March 2014

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Food & Garden Hottest Trends in Eco-Edibles ■ Gluten-Free On the Go ■ Powerhouse Herbs ■ Backyard Aquaponics ■

March 2014

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contents 8

5 newsbriefs 8 healthbriefs 10 community spotlight

16 healingways 18 greenliving 20 consciouseating

10 25

22 naturalpet 24 wisewords 25 inspiration 26 calendar 27 classifieds 30 resourceguide

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.

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

10 MCENALLY'S

MERCANTILE

12

Brings the Past Back to Life

by Cindy Wilson

12 FRESH FOOD TRENDS Natural Trailblazers in Sustainable Eating

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

14 UNITY OF BIRMINGHAM A Positive Path for Spiritual Living

16

by Rev. Charles Perry

15 IODINE:

Fad or Forgotten Nutrient?

by Steve Dupont

16 SUPERHERBS Four Plants that Fight Off Disease

20

by Kathleen Barnes

18 FOOD REVOLUTION IN A TANK

Aquaponics Offers Year-Round Homegrown Fish and Veggies

by Avery Mack

20 GLUTEN-FREE ON THE GO Safe Eating Away from Home

by Judith Fertig

24 FROM “WHY ME?”

TO “THANK YOU!”

24

Wayne Dyer on the Value of Hard Lessons

by Linda Sechrist

25 GARDENING AS

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE Cycles of Growth Cultivate Our Divinity

by April Thompson

natural awakenings

March 2014

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letterfrompublisher “So grow your own food: It is trendy, wholesome, good for the environment, good for our tight budgets and for our burgeoning waistlines. And it isn’t hard.

Get your hands dirty and enjoy the soil and the sunshine. Enjoy the process from garden to table and all that is in between.”

– Sally Cameron, Author, Grow It Cook It

contact us Publisher Tom Maples Tom@AlabamaAwakenings.com Cell: 404-395-9634 Co-Publisher, Advertising Sales Cindy Wilson Cindy@AlabamaAwakenings.com Cell: 256-476-6537 Design and Production Melanie Rankin Natural Awakenings Birmingham 14 Woodland Ave. Trinity, Alabama 35673 Office: 256-340-1122 Fax: 256-217-4274 Facebook.com/nabirmingham © 2014 by Natural Awakenings. All rights reserved.

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

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We welcome your ideas, articles and feedback.

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

Grow your own food—why has this become such an all-consuming mantra? It has with me, I cannot deny. A friend of mine recently said, in response to my enthusiasm for the idea of food self-sufficiency: “The problem is that most of us aren’t going to grow our own food, no matter what.” And he’s right of course. Most people will never grow their own food. Most of us don’t have the yard space, the time, the inclination or the wherewithal to grow our own food. Many people don’t even see the necessity or the reason to grow their own food, and to them, I really don’t have an answer as to why I think it’s so important without getting into doom-and-gloom scenarios about rising food prices, soil depletion, GMOs, pesticides, glyphosate, and evil corporations who want to control the world food supply. All of that is negative, and I want to stay positive.

Growing your own food is exuberantly positive. It’s quite possibly one of the most fundamentally positive things anyone could ever do. And there is one method of indoor-or-out gardening that has the potential to help more people grow more of their own food, if they want to, wherever they happen to live.

Aquaponics!

Aquaponics is my new favorite subject. I’ve been completely captured by the beauty of the idea of Aquaponics. Ask Cindy, she’ll confirm how dreamy-eyed I get when talking about Aquaponics.

Aquaponics is the combination of small-scale fish farming with hydroponic (or soilless) gardening. It can be done in a basement, garage or greenhouse, and is flexible and scalable in size. This month’s article on Aquaponics by Avery Mack explains the process in more detail, but basically here’s the gist: the fish fertilize the plants, and the plants purify the water for the fish. It’s a closed loop…totally self-contained and self-perpetuating, as long as you continue to bring in food for the fish. It can produce hundreds of pounds of mercury-free fish and fully organic vegetables each month from a relatively small growing space, and you can grow year-round.

The system that Cindy and I are looking at building is the small Solar Greenhouse model designed by Randy Campbell of Perpetual Food Systems in Elora, Tennessee. You can look at his designs online at TodaysGreenAcres.com. Randy will be giving a seminar during the afternoon of Sunday, March 9 at the Holistic Green Expo at The Westin at Bridge Street in Huntsville. It will be one of many informative presentations throughout the day. We hope to see you there!

Natural Awakenings is printed on recycled newsprint with soybased ink.

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coverartist

newsbriefs March is Reiki Month at Birmingham Yoga

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erri A. Heiman, Reiki Master Teacher will be offering a complimentary Reiki demonstration at Birmingham Yoga on Sunday March 2 from 3:30-4:45pm. She will discuss the many wonderful effects Reiki has on the mind, body, spirit and emotions. A natural system of healing, Reiki is a perfect energy modality for self care that anyone can learn to use. At this talk, she will be offering hands-on demonstrations at no charge.

According to the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), Reiki is an integrative enTerri Heiman ergy medicine. Energy Medicine, as one of the five domains of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), recognizes energy as a vital, moving force that is at the foundation of our health. Energy medicine stimulates the body’s inherent ability to self heal on all levels. Reiki can be used to restore depleted energy in the body as well as stop the onset of illness.

Terri will also be discussing the levels of Reiki classes and then offering the certification class for Reiki 1 on Saturday, March 8 and Reiki 2 on Sunday, March 30. The classes offer the history, the principles, an introduction to the energy fields and the chakra system.

Information on both of these classes can be found on Birmingham Yoga’s website, BirminghamYoga.com. Certificates will be awarded and NCBTMB 10 CE hours are eligible

Harvest Bowl Sherri Nelson

The juicy red and green tomatoes in cover artist Sherri Nelson’s Harvest For more information or to register contact Terri Heiman at Natural Forces Studio Bowl were plucked from memory. “I located inside Birmingham Yoga. She can be reached at 205-201-6985 or Terri@ painted this at a time when I didn’t NaturalForcesStudio.com. NaturalForcesStudio.com. See listing, page 30. have a garden and got nostalgic about growing my own food, which my husband and I love to do,” she says.

While flowers comprise her original muse, Nelson also draws artistic inspiration from Mexican pottery and irmingham Yoga would like to welcome Gadadhara Day of the Dead folk art. Her own Pandit Dasa (also known as Pandit) a monk, author, colorful, humorous renderings of skulls lecturer and the first ever Hindu chaplain for Columbia and skeletons are infused with elements University and New York University. He speaks at the of tattoo and traditional Indian henna nation’s leading universities, yoga studios, and retreat designs. Day of the Dead concepts centers, inspiring audiences with India’s spiritual wisdom. often inspire her customized wedding His life is chronicled in his autobiography: Urban Monk: Exploring Karma, Consciousness, and the Divine. He has Gadadhara Pandit Dasa portraits, and her distinctive designs show up on women’s, teens’ and spoken at a recent TEDx conference and was featured infants’ clothing sold via her Etsy.com in the NPR piece "Long Days and Short Nights of a Hindu Monk .” His unique shop, Bones Nelson. approach combines teachings of the ancient classic, Bhagvad-Gita, with popular Hollywood movies such as “The Matrix.”

The artist has a multidisciplinary His lecture “Living in The Matrix” blends together two opposing genres— arts education from Canada’s St. modern sci-fi and ancient wisdom from the East. We will walk alongside Neo and Lawrence College, York University and Arjuna as they try to understand who they are, why they are here, and what is the the Royal Conservatory of Music. She purpose and meaning of life. This engaging, discussion based presentation will almakes her home in Kingston, Ontario. low the audience to wrestle with these existential questions, as together, with help Her work can be seen in private collecfrom the practical spiritual wisdom of the Gita, we learn to cut through the matrix tions in her home country, the United of the material phenomena. Clips from the movie will be shown and the audience States, New Zealand and Austria. will be engaged in a thought provoking, enlivening dialogue.

Birmingham Yoga Welcomes Author Gadadhara Pandit Dasa

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Lecture will be held March 9 from 5-6:30pm at Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. Donation-based with suggested donation of $10.

View more of the artist’s work at SherriNelson.ca. natural awakenings

March 2014

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newsbriefs Healing Waters Offers New Device for the Treatment of Neuropathy and Pain

H

ealing Waters is pleased to announce that we are marketing the True Tesla™ Electric Muscle Stimulator (EMS), designed to bring relief to those suffering from the terrible condition of neuropathy. This device allows the body to get relief and heal quickly without causing additional pain. The True Tesla EMS is a high voltage, low amperage, electric muscle stimulator that treats some of the most challenging healthcare problems—without the use of drugs, without surgery, and at a fraction of the cost of standard medical treatment options.

Renua Medical’s True Tesla EMS provides specific benefits: • Increased local blood circulation • Muscle re-education • Relaxation of muscle spasms • Maintaining or increasing range of motion • Preventing or retarding disuse atrophy • Post surgical calf stimulation to prevent venous thrombosis The True Tesla EMS employs unique electric stimulating applications to reduce the pain, swelling, and inflammation of neuropathy and other conditions, and improves blood flow. As a result, the True Tesla EMS can help treat many neuropathies, including the chronic and difficult conditions associated with diabetes.

The True Tesla EMS the opposite of a TENS unit because it is a high voltage (max. 440 V) and very low amperage (.1-4.4 milliamps), AC output neuromuscular electrical stimulator. It is important to note that the True Tesla device can be used for both clinical and home use as a non-significant risk device specifically because of its low amperage output, even with its world leading high voltage. Most patients see results in four to 12 weeks.

For more information regarding the purchase or lease of this device, contact Bernadine Birdsong at Healing Waters 205-323-7582.

Learn to Garden with H&H Crops in a Pot

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hat is going to be growing in the garden this year? H & H Crops in a Pot can assist in helping to get a great start on gardening. Kathy Harper is a Master Gardener and horticulturist who has a passion to teach and coach oneon-one or in groups to help you learn how to become a gardener. From growing in containers, raised beds or on the land, Kathy can assist with planting, harvesting, and preparation and storage of the food grown in the garden. Kathy also provides educational classes to schools to help inspire our young people to become gardeners.

Kathy’s philosophy is “The reward of the labor is much more then the physical.

A growing garden is a gift of wisdom and appreciation of the land. All the elements function together to grow healthy, organic, nutrient-packed produce that is superior to any store-bought counterpart that lacks the home-grown freshness.”

For more information or consultation call Kathy Harper of H & H Crops in a Pot at 205-910-6244.

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Birmingham, AL

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March at the Gardens

M

arch will bring a collection of photography classes back to Birmingham Botanical Gardens, led by Hank Siegel.

On March 8, “Water Features” will teach aspiring photographers can capture memorable images of water in motion. A two-part class will take place on March 22 & 29 called “Up Close and Personal: Macrophotography in The Gardens.” The class will allow students and opportunity to hone their skills taking extreme close up images of plants and other features in The Gardens.

Yoga continues each Wednesday 5:30-6:30pm, and a Family Yoga Series will begin on March 15 and continue monthly until May. For more information about all classes, visit BBGardens.org/Classes.

The Cherry Blossom Festival will be held on March 22 from 11am-3pm. The free annual event is made possible by a partnership between The Gardens, Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham Museum of Art and Japan-America Society of Alabama. It concludes a month in which several other programs will be offered, including haiku contests, sushi-making classes and films screenings. For more information about all events, please visit BBGardens.org/ OtherEvents.

The Brown Bag Series returns on March 26 with “Trees and Shrubs,” an opportunity to learn about the timing of planting. Led by Mike Rushing, the free seminar will be held in Strange Auditorium from 11:30am-12:30pm. No reservations are required, and drinks and dessert will be provided.

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healthbriefs

Chemicals DIY Projects Keep Seniors Moving Harm Pets, Too T T

he British Journal of Sports Medicine reports that a generally active daily life that includes do-it-yourself activities and projects like gardening and car maintenance can cut the risks of heart attacks and strokes by as much as 30 percent and prolong life among adults 60 and over. These routine activities may be as beneficial as exercising for older adults because they decrease total sedentary time, the researchers say.

Scientists in Stockholm, Sweden, tracked more than 4,000 men and women for an average of 12.5 years, starting at age 60. At the start of the study, regardless of exercise habits, high levels of other physical activity were associated with smaller waists and lower levels of potentially harmful blood fats in both sexes, and lower levels of glucose, insulin and clotting factor levels in men.

Those with higher levels of other physical activity were also significantly less likely to experience metabolic syndrome, a first cardiovascular disease event, and early mortality from any cause. The same was true for individuals that undertook high levels of formal exercise, even if it wasn’t routine. Participants that both exercised regularly and were often physically active in their daily life had the lowest risk profile of all.

Coconut Oil Manages Cholesterol, Shrinks Waistlines

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educed physical activity and increased consumption of carbohydrates and saturated fats fuel increased rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance, plus abnormal lipid content in the blood. Although coconut oil is a saturated fat, its chemical composition appears to prevent it from generating negative effects on lipid profiles, according to a growing body of research.

In an earlier study published in Lipids, women that exhibited abdominal obesity consumed supplements of either coconut oil or soybean oil. Throughout the 12-week trial, both groups followed the same weight-loss diet. At the end, the coconut oil group presented a higher level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or protective cholesterol, and smaller waistlines, while the soybean oil group showed lower HDL levels and an increase in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plus a less desirable LDL-to-HDL ratio. In a later study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, consumption of coconut oil was again associated with a beneficial lipid profile in pre-menopausal women.

Researchers that conducted a concurrent pilot study with male and female subjects found that men also experienced shrinking waistlines when supplementing with coconut oil. They explain that coconut oil contains mainly medium-chain fatty acids, which rapidly convert into energy, thereby circumventing the cycle that makes cholesterol and stores fat (Pharmacology).

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Birmingham, AL

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he nationwide health epidemic of chronic diseases afflicting the human population is also showing up among companion animals. According to a report by the Environmental Working Group, pets, like a canary in a coal mine, may be the environmental sentinels that are now signaling a clear connection between disease and manmade chemicals.

In a study that analyzed blood samples of dogs and cats, 48 of 70 industrial chemicals and pollutants were traced, many recording levels that were substantially higher than previously reported in national studies of humans. Dogs displayed double the concentration of perfluorochemicals (used in stain-proof and grease-proof coatings); cats evidenced 23 times the concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) fire retardants and 5.4 times the amount of mercury.

PBDE levels in hyperthyroid cats have been linked to eating canned cat food and to the increased use of PBDEs in consumer products during the past 30 years. In humans, high levels of flameretardant chemicals are implicated in endocrine disruption, Type 2 diabetes and thyroid disease.

Suggestions for minimizing exposure include avoiding chemicalladen household cleaners, furnishings and carpet; drinking carbon-filtered water; steering clear of food and beverage containers made from or lined with plastic (including cans); and eating organic produce and free-range meat.

Legumes Improve Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure

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cup of beans a day may keep the doctor away. In a randomized trial published in the Archives of Internal Medicine of 121 participants diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, daily consumption of approximately one cup of legumes (peas and beans) was found to improve glycemic control and reduce systolic blood pressure and heart rate, thereby reducing participants’ calculated risk score for coronary heart disease (CHD).

Body weight, waist circumference and fasting blood glucose and triglyceride levels also decreased on the legume diet. Legumes appear to make dietary carbohydrates digest more slowly and with a lower glycemic index, which has been associated with reduced hypertension and fewer CHD events in pre-diabetic individuals.

Vitamin E Hope for Cancer Care

E

lusive anti-cancer elements of vitamin E, natural tocopherols, have been identified by researchers at Ohio State University as being able to deactivate an enzyme essential for cancer cell survival.

Although both alpha and gamma forms of natural tocopherols worked, the gamma was the most potent in shutting down the troublesome enzyme. Through manipulating the structure of the gamma molecule, the scientists were able to create an agent 20 times more effective than the original vitamin. In mice, this agent reduced the size of prostate cancer tumors.

Over-the-counter vitamin E supplements are limited because many use synthetic forms that do not contain the natural gamma tocopherols. The study’s authors, led by Ching-Shih Chen, Ph.D., note that the human body cannot absorb the high dosages of natural vitamin E required to achieve the anti-cancer effect; their goal is to develop a safe pill that could be taken daily for cancer prevention.

Superfoods Defend Against Radiation

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wo superfoods show promise for protecting people from radiation damage—cruciferous vegetables and miso, a food paste made from fermented soybeans. Scientists have identified a specific chemical byproduct, 3,3’diindolylmethane (DIM), derived from the digestion of cruciferous vegetables and especially concentrated in broccoli, that is responsible for the defensive effect. The source of miso’s beneficial properties needs further investigation, but appears to stem from the fermentation process.

Research led by Gary Firestone, Ph.D., of the University of California-Berkley, and physician Eliot Rosen, Ph.D., of Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., concluded that administering supplemental DIM before or immediately following lethal levels of radiation exposure protected rats from immediate death. If clinical trials with humans are successful, the compound could be used to minimize acute radiation sickness.

A comprehensive research review published in the Journal of Toxicologic Pathology lends credence to miso’s shielding power. Mice that ate miso a week before irradiation appeared to be protected from radiation injury.

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businessspotlight

McEnally’s Mercantile Brings the Past Back to Life

by Cindy Wilson

(L-R) Kim Steffey, Kelly Steffey, Hamilton Trimm

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Birmingham, AL

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O

ne never knows what they may find in the surrounding small towns. Tucked away in the city of Clay, Alabama there is a new store with a taste of the past.

Kim Steffey and her family had a dream to open a store to provide quality products for farmers and other people in the community who wanted to return to simpler lifestyles associated with rural living of the past. On December 16, 2013 that dream became reality; McEnally’s Mercantile opened its doors for business. They wanted it to be a one-stop-shopping with a do-it-yourself, and grow-it-yourself attitude.

In April of 2013 Ms. Steffey purchased the old and neglected Piggly Wiggly building located at 6842 Old Springville Road. From there she and her family began the transformation of the building from something old and unwanted to something new and unique. It was important to them that the materials that were used for the restoration be eco-friendly but also bring a historical and natural feel to the store. The Steffey family used wood salvaged from the old Marcus Martin house and trees that were damaged in the tornados of 2012. They also salvaged tin form old barns. The wood and tin was turned into beautiful signs and displays used throughout the store.

McEnally’s Mercantile offers a large variety of items.

Their primary supplier for hardware is Orgill, Inc. They also have a great selection of feed & seed, pet supplies, artisan foods, meat and dairy, grocery items, essential oils, natural remedies and seasonal items. They have a large selection of organic products. They also carry materials for home repairs like plumbing supplies and paint.

“When selecting items for the store, we always try to select products that are the most cost-effective for the consumer without sacrificing quality,” Kelly Steffey told Natural Awakenings.

Another important goal of McEnally’s Mercantile is to support the local economy. McEnally’s carries a wide range of local products. They buy produce, dairy, and from Alabama suppliers. You can find eggs from Bartlett Farms, Canoe Creek local honey and molasses, organic cornmeal and grits from McEwen & Sons, a variety of breads from Magnolia

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With spring and planting seasons upon us, McEnally’s will also have a garden center that will carry all your plant-tofood needs.

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Fresh Food Trends Natural Trailblazers in Sustainable Eating

by Melinda Hemmelgarn

Food experts have listed local, regional and sustainable foods among the top food trends for 2014. Consumers’ heightened environmental awareness and their love for fresh flavors are responsible.

T

here’s even a new term, “hyperlocal”, to describe produce harvested fresh from onsite gardens at restaurants, schools, supermarkets and hospitals—all designed for sourcing tasty, nutrient-rich foods minus the fuelguzzling transportation costs. Adding emphasis to the need to preserve vital local food sources, the United Nations has designated 2014 as the International Year of Family Farming.

Here are four thriving food trends resulting from shifts in Americans’ thinking and our growing love for all things local.

Foraging

What could be more entertaining and economical than searching for and gathering wild foods in their natural habitat?

From paw paws and persimmons in Missouri to palmetto berries in Florida and seaweed in California, Mother Nature provides a feast at her children’s feet.

Commonly foraged foods include nuts, 12

Birmingham, AL

mushrooms, greens, herbs, fruits and even shellfish. To learn how to identify regional native wild foods and cash in on some “free” nutritious meals, foragers need to know where and when to harvest their bounty. Conservation departments and state and national parks often offer helpful field guides and recipes.

Jill Nussinow, also known as The Veggie Queen, a registered dietitian and cookbook author in Santa Rosa, California, characterizes foraging as “nature’s treasure hunt.” Nussinow says she forages for the thrill of it and because, “It puts you very much in touch with the seasons.”

On her typical foraging excursions through forests and on beaches, Nussinow notes, “You never know what you might find: mushrooms, berries, miner’s lettuce, mustard pods or sea vegetables.

It’s free food, there for the picking.”

However, she warns, “You have to know what you are doing. Some wild foods can be harmful.”

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For example, Nussinow advises getting to know about mushrooms before venturing forth to pick them. She recommends the book Mushrooms Demystified,

by David Arora, as a learning tool, and checking with local mycological associations for safe mushroom identification.

She also likes the advice of “Wildman” Steve Brill, of New York City, who publishes educational articles at Wildman SteveBrill.com. “He knows more about wild foods than anyone I know,” she says.

Vermont wildcrafter Nova Kim teaches her students not only how to identify wild edibles, but also how to harvest them sustainably. It’s critical to make sure wild foods will be available for future generations.

Fermentation

Kefir, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut all owe their unique flavors to fermentation. Sandor Katz, author of The Art of Fermentation: An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes From Around the World, is a self-described “fermentation revivalist”. He explains how microorganisms, such as lactic acid bacteria that are universally present on raw vegetables and in milk, transform fresh food into preserved sustenance.

Katz recalls how his boyhood love for sour pickles grew to an “obsession with all things fermented.” An abundant garden crop of cabbage left him wondering, “What are we going to do with all that cabbage?” The answer came naturally: “Let’s make sauerkraut.”

Subsequently, Katz has become an international expert on the art and science of fermentation from wine to brine and beyond, collecting recipes and wisdom from past generations (WildFermentation. com). He observes, “Every single culture enjoys fermented foods.”

Increasing respect and reverence for fermented foods and related communities of beneficial microorganisms is a new frontier in nutrition and medical sciences. For example, several researchers at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics annual meeting last fall in Houston, Texas, described the connections between the trillions of bacteria living in the human gut, known as the “microbiota”, and mental and physical health. Kelly Tappenden, Ph.D., a professor of nutrition and

gastrointestinal physiology with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, explained that gut bacteria play a variety of roles, including assisting in the digestion and absorption of nutrients; influencing gene expression; supporting the immune system; and affecting body weight and susceptibility to chronic disease.

Feed Matters

The popular adage, “We are what we eat,” applies to animals, as well. New research from Washington State University shows that organic whole milk from pasture-fed cows contains 62 percent higher levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids compared to conventional, or non-organic, whole milk. The striking difference is accounted for by the fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national organic program legally requires that organic cows have access to pasture throughout the grazing season. The more time cows spend on high-quality pasture, which includes grass, legumes and hay, the more beneficial the fats will be in their milk.

On the other hand, when ruminant animals, designed to graze on pasture, are fed a steady diet of corn and soy, both their milk and meat contain less beneficial fat.

According to Captain Joseph Hibbeln, a lipid biochemist and physician at the National Institutes of Health, American diets have become deficient in omega-3 fatty acids over the past 100 years, largely because of industrial agriculture. Hibbeln believes that consuming more omega-3s may be one of the most important dietary changes Americans can make to reduce the risk of chronic

Hyperlocal Superstars Food Corps is a national nonprofit with a mission to improve school food and thus children’s health and lifelong potential. Active in 15 states, it places teams of young teachers in limited-resource communities to establish school gardens, provide food-based nutrition education and supplement school meals with garden fresh produce.

Visit FoodCorps.org.

Top 10 Food Trends for 2014 1

Locally sourced meats and seafood

2 3 4 5 6

Locally grown produce

7 8

Children’s nutrition

9 10

Sustainable seafood

Environmental sustainability Healthful kids’ meals Gluten-free cuisine Hyperlocal sourcing (e.g. restaurant gardens) Non-wheat noodles/pasta (e.g. quinoa, rice, buckwheat) Farm/estate-branded items

Source: Restaurant.org diseases, improve mental health and enhance children’s brain and eye development, including boosting their IQs. Coldwater fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines provide excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Plus, dairy and meat from animals raised on pasture can improve our intake, as well.

Faith

How might eating with the “creation” in mind influence food and agriculture trends? Barbara Ross, director of social services for Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri, believes, “People’s common denominator is that we are all part of and integral to the creation.” She considers how “Food, agriculture, environment and economy are bound together in a way that requires we think, plan and act for the dignity of each person and the common good of the human family.”

Ross explains that the choices we make in these vital areas affect the richness of our soils, the purity of our air and water and the health of all living things.

Marie George, Ph.D., a professor of philosophy at St. John’s University, in Queens, New York, agrees, “The serious ecological crises we see today stem

from the way we think,” and “reveal an urgent moral need for a new solidarity” to be better stewards of the Earth and its creatures. For example, George sees it as contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer; that’s why she opposes gestation crates and the push for cheap food that exploits animals and the environment in the process.

Kelly Moltzen, a registered dietitian in Bronx, New York, shares a passion for addressing food justice and sustainability from her faith-based perspective of Franciscan spirituality. She believes that, “When we connect our spirituality with the daily act of eating, we can eat in a way that leads to a right relationship with our Creator.” By bridging spirituality with nutrition and the food system, Moltzen hopes to raise awareness of how people can care for their body as a temple and live in right relationship with the Earth, which she perceives as “the larger house of God.” Fred Bahnson, director of the Food, Faith and Religious Leadership Initiative at Wake Forest University’s School of Divinity, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is the author of Soil and Sacrament: A Spiritual Memoir of Food and Faith.

His book takes the reader on a journey to four different faith communities— Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal and Jewish—to explore connections between spiritual nourishment and the cultivation of food. Bahnson speaks about sacred soil and the communities of mystical microorganisms that lie within and create the foundation for sustenance.

He also describes the special power of communal gardens, which welcome all and provide nourishing food, yet come to satisfy more than physical hunger.

Regardless of religious denomination, Amanda Archibald, a registered dietitian in Boulder, Colorado, believes, “We are in a new era of food—one that embraces and honors food producers and food systems that respect soil, environment and humanity itself.”

Melinda Hemmelgarn, aka the “food sleuth”, is a registered dietitian and award-winning writer and radio host at KOPN.org, in Columbia, MO (FoodSleuth@gmail.com). She advocates for organic farmers at Enduring-Image.blogspot.com.

natural awakenings

March 2014

13

Unity of Birmingham A Positive Path for Spiritual Living

U

nity has sometimes been described as “transdenominational,” because we honor all paths to God. And, while we continue to refer to Jesus as our “Wayshower,” we regularly use teachings from the Buddha, the Vedas, the Tao, and a myriad of other spiritual traditions. One of those spiritual traditions is the path of the 12 Steps, found in the landmark 1939 book, Alcoholics Anonymous.

The program of spiritual action first outlined in that book has saved millions of lives, not only of alcoholics, but also of people suffering from a wide range of addictive and other behavioral disorders. It has been applied to approximately 200 different maladies, and continues to grow in popularity.

One of the defining characteristics of the 12 Steps is that while it is an outline for a spiritual way of living, it does not promote any specific religion or religious tradition. Even the word God is often referred to as a “Higher Power,”

which may help those for whom the word “God” itself is a problem. Students of the 12 Steps are encouraged to commune with God “as we understand him,” in other words, a Higher Power that makes sense to the individual in a personal and authentic way, rather than a God as defined and promoted by a religious body. By fostering this personal and authentic relationship with the Higher Power, the program of the 12 Steps is able to produce a profound spiritual awakening in some of the most spiritually bankrupt of individuals.

It is no accident, then, that many Unity churches (ours included) count among their members students of the 12 Steps in one form or another. Unity churches (ours included) are the home of many 12 Step groups and meetings.

Recently, a new AA group, the Sunlight of the Spirit Group, was formed at our church, and has begun holding meetings on Friday nights at 7pm, downstairs in Beverly Hall. We also have a

CODA group, which meets on Friday nights at 6:45pm, in the Upstairs Lobby.

We are open to hosting other 12 Step groups as well, and if your group is looking for a home, please contact us.

In Unity, we see all people in a “recovery program” of sorts: we are all recovering from the illusion that we are separate from God. So, as we walk the spiritual path back to our realization of Oneness, we also may have some Steps to climb as well. If you are a student of the Steps, and you have been looking for a new church home, we invite you to come to Unity of Birmingham. We honor the path you are on, and we celebrate the life you are choosing to lead.

And, if you are not a student of the Steps, but simply looking for a place where you can develop an authentic relationship with the God of your understanding, we invite you to join us as well. We honor all paths to God, especially yours!

Many Blessings, Rev. Charles Perry ONGOING WEEKLY CALENDAR Sundays 9:45am

Reverend Charles and Reverend Christine Perry Bookstore & Church

Tuesdays 6pm

Tuesday–Thursday 9:30–4:30 Friday 9:30–3:00

Chaplain Prayer Line 205-251-4365

Silent Unity

24 hrs Prayer Available 1-800-NOW-PRAY

14

“Creative Process: Living Truth Principles for a Joyous Life”

Wednesdays

MARCH SERVICE SCHEDULE Starting Sunday, February 9 – Sunday, March 30 11 am Keys to the Kingdom

Unity of Birmingham

Wednesday nights, February 12 – March 26 6:30 – 8:30 pm Keys to the Kingdom class

2803 Highland Ave S Birmingham AL 35205 205-251-3713 UnityBham.org

Sunday, April 6 11 am Edwene Gaines Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity 1:30 – 3:30 pm Workshop with Edwene Gaines

Birmingham, AL

Conversations with God for Teens, Artie’s Place 10am Adult Sunday School 10:45am Youth Ministry in Artie’s Place 11am Sunday Service in the Sancturay 5pm “Course in Miracles,” Main Lobby

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Noon Prayer Service

Fridays

6:30-7:30pm CODA in Main Lobby 7pm Alcoholics Anonymous

Keys to the Kingdom is designed to help you

identify and change your limited beliefs about abundance, happiness, and success. This is not a course about simply getting more money or material things. It is actually a guide to developing a higher level of spiritual awareness. The program leads to an understanding of the spiritual foundation of true abundance and creating a life in greater harmony with spiritual law.

Cutting Through the Nutrition Nonsense

by Steve Dupont, RD, LD

IODINE:

Fad or Forgotten Nutrient?

I

often get two completely different takes on iodine. For most, it’s not even on their radar. For others, who are avid readers of natural health magazines and blogs, iodine the subject of much hype as a nutritional cure-all.

In other words, iodine is both a fad and forgotten nutrient. It’s also essential. So the questions we need to ask are 1) How much do I normally get? 2) Is it enough? And, 3) If not, what supplement should I take, and what amount?

Iodine’s Role in the Body

The thyroid has been compared to the drummer in a band, as it sets the tempo for our entire metabolism. In that case, iodine is like the drum and drumsticks—the raw materials used by the drummer to do his job. Specifically, four atoms of iodine and one atom of tyrosine form T4, the inactive form of thyroid hormone. One iodine is then stripped away to make T3, the active form. Frank iodine deficiency manifests as goiter in adults and cretinism in children, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to profound mental retardation. Milder iodine deficiency may also contribute to hypothyroidism.

Another aspect to consider is that other halogen derivatives compete with iodine for deposition in the thyroid— namely bromide (from brominated flour and sodas), chloride (from city water and pools) and fluoride (from city water, processed foods and most beverages including juices, wine and beer). Yet another reason why I urge everyone to drink filtered or purified water as much as possible, and consider taking supplemental iodine.

Sources of Iodine

Iodine is naturally present in the sea and land. That said, like other minerals, iodine has been drastically depleted from our agricultural soils over the past century. Most fish and shellfish contain significant amounts of iodine, as well as kelp and sea vegetables, but oddly, sea salt contains only small traces.

Most dairy products are a decent source, due to iodine-containing agents used to sterilize milking equipment, but that’s about it. Thus, iodized salt was developed to fill the gap.

Iodine Supplements

If you don’t eat seafood regularly, and don’t consume substantial amounts of iodized salt (which I do NOT recommend), I would consider a supplement—especially if you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or often have signs of hypothyroidism like feeling cold, tired and sluggish.

What form to choose? First do NOT consume betadine or povidone iodine, which are for topical antiseptic use only.

Nor should you take pure potassium iodide (KI), which is designed to saturate the thyroid against radioactive iodine from nuclear fallout (not bad to have around though). By the way, iodized salt also contains the more “aggressive” KI form.

Supplements include Lugol’s solution and ioderal—both a combination of molecular iodine (I2) and KI, iosol (molecular) and the latest trend “nascent” or “atomic” iodine (electrically charged I atoms). Bottom line, I believe all are safe in a dose less than 3 mg (3000 mcg) daily, but my favorite is iosol iodine because it’s a superior form to the KI-containing varieties and much less expensive than nascent iodine. Iosol is available from WellnessResources.com, to be taken 1-3 drops daily in a small amount of water.

Finally, if taking iodine, I also highly recommend taking supplemental selenium at 200-400 mcg daily, as it is essential for converting T4 to T3, as well as providing overall antioxidant support for thyroid hormone production, which is a rather “hot” process metabolically speaking.

Steve Dupont, RD, LD, is a registered dietitian and founder of Dupont Dietary Consulting LLC. A “true believer” in the power of nutrition, Steve is committed to serving those wishing to enjoy delicious food while reaping its health benefits. Specialties include weight loss, energy balance, supplements, cooking and meal planning. 205-213-7953.

SteveDupont.com. natural awakenings

March 2014

15

editorial calendar

2014

healingways

MARCH

food & garden

plus: gluten-free foods APRIL

green living

plus: healthy home MAY

women’s wellness plus: bodywork JUNE

inspired living

plus: men’s wellness

food watch

Superherbs

AUGUST

Four Plants that Fight Off Disease

JULY

plus: natural medicine cabinet

transformative education plus: children’s health

by Kathleen Barnes

SEPTEMBER

conscious caretaking plus: yoga

OCTOBER

sustainable communities plus: chiropractic and acupuncture NOVEMBER

personal empowerment plus: beauty

DECEMBER

awakening humanity plus: holiday themes

16

Birmingham, AL

Mother Nature’s most potent healing herbs are already on most spice racks or growing nearby, often right outside the door.

H

erbs, respected for their healing properties for millennia, have been widely used by traditional healers with great success. Now clinical science supports their medicinal qualities.

Pharmaceutical companies routinely extract active ingredients from herbs for common medications, including the potent pain reliever codeine, derived from Papaver somniferum; the head-clearing antihistamines ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, from Ephedra sinica; and taxol, the chemotherapy drug commonly used to treat several types of cancer, including breast cancer, from Taxus brevifolia. These are among the findings according to Leslie Taylor, a naturopath and herbalist headquartered in Milam County, Texas, and author of The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs.

Even among an abundance of healing herbs, some stand out as nature’s “superherbs” that provide an array of medical properties, according to Rosemary Gladstar, of Barre, Vermont, the renowned author of Herbal

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Remedies for Vibrant Health and related works. Two of these, she notes, are widely considered nuisance weeds.

Plantain (Plantago major): Commonly used externally for poultices, open wounds, blood poisoning and bee stings, it also helps relieve a wider variety of skin irritations. According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology, this common “weed” fortifies the liver and reduces inflammation, which may reduce the risk for many kinds of chronic diseases. At least one study, published in the journal Planta Medica, suggests that plantain can enhance the immune system to help fight cancer and infectious diseases.

“Plantain is considered a survival herb because of its high nutritional value,” advises Gladstar, who founded the California School of Herbal Studies, in Sonoma County, in 1978. A new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry confirms it’s an excellent source of alpha-tocopherol, a natural form of vitamin E and beta

carotene that can be used in salads for those that don’t mind its bitter taste.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Like plantain, dandelion is one of the most powerful medicinal herbs on the planet. “Dandelion is revered wherever you travel, except in the United States, where it is considered noxious,” observes Gladstar.

Americans should reconsider their obsession with eradication. Dandelion root is an effective treatment against several types of cancer, including oftenfatal pancreatic and colorectal cancers and melanoma, even those that have proven resistant to chemotherapy and other conventional treatments, according to several studies from the University of Windsor, in England.

Traditionally part of a detoxification diet, it’s also used to treat digestive ailments, reduce swelling and inflammation and stop internal and external bleeding.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa): Turmeric gives curry powder its vibrant yellow color. “Curcumin, turmeric’s most important active ingredient, is a wealth of health, backed by substantial scientific evidence that upholds its benefits,” says Jan McBarron, a medical and naturopathic doctor in Columbus,

Herb: A plant or a part of a plant that is used as medicine or to give flavor to food. ~ Merriam Webster Georgia, author of Curcumin: The 21st Century Cure and co-host of the Duke and the Doctor radio show.

Several human and animal studies have shown that curcumin can be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, both in prevention and to slow or even stop its progress. One Australian study showed that curcumin helps rid the body of heavy metals that may be an underlying cause of the memory-robbing disease. Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that curcumin helped dissolve the plaques and tangles of brain material characteristic to Alzheimer’s.

Curcumin is also known to be effective in lessening depression and preventing heart disease, some types of cancer and diabetes, says McBarron.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Primarily used for its considerable anti-

inflammatory properties, ginger makes a delicious and healing tea and an enticing spice in a variety of dishes. This herbal powerhouse has at least 477 active ingredients, according to Beyond Aspirin, by Thomas M. Newmark and Paul Schulick.

Considerable research confirms ginger’s effectiveness against a variety of digestive problems, including nausea from both morning sickness and chemotherapy. Research from Florida’s University of Miami also confirms its usefulness in reducing knee pain.

“Ginger is a good-tasting herb to treat any type of bacterial, fungal or viral infection,” says Linda Mix, a retired registered nurse in Rogersville, Tennesse, and author of Herbs for Life!

The health benefits of these four vital herbs are easily accessed by growing them in a home garden or pot or via extracted supplements.

Kathleen Barnes is the author of Rx from the Garden: 101 Food Cures You Can Easily Grow. Connect at KathleenBarnes.com.

Note: For referenced studies, check the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

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March 2014

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greenliving

March Specials GLUTEN-FREE PASTA ON SPECIAL

Buy 1/2 pound of pasta for $8, get 2nd bag for $6.

Bare Naked Noodles Check out www.BareNaked 205-305-2715 to order.

Expires 3/31/14

Food Revolution in a Tank

Aquaponics Offers Year-Round Homegrown Fish and Veggies

by Avery Mack

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icture a salad of mixed lettuces or romaine accented with microgreens and ripe, red tomatoes alongside an entrée of tilapia, complemented by a dessert of fresh strawberries—all organic, eco-friendly and freshly harvested, even in the middle of winter. The ingredients for this meal don’t have to travel many miles to reach the table—they can be found just several feet away, thanks to aquaponics.

“Aquaculture is fish farming, hydroponics is soilless gardening,” explains Becca Self, executive director of educational nonprofit FoodChain, in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. “Aquaponics is a mutually beneficial blend of the two.

Our indoor aquaponics system produces about 150 pounds of fresh tilapia every month, plus nearly 200 pounds of lettuces, herbs and microgreens.”

FoodChain, which shares production space in a former bread factory with Smithtown Seafood and West Sixth Brewing, hosted 2,000 guests and was the destination for 54 field trips last year by farmers, church groups, Rotary clubs and students of all grade levels.

The seafood restaurant’s website notes, “We can step outside our back door into the farm for our superfood salad

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greens, herbs and tilapia.”

FoodChain is also finding a way to use waste grain from the microbrewery as fish food. According to brewmaster Robin Sither, the grain is free of genetic engineering, but not organic. He notes that it’s rare for a brewery to use organic grain.

The general hydroponics concept dates back to ancient practices in Chinese rice fields, Egyptian bottomlands flooded by the Nile River and Aztec floating gardens perched on low rafts layered with rich bottom muck. By the early 20th century, chemists had identified solutions of 13 specific nutrients which, added to water, could entirely substitute for fertile soil. That’s when William F. Gericke, Ph.D., of the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, took the science of hydroponics into commercial production.

“In today’s space-efficient, closed, recirculating aquaponic systems that combine fish tanks and plant troughs, fish waste provides fertilizer for the plants, while the plants clean the water for fish,” says Gina Cavaliero, owner of Green Acre Aquaponics, in Brooksville, Florida. The 2013 Aquaponics Association Conference, in Tucson, Arizona, reported that aquaponic plants grow

faster and offer higher yields, plus the sustainable technology recycles 90 percent of the water.

In Denver, JD Sawyer, president of Colorado Aquaponics, operates a 3,000-square-foot farm in a food desert neighborhood (without easy access to fresh, healthy, affordable food). Koi, tilapia and hybrid striped bass fertilize romaine, bib lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, spinach, chives and strawberries.

Other crops include tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash and root vegetables like beets and carrots. Tilapia and bass sell to the community and restaurants; koi are used in livestock ponds.

Sawyer remarks, “An aquaponics system can be indoors or out, depending on the climate, for commercial use or in the home. The basement, garage or a spare room is ideal for growing your own food.” Home garden sizes range from a 20-gallon aquarium to a 10-by-20-foot area.

Avery Ellis, an ecological designer and permaculture specialist in Boulder, Colorado, builds dynamic, living, nonconventional systems. “The temperature

“We like to use heirloom varieties; we don’t want just pretty plants that have diluted flavor. Butter lettuce is the tilapia of plants—it’s easy to grow for a good yield.” ~ Erik Oberholtzer, Tender Greens restaurants in most homes is near 70 degrees, an ideal temperature for a tropical fish like tilapia,” he says. “A 50-gallon fish tank, a 50-gallon storage bin and a timer to feed the fish automatically and supply light can be a self-sustaining system.”

Outdoors, a greenhouse or geodesic dome can house the system. “A harmonious balance maintains itself, and we enjoy maximum yields from little labor,” says Ellis. He reflects that the solutions for feeding the world exist if we just open our eyes to what needs to be done. For those that don’t care to harvest and clean

fish, decorative koi species work well.

Erik Oberholtzer, founder and owner of Tender Greens restaurants, which sources from nearby southern California farms and is exploring ways to install an aquaponics system in each of its restaurants, explains, “The world is suffering from a loss of growing habitat, genetically modified seeds and global warming. Aquaponics enables growers to stay ahead of climate change, making it the future of sustainable farming.

It’s an ethical way to make quality food healthy, affordable and profitable.”

Aquaponics methods deliver fish free of mercury and genetically modified fish food, plus the freshest vegetables possible, all without the worry of weeds, rabbits, insects, suspect fertilizers, toxic herbicides and pesticides. A home aquaponics system can be one of the best green investments to make in 2014. According to Oberholtzer, “Eating this way should not be a luxury.”

Avery Mack is a freelance writer in St. Louis, MO. Connect via AveryMack@ mindspring.com.

Aquaponics Advantages ✔ Enthusiasts can start small ✔ No soil is needed ✔ No fertilizer is needed (provided by the fish) ✔ No toxic pesticides ✔ Uses 90 percent less water than conventional methods ✔ Plants help filter indoor air ✔ Pests and diseases are easier to spot for treatment ✔ Growing basil helps repel pests ✔ Operator controls nutrition levels at less cost and waste ✔ No nutrients pollute the larger environment ✔ Stable, high yields of organic produce and safe-fed fish ✔ Year-round production from indoor systems ✔ Easy to harvest; fish harvesting is optional ✔ Aesthetic enjoyment

Your Local Resource For Aquaponics Greenhouses Training Farm Tours

Randy Campbell 474 Vanntown Road Elora, Tennessee 37328 Sources: Wikipedia.org, IntegratedAquaponics.net

256-679-9488 TodaysGreenAcres.com natural awakenings

March 2014

19

consciouseating

GLUTEN-FREE

ON THE GO Safe Eating Away from Home

by Judith Fertig

A

lthough following a diet without gluten has become easier due to increased availability and labeling of gluten-free foods, we still need to know how to make sure which foods strictly qualify. We always have more control in our own kitchen, yet we’re not always eating at home.

Natural Awakenings asked experts to comment on reasons for the demand and offer practical tips and tactics for healthy eating on the go.

According to the Center for Celiac Research & Treatment, 18 million Americans are now gluten sensitive, 3 million more suffer from celiac disease, and the numbers continue to skyrocket, says Dr. David Perlmutter, a neurologist and author of Grain Brain. Gluten, a naturally occurring protein in wheat, barley and rye, is prevalent in the modern American diet. Perlmutter points to new wheat hybrids and increasing amounts of gluten in processed foods as exacerbating the problem. He particularly cites today’s overuse of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications as contributors to “inappropriate and excessive reactions to what might otherwise have represented a non-threatening protein like gluten.”

Solutions at Work

Jules Shepard, a mother of two in Washington, D.C., and author of Free for All Cooking: 150 Easy Gluten-Free, Allergy-Friendly Recipes the Whole Family Can Enjoy who also shares recipes at Blog.JulesGlutenFree.com, remembers when going out for a glutenfree lunch was difficult. “The friendly 20

Birmingham, AL

lunch spots my coworkers and I used to enjoy on a weekly and sometimes even daily basis were no longer friendly for me,” she says. “There was nothing on the menu I could eat, and it seemed better for everyone if I simply stayed in the office. But it isolated me socially from my colleagues and deprived me of a much-needed midday break that had been such an enjoyable part of my routine.” Attending catered breakfasts or lunches for office meetings also presented difficulties.

Shepard learned that it’s best to be prepared and pack something, even if it’s only a snack. “Some of my favorites include fresh fruit, like apples or bananas with peanut or almond butter, washed berries, applesauce, coconut yogurt, hummus and red peppers, trail mix, dry cereals like granola, and nutrition bars. I keep a variety of these bars in my purse and car yearround, so I’m never bored with my choices.”

“Gluten-free instant oatmeal is a staple in my life,” advises Shepard. She

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never leaves home without it, regardless of the length of the trip. “All you need is a cup or a bowl and some boiling water. Be sure to buy certified glutenfree oats, because regular oats can be contaminated with gluten grains.”

Shepard also recommends avoiding pre-sweetened varieties.

Kate Chan, a teacher and mother of two in suburban Seattle, Washington, who has been following a gluten-free diet since 2000, has solved the problem of eating healthy at work another way: The family cooks extra the night before.

“While cleaning up the kitchen, I just pack the leftovers for lunch. I like to vary the side dishes a bit if I pack side dishes at all, and toss in fruit and more vegetables,” she says. Chan likes to use a bento-style lunch box with several compartments, plus thermal containers, so she can enjoy a variety of gluten-free lunch options.

On the Road In Los Angeles, California, Kristine Kidd, former food editor at Bon Appétit, has recently returned to gluten-free eating. On her menu-planning and recipe blog, KristineKidd.com, and in her cookbook, Weeknight Gluten Free, she recommends whole, fresh foods from farmers’ markets that are naturally gluten-free. When she and her husband hike the Sierra Mountains, she carries homemade, high-fiber, gluten-free cookies to eat on the way up and packs gluten-free soups such as butternut squash and black bean, corn tortillas with fresh fillings, and fruit for a delicious lunch upon reaching the peak.

Some gluten-free snacks can contain as many empty calories as other types of junk food, notes Registered Dietitian Katharine Tallmadge. “Many ‘gluten-free’ products are made with refined, unenriched grains and starches, which contain plenty of calories, but few vitamins or minerals.”

She agrees with Kidd and others that choosing whole, natural, fresh foods, which are naturally gluten-free, makes for healthy eating wherever we go.

Judith Fertig blogs at AlfrescoFoodAnd Lifestyle.blogspot.com from Overland Park, KS.

therapyspotlight What does Biophotonic Therapy do?

Biophotonic Therapy:

THE CURE THAT TIME FORGOT

B

iophotonic Therapy is medicines and therapy not new. In fact, it has may have failed. been around for deDuring the therapy, cades and has been in use about a half pint of blood for over 70 years by physiis taken from the patient. cians all over the world. It The blood is exposed to was first developed in the ultraviolet rays and then 1930’s as a treatment for given back to the patient the polio virus and other via the bloodstream. The viral and bacterial infecultraviolet light kills bactetions. With the advent of ria and viral cells, leaving vaccines and antibiotics the healthy cells intact. it fell into disuse and was When introduced back into Dr. Melanie Miller almost forgotten. With the body, the healthy cells concerns about the safety stimulate production of anand lack of efficacy of many vaccines, tibodies against the killed bacteria and as well as the increase of antibioticvirus—thus creating an “autogenous resistant bacteria and the difficulty of (or self-generated) vaccine.” After the eradicating many viruses, Biophotonic patient has received the treated blood Therapy has regained its place as a or vaccine, the remaining microbes in highly effective, safe, and viable alterna- the patient’s bloodstream are rapidly tive therapy backed by many years of destroyed by what is called “induced research and clinical data. secondary immune reactivation.”

There are no major side effects to The patient’s system works with a Biophotonic Therapy. The therapy treats new supercharged immune response, over 40 diseases; it is cost effective, greater oxygenation, and a balancing of and most of all helps those whom other their own system.

In use for over 70 years, Biophotonic Therapy treats over 40 diseases, without the negative impacts of vaccines.

• Kills bacteria and viruses in the bloodstream and supercharges the immune system • Improves circulation • Increase oxygenation of the tissue • It has a balancing effect • Reduces tissue pain • Increases tolerance of the body when receiving chemotherapy • Cardiovascular protection through increased metabolism of cholesterol, uric acid, and glucose • Has an anti-inflammatory effect • Powerful anti-infection properties • Stimulates production of red blood cells • Improves the flow and properties of the blood

Benefits of Biophotonic Therapy

• The self-generated vaccine is based on the patient’s particular virus or bacteria, so it is more specific and has greater effectiveness.

• Less likely to develop resistance strains than drugs • It works on many conditions • Stopping or starting has no consequence • Accidental overdose is impossible • Does not destroy the normal flora • Does not depress the immune defenses • Boosts overall immunological defenses • Less expensive than many drugs

Dr. Melanie Miller of Birmingham Integrative Health is now is now offering Biophotonic Therapy. Call today to find out if Biophotonic Therapy is right for you. Birmingham Integrative Health is located at 159 Main Street in Trussville, AL. For more information or to schedule your appointment, call 205-655-2110.

See ads, page 7 and page 23.

natural awakenings

March 2014

21

Healing Waters Colon Hydrotherapy Lipo-Ex® Infrared Sauna Computerized Biofeedback BioCleanse Massage Therapy Pain Management Light Therapy VibaBody Slimmer Korean-Style Hip Bath

photo by Dog Scouts of America

• • • • • • • • • •

naturalpet

Dog Scouts of America 720 23rd Street South Birmingham, AL 35233

Dog Troops Also Earn Badges and Go to Camp

205-323-7582

Bernadine Tillman Birdsong, Owner I-ACT Certified, Colon Hydrotherapy Instructor

MoreThanColonics.com

Private Pilates Lessons Small Groups

Continuing Education Workshops Yoga Classes Pilates Mat Classes Massage Therapy

Return to Life

through breath, spinal decompression and mobility. Develop long lean strong and flexible muscles, along with a balanced body, mind and spirit.

Pilates on Highland LLC 2827 Highland Avenue South www.pilatesonhighland.com

205-323-5961

22

Birmingham, AL

by Sandra Murphy

Scouts, badges, troops and summer camp—they’re not just for kids anymore. Dog Scouts of America is a new twist on tradition that is fun for all ages.

D

ogs, their owners and the larger community all benefit when a pet earns the basic Dog Scout certification badge. Any dog can participate, as long as he’s well-behaved.

To qualify for the initial badge, he must be able to heel without pulling, greet a person calmly, meet another animal without overreacting and to see food and leave it alone. The test criteria are similar to that used for the Canine Good Citizen certificate from the American Kennel Club.

Tests can be videotaped if there’s no organization evaluator in the area.

Once the dog’s earned the basic Dog Scout badge, the rest of the badges are optional, depending on how involved human-canine pairs wish to get. Instead of pursuing a particular sport or activity, scouting allows the dog to dabble and find what he likes best. Distinctive badges can be earned in separate ability levels including obedience, community service, trail work, nose work, water sports, pulling, herding and lure coursing (a performance sport first devel-

Facebook.com/nabirmingham

oped for purebred sighthound breeds).

Handlers can also earn badges in canine care, first-aid and sign language. All training is based on positive behavior and reinforcement on everyone’s part.

“We don’t want dogs to be an accessory or a lawn ornament; they are part of the family, and a lot of fun, besides,” explains Dog Scouts president Chris Puls, of Brookville, Indiana. “As trainers, we have to figure out how to communicate with another species.”

Most members engage in scout activities with more than one dog.

Requirements for operating a troop are flexible, but holding four meetings a year is recommended. Meetings don’t have to be formal—a group hike in the woods counts. Other activities may include backpacking, biking, camping and treasure hunts like letterboxing and geocaching.

If Sparky would like to try flyball, (timed relay races with balls) or treibball (urban herding of Pilates balls), but has no opportunity for these pursuits on his home turf, summer camp is a good

photo by Martha Thierry

photo by Dog Scouts of America

forum to investigate lots of options. Weekend camps are held in Maryland in July and Texas in November. Weeklong camps are held in Michigan in June and July.

“Many people bring more than one dog to camp,” says Allison Holloway, who works in financial account services for the U.S. Department of Defense, in Columbus, Ohio. “I take six dogs with me and each has his or her favorite activity, which I like, because it’s too much for one dog to go from early morning until late at night. New members often say they come to camp just for the fun and camaraderie, but they usually end up collecting badges like the rest of us. It’s a great reminder of what you and your dog did at camp together.”

One of Holloway’s dog scouts has special needs. Lottie Moon is a double merle, all-white, Australian shepherd that doesn’t let being deaf or blind slow her down. Last year she surprised her owner by earning an agility badge at camp. “I think she sees shadows and movements. I place a dowel rod in front of the jump and she knows that when she touches it, it’s time to go airborne,” says Holloway. “Lottie inspires and motivates me.” Holloway received the Dog Scout’s 2013 Excellence in Writing Award for her blog at Lottie-SeeingInto Darkness.blogspot.com.

Many Dog Scout troops serve their communities to show how dogs can and should be integrated into daily life. In Wyoming Valley, near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Phyllis Sinavage, office manager for a wholesale distributor, reports on recent activities conducted by Troop 221.

“We’ve donated oxygen masks for pets to local fire departments and emergency services.

We raise funds to buy them and also have oxygen mask angels that donate the price of a mask in memory of a pet. One third grade class raised enough money to purchase two masks after we visited and did a bite prevention class.”

The Dog Scouts of America Hike-a-Thon, in May, is the nonprofit organization’s annual fundraiser, open to everyone willing to ask friends and family members to pledge funds for distances walked. It’s a good way to partner with the dog for quality outdoor time, spread the word about Dog Scouts and enjoy the spring weather.

Learn more and join with others for a troop experience at DogScouts.org.

Connect with Sandra Murphy at StLouisFreelanceWriter@ mindspring.com.

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March 2014

23

wisewords From “Why Me?” to “Thank You!”

Wayne Dyer on the Value of Hard Lessons

by Linda Sechrist

A

fter four decades teaching selfdevelopment and empowerment and authoring more than 30 bestselling books, Wayne W. Dyer, Ph.D., shares dozens of events from his life in his latest work, I Can See Clearly Now. In unflinching detail, he relates vivid impressions of encountering many forks in the road, from his youth in Detroit to the present day, and reflects on these events from his current perspective, noting what lessons he ultimately learned.

these miracles show up.

There are 60 chapters in the book. Every time I finished one, I would think: “Now I can see clearly why I had to go through all of these experiences and learn all these lessons.” As a result, I suggest that whenever something happens that leads you to ask, “Why is this happening to me?” shift instead to the awareness that all experiences, no matter what, are gifts.

What has writing this book taught you and how can it help others better understand their own lives?

You describe the influential patterns and motivators in your life as diamonds and stones; how would you characterize your childhood years in foster homes?

My biggest lesson was that our whole life is like a checkerboard. When I looked back on my life, I began to realize this and gained an awareness of the fact that there’s something else moving all of the pieces around. The key to attracting this mystical guidance into your life is to start with awareness that all things are possible and to forget about yourself. When you get your ego out of the picture, your inner mantra isn’t, “What’s in it for me? and “How much more can I get?” Instead, when your inner mantra is, “How may I serve or what may I do for you?” and you practice consistently living this way, you attract this mystical guidance. I have found that the more I do this, the more

I can now see that spending the better part of my first decade in a series of foster homes was all a part of God’s infallible plan for me. I believe I was in a type of training camp for becoming a teacher of higher spiritual and commonsense principles. If I was going to spend my adult life teaching, lecturing and writing on self-reliance, then I obviously needed to learn to rely upon myself and be in a position to never be dissuaded from this awareness. What better training ground for teaching this than an early childhood that required a sense of independence and need for self-sufficiency? Now that I know that every encounter, challenge and situation is a spectacular thread in a

24

Birmingham, AL

Facebook.com/nabirmingham

tapestry, and that each represents and defines my life, I am deeply grateful for them all.

Each of us has a mission of some kind to fulfill at the moment we make the shift from nowhere to now here, from spirit to form. I’ve seen firsthand how this universe has a creative source of energy supporting it that is literally the matrix of all matter. Nothing occurs by happenstance anywhere, because this universal mind is perpetually on call, going about its miraculous ways in terms of infinite possibilities.

What can you see clearly about your role as a parent?

I’ve watched my eight children show up from birth with their unique personalities and blossom into their own awakenings. I know for certain that the one Divine mind that is responsible for all of creation has a hand in this engaging mystery. Same parents, same environment, same culture and yet eight individuals, with their own distinctive character traits. Khalil Gibran stated it perfectly in The Prophet: “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”

Each of my children had their blueprint from God. My job has been to guide, then step aside and let whatever is inside them that is their own uniqueness steer the course of their lives.

What has your life taught you about prayer?

I feel that the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi says it best: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is darkness, let me bring light. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.” The masters I’ve studied pray to become more godly, more like where we originally came from.

My prayer is always, “Help me to remind myself to get rid of this ego and to be like You are. Help me to be my highest self, the place within that is God.” Linda Sechrist is a Natural Awakenings senior staff writer. Visit ItsAllAboutWe. com for the extended interview.

inspiration

Coming Next Month

Gardening as Spiritual Practice Cycles of Growth Cultivate Our Divinity

by April Thompson

G

“

ardening is not about having or taking; it’s about giving,” says Connecticut psychotherapist Gunilla Norris, author of A Mystic Garden: Working with Soil, Attending to Soul. “And in giving, the garden gives back to you.” She deems the art of practicing gratitude in the garden as an intentional path for cultivating spirituality.“Every day, go out and thank the ground. Life is burgeoning all around us, all the time,” she continues. “If we can just appreciate that, it’s a big deal.”

It’s hard not to be humbled and awed by the miracle of life when we see a seedling push its tiny green head above ground, lean toward the sun and unfurl its first set of leaves. Each bit of plant life is simply fulfilling its mission to grow and be.

“Gardening enhances our relationship to the Earth. Through gardening, we are helping to heal the planet, which is part of the work we are all called to do,” remarks Al Fritsch, a Jesuit priest in Ravenna, Kentucky, and author of the e-book, Spiritual Growth Through Domestic Gardening (free at EarthHealing.info/garden.htm). Over his lifetime, Fritsch has helped turn a parking lot, a section of church lawn, and overgrown bottomland all into thriving gardens. In his view, “It gives us a sense of home, roots us in place.”

We can even discover our personal calling through cultivating a garden while gleaning endless spiritual lessons: Here dwells patience and an appreciation for the natural order of things; no fertilizer can force a flower to bloom before its time. Here resides mindfulness as we learn to notice changes in the plants under our care and discern what they need to thrive. Here abides interdependence; we wouldn’t have carrots, corn or cherries without the bats, birds, and bees playing in the pollen. In a garden, we naturally accept the cycle of life, death and rebirth as we bid adieu to the joy of seasonal colors and let flowerbeds rest in peace, anticipating their budding and blooming again.

Just as the fruits of growing a garden exceed the doing—the weeding and seeding and countless other tasks—so do the riches of tending a spiritual life surpass the striving. We do well to rejoice in the sacred space created, cherishing every spiritual quality nurtured within and reflected in the Divine handiwork. Breathing in the floral perfume carried by the breeze and reveling in the multi-hued textures of living artistry, we celebrate the fact that we too, are playing our part of the natural miracle of life.

Connect with freelance writer April Thompson at AprilWrites.com.

Green Living Starts at Home Local natural-health and sustainability advocates show us how.

To advertise or participate in our April edition, call

256-340-1122 natural awakenings

March 2014

25

calendarofevents

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

Southeastern Outings Dayhike at DeSoto State Park and Lost Falls – 9am. Moderately easy 5 mile hike in one of the most scenic state parks in Alabama. We will hike along the beautiful West

Southeastern Outings Dayhike on the Deadening Trail at Lake Martin near Alexander City, AL – 8am. A moderately strenuous 3.6 mile loop trail at Lake Martin that is among the most scenic

Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205-6314680. SEOutings.org.

Frederick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205-6314680. SEOutings.org.

Breath Class with Margaret Pittenger – 9am12pm. With Margaret's training in Feldenkrais and yoga, this will be a unique opportunity to experience lightness and peacefulness within the body through the breath. Appropriate for all ages and abilities. $50. Embody Practice Center 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. Register with Mjpittenger@gmail.com.

EmbodyBirmingham.com.

Embody Winter Yoga Retreat – 9am-3pm.

Join the therapists and teachers at Embody for another day of retreat complete with breath work, yoga, meditation and relaxation. $100. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100. ham.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 2 Southeastern Outings Dayhike on Montevallo Parks Trail – 1pm. Enjoy an easy 2.3 mile hike -

Salvador's Deli– 5pm. Fundraiser created to award teachers and students in need of art supplies for their classrooms. $10, Oscar's Cafe. Birmingham Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-254-2565.

SEOutings.org.

Global Cuisine @ the Plaza: Creole Coffee-ol-ogy Cafe explores Creole culture and 205-444-7820.

Haiku Workshop – 10am-12pm. Learn how to write compelling haiku, the popular short Japanese poetic form. The workshop will be led by Terri French who heads the Southeast Chapter of The quired. Central Library, Arrington Auditorium, 2100 Park Pl, Birmingham, AL 35203. 205-226-3671.

Therapeutic Yoga Series: Neck & Shoulders –

MONDAY, MARCH 3 Drawing Night practices as well as freestyle drawing time. Bring your own materials. Free. Red Mountain Makers,

Reiki Demonstration and Talk by Terri Heiman

901-3867.

that transforms the mind, body and spirit. Come listen and learn about what Reiki can offer you or allow you to offer others. Free. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 205637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4

neck and shoulder tension. $25/$35. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd Suite 100, BirmingReiki Level 1 with Terri Heiman – 8am-6pm. subtle layers of the body, including chakras and the

Pet Loss Support Group Sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society

reduces stress and enhances meditation and sleep.

Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South. 205-6374228. BirminghamYoga.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 9

BBC and Patty McDonald Present Jazz Singing Ensemble Traces of Blue -

-

Posture Towards Peace: Spacial Dynamics™ Techniques Workshop – 10am-12pm. Join

a concert featuring jazz ensemble "Traces of Blue." $10. Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford

wood, AL 35209.

35229. 205-767-9219.

Yoga for Beginners Series days through 4/9. This 6-week series focuses on the

with others and decrease dis-ease around the body. $25. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd

format. $75/series. Pre-registration required. Vil-

gmail.com or 205-568-1526.

35223. 205-262-2012. VillagerYoga.com.

Holistic Green Expo and regional businesses and organizations that offer

Got Events?

Get Noticed!

Thousands of our readers are looking for healthy options.

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256-340-1122 26

Birmingham, AL

-

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5

THURSDAY, MARCH 6 Essential Oils, Aromatherapy and Your Health with Molly Bridges Essential Oil Team Leader, Molly Bridges, explains

enings Magazine and Take Care Alabama. Free. The

Southeastern Outings Second Sunday Dayhike in Oak Mountain State Park – 1pm. Enjoy a moderate 4 mile walk in the woodlands near Birmingham

FRIDAY, MARCH 7 Birmingham Ballet: Hansel & Gretel tric characters, colorful images, exciting dancing, humorous moments, and a triumphant happy ending, charged. BJCC Theatre, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr.

Facebook.com/nabirmingham

663-4422. SEOutings.org.

Meet the Doulas – 2-3pm. BirthWell in Birmingham is a co-op of doulas and childbirth educators resources and education. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd Suite 100, Birmingham. Birth WellinBirmingham.com.

MONDAY, MARCH 10 Strategies for Social Security with Elaine Simmons expert Elaine Simmons will explain the complex Social Security laws and break them down in a

AL 35211. 205-202-6043.

Southeastern Outings Dayhike at Red Mountain Park in Birmingham – 2pm. Would it excite you to hear that Birmingham has secured a recreational, public park space in excess of 1,200 acres—an area

Public Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Rd,

TUESDAY, MARCH 11 Spanish Conversation – 7pm. Come practice your -

SEOutings.org.

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

Feng Shui for Life Improvement with Katie Rogers: Kitchens & Dining Rooms

HOME STUDY PROGRAMS

share the feng shui basics for the kitchen and din-

Very affordable CORRESPONDENCE HOME STUDY PROGRAM for students who want profes-

205-444-7820.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12

MONDAY, MARCH 17

An Introduction to Origami a short introduction to the art of origami and its history. We will then show examples of origami works

Magic City Toastmasters Open House – 6pm.

Toastmasters, Alabama's oldest Toastmasters club,

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

35213. 205-687-0238. 572.ToastMastersClubs.org.

Southeastern Outings Moderate Dayhike Along Buck Creek in Helena, AL – 2pm. Come explore

their own origami work. Free. Woodlawn Branch 35212. 205-595-2001.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13 Java Knit

665-4639. SEOutings.org.

to help out. Bring your own supplies and we supply

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

AL 35216. 205-978-4678.

Better Than Therapy Book Club – 2pm. Join us to discuss Neil Abramson’s stunning debut

Birmingham Revealed 2014: Birmingham Collectors – 6-7pm. An exploration of the art of buying and selling Vulcan and Birmingham keepsakes. $10.

and the true meaning of communication in all of

Birmingham, AL 35209. 205-933-1409.

35209. 205-332-6620.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Restorative Yoga at Embody – 6-8pm. Join Lau-

Kirtan Rahasya – 7-9pm. Rahasya is on the

where your mind and body can rest and renew with the help of props and massage to support the body’s relaxation. $25/$35. Embody Practice Center, 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100, register with Lauren@EmbodyBirmingham.com. EmbodyBirmingham.com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20 Friends of the Library: Joyce Cauthen & Bluegrass in Alabama –10am-12pm.The Alabama will discuss the history of bluegrass music in Ala-

SATURDAY, MARCH 15 Southeastern Outings Waterfall Tour to large volume waterfalls of North Alabama around Arab, Albertville and Guntersville – We will carpool to

4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net. SEOutings.org.

Family Yoga in the Gardens Series – 9-10am strength and balance, plus breathing exercises to help foster calm and focus. For ages 3 and up. Led by

SATURDAY, MARCH 29 205-978-4678.

OLLI Presents: “Religion in Ethiopia” Our speaker toured Ethiopia and will share her experiences touring the unusual religious sites. Free.

-

SATURDAY, MARCH 22 Greater Birmingham Humane Society Adoption Day in the library’s back parking lot with some beautiful,

$15/class. 205-262-2012. VillagerYoga.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 16 Friends of Red Mountain Park History Hike Series – 2pm. Ridge Walk. 3 miles. Our newest trail touts a winding path along the mountain's ridge and across the highest point in the Park. Free. Red

by lifelong musicians and yogis Surdas and Vajra Yogini, the group has forged a sound that is both unique and original, while holding true to the essence of kirtan. $20. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 205-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Southeastern Outings Evening Walk – 7pm.

Join friendly folks on an easy four-mile walk

Southeastern Outings Dayhike to Parker Branch Waterfall and Canyon plus Two Immense Pebble Bluff Native American Shelters – 8am. Moderick, 205-631-4680 or seoutings@bellsouth.net.

SEOutings.org.

Freeing the Shoulders details ways to release the upper arm and shoulder, Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

205-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

Unwinding the Low Back – 2-4pm. The class aims to release constriction in the lumbar and sacral area Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

205-637-4228. BirminghamYoga.com.

seoutings@bellsouth.net.

natural awakenings

March 2014

27

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SUNDAY, MARCH 30 Reiki Level 2 with Terri Heiman – 8am-6pm. Reiki 2 opens additional energy centers and connects you learn three sacred healing symbols that can be used for absentee healing. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 205-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

Southeastern Outings Walk in a Forest Preserve in Homewood spend a relaxing two hours walking with us in the erick, seoutings@bellsouth.net or 205-631-4680.

SEOutings.org.

Restore & Rest Workshop – 4-6pm. Join Suzanne Graham for an afternoon of Restore and Rest. This -

ongoingevents daily Birmingham Yoga – View full calendar online at BirminghamYoga.com Embody Practice Center – View full calendar online at EmbodyBirmingham.com.

Pilates on Highland – View full calendar online at

sunday Sunday Service

35223. 205-262-2012. VillagerYoga.com.

-

35205. 205-251-3713. UnityBham.com.

A Course in Miracles

plan ahead WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

-

UnityBham.com.

tuesday

Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209. Jean.M.Campbell@ gmail.com.

Manna Market Organic Food Co-op – Pick up,

thursday Church, 2600 Cherokee Pl, Mountain Brook. Visit MannaMarket.net or call 205-566-2533.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3 Yoga for Kids 8-week Series, Ages 8-13 sions follow a loose curriculum through which kids closing relaxation. $105/series, $15/class. Villager

Birmingham, AL 35205. 205-323-5961. PilatesOn

-

closing relaxation. $105/series, $15/class. Villager 2012. VillagerYoga.com.

Mat I/II lates mat exercises to connect to your core mentally and physically. Prior Pilates experience required.

Wednesday Night Yoga – 6pm. Join Jean Campbell, RYT 200, for an hour of hatha yoga for all age

Yoga for Kids 8-week Series, Ages 4-7 follow a loose curriculum through which kids add

Reformer Cardio Care – 4pm. This intermediate cises with the cardio of the jumpboard to create an energizing experience. Requires prior equipment

to deepen our Pilates practice. This class requires

wednesday Mat II/III

Tower/Reformer II – 9am-10am. This intermediate

-

Earth Fare's Family Dinner Night – 4-8pm, kids

2012. VillagerYoga.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

205-988-2938. EarthFare.com.

Physiology of Asana Endocrine and Nervous System Function in the Yoga Practice – 2-5pm. systems and creating asana sequences for optimal effect. $35. Birmingham Yoga, 605 37th St South, Birmingham, AL 35222. 205-637-4228.

BirminghamYoga.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 7 Intro to Yoga for Teens 6-Week Series – 6-7pm, Mondays through 5/12. We will focus on safe and

and focus the mind. $75/series. Villager Yoga, VillagerYoga.com.

Gr w your business with us!

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256-340-1122 • Editor@AlabamaAwakenings.com natural awakenings

March 2014

29

communityresourceguide ACUPUNCTURE ASHLEY LUNDY, LAC

COUNSELING SYDNE STONE

Doctor of Oriental Medicine 104 S Chalkville Rd, Ste 105 Trussville, AL 35173 205-234-4033 Alacupuncture.com DocLundy@alacupuncture.com

Licensed Professional Counselor AAMFT, Clinical Member 2116 Rocky Ridge Rd, Hoover, AL 35216 205-492-7760 • SydneStoneCounseling.com SydneStoneCounseling@gmail.com With 25 years of experience, Sydne Stone has been successful

Specializing in Acupuncture and

FAMILY MEDICINE BIRMINGHAM INTEGRATIVE HEALTH Dr. Melanie Miller 159 Main Street Trussville, AL 35173 205-655-2110 BirminghamIntegrativeHealth.com Facebook.com/Birmingham IntegrativeHealth

including Life Stage Adjustments, pain, high blood pressure, fertility issues, insomnia, fibromyalgia, and weight loss. Located inside Eastern Chiropractic. Call today for your appointment. See ad, page 17.

CHIROPRACTIC CHIROPRACTOR & HERBALIST Dr. Jeanne R. Chabot 2116 Rocky Ridge Road Hoover, AL 35216 • 205-822-2177 ChabotChiropractic.com

Career, Stress, Self-esteem, AdCouple and Family Therapy and See ad, page 7.

and mental well-being. She

EMILY TUCKER LPC, NCC

300 Office Park Dr, Ste 220 Birmingham, AL 35223 205-261-1417 • EmilyTuckerLPC@gmail.com Birmingham-Counseling.com tion are the foundation of her practice with each client. Specializing in Addictions, relationship

36 years of Chiropractic experience, certified herbalist, Reiki

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Call today for your free consultation. Wellness Packages now See ad, page 9.

adjustments & gentle adjustments, physiological therapeutics, decomtherapy, Energy Work, Meditation Class, Personal training, and Yoga classes. Most

HEALING WATERS

Bernadine Birdsong I-ACT & NBCHT Certified Instructor 720 23rd St South, Birmingham, AL 205-323-7582 • MoreThanColonics.com

Natural Forces Studio, LLC 605 37th St South inside Birmingham Yoga Birmingham, AL 35222 205-201-6985 or 516-457-3885 Terri@NaturalForcesStudio.com NaturalForcesStudio.com

Readings, EFT, Meditation, Red Sauna, and BioCleanse Therapy. We are the Spiritual Counseling, Weddings, with ionized, microclustered, antioxidant, alkaline water. We offer Lipoex® fat, reduce cellulite, and tighten skin. Computerized Biofeedback, Massage therapy, pain management, See ad, page 22.

You are one of a kind and unique.

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Birmingham, AL

with interest in adrenal, thyroid, hormone balancing, nutrition, food allergies, weight loss, herbs, supplements and acupuncture. See ad, page 7.

HOMEOPATHY CONSULTANT JOAN SCOTT LOWE

Homeopathic Consultant 1901 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South Birmingham, AL 35209 205-939-0071 Joan@HomeopathyBeWell.com HomeopathyForWellness.com

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NUTRITION AND GIFTS GOLDEN TEMPLE, NOW 3 LOCATIONS 1901 11th Ave. South, Birmingham: 205-933-6333 3309 Lorna Rd, Suite 7, Hoover: 205-823-7002 110 N. Chalkville Rd, Suite 148, Trussville: 205-655-0353

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PILATES PILATES ON HIGHLAND

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YOGA BIRMINGHAM YOGA STUDIO

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EMBODY PRACTICE CENTER 3918 Montclair Rd, Suite 100 Birmingham, AL 35213 205-637-0299 Info@embodybirmingham.com EmbodyBirmingham.com

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Available only at NAWebstore.com I was amazed (and I admit to some surprise) that this worked so well. My family has a history of both major and minor thyroid issues and using the Detoxified Iodine has helped my general fatigue and mood. Thank you for a great product! ~ Patricia I’ve known for years that I was low on Iodine, that it is essential to good thyroid function, and proper thyroid function is critical to so many bodily functions. This product makes it so easy for me to ensure I have optimum Iodine levels in order to maintain good health. I simply rub the side of the dropper across my arm after putting a few drops into the 4 ounces of water I’m about to drink. Very easy, and eye-opening! ~ Tonia

natural awakenings

March 2014

31

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