February 2013

H E A L T H Y

L I V I N G

H E A L T H Y

P L A N E T

feel good • live simply • laugh more

FOOD & MOOD

FREE

Solutions for Emotional Eating

Healing Through Bodywork

A Guide to Best Therapies

Different Strokes How to Choose the Best Massage

Bully Blues Busters

Ways to Promote Kindness in Kids February 2013

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publishersletter

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ebruary is the month of love and Valentine’s Day. This got me thinking.

During a recent service at church our pastor talked about our past and how that can be very hurtful to remember, especially with past relationships.

Everyone has a relationship in their past that they wished would have turned out differently or never occurred at all.

Occasionally there is that awkward moment when you see those people again and you try to avoid them. You aren’t sure what to say, and there are memories and emotions of the past that resurface.

What I have learned from bad relationships is to forgive and move forward. My past does not define who I am today or who I will be in the future. However, there are other relationships in my life that I think about that did not end badly, but simply faded. These are friendships I once had that are no longer there because for some reason or another I have not communicated with these people in a long time.

Any relationship in life takes work. Without the careful attention, cultivation and love, it can’t flourish. Whether it is a marriage or a friendship, the relationship needs to be worked on. I myself have relationships in my past that didn’t turn out like I had thought they would. There is a saying that God puts people in your life for a reason and removes them for a reason. And I believe that the people we meet in life help shape who we are. However, there are some people that have faded from our lives that could be a source of love and encouragement to us— but because we did not give them love, attention, and compassion in return they slipped away. Is there someone you might want to reconnect with?

Over the Christmas holidays, my dear friends now living in Texas came home for the holidays. We all got together; it was amazing that no matter how many miles there was between us, it was like they had never moved away. The feeling of love we all felt for each other was stronger if anything. Renee will always be my best friend and there will always be a bond between us, but without keeping lines of communication open in order to continue the relationship over the distance that separates us, this relationship could have faded.

Whether it is a marriage or friendship, being able to love unconditionally, communicating, spending time with each other, laughing and living life together through good and bad times makes better relationships.

contact us Publisher Tom Maples Tom@AlabamaAwakenings.com Cell: 404-395-9634 New Business Development Advertising Sales Cindy Wilson Cindy@AlabamaAwakenings.com Cell: 256-476-6537 Design and Production Karen Ormstedt

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natural awakenings

February 2013

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contents 8

5 newsbriefs 8 healthbriefs 10 globalbriefs 12 ecotip

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12 healthykids 14 consciouseating 17 healingways 21 inspiration

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calendars

29 resourceguide

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.

7 KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS

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by Elizabeth Campbell Korcz, M.D.

12 BULLY BLUES BUSTERS Positive Ways to Promote Kindness

by Meredith Montgomery

14 FOOD & MOOD Solutions for Emotional Eating

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by Judith Fertig

advertising & submissions HOW TO ADVERTISE Display Ads due by the 10th of the month prior to publication.

Contact Us to advertise with Natural Awakenings or request a media kit. 256-476-6537 -or- Editor@AlabamaAwakenings.com

EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS* Newsbriefs due by the 10th of the month. Limit 50-250 words.

Content limited to special events and other announcements.

No advertorials, please.

Articles and ideas due by the 5th of the month. Articles generally contain 250-850 words, with some exceptions. No advertorials, please.

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS Calendar of Events and Ongoing Calendar listings due by the 10th of the month. Limit 50 words per entry. Please follow format found in those sections.

ADVERTISE WITH US TODAY 256-476-6537 -or- Editor@AlabamaAwakenings.com *All submissions are subject to editing and will be printed at the publisher’s discretion. Article space often fills in advance. Deadline dates refer to the month prior to next publication and may change without notice due to holidays, shorter months, or printing schedules.

4 Birmingham NABirmingham.com www.NABirmingham.com

15 BODYWORK GOES MAINSTREAM Helpful Access Points to Health

by Linda Sechrist

17 FEEL-GOOD MASSAGE People’s Hands-Down Favorites

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by Rachel Mork

20 CUTTING THROUGH THE NUTRITION NONSENSE Rounding Out a Healthy Lifestyle: Supplements Everyone Should Consider

by Steve Dupont, RD, LD

17 21 THE GIFT OF EMPATHY How to be a Healing Presence

by Margret Aldrich

newsbriefs Clement Wellness Comes to Birmingham

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n today’s world we often feel stressed out with all the responsibilities of one’s job, finances, and family as well as maintaining interpersonal relationships with others. Having learned to overcome, let Mary Jeanette ”Jan” (Hageman) Clement, Ph.D., JD/MSW be your Personal Wellness Educator. She will provide you with free information and services to promote wellness–not just freedom from symptoms. She doesn’t look or feel her age but that is only because she has been studying stress reduction since the 1970s when she completed a Ph.D. in Sociology on “Occupational Stress of Law Officers and Marital and Familial Relationships.” She continued her research while teaching at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.

Today, she uses cutting-edge techniques or technology: Electro Physiological Feedback Xrroid (EPFX) which combines both Quantum Xrroid Consciousness Interface (QXCI) and Scientific Consciousness Interface Operation (SCIO) to be a state of the art, multi-media Quantum Biofeedback system for stress detection and reduction.

Ms. Clement also uses Thought Field Therapy (TFT-Algo Tapping) based on time-honored principles of both clinical psychology and Chinese Medicine (which is drug free), Bio-disk from Hyperphysics Research, L.L.C., and the Results System and other emotional stress reduction techniques.

Certified as a Human Behavior Consultant, Mary uses Dr. Robert A. Rohm’s Personality Insights D-I-S-C System. Financial Peace University and talk show host, Dave Ramsey uses this personality test to match new employees with leaders and teams. Beside work related information, you can gain insight into family members, spouse and children.

For more information call 205-538-7290 or 615-206-1553. See Ad on Page 23 and CRG on Page 29.

Feng Shui Workshop

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ing in the Chinese New Year with a feng shui workshop at Natural Forces Studio. Feng Shui specialist Katie Rogers will help you make the most of 2013 by instructing you on how to apply powerful feng shui principles to your home and office. Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement, where your home reflects your life. So when you make simple but conscious changes in your environment, your life shifts accordingly.

Come with a floor plan and your objectives, goals, and intentions for the new year and beyond. Katie will discuss energy, intention, intuition, ritual, and the importance of being honest with yourself regarding the objects and layout of your home. She will cover the basics of feng shui, such as the bagua map, chi, the five elements, and yin and yang concepts. This will be an informative and individualized class that will help you discover your personal blocks so that you can remove them and move forward in life in the direction of your soul’s path and thrive. To end, we will participate in a fun new year’s ritual to charge up your intentions to keep them alive all year long.

The workshop takes place on February 9 from 1-5pm. The cost is $99. Sign up early to save your spot. For more information on Katie Rogers go to her website KatieRogersFengShui.com. She has been studying feng shui since 1998 and has been a certified practitioner since 2004. She’s a Red Ribbon member (highest level) of the International Feng Shui Guild.

Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet. ~ Roger Miller

natural awakenings

February 2013

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of Wellness at Hoover Alt MD Healing Waters Variety H t $PMPO )ZESPUIFSBQZ t -JQP &YŽ t *OGSBSFE 4BVOB t $PNQVUFSJ[FE #JPGFFECBDL t #JP$MFBOTF t .BTTBHF ɨFSBQZ t 1BJO .BOBHFNFOU t -JHIU ɨFSBQZ t 7JCB#PEZ 4MJNNFS ,PSFBO 4UZMF )JQ #BUI t ,PSFBO 4UZMF )JQ #BUI

oover Alt MD has a wide variety of services available. The practice has a unique approach to healthcare and wellness in the community. Traditional medical services are available, accepting Blue Cross Blue Shield, and many other insurance carriers. Dr. Elizabeth Korcz often incorporates natural and herbal medicine into her therapies, as well as alternatives like Acupuncture.

The Hoover Alt MD Spa offers facials, chemical peels and skin care, as well as massage therapy, weight loss programs, and cosmetic medicine to its patients at affordable prices (insurance does not cover). The practice carries two lines of skin care products, and top quality, pharmaceutical-grade supplements, vitamins, and herbals, all chosen by Dr. Korcz for their purity, potency, and effectiveness. Gift Certificates are available to be used anywhere in the practice (i.e.: copay, facials, supplements, weight loss, etc.). See Ad on Page 2 and CRG on Page 29.

Kirtan Concert with Blue Spirit Wheel at Birmingham Yoga

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205-323-7582

#FSOBEJOF 5JMMNBO #JSETPOH 0XOFS * "$5 $FSUJĂŤFE $PMPO )ZESPUIFSBQZ *OTUSVDUPS

MoreThanColonics.com

Time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted. ~ John Lennon

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lue Spirit Wheel is a progressive evolution in the world of mantra music. Based on the fundamental rhythms contained within the Sanskrit language, the band uses solid bass grooves, dancing tabla beats and an improvisational vocal style to create soundscapes that draw the listener into a deep state of meditation and consciousness expansion. The audience is invited to participate by chanting simple mantras along with the music, or interact with the sounds through dance and movement, or enter a receptive meditative space where the vibrations of the Sanskrit bija mantras create powerful energy shifts.

The musicians in Blue Spirit Wheel bring together a diverse range of stylistic and cultural influences, ranging from rock and jazz to choral and a cappella to Indian classical and world grooves. All of these sounds are woven into a coherent whole and placed in the service of spiritual transformation.

The concert will be held February 22 from 7-9pm at Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 day of.

February Happenings at The Gardens

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ducational opportunities continue at Birmingham Botanical Gardens in February with “Fossilize Fabulous Foliage� on February 23. Led by Julie Adams and Hope Long, students will learn how to make a sand casting of a leaf in five easy steps with concrete, a leaf, sand, saran wrap and their hands. This month will also welcome The Gardens’ next Seasons on Saturday class for children, “From Seed to Chocolate: A Valentine Venture.� Children will find the tree of chocolate, the cacao, in The Gardens. Children will learn where this tree grows and mix their own homemade chocolate, perfect for sharing at Valentine’s Day. This class will be held on February 9. For more information about each of the classes and all other Adult and Family offerings, and to register online, visit www.bbgardens.org/classes.

The Certificate in Native Plant Studies program also continues an exciting new year in February. On February 2, Executive Director Fred Spicer will lead “Winter Identification of Native Woody Plants,� an elective focusing on the identification of plants found naturally in Alabama. On February 9, Andrew Cole-Tyson will lead “Designing Landscapes with Native: A Thoughtful Process,� while Val Webb will lead “Introductory Botanical Illustration� on February 16, both electives. The final class of the month will be led by Director of Education Henry Hughes on February 23, “Plant-Soil Relationships,� a core. To learn more about each of these classes and to register online, visit www.bbgardens.org/plantstudies.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens is open from dawn until dusk 365 days per year. Admission to The Gardens is free. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3965. BBGardens.org.

King and Queen of Hearts

by Elizabeth Campbell Korcz, MD

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ebruary is heart month, on many levels.

But rather than discussing cardiac health and screening, this time we’ll focus on the other type of “heart.” Emotionality, Love, and Passion are also known as heart. Let’s think about a few factors that affect us.

Male or female, our hormones dictate a lot of our behaviors, emotions, and thinking. Ever been so “in love” that you can’t think straight? Yes, that’s hormones talking. Of course, when they are not quite right, or in balance, this can also affect us. Be it passion for our partner in the bedroom, or passion for our work in the boardroom, hormones play a big role.

Low testosterone (“Andropause”, or “Man-opause”) can make a man moody, or emotional, with a lack of energy and initiative. This, as we know, puts a damper on things in the bedroom, but look out for other effects, too. It might make you not so excited to toss around the ball with your son. It may erase the swagger you’ve always had at the office, to impress the boss. Or, perhaps you have trouble making decisions, or holding your own with haggling the price on that new car…Follow your instincts, and check with your doctor to have your levels checked.

Women have testosterone, too, and a low level (or too high a level) is also a problem. Low testosterone might lead to depression, poor job performance, and low sexual interest with her spouse.

Testosterone that is too high in females might result in irregular periods, unwanted hair growth, and “agitation”

or confrontational behavior.

Menopausal women are likely to have deficiencies of all their hormones, resulting in uncomfortable symptoms throughout the body—from hot flashes and depression, to dryness with intimacy and mental “fog.” If you think your “heart” needs tuning, get a check-up.

From herbals to hormone replacement (synthetic or natural), there is an answer for every woman.

Love and passion are also affected by our Moods. Depression and anxiety problems can rob us of the joy of living. Fatigue, weight changes, and low sex drive/pleasure are all possible symptoms of depression and mood disorders. Sometimes, people’s bodies get depressed before they really feel profound sadness. You don’t have to be crying all the time to have a depressive disorder, and this chemical imbalance is not “weakness” or some lack of faith.

Feeling a bit down, combined with fatigue, and just wanting to sit around may indicate a problem. Talk to your spouse, too. (She’ll need to know your lack of motivation is not because she did something wrong.)

I’ve seen many folks come in complaining of “hormone problems,” only to find that their levels are fine, and the fault is really with their anxiety problems, and poor sleep. Excessive worry, racing heart, and fatigue can be symptoms. There are medications for depression and anxiety, and even herbals or nutritional supplements that can help these issues. You don’t have to suffer. So, if you aren’t feeling yourself,

lately, and your passions are in the pits, this may be the answer.

Finally, your physical health might be shaking your prowess. Who can be in the mood, if you feel lousy and sickly? Romance and intimacy are difficult if you are exhausted, sick, or have a headache. Remember to get yourself well all over—controlling blood pressure, diabetes (sugar), and thyroid issues.

Metabolic issues not only affect drive, but can cause neuropathy, which leads to poor sensitivity and satisfaction.

Men and women can be plagued by dysfunction (ED, and female equivalents) due to cholesterol, sugar, and blood pressure health problems. These lead to clogged arteries and poor blood flow, which is essential to sexual functioning. Prevention is best, of course, to control any issues you might have before they cause problems, but even once a difficulty arises, there are many options to help.

Carrying too much weight can also burden your love life. Physical lack of good tone, and endurance (like shortness of breath), or mental low body image and confidence can all play a role in passion. It is hard to feel alluring when you don’t like what you see in the mirror. Make a change for yourself, get fit, and talk to your partner. (He’ll want to know your “not tonight” isn’t because he’s not attractive, too.)

In conclusion, good overall physical and emotional health, and hormone balance can put that spring in your step, again. Get yourself checked out, and get back the swag at your job, bounce in your ballgame, and passion with your partner. Happy Valentine’s Day. Dr. Elizabeth Campbell Korcz has a growing, innovative practice in Hoover that augments Traditional Family Medicine with Complementary and Alternative medical therapies and practices.

She is currently accepting new patients. Hoover Alt MD, 3421 S. Shades Crest Rd, Suite 111, Hoover. Call 205-733-6676 to schedule an appointment today. See ad on page 2.

natural awakenings

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healthbriefs

Hot Peppers Help the Heart

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ebruary is Heart Health Month, and individuals that like hot peppers have another reason to continue their spicy habit, according to recent research. A study presented at the latest National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society focused on the benefits of capsaicin and its fiery-hot relatives, a piquant family of substances termed capsaicinoids, that give cayenne, jalapeños, habanero and other chili peppers their heat.

The research team discovered that these substances boost heart health in several ways: They block the action of a gene producing a substance that makes arteries contract and restrict the flow of blood to the heart and other organs; lower cholesterol by reducing its accumulation in the body and increasing its breakdown and excretion; decrease the size of cholesterol deposits already formed in blood vessels that narrow arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks or strokes; and reduce overall levels of so-called “bad” cholesterol while not affecting levels of “good” cholesterol.

Reading Helps Teens Beat the Blues

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ooks stimulate the mind in more ways than previously known, and may even help reduce the risk of depression in teenagers, according to a new study published in the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers report adolescents that spend more time reading books are less likely to experience a major depressive disorder than those listening to contemporary music.

Participants were called up to 60 times during five extended weekends over two months and asked if their attention was currently devoted to television, movies, music, video games, the Internet, magazines, newspapers or books. Teens that spent the most hours listening to music were 8.5 times more likely to be depressed than those that spent the least amount of time absorbed in tunes. In contrast, adolescents that read the most (primarily books) were 10 percent as likely to be depressed as those that read the least.

Major depression is thought to affect one in 12 teenagers, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Brian Primack, the assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics who led the study, remarks, “These findings may help clinicians and parents recognize links between media and depression. This is worth emphasizing because overall in the United States, reading books is decreasing, while nearly all other forms of media use are increasing.”

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ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE LESSENS BACK PAIN

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otoriously difficult to treat, chronic back pain may be behind more disability and days off from work than any other health condition. A recent study published by the British Medical Journal, involving more than 500 patients, concludes that practicing the Alexander Technique, an awareness practice to identify and correct unconscious negative physical habits related to posture and movement, breathing and tension, combined with moderate exercise, can help.

The patients were either given normal physician care, massage or six or 24 lessons of the technique, which helped them learn to align the head, neck and back muscles, release unnecessary restrictions and improve overall balance. Half the patients in each group were also assigned to walk briskly for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

Massage provided pain relief for the corresponding group for the first three months, and then the benefit had to be reinstated. Patients trained in how to daily use knowledge acquired from practicing the Alexander Technique reported less pain and an ability to do more by the end of the year. Individuals that received six lessons and stuck to a recommended exercise routine did nearly as well as those that had 24 lessons.

For more information, visit AlexanderTechnique.com.

Mindful Meditation Eases Loneliness

THE SALTSHAKER THIEF

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alentine’s Day can increase feelings of loneliness, especially for the elderly, and may pose an additional risk factor for health problems such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s. A new study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, offers fresh evidence that mindfulness meditation reduces negative thoughts about being alone in older adults and also improves their physical health. The ancient practice dates back to the time of Buddha and focuses on creating an attentive awareness of the present moment.

In the study, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pennsylvania, recruited 40 healthy adults between the ages of 55 and 85 that were interested in learning the technique. Subjects were assessed at the beginning and end of the study using an established loneliness scale, and blood samples were collected.

After eight weeks of meditation training, participants reported decreased feelings of loneliness, and new blood samples revealed reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression (manifestion of encoded information). Inflammation is thought to promote the development and progression of many diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

Lead researcher J. David Creswell reports, “Mindfulness meditation training is a promising intervention for improving the health of older adults. It’s important to train your mind like you train your biceps in the gym.”

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efore reaching for the saltshaker, consider that excessive dietary salt not only burdens the kidneys and increases the risk of hypertension; it may also deplete vital calcium. Research

by Canadian medical researchers at the University of Alberta recently discovered an important link between sodium and calcium, which appear to be regulated by the same molecule in the body. When sodium intake becomes too high, the body excretes it via urine, taking calcium with it and creating a risk for developing kidney stones and osteoporosis. So, pass the pepper instead.

Peel-Good Energy

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onsumers do not need to buy overpriced, sugary sports drinks in order to replenish carbohydrates and electrolytes during or after exercise, say researchers at the Appalachian State University Human Performance Lab at the North Carolina Research Campus, in Kannapolis. Instead, just grab a banana. The tasty fruit not only offers the same performance boost as sports drinks, but additional advantages, as well. Bananas provide antioxidants not found in the manmade beverages, plus a greater nutritional boost, including fiber, potassium and vitamin B6. Bananas also boast a healthier blend of natural sugars than sports drinks.

Mushrooms for Health

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new Agricultural Research Service study reports that mushrooms may play an important role in maintaining health. Researchers found that white button mushrooms may promote immune function by increasing production of antiviral and other proteins that are released by cells seeking to protect and repair tissue.

RED, WHITE AND TRUE

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ag the guesswork of grocery shopping and let the American Heart Association (AHA) Heart-Check mark help identify healthy foods. The red-andwhite icon, created in 1995 and now found on product packaging, is a solid first step in building a heartfriendly diet.

The AHA is now beginning to include foods with high levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats—the “good” fats—in the Heart-Check program. Updated requirements also covering sodium, sugar and fiber will take effect in 2014 to allow food manufacturers time to reformulate their products.

Source: United States Department of Agriculture natural awakenings

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

Safer Cells Mobile Phones Becoming Less Toxic

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The Ecology Center, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in conjunction with technicians at IFixIt.com, has published a list of toxic chemicals found in 36 cell phones from a range of manufacturers. The good news is that companies are responding to consumer and regulatory pressure and these troublesome components are on the decline.

The Motorola Citrus, Apple iPhone 4S and LE Remarq were the least toxic cell phones in the analysis. Two of the bestselling models, the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S III, ranked fifth and ninth, respectively. Among earlier models, the 2007 iPhone 2G was found to contain the most toxic materials.

Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Center, concludes, “The takeaway is that mobile phones are chemically intensive and full of chemical hazards, but they’ve been getting a lot better.” The center reported that every phone sampled in the study contained lead, bromine, chlorine, mercury or cadmium.

Source: Tinyurl.com/MobileRisk

Parasite Protection Animals’ Native Remedies Offer Insights We can learn much from animal species that selfmedicate naturally. Some have developed the ability to alter their diets and behavior in ways that provide protection from lethal, microscopic parasites.

Chimpanzees held captive often succumb to infection by a parasitic worm, which can lead to lethal intestinal blockages or secondary bacterial infections.

But chimps in the wild rarely experience such deadly ailments. More than 30 years ago, Michael Huffman, who studies evolution of social systems at the University of Kyoto, in Japan, noticed that wild chimps treated themselves by ingesting foods with special properties that fight intestinal worm infections.

Scientists recently discovered why monarch butterflies are so picky in choosing the milkweed plants on which to lay their eggs. “The females often taste a plant, reject it and fly away,” explains Jacobus de Roode, Ph.D., of Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia. His research team found that butterflies infected with a certain protozoan parasite seek out milkweeds containing high levels of cardenolide, a plant steroid that interferes with parasite growth in monarch caterpillars.

Scientists have identified many other species that partake in self-medicating practices, including macaques and sheep. Recognition that various insects such as honey bees and fruit flies share this trait is enabling scientists to rigorously examine the phenomenon in the laboratory, with hopes of finding applications in animal husbandry and even human medicine.

Source: The Scientist magazine

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Peaceful Spirits Living Spiritual Laws in Prison Living the Power, an organization formed by Marie Jackson in 2010, is piloting its Living the Power Behind Bars program in the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women, in New Jersey, with encouraging results.

Jackson supplies recommended course and resource materials for workshops aimed to help guide inmates to new ways of thinking and approaching everyday decisions using kindness and self-reflection. Through understanding spiritual laws of attraction and intention, participants learn to deepen and redirect their perceptions of themselves, others, events and circumstances to live a life of increased peace, balance and personal fulfillment, while positively influencing their greater environment.

“I’ve learned as much from the women in the program as they have from me,” says Jackson. “Keeping our spirit free is at the heart of peace no matter where we are.”

Source: LivingThePower.com/EdnaMahan.html

Good Hood Paving the Way in Sustainable Streets A one-and-one-half-mile stretch of Cermak Road, on Chicago’s West Side, will soon become one of the greenest streets in the country, and possibly the world. The historic industrial artery is shedding its smokestacks and corrugated steel warehouses for a $16 million makeover by the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) that will make the corridor a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum showcase.

Improvements range from solar-paneled bus stops to native plants and pavement that absorbs rainwater.

Armed with tax increment financing funds and grant money, the CDOT set to work incorporating what may be the most sustainable elements ever to go into a single stretch of road. In addition, all materials were found within a 500-mile radius of the project. Twenty-three percent of the materials used are from recycled sources, and more than 60 percent of the redevelopment construction waste will itself be recycled. Other cities are studying the project as a blueprint for change.

Source: Grist.com

Friend Me Civic Engagement Linked to Social Media The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project has revealed that the use of social media is becoming an important feature of political and civic engagement. Approximately 60 percent of U.S. adults use social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, and 66 percent of those—or 39 percent in total—have participated in at least one civic or political activity using social media.

In a three-week survey conducted last summer, two-thirds of the 2,253 adult respondents ages 18 and older said they had used social media platforms to post their thoughts about civic and political issues; respond to other postings; press friends to act on issues; follow candidates and vote; “like” and link to other content; and join groups formed on social networking sites.

Free Gas Promise of New Sustainable Power Source at Hand British engineers at Air Fuel Synthesis have succeeded in using an innovative new “air capture” technology to remove carbon dioxide greenhouse emissions from the air and transform them into synthetic gasoline.

The two-year experimental project mixes sodium hydroxide with carbon dioxide before electrolyzing the sodium carbonate that it produces to form pure carbon dioxide. Hydrogen is then produced by also electrolyzing water vapor captured with a dehumidifier. The carbon dioxide and hydrogen then produce methanol, which is passed through a gasoline fuel reactor to create the fuel. The prototype minirefinery, in Stockton-on-Tees, in Teesside, produced five liters of gas in less than three months. A larger plant might produce more than a ton of gasoline every day, and a refinery-sized operation is envisioned within 15 years.

The fuel can be used in any regular application and if renewable energy were used to provide the electricity, the system would be completely carbon neutral. While the technology has the backing of Britain’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers and private philanthropists, it has yet to capture the interest of major oil companies.

Source: The Telegraph

Source: PewForum.org natural awakenings

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healthykids

ecotip Creative Reuse New Life for Old Bedding Reusing, recycling or repurposing a worn-out mattress is a far better solution than adding another to the 20 million or so that annually end up in landfills.

Before discarding, first check with family members, friends or coworkers, or post a note on a community bulletin board or on the Internet (Freecycle.org) about the availability of a free, gently used mattress.

Next, offer to donate the mattress to The Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries or a local consignment or thrift shop, church, shelter or disaster relief organization. Note that this option may require professional cleaning prior to donation. Many nonprofit outlets provide free home pickup of items, which can be claimed as a charitable tax deduction.

Crafty individuals may want to disassemble the mattress and make use of buttons, tabs and fabric for sewing pillowcases, reupholstering indoor furniture, covering outdoor furniture or as stuffing for pillows. Check with local artist centers too, because one or more of their members may wish to use recyclable materials like the metal springs in their works.

The wooden frame and the stuffing of the mattress can be used to create a backyard compost pile. The wood slats become the compost bin’s architecture, while the foam padding or cotton stuffing serves to shelter compost from the elements and keep the pile warm, which accelerates the composting process.

The same stuffing also can be used as landscape fabric to help control the growth of weeds in the garden, and springs make a serviceable trellis to support growing plants.

Some recycling centers do not accept mattresses. Find local resources and policies at Earth911.com.

Sources: Home.HowStuffWorks.com, Tinyurl.com/RadicalRecyclingMattresses 12

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BULLY BLUES BUSTERS

Positive Ways to Promote Kindness

by Meredith Montgomery

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he National Education Association estimates that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fears of being attacked or intimidated by other students. Bullying is more than a buzzword. According to StopBullying.gov, it’s defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-age children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance.

Kelly Hughes, a school counselor at Bayside Academy, in Daphne, Alabama, has noticed a dramatic shift in bullying behaviors. She observes, “Kids are not hitting or punching or pushing each other as much as they used to. Rather, they are using in-person relational aggression such as hurtful words, glares, whispering and excluding individuals, exacerbated by social media and cell phones.”

While anti-bullying legislation exists in 49 states (Montana is the exception), approaches for addressing this problem vary. Hughes says, “In my job, I spend a lot of time saying, ‘Just be kind.’ More positive results come from promoting kind behaviors and being

‘pro-hero’ than from simply discussing why bullying is hurtful.”

Calmly Taking Charge Eric D. Dawson, president and co-founder of Boston-based Peace First (PeaceFirst. org), also believes in the power of positive language. “We need to move away from harsh language that focuses kids on what not to do and instead ignite their moral imagination—call on them to be problem solvers,” he says.

To counter bullying in society, Dawson suggests that we all need to be role models, and talk about and celebrate peacemaking. “We can’t expect our kids to listen to us when we tell them to be peaceful and share if they then see us aggressively cut in front of others on the road or in the checkout line. We can also ask kids how they were peacemakers during their day, in addition to what they learned.”

Founded in 1992 in response to the youth violence epidemic, Peace First provides programs and free online tools to help teach students peacemaking skills.

The nonprofit is based on the premise that children have a natural aptitude for it and peacemaking can be taught, just like other subjects; their curriculum teaches and reinforces core social/emotional skills in communication, creative conflict resolution, courage, cooperation, empathy and civic engagement.

A New York City student remarks, “Peace First teaches that even if you don’t like someone, it shouldn’t affect how you work together to accomplish something... [putting] peace first makes my heart beat lovelier.”

Good for Us and Others The International Forgiveness Institute (IFI) (InternationalForgiveness.com), in Madison, Wisconsin, has added its support to the anti-bullying movement.

Stemming from the research of IFI founder Robert Enright, Ph.D., and his colleagues, the institute works to forward forgiveness for personal, group and societal renewal. It attests that in forgiving a hurtful person, a personal transformation begins that can enhance self-esteem and hopefulness. Enright’s scientific studies further demonstrate that when children learn about forgiveness, feelings of anger, depression and anxiety are reduced.

“We believe that forgiveness is a choice,” explains Enright. “When you forgive, you may benefit the person you forgive, but you benefit yourself far more.”

Enright recalls his experiences working with incarcerated men that were serving life sentences. “The first thing the assigned therapists asked the group to do was to tell me their story; tell me about the hurts that had been perpetrated on them. One man began to cry, saying that no one had ever asked for his story.” The

Peace First’s partner schools experience an average reduction of 60 percent in incidences of violence and 50 percent fewer weapons brought to school, plus a 70 to 80 percent increase in observed student peacemaking. therapists listened to a tale of the cruel disciplinary measures he had endured at home as a child and recognized a correlation with the crime he had committed. “I’m not justifying his actions, but we can see that he was an extremely wounded man.

Many bullies in school have a story, and we need to take the time to hear their story.

“Because those that engage in bullying are often filled with rage from having been bullied themselves, they get to a point that they don’t care about the consequences of their actions, including detention,” Enright continues. Instead of focusing on the prevention of unwanted behaviors, he says, “Our program is meant to take the anger out of the heart of those that bully, so they bully no more.”

An elementary school-age participant in the Forgiveness Program concludes, “Sometimes it is hard to forgive someone straight away if they really hurt your feelings. It might take longer to see their worth and show them real forgiveness… but it is worth it in the end.”

Meredith Montgomery is the publisher of Natural Awakenings Mobile/Baldwin, AL (HealthyLivingHealthyPlanet.com).

Peace in Action When a first-grader returned to class shaken up after being accosted by a fourth-grader in the restroom, his teacher stepped back to see how the class would use Peace First principles. The boy was immediately embraced by his classmates, who quickly concluded that it was every student’s right, not a luxury, to feel safe, and thereafter implemented a restroom buddy system.

The offending fourth-grader was then invited into their classroom to hear how each of the first-graders felt personally affected by the incident.

He was also required to spend recess with the first-graders for the next two weeks. It became a transformative experience for everyone involved.

The older student was recast from victimizer to a responsible, caring individual. He has continued to display improved behavior, volunteering to help in the classroom and foregoing lunch periods with friends to support the first-graders and their teacher.

“There’s a misconception that peacemaking is holding hands and singing songs,” says Peace First President Eric D. Dawson. “It’s more a set of skills that’s nurturing human development. It’s working together to solve a problem.”

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consciouseating

we need the “high” they produce. Soon, increased amounts of foods like cheeseburgers, potato chips or chocolate chip cookies are necessary to help us feel good again.

Handling emotions without turning to food can be a knotty problem, health professionals agree, involving interweaving physical, emotional and spiritual strands.

Physical Signals

Food & Mood Solutions for Emotional Eating

One solution is to simply pay attention to what our body is saying. Are we truly feeling hunger pangs? “When we eat in the absence of hunger cues, regularly choose unhealthy comfort foods or continue eating when we’re already full, something is out of balance,” observes Simon at OvereatingRecovery.com.

Identifying “trigger” foods might also enlighten us, advises Peeke. “You’re out of control if you have a particular food in your hand and you can’t just enjoy it, walk away and say, ‘Ahh, that was wonderful.’ Life’s okay without that particular food.” The key is being smart about which foods we need to eliminate and which ones will help us feel good and enjoy an overall better quality of life.

“When you follow a plant-based, unprocessed, whole foods eating plan, your body chemistry becomes balanced and your biochemical signals (hunger, cravings and fullness) work well,” explains Simon. “Each time you eat, you feel satisfied and balanced, physically and emotionally.”

by Judith Fertig

A

stressful day might have us seeking solace in ice cream, pizza or potato chips. Other times, we may feel a second donut or another high-calorie treat is our reward for a task well done. Occasional food indulgences are one of life’s pleasures, but habitually eating in response to our emotions can cause weight gain and health problems.

Core Issues “Emotional hunger represents an appetite, craving or desire to eat in the absence of true physiological hunger cues,” explains Julie Simon, author of The Emotional Eater’s Repair Manual: A Practical Mind-Body-Spirit Guide for Putting an End to Overeating and Dieting. “Emotional hunger often feels the same as physical hunger,” she adds, yet it might represent an unconscious longing for pleasure, calm, comfort, excitement or distraction.

It can also have a physiological basis. A 2011 study from the University of Leuven, in Belgium, shows that stomachbased hormones can connect directly to the brain, setting up cravings for sugary and fatty foods, suggesting that we are hardwired to want the foods that provide the greatest number of calories in the smallest quantities.

Sugary, starchy, salty and fatty foods also push the brain’s “reward” button, prompting the production of more dopamine, the neurotransmitter of pleasure and well-being. Dr. Pam Peeke, Ph.D., author of The Hunger Fix: The Three-Stage Detox and Recovery Plan for Overeating and Food Addiction, maintains that these foods also create a difficult-to-break addiction cycle. According to Peeke, an assistant clinical professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, in Baltimore, the more high-calorie foods we eat, the more 14

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Emotional Underpinnings Once we understand the physical component of emotional hunger, we can address the feelings that cause it. Most famous for their Rescue Remedy herbal and floral drops that help soothe anxiety, Bach Flower Essences recently created an Emotional Eating Support Kit that includes homeopathic essences of crabapple, cherry plum and chestnut bud. They maintain that four daily doses can help us think clearly and calmly when we fear losing control, plus objectively observe mistakes and learn from them.

Some feelings, however, can’t be “gentled” away. “Soothe the small stuff, grieve the big stuff,” Simon advises. Experiencing abandonment, betrayal, domination or violation may require therapy. Lesser stressors can often be soothed by music, being outdoors, talking to a friend, taking a warm bath, walking, meditative yoga or pausing to pray—instead of eating.

“No matter how sophisticated or wise or enlightened you believe you are, how you eat tells all,” maintains Geneen Roth, author of Women, Food, and God: An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything. “Your world is on your plate.”

Roth came to terms with her own food addictions and now leads retreats to help others do the same.

When we begin to understand what prompts us to use food to numb or distract ourselves, the process takes us deeper into realms of spirit and to the bright center of our lives, says Roth.

She urges us to be present in the moment and to use good food as a sort of meditation. Notice the beautiful greens in the salad and bless the farmer that grew them. It’s one path to realizing the essence of food that’s good for us is a blessing we deserve.

Award-winning cookbook author Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

Bodywork Goes MAINSTREAM Helpful Access Points to Health

by Linda Sechrist

The seed holds within itself hints of its magnificent maturity. So it is with the practice of whole-person health care, which has matured in language, sophistication, credibility and acceptance. In a single generation, we’ve seen its presence grow from the outer edges of holistic and alternative wellness to complementary and integrative health care. Its latest evolution into America’s mainstream is known as functional medicine. The branch of massage therapy, the germination point for myriad therapies collectively known as bodywork, patterns the movement’s development.

O

nce considered a luxury for the pampered few, massage was among the first therapies to be widely recognized by physicians as a respected aspect of integrative and functional medicine. Bodywork increasingly shares this status, as it is included in conventional medicine’s more innovative healthcare models that embrace a body, mind and spirit approach. One of many examples is Duke Integrative Medicine, in Durham,

North Carolina, where patient services include a form of integrative massage that blends Swedish massage, myofascial therapy, reflexology, energy work and somatic therapy techniques.

In the public’s view, bodywork is still largely associated with massage, although distinct forms stand on their own, including Rolfing, structural integration, shiatsu and myofascial and craniosacral therapies. Bodywork professionals generally belong to the

American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), whatever their specialized modality. They may also participate in other professional organizations, such as the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, which has some 80,000 members, many of which are also members of the International Association for Structural Integrators. These nonprofits’ websites help individuals locate practitioners in their area.

According to Maureen Moon, past president of AMTA, many massage therapists (which don’t refer to themselves as bodyworkers) are trained in various bodywork therapies and intuitively integrate them into their sessions, depending upon each client’s needs.

She notes that, “Many AMTA members are so passionate about their profession and meeting the continuing education (CEU) requirements that they go far beyond the units required to maintain their license, which can vary from state-to-state.” For example, Moon has trained in spinal reflex analysis, developed by Dr. Frank Jarrell, neuromuscular and craniosacral therapies, shiatsu and seven massage therapies. “Most AMTA members are CEU junkies,” quips Moon, who points out that national conventions provide continuing education and chapter meetings frequently introduce attendees to new techniques. Some practitioners discover specialties while in search of pain relief for personal injuries or other conditions.

Myofascial Therapy Olympia Hostler, a myofascial therapist in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, had two serious horse riding accidents during adolescence and three automobile accidents by age 40, which combined, left her so incapacitated that she could barely walk. “I couldn’t work for three years, because I was so debilitated,” relates Hostler. She found her doctor’s diagnosis of severe permanent damage to the body’s soft connective tissue, or fascia, and the prognosis of a lifetime of living with pain unacceptable. So she began searching for something that would help restore health. Her investigation of therapies ended with myofascial release, an effective whole-body approach to the treatment of pain and

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dysfunction, developed by Physical Therapist John F. Barnes.

“I had several sessions and found lasting pain relief unlike anything I’d ever experienced,” advises Hostler. Unlike massage therapies focused on improving circulation, inducing relaxation or draining lymph fluid, the myofascial treatment reached Hostler’s deepest layer of fascia to free the restrictions causing her pain. “It was amazing that a handson application of gentle, sustained pressure into areas of restriction in the myofascial connective tissue could begin to relieve many years of ongoing, intense pain,” says Hostler.

Rolfing As a Certified (advanced) Rolfer and Rolf Movement Practitioner, Robert McWilliams has been able to pursue his lifelong passion in the fields of movement and physical fitness, which included 25 years as a professional dancer and 14 as a professor of modern dance. He taught at both the University of Oklahoma and the University of Florida, in Gainesville.

“In the 1980s, while I was still dancing, I had an experience with Rolfing, developed by Ida P. Rolf [Ph.D.], that transformed my dancing, increased my athletic performance alignment, coordination, flexibility, balance, muscle tone, expressive power and overall sense of relaxation onstage, as well as in daily life,” relates McWilliams. He currently serves as an assistant teacher at the Rolf Institute of Structural Integration, in Boulder, Colorado, where he trained.

Although McWilliams’ clients generally see him to

treat the pain and discomfort of injuries, he says that they frequently change their focus to how their body is working better overall. “This is because injuries tend to resolve themselves after a few sessions of deep tissue manipulation of the myofascial system,” says McWilliams.

A specialized series of 10 sessions works to systematically balance and optimize both the structure (shape) and function (movement) of the entire body. Each session focuses on freeing up a particular region of the body. The effect releases old limiting patterns and postures and restores the body’s natural alignment and sense of integration. “Often, as freedom of physical expression increases, so does emotional expression,” comments McWilliams.

Structural Integration “While Rolfers graduate from The Rolf Institute and attend certified training programs in order to maintain their trademark, and structural integrators can attend any of 14 certified U.S. schools, we are all structural integrators; our training is based on the work of Ida Rolf,” says Diane Roth, a board-certified structural integrator who has specialized in massage and bodywork for 25 years in the Chicago area.

Roth explains that all practitioners in this field of study combine hands-on freeing and realigning of fascial tissue with awareness and movement education, in order to structurally integrate the whole body. Restoration of postural balance and functional ease greatly helps the body, which, she says, constantly labors against the powerful force of gravity.

Like Moon, Roth has studied and incorporated other adjunct therapies and modalities, such as craniosacral therapy and myofascial release. From her perspective, bodywork differs from massage in that it requires more involvement from the client.

“I tell my clients that with a veritable village of treatments available, there is always help for anyone that suffers with aches and pains, regardless of age,” says Roth.

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Shirley Scranta, owner and director of the International School of Shiatsu, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, discovered The Book of Shiatsu: The Healing Art of Finger Pressure, by Saul Goodman, in a health food store. She subsequently researched the school that Goodman founded in 1978, based on the theories of masunaga Zen shiatsu, kushi macrobiotic and his own shiatsu shin tai.

In 1996, Scranta became one of Goodman’s clients.

“I drove a round-trip of 240 miles for weekly treatments because each session made me feel better and stronger. After five sessions, I enrolled in classes and graduated later that year,” says Scranta. She believes the widely known form of acupressure helped her body reestablish its own intelligence system, which had been distorted by childhood trauma.

“This gentle technique applies varying degrees of pressure to release tension, strengthen weak areas, facilitate circulation and balance the life energy that flows through the meridians in the body,” she explains. “In my case, it helped me connect with my body so that I could honor it and do what it needed to rejuvenate itself.”

Craniosacral Therapy Chiropractor Lisa Upledger is vice president of The Upledger Institute, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

A craniosacral therapy (CST) practitioner, educator and wife of CST developer Dr. John Upledger, she advises that tension-related problems are a growing complaint in our modern world. Fortunately, such issues are among the myriad conditions that respond quickly to the gentle touch of this modality.

In a 2007 Massage magazine article, she advised that the positive effects of the therapy rely to a large extent on the performance of the body’s inherent self-corrective mechanisms. “CST works through the craniosacral system to facilitate this function and thereby normalize the environment in which the central nervous system functions,” she noted. “As this is accomplished, a wide range of sensory, motor and neurological problems are improved.”

CST practitioners listen with their hands to the slow pulsations of the craniosacral system. With a soft touch, equivalent to the weight of a nickel, they explore any fascia restrictions throughout the client’s body, which rests fully clothed in a supine position.

Effects of the treatment can be wideranging, affecting the musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular and immune systems as well as organs, connective tissues and energy systems. It works to release deeply held physical and psychological patterns held within the body.

A coin with different impressions on each side is still only one coin, a blend of precious metals. When the coin is tossed to reveal either heads or tails, the visible symbol is one interpretation of the whole imprint— an analogy that may best define the difference between massage and bodywork. All variations on the theme share the same goal—restoring health to the whole person.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings. Find other natural living articles at her website, ItsAllAboutWe.com.

healingways

FEEL-GOOD MASSAGE People’s Hands-Down Favorites

by Rachel Mork

A

ccording to the American Massage Therapy Association, 53 percent of those that seek out professional massages do it to manage and relieve stress. Healthcare professionals recommend it as a way to support overall well-being, and its popularity continues to grow with some 38 million current U.S. massage enthusiasts.

But which form of massage is best?

It depends on our personal preferences as well as which benefits we need, which may change from time to time.

Natural Awakenings asked several expert licensed massage therapists to distinguish among the most widely used massage therapies to help us make the right choice.

Swedish Massage “I’ve always wanted to create a bumper sticker that says, ‘Massage Prevents Road Rage,’” quips Kris Richardson, of Kristine Richardson Massage Therapy, in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. She’s

witnessed firsthand how, “Anyone that feels stressed can benefit from a Swedish massage.” During 12 years in the business, she’s helped clients ranging from Navy Seals to athletes from the Admirals professional hockey team, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Brown University’s swim team, in Providence, Rhode Island.

Swedish massage consists of long, gliding, gentle strokes on upper muscle layers, often abetted by kneading, pummeling, brushing and tapping. Swedish massage is especially effective in improving circulation and relaxation; relieving muscle tension and back and neck pain; and decreasing stress. As the lymphatic system is stimulated, oxygen flow to muscles increases, resulting in a relaxed, almost dreamlike state.

Prenatal Swedish massage is also popular among pregnant women.

Therapists apply minimal pressure to reduce back pain and to encourage drainage of the excess fluid that may collect in the legs and lower extremities

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due to edema. It’s important for expectant mothers to find a therapist trained in prenatal massage.

Hot Stone Massage Hot stones enhance a Swedish or deep tissue massage through strategic placement of heated stones on the body to encourage the exchange of blood and lymph and provide ultimate relaxation of tense, tight muscles. Richardson particularly suggests it to counter “mouse syndrome”—her term for the nagging discomfort people can get from performing repetitive motions at a computer.

Typically, the therapist first places a group of preheated stones on stubborn muscles, allowing the heat to penetrate knots, and then uses the stones to further massage muscles back to normal.

Deep Tissue Massage Nicole Russo, of Evolve Body Therapy Center, in Charlotte, North Carolina, is among America’s corps of therapists whose specialties include deep tissue massage. Nine years in, she has performed massage on sore pro football players with the Tennessee Titans, Cleve-

To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear. ~ Buddha

land Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as Cirque du Soleil artists.

The primary goal of this style is to repair injured or overstressed muscles, which also leaves clients feeling better, sounder and more flexible. Russo advises, “Injuries are a result of uneven wear and tear, which results in postural imbalances.” So she applies slow strokes, proven kneading techniques and directed pressure via fingers, thumbs or elbows to work muscles from end-to-end, where they are attached to bones, addressing postural distortions, inflammatory pain and stored emotional tensions to restore muscle health.

Russo says deep tissue massage is usually targeted and intense, but, “It’s a massage that produces lasting results. My clients also often report that they don’t get headaches or backaches anymore.”

Shiatsu Massage Shiatsu massage is designed to leave a client feeling, “clear, sparkling and ready to do the next thing,” says Dawn Grey Lapierre, of Intuitive Massage Therapy, in Santa Cruz, California. She describes the experience as active, rather than passive.

A licensed massage therapist for nearly 20 years, she also incorporates and applies principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine into each session.

For shiatsu massage, the fully clothed client lies on a mat. The therapist will apply pressure from the fingers, knuckles, elbows, knees and feet in a stimulating manner and also move the body into various positions in deep stretching. Shiatsu is used to release tension and strengthen weak areas in order to facilitate even circulation, cleanse cells and improve the function of vital organs.

Lapierre describes the experience as both invigorating and intimate. “I’m moving around on the floor with you, using my knees on the back of your thighs, or my feet on your back. I’m using any part of my body that will be useful in promoting better energy flow along the meridians in your body.”

Shiatsu delivers a vigorous massage; aficionados of more basic styles may graduate to using it.

Thai Massage Lapierre describes Thai massage as, “partner yoga, during which you’ll get 18

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stretched and pulled until I’ve worked every inch of your body.” She likes to focus on acupressure points and kneads sore muscles until energy blockages are cleared and energy flow fully restored.

Thai massage also incorporates gentle rocking motions, rhythmic compression along the body’s energy meridians and passive stretching. It promotes flexibility, inner organ massage, oxygenation of the blood, quieting of the mind and general well-being.

Traditional Thai therapy is performed on a mat using no oils, with the client fully clothed. Thai massage is a favorite among yoga students.

Reflexology For those new to massage and interested in trying it out, reflexology is a good way to start. Reflexology is performed only on the hands and feet, via finger and thumb massage, with the client fully clothed. It is based on the belief that specific reflex points on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands correspond with every major organ, gland and area of the body.

Lapierre works reflexology into all of her massages, explaining, “A lot of healing can be accomplished simply through working the hands and feet, because every part the body is mapped out to related pressure points on the hands and feet. Thus, we can clear energy channels and release tension throughout the body just by working these specific points.” Lapierre describes reflexology as calming and soothing.

Reflexology is especially suited for anyone wary about being touched; it is often incorporated with other forms of massage, as well.

Practitioners encourage everyone to find the form of massage that suits them best. “You will surely find one that brings you renewed vitality,” concludes Lapierre. “Massage not only feels good, it’s a good way to increase physical, mental and emotional health by reducing the effects of everyday stress. If you can’t take the day off to unwind, at least find an hour to get a massage.”

Rachel Mork is a freelance copywriter, editor and novelist in Charlotte, NC. Connect at RachelMork.com.

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Cutting Through the Nutrition Nonsense

by Steve Dupont, RD, LD

Rounding Out a Healthy Lifestyle: Supplements Everyone Should Consider

I

n a perfect world, everyone would eat a rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables every day, hand-picked from their own backyards, along with pastured meats, eggs and cheeses. Everyone would also have their very own robot butler…and a flying car, too!

Not going to happen anytime soon, for most of us anyway.

Let’s stick with the housecleaning theme, in talking about dietary supplements.

Think of them not as the robot butler, who is going to miraculously change your life overnight, but as the tools you need to clean the house yourself. The vacuum, the mop, the old toothbrush you use to scrub the mildewed grout, and so on. In other words, if you live like a slob, and simply have all these things tucked away in a closet…NEWS FLASH: you’re still going to be a slob.

But you’re not a slob, are you? Of course not!

The point is, supplements are not magic beans. They will not take you from a state of rags to riches, health-wise.

However, what carefully selected, high-quality supplements can do is turbocharge an all-around healthy lifestyle—one built on clean, nutritious foods, exercise and (often overlooked) effective stress management.

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That said, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of supplements out there. Many are pure gimmicks and utterly useless, perhaps even harmful.

Many others can be useful in addressing very specific metabolic problems.

But a relative few stand alone, in my opinion, as having potential benefits for almost everyone, backed up by years of scientific research. Here are some of my top picks:

1

Multivitamin – look for one with trace minerals, namely chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and copper, which can be lacking in the average diet.

Also, look for “plant-derived” as opposed to synthetic compounds, as well as liquid or capsule forms (powder inside), which are better absorbed than hard tablets. My favorite brand (and my primary source for supplements, in general) is Wellness Resources. You can find a link to them on my website, SteveDupont.com.

2

Vitamin D – one of the most heavily researched nutrients out there, and the benefits just keep stacking up.

Studies link the “sunshine vitamin” to improved immunity, weight/fat loss, healthy bones, eyes and muscles, as well as defense against cancer, type II diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Shoot

Bug-Busting Arsenal You know the dreaded warning signs— the ever-so-subtle throat soreness, the tiny bit of extra phlegm, the tingling of your scalp, the creeping sense of doom. This is the time to batten down the hatches and arm yourself to the teeth against whatever little varmints have invaded your body.

First, here’s what you avoid—alcohol, cigarettes, sugar and late night rock star parties. I know, all the fun stuff. But this is also an excuse to skip your exercise routine! You need to preserve energy.

Meanwhile, in addition to your normal healthy diet and supplement routine, here’s what I like to throw into the mix: 1) Colloidal Silver – a proven antibiotic without the pharmacological side effects; one tablespoon three times a day until symptoms clear.

2) Oregano oil – another natural antibiotic and antifungal; capsules twice a day per product guidelines.

3) Garlic – perhaps the most potent natural antiviral (also good against vampires); as many raw cloves as you can tolerate, chopped or well chewed, with plenty of water and with some other food already in your stomach.

for at least 1000 IU, and up to 5000 IU per day. However, you might want to get your levels checked before getting too aggressive.

3

Calcium – unless you drink a quart of milk per day, it’s difficult to get the 1000-1200 mg of calcium you need for maintaining bones and teeth. So, if you consume moderate amounts of dairy, shoot for about 800 mg in supplement form. My favorite is coral calcium.

4

Vitamin E – the “tocopherols” are antioxidant powerhouses, and the more recently discovered “tocotrienol” forms have been shown to be very effective in protecting cell membranes—including reproductive cells, red blood cells and endothelial cells lining blood vessels.

5

Selenium – important for thyroid health, and another key player in the body’s antioxidant defense system, selenium has been shown to protect cells against cancer. Relatively scarce,

except in seafood, eggs and Brazil nuts.

Look to get an extra 200 mcg per day.

6

DHA – along with EPA, one of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, with most of its proven benefits in the areas of brain and cardiovascular health— but new research suggests protection against prostate cancer, as well.

I recommend 1000-3000 mg per day through DHA capsules or bottled fish oil such as Carlson brand.

7

Coenzyme Q10 – this compound is the proverbial spark plug of your cellular engines. The “ubiquinol” form in particular has shown great promise in terms of protecting against heart/cardiovascular disease and enhancing blood sugar metabolism in those with diabetes.

8

Whey protein – protein deficiency is rare in our society, but the idea is to replace less healthy forms—like fast food cheeseburgers—with higher quality forms like whey, which studies show can not only help build lean muscle but also stimulate weight loss and lower cholesterol, while boosting glucose metabolism.

9

Chlorella – a type of green algae, in which the cell wall is typically “cracked” to enhance absorption. Think of these little guys like those animated scrubbing bubbles, except, instead of cleaning your bathtub, chlorella cleans your GI tract, bloodstream and liver of environmental toxins.

That said, the best defense is a good offense. So, if you incorporate some maintenance supplements into an allaround healthy lifestyle, most of those nasty bugs will be dead on arrival.

Steve Dupont, RD, LD, is a registered dietitian and founder of Dupont Dietary Consulting LLC. A “true believer” in the power of nutrition, Steve is committed to serving those wishing to enjoy delicious food while reaping its health benefits. Specialties include weight loss, energy balance, supplements, cooking and meal planning.

205-213-7953. SteveDupont.com.

inspiration The Gift of Empathy

How to Be a Healing Presence

by Margret Aldrich

W

hen someone is suffering, it can be agonizing just to listen—we feel compelled to jump in with advice or stories of our own trials, filling any awkward space or moments of silent air with word upon word. The first rule of empathy, however, is listening in silence.

Miki Kashtan, writing for the Tikkun Daily interfaith blog, points out that giving our full presence is the most important step in practicing true empathy, and it doesn’t require us to utter a thing: “There is a high correlation between one person’s listening presence and the other person’s sense of not being alone, and this is communicated without words. We can be present with someone whose language we don’t understand, who speaks about circumstances we have never experienced or whose reactions are baffling to us. It’s a soul orientation and intentionality to simply be with another.”

When we achieve full presence, empathic understanding follows, Kashtan continues. “Full empathic presence includes the breaking open of our heart to take in another’s humanity. We listen to their words and their story, and allow ourselves to be affected by the experience of what it would be like.

“Then we understand. Empathic understanding is different from empathic presence.

We can have presence across any barrier, and it’s still a gift.

If we also understand, even without saying anything, I believe the other person’s sense of being heard increases, and they are even less alone with the weight of their experience.”

There are signs that empathy might be on the decline, with narcissism elbowing it out of our modern lives. As reported in the Utne Reader, University of Michigan Psychologist Sara Konrath, Ph.D., found that empathy levels among college students measured on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index plummeted between 1979 and 2009. The greatest drops were in empathic concern and perspective-taking—the ability to imagine another person’s point of view.

But don’t yet lament the death of human compassion. According to scientific studies, empathy is built into us. In recent research at the University of Southern California, Professor Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, Ph.D., pinpointed where and how the brain generates empathy, regarding it as a naturally occurring emotion. “It appears that both the intuitive and rationalizing parts of the brain work in tandem to create the sensation of empathy,” Aziz-Zadeh told The Times of India. “People do it automatically.”

However we get to that utterly tuned-in, selfless state of empathy, providing a listening ear, giving our full presence and being moved by another can be gifts not only to the others, but to ourselves, as well. Concludes Kashtan, “Allowing into our heart the other person’s suffering doesn’t mean we suffer with them, because that means shifting the focus of our attention to our own experience.

Rather, it means that we recognize the experience as fully human, and behold the beauty of it in all its aspects, even when difficult.”

Margret Aldrich is a former associate editor of Utne Reader.

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Coming in March

calendarofevents FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Helen Keller Student Art Show of Alabama – Through February 24. An exhibit of works showcasing the special talents and abilities of Alabaman students who are visually impaired, blind or deafblind. Admission charged. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 Sixteenth St North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 866-328-9696. BCRI.org.

NATURAL FOODS & GARDENS Cultivate the health of people, pets and the planet.

We have vital tips for fresh starts.

“In Retrospect,” A Photographic Exhibition by Celestia Morgan – Through February 24. Local artist Celestia Cookie Morgan’s exhibition is a collection of photographs that explore identity through traditions and memories. Admission charged.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 Sixteenth St North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 866-328-9696.

BCRI.org.

Black from the Heart of Dixie: Famous African American Alabamians – 10am-5pm throughout February 24. The “Black from the Heart of Dixie” exhibition features portraits of some of the many influential African Americans to come out of the State of Alabama. Because of its status as a Smithsonian Affiliate, BCRI has been able to secure several photographs from The National Portrait Gallery for this exhibition. Admission charged. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 Sixteenth St North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-328-9696.

A Capella Choir Vespers – 5:30pm. Founded in 1939, Samford’s A Cappella Choir performs free concerts on campus throughout the fall and spring each year, including the new Choral Vespers series, which formally combines the university’s sacred spaces and Christian mission with several School of the Arts musical ensembles. Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL 35229. 205726-2840. Samford.edu.

Honor Band Spectrum Showcase – 7:30-9:30pm.

This is a showcase of all that the School of Music has to offer, featuring a variety of performances from groups such as the Alabama Jazz Ensemble, the University Singers, and the Alabama Wind Ensemble. This event also features a special appearance by the Million Dollar Band. University of Alabama Concert Hall, 810 2nd Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404.

205-348-7111.

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

256-340-1122 22

Birmingham

NABirmingham.com

Regions Masterworks: Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich – 8-10:30pm, Feb 1-2. Guest Conductor Rossen Milanov conceived this program as a tour of the evolution of orchestral writing. It begins in the 18th century with Haydn’s Symphony No. 88, move to the 19th century with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and ends in the 20th with Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony. Admission Charged.

Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 Tenth Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35294.

205-975-2787. AlabamaSymphony.org.

February First Friday Opening Reception – 5:30pm-2am. Come celebrate at our Featured Artists receptions offered at the Gallery on the First Friday of each month. Share refreshments, visit friends, and meet the artists whose work is being featured. Artists Incorporated, 3365 Morgan Dr, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. 205-979-8990. ArtistsIncorporated.com.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Winter Identification of Native Wood Plants 4:30pm. Using The Gardens’ extensive living collections as a hands-on resource, this event focuses on attributes and identification featuring woody plant species found naturally or in cultivation in Alabama.

Attendees will examine and learn to identify approximately 20 woody plants whose key traits are evident in winter. Admission charged. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3950.

Puppy Kindergarten – 10:30-11:30am. This program is all about answering your questions concerning the most important behavioral issues.

Each of the 4 Puppy Group Classes is designed to help with the most common issues that we encounter when training a new puppy. Admission charged.

Creative Dog Training, 3190 Cahaba Heights Rd, Birmingham, AL 35243. 205-967-2062. CreativeDogTraining.com.

2nd Annual GBHS Jazz Cat Ball – 11pm. This event includes a Classic Cajun Cook-Off, dancing to the sounds of Streetkar, silent auction, and an authentic New Orleans street experience. Also, newly added this year, a Milo’s Tea gaming casino, VIP rooms and a live auction. Admission charged.

Old Car Heaven, 115 South 35th St, Birmingham, AL 35222. 205-942-1211. GBHS.org.

UAB 23rd Camille Armstrong Step Show – 7pm.

The Camille Armstrong Memorial Step Show is held annually as a fundraiser for the Camille Armstrong Memorial Scholarship. The show features creative and rhythmic steppers from fraternities and sororities throughout the Southeast. Admission charged.

Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) Concert Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 800-745-3000.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Chair Yoga Teacher Intensive – 9am-1pm. Chair (Seated) Yoga brings the health benefits and the experience of yoga to people who are uncomfortable moving up and down from the floor or whose physical condition keeps them from a traditional yoga practice. Admission charged. pH Balanced Fitness, 3325 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Ste 211, Vestavia Hills, AL 35243. 205-936-0820.

Coffee Tastings at the Plaza – 3:30pm. Explore German food and coffee.

Coffee CafĂŠ presents fun and interactive programs on food and coffees from around the globe. Complimentary samples provided. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7821. Coffeeology.net.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Yoga for Beginners – 5:30-6:30pm. This series of 4 evening classes is designed to introduce students to the practice of yoga. Each class will include breath awareness, yoga poses and final relaxation. Admission charged. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3950.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Billy Elliot the Musical – through February 10. Winner of ten Tony Awards in 2009. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising talent that inspires his family and his whole community and changes his life forever. Admission charged. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) Concert Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 800-745-3000. MagicSpace.net.

Experience Energy “Medicine� Scans

Greece and Turkey Travel Tips – 1:30-3pm. Attendees will listen to travel experts Bill and Judy Lewis present an exciting program on how to have a true European travel experience. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7840.

Detects and Corrects Body & Emotional Imbalances

Small Business Seminar: How to Be a Better Manager with Fred Rogan 5:30pm. Managing people is one of the most difficult things for managers to do and it is getting harder every day. Many organizations take people who are very competent at what they do and then make them managers of people without the necessary training or knowledge. If you are a seasoned manager or a newbie, this session will give you new insights into what to do and what to say in a number of situations. Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620. LWest@bham.lib.al.us.

ClementWellness.com 205-538-7290 or 615-206-1553 ClementOnSouthWaterAvenue@gmail.com

Clement Wellness .BSZ $MFNFOU 1I % +% .48 SE "WF 4PVUI t #JSNJOHIBN

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Investigating the Civil Rights Movement Art Project – 9:30am. Teenagers will assemble a timeline, using all sorts of mediums, to highlight events and people from the 1963 Birmingham civil rights movement. The completed art project will be hung in the library. Students can take photos with the timeline.

North Avondale Branch Library, 501 43rd St North, Birmingham, Alabama 35222. 205-592-2082. BplOnline.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Independent Mission Marketer

Mary Achatz t Toxic-free skin and body care t Living, raw, organic and gluten-free foods

t Products to help jump start diets and cleansing mlac@otelco.net 256-509-0823 www.maryachatz.mybeyondorganic.com

BSC Faculty Exhibition – Through Feb 21. Examine and enjoy recent work in photography, painting, printmaking, drawing, and sculpture by BSC art professors. Durbin Gallery of the Doris Wainwright Kennedy Art Center & Azar Studios, 900 Arkadelphia Rd, Birmingham, AL 35254. 205-226-4929.

Bowl and Platter Workshop at Tannehill State Park – 5-8pm. Create your own cast metal bowl or platter. You will start with one of our resin boned sand molds and using simple hand held tools carve a work of art to be poured in either cast Iron or on special occasions poured in aluminum that evening for your viewing enjoyment. Admission charged. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla, AL 35111. 205-475-4843. AlabamaArtCasting.org.

Carry laughter with you wherever you go.

Literacy Council Tutor Orientation – 5:30-6:30pm. This tutor training program ensures that educators are well versed in the most current methods for teaching adult basic literacy and ESOL, whether it is one-on-one or in a classroom setting. Literacy Council, 2301 First Ave North, # 102, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-326-1925. AlLiteracyCouncil.wordpress.com.

~Hugh Sidey

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Richard Jaffe, Nationally Acclaimed Attorney and Author – 6:30-7:30pm. Help welcome nationally acclaimed Birmingham attorney Richard Jaffe, author of Quest For Justice: Defending the Damned.

He spotlights sensational murder cases as well as his representation of the Olympic and Birmingham bomber, Eric Rudolph. Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-3326620. HomewoodPublicLibrary.org.

Birmingham Attorney & Author, Richard Jaffe 6:30pm. Join us as we welcome nationally acclaimed Birmingham attorney Richard Jaffe, author of Quest For Justice: Defending the Damned. He spotlights sensational murder cases as well as his representation of the Olympic and Birmingham bomber, Eric Rudolph. Jaffe’s is one of the most successful attorneys ever at exonerating innocent people accused of murder and wrongfully sentenced death row inmates. There will be a book signing after his book talk. Homewood Public Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209.

205-332-6620. LWest@bham.lib.al.us.

Reiki Circle – 6:30-8pm. Experience hands of Reiki energy in restorative yoga poses. Relax, refresh and release stress. Open to all as well as Reiki practitioners to practice their skills or to just receive energy. $15 drop in. Terri Heiman, Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga.

NaturalForcesStudio.com/blog.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Make a Valentine for Children’s Hospital – 3:305pm. Stop by the Children’s Department and create a Valentine for a child staying at Children’s Hospital.

We will provide the glitter and glue and you provide the heartfelt sentiment that will make a child’s Valentine’s Day extra special. Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209.

205-332-6619. HomewoodPublicLibrary.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Valentines with the Animals – 9am-5pm. Join Birmingham Zoo in celebrating Valentine’s Day by making valentines for your favorite animals. You can also have your face painted, learn interesting animal facts, participate in fun activities and much more. Admission charged. Birmingham Zoo, 2630 Cahaba Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-879-0409.

BirminghamZoo.com.

Feng Shui Workshop – 1-5pm. Learn how to apply powerful feng shui principles to your home and office. Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese art of placement, where your home and environment reflects your life. Come with a floor plan and your objectives, goals, and intentions for the new year and beyond. Katie Rogers will discuss energy, intention, intuition, ritual, and the importance of being honest with yourself regarding the objects and layout of your home. $99. Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga. NaturalForces Studio.com/blog.

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Birmingham

NABirmingham.com

Chinese New Year Festival – 11am-4pm. The Birmingham Chinese New Years Festival is an annual event that is organized by the Birmingham Chinese Festival Association. The festival features Chinese games, Chinese food, Chinese dance, Chinese Music, Acrobat, Kung Fu and more. Boutwell Municipal Auditorium, 1930 8th Ave North, Birmingham, AL 35203. BhmChineseFestival.org.

Seasons on Saturdays: From Seed to Chocolate -A Valentine Venture – 2-4pm. Venture out for Valentine’s Day to find the tree of chocolate in The Gardens. Learn how and where this tree grows, discover football shaped seed pods that grow on trunks, and find out what’s inside as we learn the secret of how the seeds are used to make chocolate. Admission charged. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3950.

Red Diamond SuperPOPS!: Hollywood’s Legendary Hits with Chris Confessore – 8-9:30pm.

Principal POPS! Conductor Chris Confessore leads the ASO in selections from classic films like The Magnificent Seven, Gone With the Wind, The Pink Panther, Rocky and more. Admission charged.

Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave North Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-975-2787. AlabamaSymphony.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 The Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club – 6:30pm.

Join us as we discuss nationally acclaimed Birmingham attorney Richard Jaffe’s Quest For Justice: Defending the Damned. Jaffe gives excellent insights into the complexities of capital murder cases. He outlines the inherit deficiencies in the system that lead to an inequitable imposition of death penalty. Richard Jaffe will be our special guest for this book club. Homewood Public Library, Boardroom, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620. LWest@bham.lib.al.us.

Complex Arena and Exhibition Halls, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd North, Birmingham, AL 35203.

205-458-8400. HomeShowBirmingham.com.

Calling All Teens: Twisted “Hunger Games” Valentine’s Day – 4pm. Join us for an anti-Valentine’s Day showing of The Hunger Games complete with popcorn and pizza. Homewood Public Library, Round Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620. LWest@bham.lib.al.us.

An American Girl Tea Party – 6-7pm. You are cordially invited to an evening tea party hosted by your favorite American Girls. Dolls are also welcome to attend. Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6619.

HomewoodPublicLibrary.org.

The Wells Fargo Classical EDGE: Judd Greenstein – 8-9:30pm. Justin Brown will be back in Birmingham to conduct the world premiere of an ASO-commissioned work by Judd Greenstein. New Yorker Judd Greenstein is part of a 30-something generation of composers with rigorous musical training from top programs and a great love for everything in Pop culture. Admission charged. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 Tenth Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35294. 205-9752787. AlabamaSymphony.org.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 An Evening with Jim Brickman – 8pm. Grammynominated, platinum-selling pianist and songwriter Jim Brickman brings one of the most entertaining and romantic concert events of the year to Birmingham. The aptly named An Evening with Jim Brickman brings Brickman’s signature romantic solo piano melodies and hit songs to life. Admission charged. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 Tenth Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35294. 205-975-2787. JimBrickman.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 2013 Hearts of Hope Luncheon – 11:45am-1pm.

The Women’s Auxiliary of The Foundry Rescue Mission and Recovery Center will host its 7th Annual Hearts of Hope Benefit Luncheon. The Hearts of Hope Luncheon benefits our programs for addicted and homeless women seeking Christian recovery, shelter, education and the opportunity to rebuild their lives. Admission charged. Cahaba Grand Conference Center, 3660 Grandview Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35243.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Introductory Botanical Illustration – 8:30am4:30pm. With step-by-step guidance from the instructor, learn to see and render the muted colors and dramatic textures of plants in winter. Use layered pencil, ink and wash to create accurate and lively studies from a variety of specimens. No previous art experience is necessary and all materials will be provided. Admission charged. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3950. BBGardens.org.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Birmingham Home and Garden Show – through February 17. Find innovative products, new ideas, practical advice and great deals in remodeling, home improvement and gardening with hundreds of experts all under one roof. From windows and flooring to cabinets and landscaping and much more. Admission charged. Birmingham Jefferson Convention

Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Level 1 with Bliss Wood – 9am-5pm. Teaching restorative yoga requires a different mindset than teaching other styles of yoga. The restorative yoga teacher becomes more of a guide and caregiver instead of taking the role of instructor and authority. 7 CEs for Yoga Alliance. You do not need to be a yoga teacher to take this class. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Oil-Like Effects with Acrylic Paints with Amy Collins – 10am-4pm. This event will cover the basics while opening up new possibilities for artists of all levels. It will explore how to get oil-like effects using acrylic paints and mediums. Admission charged. Forstall Art Center, 402 Palisades Blvd, Palisades Shopping Center, Homewood, AL 35209.

205-870-0480. ForstallArtCenter.com.

Write Club – 10:30am-12:30pm. Meet fellow poets and novelists, flesh out your characters, tie up those dangling plot threads, and share your inspirations.

The Write Club, the library’s monthly forum for amateur writers, will encourage your literary aspirations by providing an environment for you to network, share your writing, receive moral support and offer constructive criticism. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216.

205-444-7820. HooverLibrary.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Sacred Choral Music Concert – 4-5:15pm. The Over the Mountain Festival of Sacred Music is the fifth annual event of Over the Mountain Festivals.

Singers from a number of small choirs and other choral groups will gather as one to share with their churches and communities an afternoon of sacred choral music in a program entitled “O Day Full of Grace” Canterbury United Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Road, Birmingham, AL 35213. 205-8791909. OTMFestivals.org.

Brock Recital Hall, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209. 205-975-2787.

AlabamaSymphony.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Love for Literacy Luncheon – 11:30am-1pm.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement, Thom Gossom, Jr. will be the featured speaker. Gossom is a former Auburn football player, actor, writer and gifted speaker. As the first African-American athlete to graduate from Auburn University, Gossom offers a personal insight into the trials and tribulations of his journey. Admission charged. The Club of Birmingham, 1 Robert S. Smith Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209. 205-944-2928.

BetterBasics.org.

“Transformational Meditation” – 7-8pm. This class will take you through deep meditations to clear the subconscious mind and open the path to stillness, transformation and bliss. The meditations will change monthly and will include pranayama (breath control), mantra (sound vibration) and mudra (hand positions to stimulate meridians of the brain). All meditations will be based in the Kundalini Yoga technology as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Led by Kewal Nam Kaur (Kerry Meon), IKYTA, RYT. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 The Knifty Knitter’s Club – 1:30-3:30pm. The Knifty Knitter’s Club will meet to knit and share different techniques. The club is open to beginner, intermediate and advanced knitters and crocheters.

Supplies will not be provided so please bring your own. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216.

205-978-4678.

Crystal, Color & Light Therapy – 6:30-8pm.

This month we will focus on the properties of color and light through crystal projection to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of depression that occurs at a certain time of the year, usually in the winter.

This healing circle offers the body, mind and spirit minerals and vitamins through color to alleviate winter depression. Terri Heiman, Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga.

NaturalForcesStudio.com/blog.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Birmingham Ballet Presents Neverland – Through Feb 24. Experience a place where love never grows old with your Valentine. The line up includes complimentary repertory works and culminates with a full

Audubon Teaches Nature: Return of The Spring Migrants-A Closer Look at our Favorite Birds – 12:30pm. Enjoy an informal nature walk and Greg Harber as a guest speaker. The promise of spring and the return of neotropical migrants brightens our late winter days. Purple Martins are among the earliest species to return to our coasts, as are Swallow-tailed Kites and a handful of warblers.

Admission charged. Alabama Wildlife Center, 100 Terrace Dr. Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, AL 35124. 205-663-7930. AWRC.org.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 The A,B,C’s of Medicare Tuesday – 12pm & 6pm. Have you been wondering about all the new changes to our Medicare Benefits? Karen. Haiflich will answer all your questions about the how benefits are currently computed, how to become insured, and how to file a claim. Homewood Public Library, Room 116, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620. LWest@bham.lib.al.us.

Alisha’s Afternoon Book Club – 2-4pm. The group will discuss Still Alice by Lisa Genova. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. 205-978-4678.

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Concertmaster and Friends: Czech Piano Trios 7:30-8:30pm. Justin Brown joins Concertmaster Szasz on piano for a beautiful chamber music journey through the Old World. Admission charged.

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length story ballet. Admission charged. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex Concert Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-458-8449. BirminghamBallet.com.

Creating Altered Books With Allison Rhea – 10am. What’s an altered book? Just take an unwanted book and use it as your canvas. Paint, collage, rubber stamp, scrapping, photomontage, and writing… do anything you like. Allison Rhea will be here to teach you many techniques to transform old books into new works of art. Limited space for this class; reservations required. Homewood Public Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620. LWest@bham.lib.al.us.

2013 Southern Voices Festival: An Evening with Lisa See – 7-10pm. Bestselling author, Lisa See, has penned eight books including the criticallyacclaimed novels Peony in Love, Snowflower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls. Her most recent novel, Dreams of Joy, debuted at number one on The New York Times Best Sellers List in 2011. After the presentation, join Ms. See on the Library Plaza for a book signing and reception. Admission charged.

Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7888. HooverLibrary.org.

Kirtan Concert with Blue Spirit Wheel – 7-9pm.

The musicians in Blue Spirit Wheel bring together a diverse range of stylistic and cultural influences, ranging from rock and jazz to choral and a cappella to Indian classical and world grooves. All of these sounds are woven into a coherent whole and placed in the service of spiritual transformation. $12 in advance, $15 day of.

Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

A Night Under The Big Top – 8pm-12am. In support of Glenwood, Autism and Behavioral Health Center, the gala event features an extensive silent and live auction, casino fun and games, food and drink, and music from The Undergrounders. All proceeds fund Outpatient Services at Glenwood. Admission charged.

The Club of Birmingham. 1 Robert S. Smith Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209. 205-795-3294. Glenwood.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 PurpleStride Birmingham 2013 – 7am. Be part of a day of inspiration and hope, and help support the fight against pancreatic cancer. There will be great incentives for fundraising and all proceeds benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Stride with others who are just as passionate about finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. Admission charged for walks/ runs. Homewood Central Park, 1604 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209-3910. Kintera.org.

Gardening 101 for Busy People: Spring Landscape Seminar – 8:30am-3:45pm. Each of our instructors will present an insightful and practical approach to help you plan garden changes: quality soils, selecting the best plants that grow well in our area. Admission charged. Aldridge Gardens, 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-682-8019.

AldridgeGardens.com.

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Plant-Soil Relationships – 8:30am-4:30pm. The physical, chemical and biological properties of natural soils affect the characteristics of the native plant communities growing in them. Plant growth reciprocally modifies soil properties. This class will explore the ways that natural soils and native plants together form unique systems with interdependent living and nonliving characteristics. Admission charged. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3950. BBGardens.org.

2013 Southern Voices Festival: Author Conference 9am-5pm. The Hoover Public Library is presenting an Authors conference with authors such as Wiley Cash, Dorothea Benton Frank, Tayari Jones, and more in attendance. After the conference sessions, the authors will be available for book signings.

Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover, AL 35216. 205-444-7888. HooverLibrary.org.

Fossilize Fabulous Foliage – 10am-12pm. Create a sand casting of a leaf in five easy steps with concrete, a leaf, sand, saran wrap and your hands. Get hooked on reproducing a favorite leaf that will never wilt and can add character to your landscape. Leave it in its natural color or enhance it with paint and sealer. Admission charged. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223. 205-414-3950.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 UAB Wind Symphony and Symphony Band in Concert – 3pm. The UAB Department of Music presents the UAB Wind Symphony and Symphony Band in concert, conducted by Sue Samuels. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 Tenth Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35294. 205-934-7376.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Lindsey Stirling – 8pm-12am. This is an 18+show.

A classically-trained violinist, Lindsey’s love for music began with free community concerts and the sounds of Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Mozart played daily in her home on an old record player.

Lindsey’s passion for the violin was matched only by her love of dancing. Admission charged. Workplay, 500 23rd St South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233.

205-879-4773. Workplay.com.

“King of Conscious Hip Hop” Common Lecture at UAB – 7pm. Actor, author, and Grammy awardwinning hip-hop artist Common will give a lecture at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Common is known for his poetic, consciousness-laced lyrics. He has recorded nine acclaimed studio albums, including his latest, “The Dreamer/The Believer.” Admission charged. UAB Bartow Arena, 617 13th St South, Birmingham, al 35294. 205-934-8225. UAB.edu.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Ritz Chamber Players – 7:30pm. The Ritz Chamber Players is hailed by The Baltimore Sun as “one of the most interesting and dynamic ensembles to emerge in recent years.” Boasting some of the world’s preeminent musicians spanning the African diaspora, it brings a fresh, new energy to the classical music genre.. Admission charged. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham, AL 35209. 205-726-2778. Calendar.

Samford.edu.

Genre Reading Group - The Old West – 6:30-8pm.

The American frontier comprises the geography, history, folklore, and cultural expression of life in the forward wave of American westward expansion from the original colonial settlements to the early 20th century. Read any book about the Old West of the United States and come tell us about it, plus get ideas from other readers. Emmet O’Neal Library, 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. 205-4451117. Eolib.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 The Better Than Therapy Book Club – 2pm. Join us as we explore Joshilyn Jackson’s A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty. This is a powerful saga of three generations of women, plagued by hardships and torn by a devastating secret, yet inextricably joined by the bonds of family. Homewood Public Library, Boardroom, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood, AL 35209. 205-332-6620. LWest@bham.lib.al.us.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 A Walk to Freedom – 10am. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Birmingham’s civil rights struggle, the Birmingham Public Library is sponsoring the Year of Birmingham, a 12 month series of lectures, documentary films, performances and panel discussions. Smithfield Branch Library, 18th Avenue West, Birmingham, Alabama 35204. 205-324-8428.

BplOnline.org.

SNAP: Paper Making – 3:30-4:30pm. A hands on how to learn to make your own paper. Emmet O’Neal Library, 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. 205-879-0497. Eolib.org.

Savasana & Sound Healing – 6:30-8pm. Savasana is known for the many benefits it offers the yoga student at the end of their practice. It seals in the practice, calms the mind and relaxes the body. In this class we will combine the vibrations of the crystal healing bowls with the many benefits of savasana. The tones produced by crystal bowls are not just heard by the ear, you feel them in your body, with certain tones affecting your energy centers for healing, balancing and deep meditation. $15 drop in. Terri Heiman, Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga.

NaturalForcesStudio.com/blog.

ongoingevents

In Gratitude...

sunday

tuesday

Mysore Yoga – 10:30am–12pm. Brent. Student works individually, with guidance and adjustments from a teacher on the Ashtanga series of postures.

Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Mysore Yoga – 6:30-8am. Brent. Student works individually, with guidance and adjustments from a teacher on the Ashtanga series of postures. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Sunday Service – 11am-12:30pm. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave, Birmingham, AL 35205. 205-251-3713. UnityBham.com.

Tai-ji Quan (Tai Chi) – Beginners class at 5:30pm, Intermediates at 6:30pm. First Class free or just come and observe. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Crestline (next to Post Office). Taught

by Stephen Guesman of Dancing Stone Tai-ji Quan.

205-919-6231. GreenWorks.sg@gmail.com.

Community Yoga – 5-6:15pm. Lindsey. Open to all levels. A beginners flow Vinyasa Yoga Class based on the Ashtanga System Donation based class.

Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

monday Ashtanga Flow Yoga, Level 2 –12-1:15pm. Shawn.

A flow practice highly influenced by Ashtanga primary series this is a great class to boost your energy during your lunch break. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-6374228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Introduction to Yoga 6 Class Series with Ingrid Propst – 5:30-6:30pm, Mondays Feb 25-Apr 1.

In this six week series the student will be given the building blocks for the union of the breath, body and mind through yoga. A new concept will be introduced each week such as breathing, body awareness, and basic asanas (postures). At the end of the series the student should feel confident walking into any level 1 or 2 yoga class and we encourage students to progress into Anatomy of Asana Series upon completion. Space is limited so register now. $72 for series. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Ashtanga Improv Flow Yoga – 6-7:50pm. Akasha. An exploration of 1st & 2nd series. Students should be familiar with Ashtanga primary series.

Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Developing Intuition: Intuitive Tarot – 6:30-8pm Feb 4 and 11. Through psychic awareness and intuition we will communicate through symbols, sensory feelings and emotions the meaning of the cards in the Tarot. The Tarot offers a wonderful tool through which to connect with the energies of the universe and our own inner intuition. Please bring your own Tarot deck to work with. $20/drop in. Terri Heiman, Natural Forces Studio, 605 37th St South, inside Birmingham Yoga. NaturalForcesStudio.com/blog.

Kundalini Yoga and Meditation – 5:30-6:45pm.

Kerry. This class is great for all levels. In a Kundalini class we will practice an asana or set of asanas using a specific breath in each pose to initiate the energy to move upwards. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Ashtanga Yoga, Level 2 – 6-7:30pm. Akasha. Level 2 will build on the practice from beginner series, taking the Primary series postures a bit deeper.

Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Restorative Yoga – 6:45-8pm. Bliss Wood. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

wednesday Pranayama and Kundalini/Meditations – 5:157:30am. Akasha. During this class we will practice an asana set, usually from the Kundalini tradition, to awaken and energize the body. Following will be breathing exercises based on the Ashtanga Pranayama Series, and healing chants (mantras) and meditations. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Mysore Yoga – 7:30-9am. Akasha. Student works individually, with guidance and adjustments from a teacher on the Ashtanga series of postures. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Heated Vinyasa Flow Yoga – 9:15-10:30am. Pilar.

A strong flowing practice where the body and breath are integrated with music to create a visceral experience of oneness. Room is heated to 80 degrees.

Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Basic Hatha Yoga Class – 12-1pm. Lyndsey Robinson. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

It is the many practitioners and businesses who advertise that make Natural Awakenings possible. ● They are providing you with one of the most valuable resources for healthy living in Alabama. ● Through their dedication and commitment we work together for happier, healthier communities. ● Please support these practitioners and businesses who are making a difference. ●

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Prenatal Yoga – 5:30-6:30pm. Nancy Roberts. A special class for mothers to be. Prenatal class focuses on the gentle needs of a pregnant woman’s body to ease the discomforts of pregnancy and prepare for the miracle of birth. Pranayama (breathwork) and calming meditations are also used to help relieve stress and bond mother to her new baby. A doctor’s waiver is required for all new students. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

emphasis on developing deep core strength. Good for all levels and great follow up from Intro and Ashtanga Series. $48 for series. Drop-ins welcome.

Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Organo Gold Tastings – 7:30pm, every Thursday evening at the Winfrey Hotel located at the Galleria in Hoover, AL. Call 205-229-4894 or visit FeelingGoodWith.OrganoGold.com to RSVP or to order.

Mysore Yoga – 6:35-8:30pm. Brent. Student works individually, with guidance and adjustments from a teacher on the Ashtanga series of postures. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

thursday Pranayama Yoga – 6-6:30am. Akasha. During this class we use certain healing chants (mantras) Breathing exercises based on the Ashtanga Pranayama Series and meditations. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Mysore Yoga – 6:30-8am. Akasha. Student works individually, with guidance and adjustments from a teacher on the Ashtanga series of postures. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Mantra/Meditations – 8-9am. Akasha. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Earth Fare’s Family Dinner Night – 4-8pm. Every Thursday from 4-8pm kids eat free. One adult meal of $5 or more receives up to 6 free kids meals. The kids can choose their main item (pizza, pasta, sandwich, quesadilla, etc.), and they will always receive fresh fruits and veggies. Parents can choose anything from the hot bar, salad bar, deli case, sushi, pizza or sandwiches. We have a cafe where families can sit and eat, or we can package everything to go. Earth Fare, 3230 Galleria Circle, Hoover, AL 35244. 205988-2938. EarthFare.com.

Kundalini Yoga and Meditation – 5-6pm. Akasha.

This class is great for all levels. In a Kundalini class we will practice an asana or set of asanas using a specific breath in each pose to initiate the energy to move upwards. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

friday Pranayama and Kundalini/Meditations – 5:157:30am. Akasha. During this class we will practice an asana set, usually from the Kundalini tradition, to awaken and energize the body. Following will be breathing exercises based on the Ashtanga Pranayama Series, and healing chants (mantras) and meditations. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Mysore Yoga – 7:30-9am. Akasha. Student works individually, with guidance and adjustments from a teacher on the Ashtanga series of postures. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Community Ashtanga Flow – 5:30-6:45pm.

Christine S.A. Release stress from the week and welcome your weekend with this energizing and relaxing flow class. Class is donation based, suggested donation is $10. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

saturday Shiva Flow Yoga, Level 2 – 10-11:30am. Lauren. lnspired by the Ashtanga Primary & Secondary Series, this vinyasa flow class is good for experienced beginners and experienced yogis looking for a heat-building practice. Room is heated to 80-85 degrees. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 256-6374228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Slow Flow Yoga– 12-1:30pm. Jennifer H. A flowing style of yoga that deeply integrates breath, movement, awareness and alignment. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

256-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Core Vinyasa, 4 Class Series – 6:35-8:05pm. Melissa Scott. A strong vinyasa flow practice with an

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye. ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.~

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NABirmingham.com

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 Cindy@AlabamaAwakenings.com to request our media kit.

CHIROPRACTIC

ENERGY HEALING

CHIROPRACTOR & HERBALIST

REV. TERRI A. HEIMAN, RMT

Dr. Jeanne R. Chabot 2116 Rocky Ridge Road Hoover, AL 35216 205-822-2177 ChabotChiropractic.com

Natural Forces Studio, LLC 605 37th Street South Inside Birmingham Yoga Birmingham, AL 35222 516-457-3885 Terri@NaturalForcesStudio.com NaturalForcesStudio.com

36 years of Chiropractic experience, certified herbalist and Reiki Master. Dr. Chabot provides physiological therapeutics, conventional Chiropractic adjustments, decompression therapy, as well as gentle adjustments according to your preference and need. Private treatment rooms provided for your comfort.

Also available at the clinic:Massage therapy, Hypnotherapy, Energy Work, Mediation classes, Personal Training, and Yoga classes. Most insurances accepted.

Reiki Certification Program, Energy Medicine, Vinyasa Krama Yoga.

Crystal, Color & Light Therapy.

Private sessions, classes and workshops.Walk-in Reiki Clinic.

FAMILY MEDICINE COLON HYDROTHERAPY HEALING WATERS COLON HYDROTHERAPY Bernadine Birdsong I-ACT & NBCHT Certified Instructor and School 720 23rd St South, Birmingham, AL 205-323-7582 MoreThanColonics.com Detox your body with Colon Hydrotherapy, Infra Red Sauna, and BioCleanse Therapy. We are the only hydrotherapist in Alabama providing colonics with ionized, microclustered, anti-anti-oxidant, alkaline water. We also offer Lipoex®, a non-invasive way to melt fat, reduce cellulite, and tighten skin.

Computerized Biofeedback, Massage therapy, pain management, infra red sauna, light therapy, Koreanstyle Hip Bath, and VibaBody Slimmer are also available. Come and experience the difference. Be sure to ask about the QXCI, “the computer that can tell if your are well.” It is a must for anyone who is serious about improving wellness. Open Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:30pm and Sunday 9am-4pm.

ENERGY HEALING CLEMENT WELLNESS 4003 3rd Ave South Birmingham, AL 35222 ClementWellness.com ClementOnSouthWaterAvenue@gmail.com 205-538-7290 or 615-206-1553 Body/mind/spirit rejuvenation through space-age computer programs & emotional techniques. Call for private sessions, classes and workshops.

HOMEOPATHY CONSULTANT JOAN SCOTT LOWE Homeopathic Consultant 1901 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South Birmingham, AL 35209 205-939-0071 Joan@HomeopathyBeWell.com HomeopathyForWellness.com Call or email Joan Scott Lowe, Homeopathic Wellness Consultant, to determine your individual constitutional remedy, the FDA-approved nontoxic homeopathic remedy based on the totality of your mental, emotional, and physical condition, chosen according to the Law of Similars ("like heals like"). Achieve wellness and freedom from illness!

HYPNOTHERAPY LORRI HELLER, C.HT. 205-862-6888 Birmingham-hypnosis.com Irondale and Pelham locations Providing personalized sessions in hypnotherapy in addition to utilizing other proven methods such as NLP and EFT. You can lose weight, stop smoking and eliminate other bad habits. You can eliminate stress, fears, phobias and limiting beliefs that interfere with your being able to selfmotivate and Achieve Your Goals!

HOOVER ALT MD Elizabeth Campbell Korcz, M.D. 3421 S. Shades Crest, Suite 111 Hoover, AL 35244 205-733-6676 hooveraltmd.com

MASSAGE THERAPY INTEGRATIVE HEALING

Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Wellness/Natural Medicine, Acupuncture, Weight Loss/ Fitness, Hypnosis, Aromatherapy, Biofeedback, Counseling, Addiction, Botox/ Fillers, Facials.

“A different kind of practice, a deeper kind of care."

Rama S. Khalsa, LMT #238, DAC 1025 23rd Street South Suite 205 Birmingham, AL. 35205 205-329-1272 Ramask10@gmail.com Offering an integrative treatment approach for optimal health and wellness through massage, acupuncture, yoga (trained by yoga master Yogi Bhajan), ayurvedic nutritional counseling and energy healing. If you are seeking more vitality through a balanced state of being, please call for more information or to schedule an appointment.

GREEN PRODUCTS TONYA HAYES, INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT

INSPIRED MASSAGE THERAPY

Celadon Road 256-394-3763 CeladonTHayes@gmail.com MyCeladonRoad.com/THayes Celadon Road markets its organic, eco-friendly and fair-trade products for home, children, kitchen and personal wellness exclusively through its network of Independent Consultants. Call me to schedule a spa party or a consultation to learn more about our products. Become an independent consultant with this young company with a solid background. This is a ground-floor opportunity. Let’s talk.

Nicole Morris, LMT, CMLDT 1915-B Courtney Drive Homewood, AL 35209 205-907-7977 InspiredMassageTherapy.com Healing touch for everyone.

Offering traditional therapies such as Swedish and Deep Tissue, and specializing in restorative techniques, including Oncology Massage and Manual Lymph Drainage. Located near CVS and Piggly Wiggly on Hwy 31.

Available Monday-Saturday by appointment. Call to ask about out-call appointments and special rates for multi-session packages. AL License #2313

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MASSAGE THERAPY

NATURAL PRODUCTS

JENNIFER ROWLEY, LMT # 1039, CF

TONYA OLIVER

Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner 1025 23rd Street South Suite 205 Birmingham, AL. 35205 205-595-3671

3979 Parkwood Rd, Suite 115-182 Bessemer, AL 35022 1-888-407-6397 GoFunPlaces.ws Tonya@GoFunPlaces.ws

Learn to move more easily and with less effort. Learn to move beyond your habitual patterns of movement and posture that may be causing pain or limitations.

The Feldenkrais Method® of Somatic Education (www.feldenkrais.com) offers a way to live more comfortably in your body.

Over 28 years experience of assisting others to move better. Call for more information or to schedule a movement lesson.

JUDY BOWLES LMT #556, NMT 1025 23rd Street South Suite 205 Birmingham, AL. 35205 205-563-5839 HeyJudy99@gmail.com Massage therapist with 18 years of therapeutic bodywork experience.

I specialize in back, neck/shoulder pain; help with headaches/migraines and range of movement. Deep Tissue, NeuroMuscular Reprogramming, Structural Integration, Thai Massage and Sports Therapy.

Let me help you be pain free.

By appointment only.

STEPHEN WADE, LMT #2390 1025 23rd St. South Suite 205B Birmingham, AL 35205 205-792-1967 Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat from the daily pressure of life, needing therapeutic sports massage to complement your active lifestyle or for tension and pain relief. I would like to help you so call today for your appointment. Over 5 years’ experience. Specializing in neck and shoulder relief.

Our attitude toward

life determines life’s attitude towards us. ~ Earl Nightingale

Dead Sea Skincare Products, Whole Food Derived Health and Nutritional Products, Green Home and Pet Products, Green Toys, Waterless Stainless Steel Cookware and Cutlery, Bedding and Bath Items, Natural Healing Jewelry, Healthy Coffee and Beverages, Clothing, Deeply Discounted Travel Deals, Electronics, and much more. I am giving away up to $300 for free so you can take advantage of all the shopping, travel, luxury products and services for up to 100% off or at fractions of the cost you would pay through traditional retail outlets. It’s simple; register for free, log into the website, shop, apply free dollars and checkout with free shipping.

GOLDEN TEMPLE, NOW 3 LOCATIONS 1901 11th Ave. South, Birmingham: 205-933-6333 3309 Lorna Rd, Suite 7, Hoover: 205-823-7002 110 N. Chalkville Rd, Suite 148, Trussville: 205-655-0353 Since 1973, we have been bringing you the best in healthy living. We offer a wide variety of merchandise including vitamins, herbs, supplements, natural foods, organic produce, incense, clothing, books, and gifts.

NABirmingham.com

Terry Lowry, PSYCH-K Facilitator 2100 Southbridge Pkwy, Suite 650 Birmingham, AL 35209 205-414-7559 TrancendingWisdom.com PSYCH-K is an interactive process.

Within minutes a limiting belief held in the subconscious mind can be changed into a positive belief.

PSYCH-K incorporates Educational Kinesiology, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), acupressure, Ericksonian hypnotherapy, and various psycho-spiritual healing systems. Call to set up an appointment for a free demonstration.

TAI-JI QUAN (TAI CHI) Stephen Guesman 205-919-6231 GreenWorks.SG@gmail.com Tai-ji Quan (Tai Chi) is the slow motion Chinese martial art and moving meditation. It promotes physical and emotional balance, with particular emphasis on breathing (Chi Kung). Appropriate for all ages and abilities. This short yang style is learned in the Beginner I & II Tai-ji Class before progressing to the ongoing Intermediate Class. Group classes held on Tuesdays, 5:30pm beginners, 6:30pm intermediates at Embody Practice Center located at 3918 Montclair Rd. Suite 100 Birmingham, 35213. First class visit is free or just come observe. Taught by Stephen Guesman of Dancing Stone Tai-ji Quan.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS ORGANO GOLD COFFEE 205-229-4894 FeelingGoodWith.OrganoGold.com Do you or anyone you know drink coffee or tea? Probably so. What if you could drink a healthier coffee or tea? What if told you about a coffee that negates negative caffeine effects, yet gives you all the rich flavor and even more energy than fully-caffeinated coffee?

To find out more about the benefits of Organo Gold, or to attend a tasting, please call 205-229-4894, or visit FeelingGoodWith.OrganoGold.com online.

ORGANIC FOOD AND PRODUCTS MARY ACHATZ

Beyond Organic is a direct selling company offering products that go “beyond organic” within the categories of cleansing and detoxification, toxic-free skin and body care, live snacks and beverages, pure mountain spring water, and nutrient dense beef and dairy products shipped direct from the Beyond Organic farm and facility to your family.

Birmingham

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Beyond Organic Independent Mission Marketer 256-509-0823 MaryAchatz.MyBeyondOrganic.com Mlac@otelco.net

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