March 2012

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

FREE

Food & Garden Fresh Ways to Eat Well

Eat Well On A Budget 5 SIMPLE TIPS

Unconventional Gardens

No Space? No Problem.

Chronic Inflammation Diet Solutions That Work March 2012

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Birmingham, AL

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publishersletter

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s winter fades and spring starts to bring color to our world, making everything seem new again, the timing feels right for the return of Natural Awakenings to Birmingham.

My name is Cindy Wilson, and my partner Tom Maples and I publish Natural Awakenings Magazine in Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley.

Now we are pleased to announce that we are bringing the unique energy, information and insight of Natural Awakenings back to the most vital, most vibrant city in our state.

The springtime always takes me back to when I was a young girl growing up in North Alabama.

My great-grandfather, called Big Daddy, spent countless hours tilling, planting and harvesting the gardens that not only fed our family but also financially supported him and my great grandmother. It was a family affair, and some of my fondest memories as a child are of the time we spent together picking, shelling, shucking, talking and eating the food. We still tell stories about how simple things were and how good the food was. I now have a small garden in my backyard and the smell of the freshly tilled ground is always soothing and therapeutic to me. Watching the small seeds growing into plants bearing food is a wondrous thing.

In this month’s issue, the focus is on eating healthy food. I hope you enjoy the articles and consider starting your own garden or buying locally produced food. There are several farmers markets in the Birmingham area.

Jones Valley Urban Farm, Finley Avenue Market, Fresh Market on the Green, East Lake Farmers Market, Oak Street Local Market, Andy’s Farm Market, and Pepper Place Saturday Market just to mention a few. You can find a variety of locally grown organic vegetables and fruits at these markets and support your local economy at the same time.

Tom and I our very excited about being a part of the Birmingham area. It has been such a pleasure to meet with our advertisers and make new friends.

As a reader, contributor, or advertiser, we welcome your comments and suggestions. One area of critical importance is magazine distribution. We would like to hear your feedback, preferences and suggestions on the locations where you would find it most convenient to pick up your copy of Natural Awakenings each month. We are working hard to increase the availability of Natural Awakenings Magazine throughout the metro area, and we hope that this becomes visibly noticeable to you soon.

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 256-997-9165 Natural Awakenings Birmingham 14 Woodland Ave. Trinity, Alabama 35673 Office: 256-340-1122 Fax: 256-217-4274 NABirmingham.com © 2012 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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

We do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in the articles and advertisements, nor are we responsible for the products and services advertised.

We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available by sending $25 (for 12 issues) to the above address.

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

natural awakenings

March 2012

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contents

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7 healthbriefs 8 globalbriefs 10 greenliving 12 practiceprofile

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

10 UNCONVENTIONAL GARDENS No Space? No Problem.

by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko

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19 consciouseating 20 wisewords 22 healingways 23 inspiration

12 PRACTICE PROFILE EEG Biofeedback Center

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13 THE BODY REMEMBERS WHAT THE MIND FORGETS

by Denise Ginsburg

14 MINISTERING FROM SOURCE:

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Reverend Mark Pope of Unity of Birmingham

by Nabella Shunnarah

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.

16 CHANGING THE WAY AMERICA EATS Nourishing the Shift to Farm-Fresh Foods

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

19 EATING WELL ON A BUDGET

by Judith Fertig

20 CHOOSING FORKS OVER KNIVES Doctors Advocate a Plant-Based Diet

by Linda Sechrist

22 COOLING CHRONIC INFLAMMATION Dietary Solutions Counter Disease

by Linda Sechrist

23 LIVE YOUR DASH

by Linda Ellis

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newsbriefs Be Bold: Birmingham Studio Adds Brave New Moves to Your Classical Practice

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aster Teacher Cara Reeser will host “Big and Bold”, a Pilates and Yoga inspired movement intensive in Birmingham. This Pilates/Yoga fusion class will give students an opportunity to go deep into the practice of arm standing and back bending. With an eye towards alignment, strength and flexibility students will learn new and exciting ways to enhance their practice. Boldly go where your practice has not gone before. All levels are welcome as we go “Big and Bold” in a safe, fun and supportive environment.

Don’t miss this opportunity to train with Cara Reeser, the owner of Pilates Aligned, Inc. Cara began her initial studies in the Pilates Method with first generation Master Teacher, Kathleen Stanford Grant. Now she serves as the lineage carrier of the Kathy Grant work, and is highly respected in the industry. She is an advanced teacher of the work, presenting continuing education and teacher mentoring group workshops at her studios in Denver, throughout the US, and abroad.

The workshop will be held at Pilates on Highland in Birmingham on Sat, April 14, 1-7pm, ($200) PMA Approved, TPC Master Program, and on Sun. April 15, 9am-12noon ($50). Professionals and students welcome. Space is limited. Advance registration requested online at pilatesonhighland.com/work. html. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.

PilatesOnHighland.com. See Ad on Page 12.

From Karma to Grace: The Power of the Fruits of the Spirit

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n his newly published uplifting book by the same name, author John Van Auken reveals the simple yet profound path that takes one from living in the grind of karma to the light and peace of grace. Now you can enjoy a firsthand training session with the author as he shows you how to use the foundation of spiritual living found in the psychic readings of Edgar Cayce, to transform yourself and your path.

Van Auken weaves a tapestry of love and light, of freedom from karmic reactions, of hope and happiness. The key is to live creatively rather than destructively and to apply the celebrated “Fruits of the Spirit” in our relationships with others and in dealing with the challenges of life that arise. This training course will show you how seemingly simple changes in your thinking, speaking, and acting will produce profound results in your life and relationships.

This special one-day event will be on March 10, 2012 from 9am-4:30pm at Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. The event is $79 in advance, or you can register at the door starting at 8:30am the morning of, for $89. To pre-register, please call 888-273-0020. For local information please call Beverly Westbrook at 205-613-1709. See Ad on Page 29.

GROW Your Business Secure this special ad placement!

Contact us for more information.

256-340-1122

Crystalline Workshop: Who Do You Think You Are? Journaling for Self-Discovery

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ave you ever taken a pen in hand, (or a computer keyboard) and poured your soul out? Taken a good look at yourself and how your life functions?

Journaling is a time-honored way to discover, uncover and release.

Writing may even change your life. Treat yourself to a few minutes a day chatting with other women who may have traveled your same path.

Crystalline Workshop is an online journal-writing workshop designed to help women natural awakenings

March 2012

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understand themselves just a little bit better. What are your hopes and dreams?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

What do you hope to accomplish in life?

What is holding you back?

You can be completely anonymous to allow yourself the freedom to share in a safe environment. Spelling and grammar are not what’s most important.

What is important is that you go within to your source and find that which leads you to your true essence.

The main features of this workshop are the opportunity to have a listening ear and feedback from women who share your issues, learning the value of meditation, and practicing a tool to help release tension. Crystalline Workshop is April 1-May 26. Each workshop is limited to 15 women. Fee is $30 for the 8 weeks. For more info or to register, email workshop facilitator Nabella Shunnarah at NSWritingCoach@gmail. com. Nabella Shunnarah, MA Ed, has taught writing for over 20 years.

Yoga Relieves Back Pain and Fibromyalgia

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pecialists estimate as many as 31 million Americans suffer with lower back pain.

Five million Americans have fibromyalgia, a condition thought to be the result of overactive nerves that cause chronic pain in the body. With numbers like these, the average person stands an unpleasantly high probability of having to deal with one or both of these issues at some point in his/ her life. Fortunately, treatment that does not include medications or surgery is readily available in the Birmingham area.

The practice of yoga has been found to give relief from back and fibromyalgia pain. Admittedly, the ancients who developed yoga centuries ago did not have our modern medical understanding of diseases, but they did know how to use nature to heal the body. The class, “Yoga for the Back and Fibromyalgia,” is the product of Laura Thornton's learnings over the course of several healing and restoration yoga training classes.

Laura Thornton is a registered yoga teacher and offers private lessons. For current schedule and information, contact her at 205-854-5683 or at YogaByLaura@att.net. See Ad on Page 26.

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Clover Crawl 2012: Green Home and Garden Expo

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he Green Resource Center for Alabama present the Clover Crawl 2012: Green Home and Garden Expo March 31, 2012 from 10am-4 pm. This is Birmingham’s signature event for all things “green.” The event will be held outside on the park grounds of Vulcan Park and Museum. This free event is designed to educate the public on the latest trends in green products and services that can be used throughout the home, garden, and office. Vulcan Park and Museum will be transformed into an entertaining and educational atmosphere where guest will find more 30 vendors from Birmingham’s Green community, live music and entertainment, food and activities for the whole family to enjoy. For more information, call Audra Bean at 205-933-1409 ext 21 or visit GreenAlabama.org.

See Ad on Page 31.

Birmingham Revealed!

2012 Series: Walker Percy Thursday, March 15, 5:30-7pm Novelist Walker Percy spent the first 13 years of his life in the neighborhood of Altamont, attending the Birmingham University School (known now as The Altamont School). Walker’s time in Birmingham is credited with developing his fondness for the new, more urban and industrial South, which sets his novels apart from the Old or rural South mythos invoked so often in Southern Literature. Percy won a National Book Award in 1962 for his debut novel, The Moviegoer, which has been listed by Time Magazine as “Time 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005.” Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham.

205-933-1409. VisitVulcan.com.

Free Natural Awakenings App Now Available

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eeping in touch with the best choices for a green and healthy lifestyle is now easier than ever, thanks to Natural Awakenings’ new iPhone and iPad app, available as a free download at Apple’s iTunes App Store. Individuals on-the-go can find products, practitioners and services dedicated to healthy living, right at their fingertips. They can also read articles on the latest practical, natural approaches to nutrition, fitness, creative expression, personal growth and sustainable living, offered by national experts with fresh perspectives and inspired ideas.

The exclusive app instantly connects to user-friendly galleries: “Local Magazines” includes a searchable listing of all Natural Awakenings franchise publishers, with instant links to phone numbers and websites. “National Directory” lists healthy, green businesses, resources and services, complete with directions. “This Month” shows the current national magazine content, always fresh and new.

“Healthy Kids” is a collection of how-to articles that focus on raising, nurturing and empowering vibrant children. “Natural Pets” offers an information resource dedicated to holistic well-being for companion animals. “Article Archives,” a comprehensive library of thousands of articles, is searchable by key words.

“Our goal is to empower people to enjoy healthier, happier and longer lives, wherever they are,” says Natural Awakenings founder Sharon Bruckman. “Offering free access to Natural Awakenings’ powerful network of healthy living resources through this exclusive app is yet another way for us to help people feel good, live simply and laugh more.”

To download the free app, search “Natural Awakenings” in the iTunes App Store or visit NaturalAwakeningsMag.com.

healthbriefs

High Fiber Trumps Low Fat

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hen food shopping, concentrate on fiber content, rather than just the amount of fat, suggests a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. New Michigan State University (MSU) research suggests that foods high in fiber—but not necessarily low in saturated fats or cholesterol— are tied to lowering the risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes in teens; it’s a generation noted to be at high risk for developing chronic disease, due in part to the popularity of processed foods with this age group. The researchers found that due to low consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, the teens’ total dietary fiber intake was about 13 grams a day, well below the recommended 26 grams and 38 grams for female and male adolescents, respectively.

“Our study reinforced the current dietary recommendations for fiber intake by including a variety of plant-based foods,” says lead author Joseph Carlson, a registered dietician and associate professor at MSU. “It may be better to focus on including these foods than to focus, as is commonly done, on excluding foods high in saturated fat.”

Teens are not the only ones that benefit from a fiber-rich diet. A recent report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that adult women and men that eat at least 26 grams and 30 grams of fiber a day, respectively, had a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular, infectious and respiratory diseases.

GRASS-FED BENEFITS

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new, in-depth guide to the benefits of grass-fed beef is now available from Animal Welfare Approved, a national nonprofit organization that audits, certifies and supports farmers that raise their animals according to the highest welfare standards, and outdoors on pasture or range. The Grassfed Primer, available as a free download at AnimalWelfareApproved.org/consumers/ food-labels, notes that grass-fed meat and dairy products offer health benefits via higher levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and vitamin E, and can reduce the risk of E. coli infection. Scientists now believe that CLA may be one of humanity’s most potent defenses against cancer.

Does Our Food Control Our Genes?

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he old adage, “You are what you eat,” may be literally true. Based on findings from a groundbreaking study by researchers at Nanjing University, in China, the connection between our food’s biochemistry and our own may be more intimate than we imagined.

The researchers discovered that tiny RNAs (a mirror-image form of DNA), or microRNAs, usually found in plants, were circulating in human blood; one of the most common sources was rice, a staple of their native subjects’ diets. After conducting tests with mice, they found that microRNAs were capable of altering cell function and directly manipulating the expression of genes.

The study results, published in the journal Cell Research, suggest that the human body is a highly integrated ecosystem and suggest that genetic changes in one species may trigger alterations in another.

MORE REST EQUALS BETTER TEEN PERFORMANCE

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dolescents that log between six and 10 hours of sleep each night perform better in mathematics and physical education classes than those that sleep six hours or less, according to a study published in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. The researchers, after analyzing the sleep habits of 592 students aged 12 to 19 in Seville, Spain, further observed that bedtimes and wake times did not significantly influence academic outcomes; however, they did note that students that require less than 15 minutes to fall asleep tended to achieve better marks.

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

Little Thumbs Gardening Helps Children Grow Gardening provides many varieties of engagement for children: designing, planting and maintaining a garden patch; harvesting, preparing and sharing food; working cooperatively in groups; learning about science and nutrition; and creating art and stories inspired by their garden experiences.

When third, fourth and fifth grade students participating in a one-year gardening program were surveyed for life skills, they showed significant increases in self-understanding, interpersonal relationship skills and the ability to work in groups, compared with nonparticipating students. Qualitative surveys of 52 second and third grade students working in a community garden classroom program in San Antonio, Texas, further revealed the children were likely to have more positive bonding experiences with their parents and other adults.

A study of children with learning disabilities that engaged in gardening measured increases in nonverbal communication skills, awareness levels of the advantages of order, understanding of how to participate in a cooperative effort, and

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the ability to form positive relationships with adults. Juvenile offenders that gardened showed improved self-esteem, interpersonal relationships and attitudes towards school. Overall, gardening has been recognized by many studies as a therapeutic healing activity that can positively impact mental health and well-being.

Source: University of Colorado-Denver; Health Sciences Center

Freeing Minds Yoga Mitigates Prison Recidivism Overcrowding is a serious issue in American prisons partly because the rate of recidivism (return) is high. A 1994 study showed that 67.5 percent of the 300,000 adult prisoners released in 15 states were rearrested within three years.

James Fox, founder of the nonprofit Prison Yoga Project (PrisonYoga.com) believes that part of the problem is that the U.S. prison system overly emphasizes punishment during incarceration and that programs such as yoga classes might lower the rate of recidivism. He is an advocate for restorative justice and has worked with prisoners for 10 years.

The theory is that yoga and meditation help prison inmates develop important emotional and social skills, including impulse control and willpower, and thus reduce tendencies toward antisocial and criminal behaviors. Fox observes how anyone that adheres to the practice can develop mindfulness, patience, diligence and self-motivation.

The Prison Yoga Project provides training for yoga teachers that want to work in prisons. Fox also would like to maintain a scholarship fund to help former inmates do teacher training, so they can make a career out of the practice.

Source: Dowser.org

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SMART ADVERTISING IN A TOUGH ECONOMY! WHY NATURAL AWAKENINGS

MORE FOR YOUR MONEY Customers want more than an ad. They want an explanation.

Natural Awakenings teaches our readers about you with news briefs, articles, calendar listings, and classifieds. Don’t just place an ad. Become part of the magazine.

100% TARGETED AUDIENCE Mintel International, an industry leader in providing market intelligence, recently called the green marketplace one of the fastest growing, most dynamic sectors of the US economy.

100% of our readers are interested in healthy living, a healthy environment, and personal growth.

THAT’S 100% CREDIBILITY AND SCOPE The Natural Awakenings family of magazines has been a respected source for cuttingedge healthy living information across the country for 14 years.

Reaching more than 2.5 million readers each month with 85 individual magazines in 85 cities across the nation.

Cindy@AlabamaAwakenings.com

256-340-1122

natural awakenings March 2012 NABirmingham.com

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greenliving

Rooftop Raised-Beds Urban farmers in the United States are now transforming an increasingly significant portion of the country’s millions of acres of flat rooftops. Launched in 2010, New York’s Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm operation (BrooklynGrangeFarm. com), totaling nearly an acre atop a mid-rise warehouse, is among the largest of its kind. Sometimes called “vertigo farming”, because the farmers overlook an urban skyline, these enterprises re-green the landscape, wisely manage rainwater and rebuild affordable local fresh food systems.

The Grange grows produce in seven-inch-deep beds using a growing medium made from compost and small, porous stones and annually produces 40 cultivars of organic tomatoes, salad greens, peppers, Swiss chard, beets and carrots. Food is sometimes transported to market via bicycles.

Window Gardens Windowfarm co-founders Rebecca Bray and Britta Riley (Windowfarms.org/story) help homeowners grow some of their own food in window spaces year-round. Their research-and-develop-it-yourself hydroponic system project facilitates plant cultivation without soil, using nutrient-infused water pumped through a series of growing containers.

To date, more than 20,000 people have downloaded plans for their own Windowfarm.

UNCONVENTIONAL

Alleyway Wonders

In the East Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, flowers, ferns and ivy gardens have replaced concrete alleyways thanks to Podmajersky, a local real estate development firm. The lush gardens provide a tranquil sanctuary from city bustle and an aesthetically pleasing and inspiring surrounding for the Chicago Arts District, home to 1,500 artists and other creative entrepreneurs.

In Monroe, Wisconsin, one resident turned a humble downtown alley into a welcoming nature-scape. Taking advantage of the “heat-island effect” generated in paved urban areas from hard-surface buildings and a nearby parking lot, as well as a southern exposure, his Midwest gardens even include cacti.

GARDENS No Space? No Problem.

by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko

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or everyone that feels surrounded by a concrete jungle occasionally relieved by a pocket park, green strip or landscaped median, the concept of finding a place to grow their own food may seem like a fantasy. Fortunately, backyard, rooftop and community gardens are good ideas that are coming on strong. Around the country, productive green spaces are replacing paved lots and lawns with edible perennials and seasonal crops that enable folks to eat better and fresher, while reducing the family food bill.

“Food plants can be grown anywhere, including on a high-rise balcony, miles from the nearest farm,” says David Tracey, author of Urban Agriculture: Ideas and Designs for the New Food Revolution. “You just need to meet the plant’s basic requirements for sunlight, water and a few nutrients.

Cities are great places to grow specific kinds of food; they tend to have plenty of niche areas such as empty lots, rooftops and the ends of streets that new urban gardeners are using for growing fresh crops like salad greens and tomatoes.”

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Go Fish Aquaponics is a well-organized way to sustainably raised fish and fresh produce together. “It mimics natural recirculation of resources in wetlands in a constructed dual-use ecosystem; the only inputs are fish feed and a small amount of power,” explains Sylvia Bernstein, author of Aquaponic Gardening and founder of TheAquaponicSource.com. “Because an aquaponic system can be set up anywhere, including warehouses, parking lots and exhausted fields, it is ideally suited to help localize food production and provide an alternative to clearing more land to feed our future.”

Patio Paradise “When your space is limited, you start to think creatively about how to best use it,” notes Tracey. “Consider all three dimensions of a balcony or other narrow areas to maximize

LocalHarvest.org lists some 2,500 community gardens in its database, as does the American Community Gardening Association (CommunityGarden.org). growing potential. Climbing vines such as grapes and berries, hanging pots with tomatoes and nasturtium, and fruit trees in half-barrels are great ways to grow more food in a small space. The crops don’t know they’re in a pot.”

Herbs also love containers. Some plants, like tomatoes, can even be grown upside-down to more efficiently use limited space.

Vacant Lots “Community gardens are an excellent solution for those with the garden itch and no good land to scratch,” advises Roger Doiron, founder of Kitchen Gardeners International (Kitchen Gardeners.org), a nonprofit community of 20,000 members that has been cultivating change since 2008. Community gardens have taken over empty city lots, church lawns and schoolyards that are collectively farmed for food, relaxation or social camaraderie. Co-gardening a neighbor’s lot and sharing the harvest is another option.

Eating the Lawn “There are no beauty contests in the plant world, but, if there were, a productive, ever-changing patch of diverse vegetables would beat out a monoculture of turf grass any time,” says Doiron, smiling. Put into food production, America’s 25 million acres of lawns could go a long way toward reducing the environmental cost of transporting produce hundreds or thousands of miles.

Americans growing their own food isn’t a pie-in-the-sky fantasy. As University of California garden historian Rose Hayden-Smith confirms, “During the peak year for Victory Gardens, 1943, some government estimates indicated that up to 40 percent of the fresh fruits and vegetables consumed on the American home front were produced in school, home, community and workplace gardens.”

“One of the first steps in bringing healthy foods to the forefront of society is bringing them to the front and center of our living spaces,” concludes Doiron. “Growing food in small spaces is all about doing what you can with what you have. It’s a matter of changing our notion of potential foodproducing landscapes.” It does wonders for people’s connection to nature, too.

John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist are co-authors of Farmstead Chef (FarmsteadChef.com), ECOpreneuring and Rural Renaissance.

Their award-winning Inn Serendipity B&B (InnSerendipity.com) operates completely on renewable energy.

Garden-Fresh Recipes Lemon Balm Iced Tea Yields 8 servings Lemon balm grows prolifically and is ideal for a refreshing summertime iced tea. Slowly simmer the flavor out of the lemon balm in a slow cooker or simmer on the stove. Vary proportions depending on the pot size and desired sweetness.

Big bunch of fresh lemon balm stalks with leaves ½ cup honey ¼ cup lemon juice 8 cups purified water 1. Stuff as much rinsed lemon balm into a slow cooker as will fit. Cover with approximately 8 cups of water, depending on the size of the slow cooker, and let simmer about three hours on low heat.

2. Drain the resulting liquid into a pitcher.

3. While it’s still warm, add honey and lemon juice. It is easier to add the honey while the tea is still warm, because it readily dissolves. Add more water to taste.

4. Chill before serving.

Strawberry Spinach Salad Yields 4 servings Foodies prefer strawberries that are red inside and out, quarter-sized and organically grown. The dressing helps accent the sweetness of the fresh strawberries and spinach, with a nutty crunch from the chopped peanuts.

Note: Mega-mutation versions of California strawberries are often sprayed with poisonous pest fumigants that harm people and the planet.

8 cups fresh spinach; wash, remove stems and tear into small pieces 3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced For the dressing: ½ cup water 1 cup vegetable oil ½ cup salted peanuts 1 /3 cup honey 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar 1. Mix spinach and strawberries in a large salad bowl.

2. Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender. Pour to taste over salad.

Source: Farmstead Chef, by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko natural awakenings

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practiceprofile

EEG Biofeedback Center What is Biofeedback?

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t’s a process by which the brain is trained to function better,” says Lynda Goldstein of the EEG Biofeedback Center in Cahaba Heights.

“Think of it as a brain on an elliptical exercise machine. Biofeedback, also called Neurofeedback, regulates the brain to adopt new, more stable wave patterns that allow clients to relax and overcome their conditions.”

Researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center say that Neurofeedback is a proven method of treatment for stress. “Researchers aren’t sure exactly how or why biofeedback works. However, there does seem to be at least one common thread: most people who benefit from biofeedback have conditions that are brought on or made worse by stress. For this reason, many scientists believe that relaxation is the key to successful biofeedback therapy.”

How does it work? “Clients are interviewed and evaluated for one hour before I choose their protocol,” says Lynda. “After I determine their par-

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ticular needs, they are given treatment specific to the condition they want to improve.”

Much like an encephalograph, EEG electrodes are attached to a client’s head, says Lynda. This non-invasive process is the means by which the brain is taught to function more effectively.

As clients relax in a lounge chair, they watch a video game or a beach scene designed especially for them.

According to the EEG Institute, “Neurofeedback has only recently been ‘discovered’ but it has been around for decades. Over the course of years, literally thousands of research studies have been done that have proven Neurofeedback’s power in addressing a variety of disorders ranging from epilepsy to autism to migraines to ADD/ADHD.” With over 15 years of experience in helping people achieve their goals, Lynda says her ultimate joy is in helping special needs children overcome some of their challenges. “My heart goes out to those children who have difficulties that the rest of the world can only imagine. They get frustrated when they cannot express themselves fully or cannot perform in school like their peers.

This opens them up to a lot of stress that they cannot handle.”

What biofeedback does for special needs children is different for each one, says Lynda. “Some students with autism spectrum disorder have specific eye coordination and speech needs. They are given a protocol that helps alleviate their disorder. Other children have hyperactive brains that create a host of problems for them. Neurofeedback is a tool that sometimes takes those kids off their medications.”

Many of Lynda’s clients are children who need to improve their academics. “I have seen grades soar with Neurofeedback. Children find that they are better able to focus on what is being said in the classroom and often can concentrate long enough at home to finish homework.”

In addition to academic success, clients use Neurofeedback to improve their athletic abilities, says Lynda. “I was treating one child for academics and his mother told me that her son’s football coach called with a surprising question. ‘What did you do to improve his game?’ The coach was so pleased that her son had also inadvertently improved his football abilities with Neurofeedback.”

Busy moms with hectic lifestyles rely on Neurofeedback to keep them calm, says Lynda. “With the upcoming school vacations, mothers can gear up for the activities of summer by the relaxation techniques of Biofeedback.”

Senior clients have special conditions such as insomnia, incontinence, arthritis or chronic pain that are also treated by Neurofeedback. When the brain is relaxed, these symptoms are alleviated or completely eradicated, says Lynda. Neurofeedback can also help with post traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Many clients who want to enhance their creative abilities use Neurofeedback. It has been proven to lower golfers’ handicaps, help with writer’s block, remove phobias of public speaking, and improve singing and dancing abilities, says Lynda.

Neurofeedback sessions are 30 minutes long with a recommended treatment of 20 sessions. Clients can schedule sessions as often as necessary for better results. In the summer, clients can work their Neurofeedback sessions around their vacations, taking in 20 sessions in a three week period.

Clients are welcome to call for a brief visit and a chance to learn more about Biofeedback, says Lynda. The office is at 3176 Cahaba Heights Rd, Vestavia Hills, AL 35243.

For more information on Neurofeedback, call Lynda at 205-601-8882 or email LyndaGold@gmail.com.

Visit the EEG Biofeedback Center at BhamBiofeedback.com. Receive $5 off your first Neurofeedback session by signing up for the Center’s free digital newsletter, Wired.

The Body Remembers What the Mind Forgets

by Denise Ginsburg

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rom the moment we are born, we begin to filter and absorb the experiences around us—both positive and negative. At most stages, we cannot separate these and we are not aware that our bodies process the powerful, painful, and negative feelings by storing them in different parts of our body, where they are manifested into physical pain, emotional discomfort, and stress.

The good news is that you already have everything you need to free yourself from this emotional and physical pain. It lies within your own body.

Yoga Therapy is a safe, gentle, effective, one-on-one approach to help each individual achieve that freedom, and release that pain. Some of the benefits of Yoga Therapy include a release of physical and emotional stress, relaxation, and the ability to make a much stronger connection between the things you do and how you feel on the inside and out.

Those who try Yoga Therapy say that, for the first time, they “feel free.” Yoga Therapy helps you look inside yourself and explore your feelings, leading them into consciousness and release. It helps you understand the mind-body connection, and opens your eyes to the truths within the body to help you resolve and release all your negative emotions in a very “freeing” experience.

Research proves that Yoga Therapy is an effective treatment for many common ailments, and that it is useful in treating many chronic illnesses that have tried many other modalities. Additionally, Yoga Therapy is beneficial in treating relationship issues both present and past, recovery from substance abuse, and chronic pain.

Denise Ginsburg—a Registered Yoga Therapist trained at Phoenix Rising and LifeForce school of Yoga for Depression—will develop a customized treatment plan that best fits with your particular lifestyle and needs.

In Emotional Yoga Therapy, Denise will guide you to focus on your emotions, memories, and feelings.

Emotional Yoga Therapy combines classic yoga techniques with elements of psychology to allow you to reconfigure all of your self-imposed limits. You will focus on breathing and stretching and allowing all your deep-

seated feelings to be reached and uncovered, whenever you are ready to do so. She will meet you exactly where you are when you are ready for a healing transformation.

When you are emotionally or physically ill, your body’s natural harmonies are out of sync, disrupting its range of motion and muscle strength. In Structural Yoga Therapy, you are placed into assisted and guided yoga poses that are specific to your body’s own needs.

This allows you to focus on your body’s own inner strength, freeing you to concentrate on awareness, mindfulness, and using your breath to relax and release all your tension. Structural Yoga Therapy can alleviate or eliminate pain, discomfort, and inflammation, increase circulation, and encourage calming breathing techniques, relaxation, and meditation. Because all yoga poses are supported, there are no physical requirements for participating in Yoga Therapy. Thus, allowing anyone and everyone to participate, and benefit, no matter what their physical condition.

Denise Ginsburg is a Master Practitioner at Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Drive, Homewood, Alabama 35209. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com. See Ad on Page 8. natural awakenings

March 2012

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Ministering From Source: Reverend Mark Pope of Unity of Birmingham

by Nabella Shunnarah

Reverend Mark Pope

Reverend Mark Pope has one clear, powerful message for his congregation. ...Return to Source.

A

s the new interim minister of Unity of Birmingham, Pope’s ultimate mission is to lead those who are so inclined to focus their attention on the Christ Consciousness within themselves.

New to this community, Pope says he is allowing Source to guide him in his ministry. “The world as we know it is undergoing amazing and immense changes. I’m responding to presence. What does Source want to do? The New Earth is here, and I sense Unity of Birmingham may be one of the forms this new consciousness is taking. I’m just watching to see what it wants to become.”

Pope was invited to help the church in its period of bereavement after its long-time pastor Reverend Jerry Bartholow made his transition in June 2011. His previous ministerial position was at Unity of Sedona, Arizona.

Pope chronicles the path of his spiritual awakenings in his new book, The Final Prison Break: Adventures and Misadventures in Synchronicity, Grace and Awakening. As a youth, he was imprisoned for possession of drugs and, although innocent, faced a life sentence. The charges were dropped but through this experience he finally came to terms with the possibility that the

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dysfunctional parts of his life grew out of his own consciousness. As a result, he set out to transform the unconscious conditions that led him to crime and to adopt reverence for the grace that saved his life. He explains: “The eternal, ever present, still, silent, Source of all existence has the capacity to alter anyone or anything anytime. A question we may want to ask ourselves is: Are we really open to this Grace now?”

What Pope hopes to inspire in individuals is the practice of being still and silent enough to sense into their true essence. This is what gives rise to what Eckhart Tolle now calls the New Earth, Pope says. This comes from scripture and suggests that a “new earth” or new forms and expressions are preceded by a new consciousness or “new heaven.” This new consciousness is what occurs as we return attention to the Source within us.

Jesus was the historical character, says Pope, but Christ is the state of consciousness or the realization of the oneness with God that dawned on Him and functioned through Him. “So when he says, ‘I and the Father are one’, he means it literally,” explains Pope.

“There’s no sense of separation. And the second coming is the coming of the state of consciousness of the Christ in us all. We can wake up to the realization that we are one with Source and each other. That love and wisdom and that capacity to manifest the truth and to heal anything can be commonplace and natural to us all. The truth is one.

It doesn’t belong to anyone or any particular tradition but is the Truth of Being and the nature of us all. All structures

or teachings, if they serve the truth, are means through which individuals can see this Truth beyond the teaching or structure that points to It.” The fast-paced lifestyle we live today can distract us from going within.

Yet, a Return to Source is inevitable, as Pope sees it. “The way life is moving is teaching us to stop hoping the next politician or the next guru is going to save us. Eventually we will return to the Source of our internal strength and this return of attention liberates us from external dependencies.”

To experience this ever-present Source directly, we simply turn attention away from the mind and toward the stillness and silence beneath the movements of mind, Pope writes.

“Source is always right here, just beneath the words If we just take a breath and pause for a moment, there’s silence. This is where the power comes from. It’s closer than hands and feet.

We live and move in It and It lives and moves in and as us. You may have lost touch with it because you were temporarily caught up in the world of form. People think, ‘I’m a little me cut off from everything and everyone.

I’m separate, there’s something wrong with me, or there’s something wrong with you.’ These are simply false beliefs from which we are now being given an opportunity to awaken. Many more than ever before are now beginning to emerge from the nightmare of false beliefs.” A great Grace now seeks all willing vessels.

Nabella Shunnarah is a freelance writer and English tutor.

spiritual growth The garden in which I stand was once a wild garden, with only thorns and weeds to show. But then I realized I had the ability to take control and make it what I wanted it to be. So I planted all that would produce love, healing, and success. And slowly, each year, with awareness and tending to, the plantings grow stronger and nourish me with their fruit.

Artwork and Text by Rita Loyd.

Copyright Š 2012

Rita Loyd is a professional watercolor artist and writer. The message of her work is about the healing power of unconditional self-love. Rita began painting in 1996 as a way to cope with chronic illness and depression.

Through this journey, the creative process became her teacher, healer and friend who would guide her to find the true meaning and experience of unconditional self-love. Rita writes about this experience and all that she has learned about unconditional self-love in her new book Unconditional Self-Love: What It Is, Why It's important and How to Nurture It in Your Life. You can purchase this book in Huntsville at Ruth's Nutrition, 15H. Raines Birmingham NABirmingham.com where you can view Rita's artwork and blog.

Gifts or at www.NurturingArt.com,

Changing the Way America Eats Nourishing the Shift to Farm-Fresh Foods

Farmers’ Job Market

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

K

entucky farmer and writer Wendell Berry states that in order for people to care about their food, “They have to taste it.”

Tasting the difference between fresh, local, organic foods and those that travel hundreds or thousands of miles before touching our taste buds is catalyzing a healthy change across America. Consider the growth in patronage of farmers’ markets alone: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports the number of markets has soared, from 1,755 in 1994 to 7,175 in 2011.

What’s driving the surge? Incentives include our appreciation of scrumptious seasonal flavor, a comforting sense of community and the reas-

cies,” have “statistically different nutrient contents.” In other words, each variety promises a unique mix of healthprotecting compounds.

Supermarkets must rely on crops and animal products that can withstand longdistance travel and also meet uniform appearance standards. Small farmers serving local markets, on the other hand, can better preserve the legacy of biologically diverse heirloom crops and heritage breeds because of the shorter distances between field and plate. An heirloom tomato picked ripe at peak flavor can’t survive a lengthy commute, but nothing tastes better when it’s plucked fresh from the vine and still warm from the sun.

Planting diverse, region-specific crops also reduces the burden of weeds, pests and plant diseases—and any related chemical use—and helps provide safe nourishment for pollinators and wildlife, as well. No wonder the Organic Farming Research Foundation characterizes farmers as the largest group of ecosystem managers on Earth.

Everyone can support a cause that feeds us well while caring for the planet.

surance of knowing exactly where our food comes from and who—often on a first-name basis—grew or produced it.

Good, healthy food germinates in genuine relationships—between growers and consumers, and farmers and the Earth.

Local markets boost hometown economies, too; the USDA predicts a record $7 billion in such food sales this year, delivering a greater proportion of food dollars directly to farmers.

Regional food systems also support the biological diversity that is vital to sustainability. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, “different varieties of the same spe-

With 57 being the current average age of American farmers, and more than a quarter 65 or older, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition recognizes the desperate need for more young farmers. When the National Young Farmer’s Coalition recently surveyed 1,000 beginning farmers, it found that access to capital, land and health insurance presented the biggest hurdles to entering farming as a career. The Women, Food and Agriculture Network has identified access to health care as the main challenge facing females that want to farm.

While city dwellers tend to idealize farming as a romantic occupation in a bucolic setting, it is actually a risky, physically demanding job. Despite the

challenges, farmers say they love their work because they enjoy being outside, working with their hands, producing high-quality food and being their own boss. It helps to be healthy, smart and an optimist at heart.

Sticker Price versus Hidden Costs To consumers coping in a down economy, the cheapest price may sometimes seem like the best choice. John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics at the University of Missouri, notes that, “Americans, on average, are spending only half as much of their disposable income for food today as they were in the 1960s.” However, at the same time, “The percentage spent on health care has doubled.”

Scores of studies show that many of today’s chronic diseases are related to poor diet. Factor in medical costs associated with food-borne illnesses, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pesticide- and hormone-contaminated food and water, and it’s easy to understand why Michael Carolan, author of The Real Cost of Cheap Food, declares, “Cheap food... is actually quite expensive.”

One way for families to save money on food costs is to reduce waste.

Jonathan Bloom, author of American Wasteland, says Americans waste more than 40 percent of the food we produce for consumption, throwing away $100 billion-plus in food a year. Most of it ends up in landfills.

Instead of providing incentives to agribusinesses to produce less expensive food, smarter national farm and food policies could prioritize producing higher quality food and wasting less of it. Kathy Bero, board president of NuGenesis Farm, in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, advocates shifting commodity payments to organic farmers. Her nonprofit educational farm promotes “food as medicine,” along with cost-saving, health-boosting consumer strategies such as learning how to garden and cook to maximize nutritional value.

Inspiring Trends Stephanie Coughlin, a farmer in San Diego, California, says: “If you don’t have local farms, you don’t have local security.” Across the country, communities are proving how a few conscious buyers can improve everyone’s access to high-quality local foods.

Farm to Hospital: As director of nutrition services at Fletcher Allen Health Care, in Burlington, Vermont, Registered Dietitian Diane Imrie has the power to influence the economic security and sustainability of her community and surrounding region. Imrie sources approximately 40 percent of the food served at her hospital from farms located within a day’s drive. In her work, she helps keep farmers on their land while providing higher quality food to patients and staff.

The facility also supports onsite gardens, which yielded $2,000 worth of produce in 2011, despite Vermont’s short growing season. The hospital food is so popular that its café serves downtown businesspeople, further bolstering profitability and community benefits.

For local maple sugar producer Bernie Comeau, Imrie’s consistent purchases provide an income he can count on every month. Imrie is glad to note that for farmers, selling their food to the hospital is “like a stamp of approval.”

Marydale DeBor, who founded and led the “plow to plate” comprehensive food and disease-prevention initiative associated with Connecticut’s New Milford Hospital, maintains that, “Institutional leadership is critical.” She says that thanks to a supportive CEO that believed in bringing farm-fresh foods to hospital food services, their retail café more than doubled its revenue within two years.

DeBor believes that hospital food should set an example for public health.

2012 Farm Bill Update

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

T

he single piece of legislation known as the Farm Bill currently contains $90 billion in taxpayer funding and significantly affects farming, conservation, energy and the quality and price of the food on our plates. When the bill comes up for renewal every five years, the public has a chance to voice support for a greener, healthier, more sustainable food and farming system. Sign up for Farm Bill updates and action alerts from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (website below), and talk with members of Congress about concerns.

Marydale DeBor, who works to improve food quality in Connecticut, recommends that citizens align with farm advocacy organizations. “Advocacy is the single most important need now, around the Farm Bill and state policies,” she says.

Did you know?  Most Farm Bill dollars support food assistance programs, namely food stamps or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), our nation’s largest safety net against hunger. In 2012, SNAP is projected to consume 75 percent of the total Farm Bill budget.  Most SNAP benefits are spent in supermarkets and convenience

stores. SNAP can be used at farmers’ markets, but only by those that accept electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards. In 2011, SNAP’s $11 million of the program’s total $71 billion benefits were redeemed at farmers’ markets nationwide, directly benefiting local farmers.  Crop insurance is the secondlargest Farm Bill budget item.  The majority of subsidy payments go to large farms producing corn, cotton, wheat, rice and soybeans, which helps explain why soda is cheaper than 100 percent fruit juice, and corn-fed feedlot beef costs less than organic, grassfed beef.  An improved Farm Bill would provide participation incentives for conservation, beginning farmers, local food economies and organic agriculture, and better align agriculture with public health.

Learn more about the 2012 Farm Bill at:

“We need to support beginning farmers, and more food hubs and new distribution systems to facilitate access,” she says. “Consumers need to let their hospitals know they should focus on good food and nutrition.”

Farm to Restaurant: Leigh Lockhart, owner of Main Squeeze Natural Foods Café and Juice Bar, in Columbia, Missouri, buys supplies directly from local organic farmers and never quibbles about price. She composts any food waste in her garden, where she grows some of the produce used in her restaurant.

Rather than large plates of cheap food, Lockhart serves portions within U.S. Dietary Guidelines, comprising higher quality, more satisfying meals.

Relationships with chefs are important to farmers, advises Carol Ann Sayle, owner of Boggy Creek Organic Farm, in Austin, Texas. Farmers can rely on a sure buyer; chefs appreciate dependable and high quality food; and customers return because of the great taste.

Farm to School: Organic farmer Don Bustos, program director for the American Friends Service Committee of New Mexico, trains beginning farmers and ranchers in ways to provide food to the Albuquerque Public School District and beyond. For example, farmers grow crops during the winter in solar-powered greenhouses, and aggregate their products to meet school needs. Mobile

Environmental Working Group and EWG Action Fundewg.org Food Fight: The Citizen’s Guide to the Next Food and Farm Bill,

by Daniel Imhoff WatershedMedia.org/foodfight_ overview.html Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy iatp.org National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition SustainableAgriculture.net

How to Grow and Find Local Food Find a farmers’ market ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets In season in the region; local harvest calendars and markets FieldToPlate.com/guide.php Locate sustainably grown food nearby LocalHarvest.org Food gardening tips KitchenGardeners.org

meat processing and distribution networks also create jobs while keeping small farmers economically and environmentally viable, explains Bustos. Local agriculture fuels strong communities and fresh local foods help children thrive.

In the Pacific Northwest, AmeriCorps volunteer Emma Brewster works with the Real Food Challenge, a national youth-based program that encourages colleges and universities to shift 20 percent of their food budgets to farm-fresh, locally sourced foods. Brewster works with Lucy Norris, project manager for the Puget Sound Food Network, which creates opportunities beyond farmers’ markets for local area farmers to connect with regional processors, distributors and end users, including Seattle Public Schools.

Hands in the Dirt Regardless of occupation, many people feel a natural urge to work with the soil and witness the miracle of seeds sprouting new life. Rose Hayden-Smith, Ph.D., a garden historian and a designated leader in sustainable food systems at the University of California–Davis, points out that home, school, community and workplace victory gardens established during World War II succeeded in producing about 40 percent of our nation’s vegetables.

In both world wars, she says, our national leadership “recognized that food and health were vital national security issues.” They still are today.

Melinda Hemmelgarn, a.k.a. the Food Sleuth (FoodSleuth@gmail.com), is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and radio host, based in Columbia, Missouri. She co-created F.A.R.M.: Food, Art, Revolution Media – a Focus on Photography to Re-vitalize Agriculture and Strengthen Democracy to increase advocacy for organic farmers (Enduring-Image.blogspot.com). Learn more at Food Sleuth Radio at kopn.org.

consciouseating “Having a realistic weekly budget is helpful, because you can’t go too far over budget before you realize you are in trouble,” advises Lisa Leake. To make it even easier to stay on track, she makes it a habit to shop near home and uses cash instead of credit.

EATING WELL ON A BUDGET

Seasonal Shopping “If we shop for seasonal produce and freeze or can surplus from our local farmers’ market, we can eat well all year and still eat frugally,” advises Rebecca Miller, a macrobiotic and healing foods caterer from Overland Park, Kansas.

“When fresh blueberries are $3 a cup at the grocery during the off-season, for example, we can still enjoy canned berries in recipes or thawed from the freezer on our morning oatmeal.”

by Judith Fertig

Eating Down the Fridge In tough economic times, many families include food in their spending cuts. How can we tighten our budget and yet still eat well?

S

ix months ago, Josh Viertel threw down the “value meal” gauntlet in a major way. The Slow Food USA president challenged cooks around the country to create a family-friendly feast for under $5. Many responded, sharing their tips and tricks at SlowFoodUSA. org/5Challenge. Here are some favorites.

Setting a Budget Five dollars per meal for 21 meals a week, plus snacks, neatly totals the $125 weekly food budget set by the Leake family, of Charlotte, North Carolina. Lisa and Jason Leake, parents of two young daughters, first explored what it would be like to eliminate processed food from their diet, which they describe in their blog at 100DaysofRealFood.com. Their success led to the additional challenge of eating real food on a budget.

Seattle-based Kim O’Donnel, author of The Meatlover’s Meatless Cookbook, blogs about family meals for USA Today. “I regularly emphasize what I call ‘eating down the frig,’” she says.

“That means making use of what we’ve got on hand, like generations before us that also went through food shortages.

We’re just out of practice.”

One way to help ourselves learn, says O’Donnel, is to stock a “smarter” pantry. Staples include different varieties of dried beans; lentils; quickcooking grains such as quinoa, bulgur, couscous and purple barley; garbanzo beans; brown and black rice; and a few BPA-free canned goods like tomatoes, black beans and chickpeas.

“If we take our time and watch for good deals, we can build a pantry at a low cost,” she says, because such ingredients are basically “blank slates.” As just one example of a low-cost, pantry-based

meal, O’Donnel might start with cooked red lentils, then add fresh ginger and garlic, sautéed onion with cumin, and fresh spinach and tomatoes, and then serve it with whole-wheat pita bread.

Ingredient-First Cooking Jane Zieha, a certified public accountant, knows that feeding people and watching the bottom line can go together. She owns the acclaimed Blue Bird Bistro, in Kansas City, Missouri. An avowed all-natural, organic, sustainable and local foods passionista, Zieha has stayed true to the principles of her Pennsylvania upbringing.

“I didn’t eat like anybody else growing up,” she says. “We never ate packaged food. We ate what was fresh. When I was old enough to go to a friend’s house for dinner, I was surprised at how they ate.” Today, both at home and at work, Zieha continues to select the best that local farmers can provide. “I don’t start with a recipe and then find the food, like most chefs and restaurants do,” she explains. “I find the ingredients and then go from there.”

Meat as a Condiment More expensive ingredients, such as heritage turkey, can bring more flavor and texture to an entrée as an ingredient instead of a standalone part of a meal, advises Zieha. She might feature heritage turkey in an enchilada filling, pasta or savory bread pudding, so that a little goes a long way.

It also makes sense to shop for varieties of fish or cuts of meat that aren’t widely popular or that take longer to cook. Slow Food’s Viertel, who shops near Brooklyn, New York, remarks: “I buy ‘trash fish’—sea robin, squid, mackerel, sardines—because they are cheaper and I believe, taste best. The same is true of the other meats I buy. I never cook pork chops or filet mignon; I cook oxtail and short ribs.”

Then, O’Donnel adds, the frugal cook turns bones of roasted poultry or trimmings from a whole fish into a delicious stock. Any homemade broth can be just the frozen asset we need for yet another tasty “value” meal.

Cookbook author Judith Fertig writes at AlfrescoFoodAndLifestyle.blogspot.com.

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wisewords

CHOOSING FORKS OVER KNIVES Doctors Advocate a Plant-Based Diet

by Linda Sechrist

F

ilm Producer Brian Wendel’s concern for the many Americans suffering from multiple chronic diseases, as well as the strain this puts on our nation’s health care system and economy, sparked the idea for documenting what doctors researching the issue have to say about it. In his latest film, Forks Over Knives, these pioneering thinkers examine the claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases afflicting humanity can be controlled or reversed by avoiding the ingestion of animal-based and processed foods; more, they make a compelling case that switching to a whole-foods, plant-based diet can restore health.

Much of the foundational science showing why a plant-based diet of whole foods is not only best for everyone’s health, but also for the planet, comes from noted nutrition research pioneer T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. He has summarized his results in his book, The China Study, co-authored with his son, Dr. Thomas M. Campbell. His 1980 study of 130 Chinese villages, involving 6,500 adults and their families, directly tied the consumption of animal protein-based foods to the development of cancer and heart disease.

Based on his research, Colin Campbell, teamed up with Dr. Junshi Chen, currently a senior research professor with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in Beijing, specifically characterized casein, a protein found in milk from

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mammals, as “the most relevant carcinogen ever identified.” With concrete evidence in hand, and accounting for other diet and lifestyle factors, the pair went on to conclude that consuming whole, plant-based foods offers the best strategy for improving health and preventing serious diseases.

Other solid science presented in the film comes from Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., whose 150 scientific articles complement the 1995 publication of his peer-acclaimed book, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, which summarizes the results of his long-term research on arresting and reversing coronary artery disease through

nutrition. In his two decades of global research, Esselstyn, who directs the cardiovascular prevention and reversal program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, found that wherever people ate a plant-based diet, cancer and cardiovascular diseases were rare.

In many of the case histories and personal stories chronicled in Forks Over Knives, diet was used as a treatment for various diseases and cited as being more effective than prescription drugs. Anthony Yen and Evelyn Oswick, for example, attest how their lives were saved by switching to a whole-foods, plant-based diet after a lifetime of illness that included multiple heart attacks and surgeries, as well as chronic chest pain. Treatment under the care of Esselstyn succeeded in reversing advanced-stage heart disease in both cases. Today, they enjoy active lives full of friends, family and meaningful work.

Social media channels such as Facebook have been vital to spreading the word about the effective solutions presented by the Forks Over Knives film and companion book (complete with recipes). Wendel reports inspiring posts such as, “Your film changed my life,” or “I no longer require diabetes medication.”

Potential savings in costs to people and the planet are vast. Consider, for instance, that according to the Polytechnic Institute of New York University, if the entire U.S. population were to adopt a plant-based diet for just one day, the nation would save at least 100 billion gallons of drinking water, enough to supply every person in every home in New England for nearly four months.

Wendel foresees the ForksOver Knives.com website ultimately expanding into a news resource, linking people with information provided by leading experts in the whole-foods, plant-based world via various media platforms. It will also provide opportunities to blog with experts, listen to live broadcasts about food preparation and find resources to help individuals transition to a healthier, plant-based diet.

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazines.

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healingways

COOLING CHRONIC

INFLAMMATION Dietary Solutions Counter Disease

by Linda Sechrist

I

t’s important to note that wounds and infections would never heal without the presence of acute inflammation, the body’s normal biological response to harmful pathogens, damaged cells and irritants.

Although this protective measure to initiate the body’s natural healing response is often misrepresented as being synonymous with infection, it is not; even when the inflammation is caused by infection.

Dr. Vijay Jain, an expert in ayurvedic medicine, explains how the system normally works: “An infection brings about an acute inflammatory response and also summons the aid of immune system cells such as lymphocytes—thymus cells (T cells), bursa-derived cells (B cells) and natural killer (NK) cells—as well as monocytes (a type of white blood cell). These then

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migrate through the bloodstream to eliminate specific pathogens or pathogen-infected cells.”

In contrast, chronic inflammation occurs when the immune response stays activated, rather than naturally abating, and the body’s defense system consequently turns against itself. Today, a number of leading physician scientists including Jain are drawing attention to an epidemic of cases of such chronic inflammation.

With 35 years of experience in general surgery and 15 years of focused study in integrative medicine, Jain bases his concern on extensive study and research. He currently serves as the medical director of Amrit Ayurveda for Total Well Being, at the Amrit Yoga Institute, in Salt Springs, Florida.

Floyd H. Chilton, Ph.D., author

of Inflammation Nation, and professor of physiology and pharmacology at Wake Forest School of Medicine, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is on the same wavelength. Trained as a physician and specialist in infectious disease and inflammation at Harvard Medical School, Chilton’s 20 years of research have likewise led him, along with pioneers like Dr. Andrew Weil, to conclude that chronic, systemic inflammation is the root cause of many diseases.

The condition has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s and cancer. Furthermore, in 2000, The New England Journal of Medicine published several studies showing that blood indicators of inflammation (such as homocysteine, fibrinogen and Creactive protein) are strong predictive factors for a heart attack.

These experts all point to the standard American diet as a primary culprit for setting chronic inflammation in motion, and cite an anti-inflammatory diet as helpful in counteracting the problem.

Kathy Bero, founder of at NuGensis Farm, Inc., in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, attests that an antiinflammatory diet containing many angiogenesis-inhibiting foods was a major factor in the remission of three aggressive forms of cancer that threatened her life six years ago. “Many of the diseases linked to chronic systemic inflammation also share a dependence on inappropriate blood vessel growth, which either nourishes the disease or hinders the body’s fight against it,” Bero explains. “Angiogenesis-inhibiting foods are known to assist the body in controlling the healthy growth of blood vessels.”

The nonprofit NuGenesis Farm supports 35 acres dedicated to growing anti-inflammatory and angiogenesis-balancing foods with the strongest disease prevention properties, using sustainable organic agriculture practices. It offers a “food as medicine” model for global

communities seeking alternative methods for naturally preventing disease.

An anti-inflammatory diet recommended by family physician and nutritionist Ann Kulze, author of Dr. Ann’s 10-Step Diet, includes colorful, fresh fruits; green, leafy vegetables; low-glycemic foods such as whole grains, sweet potatoes and winter squashes; fruits such as berries, cherries, apples and pears; high-quality protein in omega-3-rich fish such as wild salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel; seeds and nuts such as walnuts; and green tea.

It also calls for the vegetable-based protein found in soy foods, beans, lentils and other legumes. Ginger and turmeric, dried or fresh, rank among recommended spices.

In addition to maintaining a healthy and correct balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, an anti-inflammatory diet eliminates consumption of margarine, vegetable shortening and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, all of which promote inflammation.

“Anti-aging researchers believe that chronic inflammation shortens our lifespan,” remarks Jain, who recommends a prophylactic diet specific to the constitutional makeup of any of the three ayurvedic doshas— vata, pitta or kapha—as well as the annual panchakarma detoxification program. He further emphasizes that food should be freshly prepared with fresh ingredients and loving intention.

“Proper economic studies would increase our understanding of the true cost benefit of growing food for the purpose of disease prevention,” says Bero. “Many believe that incorporating anti-inflammatory and angiogenesis-inhibiting foods into our daily diet will not only improve both overall health and the outcome of treatment, it will also go a long way in reducing immediate and long-term health care costs.”

Linda Sechrist is a senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings magazines.

inspiration

LIVE YOUR DASH

by Linda Ellis

H

ave you ever walked through a cemetery or read an obituary and pondered that small, seemingly insignificant dash between the day someone was born and the date he or she departed? This oftenoverlooked little line ultimately represents every breath and step we take in life.

Until an epiphany awakens us to the brevity of this dash with which we have been blessed, true appreciation of our life cannot begin.

So think about this long and hard; are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged.

When, as newborns, we take that first independent, deliberate breath, we sign an invisible contract with life that we will do everything we can to preserve, cherish and live it. By seizing and inhabiting our moments and living our dash, instead of simply existing, we are abiding by that first unspoken oath.

Because success should not be measured in what you will buy, or own, but in the pride you feel

in the person you’re with … when you are all alone.

When we spend our time focused on problems, we subconsciously disregard all that is not a problem. In mulling over yesterday and worrying about tomorrow, we fail to recognize the presence of today. When we postpone living until everything is running smoothly, we forfeit the minutes of our now.

Instead of focusing on the next achievement or acquisition, we need to practice focusing on all the blessings around us—our loved ones and the sheer pleasure found in simply being.

The poet in me writes: So live in your now; be conscious, sincere. Let your mind allow you to be in your here!

For it matters not, how much we own, the cars… the house… the cash.

What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.

Linda Ellis’ global touchstone poem, The Dash, was followed by the Live Your Dash poem, and her new book, Live Your Dash. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/LindaEllisAuthor and Twitter.com/LiveYourDash.

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calendarofevents THURSDAY, MARCH 1 Free Tax Preparation Assistance at the West End Branch Library – through March 3. Wednesdays and Fridays from 12-5pm, Saturdays from 9am-3pm.

Impact Alabama will provide free tax preparation services for households earning less than $50,000 a year with one or more children or $20,000 year without children. You must call 1-888-99-TAX-AL (1-888-998-2925) for an appointment. No walk-ins will be assisted. West End Branch Library, 1348 Tuscaloosa Ave SW, Birmingham. 205-226-4089.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance at the Woodlawn Branch Library – through March 3. Mondays and Thursdays from 12-6pm, Saturdays from 9am-3pm.

Impact Alabama will provide free tax preparation services for households earning less than $50,000 a year with one or more children or $20,000 year without children. You must call 1-888-99-TAX-AL (1-888-998-2925) for an appointment. No walk-ins will be assisted. Woodlawn Branch Library, 5709 1st Ave N, Birmingham. 205-226-4089.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance at the Avondale Regional Library – 9am-2pm through April 13.

Representatives from AARP Tax Preparation will be on hand at the Avondale Regional Library to assist people with income tax preparation. Appointments must be made in advance with the library; no walkins will be assisted. All relevant information must be brought to the appointment, including a copy of last year’s return, bank information, state-issued ID, etc.

Assistance is for 2012 returns only. Returns will be filed electronically. Avondale Regional Library, 509 40th St. S, Birmingham. 205-226-4000.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance at the Five Points West Regional Branch Library – 10am2pm through April 15. The Association for the Improvement of Minorities/ Internal Revenue Service/Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (AIM/ IRS/VITA) will provide free tax preparation with no appointment necessary at the Five Points West Regional Branch Library. Five Points West Regional Library, Birmingham. 205-226-4013.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance at the Smithfield Branch Library – through April 16. Times: Jan 16-March 3: Mondays and Tuesdays from 12-8pm, Saturdays from 9am-3pm. March 5-April 16: Mondays and Thursdays from 12-5pm. Impact Alabama will provide free tax preparation services for households earning less than $50,000 a year with one or more children or $20,000 year without children. You must call 1-888-99-TAX-AL (1-888998-2925) for an appointment; no walk-ins will be assisted. Smithfield Branch Library, 1 8th Ave W, Birmingham. 205-324-8428.

Free Health Screenings – 10am-2pm daily. Protect your health with UAB HealthSmart’s free preven-

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tive health profile screenings. We check your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, body fat level, and more and then help you prevent health problems through our free health talks, nutrition and fitness counseling, and group fitness classes/programs.

Preventive screenings are free and last about 30 minutes. Please call to schedule an appointment.

UAB HealthSmart, 301 Twentieth Street North, Birmingham. 205-996-2304.

What Makes the Magic City So Magical? – through March 23. In honor of Youth Art Month, Vulcan Park and Museum is proud to present, What Makes the Magic City So Magical? an exhibition of works created by art students from Ramsay High School. Asked to depict a positive aspect of the Magic City, these works highlight the talents of these young artists while illustrating a facet of their community that is significant to them. Linn-Henley Gallery at Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr, Birmingham. 205-933-1409.

Smart Investing @ EOL: Stocks & Bonds – 6:30pm. Dr. Rauterkus discusses stocks and bonds, how to determine which stocks and bonds are right for you, and how to calculate return on your investments. Dinner is provided. Please call the Library to register at 205-445-1121 or register online at EOLib. org/Smart-Investing.php. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook.

205-445-1121.

Prenatal Yoga – 11:15am-12:15pm. Presented by BabyBellyYoga.com at Levite Jewish Community Center. Along with breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, the Prenatal Yoga classes focus on poses that help ease the discomforts associated with pregnancy and prepare the body for childbirth. $10 for members/ $15 for non-members. Visit BabyBellyYoga.com or email KristaMartinJones@ gmail.com for more info. Levite Jewish Community Center, 3960 Montclair Rd, Birmingham.

205-879-0411.

Tian Shan Pai San Shou / Kali: Intro Tai Chi Chuan – March 1-10. Tu/Th 6-7pm, Sat 9-10am.

An 8-week introductory course of Tai Chi Chuan as an entry-point to a curriculum of Chinese, Korean, and S.E. Asian martial arts. This introduction delivers instruction in the Yang Style Short Form with supportive Qigong exercises. $80. All ages welcome. Presented by KARMA of Birmingham at Bluff Park Community Center, 517 Cloudland Dr, Hoover. 205-332-7163.

Vision: Works from Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Fine Arts Collection 1992-2012 – TuesSat 10am-5pm; Sun 1-5pm. Exhibition featuring 36 works by prominent African-American artists, including eight Alabamians—Ahmah Austin, Art

Bacon, Gwen Gorby, Chester Higgins, Ronald McDowell, Hollis Nall, Stephen Walker—as well as internationally acclaimed artists Sam Gilliam, Jacob Lawrence and Margaret Burroughs. On display through March 11 in the Odessa Woolfolk Gallery.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 Sixteenth St N, Birmingham. 205-328-9696.

Visual Arts Achievement Program– 9am-4pm March 1-10. Samford University’s Visual Arts Department hosts a middle and high school student art exhibition and scholarship competition for District VI-A. The event is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and is coordinated by Dr. Mary Ann Culotta. Samford University Art Gallery, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham.

Art and Conversation: European Cast Iron at BMA – 10:30am. The Gustav Lamprecht Collection of cast iron, given to the Museum by American Cast Iron Pipe Company, is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of its kind and unique in this country. $10 members, $15 non-members.

Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd, Birmingham. 205-254-2565.

Art by Arthur Price – 9am-9pm March 1, 10am6pm March 2. The Hoover Public Library presents works by Alabama native Arthur Price, featured artist for Southern Voices 2012. The Library Theatre, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover.

“Holy Ghosts” – 8pm, March 1, 3, 8, 9, 10. Romulus Linney’s play about snake handlers and others in the Deep South. $20 adults/$15 students. Birmingham Festival Theatre, 1901 1/2 11th Ave S, Birmingham.

Augustin Hadelich Returns! – 8pm, March 1-3.

Presented by Alabama Symphony Orchestra. ASO favorite Augustin Hadelich returns for his third visit to the Magic City. Justin Brown, Conductor. Augustin Hadelich, Violin. ADES Three Studies from Couperin, BRITTEN Violin Concerto, BRAHMS Symphony No. 4. Tickets $79 / $54 / $39 / $23 / Students with ID $10. Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Avenue South, Birmingham (on UAB Campus).

205-975-ARTS. AlysStephens.uab.edu.

Crafty Crafts– 3:30pm, through March 5. Learn how to make special crafts with things found around the house. Ms. Pam, Instructor. Materials provided.

West End Branch Library, 1348 Tuscaloosa Ave SW, Birmingham. 205-226-4089.

“Hamlet” – 8pm, March 1-3 and 8-11. Theatre Downtown, 2410 5th Ave S, Birmingham. 205-3061470. TheatreDowntown.org.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2 “Dragons and Lotus Blossoms: Vietnamese Ceramics” – Selected works from the Rowe Collection. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Eighth Ave N, Birmingham.

The Look of Love: Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection – Selected works from the Rowe Collection. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Eighth Ave N, Birmingham.

Lilly Ledbetter and Lanier Scott Isom – 4pm.

Signing Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond. Alabama Booksmith, 2626 19th Place S, Homewood.

Bachelor of Fine Arts I Exhibition – 6-8pm, Opening reception. An exhibition of works by Birmingham-Southern College Bachelor of Fine Arts students. Birmingham-Southern College, 900 Arkadelphia Rd, Birmingham.

“The Taffetas” – 7:30pm. A musical revue filled with songs from the 1950s presented by the Red Mountain Theatre Company. $30-$35. Red Mountain Theatre Company, 301 19th St. N, Birmingham.

Spring Dance Performance: Timeless – 7:30pm, March 2-3. The annual spring dance performance

by Birmingham-Southern College dance students. $15.00 General Public / $10.00 Students (regardless of the school you attend). Birmingham-Southern College, 900 Arkadelphia Rd, Birmingham. 205226-4928.

UM Wind Ensemble Concert – 7:30pm. The University of Montevallo Wind Ensemble Concert, under the direction of Joseph Ardovino. Free admission. University of Montevallo, Palmer Auditorium, Montevallo. 205-665-6670.

“Wicked” – 8pm. The national tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about the witches in “The Wizard of Oz” and how they became good and evil. Presented by Broadway in Birmingham.

Tickets $30-$130. BJCC, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham.

Black Jacket Symphony Presents “Are You Experienced” – 8pm, March 2-3. Tribute group performs Jimi Hendrix’s classic rock album, plus other songs from artist’s catalog. WorkPlay, 500 23rd St. S, Birmingham.

Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis 8pm. Tickets $42.50-$75.50; $20 students. VIP tickets available, include meet-and-greet with artists. $10 after-party with Neo Jazz Collective.

Alys Stephens Center 1200, 10th Avenue South, Birmingham (on UAB Campus). 205-975-ARTS. AlysStephens.uab.edu.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3 Central Alabama Antique & Appraisal Market Presented by the Friends of the Columbiana Public Library and the City of Columbiana. Antique appraisals conducted by knowledgeable antique dealers for Civil War Memorabilia, Clocks, Coca-

Cola Memorabilia, Costume Jewelry, Ephemera, Furniture, General Items, Glassware, Guns, Jewelry, Jukebox, Pottery, Toys. The cost is $5 per item, with a limit of three items. If you have larger items, contact Donna Hay at 205-902-4668 or HayDonna13@gmail.com.

Lake Trail Walk – 10am. A walk around the gentle rolling slopes of the Lake Trail. Meet at the Marina Parking Lot on Terrace Drive at 10am. Bring some water and wear some good hiking/walking shoes.

No charge except for park admission. Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Dr, Pelham.

Coming in April

GREEN LIVING

Psychic Fair – 11am-7pm. Many readers will be available: Tarot, rune casting, sortilege (throwing the stones), and more. Delicious coffees and teas, interesting books, and other surprises. Admission is free. 15-minute sessions are $15. Books, Beans & Candles Metaphysical Shoppe, 1620 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd S, Birmingham. 205-453-4636.

Clarinet Choir Concert – 12:30-12:50pm. Clarinet Choir Concert, as a part of the 10th annual UAB Clarinet Symposium. Featuring the Shades Valley High School Clarinet Choir and UAB Clarinet Choir. UAB Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th Street S, Birmingham.

Cajun Cabaret – 4pm. Red Mountain Theatre Company’s Young Executives Council hosts a low-country cookout and fundraiser at the rooftop penthouse of the Wiggins, Childs, Quinn & Pantazis Law Offices. The evening features a Cajun menu and music by local favorites, along with a raffle giveaway. Tickets $15. 301 19th St N, Birmingham.

205-324-2424.

Callahan Lecture: Dr. Padma Kaimal – 6pm. Dr. Padma Kaimal of Colgate University will give the thirteenth annual Eivor and Alston Callahan Lecture with a talk entitled “Many Paths to the Divine: Dynamics of Vision in a Hindu Temple.” Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev Abraham Woods Jr Blvd, Birmingham.

MONDAY, MARCH 5

Celebrate Earth Day with Natural Awakenings’ April edition, brimming with eco-solutions for your home, work and everyday family life.

Learn About Bees – 9:45am. Friends of the Hoover Public Library. Learn about bees with Sallie M. Lee from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Hoover Public LibraryHoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover. 205-444-784.

TUESDAY, MARCH 6 Refresher Childbirth Class – 7-9:30pm, March 6, 13, and 20. Dalia Abrams. A refresher class for couples having another baby and especially for couples planning a VBAC. The class includes 12.5 hours of class time, a lending library, unlimited phone/email access and a home visit after your baby is born. Call 205-614-3297 or email BirthPower@Bellsouth. net to register. BirthWellInBirmingham.com.

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

256-340-1122

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UAB Symphony Band – 7pm. Director of Bands Sue Samuels will direct the UAB Symphony Band in this performance. Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave S, Birmingham (on UAB Campus). 205975-ARTS. AlysStephens.uab.edu.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7 The Life and Work of Harper Lee – 12:30pm.

Brown Bag Lunch Program. Today’s film explores the To Kill a Mockingbird phenomenon and unravels some of the mysteries surrounding Harper Lee, including why she never published again. We’ll learn about the history of the Deep South and the cultural changes taking place at the time. Please bring a sack lunch; drinks and dessert provided. Contact Katie at KMoellering@bham.lib.al.us or 205-445-1118. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), Community Meeting Room, 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8 Smart Investing @ EOL: Paying For College – 6:30pm. A discussion on paying for college. Learn about various loans, scholarships and grants, and what steps to take to make college more affordable. Dinner is provided. Please call the Library to register at 205-445-1121 or register online at EOLib. org/Smart-Investing.php. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook.

205-445-1121.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9 Birmingham Ballet presents The Sleeping Beauty March 9-11. The ballet features the professional ballet company, Birmingham Ballet Repertory Company, as well as a community cast of dancers of all ages and backgrounds. Tickets available at the BJCC Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) Concert Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham.

205-458-8449. BirminghamBallet.com.

TAO: The Art of the Drum – 8pm. Experience an evening that combines a fusion of athletic prowess, innovative choreography and explosive Taiko

drumming. Tickets $49.50, $39.50, $27.50; student tickets $20. Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave S, Birmingham (on UAB Campus). 205-975-ARTS. AlysStephens.uab.edu.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10 Workshop: “From Karma to Grace” – 9am4:30pm. John Van Auken, author and teacher with Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E., will host a one-day event at Unity of Birmingham. Learn how we may improve our relationships, embrace a happier and healthier life, and realize our soul’s full potential.

Pre-register by calling 888-273-0020. $79 in advance, $89 at door. Discounts for A.R.E. members and if two or more register together. 2803 Highland Avenue, Birmingham. At-door registration begins at 8:30am. Contact: Beverly Westbrook 205-613-1709.

Fourth Annual Passport To Dine “Low Country Boil” – 6-10pm. Benefitting Birmingham AIDS Outreach. The menu will be oysters on the half shell, shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sides. Beverages will include a Bloody Mary Bar, wine, beer, and soft drinks. $50 per person. Location: The home of Fergus Tuohy, 5637 10th Ave S, Birmingham. 205322-4197, ext. 20. PassportToDine.org.

“Native Azaleas and Their Use in the Sustainable Landscape” – 9:30-11:30am. An overview of Alabama’s native azaleas and many of their cultivars will be presented, allowing the participant to intelligently incorporate these native wonders into today’s residential garden. Instructor: George Duquette, MD. Tickets $15; Free for Aldridge Gardens Members. Aldridge Botanical Gardens, 3530 Lorna Rd, Hoover. 205-682-8019.

SUNDAY, MARCH 11 The UAB Piano Series presents Dmitry Rachmanov 4pm. The UAB Piano Series, presented by the UAB Department of Music and programmed by UAB Artist-in-Residence and Professor of Piano Yakov Kasman, brings the world’s finest pianists to Birmingham. Tickets $15/public; $5/UAB students. Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave S, Birmingham (on UAB Campus). 205-975-ARTS. AlysStephens.uab.edu. UAB.edu/Music.

CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MARCH 8 Viva la femme: 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. For activities worldwide, visit InternationalWomensDay.com.

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MONDAY, MARCH 12 Great Books Discussion Group (GBDG) – 6:30pm. The GBDG discusses Margaret Atwood’s “The Man from Mars.” The GBDG reads from anthologies published by the Great Books Foundation and a limited number are available for checkout from EOL’s Reference Department. Reference Staff are happy to help you find readings in other books when/if copies of the anthologies are not available.

Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook. 205-445-1121.

Theatre UAB Annual Festival of Ten Minute Plays – 7:30pm, March 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Our edgy, tremendously popular festival features eight super-short original plays. The 2012 theme, Get Me Out of Here! presents stories of cages, prisons, and traps of all kinds. Produced by Lee Shackleford.

Adults $5.00. Alys Stephens Center, 1200 10th Ave S, Birmingham (on UAB Campus). 205-975-ARTS. AlysStephens.uab.edu.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 UAB Reynolds Lecture Series: The Dawning of the Great Age of Librarians – 12-1pm. Presented

by T. Scott Plutchak, MLS, AHIP, Director, UAB Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences. Free and open to the public. Box lunches are available on a first come, first served basis. UAB Lister Hill Library, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham. 205-934-4475.

THURSDAY, MARCH 15 UAB Opera presents “Man of La Mancha” – 7pm Thurs, 7:30pm Fri. Family and friends, come join the UAB Opera Studies as they perform “Man of La Mancha” directed by Dr. Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk.

Tickets $10, $15, $20. Alys Stephens Center 1200, 10th Ave S, Birmingham (on UAB Campus). 205975-ARTS. AlysStephens.uab.edu.

Taxes and Tax Issues – 7-8:30pm. Certified Financial Planner Scott Cole will answer your tax questions.

Free to the public. Hoover Public Library, Theatre Level Meeting Rooms, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover.

205-444-7840.

Yoga by Laura Laura Thornton, RYT Registered Yoga Teacher (205) 854-5683 yogabylaura@att.net

FRIDAY, MARCH 16

SATURDAY, MARCH 24

Third Friday in Forest Park – 5-8pm. Dine, Wine and Shop in Birmingham’s Hippest Neighborhoods! Restaurants will have specials, wine tastings etc. Shops and galleries will be open late (5-8pm), catch the shows you may miss during the day, shop for gifts while enjoying a refreshment.

Forest Park Village, Clairmont Ave and 39th Street S,, Birmingham.

AppalachianTrail (tentative) Springer Mt to Gouch Gap, GA – March 24-25. Section day hiking with car camping. Contact Kenny 205-678-6274 for meeting time, location, directions and additional information. Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama.

Pinhoti.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17 Tannehill Trade Days – 8am-4pm Sat/Sun. The third weekend of each month, from March through November, shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures. Please note: no pets are allowed in the Trade Days Area. Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, 12632 Confederate Pkwy, McCalla.

205-477-5711.

Learn to Meditate – 9am-12pm. An authorized meditation instructor will give detailed instruction and guided meditation so that you have all the tools necessary for a daily practice. All experience levels welcome, ages 16 and up. $25.00 (or whatever you can afford). Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th Street S, Birmingham.

205-908-5405.

Introduction to Pilates on Highland – 8am.

This hour-long workshop will walk you through a basic workout on each piece of Pilates equipment, familiarize you with the history of Pilates and our studio. You will learn about the variety of classes that we offer and we will help you customize a fitness plan that fits your lifestyle, goals, and budget. $10.

Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Avenue South, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.

THURSDAY, MARCH 22 Nonfiction Book Group – 7-9pm, 4th Thursday of each month. Hoover Public Library’s nonfiction book discussion group. Current book: In the Heart of the Sea, by Nathaniel Philbrick. Call 444-7816 for info. Hoover Public Library, Theatre-Level Meeting Room, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover. 205444-7840.

FRIDAY, MARCH 23 Mid-South Flute Festival – March 23-24. Presented by University of Alabama School of Music.

Adults $30.00; Students $20.00; Non-flutist Family Member $10.00. University of Alabama Concert Hall, 810 2nd Ave, Tuscaloosa.

Native Lichens, Mosses and Liverworts – 8am.

Explore the fascinating world of native lichens, mosses and liverworts. Participants will learn basic identification skills to assist them in differentiating among these three groups. Includes a classroom lecture and field study/walk in The Gardens. $40 Members/$45 Non-Members.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25 Pitch Perfect – 12-2:30pm. Presentation by Author Carla Swafford and Heather Leonard. Learn to pitch a book to a literary agent and/or editor. Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood.

Intro To Genealogy Class – 2:30pm. Want to do genealogy research? Come to this class. No registration required. Log on to TinyURL.com/GenieIntro to print out the class handout and bring it with you.

Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham.

MONDAY, MARCH 26 Smart Investing @ EOL: Monday Morning Investment Club – 10am. Join us for our second meeting of the Monday Morning Investment Club.

Topic to be announced. Please call the Library to register at 205-445-1121.Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook.

TUESDAY, MARCH 27 Genre Reading Group: Magical Realism – 6:30pm. “An aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world.

The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the ‘real’ and the ‘fantastic’ in the same stream of thought.” Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook.

205-445-1117.

Childbirth Class: “Comfort Measures” – 7-9pm.

Dalia Abrams. Please call 205-614-3297 or email BirthPower@Bellsouth.net to register (space is limited). Cost $50. Location: Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Road, Birmingham.VillagerYoga.com.

BirthWellInBirmingham.com.

The Peking Acrobats – 7:30pm. Carefully selected from the finest acrobat schools in China, these gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists and tumblers transform 2000-year-old athletic disciplines into an all-ages kaleidoscope of entertainment and wonder. $15$33. Samford University Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, 800 Lakeshore Dr, Birmingham.

205-726-2853.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 In the Garden of Beasts – 12-1pm. Dr. Natalie Davis, Professor of Political Science and Pre-Law Advisor at Birmingham- Southern College, will discuss Erik Larson’s acclaimed best-selling book In the Garden of Beasts. Larson explores the early years of the Nazi regime through the experiences of United States Ambassador to Germany William E. Dodd and his family. Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham.

205-226-3631.

THURSDAY, MARCH 29 Lecture: Conservation of an American Masterpiece – 12-1pm. Lecture by Mark Tucker, Vice Chair of Conservation and Senior Conservator of Paintings, Philadelphia Museum of Art. Thomas Eakins’ Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross (The Gross Clinic) has been hailed as “hands down, the finest 19th-century American painting.” In 2010, the painting was cleaned and restored. Tucker, who led the conservation project, will speak on the historical and technical research that went in to this landmark restoration. Birmingham Museum of Art, 2000 Rev Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd, Birmingham.

205-254-2565.

SATURDAY, APRIL 14 Big and Bold Moves: A Journey into Spinal Extension and Arm Standing – In this course we will work towards proper alignment, range of motion, strength building, and proper mechanics students will need for their journey into back bending and arm standing with confidence. PMAapproved course (5 CEC), with a cost of $200. Call 205-323-5961 or visit PilatesOnHighland.com to register. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S., Birmingham.

SUNDAY, APRIL 15 Big and Bold: A Pilates and Yoga Inspired Movement Intensive – This three hour Pilates/ Yoga inspired movement class will give students and opportunity to go deep into the practice of arm standing and back bending. The cost of the class is $40. Please bring a yoga mat. Call 205-323-5961 or visit PilatesOnHighland.com to register. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S Birmingham.

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2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.

PilatesOnHighland.com.

ongoingevents sunday

Meditation – 7pm. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th Street South. Free admission. 205-595-1688. Birmingham-ShambhalaMeditation.org.

Mindfulness Meditation and Discussion Group – 9-10am. In the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Chairs are provided, or bring your own cushion. Childcare available. Contact Sharron Swain at 205-401-7541 or Dre@uucbham.org. Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham, 4300 Hampton Heights Dr.

Chess Club – 6pm every Monday through April 30. Get a lesson from a chess coach and try your skills against other players. Ages 7 and up. No registration required. Emmet O’Neal Library (Mountain Brook), 50 Oak Street, Mountain Brook.

205-879-0497.

Spoken Word – 6-8pm. The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame presents spoken word performances the third Sunday of each month. The Carver Theatre, 1631 N 4th Ave, Birmingham. 205-254-2731. JazzHall.com.

The Magic City Toastmasters Club – 6:15pm.

Trinity Medical Center, 800 Montclair Rd, the 820 Professional Building (Nursing School). ZSupport@TheToastMastersTornado.com.

monday

Meditation – 6:30pm. Twin Hearts meditation classes held every Monday. Free admission. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-9082007. UnityBham.com.

Adult Sunday School – 10-10:30am. Facilitated by Mike Goins. Currently studying “Practical Mysticism of Joel Goldsmith.” Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007. UnityBham.com.

Healing Ministry – 12:30-1:30pm, first and third Sunday of each month. The Unity Healing Ministry offers healing through prayer and energy balancing to individuals following Sunday service in our upstairs Healing Center. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007. UnityBham.com.

Power Pilates Mat – 2pm. Genevieve Ward.

Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.

The Appalachian Trail Club of Alabama (ATCA) 2pm, first Sunday of each month. Alabama Outdoors (downstairs), 3054 Independence Dr, Birmingham. Pinhoti@bellsouth.net. Pinhoti.org.

Chess: Scholastic Chess Club – 2-5pm. Schoolage players of all skill levels are welcome. Chess coach Michael Ciamarra hosts. Chess, Checkers, Go. Free. Books A Million, Brookwood Village.

205-870-0213.

Course in Miracles Workshop – 5:30-7pm. Based on Kenneth Wapnick’s highly acclaimed workshop, “What It Means to Be a Teacher of God.” Facilitated by Angela Julian. Workshop is free and open to the public and can be attended at any time. Contact Angela at AcimJulian@gmail.com to receive study material. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007. UnityBham.com.

Sunday Service – 11am-12:30pm. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. 205-908-2007.

UnityBham.com.

Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio –7:45am and 4:15pm.

Genevieve Ward. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.

Vinyasa Flow & Restore Yoga – 9am. Jasper Wolfe. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062.

BlissfulHeights.com.

Core Barre – 12pm and 6:45pm. This fun, fatburning format of interval training quickly and safely reshapes the entire body. It is non-impact and targets all major muscle groups while improving posture. $18. Register online. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.

PilatesOnHighland.com.

Martial Arts – 5-6pm. Books, Beans & Candles Metaphysical Shoppe, 1620 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd, Birmingham. 205-453-4636. MHagood@ gmail.com. BookBeanCandle.com.

Pilates Mat – 5:30pm. A series of floor-work exercises emphasizing core strength, breath control, flowing movement, the development of long, lean muscles and a decompressed spine. $15. No reservation needed. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.

PilatesOnHighland.com.

Introduction to Pilates Equipment – 5:30pm.

Become familiar with the equipment used in the Pilates method, including Reformer, Tower, and Chair. $30. Register online. Pilates on Highland,

The roots of all goodness lie in

the soil of appreciation for goodness. ~Dalai Lama

Circle of Champions Toastmasters Club – 6:30-7:30pm, first and third Monday of each month (except holidays). Abundant Life Church, 1625 Kent Dairy Road, Alabaster. 205-218-8136.

RCooperdtm@yahoo.com.

BAO Bingo – 6pm, doors open; 7pm game starts.

First Monday of each month. Cost to play is $15 for five games plus $1 for the bonus game and $1 for an ink dauber. You must be 19 to enter. Birmingham AIDS Outreach, 205, 32nd St S. BirminghamAIDS Outreach.org.

Board Games – The J. Simpkins Gallery hosts Classic Monday each Monday after work, featuring classic board games, classic movies, and refreshments. 1608 Floyd Bradford Rd, Trussville.

Admission $5. 205-957-5448.

Irish Dance – 7-8:30pm. Irish set dance classes for adults and mature teens. Beginners welcome. $5. Children’s Dance Foundation, 1715 27th Court South, Homewood. 205-678-8569.

Meditation – 7pm. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th Street South. Free admission. 205-595-1688. Birmingham-ShambhalaMeditation.org.

Swing Dance – 7pm lessons, 8-10pm social dancing. The Birmingham Lindy Dancers Association hosts “Just Gotta Swing.” $5-$7. Bella Prima Dance Studio, 3712 Lorna Rd, Birmingham.704-533-5017. JustGottaSwing.com.

tuesday Yoga for the Back and Fibromyalgia – 9-9:45am.

Iron Beach Gym, 1729 Crestwood Blvd, Irondale. Call or email Laura Thornton at 205-854-5683, YogaByLaura@att.net for current schedule and information.

Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio – 8am with Genevieve Ward and 5:45pm with Virginia Rives.

Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.

Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama (ACA) – Support group meeting for individuals and/or

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families on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. ACA office, call for time and details.

205-871-7970. Alzca.org.

Beginning Yoga – 10-11am. Iron Beach Gym, 1729 Crestwood Blvd, Irondale. Call or email Laura Thornton at 205-854-5683, YogaByLaura@att.net for current schedule and information.

Network Birmingham – 11:30am, first Tuesday of each month. Network Birmingham promotes communication among career-oriented women.

Each meeting includes networking time, a business-related educational program, a full lunch, announcements, and door prizes. Harbert Center, 2019 4th Ave N, Birmingham. NetworkBham.net.

VA Voices Toastmasters – 5-6pm. Birmingham VA Medical Center, Third Floor, 700 19th St S, Birmingham. PGresh@uab.edu.

Zumba Dance Calorie Burn-Off Sessions – 5:30pm. Zumba is a Latin inspired dance/fitness class where you can easily have fun and burn 500-1000 calories per session. Ages 12-84+ have attended. No dance experience needed. $5 per class. Homewood Community Center, 1632 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood.

Pilates Boot Camp – 5:30pm. A great mix of cardio and core strengthening interval training. $18. Register at PilatesonHighland.com. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham.

205-323-5961.

Yoga for Beginners 6-Weeks Series – 5:30-7pm.

A 6-class series beginning March 20. Instructor Adrianne Morrison. This series introduces the foundations of Hatha yoga with hands-on, “howto” guidance. Traditional yoga poses and breathing exercises will be explored. Great for first timers, those finding their way back to yoga, or more experienced practitioners looking to reconnect with foundations of the discipline. Requires preregistration. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. VillagerYoga.com.

21 Essential Lessons of Life – 6-7:30pm. Study group seeking answers to the basic questions of life. Facilitated by Pat Hahn, 205-337-6426. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave, Birmingham.

205-251-3713. UnityBham.com Sidewalk Salon: E.M.P.A.C.T Alabama – 6pm. Sidewalk Salon’s are free networking and educational events for filmmakers and film buffs.

March’s Salon will feature Bobby Jon Drinkard, of AIDT, who will speak about the State’s new Entertainment, Media, Production & Crew Training (EMPACT) Program. First Tuesday of each month in the sideroom at Rojo, 2921 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-324-0888.

The Vulcan Hash House Harriers – 6:15pm.

Weekly run. Affectionately known as “A Drinking Club with a Running problem,” Vulcan H3 is a non-competitive running group for people of every athletic ability. Starting at 6:15pm with a 3–5 mile trail somewhere around Birmingham concluding with general mischief and drinking. VulcanH3.com .

Vestavia Toastmasters – 6-7pm, first and third Tuesday of each month. Vestavia Board of Education Building, 1204 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills.

205-937-4099. SpeakWithEase@gmail.com.

Hatha Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Trussville Civic Center, 5391 Trussville Clay Road, Trussville.

Call or email Laura Thornton at 205-854-5683, YogaByLaura@att.net for current schedule and information.

Meditation – 7pm. Free. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th Street S. 205-5951688. Birmingham-Shambhala-Meditation.org.

Ballroom Dance – 7pm. Ballroom dance lessons in various dance styles. $3. No partner required. South Highland Presbyterian Church, 2035 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-933-0790. HPCbhm.org.

From Karma to Grace: The Power of the Fruits of the Spirit WITH JOHN

Saturday, March 10, 2012 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Unity of Birmingham

Cha-Cha Dance – 7-8pm. Beginner level cha-cha lessons. No partner required, all ages welcome. $3. South Highland Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, 2035 Highland Ave S, Birmingham.

205-933-0790.

The Society for Creative Anachronism – 7pm. A group dedicated to the sports, arts, and sciences of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Homewood Senior Center, 816 Oak Grove Rd, Homewood.

BaronyOfIronMountain.org.

Course in Miracles – 7-8pm. New “Text Made Simple” Book Study with commentary provided

by Pathways of Light (PathWaysOfLight.org).

For more info contact Angela Julian, Facilitator at AcimJulian@blogspot.com or 205-370-5721.

Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Avenue, Birmingham. UnityBham.com.

Folk Dance Classes – 7:30-9pm. Open to all. No experience necessary. $2. Levite Jewish Community Center, 3960 Montclair Road, Birmingham.

205-956-1735.

wednesday

VAN AUKEN

2803 Highland Ave. Birmingham, AL 35205 See our Newsbrief on page 5 for details on this special one-day event.

Cost is $79 in advance or $89 at the door.

At-Door Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.

To pre-register call 888-273-0020.

For more local information, Call Beverly Westbrook at 205-613-1709.

Disc Golf Birmingham 2012 Spring League – 5:30pm, March 21-May 9 on Wednesday evenings.

George Ward Park. Tee Time 5:30 sharp. (Please be on-site with your bag tag turned in no later than 5:20 for the players’ meeting.) More info at DiscGolfBirmingham.com.

Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio – 6am, 7:45am, and 4:30pm classes with Genevieve Ward; 6pm class with Virginia Rives. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.

Pilates Mat – 5:30pm. A series of floor-work exercises emphasizing core strength, breath control, flowing movement, the development of long, lean muscles and a decompressed spine. $15. No reservation needed. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.

PilatesOnHighland.com.

Hatha Flow Yoga – 9am, March 7, 14, and 21.

Suzanne Graham. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.

Martial Arts – 5-6pm. Books, Beans & Candles Metaphysical Shoppe, 1620 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd, Birmingham. 205-453-4636. MHagood@ gmail.com. BookBeanCandle.com.

Lupus Outreach Group – 10am, second Wednesday of each month. Homewood Public Library, Room 116, 1721 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham.

Kala485@yahoo.com.

Belly Dancing – 6-7pm. Meeting room. Books, Beans & Candles Metaphysical Shoppe, 1620 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd, Birmingham. 205-453-4636.

MHagood@gmail.com. BookBeanCandle.com.

Noon Prayer Service – 12-12:30pm. For a midweek spiritual boost, come to the Wednesday weekly noon prayer service and meditation service at Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave, Birmingham. 205-251-3713. UnityBham.com

thursday

French Conversation – Daniel Rabourdin hosts an informal French speaking group the first and third Wednesday of each month at Barnes & Noble at the Summit. 205-370-3542. DRabourdin@ewtn.com.

Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio – 6am and 7am with Sheri Kristjansson; 4:30pm, Genevieve Ward. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062.

BlissfulHeights.com.

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Restorative Yoga – 9:30am. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.

Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Society – 6:308pm. Meets the 2nd Friday of each month (except June). Vestavia Hills Library, 1221 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia Hills. LapidaryClub.com.

Book Discussion Group – 10am-12pm, first Thursday of the month. Just ask at the Fiction Desk for a copy of the current month’s title. Refreshments are provided. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Hoover. 205-444-7820.

CODA – 6:30-7:30pm. Unity of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave. Wrig39@bellsouth.net.

UnityBham.com.

Pilates Beginner Mat – 5:30pm. A series of floorwork exercises emphasizing core strength, breath control, flowing movement, the development of long, lean muscles and a decompressed spine. $15.

No reservation needed. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.

PilatesOnHighland.com.

The Vocalizers Toastmasters Club – 6:15pm, first and third Thursday of each month. Hoover Public Library, 200 Municipal Dr, Birmingham.

205-678-4599. Vocalizers.com.

Hatha Yoga – 6:30-7:30pm. Trussville Civic Center, 5391 Trussville Clay Road Trussville.

Call or email Laura Thornton at 205-854-5683, YogaByLaura@att.net for current schedule and information.

Core Barre – 7pm. This fun, fat-burning format of interval training quickly and safely reshapes the entire body. It is non-impact and targets all major muscle groups while improving posture. $18. Register online. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham. 205-323-5961.

PilatesOnHighland.com.

German – 7pm. Stammtisch Conversation Table.

For anyone who speaks German. Giuseppe’s Cafe, 925 8th Street S, Birmingham. Agresti@uab.edu.

Meditation – 7pm. Free. Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, 714 37th St S, Birmingham. 205-595-1688. Birmingham-ShambhalaMeditation.org

friday Hatha Flow Yoga – 9-10am, March 2, 9, 16, and 23. Suzanne Graham. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.

Core Barre – 12pm. This fun, fat-burning format of interval training quickly and safely reshapes the entire body. It is non-impact and targets all major muscle groups while improving posture. $18. Register at PilatesOnHighland.com. Pilates on Highland, 2827 Highland Ave S, Birmingham.

205-323-5961.

Bards & Brews: Birmingham Public Library Poetry Slam Series – 6:30-9pm, first Friday of each month. Live music and sign-up at 6:30; call time is 7pm. Check Bards & Brews on Facebook for updated schedule and location.

saturday The Birmingham Genealogical Society – 2pm, fourth Saturday of each month (except November and December). Arrington Auditorium, LinnHenley Building, Birmingham Public Library.

205-226-3665. BirminghamGenealogy.org.

Zumba Dance Party – 9am. Zumba is a Latin inspired dance/fitness class where you can easily have fun and burn 500-1000 calories per session.

Ages 12-84+ have attended. No dance experience needed. $5 per class. Homewood Community Center, 1632 Oxmoor Rd, Homewood.

community resourceguide 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 Editor@AlabamaAwakenings.com to request our media kit.

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

Hatha Flow Yoga – 9-10am. March 3, 10, and 17. Suzanne Graham. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood.

205-639-1062. BlissfulHeights.com.

Changing Lives One Mind At A Time Community Chess Class – 10am-12pm. Free two hour Saturday chess class taught by Charles A. Smith of Magic City Chess U. Smith is the coach of the W. J. Christian state champion chess team, the Indian Springs Chess team, and has produced 11 individual state chess championships, as well as regional and national achievements. Birmingham Public Library Central Branch, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham.

Pilates Reformer Duet/Trio –10:15am. Genevieve Ward. Blissful Heights Integrative Healing, 3100 Independence Dr, Homewood. 205-6391062. BlissfulHeights.com.

Belly Dance Classes – with Zivah Spahirah Troupe instructors. Meets every Saturday at Children’s Dance Foundation, 1715 27th Court South, Homewood. Ages 16 and up. 205-9785121. ZivahSaphirah.com.

Bagpipe Lessons – 9am. Heritage Pipes and Drums offers bagpipe and Scottish side drum lessons. Riverchase Church of Christ, 1868 Montgomery Hwy, Birmingham. 205-427-1756.

HPD-Pipeband.org.

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 self-motivate and Achieve Your Goals!

NUTRITION AND GIFTS GOLDEN TEMPLE, NOW 3 LOCATIONS

Drum Circle – 7-8:30pm. John Scalici hosts a Community Drum Circle (ages 16 and up) the third Saturday of each month. Check online at GetRhythmPrograms.com.

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

Dancing for Birth Classes – 11am-12pm. Villager Yoga, 3150 Overton Rd, Birmingham. Email Kaleigh at Kaleigher@gmail.com to get a coupon for a free trial class and for more information.

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.

All gardening is landscape painting. ~William Kent 30

Birmingham

NABirmingham.com

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