flax pillows, homemade washcloths, laundry detergent, handmade jewelry and more. Health Matters is committed to the health of the community. Sharp works in cooperation with many local holistic and traditional health care practitioners and refers customers to the right prac-

titioner when they may be confused about where to go. She also provides health consultations that include muscle testing to find out what supplements and food choices are the best fit for a given patient. Sharp teaches healthy living and herbal classes through the Monroe Public Schools Community Education program, as well as offering classes at the store on topics such as herbal salves and tinctures, homeopathy, vitamins and kitchen transitions from a standard American diet to a whole foods diet. Sharp offers onsite seminars at businesses throughout the community and distributes a monthly newsletter to customers. Health Matters also maintains an extended reference and lending library of more than 100 books on health and natural healing. In addition, Health Matters has been a member of the Monroe Farmers’ Market since 2010 and was instrumental in setting up the market to accept food stamps and Double Up Bucks. This program has resulted in an increase in sales for local farmers and increased access to local fruits, vegetables, eggs and honey to the community. At the market, Health Matters sells healing salves, health teas, crispy nuts and trail mix, and gluten- and wheat-free, low-sugar cookies and bars, all handmade by Sharp, as well as the Made in Monroe items from the store. “The most gratifying result of our community efforts is watching our customers and former students make improvements in their health and the health of their children,” notes Sharp. To commemorate the anniversary, Health Matters will be holding a raffle to win a $25 gift certificate or a Michigan basket on April 12. The drawing is open to both loyal and new customers, who are invited to check out the store and see how it can help them on their road to better health. Health Matters is located at 17 E. 2nd St., in Monroe. For more information, call 734-240-2786 or visit Monroe HealthMatters.com. See ad page 25. Patti Radakovich, aka VeggiePatti, is an author, speaker and healthy living advocate. For more info visit VeggiePatti.com.

natural awakenings

April 2014

eventspotlight

Wear Blue for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month

pril is National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month, and there are a number of activities scheduled to remember that far too many children and youth have been abused or neglected in our nation, states and local communities, and that we can help prevent it. The first event is Wear Blue. On April 9, Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) is urging Lucas County residents to join Ohioans statewide in the Wear Blue campaign as a reminder that child abuse is preventable. Now in its third year, the campaign urges people from all walks of life to wear blue on this day to demonstrate their commitment to protecting children from abuse or neglect. LCCS encourages people to post photos of themselves wearing blue on April 9 on the agency’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/LucasCountyChildrenServices, by tweeting their photo to @LucasCoOHKids or emailing images to Information@co.lucas.oh.us. The second event is a memorial service to honor one Lucas County child that died between April 2013 and April 2014 as a result of maltreatment. LCCS will remember this child at its annual memorial on April 25 at 11:30 a.m., at the agency’s offices at 705 Adams Street, in Toledo. This solemn

ceremony includes raising the child memorial flag and musical performances by the Scott High School choir. The public is encouraged to attend. LCCS and its nonprofit auxiliary, the Friends of LCCS, are partnering with Fat Fish Blue and Funny Bone for a familyfriendly afternoon of comedy and magic at 2 p.m., April 27. Rory Rennick will bring his hijinks to the Levis Commons club for a performance to benefit the Friends of LCCS, which supports the activities of the child protective agency. Tickets are $7 per person or $20 for a family four-pack. Tickets are available by calling 419-213-3253 or emailing Information@co.lucas.oh.us. In closing, the Lucas County Family & Children First Council is working to prevent child abuse and neglect in its efforts to integrate the Strengthening Families framework into existing programs and services that serve children, youth and their parents/caregivers. Developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, Strengthening Families does not provide a new program, but a framework to help assess and develop protective factors in parents and families—these include:

BLUE: Haettenschweiler Regular Wear: Sling Bold Oblique Regular

Building resiliency – This is the ability of the parents and family to bounce back quickly from very stressful events and other adversities. Social connectedness – This is a critical factor because so many parents/families do not have many social supports and often experience social isolation. Concrete support in times of need – When families do hit a crisis, what can be done to help address basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and healthcare? They need concrete help that respects their dignity. Knowledge of parenting and child development – Accurate information about child development and appropriate expectations for children’s behavior at every age helps parents see their children and youth in a positive light and promote their healthy development. Social and emotional competence of children – A child or youth’s ability to interact positively with others, self-regulate their behavior and effectively communicate their feelings has a positive impact on their relationships with their family, other adults and peers. Far too often, agencies rush in to provide services to children and youth but fail to help parents build their resources, capacities, skills and connectedness; this campaign is designed to remedy that problem. To learn more about the Strengthening Families framework, call Marian Brannon at 419-725-7189 or visit cssp.org. For more information on any of these programs, contact Lucas County Children Services at 419-213-3253.

Toledo/Monroe edition

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

healthbriefs

Acupuncture Facelifts

Using Essential Oils for a Cleaner, Safer Home

ake a look at the back label of any cleaning product and chances are there are numerous chemicals listed which are harmful or even toxic and dangerous. According to the Organic Consumers Association, one-third of all substances used by the fragrance industry are toxic. Fragrances used in cleaners can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, sneezing and watery eyes. In 2000, cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10 percent of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers. Of these, 120,434 exposures involved children under 6, which can swallow or spill cleaners stored or left open inside the home. Using harsh chemicals as a way to try to rid a home of bacteria and mold may be causing more harm than good to us and our family. But cleaning our home does not need to be dangerous. Essential oils, combined with simple ingredients already found in many homes such as baking soda and vinegar, offer a safer and more effective means to clean a home. Essential oils kill germs safely and are powerfully concentrated, making them very cost-effective. They are nontoxic and do not pollute the water supply or the environment. Lemon is a natural antibiotic, is antimicrobial and has an uplifting, energizing scent. A 1995 study showed no bacteria, virus or fungus can survive cinnamon essential oil. Rosemary is great to use as an antibacterial agent, yet also good for improving respiration and stimulating mental activity. Here are some simple recipes to try: Tile Scrubbing Paste 1 cup baking soda ¼ cup liquid castile soap, such as Dr. Bronner’s

1 Tbsp white vinegar 10 drops lemon or rosemary essential oil Combine and store in airtight container. Add water if mixture is too thick (should be the consistency of frosting). All-Purpose Cleaner 2 cups boiling water 2 Tbsp white vinegar ½ tsp dish soap 1 tsp baking soda 5 drops lemon essential oil

Mix baking soda, water and dish soap together with essential oils. Add vinegar. Mix. Pour in to spray bottle to use. Disinfectant Spray 5 drops cinnamon essential oil 5 drops lemon or wild orange essential oil 2 Cups water Place in a spray bottle and shake well before using. For more green cleaning tips using essential oils, attend an open house at 10:30 a.m., Apr. 5, with a free class, Green Cleaning with dōTERRA Essential Oils, beginning at 11 a.m., at Providence Lutheran Church, 8131 Airport Hwy., Holland OH. To RSVP, call Karla Gleason, of Essential Connection, at 419-265-3219. See ad page 22.

t’s not just a West Coast fad anymore. Acupuncture has hit the mainstream beauty market with demonstrations on the Dr. Oz show and Good Morning America. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body is crisscrossed by channels, called meridans, that carry energy around the body where it is needed for health and healing. Acupuncture points along these channels can stimulate local activity. Wrinkles come from the loss of collagen from under the skin. The wrinkles are actually the loss of collagen which, “smooths out” and gives skin a youthful appearance. Acupuncture needle stimulation provokes the regrowth of microsized blood vessels in the face which in turn, bring back collagen with them. Results become visible after the third and fourth treatment, and then occasional maintenance is needed. However, most experts caution that heavy double chins and drooping jowls will not benefit. Typically, experts say patients will see a filling in of fine lines and a softening of deeper wrinkles. Also, the face becomes more radiant and energetic-appearing. Results are not as dramatic as traditional surgery, but the cost is much less and there are no side effects. Acupuncture is a licensed profession, and facelift acupuncture requires additional training for proficiency.

Dr. Douglas Schwan, DC, DiplAc, is a doctor of chiropractic and a diplomat of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture. His practice is located at 2828 W. Central Ave., Ste. 1, Toledo. Call 419-472-7055 or visit AcupunctureToledo.com. See ad page 29.

natural awakenings

April 2014

healthbriefs

Home Renovations Aggravate Childhood Asthma

ew research suggests that renovation planning should involve more than just picking the right colors and styles; doing it right may help prevent childhood respiratory conditions. Researchers from St. Louis University, in Missouri, linked home renovations with increased wheezing, asthma and chronic coughing among children living in the home. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, followed 31,049 children between the ages of 2 and 14 years old from seven Chinese cities over a two-year period. Previous research has also reached a similar conclusion, identifying some specific materials responsible for increased childhood respiratory disorders. A Russian study of 5,951 children ages 8 to 12 found that increased asthma and wheezing were related to recently completed painting, as well as the installation of new linoleum flooring, synthetic carpets, particleboard and wall coverings. That study, published in the same journal states, “Exposure levels are the highest during and shortly after painting, but low levels of exposure may remain for several months. Wooden furniture, as well as painted or varnished and new furniture, is likely to emit chemical substances.” A 2002 study of New York children published in the Journal of Urban Health found similar results.

Ventilation and Cleaning Hinder Indoor Pollutants

roperly ventilating and frequently cleaning our homes and offices are both important to our health, concludes a new European study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Researchers analyzed bacterial and fungal counts and suspended particulate matter in indoor air samples of 40 homes and offices. They determined that 45 percent had indoor pollution levels greater than that recommended by the current European Concerted Action Report on air quality standards. An analysis of a Canadian government Health Measures Survey discovered 47 different indoor volatile organic compounds (VOC) among more than half of the 3,857 households surveyed throughout Canada. Most of the VOCs identified there have also been present in separate European and U.S. studies. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs are carbon chemical compounds that can evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions. The concern with indoor VOCs is their potential to react with indoor ozone to produce harmful byproducts that may be associated with adverse health effects in sensitive populations. Benzene, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene and xylene top the list of common VOCs inside U.S. households, according to an EPA report. Typical sources comprise common household chemicals, furnishings and décor, as well as indoor activities such as unventilated cooking, heating and smoking.

Toledo/Monroe edition

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

Orange Oil Calms Kids in Dental Chairs

or centuries, aromatherapy using orange oil has been heralded in traditional herbalism for its ability to alleviate anxiety. Research published in the journal Advanced Biomedical Research now finds that aromatherapy using the same ingredient can significantly reduce a child’s anxiety at the dentist’s office. The study, conducted at Iran’s Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and published in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Biomedical Research, tested 10 boys and 20 girls between 6 and 9 years old. In this crossover design study, participants were assigned randomly into two groups. Half the children were treated with water instead of any essential oil (control) initially and received orange aroma in the second session (intervention). Another 15 children received treatment under orange aroma in the first encounter (intervention) and were treated without any aroma the second time (control). When the children were given orange oil aromatherapy, they experienced significantly reduced heart rates and lower salivary cortisol levels compared with those not receiving it. The results corroborate findings from a 2000 study from the University of Vienna, in Austria, published in Physiology and Behavior.

Olive Leaf Outperforms Diabetes Drug

live leaf may provide nature’s answer to diabetes treatment. A recent study from the University of Auckland, in New Zealand, suggests that olive leaf extract can help reduce insulin resistance and increase insulin production by beta cells in the pancreas. The researchers tested 46 middle-aged, obese adults at risk for developing metabolic syndrome-related Type 2 diabetes. In the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, olive leaf extract outperformed the diabetes drug metformin and “significantly improved insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta-cell secretory capacity,” according to the researchers. Insulin helps escort glucose into the body’s cells.

Supplements Could Save $70 Billion in Medical Costs

n a Frost & Sullivan study report authored by Christopher Shanahan and Robert de Lorimier, Ph.D., the use of dietary supplements, including B vitamins, phytosterols and dietary fiber, could reduce the cost of treating coronary artery disease in the U.S. by nearly $50 billion over the next seven years. In addition, healthcare costs related to diabetes, vision problems and osteoporosis could be reduced by nearly $20 billion collectively with the use of certain supplements. The projections were based on cost-benefit analysis comparing a series of scenarios to assess the effect on overall disease management costs if an identified high-risk population were to avoid costly medical events by increasing their intake of dietary supplements purchased out-of-pocket versus no supplement usage. “The healthcare system spends a tremendous amount of money treating chronic disease, but has failed to focus on ways to reduce those costs through prevention,” says Steve Mister, president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition Foundation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 3 percent of U.S. healthcare costs are spent on the prevention of chronic diseases.

Air Conditioning Cleans Up Indoor Air

ir conditioning does more than keep us cool. A study of 300 adults and homes concludes that central air conditioning removes significant levels of volatile organic compounds and pollution particulates from indoor air. The research, published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, finds that using air conditioning with windows closed reduced indoor air pollution the most. One caveat, however, is that the research was conducted in Taipei, China—notable for its extreme outdoor pollution. Another recent study published in Environmental Science confirms the general premise. A research team in Zhejiang, China, found that air conditioning reduced the presence of potent atmospheric pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAC) by 23 percent. PACs contain compounds that are carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic (damaging to fetuses).

Tomatoes Prevent and Even Treat Liver Disease

omatoes are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content, anti-inflammatory and cancerfighting properties, plus benefits to heart health. Now, research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center, at Tufts University, in Boston, Massachusetts, has found that consuming tomatoes—particularly their lycopene content—can also help prevent and even treat both liver disease and cancer of the liver. The researchers combed through 241 studies and scientific papers to connect the dots. They report that lycopene up regulates the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) protein, meaning it increases the number of receptors on cell surfaces, thereby increasing cellular response to it. SIRT1 activation is recognized to protect against obesity-induced inflammation and degeneration of the liver, explain the study’s authors. Lycopene was found to protect against fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis and the formation of cancer in the liver and lungs. Multiple studies have shown cooked tomatoes and tomato sauce offer increased bioavailability of healthful lycopene.

natural awakenings

April 2014

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

Food Charter

United Nations Blueprints Sustainability Goals A new publication, Trade and Environment Review: Wake Up Before it is Too Late, from the United Nations Commission on Trade and Development, declares that transformative changes are needed in current food, agriculture and trade systems to increase diversity on farms, reduce use of fertilizer and other inputs, support small-scale farmers and create strong local food systems. Key indicators of needed transformation in agriculture include increased soil carbon content and better integration between crop and livestock production; more incorporation of agroforestry and wild vegetation; reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of livestock production; reduction of GHG through sustainable peatland, forest and grassland management; optimization of organic and inorganic fertilizer use; reduction of waste throughout the food chains; changing dietary patterns toward climate-friendly food consumption; and reform of the international trade regime for food and agriculture. The report includes contributions from more than 60 international experts, including a commentary from the Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy. Source: iatp.org

Trees are Trying Forests Have Limited Powers to Save Us

Forests have a finite capacity to soak up atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a recent study from Northern Arizona University. Results published in the online journal New Phytologist illustrate how today’s rising atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) might alter the carbon and nitrogen content of ecosystems. In contrast to expectations, research over an 11-year period showed that ecosystem carbon uptake was not significantly increased by high CO2. While plants did contain more carbon in the presence of higher CO2 levels, the soil lost carbon content due to microbial decomposition. These factors essentially canceled each other out, signifying that nature cannot entirely self-correct against climate change.

Marine Maneuvers Harnessing the Ocean’s Power Potential

Alice Mills smiles as she looks at the box that sits on her lawn in Hutchinson, Kansas, an act of kindness for neighbors and the community. Inside the box is a miniature library. Books sit on two shelves; the bottom with short stories for children and the top with novels for adults. After her children grew up and moved away from home, they took the books they wanted with them. The rest sat on a bookshelf collecting dust. “If they’re here, they’re not being read,” Mills says. The concept for the Little Free Library began in 2009 to promote literacy and the love of reading, as well as to build a sense of community, according to LittleFreeLibrary.org. They are now popping up around the world in the United States, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Pakistan, Spain, Turkey and the Congo. A recent Pew Internet & American Life Project survey shows that Americans strongly value the role of public libraries in their communities, both for providing access to materials and resources and for promoting literacy and improving the overall quality of life. More than half used a public library in a one-year period, and 72 percent say they live in a “library household”. Most Americans say they have only had positive experiences at public libraries and value a range of library resources and services. National Library Week begins April 13.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is investing $16 million on 17 tidal and wave projects to sustainably and efficiently capture energy from waves, tides and currents. The projects will also help gather crucial data on how these devices interact with the surrounding environment. The DOE will also spend $13.5 million on eight projects to help U.S. companies build durable, efficient wave and tidal devices that reduce overall costs and maximize the amount of energy captured. Specifically, the projects will focus on developing new components and software that predicts ocean conditions and adjusts device settings accordingly to optimize power production.

Contributing source: HutchNews.com

Source: Ecoseed.org

Pick-Me-Up Books

Mailbox Libraries Gain Worldwide

Toledo/Monroe edition

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

Albatross Advance

CO2-Correct Food

Menus Minimize Greenhouse Gases Experts at the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, at Aberdeen University, in Scotland, have created a new menu plan that is healthy and nutritious, as well as good for the environment. The researchers compiled a shopping list of 52 foods arranged in categories according to how much climate-changing greenhouse gases are produced to make and transport them (Tinyurl.com/ScottishDiet). They then devised a weekly weight allowance for each food, which when followed, would reduce the use of greenhouse gases by about a third. Surprisingly, the list features foods such as chocolate, ice cream and red meat, but anyone wanting to reduce their carbon footprint must only eat them in relatively tiny quantities. Some food groups, such as dairy products and meat, produce much bigger emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide than others because of the way they are manufactured and brought to market. The production of fruit, vegetables and legumes is much less likely to produce such high emissions.

Other Endangered Animals Continue to Decline

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a draft statement essentially giving the green light to the marketing, sale and planting of Dow Chemical’s genetically modified (GM, GMO, GE) corn and soybeans resistant to 2,4-D, which will trigger a huge increase in the use of the toxic herbicide. The determination under the Plant Pest Act comes despite intense opposition over the past two years from farmers, more than 400,000 other individuals and some 150 farm, fishery, public health, consumer and environmental groups and private businesses. Meanwhile, the Grocery Manufacturers Association has issued talking points against GMO labeling laws for food industry lobbyists that claim the laws are unconstitutional, violating the First Amendment, although other legal experts say the assertion is baseless.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated its “red list” of threatened species, upgrading two kinds of albatross. However, the okapi, or “forest giraffe”, has taken a turn for the worse in Africa; the species is now listed as endangered and its numbers are dwindling, say IUCN officials. Among species that saw an increase in population are the black-browed albatross, which was promoted from endangered to near threatened, and the black-footed albatross, which went from vulnerable to near threatened. With stripes on its legs similar to those on zebras, the okapi is revered in its native habitat within the Democratic Republic of the Congo and even appears on the country’s currency. Protecting the species has been difficult amid political turbulence because armed rebels, elephant poachers and illegal miners encroach on parts of the okapi’s range, say conservationists.

Take action at Tinyurl.com/PushToLabelGMO. Learn more at OrganicConsumers.org.

Source: Mother Nature Network

Source: Scotsman.com

GMO Go-Ahead

Feds Give Dangerous Green Light

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Laboratory Physical Therapy X-Ray / CT Scan / MRI Alternative to Emergency Room Care Physician House Calls Ultrasound Discount Prescriptions Compounding General Surgery Family Practice Orthopedics Durable Medical Equipment In-Home Health Care Counseling Supplements Chiropractic

April 2014

globalbriefs Hot ‘n Sunny

Cheaper Solar Panels Spur Job Growth

ecotip Heirloom Home

A Fresh Look at Furnishings that Last

Rainwater flows through porous pavement, allowing it to quickly reach soil, which helps keep pavement clearer from ice and snow in the winter and reduces the amount of pollutants that rain washes off of streets and into bodies of surface water. “It works about 50 percent of the time,” says David Drullinger, an environmental quality professional with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. He explains that dirt, sand and other debris get stuck inside the pavement; for it to be effective again, it must be cleaned. More machines capable of unclogging these road surfaces are needed before widespread installation is viable. As more contractors gain experience working with the new material, the more effective it may become. Several communities in Michigan already are adopting the use of porous pavement for its benefits.

Why not expand on the spring tradition of home cleaning by appraising existing home furnishings and décor to see how rearrangements can freshen the whole presentation? Employing a few basic creative strategies will yield long-lasting beauty, cost savings, health benefits and utility, all adding up to enhanced sustainability. Secondhand items readily spruce up interiors when they are thoughtfully selected. Look for gently used, new-to-you items— ranging from furniture and lamps to accent pieces like pottery and wall art—at antique and thrift shops, yard and estate sales or via online forums such as CraigsList.com and Freecycle. org. Seeking out fair trade items helps support a fair wage for artisans around the world. Plants enliven and beautify any space while cleaning indoor air, according to a recent study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Associated Landscape Contractors of America. Plants cited as especially effective in removing formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide from the air include bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen, English ivy, gerbera (African) daisy, chrysanthemum and peace lily. Pot them in used jars or other repurposed containers to conserve materials and add character and more personality to home décor. Overall balance is key. “An imbalanced room has large furniture grouped together at one end and lightweight furniture and bare walls at the other,” says professional designer Norma Lehmeier Hartie, author of Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify & Energize Your Life, Your Home & Your Planet. “The effect is like being on a tilting boat in a storm.” Furniture arrangements are best when they allow light to flow through spaces with ample allowance for moving about the room. The ideal setup facilitates worktable projects and small-group conversations. Round tables help make everyone feel like they belong, according to green living expert Annie Bond. Sustainable kitchen wares are often the classiest. Sturdy pots, pans and kettles, like Le Creuset and Picquot Ware, may offer replacement parts and lifetime guarantees; Bialetti and Bodum coffee makers and Littala glassware are durable and long-lasting. While some may cost more upfront, their longevity saves money over time. Then there’s always grandma’s iron skillet.

Source: GreatLakesEcho.org

Additional sources: GreenPages.org and GreenAmerica.org

Solar industry jobs are up nearly 20 percent in the 14 months through November 2013 as cheaper panels and rising electricity rates spurred people to turn to solar, according to a report by the nonprofit Solar Foundation research group. At latest count, solar companies employ nearly 143,000 solar workers, up more than 23,000 from September 2012—a job growth rate that’s 10 times faster than the national average and is helping local economies, according to the foundation. The industry is expected to create 22,000 new jobs in 2014, although at a slower pace than 2013. Cuts of 8,500 positions are projected in the sector that generates electricity from fossil fuels. Solar firms surveyed in the report said that more than 50 percent of their business and homeowner customers turned to solar to save money, while nearly 23 percent said they invested in panels because costs are now comparable with utility rates. The report noted that the cost of solar equipment has fallen about 50 percent since the beginning of 2010, motivating more people to go green.

Porous Pavement

Widespread Use Awaits Cleaning Machines

Toledo/Monroe edition

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

earthdayevents

April 5 - Green Cleaning with dōTerra Essential Oils – 10:30-12noon. Learn how to make your own cleaning products quickly, safely and economically with essential oils. Open house at 10:30am, Class starts at 11am. Demonstrations, raffle and more. Free. Providence Lutheran Church, 8131 Airport Hwy, Holland OH. RSVP 419-2653219 or Gleason.Karla@gmail.com.

Celebrate Earth Day 2014

April 12 - Household Hazardous Waste Collection – 8am-noon. Free. Monroe County Drain Commission, 1005 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe,MI. GreenMonroeCounty.com.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle to Renew the Health of Our Planet

hether already an activist or still struggling to sort recyclables, we all have a prime opportunity during the week of April 22 to renew our individual and collective pledge to tread more lightly on the planet. “Environmentalism touches every part of our lives, from what we eat to what we wear to what we breathe,” says Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers. “Learning about where our food comes from or how a product is made can be fun,” she continues, “and awareness is the foundation for action.” More than a billion citizens have already registered their acts of green through the organization’s website; this year, the campaign seeks to engage a billion more. Suggestions range from the personal, such as pledging to stop using disposable plastic, to the political, in calling our congressional representatives to reestablish a tax credit program for renewable energy. With an estimated two out of every three people on Earth expected to be living in cities by 2050—straining water, energy and transportation systems—Earth Day Network has chosen Green Cities as this year’s theme. Advocates are calling upon cities to invest in smart grids, overhaul outdated building codes and increase public transportation options. U.S. success stories helping to lead the way include Chicago’s Solar Express

program, using incentives to drive solar installations, and New York City’s pedestrian plazas, designed to replace urban gridlock with open space. Denver’s low-income South Lincoln neighborhood is also getting a makeover with its green public housing community that boasts a platinum-certified Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design building. Its energy efficiency and water reuse systems are reducing resource consumption by up to 40 percent. Plus, bicycle lanes in roads and expanded access to city bus and tram systems decrease traffic-related pollution. Visit EarthDay.org to pledge a personal act of green, find a volunteer opportunity or learn more about the regreening of urban communities around the world. Help Toledo, OH/Monroe County, MI celebrate its progress toward sustainability at these local Earth Day 2014 events. April 5 - Earth Day Expo – 10-2pm. Learn about living green in Monroe County. Sidewalk chalk art contest, drawing for prizes including tablet computer and La-Z-Boy chair, free yoga and tai chi sessions and much more! Free. MB&T Expo Center, 3775 S. Custer Rd., Monroe, MI. GreenMonroeCounty.com

April 21 - Come Celebrate Earth Day and Learn all about Green Cleaning – 3:30-4:30pm. Patti Leupp, CRNA, will share how to make all-natural cleaning products with safe, simple and inexpensive ingredients. Free. St Luke’s Hospital, Conference Room 1, 5901 Monclova Rd, Maumee OH. For more info and to RSVP: Patti Leupp 419-779-6310 or PLeupp@buckeye-express.com. April 22-27 - Imagination Station, Toledo’s Science Center, makes recycling fun with Green Science. Guests will learn to reduce their environmental footprint by conserving water and energy in their own home. Visitors of all ages will explore creative ways to reuse by creating a trellis using a bicycle wheel, protecting vegetables and fruits from birds using old CDs, making seed paper out of old newspaper and discovering many other creative, “green” uses for old products and lots more! 1 Discovery Way, Toledo,OH. April 23 - Organic Gardening 101 – 6-8pm. Leader: Sister Rita Wienken. Learn simple organic gardening techniques, from the soil to dealing with insects. $10. 577 Foundation, 577 E Front, Perrysburg OH. Register at 577Foundation.org/TakeAClass. 419-874-4174. April 26 - Party for the Planet – 10am4pm. Celebrate Earth Day at the Zoo! Bring your recyclables to the zoo and take part in cool activities that help you and your family be a little greener. Toledo Zoo, OH 25 (Anthony Wayne Trail). Toledo OH. More info and list of recycling items at ToledoZoo.org/ Events.

natural awakenings

April 2014

Green Housing Yields Social and Security Benefits n Large-home inhabitants may go all day without seeing one another and communication and togetherness can suffer. Family members living in small homes can more easily cultivate strong communications and cohesion.

LIVE GREEN,

SAVE BIG Five Eco-Friendly Life Decisions that Can Actually Save Us Money by Crissy Trask

very pivotal life decision, from choosing where we live to eating healthier, can support our best interests environmentally, as well. The good news is that it is possible to afford a sustainable way of life. Eco-friendly choices for housing, vehicles and food— generally perceived as expensive for the average individual or family—often are not only attainable when pursued in a thoughtful way, but can actually save us money compared to maintaining the status quo.

1. Buying a Home

When considering a move to a new place, we often find out how much house we can manage and then proceed to invest to the hilt. But if hitting our spending limit will leave a deficit in the amount of green and healthy home features and furnishings we can 16

Toledo/Monroe edition

achieve, we could end up with a residence that makes neither financial nor ecological sense, and isn’t good for our health. A solution is to scale back on costly square footage. Spending 25 to 40 percent less than we think we can on a smaller home provides more possibilities when planning the renovation budget, enabling us to create a home that is more deeply satisfying. Nicole Alvarez, an architectural designer with Ellen Cassilly Architect, in Durham, North Carolina, who blogs at IntentionallySmall.com, says that if we value quality over quantity, place over space and living more intentionally in every aspect of our lives, we are ready for a small home. Occupying less space has profoundly influenced her daily life and happiness. Alvarez has found, “When space is limited, everything has a function and

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

n Dense neighborhoods encourage interaction and cooperation among neighbors, nurturing a cohesive community that can reward us with social connections, collective responsibility and assistance when needed. n Urban homes give vandals and thieves fewer opportunities because neighbors are close by and passersby may be more readily noticed. n Small homes can encourage disconnecting from technology and getting outside. When the TV can be heard throughout the house, parents are more likely to urge outdoor playtime for kids. n The footprint of a small dwelling uses a fraction of the buildable lot, leaving more outdoor space for planting gardens that can nourish bodies and souls. Source: GreenMatters.com

greater financial freedom, less stress and more time for fun.

2. Deciding Where to Live

Eco-friendly choices for housing, vehicles and food—generally perceived as expensive for the average individual or family—often are not only attainable when pursued in a thoughtful way, but can actually save us money compared to maintaining the status quo. a purpose. Everything has to be intentional. Over time, as you grow in the home, you make small modifications to personalize it more to adjust to your routine. You grow a strong bond with your home.” Securing a much smaller dwelling than what we originally had designs on can lead to a lifetime of savings. With less space to furnish, heat, cool, light, clean and maintain, we can enjoy

Urban, suburban or rural, where we live incurs long-term repercussions on the natural environment. Choosing an established community within or close to an urban center tends to be more protective of air, water and land quality than living in a distant, car-dependent suburb, yet many families feel either drawn to or resigned to the suburbs for the lower housing prices. But as Ilana Preuss, vice president at Washington, D.C.-based Smart Growth America, explains, “There is more to housing affordability than how much rent or mortgage we pay. Transportation costs are the second-biggest budget item for most families. In locations with access to few transportation choices, the combined cost of housing and transportation can be more than 60 percent of the total household budget. For families with access to a range of transportation choices, the combined cost can be less than 40 percent.” In most suburbs, where the only practical transportation choice is a personal vehicle, dependency on a car takes a toll on us financially and physically. Driving a personal vehicle 15,000 miles a year can cost about $9,122 annually in ownership and operating expenses, according to AAA’s 2013 Your Driving Costs report, and hours

spent daily sitting behind the wheel being sedentary is eroding our health. Lack of transportation options is a leading detriment to the nation’s collective wellness, according to the federal agency Healthy People. Sustainable cities provide many transportation options, including public buses and trains, car-sharing services and all forms of ride sharing; and perhaps most importantly, they are bike- and pedestrian-friendly. Choosing communities that make it possible to reduce driving and even go car-free much of the time can save us money, reduce stress and improve our health.

3. Choosing a Car

We know two primary facts about cars: They are expensive and those with internal combustion engines pollute during operation. Still, many of us need one. Reducing the total impact and burden of owning a car can be as simple as prioritizing fuel efficiency. It helps that fuel-sippers now come in more sizes than just small, yet small subcompacts remain a good place to start our research because of their budget-friendly prices and high fuel economy. A subcompact that averages 32 miles per gallon (mpg) and has a sticker price below $15,000 can save us so much money compared with a top-selling compact SUV—upwards of $16,000 over five years, according to Edmunds.com—that if we need a larger vehicle on occasion, we

natural awakenings

April 2014

By the Numbers 1 The average dollar cost to fully The newest hybrids have been around for more than a decade, and the batteries have held up extremely well, lasting 150,000 to 200,000 miles in some cases. ~ CNN.com can more easily afford to rent one. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), both small and midsized, can be an even better choice, averaging 41 mpg. Cost comparisons show that an HEV can save a heavily travelling city driver nearly $1,000 in fuel costs annually versus a comparably sized conventional gasolinepowered car. Although a 2014 midsized HEV has an average suggested retail price of $28,431, the category has been around long enough to create a market in previously owned vehicles. A used hybrid that is just two years old can cost up to 25 percent less than a new one.

4. Buying American

According to Consumer Reports, many shoppers prefer to buy products made in the USA, but with more than 60 percent of all consumer goods now produced overseas, finding American goods is not always easy. The good news is that buying American doesn’t mean only buying American made. We back the U.S. economy and jobs when we purchase used items that have been renewed or repurposed by enterprising citizens. Creative reuse supports new and existing businesses that collect, clean, sort, recondition, refurbish, remanufacture, update, refinish, reupholster, repair, tailor, distribute and sell used parts, materials and finished goods. Sarah Baird, director of outreach and communications of the Center for a New American Dream, an organization working to shift consumption away from wasteful trends, loves the history of 18

Toledo/Monroe edition

recharge a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle battery.

3 The factor by which occupied living space per household member has increased in the last 60 years. 8 The percentage of goods sold in the U.S. in 1960 that were foreign made. 377 The number of hours the average American needs to work each year in order to own and operate a car, equivalent to 9.4 standard work weeks. 13,000 The dollars a person requires annually to treat Type 2 diabetes, a preventable, diet-related disease. Sources: Go Green, Spend Less, Live Better, by Crissy Trask; In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan

used items. She says, “An item that has already lived one life has a story to tell, and is infinitely more interesting than anything newly manufactured.” Another reward is the big savings afforded by previously owned durable goods; not even America’s big-box discount retailers can beat these genuine bargains. Of course, not everything is available in the used marketplace, but when it makes sense, we can proudly know that our purchases support American ingenuity and workers.

5. Getting Healthy

Going green is healthy in innumerable ways. In addition to driving less, banning toxic products from our household cupboards and dinner plates is another solid place to start on the road to improved well-being for ourselves and the planet. Toxic consumer products pollute the planet, from manufacture through use and disposal. They aren’t doing us any favors. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that the average human body now contains an estimated 700 industrial compounds, pollutants and other chemicals due to exposure to toxic consumer products and industrial

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

chemicals. After researching proper local disposal of such hazards, replace them on future shopping forays with safer choices. It’s an investment in our health that can save untold pain and money and pay off big time in avoiding health problems ranging from cancer, asthma and chronic diseases to impaired fertility, birth defects and learning disabilities according to the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Coalition. To reduce exposure to the toxins that are commonly sprayed on conventional crops, select sustainable and organic versions of foods to prepare at home whenever possible. Such choices help keep both our bodies and the environment healthy and can be surprisingly affordable compared with eating out and consuming prepackaged convenience foods. By substituting whole foods for prepared foods, cooking more meals at home and practicing good eating habits—like eating less meat and downsizing portions—the average person can enjoy high-quality food for $7 to $11 per day. This matches or falls below what the average American daily spends on food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Considering that diet-related diseases can cost afflicted families thousands of dollars a year, better food choices can make us not only healthier, but wealthier, too. Crissy Trask is the author of Go Green, Spend Less, Live Better. Connect at CrissyTrask.com.

“There is something about the American culture that makes us think a big house means we have reached success and happiness. This perception is starting to change, though. There’s a growing community of people that want quality over quantity, value place over space, and are choosing to live more intentionally in every aspect of their lives.” ~ Nicole Alvarez

inspiration

Wilderness in Sidewalk Cracks Small Nature Reaches Out to City Kids by Greg Hanscom

ity kids are often taught that nature is out there beyond the city limits, but one science educator and photographer shows how everyday nature has the power to transform. You can take Molly Steinwald out of the city, but you’ll never get the city out of her. Growing up as a free-schoollunch kid on the outskirts of Manchester, New Hampshire, she notes, “I didn’t do the skiing and mountain climbing thing.” Instead, she found solace watching ants parade across the sidewalk or tracing the intricate lines on a leaf. Yet when she graduated from high school, Steinwald traveled as far as she could from those city streets, earning a degree in biology, and then a master’s degree in ecology researching kangaroo rats in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains. Still, the city always tugged at her. “I was really excited about big nature,” Steinwald says. “But I kept coming back to small-scale, mundane nature that I knew as a kid. I felt I needed to get back to help people who never see this stuff.” Today, Steinwald is doing just that. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. researching human interactions with nature in built environments. As director of science education and research at the Phipps Conservatory, in Pittsburgh,

Pennsylvania, she has been charged with reimagining urban environmental education and reaching out to at-risk youth. Her basic assumption is: One doesn’t have to go to a national park, or even a city park, to connect with the natural world. It’s crawling past us on the sidewalk or drifting through the air right under our nose. That, she says, is where city kids can forge a lasting connection with na-

ture—if they’re paying attention. As one of the many ways to get kids to tune in, Steinwald directs programs that arm them with digital cameras and challenges them to take pictures of the fragments of nature they find on the streets. The approach is a departure from the belief held by some that “nature” is defined as parks or green spaces—places apart from our everyday lives. Lisa Graumlich, dean of the University of Washington School of the Environment, in Seattle, Washington, says Steinwald is making waves in environmental education circles: “She was an urban kid. She brings the voice of someone from a different economic class to the table.” Graumlich says it makes intuitive sense that connecting with street-level nature will help build a lasting bond with the natural world. The next challenge is figuring out how to provide kids with more of these experiences: “It may be as simple as a mom walking home from the bus stop with bags of groceries and two children in tow, feeling like she has time to look at a sidewalk crack with them.” “A lot of nature in the city is really small,” Steinwald observes. “I want to show these kids that even if their nature is small, it’s still darned good nature.” Greg Hanscom is a senior editor for Grist.org, in Seattle, WA.

We Focus on Posture Not Poses. Hot YogAlign with Joe classes are postural based movement exercises that range from beginner to intermediate level done in a humid room. We do not believe in using force, we practice Ahimsa, compassion and caring to gently and intelligently transform ourselves.

Joe Sparks, LMT

29101 Hufford Rd. Rm. 103 • Perrysburg

www.HotYogAlignWithJoe.com joe.sparks@toast.net

(419) 345-0885

An hour session at this temperature promotes sweating and makes the body very warm, relaxed and therefore, naturally more flexible and strong. At the end of the session you will feel aligned, with your body moving and breathing with less effort, less tension, and no PAIN! So, you can have your kid-like flexibility back! We want your whole mind and body involved in this process, not parts. — Aloha & Namaste, Joe

Before and After photos after my YogAlign Teachers Training in Kauai

March 11th - April 19th 2013.

Please read about Michaelle Edwards in the New York Times article: Women’s Flexibility is a Liability (in Yoga) natural awakenings

April 2014

healingways

Good Riddance to Bad Vibes

Escaping Electromagnetic Exposure by Priscilla Goudreau-Santos

e crackle with activity. “The institute “Just because usually finds that when a energy. Natural electromagnetic someone isn’t patient doesn’t respond fields within us regulate to treatment by an energy feeling symptoms healer, it’s because of how our bodies work. Plus, we continually from exposure the environment. I try encounter many outside to neutralize its effect to to electronic energy fields from Wi-Fi, help the body regulate cell phones and towers, technology, that properly,” Traver says. power lines, microwave While protection in doesn’t mean ovens, computers, TVs, highly occupied famsecurity devices and that it’s not having ily areas is important, radar. A growing number providing protection in an effect on DNA.” bedrooms is especially of experts see these surrounding frequencies as vital, due to the amount ~ Camilla Rees an increasing danger to of time we spend there our well-being. for rest and restoration. Traver’s diag Applying modalities like acupunc- noses sometimes suggest remediation ture, Reiki, Touch for Health and Eden measures that involve an electrician Energy Medicine can help us maintain grounding currents and adding selective a healthy energy balance internally. shielding materials to block frequencies They work to harmonize the body flowing from electronic devices. “Magto protect against stress, trauma and netic fields from outside the house are associated illness. hard to control, but 98 percent of what Phyllis Traver, owner of Safe & I find can be fixed,” she advises. Sound Home, in Boston, is certified by When Terry Mollner, 69, was the International Institute of Buildinghaving trouble sleeping, he contacted Biology & Ecology to detect, measure Traver, who receives client referrals from and counter in-home electromagnetic energy healers. “The conclusions were

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NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

stunning,” Mollner says. “The detector’s measurements went off the charts in the bedroom. It wasn’t the flat screen TV at the foot of my bed, but how the room’s wiring was done. The electrician installed a relay so I can switch off the power on that side of the house at night. Now, I sleep six or seven hours,” which he characterizes as “a profound change.” He also suggests turning off and moving cell phones away from beds. Mollner then hardwired the computers in his home, eliminated Wi-Fi and rearranged the electronic equipment in his home office. Kim Cook, an energy practitioner in Mission Viejo, California, specializes in Eden Energy Medicine and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). Cook decided not to buy a house she was initially interested in because it was in a hot spot. When Cook used her meter to chart frequencies at home, it also prompted her to move her bedroom clock radio to a different bureau. “It’s no longer sitting right at our heads,” she notes. Plus, “I don’t put my cell phone on my body and it bothers me that my son puts his in his pocket.” An overarching observation from Cook’s professional practice is that increasing numbers of people in pain are interested in energy medicine because they’re so frustrated with Western medicine. She observes, “Pain is blocked energy, and people are learning how to unblock it naturally.” The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the International EMF Project in 1996 because of rising public health concerns due to the surge in EMF sources. After reviewing extensive research and thousands of articles, the organization can’t confirm—or deny—the existence of health consequences from exposure to lowlevel EMFs. But in 2011, the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the electromagnetic radiation from cell phones as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on increased risk for glioma, a malignant brain cancer. Lloyd Morgan, a senior researcher with the nonprofit Environmental Health Trust and lead author of the internationally endorsed report, Cellphones and Brain Tumors, goes

further, unequivocally stating, “Cell phone radiation is a carcinogen.” In our own environment, we can regulate EMF, says Iowan Camilla Rees, founder of the educational petition website ElectromagneticHealth.org and Campaign for Radiation Free Schools on Facebook; she is the co-author of Public Health SOS: The Shadow Side of the Wireless Revolution and Morgan’s cell phone report. Says Rees, “You can buy a meter,

avoid using cordless phones and baby monitors, and change your cell phone behavior. The harmful effects of cell phones decrease with distance; just by holding the cell phone six inches from your head, there is a 10,000-fold reduction of risk.”

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Priscilla Goudreau-Santos is a freelance writer and owner of Priscilla Goudreau Public Relations & Marketing, in Charlotte, NC.

“Momm

Ways to Reduce Risk Although electromagnetic field (EMF) activity vibrates all around us, there are simple ways to reduce adverse health effects in daily indoor environments.

Hannah’s Socks Box A house is not a

Computers 4 Hardwire all Internet connections instead of using Wi-Fi.

home unless it contains food and fire for mind How onethe little girl as theisbody. withasawell big heart making ~Benjamin Franklin a world of difference

4 Power a laptop using a three-prong grounded plug and then plug in a separate, hardwired keyboard (this minimizes both the exposure to wireless radiation and the effects from the laptop battery’s magnetic field). 4 Use a grounding mouse pad to minimize effects of the electric field from the computer. 4 Don’t position any laptop or tablet computer on the lap.

General 4 Don’t live within 1,500 feet of a cell tower. 4 Use battery-powered LCD alarm clocks (not LED), keeping them several feet away from the body.

“Mommy, he can have my socks.”

Hannah’s Box Hannah’s Socks Socks Box

4 Don’t use an electric blanket. 4 Turn off all wireless devices before bedtime and generally minimize usage at other times.

Phones 4 Replace cordless phones with corded landlines or use cordless phones only when needed; otherwise, unplug them.

Care. Share. Give a Pair!

4 Never hold the cell phone directly against the head or body. Use the speaker phone function, other hands-free device or another device that meets the Environmental Health Trust guidelines at Tinyurl.com/CellPhoneUsageTips. 4 Protect children, pregnant women and men that want to become fathers. Sperm are especially vulnerable. Children absorb twice as much radiation as adults. 4 Be wary of a weak signal. Phones work harder and emit more radiation when the signal is weak or blocked.

Please donate new socks and underwear in men’s, women’s Care. and children’s sizes aforPair! distribution Share. Give to homeless and domestic-abuse shelters Care. Share. Give aand Pair! PleasePlease donate new socksnew underwear in men’s, donate socks How one and little girl women’s and children’s sizes for distribution

4 Don’t sleep with a cell phone nearby. Place it several feet away from the bed or across the room, turn it off or put it in airplane mode. 4 Find more helpful information at Tinyurl.com/EMF-ProtectionTips and Tinyurl.com/CellPhoneRadiationDanger.

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natural awakenings

April 2014

naturalpet

owner or nervous pacing are clues that a four-legged pal has had enough. “Good manners at home might not translate to public manners,” Proctor notes. “Take practice runs to see how your dog handles distractions.” Day care or play dates with other dogs help hone canine social skills, while basic obedience—leave it, sit, stay, down, off, an effective recall and walking nicely on a leash—form the basis for good manners. Reward good behavior with praise, treats or a favorite activity.

Eating Out

Pooch Protocol

Good Manners Make a Dog Welcome by Sandra Murphy

t seems dogs travel just about everywhere with their humans these days. They’re spotted at home improvement stores, happy hours, drive-through restaurants and workplaces, in addition to their usual hangouts. To get Sparky invited into even more people places, he must have good manners. “Just like with kids, not every venue is appropriate for dogs,” advises Eileen

Proctor, a pet lifestyle expert in Denver, Colorado. “Some dogs are more introverted and want a quiet spot to relax. Others love a party. Know your dog and socialize him accordingly; never force him into an uncomfortable situation.” Instead, help him acclimate to new locales gradually, from a distance; stop when he shows signs of stress. A yawn, averted eyes, hiding behind his

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Amy Burkert, the on-the-road owner of GoPetFriendly.com, says, “After a long day at the office or a ‘ruff’ week at work, it’s nice to include your dog when eating out. Pet-friendly restaurants with outdoor seating areas where the dog can join you are becoming more common, but always ask first. “Dogs in dining areas should lie quietly under your table or by your chair,” she continues. “This is not the time to socialize. Diners may find it unappealing to be approached by your dog while they’re eating. Choose a table where your dog can be out of the way of customers and the wait staff.” It will take practice. “If he acts up, apologize, leave and know that you’ll do better next time,” says Burkert. A good process for teaching good restaurant manners begins with sitting quietly with the dog when there are few people around, and then moving

on. The next time, order an appetizer. Increase the amount of time the pet is expected to wait quietly, as well as the number of distractions.

Traveling Together

Christina Mendel, an international business coach with offices in Germany and Italy, adds that dogs need a safe and secure retreat from excessive activity. Her Chihuahua mix, Balu, is small enough to fit into a carry bag. He can take a nap, people watch or have a snack without fear of human interference. “The carry bag helps when I take clients to dinner, drive or fly to onsite appointments,” she says. “Many of my clients are dog owners, so we bond because he’s well behaved and knows tricks.” Flying presents its own challenges because airlines limit the number of pets on each flight. Check the company’s rules for pet size, weight and type of crate required. Dogs ride as cargo unless they are small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat. Other passengers might be fearful or allergic, so respect their boundaries. In the car, a dog needs to be calm

Find tips for walking dogs in crowded urban areas at Tinyurl.com/RulesOfThe DoggyRoad. and wear a special seat belt, be crated or otherwise restrained to keep him safe, not distract the driver and prevent lunging out the window.

At Work

Dogs may be welcome in the workplace. Alexandra Blackstone, design director for Killer Infographics, in Seattle, Washington, takes her corgi puppy, Buster, to the office. “He was good

when he was the only dog at work,” explains Blackstone. “When an older dog and another puppy were there, he barked and tried to herd them.” He didn’t read other dogs well, so to further Buster’s dog-to-dog communication skills, Blackstone enrolled him in doggie day care twice a week. She advises first introducing dogs outside of the office setting. “Communicate with coworkers as to what your dog is working on, so everyone is consistent in their behavior toward him,” Blackstone advises. “Be clear how to correct any inappropriate behavior if someone else shares responsibility for walking him.” She reports that with positive training techniques, Buster is learning to respond well and now splits his time between day care and the office. “It’s your responsibility to make taking the dog along a good experience for all,” counsels Proctor. “That includes using a leash and always picking up after him, every time.” Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy of St. Louis, MO, at StLSandy@ mindspring.com.

natural awakenings

April 2014

greenliving

cousin of baking soda, softens water and removes stains. Bond advises, “It’s a heavy duty cleaner as powerful as any toxic solvent,” so wear gloves. Hydrogen peroxide is considered an effective disinfectant and bleach alternative by the Environmental Protection Agency. Use it to whiten grout and remove stains.

HOMEMADE ECO-CLEANERS

Essential oils derived from plants infuse cleaners with fragrance and boost germ-fighting power. Tea tree, eucalyptus and lavender oils all boast antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. The Jabs advise that although they can be pricy, “The investment will pay for itself many times over.”

DIY Recipes Keep Your Home Naturally Clean

Lemon juice or citric acid cuts through grease, removes mold and bacteria and leaves dishes streak-free.

by Lane Vail

Coarse kosher salt helps soften dishwasher water and acts as a scouring agent.

mericans use 35 million pounds of toxic household cleaning products annually. According to the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition, in Los Angeles, traces of cleaning chemicals can be found throughout the human body within seconds of exposure, posing risks like asthma, allergies, cancer, reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, neurotoxicity and death. Equally sobering is the decades of research suggesting a relationship between the overuse of powerful disinfectants and the rise of antibiotic-resistant super bacteria like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as concerns over these toxins entering water supplies and wildlife food chains. Cleaning product labels lack transparency, says Johanna Congleton, Ph.D., a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, because “manufacturers aren’t required to specify ingredients.” One approach to assure safe ingredients is do-it-yourself (DIY) products. For Matt and Betsy Jabs, the authors of DIY Natural Household Cleaners who blog at DIYNatural.com, creating homemade cleaners is a rewarding exercise in sustainability and simplicity. “We’re cutting through all the marketing and getting back to basics,” says Matt. Affordability is another benefit:

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The Jabs’ homemade laundry detergent costs five cents per load, compared with 21 cents for a store brand. Annie B. Bond, a bestselling author and pioneering editor of the award-winning Green Guide, dispels a DIY myth: “What’s time-consuming isn’t making the cleaners; it’s making the decision to switch and figuring it all out,” she says.

Nine Basics

Find these multitasking ingredients in local groceries and health stores or online. White vinegar effectively cleans, deodorizes, cuts grease and disinfects against bacteria, viruses and mold. Castile soap in liquid or bar form serves as a biodegradable, vegetable-based surfactant and all-around cleaner (avoid mixing with vinegar, which neutralizes its cleansing properties). Baking soda cleans, whitens, neutralizes odors and softens water. It’s an excellent scrubbing agent for bathrooms, refrigerators and ovens. Borax, a natural mineral, improves the effectiveness of laundry soap. Although classified (as is salt) as a low-level health hazard that should be kept away from children and animals, borax is non-carcinogenic and isn’t absorbed through skin. Washing soda, a caustic chemical

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Home Formulas

All-purpose cleaner: Homemade Cleaners: Quick-and-Easy ToxinFree Recipes, by Mandy O’Brien and Dionna Ford, suggests combining one cup of vinegar, one cup of water and 15 drops of lemon oil in a spray bottle. Use it anywhere, including glass and mirrors. For serious disinfecting, follow with a hydrogen peroxide spray. Foaming hand/dish soap: Shake one cup of water, a quarter-cup of castile soap and 15 drops of essential oil in a foaming dispenser. Use in bathrooms and kitchens. Dishwashing detergent: DIYNatural recommends mixing one cup of borax, one cup of washing soda, a half-cup of citric acid and a half-cup of coarse kosher salt. Leave it uncovered for several days, stirring often to prevent clumping. Cover and refrigerate. Use one tablespoon per load with a half-cup of citric acid in the rinse to combat streaks. Laundry detergent: Combine one cup of borax, one cup of washing soda and one 14-ounce bar of grated castile soap. Use one tablespoon per load, adding a half-cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle. Prior to washing, use hydrogen peroxide as a stain remover (test first; it may lift color). Bathroom soft scrub: Bond recommends

More than 95 percent of “green” products manipulate labels by providing irrelevant information (declaring a product is free of an already illegal chemical), being vague (masking poisons as natural ingredients), outright lying (claiming false endorsements) and other maneuvers.

~ TerraChoice Group

creating a thick paste with liquid castile soap and a half-cup of baking soda. Scour tubs, showers and stainless steel surfaces with a sponge, and then rinse. Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle one cup of borax into the toilet at bedtime and then clean the loosened grime with a brush the next morning, advises Bond. Wipe outer surfaces with the all-purpose spray.

Cloth Tools Replace Paper by Lane Vail Americans, comprising less than 5 percent of the world’s population, use 30 percent of the world’s paper, according to the Worldwatch Institute. Some 13 billion pounds of this comes from paper towels, mostly landfilled because grime-soaked paper is non-recyclable. Ecological and economical alternatives include cloth dishrags, towels, napkins, wipes and handkerchiefs plus washable diapers and menstrual pads. Jean Calleja, co-owner of the Eco Laundry Company, in New York City, suggests customers buy recycled, organic, unbleached cloths and local products when possible. In the kitchen: Use washcloths or repurpose cotton T-shirts into 10-by10-inch squares to use regularly with a homemade all-purpose cleaner on surfaces. Replace paper towels with cloth towels for drying hands. At the table: Cloth napkins enhance mealtime. Buy or make plain napkins (by hemming cotton fabric squares) for everyday use and celebrate holidays with fancypatterned fabric rolled into napkin rings.

In the bathroom: Substitute chlorineladen disinfecting wipes with homemade reusable ones. DIYNatural.com recommends mixing three-quarters of a cup of white vinegar, three-quarters of a cup of water and 25 drops of essential oil in a glass mason jar. Stuff five to seven washcloths into the jar, seal with a lid and shake, so the solution is absorbed into each wipe. Pull out a ready-made disinfecting wipe for a quick clean. Laundering linens: Change cleaning rags often, hang-drying them thoroughly before adding to the laundry basket. Wash kitchen and bathroom rags (added to the bathroom towel load) separately each week. According to Calleja, “Presoaking rags overnight in a non-toxic, chlorine-free, whitening solution can make a huge difference in getting them clean.” Combine a halfcup of hydrogen peroxide with two to three gallons of water, spot-testing every fabric first for colorfastness. Calleja also likes using a white vinegar and eucalyptus oil rinse aid to dissolve soap residue, soften fabric and leave a fresh scent.

Wood polish: Bond recommends mixing a quarter-cup of vinegar or lemon juice with a few drops of olive and lemon oil.

Carpet cleaner: Freshen rugs by sprinkling baking soda at night and vacuuming in the morning, suggests Bond. For deeper cleaning, combine one cup of vinegar and two-and-a-half gallons of water in a steam cleaner. Lane Vail is a freelance writer in South Carolina. Connect at WriterLane.com.

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natural awakenings

April 2014

healthykids

Backyard Birds and Butterflies Native Habitats Draw Critters and Delight Kids by Avery Mack

reating a backyard wildlife habitat provides valuable teaching moments. With planning and care, birds, bats, butterflies and bunnies can view yards as safe havens and sources for food, water and shelter, providing endless fascination. Josh Stasik, a father of Hummingbird three and owner of SweetNectar Recipe Seed.com, in Syracuse, Measure one part New York, sees firsthand ordinary white sugar how feeding winged wonto four parts water ders can be an inexpensive (no unhealthy red way to start a new family activity. “My mom taught dye needed). Boil me about flowers and bird the water first, and feeders. I hope my kids will then mix the nectar someday pass the informawhile the water is tion along to their chilhot; the sugar will dren,” he says. easily dissolve. Habitat plantings and available foods determine Source: what creatures will visit. TomatoEnvy.com

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“Native plants attract native bugs that are eaten by native birds and bats,” observes Stasik, noting that staff at extension services and garden centers can provide helpful advice. Based on his own research, Stasik knows, “Bird species have definite tastes in food. Bluebirds love mealworms. Hummingbirds like floral nectars. Orioles look for citrus fruit. Butterflies are eclectic sippers of both floral and citrus.” Hummingbirds pose particular appeal for kids and adults because they appear always on the move. Hummingbirds.net/ map.html follows their migration sites. Videographer Tom Hoebbel, owner of TH Photography, outside Ithaca,

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New York, builds birdhouses and nesting boxes with his kids. They also participate in the annual Christmas bird count for the Audubon Society (Birds.Audubon. org/Christmas-birdcount). The Great Backyard Bird Count, a joint project between nonprofits Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, folbird photos courtesy of Susan lows in February Gottlieb, of Venice, California (gbbc.BirdCount.org). “In our yard, we have five nesting boxes made from reused wood. Once or twice a week, we check to see who lives there and how many eggs there are,” says Hoebbel. “So far, we’ve seen bluebirds, chickadees and house wrens.” He laments the rapid decline of bats in the Northeast due to pesticides killing bugs, the main course for birds and bats. “In the winter, bats live in caves, so we put one-by-one-foot boxes in the yard for their summer homes.” Warm evenings on the patio are more enjoyable when bats clean up the mosquito population; a single bat can eat as many as 1,000 in an hour. The monarch butterfly population is another favorite species in decline, with the spectacular annual migration on the verge of disappearing due to illegal deforestation, climate change, expansion of crop acreage and imposition of genetically modified plants that reduce the growth of native species. “You can help them by planting perennial milkweed in your garden,” advises Brande Plotnick, founder of Tomato Envy, in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Milkweed is the food of choice because it makes the caterpillars and butterflies toxic to birds and other predators. Also consider planting garden phlox, coneflower and lantana. Migrating monarchs live about nine months and fly up to 30 miles per hour. Plotnick also suggests planting an herb garden

that includes parsley. “Swallowtail butterflies will lay eggs on parsley, caterpillars hatch and feed on it, and eventually create a chrysalis,” she says. “You’ll be able to see the entire butterfly life cycle.” Rabbits add another dimension to backyard wildlife. Just as birds and butterflies need trees, bushes and plants to land on and hide in, bunnies need ground cover. The Virginia Department of Game and Fisheries counsels that brush piles should start with a base of large limbs, logs or stones to raise the floor above ground and create tunnels and escape routes, plus a home base. Top with smaller branches and maybe a recycled Christmas tree or dead plants. Encourage structural density and permanence with live vines. The resulting brush pile should be igloo-shaped and about six to eight feet tall and wide. Visit Tinyurl.com/BunnyShelters. City ordinances or subdivision regulations might prohibit brush piles in ordinary yards. Find out how to gain certification as a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation at Tinyurl.com/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat. Rabbits can have as many as seven babies per litter, depending on the species. Make sure their space is sufficient. Before attracting bunnies to the yard, be aware of local predators—hawks, owls, coyote, dogs and stray cats. The brush pile may also attract other animals like skunks, raccoons and reptiles. A wildlife habitat is a fun, ongoing

learning experience. It calls on math skills for bird counts, geography to follow migration maps and woodworking to build homesites and feeding spots. It becomes a lesson in local ecology and the roles of native plants and animals. When children comprehend they can help save wildlife, it’s also a lesson in hope. Avery Mack is a freelance writer in St. Louis, MO. Connect via AveryMack@ mindspring.com.

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April 2014

fitbody

Qi Whiz

Qigong Steps Up Vitality and Serenity by Meredith Montgomery

A proven practice for supporting health and self-healing, qigong has been used in China for millennia to maintain and improve physical, mental and emotional well-being.

“Q

i” (pronounced chee) refers to the life force or vital energy present in all things throughout the universe while “gong” means dedicated effort or steady practice of a skill. Qigong is the art of working intensely with this energy, cultivating life force. Acupuncture physician and qigong instructor Walter Hayley, in Bonita

Springs, Florida, became passionate about qigong while working as a stockbroker in need of stress relief. He compares qigong’s movement of energy in the body to water running through a hose: “Qi is concentrated in channels throughout the body. Think of the qi as water and those channels as a garden hose branching out to every aspect of the individual.

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Stress, whether physical or emotional, can kink the hose. Qigong helps get the kinks out,” he explains. “It relaxes the body, letting energy flow more efficiently, allowing the body to heal itself.” Qigong styles vary, but Hayley remarks that most involve slow movement, focused awareness and special breathing techniques. Many describe the practice as a moving meditation. Qigong teacher Judith Forsyth, in Mobile, Alabama, says, “It’s often described as the mother of tai chi. When the quiet, internal energy art of qigong mixed with the powerful external martial arts, it developed into tai chi.” She emphasizes that the focus of qigong is less on its physical mechanics and more on understanding how the vital force moves through the body and can be used to enhance health and longevity. Inside the body, there’s an integrated network of subtle energy centers that international Qigong Master Robert Peng believes are connected to the capacity for genuine happiness. The goal is to awaken and pack these centers with qi. “By repeating slow, gentle movements over and over, you can develop the body’s capacity to draw qi from the universe. It can be stored in these centers and later channeled back through the body to empower your daily activities,” explains Peng, author of The Master Key: The Qigong Secret for Vitality, Love, and Wisdom. He focuses on three of the body’s

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big energy portals: the “third eye”, located between the eyebrows; the “heart center”, at the center of the chest on the sternum and the “sea of qi”, just below the navel. The idea is that when energy is accessed in these three centers, specific spiritual qualities are accessed: wisdom, love and vitality (respectively). Harmonizing all three is ideal. Peng advises that when these essential elements are woven together in balance, dynamic happiness is possible. “You begin to project more wisdom, love, vitality, inspiration and peacefulness. Conversations flow more smoothly. Your life becomes more productive, meaningful and serene,” he says. “Whatever the challenges encountered, you’ll be better equipped to deal with them, while remaining inwardly content.” Forsyth was first guided to qigong when the prescribed rest, drugs, exercise and physical therapy following an accident left her with lingering neck and back problems. She recalls, “After eight weeks of practice, I experienced significant physical improvement, not only where I had considerable pain, but in my overall energy level, ability to sleep and the condition of my skin

By adding qigong to their daily routines, children learn to channel energy and enhance concentration; office workers reduce stress; seniors enhance balance and quality of life; and caregivers and midwives advance abilities to help others. ~ The National Qigong Association and hair. The peace and harmonizing meditation benefits of qigong were also affecting me positively in other ways. I became less worried, less of a perfectionist, less stressed out and began to experience more joyfulness.” While all styles benefit overall health, specific qigong exercises may be prescribed for specialized needs, from

athletic conditioning to management of chronic conditions such as arthritis, hypertension or cancer. The gentle movements can be performed by almost anyone at any age and ability level, even those confined to a chair or bed. “Qigong speaks to the body and the body then addresses the condition,” Hayley remarks. The experts advise that qigong is best practiced every day, even if for just five minutes. “A group class offers a synergy that a home practice lacks, but the more important practice is at home,” observes Hayley. Some personal instruction is ideal so the practitioner receives feedback, but books and videos make qigong accessible to everyone, everywhere. Hayley reminds newbies, “Just be patient. If one form doesn’t suit you, remember there are thousands of different forms to try.” Peng’s advice to beginners is, “Be happy! Think of the exercise as lighthearted play and remember to smile as you move.” Meredith Montgomery is the publisher of Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin, AL (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

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natural awakenings

April 2014

consciouseating

Culinary Mushroom Magic Delicate Powerhouses of Nutrition and Medicine by Case Adams

ushrooms have played a remarkable role in human history. Egyptian hieroglyphics dating back 4,500 years linked mushrooms to immortality. The famous 5,300-yearold “iceman” found frozen in 1991 in the Tyrolean Alps carried a sachet containing the mushroom species Piptoporus betulinus—the birch polypore. Greek writings of Hippocrates, Pliny, Dioscorides, Galen and others regarded the mushroom Fomitopsis officinalis (agarikon) as a panacea. While enthusiasm later waned in Europe, with John Farley characterizing mushrooms in his 1784 book, The London Art of Cookery, as “treacherous gratifications,” Native American Indians used varieties such as puffballs (Calvatia and Lycoperdon species) for rheumatism, congested organs and other diseased conditions. Yet, modernday culinary connoisseurs owe the recent surge in interest in fungal delicacies more to Japanese and Chinese

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traditions, which have consistently advanced mushrooms’ nutritional and medicinal uses. Ancient Chinese medical texts, including the Hanshu (82 CE) even refer to the famed reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) as the “mushroom of immortality”. Today, fungi cuisine in the West is typically limited to Agaracus bisporus— the relatively mild button mushroom, which matures into the acclaimed portobello. But digging deeper into available options reveals chanterelle (Cantharellus sp.), oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), morel (Morchella sp.) and shiitake (Lentinula edodes) species. These culinary mushrooms provide a virtuosity of delicate flavors harboring nutritional and medicinal benefits, according to those that study them. University of California-Berkeley research scientist and Mycologist Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., explains that shiitake and oyster mushrooms follow the button as the most widely cultivated

around the world. “They come in many colors, varieties and species and are typically the most easily digested and utilized of all mushrooms,” he notes. “Mushrooms are an amazing health food,” says Hobbs. “Most edible fungi are high in fiber, good-quality protein, key vitamins, micronutrients, phosphorous and potassium, and low in fat and calories. It’s one of nature’s perfect diet foods.” As protein powerhouses, portobello and other button mushrooms, shiitake and oyster varieties all deliver between 30 and 35 percent protein by weight. The fiber content can range from 20 grams per 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) in the case of portobello to a lofty 48 grams per 100 grams in the Phoenix oyster mushroom. Mushrooms also supply potent B vitamins. One hundred grams (about 3.5 ounces) of portobello contains more than four milligrams (mg) of riboflavin (B2), 69 mg niacin (B3) and 12 mg pantothenic acid (B5). Shiitake’s comparable numbers are three, 106 and 17 while pink oyster delivers 2.45, 66 and 33 mg of the three nutrients. Thus, they

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deliver significantly more than recommended daily allowances (RDA)—for example, niacin’s adult RDA ranges from 14 to 16 mg and riboflavin’s is just 1.1 to 1.3 mg. Mushrooms also present one of the few food sources of vitamin D— primarily D2—but some also contain small amounts of vitamin D3, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture research. Also, their D2 levels spike dramatically when sun-dried sporeside-up, confirmed in research by internationally recognized Mycologist Paul Stamets. Mushrooms contain important minerals, too. Portobello contains 4,500 mg, oyster 4,500 mg and shiitake 2,700 mg of potassium per 100 grams, all with low sodium levels. Plus, they deliver usable amounts of copper, zinc and selenium. Beyond the nutrient numbers lies mushrooms’ bonus round: They contain special complex polysaccharides—long-chain molecules within cell walls—that have been the subject of intense research at leading institutions around the world, including Harvard, Yale and the University of California.

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Mushrooms’ (1-3)-beta-glucan complexes have been shown to inhibit many cancers and suggest potential solutions for diabetes, heart disease and immune-related conditions. Stamets explains that mushrooms also contain sterols, shown to benefit cardiovascular health. “Shiitake and other mushrooms like reishi have cholesterol-normalizing effects,” adds Hobbs. Can we take these benefits back to the kitchen? “Most mushrooms have to be cooked to release their health-giving benefits,” explains Hobbs. Stamets concurs: “Cooking liberates mushroom nutrients from their matrix of cells. They are tenderized upon heating, making their nutrients bioavailable for digestion.” Thankfully, finding these tasty superfood delicacies has become easier as entrepreneurial fresh-mushroom growers have emerged throughout the United States in recent years. Case Adams is a California naturopath and author of 25 books on natural healing. Learn more at CaseAdams.com.

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April 2014

Healing Nourishment 1 small handful of chopped olives 4 shakes of soy sauce 1 Tbsp spiced hot chocolate 2 Tbsp chili powder 1 Tbsp ground cumin ¼ cup nutritional yeast 2 cloves of chopped garlic 1 cup broth or water

Mushrooms are so versatile we can eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They add a note of delicious creativity to diverse dishes. Plus they deliver protein, vitamins and protective compounds. Fresh is always best and just-picked is better, although dried can work in a pinch.

My Tacos by Cate Moss Makes a healthy filling for tacos and enchiladas, or crumble as a topper on deluxe nachos. They taste as good as they smell, and like chili they taste almost better as leftovers. Fills 12 large tacos, or more paired with fillings such as chopped leafy lettuce or guacamole. 1-2 cups of chopped stropharia, shiitake or maitake mushrooms 1 cup crumbled tempeh or other healthful protein source ¼ cup chopped onions ½ cup sunflower seeds or chopped almonds ¼ cup sesame seeds 1 cup corn 1 chopped sweet pepper (add hot peppers if desired)

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Sauté mushrooms, protein and onions until crispy (uncrowded in the pan). Then add remaining ingredients and braise on low heat. Allow mixture to cook down to desired consistency.

Mushroom Pâté by Andrew Lenzer Present a perfect appetizer for dinner with friends. The savory quality of mushrooms—what the Japanese call umami—make them a welcome alternative to meat-based pâtés. Approx 4 cups whole fresh shiitake mushrooms (2 cups after chopping) Approx 4 cups whole fresh maitake mushrooms (2 cups after chopping) 12 oz cream cheese or rice-based cream cheese substitute 2 cloves garlic 2 cups dry roasted hazelnuts 2 sprigs parsley Soy sauce Olive oil Sesame oil Salt and pepper to taste Finely chop the hazelnuts in a food processor and set aside. Coarsely chop the shiitake (including the stems) and maitake mushrooms in a food processor.

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Coat the surface of a wok in olive oil and sauté mushrooms in 1-cup batches over medium-high-to-high heat, adding soy sauce as needed to keep the mixture from burning, for approximately 10 minutes per batch. Add a touch of sesame oil just before removing each batch. Place hazelnuts, mushrooms, cream cheese, garlic, salt and pepper in the food processor and blend until smooth but still slightly grainy. Add parsley and blend until parsley is finely chopped and evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Serve with crackers or fresh crusty bread. Recipes courtesy of employees of Fungi Perfecti, LLC; photos courtesy of Paul Stamets.

Hot & Sour Cauliflower Mushroom Soup by Loni Jean Ronnebaum This rare mushroom has a unique firmness reminiscent of noodles and can be soaked and rinsed to clean, and then cut into cauliflower-like chunks. Slow cook overnight for best results. Yields 8 servings 2-4 lb fresh cauliflower mushrooms 16 oz kimchi ½ cup peas 1 20-oz can crushed pineapple 1 32-oz vegetable broth 1 egg or ¼ cup egg substitute Chili paste, black pepper, garlic powder, ginger and soy sauce to taste Combine ingredients (except egg) in a pot and bring to a boil. Add beaten egg to the boiling soup while gently stirring. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer overnight.

wisewords

Ice Chaser

James Balog’s Dramatic Images Document Climate Change by Christine MacDonald

ational Geographic photographer James Balog says he was skeptical about climate change until he saw it happening firsthand. Watching once-towering glaciers falling into the sea inspired his most challenging assignment in a storied 30-year career— finding a way to photograph climate change. In exploring Balog’s Extreme Ice Survey, a breathtaking photographic record of vanishing glaciers, and his award-winning documentary, Chasing Ice, Natural Awakenings asked about the challenges he faced to bring this dramatic evidence of climate change to a world audience.

How did seeing glaciers shrink “before your eyes” move you to endure sometimes lifethreatening conditions to get these images on record? I fell in love with ice decades ago as a young mountaineer and scientist. I loved to get up before dawn and hike out on a glacier in Mount Rainier or one in the Alps, watch the light come up and hear the crunch of the frozen ice underfoot. On a trip to Iceland early in the project, I was looking at these little diamonds of ice that were left behind on the beach after the glaciers broke up. The surf had polished them into incredible shapes and textures. Walking the beach, you’d realize each one was a unique natural sculpture that

existed only for that moment before the return of high tide stole it away. Nobody would ever see it again. That was an amazing aesthetic and metaphysical experience. I realized that I wanted people to share this experience, to see the glaciers disappearing. This visual manifestation and evidence of climate change is here, happening right before our eyes. It is undeniable.

Why do these photos and videos help us grasp the scale of Planet Earth’s climate changes already underway? When people encounter Extreme Ice Survey images, their response is typically immediate and dramatic. It is the first step toward caring about a distant landscape most will never experience in person, enabling them to connect the dots between what happens far away and the rising sea levels, extreme weather events and other climaterelated issues closer to home.

What can an everyday person do to help underscore the global scientific consensus and urgency of addressing global warming? Lobbyists and pundits seek confusion and controversy, because ignorance seeks to hide within a noise cloud of false information. As long as the public thinks climate change isn’t real or that science is still debating it, fossil fuel industries protect their profits. Without

social clarity, the political leaders financially beholden to fossil fuel industries have no motivation to act. Market signals don’t help us make correct decisions when the military, health and environmental costs of fossil fuels that spread throughout the economic system don’t show up in today’s gasoline prices and electricity bills. Science and art seek clarity and vision. Clear perception is the key to changing the impact we’re having on our home planet. With social clarity, the policy, economic and technological solutions to wise energy use and countering climate change can be widely implemented. The path forward is being traveled by individuals committed to improving their own lives and communities; by school children who can’t stand the inaction of their elders; by innovative entrepreneurs and corporations eager to make or save money; by military generals seeking to protect their country and their soldiers; and by political leaders of courage and vision. We are all complicit with action or skeptical inaction; we can all participate in solutions to climate change.

What’s next on the horizon for you? We will continue to keep the Extreme Ice Survey cameras alive. This project doesn’t end just because the film came out. We plan to keep observing the world indefinitely. We’ll install more cameras in Antarctica; funding permitting, we also hope to expand into South America. I intend to continue looking at human-caused changes in the natural world, which is what I’ve been photographing for 30 years. I’m developing a couple of other big ideas for conveying innovative, artistic and compelling interpretations of the world as it’s changing around us. I will continue doing self-directed educational projects through our new nonprofit, Earth Vision Trust. Overall, I feel a great obligation to preserve a pictorial memory of vanishing landscapes for the people of the future. Christine MacDonald is a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C., whose specialties include health and science. Visit ChristineMacDonald.info.

natural awakenings

April 2014

calendarofevents Visit our website to enter calendar items – NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com. You will receive a confirmation email when your event has been approved and posted online, usually within 24 hours. Events submitted by the 10th and meet our criteria will be added to the print magazine as space permits.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1

MONDAY, APRIL 7

Community Health and Wellness Guide Meeting – 11:30am-1pm. This is a group of holistic, energetic and alternative professionals who have started a monthly gathering of like-minded individuals in the NW Ohio area. The goal is to invite every single Health & Wellness/Holistic Practitioner to be a part of this group. Family meal-type lunch $11.00 pp (optional). Grape Leaf Diner, 909 S McCord Rd, Holland OH. Call Cathy to RSVP: 419-509-3320. CommunityHealthAndWellnessGuide.com.

Resolving Child Sexual Abuse Workshop - 8:3012pm. Stewards of Children is a revolutionary interactive prevention program developed by Darkness to Light, a national child sexual abuse prevention organization.The program educates adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, and to take proactive steps to protect children. JoAnne Carson presenter. Free. EMS Training Center, 2127 Jefferson Ave.,Toledo OH. For registration contact Arcelia Armstrong at 419-725-6963 or AArmstrong@AreaOfficeOnAging.com. Space is limited.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3 Grand Re-opening Celebration – 4-7pm. The Optimum “CHI” Studio (OCS), formerly known as Oncology Care Specialists, LLC, is hosting a grand reopening celebration. Special deals on services and classes will run through April 9. Free. 4024 N. Holland-Sylvania, Toledo OH. Lecture on Nutritional and Complementary Medicine – 7-9pm. Topic: Primitive Drugs, Compounding Pharmacy. Lecture with slides, interrupted by questions, heckling and controversy. Free. Jay Nielsen MD and Bill Aring. Nova Faith Church, 5105 Glendale Ave, Ste G, in Kroger Plaza just off Reynolds Rd., Toledo OH.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5 Earth Day Expo – 10-2pm. Learn about living green in Monroe County. Free food, activities and entertainment for youth and adults. Sidewalk chalk art contest, drawing for prizes including tablet computer and La-Z-Boy chair, free yoga and tai chi sessions and much more! Free. MB&T Expo Center, 3775 S. Custer Rd., Monroe, MI. Jamie Dean. 734240-7900. GreenMonroeCounty.com Green Cleaning with dōTerra Essential Oils – 10:30am-12noon. Learn how to make your own cleaning products quickly, safely and economically with essential oils. Open house at 10:30am, Class starts at 11am. Demonstrations, raffle and more. Hosted by Essential Connection Ltd. Free. Providence Lutheran Church, 8131 Airport Hwy, Holland OH. RSVP to Karla 419-265-3219 or gleason. karla@gmail.com. Cupcake Showdown – 6:30-8:30pm. A fundraiser supporting The Children’s Theatre Workshop. Sample cupcakes from the area’s best bakeries, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Raffle tickets and chances to bid on great items! $15/adults, $10/ students and seniors. Collingwood Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood Blvd, Toledo OH. Call 419-244-5061 or visit CTWToledo.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 6 Healing Oils of the Bible – 2-3pm. Learn the scripture and science behind essential oils and their uses in healing and cleansing. Participants are encouraged to bring their bibles. Hosted by Essential Connection Ltd. Free. Lake Township Administration Bldg, 27975 Cummings Rd, Millbury OH. RSVP to Lynn Hanely 419-836-9541.

Toledo/Monroe edition

Creating Soap from Scratch – 6:30-8:30pm. Leader: Elissa Teal. Learn the cold process method, safely work with lye and the uses of different types of soap-making oils. Bring: eye goggles, rubber gloves and long-sleeved shirt. Take home a pound of soap! $25. 577 Foundation, 577 E Front, Perrysburg OH. Register at 577Foundation.org/TakeAClass. 419-874-4174. Guided Imagery – 6:45-7:30pm. This class promotes relaxation scenarios that help pain management, control anxiety and bring a sense of well-being and rest to body and mind. Class size is limited. Free. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste7, Toledo OH. More Info and reservation 419-450-4940.

TUESDAY, APRIL 8 Mood Management with Essential Oils – 1-2pm. Learn how essential oils can restore balance, joy, vigor and calmness to your life. Sponsored by Essential Connection Ltd. Free. CPW Health Center, 3130 Central Park West Dr, Ste A, Toledo OH. RSVP to Patti Leupp 419-779-6310.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 Household Hazardous Waste Collection – 8amnoon. Free. Monroe County Drain Commission, 1005 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe,MI. Jamie Dean. 734-240-7900. GreenMonroeCounty.com.

the mind. Bring yoga mat, towel, water bottle and a journal. Fee: love donation. Presence Yoga, 3450 W Central Ave, Ste 320F, Toledo OH. For Info and Registration: Nicole at nicole@presenceyogaltd. com or 419-376-6300. PresenceYogaLtd.com. Strike Out Diabetes! - 3-5pm. Learn what JDRF is all about-support programs, research and fundraising events. Network with other families who are living with T1D. Bowling, pizza, pop and show rental provided. Free. Interstate Lanes, 819 Lime City Rd, Rossford OH. Space is limited; RSVP to Lori Lamb 419-873-1377 or e-mail: NorthwestOhio@JDRF.org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13 Spring Into Action Against Cancer 5K – Starts 8am. Run or walk in support of Cancer Connection of NWOhio. All are welcome. Awards for best male and female by age group. $20/pre-registration prior to 3/30/14, $25/day of event. Secor Metropark, 10000 W Central, Berkey OH. Registration form at CancerConnectionOfNorthwestOhio.com/UpcomingEvents. Aura/Chakra Class/Iridology – 1-4pm. With Jack and Susan Lewis. The class includes aura photo, chakra print out and interpretation as well as an explanation of what it all means. $40. Iridology appointments are available one hour before or after the class. Iridology appointments are 30 minutes until 5:00 and cost $50. New Beginnings Healing Center, 202 N. McCord Toledo, OH. 419861-7786. NBHCToledo.com. Beginner Basket Weaving – 1-4:30pm. Leader: Brenda Allison-Walton. Learn a relaxing, rewarding craft. BRING: 3-5 gallon bucket, ruler, pencil, sturdy scissors or pruners, small screwdriver (not stubby), spray bottle and 12 clothes pins. Manual dexterity and strength in hands required. Take home a finished muffin basket. $25. 577 Foundation, 577 E Front, Perrysburg OH. Register by 04-01-14 at 577Foundation.org/TakeAClass. 419-874-4174.

MONDAY, APRIL 14 Dr. Chappell Health Seminar - 6-7pm. Come and listen to Dr. Terry Chappell talk on several health related topics. Healing your eyes, stop pain now and great news about chelation for diabetes and heart disease. Question and answer session follows. Free. Holiday Inn Express, 941 Interstate Dr, Exit 159 off I-75, Findlay OH. 800-788-4627.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15

International Holistic Lifestyle Expo – April 12-13 – 10am-6pm. This 6th annual 2-day event features musicians, guest speakers and 50 vendors offering healing massage, psychic readings, jewelry, art, aromatherapy, healing oils, gifts, natural foods/ supplements and much more. Admission $10-30. Radisson Inn, 35000 Curtis Blvd (at Routes 2 and 91), Eastlake OH. More info FeatherTouchPathAndPurpose.com or the Expo’s Facebook page.

Nourish and Flourish-Eating for Vibrant Health – 6:30-8pm. Speaker Lisa Bowe, CHP, Health Counselor discusses what to buy, how to prepare nourishing meals, and the importance of your environment in achieving vibrant health. Free. Alternative Physical Therapy, 440 S Reynolds Rd, Ste D, Toledo OH. Contact Lisa: 419-262-1023 or lisabowe00@gmail.com or visit WAFPToledo.org. AlternativePhysicalTherapy.com.

Women’s Self Defense – 1-2:15pm. The focus of this class is on prevention and awareness. Learn simple and effective defensive techniques that can be practiced at home. For women of all ages. Facilitated by Veronica Vincent and Brian Camargo. Class size is limited. $25. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. Pre-registration required 419-450-4940.

Spring Cleaning Inside and Out – 7-8pm. Teacher Melissa King. Learn how to use dōTerra essential oils to spring clean everything from yourself to your home. Hosted by Essential Connection Ltd. Free. Waterville Community Church, 8217 Dutch Rd, Waterville OH. RSVP to Sue 419-866-1209.

Yoga Nidra Workshop – 1:30-3:30pm. Learn the components of this practice and how it fosters relaxation, meditation and improves focus. Discussions of yoga nidra as a method for calming and centering

AromaTouch Technique Training Course – 10am4pm. Trainer Laura King, dōTERRA Diamond IPC.. Become certified in dōTERRA’s AromaTouch Technique. Fee includes training manual, Introduc-

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16

tory AromaTouch Kit (including various essential oils) and Official Certification from dōTERRA demonstrating competency in the AromaTouch Technique. $149. William Vaughan Conference Ctr, 135 Chesterfield Lane, Ste 204, Maumee OH. For registration contact Karla Gleason at Essential Connection 419-265-3219 or gleason.karla@gmail.com. For info on AromaTouch AromaTouchTechnique. com/the-technique. Community Health and Wellness Social – 6-8pm. Community Health and Wellness Guide will be hosting a social as an opportunity to meet fellow passionate health and wellness experts working in the NW Ohio area. Free. Manhattan’s Restaurant, 1516 Adams St, Downtown Toledo OH. RSVP: Cathy 419-5093320. CommunityHealthAndWellnessGuide.com. Nourishing a Healthy Heart – 6-8pm. Leader: Kris Johnson. Learn surprising truths about heart-healthy eating, and the impact of fat and cholesterol on the heart. Sample some heart-healthy treats. $10. 577 Foundation, 577 E Front, Perrysburg OH. Register at 577Foundation.org/TakeAClass. 419-874-4174.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19 Concert at Lotus Yoga – 7-9pm. The Power of Sound/ Prana Kirtan Chant Band Concert. Experience the power of sound and the magic of chant music in this very special event. $15/person-includes Prana's Chant CD "Live in the Universe". Lotus Yoga Ctr, 3307 N Holland Sylvania Rd, Ste 15, Toledo OH. Call 419-885-1055 to register. LotusYogaToledo.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 21 Food and Botanicals in Soap – 6:30-8:30pm. Leader: Elissa Teal. Pre-requisite: familiarity with making soap from lye, water and oil. Next-level soap making class with foods and botanicals. Make about 2 lbs of soap to take home! Bring: eye goggles, rubber gloves and long-sleeved shirt. $35. 577 Foundation, 577 E Front, Perrysburg OH. Register at 577Foundation.org/TakeAClass. 419-874-4174.

Perrysburg OH. Register by 04-10-14 at 577Foundation.org/TakeAClass. 419-874-4174.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23 Organic Gardening 101 – 6-8pm. Leader: Sister Rita Wienken. Learn simple organic gardening techniques, from the soil to dealing with insects. $10. 577 Foundation, 577 E Front, Perrysburg OH. Register at 577Foundation.org/TakeAClass. 419-874-4174.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25 Swing Into Spring Auction and FUN-Raiser – 5-8pm. Silent auction and dinner followed by live auction and entertainment. Proceeds toward sports and recreational programs serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. $15/advance, $18/at the door. Luther Home of Mercy Gymnasium, 5810 N Main St, Williston OH. Contact Ann David at 419-972-4427 or adavid@lutherhome.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26 Party for the Planet – 10am-4pm. Celebrate Earth Day at the Zoo! Bring your recyclables to the zoo and take part in cool activities that help you and your family be a little greener. Toledo Zoo, OH 25 (Anthony Wayne Trail) between S. Avenue and Woodsdale Ave/Harvard Blvd. Toledo OH. More info and list of recycling items at ToledoZoo.org/Events. Toledo Area Parent’s Summer Camp Fair – 10am-6pm. Vendors from a wide variety of regional camps will help parents find the best fit for their children’s likes and needs. Westfield Franklin Park Mall, 5001 Monroe St, Toledo OH. More Info: 419244-9859 or ToledoParent.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27 Dawn Farm Ride for Recovery Fundraiser – 7am2pm. Bike rides, runs and walks at various fitness levels on scenic, country roads and thru a local Metropark. Five rest stops with restrooms, drinks/snacks and first aid. Supported by Team MANA. $25/until April 1, $35/after April 1.Dawn Farm, 6633 Stony Creek Rd, Ypsilanti MI. E-mail for tickets: Megan Rodgers rideforrecovery@dawnfarm.org or 734-485-8725. DawnFarm.org/upcomingevents/ride-for-recovery. Comedy and Magic – 2pm. Lucas County Children Services and its nonprofit auxiliary, the Friends of LCCS, are partnering with Fat Fish Blue and Funny Bone for a family-friendly afternoon of comedy and magic. Rory Rennick will bring his hijinks to the Levis Commons club for a performance to benefit the Friends of LCCS, which supports the activities of the child protective agency. $7 pp or $20 for family four-pack. Funny Bone, 6140 Levis Commons, Perrysburg OH. Tickets are available by calling 419213-3253 or emailing Information@co.lucas.oh.us.

planahead SATURDAY, MAY 10 VIVA LA VIE – LONG LIVE LIFE. A MOTHER’S DAY RETREAT – 10:30am - 2:30pm. Bring your mom, daughter, grandmother, aunt, sister or any significant woman in your life to this rejuvenating half day retreat for mind and body wellness. Box lunch provided. Driven Fitness, 819 Kingsbury Street, Maumee OH. Contact Jodi Walters at 419350-0312 or email Jodi@DrivenFitnessStudio.com.

savethedate Come Celebrate Earth Day and Learn all about Green Cleaning Monday, April 21 •3:30-4:30pm Open to the public. Patti Leupp, CRNA, will be sharing ways to decrease the toxic load in our environment and in your home. Learn how to make all-natural cleaning products with safe, simple and inexpensive ingredients. Free. St Luke’s Hospital, Conference Room 1, 5901 Monclova Rd, Maumee OH.

For more info and to RSVP: Patti Leupp 419-779-6310 or pleupp@buckeye-express.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 22 Beginner Basket Weaving II – 5:30-9pm. Leader: Brenda Allison-Walton. Pre-Requisite: Beginner Basket Weaving. Make the elbow basket. BRING: 3-5 gallon bucket, ruler, pencil, sturdy scissors or pruners, small screwdriver (not stubby), spray bottle and 12 clothes pins. Manual dexterity and strength in hands required. $25. 577 Foundation, 577 E Front,

natural awakenings

April 2014

ongoingevents sunday

drop-in. Presence Yoga at Westgate Village Office Bldg, 3450 W Central Ave, Ste 320F, Toledo OH. 419-351-7409. SandyEarl_Rower@hotmail.com.

PiYo with Brie Hobbs – 5:30-6:30pm. A fusion of flowing yoga poses and Pilates calisthenics. Burn calories, sculpt and tone muscles in a fun challenging environment. The practice and music change monthly. $10/class, $50/6 classes paid in advance. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. Info and Registration 419-450-4940 or brieahobbs@gmail.com.

monday Monthly Memorial Ceremony – 3rd Mon. A gathering for those that have lost a beloved pet and want to remember them and share their memory with other pet lovers. Please bring a picture of your pet. Free. Canine Karma, 6128 Merger Dr, Holland OH. RSVP: 419-290-8237. Fitness After 55 – 9am. Every Monday. The Center provides the setting for seniors to communicate and share with each other. Living alone, eating alone, being alone – these circumstances are not necessary in a community which has a Senior Citizens Program like Bedford’s. Bedford Senior Citizens Center, 1653 Samaria Rd, Temperance MI. Call for Info 734-856-3330. Chair Yoga – 11am-12pm. Gentle yoga poses done in a chair that anyone of any fitness level can do. There is a component of centering, breathing exercises, stretches and deep relaxation. $10/drop in, $50/6 classes. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. More info 419-450-4940. Yoga - Connecting Within – 11am-12:15pm. With Sandy Earl. Awaken the true connection between body, mind and spirit by incorporating the practice of yoga into a lifestyle. Come and experience the many benefits yoga offers. All levels welcome. $15/

Hot YogAlign with Joe – 6-7:15pm. Posturalbased movement classes range from beginner to intermediate level done in a humid room. Focusing mainly on deep rib cage core breathing with natural body alignment maintaining the four spinal curves. Lavender-scented cloths offered to help cool down. $15. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419-874-2911. HotYogaWithJoe.com. Open Knitting – 6-8:45pm. This group meets every Monday evening to knit/crochet. Come when you want, leave when you want. All are welcome. Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman, Temperance MI. 734-847-6747.

tuesday Parent/Youth Group – 4:15-5:45pm. March 25May 27. Did you know the average age of onset for tobacco and alcohol use starts as low as 10 years of age? Marijuana use is 13.9 years. The Strengthening Families initiative addresses these risk taking behaviors. Come and find out about this evidencebased family skills training program. Parents and youth will both benefit. Mercy Family Care Center, 2nd Floor Counseling area. Light refreshments provided. RSVP to Kathy at 419-251-2302. If you are interested in this program but can’t make it to group call Andrea at 419-251-2343 for individual sessions in your home.

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Toledo/Monroe edition

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

Arthritis Foundation Tai Chi – 12:15-1pm. Learn the ancient discipline of Tai Chi, which combines small steps, joint-safe exercise and mental strength to improve mobility, breathing, and relaxation. Will help people of all ages take control of their physical, emotional and mental health. $25/month or included in $45/month fee. CPW Rehab Center, 3130 Central Park West Dr, Ste A, Toledo OH. Call Jennifer for more info 419-841-9622. jschrickel@cpwrehab.com Yoga with Weights – 5:30-6:30pm. Bring your own weights for this active practice that builds strong arms, cores and glutes. $10. Canine Karma, 6128 Merger Dr, Holland OH. Call to reserve a spot. 419-290-8237. Hot YogAlign with Joe – 6-7:15pm. Posturalbased movement classes range from beginner to intermediate level done in a humid room. Focusing mainly on deep rib cage core breathing with natural body alignment maintaining the four spinal curves. Lavender-scented cloths offered to help cool down. $15. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419-874-2911. HotYogaWithJoe.com. Hot Kettlebells – 7:30-8:30pm. Tone muscles, burn fat, get fit. The best 60-minute, total body workout on the planet. Please bring a yoga mat, bath/face towel and plenty of water. Be ready to sweat and burn fat. $10. Register via website. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419874-2911. HotYogaWithJoe.com. Yoga – 7:30-8:30pm. “Awaken the limbs and quiet the mind” with Laura Harrison. Come and experience the many benefits of yoga. This practice is for all skill levels with attention to individual needs. $10/class, $50/6 classes paid in advance. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. Info and registration 419-450-4940 or LHarrison419@gmail.com.

wednesday Fitness, ETC. – 10-11am. A blend of yoga, cardio, light hand weights, core work and relaxation designed to increase strength and endurance on a beginner’s level. $10/drop-in, $50/6 classes. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. Info: 419-450-4940. Beginner Yoga at OCS – 11:30-12:30pm and 6:457:45pm. A gentle practice for those who are new to yoga and want deep relaxation. $10/drop-in, $50/6 classes. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N HollandSylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. Info: 419-450-4940. Body Better – 12:15-1pm. The Body Better program incorporates low-impact resistance training, functional movements, stretching and relaxation to improve mental and physical strength and health. Improve balance and stability, increase postural awareness and flexibility. Get healthy and stay healthy! $45/month unlimited visits or $25/month once a week. CPW Rehab Center, 3130 Central Park West Dr, Ste A, Toledo OH. Call Jennifer for more info 419-841-9622. jschrickel@ cpwrehab.com. Beginner Yoga – 1-2pm. A gentle practice for those that are new to yoga and want deep relaxation. $10. Canine Karma, 6128 Merger Dr, Holland OH. Reserve a spot. 419-290-8237. Power Vinyasa Yoga – 5-6pm. This class invigorates the mind, improves balance and builds strength, endurance and flexibility. Open to all skill

levels. $10/class, $50/6 classes paid in advance. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. Info and registration 419-450-4940 or brieahobbs@gmail.com. Hot YogAlign with Joe – 6-7:15pm. Posturalbased movement classes range from beginner to intermediate level done in a humid room. Focusing mainly on deep rib cage core breathing with natural body alignment maintaining the four spinal curves. Lavender-scented cloths offered to help cool down. $15. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419-874-2911. HotYogaWithJoe.com. Yoga for Lower back and Core Strength – 6:457:45pm. A well-blended practice to build a strong core, healthy back and increase flexibility. Walk taller, sleep better and enjoy well-being. $10/class, $50/6 classes paid in advance. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. Info and registration 419-450-4940. Yoga for 8-12 Year-Olds – 7-7:45pm. Children ages 8-12. Connecting mind, bodies and hearts with Diane Ausmus. Through flowing sequences, balancing poses, partner poses, cooperative games, breathing exercises, creating relaxation techniques and much more. Children will gain body awareness, flexibility, strength and an open heart. Summerfield-Petersburg Branch Library, 60 E Center St, Petersburg MI. 734-279-1025. Register: Calendar.Monroe.lib.mi.us. Hot Kettlebells – 7:30-8:30pm. Tone muscles, burn fat, get fit. The best 60-minute, total body workout on the planet. Please bring a yoga mat, bath/face towel and plenty of water. Be ready to sweat and burn fat. $10. Register via website. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419874-2911. HotYogaWithJoe.com. Zumba! – 7:30-8:30pm. (weekly every Wed. thru 11/13/2016) Instructor Toni Quinn. Both Latin and mainstream music is used. No dance experience necessary. $5. Mercy Weight Management, 3930 Sunforest Ct, Ste 250, Toledo OH. 419-480-7547.

thursday Yoga - Connecting Within – 5:30-6:45pm and 6:45-8pm. With Sandy Earl. Awaken the true connection between body, mind and spirit by incorporating the practice of yoga into a lifestyle. Come and experience the many benefits yoga offers. All levels welcome. $15 drop-in rate. Presence Yoga at Westgate Village Office Building, 3450 W Central Ave, Ste 320 F, Toledo OH. 419-351-7409. SandyEarl_Rower@hotmail.com. Hot YogAlign with Joe – 6-7:15pm. Posturalbased movement classes range from beginner to intermediate level done in a humid room. Focusing mainly on deep rib cage core breathing with natural body alignment maintaining the four spinal curves. Lavender-scented cloths offered to help cool down. $15. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419-874-2911. HotYogaWithJoe.com. Healthy Cooking Classes – 6-8pm. Our series of healthy, simple cooking classes, to prepare for a busy week. $15. The Andersons, Sylvania Market Café, 7638 Sylvania Ave, Sylvania OH. 419-913-7328. Hot Kettlebells – 7:30-8:30pm. Tone muscles, burn fat, get fit. The best 60-minute, total body workout on the planet. Please bring a yoga mat, bath/face towel and plenty of water. Be ready to sweat and

burn fat. $10. Register via website. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419874-2911. HotYogaWithJoe.com.

friday Seated Qigong – 10:15-11am. The “mother” of Tai Chi, these exercises can be done seated or standing and are safe for all fitness levels. Supported by Silver Sneakers. $5 drop-in. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. More information 419-450-4940. Mat Yoga – 11-12pm. Connect with the mind, body and spirit. For the yoga novice and those with limited level of yoga experience. $10/week or $50/6 classes. Optimum CHI Studio, 4024 N Holland-Sylvania Ste 7, Toledo OH. More information 419-450-4940. T’ai Chi – 1pm. Join in the Chinese martial art that combines controlled movements with deep breathing. T’ai chi provides health benefits that include reducing stress, lessening chronic pain, and improving the immune system. In addition, balance and blood pressure often show improvements. Monroe Center for Healthy Aging, 15275 S Dixie Hwy, Monroe MI. 734-241-0404. Yoga for Kids – 4-5pm. Now signing up children in age groups 4-9 and 10-16. A five-week yoga class to teach children fun ways to manage stress and anxiety. Instructor: Jennifer Dubow, LISW, Clinical Therapist, Certified Child Yoga Instructor. $20/class, $100 total for five weeks, can bill insurance. 3335 Meijer Dr Ste 450, Toledo OH. Call for class dates and times. 419-699-3659. JenniferDubow@bex.net. Hot YogAlign with Joe – 6-7:15pm. Posturalbased movement classes range from beginner to intermediate level done in a humid room. Focusing mainly on deep rib cage core breathing with natural body alignment maintaining the four spinal curves. Lavender-scented cloths offered to help cool down. $15. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419-874-2911. HotYogaWithJoe.com. Qigong – 7:15-7:45am and 7:45-8:15am. With Jen Lake. Driven Fitness Studio, 819 Kingsbury St, Ste 102, Maumee OH. First class free. To register or for more info. DrivenFitnessStudio.com.

classifieds Fee for classifieds is $1 per word per month. To place listing, email content to Publisher@NA-Toledo.com. Deadline is the 10th of the month.

OPPORTUNITIES LOVE SCENTED CANDLES – Natural Wax Candle Company looking for distributors. 419-5190588. WhatsTheScents.com.

saturday Hot YogAlign with Joe – 6-7:15pm. Postural-based movement classes that range from beginner to intermediate level done in a humid room. Focusing mainly on deep rib cage core breathing with natural body alignment maintaining the four spinal curves. Lavender-scented cloths offered to help cool down. $15. Graystone Hall, 29101 Hufford Rd, Rm 103, Perrysburg OH. 419-874-2911. Uncork The Artist – 7-10pm. (weekly on Sat. thru 01/01/2015) Painting parties with a twist. Classes for both adults and kids. Register thru website and see the painting to be created each evening. All art supplies provided. $65. Uncork the Artist, 5228 Monroe St, Toledo OH. 419-283-2484. UncorkTheArtist.com.

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natural awakenings

April 2014

Coming Next Month

Women’s Wellness Tune into Your Body’s Intelligence and Take Charge of Your Life

communityresourceguide Connecting you to the leaders in natural healthcare and green living in our community. To find out how you can be included in the Community Resource Guide email Publisher@NA-Toledo.com to request our media kit.

DETOX HELP.THEBIOMATCOMPANY.COM

Pennie Saks 419-283-7337 PennieSaks@hotmail.com Locations Dr. Kathy's Chiropractic 6524 Secor Rd, Lambertville, Michigan 48144 734-568-6910 New Beginnings Healing Center 202 N. McCord Rd, Toledo, Ohio 43615 419-283-7337(call for an appt. with Pennie) If you haven’t been feeling well and want to help yourself obtain better health, I invite you to research the website and try The Amethyst BioMat for yourself. I am available to demonstrate at your office, health spa or clinic and to answer your questions. See ad page 30.

ESSENTIAL OILS ESSENTIAL CONNECTION, LTD.

Karla Gleason, dōTERRA IPC #224532 Aromatouch Technique Certified Maumee, OH 43537 419-265-3219 Gleason.Karla@gmail.com Essential-Connection.MyOilProducts.com Looking for answers to your health problems? dōTERRA CPTG essential oils are nature’s perfect health solution! Essential oils offer a safe, effective and versatile solution to a tremendous range of health concerns. Contact Karla for a FREE Wellness Consultation today! See ad page 22.

FITNESS DRIVEN FITNESS STUDIO

Jodi Walters, Owner/Lead Trainer 819 Kingsbury Street Suite 102 Maumee, OH 43537 419-482-4847

To advertise or participate in our May edition, call

419-340-3592 38

Toledo/Monroe edition

Driven Fitness is your Northwest Ohio studio for Pilates, TRX Suspension Training, Indoor/ Outdoor Fitness Bootcamps, YOGA, Tai-Chi and Qigong training. Our studio is a Stott® Pilates fully equipped facility. At Driven Fitness, it’s our goal to help you reach the pinnacle of personal fitness through various training options in a small studio setting. We offer daily group classes, evening sessions and private sessions. Call or visit our website at DrivenFitnessStudio. com. See plan ahead event page 35.

NaturalAwakeningsToledo.com

POSITIVELY FIT

Maryellen Grogan, CPT, MES 108 E Dudley, Maumee, OH 43537 419-893-5105 Studio Getting Fit is Not “One-Size-FitsAll.” Everyone Is Unique. Exercise needs, nutrition needs and goals are unique for each person. We take individuality into account and build a complete fitness program that’s right for you. To become “Positively Fit,” all elements of fitness and health must be in balance. See ad page 28.

Positively Fit

• Personal Training • Strength Training & Conditioning • Complete Body Wellness

HEALTH AND WELLNESS MARK S. NEUMANN, D.O.

1715 W Dean Rd, Ste B, Temperance, MI 734-847-4700 419-474-4700 corner of Dean & Jackman Rds DrMarkNeumann.com Graduate, 1981 from Palmer Chiropractic College and 1996 from Des Moines School of Osteopathic Medicine. He is also fellowship trained in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement. Dr. Neumann states, “Our goal is to increase people’s quality and quantity of life.” In addition, the office offers weight loss programs, deep tissue laser therapy, hormone replacement and laser hair removal. See ad page 27.

LIFESTYLE COACH SANDY EARL

Certified Yoga Teacher 419-351-7409 Sandyearl_rower@hotmail.com www.sandyearl.com Learning how to prepare foods that are healthy for you, plus taste good, is the key to gaining energy, releasing digestive issues, and normalizing your weight. Discovering support for the lifestyle choices that affect your overall wellbeing, individually or through group support can make the biggest difference in empowering you to reach your health goals.

MASSAGE THERAPY ANGI MCROBBIE L.M.T.

Angi McRobbie LMT 5215 Monroe St, Sylvania, OH 419-680-0474 AngiMaclMT@gmail.com Massage therapist with 7 years experience, specializing in getting the pain out while focusing on connective tissue, achieving better range of motion, and education in body mechanics and ergonomics in everyday living.

NUTRITION NUTRI-HEALTH

Jack Grogan, Certified Nutritionist 8336 Monroe Rd, Lambertville, MI 734-856-9199 734-854-1191 fax Feeling out of balance? Wonder how the body responds to stress? Discover the blueprint for the body’s metabolism through hair mineral analysis. Helping clients achieve better health through nutrition and supplementation with over 40 years of experience. See ad page 28.

PHYSICAL THERAPY ALTERNATIVE PHYSICAL THERAPY 440 South Reynolds Rd, Ste D, Toledo, OH 419-578-4357 Info@AlternativePhysicalTherapy.com AlternativePhysicalTherapy.com

Traditional physical therapy with a holistic approach. Specializing in one-on-one hands-on care, including aquatics, mobilizations, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, zero balancing and trigger point releases, utilizing 32 years of experience. Neuro and Pain specialist. See ad page 22.

ROLFING

WELLNESS CENTER

PHYSICAL REHAB AND WELLNESS

CELEBRATION OF HEALTH ASSOCIATION

CPW HEALTH CENTER

Would you like to see a board-certified family medical doctor who is trained in scientific medicine? Who is also an expert in complementary and alternative medicine and prefers a natural approach whenever possible? Who will listen to you, discuss options, and help you decide what is the best approach for you? See ad page 17.

With over 26 years of experience, CPW Health Center has been the premier provider of physical rehabilitation and medical fitness programs. Best known for the 94° heated therapeutic pool. Perfect for those with arthritis and chronic pain. We are now excited to expand our Women’s Health and Wellness Services as we partner with other exemplary providers in order to provide a fuller continuum of care. See ad page 5.

3130 Central Park West Dr, Ste A Toledo, OH 419-841-9622

L Terry Chappell, MD Offices in Toledo and Bluffton, OH 419-358-4627 HealthCelebration.com

NEW BEGINNINGS HEALING CENTER 202 N McCord Toledo,OH 419-861-7786 NBHCToledo.com

YOGA HOT YOGALIGN WITH JOE

Change your thoughts and change your life. Hypnosis and Life Coaching can help. Small group sessions with acupuncture and visualization for weight loss and smoking cessation. Individual life coaching or hypnosis available for trauma resolution, negative behaviors, achieving goals, study skills. Reiki by appointment. Affordable classes. See ad page 13.

WELLNESS RX INC.

Dr Jay Nielsen, MD 27121 Oakmead Dr, Ste C, Perrysburg, OH 419-897-6490 419-874-3512 fax Jay@WellnessRx.org Dr. Nielsen is a board-certified family physician with 38 years experience helping patients avoid orthopedic surgical procedures using Prolotherapy, Platelet Rich Plasma, Bioidentical Hormones and Supplements. Specializes in fatigue, chronic pain, mood disorders and accepts BWC worker injuries. See ad page 13.

Joe Sparks, LMT, RYT 29101 Hufford Rd, Perrysburg, OH 419-874-2911 Joe.Sparks@Toast.net HotYogAlignWithJoe.com YogAlign-affiliate studio. Daily classes and private sessions. Posture and Natural Alignment is the main focus, not performing poses. Space offers a warm, safe and peaceful environment to balance and free the fascia. We work on strength and flexibility. Kettlebell classes also offered. See ad page 19.

When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier. ~Roy E. Disney

ROLFING® STRUCTURAL INTEGRATION Amy Adamczak Certified Advanced Rolfer™ Board Certified Structural Integrator 3454 Oak Alley Ct Ste 406 Toledo, OH 419-343-1883 RolfingToledo.com

In a short series of sessions, release the chronic patterns in your body's structure and movement that contribute to pain and the feeling of “getting old.” Rolfing can be used to improve performance, vitality, balance, posture, back pain, headaches, sciatica, repetitive stress injuries and more. See ad page 17.

natural awakenings

April 2014

presents

VegFest

April 13 10:30 to 5:00

Vegan Cuisine & Food Demos | Free Samples & Literature Eco-Friendly & Cruelty-Free Shopping | Presentations By:

Daryl Hannah | Film star and vegan activist for a more ethical, sustainable world John Salley | NBA champion and former Detroit Piston Joel Kahn, MD | cardiologist and author of The Holistic Heart Book Jill Fritz | Michigan Senior State Director for The Humane Society of the United States Cooking Demonstrators Chef Erika Boyd | Detroit Vegan Soul Chef Robert Hindley | Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital Chef John Heath | Jazzie Veggie of Ann Arbor

$10 Admission Discounts at VegMichigan.org